Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The Power of Buying Local Beer
Now I don't like to sit here and bash corporate beer giants or the people that support and drink the beer. However, I will say that I go out of my way to support local and small companies as opposed to these corporations that are all the money. When you buy local, you are supporting local jobs and people that make a high quality product with passion and not a low quality product with a serious ad campaign to get the most profits possible. A few years ago I discovered a local brewery called Thomas Hooker. Every saturday you can pay $5 to hang out at the brewery and sample as much beer as you'd like. There are also guided tours and a kick-ass staff to help out. I almost forgot to mention their funny t-shirts (with the name hooker in the title they couldnt help themselves apparenty). You can get fresh growlers from the brewery for only $7 a refill! So I have been quite a few times and also purchased a lot of their beer from the local packy. For such a small brewery they sure brew a well rounded line of beer. My favorites are the munich lager, noreaster, oktoberfest, and irish red. They also brew american pale ale, ipa, porter, dopplebock, watermelon ale, and blonde ales. I am a huge fan and supporter of this local company and can't wait until my next trip (hopefully soon) . I was recently reading a newspaper article that was talking about how Thomas Hooker is planning on doing a $400,000 expansion! I was very excited to hear this. Apparently business has been so good that they are able to expand. This means more tanks, more beer, an expanded visitor area, and homebrewing classes. So you see enough people like myself turned to local beer and we all saw first hand how it can grow and expand a business just like that! So get out there, wherever you are and enjoy a local brew!
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Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Quick Sausage & Peppers Penne Bake
I love to put something quick and easy together on sunday so I have meals for the week that I can just grab and go, the simpler the better. I love finding new recipes, but I also like winging it and throwing together my own.
I grabbed a package of sweet italian sausage and threw them on the grill.
Cut up the grilled sausage
Cut up 2 bell peppers and 1 large onion
Took a rectangle ceramic casserole dish and dumped uncooked penne, sausage, peppers and onions, 1-1/2 jars of pasta sauce and covered the dish with foil
Threw it in the over at 325 degrees F and I kept checking on it, it took about 1 hour to slow bake.
Once it was done I melted mozzerella, asaigo, romano cheese on the top and then let it cool, into the fridge it goes.
What really makes this dish is the smoky flavor of the grilled sausage and the fact that all the flavors are baked right into the pasta. This is the first time I have ever made sausage and peppers this way, and it actually came out really good and very delicious. It couldn't get simpler than this! It is a great meal to have to grab and go!
The perfect Beer to pair this simple yet awesome meal....A classic pale ale or pilsner, the hop flavor compliments the slight spice of the sausage and sweetness of the peppers and tomato sauce very nicely!
I grabbed a package of sweet italian sausage and threw them on the grill.
Cut up the grilled sausage
Cut up 2 bell peppers and 1 large onion
Took a rectangle ceramic casserole dish and dumped uncooked penne, sausage, peppers and onions, 1-1/2 jars of pasta sauce and covered the dish with foil
Threw it in the over at 325 degrees F and I kept checking on it, it took about 1 hour to slow bake.
Once it was done I melted mozzerella, asaigo, romano cheese on the top and then let it cool, into the fridge it goes.
What really makes this dish is the smoky flavor of the grilled sausage and the fact that all the flavors are baked right into the pasta. This is the first time I have ever made sausage and peppers this way, and it actually came out really good and very delicious. It couldn't get simpler than this! It is a great meal to have to grab and go!
The perfect Beer to pair this simple yet awesome meal....A classic pale ale or pilsner, the hop flavor compliments the slight spice of the sausage and sweetness of the peppers and tomato sauce very nicely!
It doesn't get any better than Food & Beer....Beer&Food Pairing!
Pizza and beer, wings and beer, pretzels and beer, burgers and beer; all some great simple combos we all think of when it comes to beer and food. I am still pretty new to pairing food and beer, but I feel that pairing a specific beer with a specific food is quite amazing. The feel, taste, and style of a beer can really decide what meal would go perfect. The food and beer compliment and work well as one rather than one flavor outshining the other. It is all about balance. When a beer and a food work together well, it is something quite exciting and very enjoyable. I do drink wines and like to pair wine and food, but I feel that beer is easier to pair on get an exact match with all the varieties of styles and ingredients that can be found in a beer. I plan on talking quite a bit about beer and food pairing, so here is a basic outline and cheat sheet for beer and food pairing with some great ideas that helped get me started:
Blonde Ales, Kolsch, Cream ale, Lighter Lagers, Pilsner: (Light and mild foods: chicken, poultry, salads, salmon, Bratwurst) Think of summer time, with light,cold and refreshing beer and light food like classic spring/summer time food fresh from the grill or served cold.
Beer Brand Examples: Sam Adams Light, Sam Adams Noble Pils, Thomas Hooker Blonde ale, Reissdorf Kolsch, Thomas Hooker Munich Style Golden Lager, Ipswitch summer ale, Sierra Nevada Blonde Ale, Sierra Nevada Summerfest, Eibecker Premium Pils, Lagunitas Sirius Ale, Genesee Cream Ale, Heavy Seas Classic Lager.
Dish ideas to pair: Vietnamese spring rolls, Cobb salad, Paella, shish kebab, Honey-BBQ chicken, Bratwurst, Grilled Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Grilled Chicken Cesar Salad, Grilled Shrimp over rice, Grilled Steak w/ potato salad, Seared ahi tuna, Grilled Lobster Tail, Grilled Teriyaki Salmon, Grilled Sausages, Cole Slaw, Chicken Satay, Grilled Haddock or Mahi Mahi, Fried Chicken w/ macaronic salad, Bruscetta, Nachos, Calamari, Mixed Green Salad, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Fish Tacos, Sushi, Grilled Scallops, Crab Cakes, Smoked Salmon, Spinach-Tomato Pizza, Grilled Shrimp Alfredo, Steamed Crab&shrimp, Fried clams&shrimp, Seafood Salad, Guacamole, Mussels, Shrimp Cocktail, shrimp scampi.
