Demystifying Craft Beer Jargon

When drinking beer around some beer snobs, "holier than thou" beer drinkers or even on the bottles of some beer, I sometimes run into terms and jargon that I have to take note of to look up later. This will be the first of many posts that will look at these words and define them and give them context. We will eventually not get lost when talking about beer with others or maybe even get to the point we can show off our beer knowledge.

• Barrel
• In the U.S. a barrel of beer holds 31 gallons or 2 kegs.
• Keg
• One keg of beer is 15.5 gallons or half of a barrel
• Case
• A case of beer is traditionally 24 12 oz bottles or an equivalent of that. This comes out to be about 7 cases of beer per keg.
• Body
• How thick a beer is. I usually only see this word being used in the positive, as in "a liquid has body", not "a liquid doesn't have body".
• Mouthfeel
• Describes how a liquid feels while in a person's mouth. This can be very similar to the body of that liquid, but can also describe the maltyness, acidity, and dryness of a liquid
• Dry Hopping
• Adding hops after the boiling process to the wort either immediately after the cooling process, during fermentation, or even sometimes (rarely) in the kegging/bottle conditioning stage. This adds aromatic elements to the beer and in some cases cuts the overall bitterness.
• IBU
• International Bitterness Units is a scale used to illustrate how bitter a beer is. Most beers fall between 1 and 100. However some brewers are pushing the envelop of their beers and raising the IBUs beyond 100. In my opinion, at a certain point, like Scoville units and hot sauces, the beer just becomes flat out bitter and I cant tell between one high IBU beer and the next.
• IPA
• India Pale Ale is a style of beer that comes from the colonial and imperial ages of Great Britain. Before the advent of refrigeration and pasteurization British brewers added more hops and increased alcohol levels preserving lighter beers for a long trip around the Cape of Good Hope of Africa to the Indian Subcontinent, which was a colony of the Empire (UK not Star Wars).
• Trub
• Sediment made of hop particles, proteins, and inactive yeast in the bottom of a brew kettle, fermentor, or even in a bottle from conditioning.
• Wort
• The result of boiling water with malt and hops before the addition of yeast in beer making process.
• Zymurgy
• The science of fermentation or brewing beer.

Next time I will review a reader's choice beer and I will also look at why distributors are important in the beverage industry, maybe even with some inside source information.

Shocking Winter Beer: New Belgium Accumulation White India Pale Ale

Until recently, I usually avoided winter beers, because I felt they were usually really thick and over powering. Man! Have I been missing out on great beer?!?! This is what I get for not reading labels or judging a beer by its name.

A couple of weeks ago, a good friend of mine, Pat, suggested I try out New Belgium's Accumulation White India Pale Ale. He sent the this picture with the suggestion to brighten my day on a what had been a pretty crappy day. Thanks to my buddy, my day brightened, I got this beer, and was surprised in a slump busting kind of way.

Opening and pouring this beer, I found the beer was clear and had a very good smell to it. Some would call it floral, but I always have a mental image of roses or tulips when I hear that. I would say that the beer smells very nice and makes me think of nature, so I can understand 'floral' description.

When I drink an IPA I generally expect a bitter beer that can sometimes feel like a punch in the mouth or on an extreme I am eating straight hops. If drinking an IPA for you is like skiing down a black diamond slope (really difficult and dangerous for novices), Accumulation would be a blue diamond (intermediate). Pat points out that a process called dry hopping during the brewing process takes the edge off the beer allowing the drinker to enjoy more of those 'natural' notes, and even some tastes lemon and grapefruit. In my opinion this beer is a very enjoyable beer and one I would suggest for a lot people wanting to find a good winter seasonally released beer.

The same night I reviewed this beer, two other friends of mine, Mandy and Denise responded to my previous challenge to try a new beer and tell me about it. Coincidentally enough they were both having the Accumulation. As you can see with conversation Denise didn't like the beer, and Mandy really did. Both of these reactions are great! Because they are trying new beer and formulating their own tastes in beer. They even point out a fruity aftertaste they got from the beer.  I really enjoyed hearing from these two. I look forward to hearing more from these two and others with their new beers.

