Category Archives: Beerman

Blog entries that pertain to the journey from Apprentice to Master Beerman.

The Halo Bar @ The Pageant (Beer 39)

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I went to see All That Remains in concert on Thursday night.  They were fronting for Sevendust and Asking Alexandria, but I really went to see ATR.  It was awesome.

IMG_2071IMG_2079  Here I am with the lead guitarist. lol.

Speaking of awesome — The Halo Bar @ The Pageant is just that.  Check out the sweet music-themed layout here.  The pageant is a great music venue … the Halo Bar complements it.

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Since I have the 4 Hands theme going this week, I just kept it rolling with the Single Speed Session Ale.    This is a good beer … easy drinking ale and fits that purpose.

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Enjoy!  Beer Mentor

 

Specialty Beer Swap @ 4 Hands Brewery (Beer 38)

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Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday, 4 Hands Brewery hosts a “Specialty Beer Swap” by local homebrewers or beer “aficianados.”  I went to my first one tonight — although lightly attended due to other beer activities going on in the city, I was able to sample several different beers.  Beer 38 for me was one I’ve wanted to sample: The Velvet Merkin.  Whoa.  This is an outstanding beer.   Firestone Walker out did themselves with this Oatmeal Stout.  Although it is 8.5% ABV, it is so smooth.  Many bourbon-barrel aged beers are sometimes overpowered by the residual bourbon in the barrel–not this one!  There was the hint in the background, but you could definitely tell this was all beer!  If you can get your hands on a Merkin, I recommend it! <smile>

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The fantastic thing about this evening is that this was not the only beer I was able to sample.  Next up (none of these are in any particular order) was a Russian River Beer: Temptation.  Wow!  Two world-class beers in a row.  This one is listed as an American Wild Ale.  Here’s the description: “A blonde ale fermented with a special strain of yeast, then aged in French oak chardonnay barrels. Flavors of wine and oak absorb into the brew throughout twelve months of aging. During this aging process, a secondary fermentation occurs using a yeast strain disliked by most brewers and winemakers called Brettanomyces.” [from BeerAdvocate]

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Next up? Short’s Brewery Soft Parade.  This one was a little sweet for my taste … very similar to a Lambic/Kriek but I’m not sure they call it a Lambic.  The bottle says “High Gravity brewed with a bunch of different fruit.”  Still a very good beer.

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Fourth taster?  Port Brewing‘s Santa’s Little Helper.  An Imperial Stout aged in Oak Barrels … wow again!  This beer was fantastic.  So nice and tasty, the aroma was great with a very good finish.  Find it, buy it.  haha.

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The last beer was one I provided.  Premiant Hopburst by Brouwerij de Molen.  It is bottle 104 out of 366.  This bottle was 4 years old.  This is a single-hopped IPA made exclusively with Premiant hops (a Czech variety).  I liked this beer, but a couple of the guys there didn’t.  Maybe they weren’t used to an aged IPA?  I thought it was really good.

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Overall a great beer tasting evening at 4 Hands.  I look forward to the next one!

Beer Mentor

Beer 36: Stillwater Artisanal Sensory Series v.1 Lower Dens

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Today was Veteran’s Day — I’m proud of my dad, both brothers, and my son for serving!  We covered the Marines, Army, and Air Force.   No Navy folks for us … probably because we come from Texas.  haha.

I was out playing disc golf today at a really nice course here in St Louis … great weather and day. Don’t ask me why I had my shirt tucked in … lol.

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Anyway, what was waiting for me after my round?  A Stillwater Artisanal Ale … another of his Sensory Series: v.1 Lower Dens.  You can read about this collaboration effort with the musicians at this link.

I really like all of Stillwater’s beers.  He’s definitely the preeminent gypsy brewer in the US right now.  This beer is no exception … a saison brewed with Hibiscus … the flavor was great.  I made sure to swirl around the sediment in the bottle and capture that in my glass.  I love those European-style Wheat beers (Weizen, Weisse, Saison, Wit, etc).  For some reason they sit better with me than the American-style.

Beer36 - Stillwater Beer36b

Another reason I like Stillwater beers is because he doesn’t leave out any details.  All of his labels are works of art — he definitely likes to include all aspects (as evidenced by this series) of the art world.  I’d recommend surfing his page and checking it out!

Oh, and he mentioned in his blog that there is a home for many of his beers — it is a pub in Baltimore call “Of Love & Regret.”  I checked out the draught list and there are definitely a LOT of his beers.  I mentioned the Brewer’s Art as a good location, but I think I would try this other place first!

Enjoy!  Beer Mentor

Beer 33: Spoetzl Wild Hare

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Just chugging along on this quest for 365 beers in 365 days.

Here’s a quick hitter … the Spoetzl Brewery’s Wild Hare.  A good beer … but not stellar.  I guess I broke my trend of world class beers … oh well.  This really is a good Pale Ale.