British Style Bitter, ESB (rich flavors, mild spices, fried foods, roasted/baked dishes, fish & chips, roast chicken or pork)
I think of classic british dishes like fish & chips whenever I think of English bitter beers, you want dishes that compliment that slight bitterness. This beer is good with rich and hearty meals that are still not too heavy such as fried seafood, pastas, baked/roasted meats, etc.
Beer Brand Examples: Fuller's ESB, Redhook ESB,Young's Dirty Dick's ale, Thames Welsh ESB, Stoudt's Scarlet Lady ESB, Heavy Seas Winter Storm, Old Thumper ESA
Dish Ideas to Pair: Potato Crusted Salmon, Bow-tie pasta w/ white beans and roasted garlic, Baked breaded pork chops, Fish & Chips, Pasta w/ pancetta and cream sauce, Marinated Steak, Roasted Lamb w/ mashed potatoes, Chicken Pot pie, Fried Ravioli, Fried Pickles, Cornish Beef Pastries, Marinated Short Ribs, Falafels, Herbed Lamb, Baked Stuffed Shrimp, Cheese Omlet, Cajun Shrimp, Veggie Pizza
Pale Ale: (wide range of food, burgers, meat pie, english cheese)
Pale ales are great for classic beer and food combos. Great for classic pub food, pizza, BBQ, cookout foods (burgers, hotdogs, etc) It is a very versatile beer that is just as enjoyable on its own as paired with great food.
Beer Brand Examples: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Stone Pale ale, Boulder Hazed&infused, Southern Tier Phin&Matt's Extraordinary Ale, Double Diamond, Bass Ale, Flying dog Doggy style, Thomas Hooker APA
Dish Ideas to pair: Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Clams Casino, Stuffed Chicken breast, Oysters on the grill, Corned beef sandwich, Supreme Pizza, Hummus w. pitas, Spinach Artichoke dip, Mac&cheese w. bacon, Fried Chicken Wings, Onion Rings, Cheese Fries, Mozzerella Sticks, Sliders, Fried Calamari, Soft Pretzels, Quesadillas, Fried Shrimp, Baby Back Ribs, Stuffed Mushrooms.
India Pale Ale/ Imperial or Double IPA: (strong, bold, spicy food, curry, gorgonzola, thai, indian cuisine, mexican, chili)
I am a huge fan of spicy food and IPAs, and it so happens that they are a perfect pair! IPAs go great with pretty much any spicy and food with a lot of bold flavors. The great hoppiness of IPAs can only be balanced out with foods that are also very flavorful so one doesnt overpower the other. Cuisines that tend to be spicy such as thai, indian, carribean, mexican are great for IPAs as well as classic pub food that is spicy!
Beer Brand Examples: Dogfish head 60 minute IPA, Stone IPA, Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Lagunitas IPA, Flying Dog Snake dog, Sam Adams Lattitude 48, Thomas Hooker Hopmeadow IPA, Red Hook Long Hammer IPA, Boulder Mojo IPA, Harpoon IPA, Magic Hat Blind Faith, Samuel Smith's India ale, Fuller's IPA, Dogfish head 90 minute IPA, stone ruination IPA, Lagunitas Maximus
Dish Ideas to pair: Spicy fried shrimp, Spicy Thai Stir-fry, Fried Jalapenos, Hot Buffalo Wings, Spicy Nachos, Spicy Jambalaya pasta, Fish Tacos, Arroz con Pollo, Steak w. spicy bbq sauce, Pasta w hot italianc sausage& vodka sauce, Tamales, smoked beef brisket, grilled lamb, southern fried steak, Buffalo chicken pizza, Spicy Grilled Sausage or chorizo, Spicy Chili.
Amber/Red Ale: (very versatile, wide variety of foods, chicken, seafood, burgers, works well with some spicy foods)
Amber or red ales could easily be the simplest beer to pair with such versatility. So many of my favor beers beers tend to be ambers or reds, you can't go wrong with this beer as just a beer for every day enjoyment or paired with a special meal.
Beer Brand Examples: Fat Tire Amber Ale, Stone Levitation Ale, Palm Belgian Amber, Magic Hat roxy rolles, Thomas Hooker Irish Red, Long Trail Ale, Otter Creek copper ale, Sam Adams Irish red
Dish ideas to pair: Onion Rings, Cornish hen, hot sausage, Ham, roasted pork tenderloin, echiladas, chicken pesto pasta, pigs in a blanket, crab cakes, braised saurbraten, beef rib roast, fish chowder, Seafood pizza, Grilled fish sandwich, Steak n cheese, Cuban Sandwich, Beef Stew.
Scotch Ale/ Wee heavy (roasted or grilled beef, lamb, smoked salmon)
What better to serve a scottish ale with classic scottish fare.
Beer Brand Examples: Belhaven Wee heavy, Sam Adams Scotch ale, McEwans Scotch ale.
Dish Ideas to pair: Smoked fish chowder, scottish smoked salmon, Grilled scottish salmon, Lamb leg, Roasted lamb, ham, Potato pancakes.
Brown Ale, Altbier: (hearty foods, roast pork, smoked sausage, grilled salmon)
If I had to pick I would say Brown ales are by far my favorite. Brown ales make you think of hearty, "stick to your bones" comfort food great for colder weather, although I can easily enjoy them all year round!