I would rate the Accumulation White IPA a 9 out 10.

New Belgium is a brewery out of Fort Collins, CO that started in 1989 with a few basement home brews, including their current flagship beer, Fat Tire. They currently have plans to expand their operation with a second brewery in Asheville, NC by 2015. New Belgium is the 3rd largest craft brewery and eighth overall beer producer in the United States with a annual production of 764,424 barrels of beer, as of 2012. This is nearly doubling their production since 2006. They have a lot great beers which I will be reviewing soon.

Grains and Taps: Find new beers and make your own!

This last week I went to a new local homebrew supply store, Grains & Taps in Lee's Summit. The store is kind of small in old downtown area between 2nd and 3rd Streets on Douglas. I was expecting a just a homebrew supply store with equipment and ingredients. What I found was a couple of guys that are passionate about craft beer and showing the public that brewing your own beer is not a mystical process nor difficult to get started.

The guys of Grains & Taps had advertised a class for a brewer's software that lets a person formulate recipes, instructions, and even a shopping list based on a type of beer that they want to make. I have the software, BeerSmith 2, so I decided to take the class so that I could maybe take a step forward on my next beer I make at home. That is a different story though.

I had never taken a class at a store before so didn't know what to expect. However, what I didn't expect when I walked in the door, was a couple of couches and a beer menu with a pretty long list of options! I got a beer and talked with the people that showed up and we had a good time learning a lot, discussing brewing, and drinking (not necessarily in that order). 

Oh I forgot to mention the class was FREE and I just had to pay for the beer!

The next night Grains & Taps hosted a craft beer tasting, so I had to go to that. They came up with a great way to engage every one for this tasting. For $10 a person, they set up 20 beers to blind taste and answer questions about making it a friendly competition. I might have to do something like it at a party of mine.

So these guys have a wide selection beer that you can take with you or drink there. They know their stuff, so ask them if you have questions or are maybe looking for a new beer to try. They are down to earth and can help someone just starting out drinking new beers and they can get really indepth about beer for an advanced palette. If you think you might want to try your hand at home brewing, they will be able to get started or find that piece of equines that will take you to the next step. (I can see some of my friends raising a glass and saying, "To the next step!")

Tell them Alex sent you and they will join you in making fun of me. Take a look at their website, Grains & Taps.

Next time we will be looking at some terms to know when discussing beer. I will try to get a few more posts out this week.

Santa Fe Brewing Company Saison 88

Walking down the beer section of a local liquor store, I decided to build my own six pack. I like doing this so I don't have to choose between two six packs and chance six beers that are not necessarily my favorite.

While putting together the six pack, I saw a can with New Mexico's red sun from the state flag radiating over a mountain range. Around the bottom of the can read Saison 88, 25th Anniversary Ale. I decided to take a chance on the can as there has been a stigma against canned beer. The quality of canned beer is perceived to be lower than a bottled beer. So I took the beer home to review.

The time came for me to try the Saison 88. As I mentioned in my Lolita review, a saison is also known as a farmhouse ale. I opened the beer and poured it into a glass. Immediately I noticed that the beer had a light coloring, and a medium amount of head. I could smell the hops and the subtle citrus. This beer had light body to it and was light on the tongue. What the ale didn't have in body, it made up for in taste in a good way. Not overwhelmingly so as this beer had a good flavor with citrus from the hops and yeast used to brew and ferment the beer.

The Santa Fe Saison is a good beer if you want a lighter beer on a summer afternoon or if you just want something crisp to relax with. I feel this beer is a great example of a good canned beer, contrary to the popular belief about canned beer.

I give this beer an 8 out of 10.

