Just found out that Leinie's is putting out a Fireside Nut Brown Lager this year instead of their delicious Apple Spice. Arg.

Labels: Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing

The Muddy Pig had its first annual Belgian Beer Festival this weekend, and Jess and I stopped by for the True Lambics seminar on Saturday. At noon.

(Aside: I don't get why putting cherries in your beer a hundred-odd years ago because you were a cheapass (as we learned) is totally authentic and awesome, but adding some other fruit (like Chapeau's pineapple, or even Miller Chill's lime, if you have my brother's tastes) because it tastes good is a total breach of brewer's etiquette. Maybe this is because I started drinking with Colaweizen — delicious, delicious Colaweizen — but it bothers me when beer snobs go from "there's a lot more to beer than Budweiser" to "Oh no, you can't do that to a beer.")

The tasting itself was a little frustrating. I was still stuffed up and the guy kept talking about how important it was to smell the beer.

I know! I wish I could!

A lot of what he said was familiar, but there was some cool info, e.g. that the cherry pits actually dissolve when you're fermenting this cherry lambic. And (without getting into specifics) we got to try some beers that I guarantee I will never see ever again.

There were a few people (including Jess) who were taking notes, which is #1. pretentious and #2. something I want to do more often. I've got the perfect craft project in mind too.

Anyways, I didn't pay too much attention to beer names, since I wasn't really equipped to adequately taste these beers, but there were a few standouts I'll try to revisit. (Note to self: get the names of those from Jess.)

After trying 13 beers we hung around for a few more hours, talking with Mike and his daughter Jessica, who was intrigued by Jess' Book of Lists. We talked a lot about the beers we were tasting, but there was some interesting conversation too (although "as a libertarian" I'm always very nervous when talking to public schoolteachers).

Mike paid for our beers when he left, which was amazing. Jess and I stayed for a few more rounds and then I drove home to nap and get ready for Graham's b-day party in Minneapolis.

I finally understand the whole "I'm tried from drinking all day" thing.

Labels: Faro, Fruit Lambic, Gueuze, Lambic, The Muddy Pig

Oh my god, why did I not see a doctor about this years ago? I just gave myself a few sprays of Flonase and this New Belgium Skinny Dip is so sweet, and just a little grassy. Hurrah for blondes!

I won't claim that I suddenly have super powers, but it's clear that I'm a little out of practice when it comes to actually tasting my beers. I would have reflexively gulped this down if not for the smell.

And the doc said that the cumulative effect of this stuff is substantial (the Flonase, not the beer — but also the beer), so in between the spray and my neti pot I think I have my senses under control. No more Belgian Beer Fest debacles (about which more later).

Now if I could just figure out what makes me this way every winter... next stop, the allergist.

Labels: American Blonde Ale, New Belgium Brewing, Skinny Dip

On my way to go camping this weekend I stopped at a liquor store to get some beers; unfortunately, my cooler is too narrow for regular bottles, so it was between Red Stripe and Negro Modelo. I do want to revisit Red Stripe at some point (it's been at least two years), but I had to go with the dark, caramel goodness of Modelo.

Whenever I buy something like this — that is to say, something I'm used to getting at the bar — I always feel especially thrifty. I mean, six beers for what I would normally pay for one?

(Why did I refuse to buy that six-pack of Hopslam again? Was it really because it was as expensive as two pints of Hopslam at the bar?)

PBR and Premium were there for us when the Modelo ran out, but without any game or other real reason to keep drinking, I stopped well before I got too drunk, i.e. the point where I would be hungover the next day. This is progress.

I went to Mankato on Saturday, and The Sugar Room there turned out to be kind of a cool bar.

(Although they apparently cleared off Brooke's friend Wes' drink when it was still 2/3 full, which would be beyond strange. I have an easier time believing that someone stole it.)

I had a Summit EPA, my second-favorite Summit after the Great Northern Porter, and because I was feeling adventurous I followed that up with a Guinness.

That... wasn't very good. Guinness has a reputation as a finicky beer ("have you had it on tap," "have you had it in Europe," etc.) and for whatever reason this particular draft didn't impress me.

Yesterday with dinner I had my last New Glarus Organic Revolution. I kept grabbing those from the fridge because I didn't want to drink anything too dark or too special, but it's actually really good.

Labels: APA, Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V., Guinness, Guinness Ltd., Irish Dry Stout, Negro Modelo, New Glarus Brewing, Organic Revolution, The Sugar Room, Vienna Lager

I had two beers at the Happy Gnome tonight; this was a somewhat dubious decision, since I seem to be coming down with something, but the Internet claims that if you're not getting intoxicated, then the immune system isn't noticeably affected.

Whatever. I had another Flat Earth Bermuda Triangle. Once again it wasn't as malty as I'm used to for a tripel, but I like it nonetheless. For my second beer I had the Ommegang Hennepin. An increasingly unseasonable standby.

Jess ordered an Avery Reverend. I've had this before at Town Hall and liked it, but she was put off by a metallic aftertaste that seemed wrong. Jess had me double-check that she wasn't crazy, and there was definitely a strong copper taste at the end. The waitress told the owner and he did something to fix the problem, but when the next glass still had a bit of that copper taste, Jess switched to the Maudite from Unibroue. I tried a sip and it was crazy flowery. I'll have to check that out later.