Beer Brand Examples: Dogfish head indian brown ale, Brooklyn Brown ale, Newcastle brown ale, Samuel Smiths nut brown, pete's wicked ale, woodstock inn pig's ear ale, smuttynose old brown dog ale
Dish Ideas to pair: balsalmic vinegar salad, braised ribs, prosciutto, beef stew, grilled sirloin steak with mushroom cream sauce, Beef vegetable barley soup, leek and potato soup, Mac n cheese w/ pancetta, Grilled ham-cheese-tomato sandwiches, french onion soup, Chili cheeseburger, Sloppy joes, BBQ chicken.
Porter: (roasted or smoked food, bbq, sausages, roasted meat, blackened fish)
I love dark beers and I am a big fan of porters. They are easily paired with smoked foods and bold flavors, they pair fantastic with classic BBQ dishes like bbq steak, beef brisket, ribs, chicken, etc. and can be enjoyed all year.
Beer Brand Examples: Stone Smoked porter, Sam adams Holiday porter. Samuel Smiths taddy porter, Sierra Nevada Porter, Smuttynose baltic porter
Dish Ideas to pair: porterhouse steak with bbq sauce, beer marinated beef brisket, BLT sandwich, borscht, bratwurst simmered in onions, chipotle bbq chicken, smokey chili, roasted duck, ribs, blue cheese, corned beef, pot roast, sweet smoked grilled sausage.
Stout: (hearty, rich food, meat pies, steak, raw oysters, mole, spicy)
Stouts are nice heavy dark beers and almost a meal itself. It pairs well with heavy, rich meals that compliment sweetness, also very good with desserts.
Beer Brand Examples: Samuel Smiths oatmeal stout, Guinness, Sierra Nevada stout, Sam Adams cream stout, Dogfish head chicory stout, Brookly black chocolate stout, Dragon stout.
Dish Ideas to pair: sushi, smoked fish, chocolate, cheesecake, apple pie, raw oysters, buckwheat pancakes, Stout marinated steak, white chocolate truffles, smoked chicke&wild mushroom bruscetta, tiramisu, chicken w. mole sauce, irish stew, white chocolate mousse cake, BBQ pork chops, Stilton cheese, Reuben sandwich, roasted pork tenderloin, cornish game hens.
Hefeweizen/Wheat beers: (lighter food, salads, seafood, sushi, vegetable dishes)
Great beer for the warmer months. This beer is very refreshing and goes good with food that are all about light and cool that compliment citrus or lightly sweet flavors.
Beer Brand Examples: Samuel Adams summer, Harpoon UFO hefeweizen, Widmer Bros Hefeweizen, Sam Adams Coastal Wheat, Lagunitas A little sumpin sumpin ale, Saranac Pomegranate wheat, schneiderweisse.
Dish ideas to pair: weiner schnitzel, pork tenderloin, grilled lemon chicken, bratwurst bites w. horsradish mustard, fish tacos, satay w/peanut sauce, potato salad, grilled lemon salmon, grilled swordfish with mango salsa, sushi, mussels
There are a lot of other styles out there to pair of course, but this is a basic idea of a range of beer styles and what I drew from research and my own personal experiences. I am excited to continually discover and try new beers and come up with the perfect food companion!
sources: craftbeer.com, "clone brews" by szamatulski.
Blonde Ales, Kolsch, Cream ale, Lighter Lagers, Pilsner: (Light and mild foods: chicken, poultry, salads, salmon, Bratwurst) Think of summer time, with light,cold and refreshing beer and light food like classic spring/summer time food fresh from the grill or served cold.
Beer Brand Examples: Sam Adams Light, Sam Adams Noble Pils, Thomas Hooker Blonde ale, Reissdorf Kolsch, Thomas Hooker Munich Style Golden Lager, Ipswitch summer ale, Sierra Nevada Blonde Ale, Sierra Nevada Summerfest, Eibecker Premium Pils, Lagunitas Sirius Ale, Genesee Cream Ale, Heavy Seas Classic Lager.
Dish ideas to pair: Vietnamese spring rolls, Cobb salad, Paella, shish kebab, Honey-BBQ chicken, Bratwurst, Grilled Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Grilled Chicken Cesar Salad, Grilled Shrimp over rice, Grilled Steak w/ potato salad, Seared ahi tuna, Grilled Lobster Tail, Grilled Teriyaki Salmon, Grilled Sausages, Cole Slaw, Chicken Satay, Grilled Haddock or Mahi Mahi, Fried Chicken w/ macaronic salad, Bruscetta, Nachos, Calamari, Mixed Green Salad, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Fish Tacos, Sushi, Grilled Scallops, Crab Cakes, Smoked Salmon, Spinach-Tomato Pizza, Grilled Shrimp Alfredo, Steamed Crab&shrimp, Fried clams&shrimp, Seafood Salad, Guacamole, Mussels, Shrimp Cocktail, shrimp scampi.
British Style Bitter, ESB (rich flavors, mild spices, fried foods, roasted/baked dishes, fish & chips, roast chicken or pork)
I think of classic british dishes like fish & chips whenever I think of English bitter beers, you want dishes that compliment that slight bitterness. This beer is good with rich and hearty meals that are still not too heavy such as fried seafood, pastas, baked/roasted meats, etc.