Santa Fe Brewing Company is a growing company out of Santa Fe, New Mexico that started in 1988 hailing back to pre-prohibition roots. The brewery, by the same name in 1896, fell victim to industrialization and big beer pushing them out of the market. The current incarnation of Santa Fe Brewing Company is continuing to grow and connect with craft beer drinkers. An interesting event they do every week, Small Batch Saturday. The brewery invites local home brewers to collaborate with them to make 10 gallon batches that could even be featured in their tasting room or in bottles in stores.

Researching this beer has made me want to look more into different styles of hops, grains, and yeast to see their effect on the outcome of the beer as they are used during the brewing process.

Trying new beers and celebrating differences!

First I want to thank America, for waking up out of a dark time 80 years ago yesterday. On December 5th, 1933, the United States of America repealed the 18th Amendment, ending more than 13 years of Prohibition, and legalizing the manufacture, transportation and sale of intoxicating liquors. I say we celebrate this anniversary by legally enjoying some beer with friends.

In my last post I spoke about Arrogant Bastard Ale from Stone Brewing Company and how the beer challenges drinkers to step outside of the commercialized, cheap, and "easy" beers that most people are used to. While I liked the beer and ranked it decently, I really enjoyed getting the feedback from those who read the post and shared their point of view on the beer.

 My friend Alan wrote this about his experience:

"I do not think of myself as a novice when it comes to good craft beer. This challenge is nothing more than a great marketing tool used to sell an "ok" beer. The challenge worked. I bought the beer then when I didn't particularly like it, I questioned myself. Then bought more! Just to reconfirm my original judgement."

I really liked this comment, not because I agree with him. I liked what Alan said because he not only tried the beer, but he went out on a limb to do so. Sure he didn't like the beer but the confidence that he had to try new things so that he can find something he likes really impresses me. I know that Alan is going to go out and find another beer he does like.

The amazing part about beer is that there are SO MANY possibilities with variety and style. Each of us experiences the same beer differently, whether that's only slightly, or have, as Alan and I did, completely different experiences. I would love to hear about beers you have tried and didn't like or beers that were the most amazing thing you have ever tasted, and everything in between.

This is why I challenge you to go out and find a beer tonight or tomorrow night. Drink the beer and tell me about it. Tell me what beer it was. Did you like it? What did you like about it? What did you not like about it?

A popular rating system from Beeradvocate, has some good things to look for and keep in mind when tasting beer.

My favorite thing to do is to go to a brewpub like McCoy's in Westport, 75th Street in Waldo, similar places. I order their sampler and try each beer. After finishing those small beers, I order a pint(or more) of my favorite one of the bunch. While I don't review these beers, I really have fun talking about them with friends and family that I am with. Above is Square One Brewery in St Louis. Great food and amazing beer. Good place for a brunch on the patio. The picture with the fries and Sporting Kansas City flag is Haus in Martini Corner. These are just a few of the numerous spots around town that are amazing to try new beers, and I am always looking for more places.

So go out this weekend and try a new beer and tell me about it.

Coming up is a review Santa Fe's Saison 88, and the start to our vocabulary lesson.

Arrogant Bastard Ale: A beer named after me and a challenge

I found this beer when I didn't know exactly I was looking for. I was pacing the beer isle in a liquor store and I happen to see a bottle that had a challenge to me as a beer drinker. Arrogant Bastard Ale by Stone Brewing Company with a winged demon holding a tall mug of beer and this demon challenged me by saying I wasn't worthy. The side of the bottle went on to say:

"...It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory - maybe something with a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it's made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beverage will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think multi-million dollar ad campaigns make things taste better. Perhaps you're mouthing your words as you read this... "

Here is the rest of the bottle.

This beer spoke to me and challenged my status quo and I jumped on the opportunity to prove to the inanimate object that I not only was worthy to drink the beer but that I am the Beer Master!

