Beer Pick of the Week
Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer Producer: Crabbie's Location: Glasgow, Scotland Style: Ginger-infused lager Alcohol: 4.8% IBUs: Unknown Serving type: 11.2 oz bottles Availability: Distributed in California and much of the rest of the U.S. year 'round Appearance: Golden, real golden. Really great carbonation, similar to a Belgian. Aroma: Not overbearing, but smells like sweet ginger Taste: Carbonation on the front of the tongue. A light sweetness lingers on the roof of the mouth, but not in a “gelato” way. Finishes with a long—but subtle—ginger character. Some ginger beers would burn your throat going down, but not this one.…
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Idiot IPA Producer: Coronado Brewing Co. Location: Coronado, California Style: Imperial India Pale Ale Alcohol: 8.5% IBUs: 90 Serving type: 4-pack bottles, 22 oz. bottles, draft Availability: Year around in much of the U.S. Appearance: Golden/Amber Aroma: Somewhat floral Taste: Medium bodied, citrus and pine. Quite bitter. Food Affinity: Try with slow-cooked and very spicy pork ribs, finished with a pineapple glaze. General Background: Sampled on draft. Great tap handle featuring Hotel Del Coronado reference from this San Diego area brewery . --reviewed by Dan Clarke, a writer and editor in Sacramento, California
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Mongo Producer: Port Brewing Co. Location: San Marcos, California Style: Double IPA Alcohol: 8.5% IBUs: Unknown Serving type: 12 oz. bottles, draft Availability: Year round in National Distribution Appearance: Golden/yellow Aroma: Hoppy Taste: Smooth in the mouth with a sharp finish. Reasonably hoppy without being overpowering. Food Affinity: Grilled swordfish. General Background: Though the product is available in bottle (see picture at right), this week's "Pick" was sampled from draft. --reviewed by Michael Mallett, a transpersonal astrologer in Sacramento.
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Petrus Aged Pale Ale Producer: Bavik Location: Belgium Style: Red/Brown Ale Alcohol: 7.3% IBUs: Unknown Serving type: 11-oz. Bottles Availability: National distribution in the U.S. through the year, but in limited quantities. Appearance: Very light amber Aroma: Apple cider, grapefruit Taste: Bright, lemony and very sour (that's a good thing!). This is a brew that invites reflection. Savor it. Contemplate your life and consider a trip to Flanders. Food affinity: Reviewer thought the crisp acidity would work as counterpoint to chicken prepared with a sticky citrus or apricot glaze or accompanied by a chutney-like fruit sauce. A friend…
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Bonfire Producer: Napa Smith Brewery Location: Napa, California Style: Brewery defines as “Imperial Porter” Alcohol: 8% IBUs: 30 Serving type: 12 and 22-oz. bottles and draft Availability: Winter season in all of California and about 15 other states. Appearance: Dark/Dark/Dark. Big beige head. Aroma: Hard to define. Taste: Winery suggests trying "our winter warmer--and set the night on fire!" Our bottle didn't trigger such excitement, but as an alternative to sitting in front of the fireplace with a glass of Port, it would be o.k. We enjoyed its warming, malty presence and the coffee and toasty aspects. Subtle…
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Pale 31 Producer: Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Location: Paso Robles, California Style: California Style Pale Ale Alcohol: 4.9% IBUs: 38 Serving type: 12 oz. bottles and draft Availability: Widely distributed in the Far West, also in Colorado, Arizona and in the Chicago area. Appearance: Deep golden amber. Not many bubbles. Aroma: floral, malty. Taste: Easy-drinking, malty, refreshing. Food Affinity: Split pea soup, topped with some crispy crumbled bacon and a slice of brown bread. General Background: Firestone produces an array of beer styles. The “Pale 31” name of this one relates to California being the 31st state…
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Anchor Steam Beer Producer: Anchor Brewing Location: San Francisco, California Style: A hybrid lager/ale* Alcohol: 4.9% IBUs: 32 Serving type: 12 oz. bottles and draft Availability: Distributed year-round across the U.S. Appearance: Light amber to medium copper color. Creamy white head. Aroma: Won't show much if beer is too cold. At ideal temperature there's some nice citrus with a hint of spice. Taste: Opens malty with some subdued bitterness in the background. There seems a brightness throughout. Finishes crisply. Food Affinity: More food-friendly than most IPAs, it would complement many dishes. This time of year we'd suggest…
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Celebration Ale Producer: Sierra Nevada Location: Chico, California Style: American IPA Alcohol: 6.8% IBUs: 65 Serving type: 12 oz. bottles and draft Availability: Distributed across the U.S. in fall and winter Appearance: "Amber/copper color below an off-white head." Aroma: "Floral, citrus and a bit resiny." Taste: "Full and malty at first, it fills the mouth. Hops soon take over, however. Long and satisfying finish." Editor's note: Unlike many breweries which which create a deliberately different winter brew each year, Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale is brewed to the same style year in and year out. Food Affinity: "Cheeses:…
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Jubelale Each year Deschutes commissions a new label for Jubelale. Above is the 2012 edition, celebrating the brew's 25th AnniversarProducer: Deschutes Brewery Location: Bend, Oregon Style: Strong Ale Alcohol: 6.7% IBUs: 60 Serving type: 12 oz. bottles and draft Availability: Seasonally distributed October – December in 17 states in the western US and in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Appearance: “Poured into a large wine glass, the Jubelale exhibited a big oatmeal-colored head which dissipated fairly quickly. Remaining beer in the glass was fairly dark, but showed a brighter reddish-brown when held up to…
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