Beer Brand Examples: Fuller's ESB, Redhook ESB,Young's Dirty Dick's ale, Thames Welsh ESB, Stoudt's Scarlet Lady ESB, Heavy Seas Winter Storm, Old Thumper ESA
Dish Ideas to Pair: Potato Crusted Salmon, Bow-tie pasta w/ white beans and roasted garlic, Baked breaded pork chops, Fish & Chips, Pasta w/ pancetta and cream sauce, Marinated Steak, Roasted Lamb w/ mashed potatoes, Chicken Pot pie, Fried Ravioli, Fried Pickles, Cornish Beef Pastries, Marinated Short Ribs, Falafels, Herbed Lamb, Baked Stuffed Shrimp, Cheese Omlet, Cajun Shrimp, Veggie Pizza
Pale Ale: (wide range of food, burgers, meat pie, english cheese)
Pale ales are great for classic beer and food combos. Great for classic pub food, pizza, BBQ, cookout foods (burgers, hotdogs, etc) It is a very versatile beer that is just as enjoyable on its own as paired with great food.
Beer Brand Examples: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Stone Pale ale, Boulder Hazed&infused, Southern Tier Phin&Matt's Extraordinary Ale, Double Diamond, Bass Ale, Flying dog Doggy style, Thomas Hooker APA
Dish Ideas to pair: Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Clams Casino, Stuffed Chicken breast, Oysters on the grill, Corned beef sandwich, Supreme Pizza, Hummus w. pitas, Spinach Artichoke dip, Mac&cheese w. bacon, Fried Chicken Wings, Onion Rings, Cheese Fries, Mozzerella Sticks, Sliders, Fried Calamari, Soft Pretzels, Quesadillas, Fried Shrimp, Baby Back Ribs, Stuffed Mushrooms.
India Pale Ale/ Imperial or Double IPA: (strong, bold, spicy food, curry, gorgonzola, thai, indian cuisine, mexican, chili)
I am a huge fan of spicy food and IPAs, and it so happens that they are a perfect pair! IPAs go great with pretty much any spicy and food with a lot of bold flavors. The great hoppiness of IPAs can only be balanced out with foods that are also very flavorful so one doesnt overpower the other. Cuisines that tend to be spicy such as thai, indian, carribean, mexican are great for IPAs as well as classic pub food that is spicy!
Beer Brand Examples: Dogfish head 60 minute IPA, Stone IPA, Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Lagunitas IPA, Flying Dog Snake dog, Sam Adams Lattitude 48, Thomas Hooker Hopmeadow IPA, Red Hook Long Hammer IPA, Boulder Mojo IPA, Harpoon IPA, Magic Hat Blind Faith, Samuel Smith's India ale, Fuller's IPA, Dogfish head 90 minute IPA, stone ruination IPA, Lagunitas Maximus
Dish Ideas to pair: Spicy fried shrimp, Spicy Thai Stir-fry, Fried Jalapenos, Hot Buffalo Wings, Spicy Nachos, Spicy Jambalaya pasta, Fish Tacos, Arroz con Pollo, Steak w. spicy bbq sauce, Pasta w hot italianc sausage& vodka sauce, Tamales, smoked beef brisket, grilled lamb, southern fried steak, Buffalo chicken pizza, Spicy Grilled Sausage or chorizo, Spicy Chili.
Amber/Red Ale: (very versatile, wide variety of foods, chicken, seafood, burgers, works well with some spicy foods)
Amber or red ales could easily be the simplest beer to pair with such versatility. So many of my favor beers beers tend to be ambers or reds, you can't go wrong with this beer as just a beer for every day enjoyment or paired with a special meal.
Beer Brand Examples: Fat Tire Amber Ale, Stone Levitation Ale, Palm Belgian Amber, Magic Hat roxy rolles, Thomas Hooker Irish Red, Long Trail Ale, Otter Creek copper ale, Sam Adams Irish red
Dish ideas to pair: Onion Rings, Cornish hen, hot sausage, Ham, roasted pork tenderloin, echiladas, chicken pesto pasta, pigs in a blanket, crab cakes, braised saurbraten, beef rib roast, fish chowder, Seafood pizza, Grilled fish sandwich, Steak n cheese, Cuban Sandwich, Beef Stew.
Scotch Ale/ Wee heavy (roasted or grilled beef, lamb, smoked salmon)
What better to serve a scottish ale with classic scottish fare.
Beer Brand Examples: Belhaven Wee heavy, Sam Adams Scotch ale, McEwans Scotch ale.
Dish Ideas to pair: Smoked fish chowder, scottish smoked salmon, Grilled scottish salmon, Lamb leg, Roasted lamb, ham, Potato pancakes.
Brown Ale, Altbier: (hearty foods, roast pork, smoked sausage, grilled salmon)
If I had to pick I would say Brown ales are by far my favorite. Brown ales make you think of hearty, "stick to your bones" comfort food great for colder weather, although I can easily enjoy them all year round!
Beer Brand Examples: Dogfish head indian brown ale, Brooklyn Brown ale, Newcastle brown ale, Samuel Smiths nut brown, pete's wicked ale, woodstock inn pig's ear ale, smuttynose old brown dog ale
Dish Ideas to pair: balsalmic vinegar salad, braised ribs, prosciutto, beef stew, grilled sirloin steak with mushroom cream sauce, Beef vegetable barley soup, leek and potato soup, Mac n cheese w/ pancetta, Grilled ham-cheese-tomato sandwiches, french onion soup, Chili cheeseburger, Sloppy joes, BBQ chicken.
Porter: (roasted or smoked food, bbq, sausages, roasted meat, blackened fish)
I love dark beers and I am a big fan of porters. They are easily paired with smoked foods and bold flavors, they pair fantastic with classic BBQ dishes like bbq steak, beef brisket, ribs, chicken, etc. and can be enjoyed all year.
Beer Brand Examples: Stone Smoked porter, Sam adams Holiday porter. Samuel Smiths taddy porter, Sierra Nevada Porter, Smuttynose baltic porter
Dish Ideas to pair: porterhouse steak with bbq sauce, beer marinated beef brisket, BLT sandwich, borscht, bratwurst simmered in onions, chipotle bbq chicken, smokey chili, roasted duck, ribs, blue cheese, corned beef, pot roast, sweet smoked grilled sausage.