The beer poured smooth, dark mahogany, and clear. The smell was like a caramelized sweetness, even though I could tell that it had a bitterness that I would associate with an IPA. When I tasted this beer the balance between the sweet maltiness and the bitter hops of this beer struck me. It was really good and the flavors mellowed as the beer warmed (the bottle is 22 oz.). This is beer is really good but like the bottle suggests if you are new to craft beer this beer may be out of your league. If I were a novice, I would personally take that as challenge to become more experienced.

Stone Brewing Company, from San Marcos, California, rolled its first keg (half barrel) out in July of 1996, and are projected 17 years later to produce more than 210,000 barrels of beer. This brewery knows its stuff and are going to make what it thinks is good beer, not worrying about pleasing the masses.

I give this beer an 8 out of 10.

Check out my new beer review page. This will have links to each of my reviews, ratings, and eventually links to help you find where to buy the reviewed beer.

Upcoming posts will include a review of Santa Fe Saison 88, a discussion on trying new beers, and the beginning of a vocabulary lesson.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! Enjoy a beer!

I am thankful for the ability to enjoy being with family, eating great food, and drinking great beer. I am thankful for my friends near and far. I hope to see each of you soon. I hope all of you enjoy your day and remember to be thankful for the blessings that you have.

 Today I am going to have Stone's Arrogant Bastard Ale. I will try to get a review of it up in the next few days.

While I am drinking and having quality family time I will be coming up with a few poll questions to ask over the next few weeks. I want to know what you guys think. If you have a question to put out there let me know.

Examples of questions would be:

1. When would be the best time to try a new beer?
2. What kind of beers are you afraid of?
3. What kind of beers interest you?
4. Who influences my beer choices the most?

Let me know! Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy a beer for me!

Founders Breakfast Stout

Some of you out there asked me to take a look at Founder's Breakfast Stout. So here it is!

I got this beer as I went to hang out with some of the guys. I didn't really know what to expect from a beer called a 'breakfast stout.' I found out quickly what it means when I opened the bottle and poured it into my glass. The beer poured very creamy, which looked like a black tomato soup. When I took a whiff of the beer, I couldn't quite place the smell right away. After a couple sips, I realized that I was being reminded of old school oatmeal. I felt like I had taken a bowl of oatmeal with the flavors of chocolate and coffee from the roasted malts it into a beer without all the chunks. The beer is not even really filling, especially for a oatmeal stout. All these flavors came together awesomely.

Next time I feel that I might take the beer out of the fridge for a little bit before I open it so the flavor profile might change and improve. I will let you know how that goes. 

There is one drawback. This beer is around $10 per four pack. This is a little steep but I think it is worth it for a great beer that tastes great. I would definitely keep an eye out for this beer in a liquor store near you.

I would give this beer an 8 out 10.

Founders Brewing company started in 1997 as Canal Brewing company in Grand Rapids, MI. Their early bottles had a the word Founders on it referring to the original breweries on Canal Street (now Monroe Avenue) in Grand Rapids. They soon became known as Founders Brewing company instead. As of 2013 Founders is in 25 states and is according to the Brewers Association, 30th largest craft brewer in the US and 41st overall.

After having this beer, I will be trying a lot more of Founder's beers such as Backwards Bastard (that is not the only beer named bastard out there).

What is a craft beer?: Part II: Artistry in a glass

In my last post I told you what craft beer isn't and that it shouldn't matter to you who makes the beer as long as it tastes good.

A few of my friends asked me if that definition says what craft beer is not then what IS craft beer? I had to think about this for awhile and this actually became a deep thought. (Right now I can hear my father saying ""Deep Thoughts" by Jack Handy".)

The best way for me to figure this out was to define the qualities that I find in common with beers that I consider to be craft beers.

