Author Archives: Stumblingpiper

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About Stumblingpiper

I've enjoyed my hobbies in many different states/countries. I like homebrewing, mountainbiking, bagpiping, and many others.

New Holland: Mad Hatter IPA

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If you know me (or have followed this blog at all …), you know that I really like APA/IPAs.  I would classify these styles as my favorite.  I just like that hoppy flavor in these beers.  You can also find my opinion on east coast/west coast versions of these brews.  Today’s beer is neither — it is from New Holland Brewing.

Since they are from Michigan, they don’t seem to fall into the standard classification I’ve described before.  This particular IPA, the Mad Hatter, stands on its own.  The nose is excellent, and the flavor definitely hits me where I like … right on the Hop taste buds.  I could easily drink lots of this beer … I picked this one up at the Whole Foods store in Springfield, VA.

Beer Mentor

Win a Bottle of Westvleteren 12!

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I am what you would call a little eccentric.  Yes, I’m a beer drinker, but I collect things too (like my Iron Man comic book collection … etc).   I collect Beer Coasters, Bottle Caps, etc.  Sooooo … I took a few pictures of my bottle cap collection.  My daughter and I laid it all out on my bar this evening … here are the pics:

Here’s the challenge — the first one to identify all of the Trappist Beers represented by this collection (hint: there are 21) will win a bottle of Westvleteren 12 (first is determined by date/timestamp on the e-mail).  IMPORTANT: There will be only one winner.  Send your answers to my e-mail: answers@beermentor.com.  I will check your answers and reply back to the winner.  Once someone has won, I will change this blog entry … Have fun.  Oh, here’s a high-def picture to use …

Enjoy!

Beer Mentor

How do I pick a Good Beer?

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I know that the first lesson for the “Beer Apprentice” at beermentor.com is “Identify a ‘good’ beer.”  I “developed” about 5 hours worth of work to get a good feeling for Beer basics and styles.  I also recommended purchasing several of these styles and sampling them.

However, after you’ve completed this lesson, where do you turn to find “Good Versions” of the styles you like?  For instance, if you really like American IPAs, how do  you go about picking a good one to try?

The most obvious answer is “Ask an expert”–but this begs the question “Who is an expert?”  The difficulty you find is knowing if you can trust someone to recommend the style you want to try.  For instance, if a friend of yours happens to love English Bitters (and pretty much drinks only those), you probably wouldn’t ask him what American IPA he would recommend.

Sooooo, I would fall back on the less obvious way to find one to try.  The first places I would look are the most recent GABF or World Beer Cub winners for that style.  For instance, Sweetgrass APA from Grand Teton Brewing is the most recent (2009) GABF Gold Medal winner.  From the World Beer Cup (2008), the top two IPAs are “IPA” from  Odell Brewing Co (Gold) and “Union Jack IPA“, from Firestone Walker Brewing Co (Silver).  These are selections from certified judges and will probably be fantastic options (Actually, they are fantastic options … I’ve had all three … wow, they are good!)

If these aren’t available in your area, then as a secondary option, I would 1) make a list of the available beers in that style, and then 2) go to ratebeer.com or beeradvocate.com to see how those particular beers stack up.  Even though the folks that rate these beers at these sites are not (usually) certified judges, the collective mind of all these folks usually get it right and the rating will be spot on for the beer. Once you have a couple of options, buy them, chill them correctly (but don’t make them too cold), and have a tasting session with some friends!

The final option would be to go to a bar or restaurant that serves a sampling of the style you want to try and just go for it!  This is usually hit-or-miss, but, hey, you are out drinking beer!

Yes!

Beer Mentor

The difference between East Coast/West Coast APAs?

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As I start moving into the 200’s for “beers in a row” I just wonder how long I can keep it up!  This has been difficult — I’ve been sick a couple of times and just had to drink through it … and other times I’ve just not really felt like a brew … but I have persevered.  So, today, I’ve sampled beer #201.

Tonight’s brew was another Southern Tier: Phin  & Matt’s Extraordinary Ale.

I like this beer … I just don’t love it.  If you’ve read some of my other posts/comments you may have read that I notice a difference between East Coast and West Coast “American Pale Ales (APA).”  This is an East Coast APA.  I know there is a subtle difference between IPAs and APAs … the APAs tend to be more hopped up.  However, when you drink a west coast APA, you get HOPS!  Lots of them … and the balance is more pronounced toward the hop.  With the East Coast APAs, you get MALT.

In actuality, the East Coast APAs are probably more balanced, but I just don’t like it when I have an APA/IPA and don’t think “HOP!”  To me, an APA (or an IPA) should say you love Hops and, oh by the way, there’s some malt in there too.

So, while I like Phin and Matt’s Extraordinary Ale … I’ll stick with the more hopped up ones … especially Southern Tier’s Imperial Collection … Yummy!