Stout: (hearty, rich food, meat pies, steak, raw oysters, mole, spicy)
Stouts are nice heavy dark beers and almost a meal itself. It pairs well with heavy, rich meals that compliment sweetness, also very good with desserts.
Beer Brand Examples: Samuel Smiths oatmeal stout, Guinness, Sierra Nevada stout, Sam Adams cream stout, Dogfish head chicory stout, Brookly black chocolate stout, Dragon stout.
Dish Ideas to pair: sushi, smoked fish, chocolate, cheesecake, apple pie, raw oysters, buckwheat pancakes, Stout marinated steak, white chocolate truffles, smoked chicke&wild mushroom bruscetta, tiramisu, chicken w. mole sauce, irish stew, white chocolate mousse cake, BBQ pork chops, Stilton cheese, Reuben sandwich, roasted pork tenderloin, cornish game hens.
Hefeweizen/Wheat beers: (lighter food, salads, seafood, sushi, vegetable dishes)
Great beer for the warmer months. This beer is very refreshing and goes good with food that are all about light and cool that compliment citrus or lightly sweet flavors.
Beer Brand Examples: Samuel Adams summer, Harpoon UFO hefeweizen, Widmer Bros Hefeweizen, Sam Adams Coastal Wheat, Lagunitas A little sumpin sumpin ale, Saranac Pomegranate wheat, schneiderweisse.
Dish ideas to pair: weiner schnitzel, pork tenderloin, grilled lemon chicken, bratwurst bites w. horsradish mustard, fish tacos, satay w/peanut sauce, potato salad, grilled lemon salmon, grilled swordfish with mango salsa, sushi, mussels
There are a lot of other styles out there to pair of course, but this is a basic idea of a range of beer styles and what I drew from research and my own personal experiences. I am excited to continually discover and try new beers and come up with the perfect food companion!
sources: craftbeer.com, "clone brews" by szamatulski.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
5 different 12-pack samplers to try this spring
One of my favorite things to buy is beer sampler 12-packs. Beer lines like Sam Adams and Saranac have a 12 pack sampler for every season. I love the variety you get when you buy a sampler pack. I usually have a hard time choosing which beer I want to try, or I want to try a new beer company I've never tried before and the 12 pack samplers are the way to go with the perfect mix presented by the company itself. Here are some great samplers to try for spring:
1. Samuel Adams spring sampler: Revolutionary Rye Ale, Boston Lager, Noble Piles, White Ale, Scotch Ale, Irish Red
2. Harpoon Ufo Sampler: UFO Raspberry, UFO pale ale, UFO white, UFO hefeweizen
3. Saranac Spring Sampler: Irish red, Irish stout, pale ale, brown ale, IPA, amber ale
4. Magic Hat spring seasonal: Circus boy, #9, ipa on tour black ipa, vinyl spring ale
5. Blue point spring seasonal: Toasted lager, blueberry ale, hoptical illusion, spring ale
1. Samuel Adams spring sampler: Revolutionary Rye Ale, Boston Lager, Noble Piles, White Ale, Scotch Ale, Irish Red
2. Harpoon Ufo Sampler: UFO Raspberry, UFO pale ale, UFO white, UFO hefeweizen
3. Saranac Spring Sampler: Irish red, Irish stout, pale ale, brown ale, IPA, amber ale
4. Magic Hat spring seasonal: Circus boy, #9, ipa on tour black ipa, vinyl spring ale
5. Blue point spring seasonal: Toasted lager, blueberry ale, hoptical illusion, spring ale
Monday, March 21, 2011
Beer Battle Face-Off : Fuller's ESB vs. Stout's Scarlet Lady ESB
Fuller's ESB- Classic ESB from England
Awards: CAMRA's Best Strong Ale award on seven separate occasions
Experience: 350+ years
Beer enjoyment: 4.5/5, Awesome beer! Very balanced, nice malty sweetness and slight bitterness
Stoudt's scarlet lady ESB- American craft beer
Awards: n/a
Experience: since 1987
Beer enjoyment: 3/5: A decent, average, beer, very drinkable. I wish the bitterness was more prominent like the Fuller's.
The winner: Fuller's ESB!
I had never tried either beer before. Just because a beer is old and classic doesn't necessarily mean there isn't one that can top it since there is a lot of brewing talent out there all over the world. But in this case, the Fuller's is really tough to beat. I have had other ESBs and this is by far the best!
A weekend full of Beer and Grilling
So, I got a chance to spend some time with my best friend eric who I've known pretty much my whole life. He came over to help me put together the new patio table and mini gas grill. After our project, we decided to give it a test run. We headed over to the store to pick up a sam adams spring seasonal 12-pack sampler. I love sam adams, and although I don't buy it at the store all the time, I always seem to get whatever seasonal 12 pack they currently have available. Along with this of course some Bratwursts to throw on the grill and whole grain buns. When ready to grill, I noticed the grill is a little too big for the table I bought! Bummer. Oh well, I would rather be safe than have it barely balanced on there. I guess grilling on the patio floor isn't so bad when you have a beer, good conversation and a comfortable chair to sit in! After throwing the brats on the grill we decided to crack open a beer. We each tried a Revolutionary Rye ale which is new from sam adams, pretty good! Once the Brats were done, we threw them on the buns, and cracked open another beer. I felt that the white ale would go pretty good with the brats, and yes it did. The lightness and subtle citrus of the white ale paired well with the spicy and bold flavors of the brats, mmmm soo good!