• Quality
• A beer should be made with quality ingredients
• With the first drink a "Wow!" should be possible
• When drinking a beer I shouldn't feel like I am drinking flavored water. 
• Innovative
• Each beer I have should bring something new to the table
• This could be how the beer feels in my mouth, the aroma, or even just the taste should be unique
• Seductive
• I am still talking about beer, and not a woman in this case.
• A beer should always leave me wanting more (Kind of like a woman)
• Not to get drunk, but to keep me coming back

This to me are the qualities of a craft beer. Craft beer is all about the flavors, aroma, and experience. When drinking a craft beer, I love to take my time and enjoy unique profile of the beer. Beer to me is an art form. Some pieces of art are better than others. But I will appreciate the art, like some would appreciate a painting or sculpture. When it comes to beer, I have been called an elitist, particular, and even a beer snob.

Frankly, I am okay with these terms. Not that I look down on other beers (I do sometimes but that mostly to make fun of my friends). No, I am not going to settle and I will always look for the best beers I can. I get excited to walk into a bar or liquor store to find a new beer to try. This leads to me finding new beers from different areas, with different stories, profiles, ingredients, and experiences. This is why I don't drink the run of the mill, vanilla style beers of the masses.

This sampler of beer is from Flat Branch Brewery in Columbia, MO. If you are in the area, you should make a stop because the beer is wonderful and the food is a close second to the beer. 

Next time I will review Founder's Breakfast Stout.

What is a craft beer?: Part I: Craft vs big beer acting like craft

My parents would say that I was raised better than to drink cheap beer, because life is too short to drink cooking beer. Now by cheap beer, I don't mean that I have to spend a lot of money per beer for it to be a beer worth drinking. Cheap beer for me is a beer that has no real flavor. The only reason to have a light beer is to simmer a bratwurst in, that's why I call it cooking beer. But what is craft beer?

According to the Brewer's Association, you have to define an American craft brewer who by default makes craft beer. Their definition is that a craft brewer must be:

• Small:
  • Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less.
    • This is equivalent to 12 million kegs or 42 million cases of beer.
• Independent:
  • Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer.
• Traditional:
  • Generally uses ingredients to improve and enhance the flavor of the beer rather than lighten it.

In my opinion, this definition is very restrictive and categorizes a lot of beer as not craft beer.

1. A craft beer shouldn't be restricted to who makes it. Craft beer is craft beer.
• The contention that a large company can't make a quality product is similar to saying the Beatles couldn't write quality songs at the height of stardom.
2. The definition only allows for a brewer to produce 6 million barrels. This is only 0.1% of US annual beer consumption.
• The US consumes 20.3 gallons of beer per capita!
• A successful brewer by this definitions is no longer a craft beer maker.
• This punishes brewers who strive to allow more people to enjoy their craft.
3. According to the Brewer's Association, a sometimes wise business move to fund a life's passion means you are no longer a craft brewer.
• My local craft brewery gets an amazing infusion of capital and is able to expand it's market share and without changing their product, they are magically no longer a quality craft brewer.
• My favorite local restaurant expands with multiple franchises, am I not supposed to like them any more?
• Boulevard, Goose Island, Leinenkugel's wouldn't be considered craft beers by this definition.

I recently saw this image floating around the internet and twitter. This poster makes the argument that the Big Beers (i.e. Anhesuer-Busch/InBev, MillerCoors) are trying to grab market share in the craft beer segment. These Big Beer Companies have a wide range of brands, most of which used to be independent brewers before being acquired. As you can see this poster paints these brands in a very negative light.

WRONG!

I will start off by agreeing with the idea that quality or traditional ingredients that enhance the flavor of a beer are paramount to a craft brewer. However past that I would have to disagree with the conclusions and generalizations made by this poster. Defining a brewer strictly on how much it can produce, where financial assets come from, and where the ownership tree happens to go is kind of a ridiculous standard. If you wanted to stick to 'craft beers' that followed this definition you would miss out on a lot of beer, and you would spend more time researching breweries, than drinking beer. Leave the research to me.