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I find it funny that they call it “Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale.”  It’s made by the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas.  However, since nobody really pays attention to Spoetzl and they all know Shiner Bock, they needed to market it appropriately … hence “Shiner Wild Hare.”  Oh well.  Again–a good Pale Ale.  Thanks “Shiner.”  haha.

Beer Mentor

Beer 32: Cathedral Abbey Ale

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Another one of the new craft beer breweries to open in St Louis is Cathedral Square Brewery.  They are so new they don’t really have a place of their own, but they are making beers and they are available so I had one– the Abbey Ale.

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As you can see, I had this on tap at PW Pizza (Yes, featured in Beermentor’s Neighborhood).  I found it to be a nice Belgian-style ale (you definitely tell it uses the Trappist Yeast from the flavor).  I would definitely buy this to have in the fridge.  I need to give a few more of their beers a chance–hopefully they will get a place soon so I can stop in and try special stuff too.

Enjoy!

Beer Mentor

 

Beer 31: Firestone Walker Double Jack!

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Well, I knew it would happen.  I was definitely not well today and drinking beer was far from my mind.  But I soldiered through!  haha.  I pulled out a really nice one to help with my head cold … Firestone Walker Double Jack!

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This brewery is doing great things winning 3 golds and 1 silver medal at the GABF (as well as winning mid-size brewery of the year) in 2013.  They have a very good reputation of producing world-class IPAs and this Double IPA is no exception.  The aroma kicks you in the pants and the flavor is fantastic.  The flavor is truly west-coast … definitely worthy to help me in my sickness!

Enjoy,

Beer Mentor

 

Beer 30/Day 30 – Another Hommel Bier!

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beer30 - Poperinge Hommel Bier

I thought it only appropriate to close out the first 30 days of this 365 day challenge the way I started it!  With a Hommel Bier.  My first was a Perennial Hommel Ale.  Today’s beer is the original one: Poperinge Hommel Bier.  I love this beer and I love the city.  I thought the right thing to do was to enjoy it with a traditional Belgian dish … so I added the Mussels.

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This city is the center of hop growing in Belgium.  Eurohop is here (owned by Eric Lagache) — worth a stop for sure!  I’ve been here twice and it smells wonderful every time.  Mr. Lagache is very nice.  

Westvleteren is 15 minutes from the city center.  If you are on a beer trip to Belgium you should add this place as one of your stops.  Highly recommend Hotel de la Paix.  Right in the city center and owned by a wonderful couple.  This hotel is where I had my first Hommel.  The word Hommel means “Hops” in the local dialect and it is a decidedly hoppy beer.  The flavor is wonderful and this bottle-conditioned will always offer up a surprise.  

Where did I enjoy this beer and meal?  Why at Tripel Brasserie of course!

Enjoy!  Beer Mentor

 

Beer 29/Day 29: Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale

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Going for the third day in a row with a world-class beer: Bell’s Two Hearted Ale.  I had this one lounging around in the refrigerator.  Thank goodness!  The Centennial hops in this beer really stand out both in the Aroma and in the Flavor.  It is well-balanced with a nice malt undertone.  I would classify this as a cross between both East Coast and West Coast IPAs.

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I really fell in love with Bell’s beers while I was living in Washington, DC.  I had the pleasure of meeting Larry Bell at the Devil’s Den while attending Philly’s Craft Beer Week.  A super nice guy with the knack for brewing lots of beer without losing a robust beer flavor.  My hat’s off to him!  Keep it up Larry!

Beer Mentor!

Beermentor’s Neighborhood: 4Hands Brewing (Beer 28/Day 28)

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Welcome Back to Beer Mentor’s Neighborhood!  We are visiting a brewery 1.4 miles from my place but in another world because of the beers they are making!  This place is awesome. 4Hands Brewing.

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I usually like to mix it up when I visit but today I stuck with the Resurrection IPA (28th beer in 28 days … keeping the train going!).  This beer is fantastic!  Maybe it is the Mosaic hops they are using … I don’t know.  But the Aroma and Flavor in this IPA is really satisfying.  I thought the flavor was Simcoe at first … but I guess Mosaic is derived from Simcoe and Nugget.  What a great kiddo.  haha.  Quick note: I’d go get some if you haven’t yet … it may be coming off the menu for a while.

They have a tasting option too and it is well presented.  Here’s a couple of pics of the Resurrection and the tasting flight.

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This is really a nice place.

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They have food available as well–however, it is a separate service so you will pay for the food separate from your beer.  

They have a great variety of beers and they have an extensive barrel-aging effort.  I didn’t try it this time but they have a beer called “Smoked Pigasus” — a smoked rye porter.  Can’t wait to try that one!

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They have great events going on here and all over the city.  These folks are very involved in the Craft Beer industry and support local homebrewers.  Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday they have a bottle-swap event … worth checking out.  A few more photos for those who enjoy a nice brewery! Oh, I should tell you — you can buy growlers or take home some bottles too.  

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Welcome to the Neighborhood!

Beer Mentor