The next day I decided to have my friend over again because I wanted to shoot hoops and play some tennis. After enjoying the nice weather, it was definitely time to grill again. What better than the simple and always good, cheeseburgers! I decided to make some cheese fries in the oven and enjoy the burgers with some of the homemade pickles we jarred last summer. When in doubt, a sam adams boston lager always goes great with classic grilled foods like cheeseburgers.
So what a great weekend, I really enjoyed all the food and everything and started the grilling season off right!
Fish & Chips....& Beer!
Last week I had this craving for fish and chips that just wouldnt seem to go away. The best fish & chips where I live is actually at a local new england grocery store chain right in their seafood department. I have had fish & chips at a lot of different restaurants in the area, and honestly none of them compare! They take fresh haddock and bread each piece to order. Served with a pile of fries and cole slaw. I picked up some beer to try and purposely got Fuller's ESB imported from England to perfectly compliment this meal. The beers distinct bitterness and malty sweetness balanced out goes very nice with the rich and subtle flavors of the fish and chips. You can pair a pale ale with this as well, but I feel that ESB goes better. What a satisfying meal though!
Easy Shepherd's Pie
I was definitely craving comfort food last week when I made this. This is an awesome and easy take on classic sheppard's pie. I love how creamy the mashed potatoes are and the addition of garlic and cheddar cheese. This really hit the spot and was great to have as leftovers throughout the week too!
A great beer to pair with this would be a classic porter or irish stout.
Heat oven to 375degrees
Brown meat in a large skillet, then drain
Mix potatoes, creams cheese, 1/2cup of the cheddar cheese and garlic until well blended
Combine Meat, veggies and gravy, Spoon into a 9-inch square baking dish
Cover with Potato mixture and remaining cheese, bake for 20 minutes or until heated through
Very simple and very good!
A great beer to pair with this would be a classic porter or irish stout.
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
2 cups hot mashed potatoes
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, cubed
1 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
1 cup beef gravy
Heat oven to 375degrees
Brown meat in a large skillet, then drain
Mix potatoes, creams cheese, 1/2cup of the cheddar cheese and garlic until well blended
Combine Meat, veggies and gravy, Spoon into a 9-inch square baking dish
Cover with Potato mixture and remaining cheese, bake for 20 minutes or until heated through
Very simple and very good!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
5 great spring seasonal beers to try!
When I think of spring seasonals its kinda like "eh not that interested". I tend to get very excited about fall and winter for beer because those are some incredible varieties only available around the colder months. However I am slowly finding more and more great seasonals for spring and summer that get me even more anxious for warmer weather. So here are 5 spring seasonals, 2 favorites I first tried a few years ago and 3 I tried for the first time this year. I decided on these 5 because of course I enjoyed drinking them but also they are a lot different then what you typically think of a spring seasonal. I like when a seasonal beer stands out from the pack and tries a different style or flavor than the more popular ideas of a seasonal brew.
1. RedHook ale brewery - Mudslinger spring ale
As a huge fan of brown ales , I don't usually think of a brown ale when I think of spring. But, hey, I have to admit I was excited to see a spring seasonal that is a brown ale especially since I enjoy them all year anyway. So a brown ale for spring?? Hmm..well for me it just works. It is a bit lighter and smoother than some brown ales out there, but it is still nutty and has a well balanced sweetness with chocolate and caramel notes. This is a new one from redhook and I hope they continue to brew this beer as I would like to enjoy it again and again.
2. Magic Hat Demo Black I.P.A.- IPA on tour series.
I love I.P.As and I love dark beers. So you could say a black I.P.A is the best of both worlds. I love the distinctive hoppiness like a typical I.P.A. but also heavier with the smooth richness from the roasted malts, chocolate hints of flavor, and you gotta love that nice dark color. My only problem with this beer is that it is of course only available in spring!
3. Samuel Adams Noble Pils
Typically, I see a lot of hefeweizens and belgian whites for spring ales. So when Samuel Adams switched to their Noble Pils, replacing the white ale, I was all for it. I love the crisp refreshing drinkable quality of this beer. It screams spring with the citrus, floral, and piney notes. I am not usually a huge fan of pilsners, but this one has a nice hop flavor and a great balance. Since this beer was released, it is a must-have every spring for me!
4. Dogfish head ApriHop
A lot of beer snobs won't even touch any fruit beers, at all, whatsoever. I am not a huge fan of fruit beers, but there are a lot of them that I absolutely love, and this is one of them! I like a fruit beer to not be overpowering with fruit, no overly sweet syrup feel, and still taste like a beer. Beer with apricots in it? I love the idea, especially blending it into an ipa. There is just a hint of fresh apricots in this beer blending nicely into the great hop flavor. This beer is everything I could ask for in a fruit beer and we could all learn a thing or two from this. ApriHop is hands down my favorite spring seasonal beer and I will continue to look forward to it every year, thanks again Dogfish head!
5. Flying dog Brewery Garde Dog (Biere De Garde)
A great take on a classic french style beer. This beer is lighter with a unique sweet and sourness which is common in this "farmhouse" ale. I love farmhouse ales, I just can't get enough of that sweet maltyness and slight sour factor. Even though this beer is light, it has a lot of flavor and pays respect to the Biere De Garde style which was enjoyed during the warmer seasons for hundreds of years in France. I just discovered Flying dog brewery this year and I am quite impressed with them. Another great beer from Flying dog, enough said.
Like I said before, I don't tend to get too excited about spring beer because the other seasons seem to outshine (mmm oktoberfest) but these beers forced me to re-think spring beer and get excited for it every year. Give these beers a try, there is something for every taste and enjoy spring a little bit more! Cheers.