Beer Mentor

200th Beer? Gouden Carolus “Grand Cru 2007”

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I picked a special beer out of my cellar for my 200th beer (in 200 days): The Gouden Carolus “Cuvée van de Keizer Blauw” … the 2007 brewing.   This beer is brewed every year on the 24th of February.  See this link for what others think of it and a little history behind the brew.

This beer can be “cellared” for up to 10 years … so mine I’ve had for two years … I thought it was time to drink it. (Yes, I bought the 2007 in 2008).  In all fairness on the rating, this is a “mish-mash” of different years … although most of the ratings are high for this beer, there is no particular rating for a specific year.  I “think” this is a bottle conditioned beer, so the flavor will change from year to year and as you cellar it.

Here’s a picture of my 2007 … I poured it in three glasses (to share with my daughters).  I drank the Orval glass and my daughters had a Gouden Carolus glass and an Ommegang glass.

The 11% ABV kind of sneaks up on you … the flavor on this beer was exceptional … I really enjoyed it … when poured, it is that nice ruby color — obviously the head retention won’t be long with this high of an alcohol content.  The body and character were right in target for the Belgian Strong ale style — I could easily drink more of these!

Fortunately, I will have the chance to drink at least two more … I also own the 2008 and 2009 releases! (nice dust build-up on my 2008  … hehe)

I definitely look forward to enjoying those in a couple of years!

Beer Mentor

Kingfisher Lager: Not that great … but ok

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I went out today with my family to an Indian restaurant and had a Kingfisher Premium Lager.  It said it was made from the best Barley and Hops, but it sure had that taste like it had Rice (or corn) in it.

This beer is brewed and bottled in New York by a subsidiary brewery of this company.  I could swear it had that hot, dry alcohol flavor you get when you use rice/corn as an adjunct.  I agree with these reviews, it is drinkable, but it wouldn’t be my first choice … unless my first choice was bud light, then it would probably be my first choice!

Beer Mentor

Southern Tier 422 Pale: Yes, a wheat beer

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I cracked open a bottle of Southern Tier’s 422 Pale Wheat Ale tonight (I bought it in a sampler 12-pack from Total Wine and MORE).  I have to say, this is the first Southern Tier beer that didn’t really knock my socks off.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a very drinkable Wheat “ale,” and I enjoyed the extra hoppiness that you wouldn’t find in a normal wheat beer, but it was basically a session beer … and if I want a session “wheat” beer I would probably reach for a Saison or a Belgian Wit.  Oh well, all of their beers may not be homeruns, but most of them are at a minimum a double!

Beer Mentor

Sam Adams Seasonal: Summer Ale

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I was in Jacksonville, NC, today and was having dinner at their local Chili’s restaurant.  I scanned the menu, didn’t see Shiner bock, so I decided to have the Sam Adam’s Seasonal — currently the Summer Ale.

I would like to say I enjoyed this beer … but I can’t.  I like the fact that their summer ale is a wheat beer … but the problem I had was not with this beer, it was with the dispensing equipment at this Chili’s.

If you’ve had plenty of beer from the tap (yes, I have), then you know what I’m talking about.  It is almost automatic when you get a whiff of the beer that the lines haven’t been cleaned in a while (see this article about this).

So, I know I usually enjoy my Sam Adams … especially their summer seasonal, but I’ll have to get it at another location.

Restaurants — clean your lines!  Actually, I probably should have mentioned it to them… next time, I swear, I’m going to mention it to them!  I had the same problem at a place called Bilbo Baggins in Alexandria, VA.

Beer Mentor

New Belgium Beer! The Ranger IPA

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I drove to North Carolina today to visit my son and found a six pack of New Belgium’s Ranger IPA in the shoppette.  Sweet!  I hadn’t had this beer yet (they weren’t making IPAs when I was in Colorado before…)

Don’t be confused by these pictures if you’ve seen this before — the packaging is actually lime green — the lights in my hotel room where a different color for some reason and made the packaging look yellow.

As for the taste/flavor/etc … yes, I like this beer!  This is definitely in style for an IPA, it had a very nice flavor (really enjoyed the hop finish and the aftertaste).  Excellent offering of an American IPA from a typically Belgian Beer maker…

Beer Mentor

Leinenkugel 1888 Bock

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Just a quick update for today.  I had another Leinenkugel’s … this time their 1888 Bock.  This is a nice offering, in style except it seems a little light for a bock.  Of course, this is also the case (I think) for the Shiner Bock beer too.  I’m not sure, but both of these beers are a larger offering from Craft Brewers and they seem to be slightly thin (from a bock perspective).

So far, I like all the beers I’ve had from Leinenkugel’s brewing — you can tell they take pride in their beers and in the presentation.  Overall, this is a quite drinkable beer — I will continue to sample the six-pack I bought! LOL!

Beer Mentor