Morals of the story: 

1. Drink beer that tastes good to you. 
2. Try new beers.
3. Read this blog to find them! <<< VERY IMPORTANT MORAL!!

Part II: Artistry in a Glass

Southern Tier Creme Brulee

I went out last Saturday night to a few bars with some friends and I couldn't decide what I wanted to drink at a particular bar that had quite a few taps. If you know me, I know you are shocked but sometimes this is a dilemma for me as I will take a long time considering what beer I will choose, not wanting to pick the wrong beer. Coming up with a way to make this easier for me might be a topic for another post.

Anyway, my choice last Saturday night was made easy when a friend Amy asked for a Sam Adams stout and the bartender said they didn't have the beer. He then suggested for her to try another beer, a Southern Tier Creme Brulee Imperial Milk Stout. Amy was kind enough to let others in our group try her beer, including me. I was so floored by the sip I had, that I had to get a glass of my own to get a full appreciation for the beer.

This beer pours with a deep black hue with brown frothy head on top. You can immediately smell the vanilla and the sugar that makes you think of a desert. With the first sip, most wouldn't know that this beer was a beer, because the common beer characteristics of bitterness and hoppiness weren't present. Any bitterness tasted like a coffee that would get from Starbucks. Think a creme brulee mocha frappuccino exchanging the caffeine with alcohol.

Whenever I look at a menu of beer and read the words imperial milk stout, I hesitate to order the beer as I feel sometimes a stout can be a meal by itself. This beer will make me reevaluate this preconception and I might drink more stouts in the future.

I would give this beer a 9 out of 10.

For those wondering Southern Tier Brewery is located in Lakeland, New York just outside Syracuse. Operating since 2002, Southern Tier has expanded steadily due to an increasing demand for their quality craft beers. You can usually find these beers in most beer coolers and bar taps that have more than six taps.



What has been the craziest beer you have had? Either by name or taste. I might have to try a few of them.

My next post will be about deciding what a craft beer is and who can make a craft beer.

The next beer I review will be Founder's Breakfast Stout.

Goose Island Lolita American Wild Ale

I recently had a Goose Island's Lolita, their American Wild Ale. This sour beer came in a wine bottle that was trying to make the beer have a classier feel with a white label and even a white wrap around the cap, like the one you would find on a wine bottle.

The beer came out a deep red and I could tell right away that this beer would be an interesting experience. I first noticed the smell as it confused my nose. I couldn't decide if the smell was good or overwhelming. I took a sip and was summarily punched in the mouth by the flavor of this beer. I was hit by the fruit flavor with an infusion of raspberry and hints of a wine. This is understandable because the beer spent the fermentation process in an French oak barrel that had previously been used to make Cabernet Sauvignon. While this wasn't my first sour beer, this would be a good beer for those that want to try a good sour beer to get their feet wet. The only hesitation would be that the beer is $20 for 765mL or a little more than a wine bottle's worth.

I will be looking for a more affordable starter sour beer in the near future. If you know of one let me know!

Goose Island Brewery is a brewery that has quite a few similarities to Boulevard. Goose Island was founded in May of 1988 in Chicago after it's founder John Hall went to Europe and experienced the regional beers of the different countries he visited. Demand for their craft beer grew and they had to expand rapid. By 2011, Goose Island attracted the Attention of Anhueser-Busch and InBev, so much so that AB/InBev acquired the Chicago company. Since then it appears the company has kept its quality beer and identity.

I give the beer a 7 out of 10 mostly because of the price even though it was all around good beer.

My next post will be about a dessert beer I found last weekend, Southern Tier Creme Brulee Imperial Milk Stout.

The sky is not falling and a look into the farmhouse

The social media fallout about Duvel's recent purchase of a controlling stake in Boulevard Brewing Company has been enormous and filled with fear and hurt. These feelings most likely stem from the loyalty to a hometown icon of the past nearly 25 years and the uncertainty of the future.

 I was very surprised by the news. I will admit that I was afraid. I didn't want one of my favorite beers to change. You hear of mergers and acquisitions, where the company was purchased just for the name and the rest being dismantled and discarded. That would be horrible!