Labels: Bermuda Triangle, Brewery Ommegang, Flat Earth Brewing, Hennepin, Saison, The Happy Gnome, Tripel

I had a beer with my videogames tonight: a Southern Tier Imperial Cherry Saison.

I'm not soured on Southern Tier or anything, but it was far inferior to the same beer at the Blue Nile — I'm not sure if that's because this was bottled not draft, because it spent so much time in my fridge, or because I've been stuffed up lately.

Whatever the reason, I could prettymuch only taste the alcohol, with hints of goodness every now and then.

Labels: Imperial Cherry, Saison, Southern Tier Brewing

Went to the Gnome with Barry tonight. Don't go there on a weekend night, it's way different.

Basically he just wanted to give me some stuff to scan, but we ended up hanging out for a few hours, i.e. for two pints of Surly Hell and a pint of the new Bermuda Triangle, a tripel from Flat Earth.

I'd like to try it again as a first, rather than last beer, but it was still pretty decent. It didn't seem as malty or complex as most of the tripels I've had, but it's nice to have another beer I like from Flat Earth.

Labels: Bermuda Triangle, Flat Earth Brewing, Hell, Surly Brewing

Yesterday Jess, Rachael, Markie and Our Bold Hero went to Stub and Herb's for drinks before Project Runway. They have a great happy hour, but Ben advises you to stay away from the BBQ wings. So stay away.

I started off with a Surly Hell lager, a great session beer (we almost got a pitcher), but after that I caved and ordered a Leinie's Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout.

I've been trying really hard to drink seasonally... but it was overcast! That's almost like fall! It was foolish though, since most of the other craft beers were $3.50 for happy hour and these were like $5 apiece. Not a huge waste of money, but still.

So good. Rachael, not a huge beer fan, said it "didn't taste like beer" (this is a compliment), but a whole glass was too much for her to finish... which meant another glass for me. I really liked it, but since I seem to like all Imperial Stouts, who knows how it stacks up.

I'd love to have a tasting, but Graham made a good point recently about how Pepsi generally wins tastes tests even though people, when they want to drink more than a sip, are happier with Coke. So maybe I'd just end up with the sweetest Imperial and not the best. Then again, it would be fun.

Markie and Jess were overjoyed when I mentioned that this place still served Coffee Bender. To each his own. I didn't so much as try a sip, so my worst decision yesterday would have to be drinking some wine during Runway. I like having something to sip on while I watch t.v., but it could just as easily have been water.

I'm still working on avoiding that last, pointless glass of alcohol after a night at the bar.

Bonus Big Eddy story: When I was last in Chippewa Falls, home of Leinenkugel's, a clerk at the liquor store explained that Big Eddy was contract-brewed in Madison and currently not available — Leinie's was going to tell them as soon as it was. She was a bit... surprised when I mentioned that a bar in Minnesota has had it on tap for months.

Labels: Big Eddy, Hell, Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing, Munich Helles Lager, Russian Imperial Stout, Stub and Herb's, Surly Brewing

Work was pretty soul-crushing today, so I was happy to hear back from Barry about getting together. I stopped at his place after work, and one coin flip later we were at the Muddy Pig.

I've got to stop using the booths at that place: both the bar and the outside area are definitely better options. For one, they aren't right next to the men's bathroom.

I started off with a Flat Earth Curly Tail Ale, a nice no-nonsense drinking beer. Originally brewed for St. Paul Saints games, if I'm remembering correctly. Next I had a Heavy Weizen, a so-called "Imperial Unfiltered Wheat Ale" from Southern Tier. It seems like we just started getting Southern Tier beer here in Minnesota, and so far I'm impressed. Someday I'll have that Imperial Cherry Saison that's in the fridge. Maybe tomorrow.

Barry and I both had Furious for the last round. All I caught was the grapefruit aftertaste, which faded by the time I got halfway through the glass. I definitely need to get out the netty pot, because I remember this beer being considerably more complex.

Labels: American IPA, Curly Tail Ale, English Pale Ale, Flat Earth Brewing, Furious, Heavy Weizen, Hefeweizen, Southern Tier Brewing, The Muddy Pig

Let's review two different methods of not getting too drunk:

Stopping after two beers at happy hour: smart
Overeating at the company picnic: not smart

I was stuffed, and so while I enjoyed the conversation with Jess (and eventually Barb and Markie and Shelley) at the Happy Gnome yesterday, I was in no condition to enjoy more than the first half pint of my beloved Fatty Boombalatty, and I had to nurse the Surly Cynic I ordered afterward.

Barb really likes the Tyranena Scurvy. It takes all kinds, I suppose...

At Barry's I excitedly poured everyone a half-glass of New Glarus Raspberry Tart. It was good, maybe very good, but personally I didn't think it lived up to the rather extreme hype it got from Beer School. I'd like to try it again at some point, as a first beer rather than a end-of-the-night affair on a full stomach, and I'm excited that there's a good, relatively inexpensive domestic framboise... but I'm not a Raspberry Tart apostle just yet.

(I also got to try a bit of Barry's Flat Earth Convention Ale. It might be a bit too smoky for me.)

Labels: Belgian Pale Ale, CynicAle, Fatty Boombalatty, Fruit Lambic, Furthermore Beer, New Glarus Brewing, Raspberry Tart, Saison, Surly Brewing, The Happy Gnome