1. RedHook ale brewery - Mudslinger spring ale
As a huge fan of brown ales , I don't usually think of a brown ale when I think of spring. But, hey, I have to admit I was excited to see a spring seasonal that is a brown ale especially since I enjoy them all year anyway. So a brown ale for spring?? Hmm..well for me it just works. It is a bit lighter and smoother than some brown ales out there, but it is still nutty and has a well balanced sweetness with chocolate and caramel notes. This is a new one from redhook and I hope they continue to brew this beer as I would like to enjoy it again and again.
2. Magic Hat Demo Black I.P.A.- IPA on tour series.
I love I.P.As and I love dark beers. So you could say a black I.P.A is the best of both worlds. I love the distinctive hoppiness like a typical I.P.A. but also heavier with the smooth richness from the roasted malts, chocolate hints of flavor, and you gotta love that nice dark color. My only problem with this beer is that it is of course only available in spring!
3. Samuel Adams Noble Pils
Typically, I see a lot of hefeweizens and belgian whites for spring ales. So when Samuel Adams switched to their Noble Pils, replacing the white ale, I was all for it. I love the crisp refreshing drinkable quality of this beer. It screams spring with the citrus, floral, and piney notes. I am not usually a huge fan of pilsners, but this one has a nice hop flavor and a great balance. Since this beer was released, it is a must-have every spring for me!
4. Dogfish head ApriHop
A lot of beer snobs won't even touch any fruit beers, at all, whatsoever. I am not a huge fan of fruit beers, but there are a lot of them that I absolutely love, and this is one of them! I like a fruit beer to not be overpowering with fruit, no overly sweet syrup feel, and still taste like a beer. Beer with apricots in it? I love the idea, especially blending it into an ipa. There is just a hint of fresh apricots in this beer blending nicely into the great hop flavor. This beer is everything I could ask for in a fruit beer and we could all learn a thing or two from this. ApriHop is hands down my favorite spring seasonal beer and I will continue to look forward to it every year, thanks again Dogfish head!
5. Flying dog Brewery Garde Dog (Biere De Garde)
A great take on a classic french style beer. This beer is lighter with a unique sweet and sourness which is common in this "farmhouse" ale. I love farmhouse ales, I just can't get enough of that sweet maltyness and slight sour factor. Even though this beer is light, it has a lot of flavor and pays respect to the Biere De Garde style which was enjoyed during the warmer seasons for hundreds of years in France. I just discovered Flying dog brewery this year and I am quite impressed with them. Another great beer from Flying dog, enough said.
Like I said before, I don't tend to get too excited about spring beer because the other seasons seem to outshine (mmm oktoberfest) but these beers forced me to re-think spring beer and get excited for it every year. Give these beers a try, there is something for every taste and enjoy spring a little bit more! Cheers.
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Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Need to Grill!!
Last summer, I come home one day in the middle of July to find a notice on my door from my apartment complex front office saying they are banning all grills. They added that if we do not remove grills within the week, they will help us remove them. This can't be true!! Aahhhhh!! But I had to face this awful truth. I ended up selling my $200 charcoal grill on craigslist because I really didn't have anywhere else to put it. What a tragedy! You have to understand that grilling is what I look forward to most for summer. I would grill almost every night. Steaks, burgers, chicken, fish, shrimp, fajitas, pizza, ribs, veggies, kebabs, you name it. I would sit out there with a beer and grill and then enjoy my food outside. I would have friends over for some late night grilling just hanging out on the patio. What a nightmare, my whole summer ruined over some ridiculous new rule. I mean I've been grilling for years at my apartment! Well, luckily there is an exception to this rule. You are now allowed to have a portable or camping grill using the small propane tanks. Yeah, not exactly what I have in mind, I mean im a charcoal kinda guy, but this will have to do. I went out a few weeks ago and walmart was having a sale, picked up a really nice table-top grill for only $35! It has a 12 burger capacity which is plenty for the kind of grilling I do. It even has a warming rack above! Now I am really excited for grilling, there is no way in hell I am going another summer without tons of grilling out on the patio. Another problem was that I needed an actual table since it is a table top grill, I would feel kind of silly grilling on the ground. So, luckily I found another sale, this time for patio tables at ocean state job lot
. Only $30, and I even picked up the other grill supplies that I was missing since I sold literally everything with the grill. So now I have a grill that I can take camping with me (I am big into camping, love it) and I have the right set up to go with it. It will do for now until I get a bigger place which is soon. All I need now is some better weather, 'cuz I could really go for a Burger and a Beer, mmmm.
. Only $30, and I even picked up the other grill supplies that I was missing since I sold literally everything with the grill. So now I have a grill that I can take camping with me (I am big into camping, love it) and I have the right set up to go with it. It will do for now until I get a bigger place which is soon. All I need now is some better weather, 'cuz I could really go for a Burger and a Beer, mmmm.
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Monday, March 14, 2011
"Break-Out Beers"
The term "Breakout beer" refers to a beer that breaks the trend for a beer drinking, going from light mass produced commercial beers, to darker craft beers locally and from other countries. For me, there are 3 beers over a period of time that shaped the way I think of beer now.
At first it was Sam Adams Boston Lager. It is one of those great beers that will always be a favorite of mine. A lot of beer snobs out there seem to hate sam adams for various reasons. I am definitely not one of those people. Some people think they are trying to become too big or too mainstream. I feel that sam adams beer helped pave the way for a lot of other craft beer. I feel that without Boston beer company, we might not have a lot of the beer we have today. When it comes down to it, the pride, passion and quality in a sam adams beer is undenyable and I respect Boston beer company for that no matter what others might think. Sam Adams Boston Lager helped make me realize what craft beer is all about and how damn good it is!