However, I did some research approaching the subject with a business framework. I came up with some positives and negatives for the move by John McDonald.

Negatives?

• Does it suck that Boulevard sold from a Kansas City pride standpoint?
  • Yes, but not for John McDonald. He got his American dream. He got paid very well for all of his hard work, and now can spend time with his family.
    
• Does it suck that Boulevard is no longer wholly domestically owned?
  • Yes, but that is more a pride issue where you should be more proud of the accomplishment.

Positives?

• Should I be scared that the quality of Boulevard beer will decline?
  • No. I don't need to worry because historically Duvel, while acquiring similar craft breweries, has kept them in intact, but more on that later. The really exciting part is that Duvel will give Boulevard an influx of cash allowing the brewery to make more of my favorite beer and then open established distribution lines allowing me to have my favorite beer in New York, California, Florida, and eventually internationally.
    
• Should I be worried that Duvel will move Boulevard operations out of Kansas City?
  • No. In fact the owner of Duvel is eyeing Kansas City as the center for company operations in the US. This could be interesting for me as it might provide me an opportunity to one day work in the brewing industry.

There are quite a few of positives and very few negatives for this transaction for everyone involved, but I will let you do some additional reading from the Kansas City Business Journal.

If you still feel the Boulevard sale is bad thing here is some reading from the magazine Esquire.

One of the domestic breweries that Duvel had previously acquired is Ommegang Brewery out of Cooperstown, New York. I recently picked up a bottle of their Hennepin Farmhouse Saison. I wanted to see the quality of the beer to help assuage my fears of declining quality for Boulevard.

For those who aren't familiar with a farmhouse ale or a saison beer, this is a beer that used to be made in 19th Belgium and France as a refreshing drink for farm workers during the heat of the summer. During this time the alcohol content was around 3.5%. Over the next couple of centuries that alcohol content has more than doubled in most farmhouse ales.

Ommegang's Hennepin is a very crisp beer which slight different from other farmhouse ales. You can taste the citrus flavors and I would consider this a hoppy beer, but not in your face like an IPA. This 7.7% beer is very similar to Boulevard's Tank 7. I would definitely suggest this beer for anyone wanting to try something new.

I would give this beer a 7 out of 10.

Have a night and go try something new!

Manifesto

Every beer has some combination of grain, hops, yeast, and water. This is true for every type of beer from the mass produced Bud Light and Miller Lights to the small batch brews that people will make in the comfort of their own home. When I have a nice cold brew in front of me I really like finding the differences that develop the spectrum of colors, flavors, and aromas.With this blog, I am going to explore the all of these beers, the jargon of the industry/science of brewing beer, and other topics that come to mind and inspire my fingers to move across the keyboard. My endgame of my ranting would to be help others find new beers to try, breaking preconceived notions of what 'good' beer is and is not. I want to help people find an appreciation and understanding of craft beers.

I will start with a simple concept but one that is not very well known. All beers fall within two categories; ales and lagers. Every style of beer can trace it's attributes to either one of these archetypes. Here are a few of the different styles of beers out there.

Amber Ale American Double / Imperial IPA American IPA American Pale Ale (APA) American Porter American Stout Lambic Saison / Farmhouse Ale Tripel Witbier English Brown Ale India Pale Ale (IPA) Porter Russian Imperial Stout Hefeweizen Kölsch Irish Red Ale Scottish Ales

American Lager American Adjunct Lager American Amber Lager American Pilsner American Malt Liquor American Pale Lager Light Lager Czech Pilsener Bock Doppelbock Eisbock German Pilsener Maibock / Helles Bock Oktoberfest

Most people in this country keep only to one style that being the American Adjunct Lager (i.e. Bud Light and Miller Lite). 

In a country that calls its self the land of the free, we certainly seem to be slaves to Big Beer producers and afraid to step outside of the norm and try the lesser known beer. 

So join me on my journey through the world of beer. Or if you are too scared you can live vicariously through me.

I am just saying...