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!
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