A lot of beer drinkers have told me how much they hate dark beer or imported beer. New Castle Brown Ale is the beer that made me realize how much I love darker beers especially brown ales. I could never get enough of the smooth,creamy, rich, nuttiness to this beer. This beer opened up a whole world (literally) of beers to try. I started drinking a lot more imported and darker beers because of this beer. Even though I love Porters and Indian Pale Ales a lot, my favorite style of beer will always be Brown Ales. Even though I have come across Brown Ales that I like better than New Castle, it will always be a favorite and I will always come back to it.
After going to the Vermon Beer Fest in Burlington for the first time a while back, this is when my passion for beer took another direction and went into hyperdrive. I have never even heard of Brooklyn Brewery at this point and I decided to stop by their tent and try something completely out there. I got a sample of Brooklyn Brewery's Local 1. An "american strong ale" completely 100% bottle fermented in a champagne-style bottle with the appropriate cork. This beer has almost 10% alcohol. However, it is nice and light and bubbly like champagne, some citrus, and very drinkable. I was immediately hooked. This spun me in a whole new direction, willing to try extreme beers and all about the bottle fermentation which was something I knew little about at the time. Luckily, I was able to find this at local stores so makes it even better. I continue to buy this beer for special occasions, to impress friends, or whenever I am craving it. It will always be a favorite and remembered as a major break out beer.
Whatever the beer might be, I think its pretty neat as beer drinkers to talk about what Beers broke you out of a pattern and changed your tastes forever.
At first it was Sam Adams Boston Lager. It is one of those great beers that will always be a favorite of mine. A lot of beer snobs out there seem to hate sam adams for various reasons. I am definitely not one of those people. Some people think they are trying to become too big or too mainstream. I feel that sam adams beer helped pave the way for a lot of other craft beer. I feel that without Boston beer company, we might not have a lot of the beer we have today. When it comes down to it, the pride, passion and quality in a sam adams beer is undenyable and I respect Boston beer company for that no matter what others might think. Sam Adams Boston Lager helped make me realize what craft beer is all about and how damn good it is!
A lot of beer drinkers have told me how much they hate dark beer or imported beer. New Castle Brown Ale is the beer that made me realize how much I love darker beers especially brown ales. I could never get enough of the smooth,creamy, rich, nuttiness to this beer. This beer opened up a whole world (literally) of beers to try. I started drinking a lot more imported and darker beers because of this beer. Even though I love Porters and Indian Pale Ales a lot, my favorite style of beer will always be Brown Ales. Even though I have come across Brown Ales that I like better than New Castle, it will always be a favorite and I will always come back to it.
After going to the Vermon Beer Fest in Burlington for the first time a while back, this is when my passion for beer took another direction and went into hyperdrive. I have never even heard of Brooklyn Brewery at this point and I decided to stop by their tent and try something completely out there. I got a sample of Brooklyn Brewery's Local 1. An "american strong ale" completely 100% bottle fermented in a champagne-style bottle with the appropriate cork. This beer has almost 10% alcohol. However, it is nice and light and bubbly like champagne, some citrus, and very drinkable. I was immediately hooked. This spun me in a whole new direction, willing to try extreme beers and all about the bottle fermentation which was something I knew little about at the time. Luckily, I was able to find this at local stores so makes it even better. I continue to buy this beer for special occasions, to impress friends, or whenever I am craving it. It will always be a favorite and remembered as a major break out beer.
Whatever the beer might be, I think its pretty neat as beer drinkers to talk about what Beers broke you out of a pattern and changed your tastes forever.
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Saturday, March 12, 2011
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout
Once in a while, we come across that beer that flips your beer world around and changes the way you think of beer. I have been trying a lot of different dogfish head beers for a while now, all of them are good and a lot are just incredible! World wide stout is right up there! I purchased it for about $7 for a 12oz bottle, yes completely ridiculous but I am always willing to spend a little extra to get what I want. This beer was the darkest damn beer I have ever seen. I poured it into my beer glass and sipped it. It has the same qualities as a wine, you need to sip it slow to enjoy. It has this unique sweetness that I have never tasted in a stout before. I slowly drank and noticed the foam stayed there for almost the whole time I was drinking which was something I was intrigued by. The beer gave me a nice buzz with its 18% alcohol. I was expecting the beer to taste very heavy and like a hard licquor which I am not a fan of, but it was balanced and smooth. I rated this beer a 4.5/5 . It is not something I would drink all the time, more for special occasions and would be great for warming up during very cold weather! This is a must try for beer geeks and beer enthusiasts. Cheers!
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"Beer Wars"
If you have not yet seen the documentary "Beer Wars". I highly recommend it if you are a fan of beer. The film talks about all the things really wrong with the beer industry. Basically, after watching this film you will really want to lean more towards local breweries and not these mass-producing corporate giants. The big companies are more about profit than actually producing a decent quality beer. I am very impressed and excited to see the numbers grow of more people into craft and local beer. Dogfish head brewery is featured a lot in this film and if I had to pick I'd say they are easily my favorite brewery out there. So watch this film, grab a local brew, and keep supporting those who are just as passionate about their beer as you are!
Intro
Hello, Hello. My name is Adric, I have lived in New England all of my life (and plan on staying here). I have this crazy love and passion for food & beer (wine is good too) . I have been cooking since I was a little kid, I took classes on cooking, I went to culinary school, all that good stuff. I am no chef or beer snob expert, I am really just a regular guy that is so damn passionate about beer and food that I felt the need to make a Blog about it! I am a huge fan of craft beer. I have always loved beer. It was when I had first attended the annual Vermont Beer fest that my passion seemed to really take off. Since then I have been on an adventure to discover and keep track of all the beers around New England and all over the world that I sample. I would love to start brewing my own beer and who knows, maybe one day I will start my own brewery! One thing that will always remain is that Life is too short to drink crappy beer!
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