Past Newsletters
February 2007
Brewery
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Beers Featured
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| Clipper City Brewing Company | Peg Leg Imperial Stout |
| Two Brothers Brewing Company | The Bitter End Pale Ale |
| Clipper City Brewing Company | Gold Ale |
| Two Brothers Brewing Company | Domaine DuPage French Country Ale |
| Admams plc, Sole Bay Brewery (England) | Adnams Broadside |
| Anadolu Efes Brewery (Turkey) | Efes Pilsener |
Clipper City Brewing Company
The history of the largest craft brewery in the Baltimore area goes back to the mid-1980s when Hugh Sisson, owner and founder of Sisson's, a local restaurant and bar, first recognized the potential for a small brewery in Baltimore. He began his quest to get a brewery started by attempting to procure a license to brew beer at his restaurant, but quickly hit a wall due to prohibitive legislation preventing brewpubs in Maryland. So he began working with Senator George Della, Jr. to successfully lobby the Maryland General Assembly to pass legislation permitting brewpubs in MD. In 1989, the beer Gods smiled upon them, and Hugh began brewing at Sisson's, Maryland's first brewpub.
The move helped usher in the wave of craft brewing in Baltimore, and Hugh engrossed himself in the development and market recognition of both Sisson's brewpub and its beers, while simultaneously serving as this pioneering facility's first Brewmaster. Not only an anti-beer legislation warrior, he is also a member of the Master Brewers Association of America, the Institute for Fermentation and Brewing Studies and sits on the Executive Committee for the Mid-Atlantic Association of Craft Brewers.
After five years of brewing at Sisson's, Hugh decided to take his craft brewing to a larger platform by starting a full-scale microbrewery. Three guesses as to who stepped in to say he couldn't do it… that's right, the state. It seems that "they" (a.k.a. "the man") took issue with him owning both a brewpub and brewery. The logic behind this legal blockade? Your guess is as good as ours—this is the business model used throughout Europe for hundreds of years. Fortunately, Hugh was undaunted by the legal challenge, and did battle with the powers that be yet again, pulling out the win less than two years later. In early 1996, Clipper City Brewing, borrowing a Baltimore sobriquet as its name, officially began brewing on the scale Hugh had envisioned.
For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (410) 247-7822 or check out their web site at www.clippercitybeer.com.
After a few years of brewing, Clipper City recognized the potential of big beers in an increasingly savvy beer marketplace. Thus was born their Heavy Seas line, big beers that push the envelope by catering to the beer cognoscenti—like yourself! Pouring very dark brown with a deep tan head, this beer greets the nose with rich, roasted caramel notes, molasses and espresso tones. Aromatic hops also cut through the thick maltiness. The flavor profile is as rich and sweet as the nose, with a distinct mocha-character and a touch of citrusy hops. Finishes nutty, with coffee notes, and is mildly bitter for the style. Try it with chocolate cake.
Serving Temperature: 48-55° F
Int'l Bittering Units: 35.0
Alcohol by Volume: 8.0%
Suggested Glassware: Oversized Wine Glass or Snifter
Malts: Pale 2-Row, Chocolate, Crystal, Roasted Barley, Black
Hops: Warrior, Fuggle, Palisade, Simcoe
This 2000 Bronze medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival was the Official Beer of the Baltimore Bicentennial in 1997. On the nose, expect sweet malt scents with bold aromatic hops revealing notes of pine and citrus. Compared to the nose, the hop presence is subdued in the flavor, with light caramel malts making up the bulk of the profile with restrained hops contributing a floral note against the graininess that steps in just before the gently bitter finish. Overall, well balanced and highly drinkable. This beer goes down so smooth and easy, yet is full of character. Highly approachable, so if you're trying to sway your friends away from the big macros that dominate restaurants and bars across the country, this would be a good one to share as a way of weaning them away from the swill—and it's one you, as a beer connoisseur, can enjoy right alongside them! Great with grilled chicken dishes, pizza, or even a hearty California Cobb salad.
Serving Temperature: 38-46° F
Int'l Bittering Units: 25.0
Alcohol by Volume: 4.5%
Suggested Glassware: Pint Glass
Malts: Pale 2-Row, Wheat, Cryatal
Hops: Warrior, Hersbrucker, Cascade, Centennial
Two Brothers Brewing Company
Two Brothers Brewing Company is a small, family owned microbrewery located just outside of Chicago, Illinois, in Warrenville. Prior to starting the brewery, founders Jim Ebel and his brother Jason opened up The Brewer's Coop, a homebrewing and home winemaking shop. Between the two of them, they were seasoned homebrewers, and for years, they talked about starting a brewery.
Jason moved out west to hone his brewing skills at the Tabernash Brewery in Denver, Colorado, and also gained some experience at Mickey Finn's in Libertyville, IL. But the two still talked about starting their own brewery. Eventually, they drove their families just a little bit nuts with all the talk and finally decided to go for it and start a brewpub. But with no real financing and no experience in restaurant management, they decided a brewery would be a better bet. While planning, and working the shop, Jim earned his law degree and Jason earned his brewing degree at the famous brewing school known as the Seibel Institute in Chicago. Not a bad combo when setting out on a business venture like starting a brewery.
In 1996 they officially opened the brewery. Their goal was to bring fresh, quality brews to the Chicagoland area. Now in their 10th year, they continue to create traditional beer styles that most companies overlook, and have committed to brewing 10 artisanal beers this year to commemorate (and still run The Brewer's Coop—these guys are busy!). If you live in IL, MA, or PA, watch your store shelves for their stellar brews. We've featured a couple this month to whet your appetite.
For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (630) 393-4800 or check out their web site at www.twobrosbrew.com.
Read the label and you'll find the teaser about how this beer got its name. It's true, by the end of the glass, you might be bitter that there's no more beer left! Good thing we sent you a few bottles. This attractive copper-hued American pale ale gives notes of creamy maltiness on the nose, with hoppy accents of pine, orange peel, and spruce. On the palate, expect caramel and biscuity malts, with bitter hops, rounded out by a bit of lemon zest and a strong bitter finish. Goes well with just about all foods, particularly spicy dishes.
Serving Temperature: 40-45° F
Int'l Bittering Units: 36.0
Alcohol by Volume: 5.1%
Suggested Glassware: Pint Glass (standard or English)
Malts: Pale Ale, Caramel 10, Caramel 30, Carahell, Melanoidin, Biscuit
Hops: Centennial, Cascade, Mt. Hood
Domaine DuPage French Country Ale
Two Brothers B.C. pays keen attention to detail, from stylistic recreation of the little known Bière de Garde style (French farmhouse ale) to their label designs (notice how their brewery name is in French on the label of this beer). The name pays tribute to the Illinois county that the brewery calls home (named after the river of the same name, DuPage, after the French trader who settled there in the 18th century). Expect a nice woody, spruce-like character, with notes of straw, apples, peach and some musty yeast on the nose. The flavor progression is multifaceted and highly complex, beginning soft & lightly sweet with breaddy, caramel notes, broken by a bigger breaddy character that piques through with notes of dark cherries, and a bit of bourbon-esque alcohol flavor. This is all followed by a delicate spiciness, followed by a dry, grassy finish. Your palate is in for a wild ride with this one!
Serving Temperature: 40-48° F
Int'l Bittering Units: 24.0
Alcohol by Volume: 5.9%
Suggested Glassware: Tulip or Oversized Wine Glass
Malts: Vienna, Munich, Caramel Wheat, Caramunich, Melanoidin
Hops: Northern Brewer, Mt. Hood
Adnams plc, Sole Bay Brewery—Southwold, Suffolk, England (Central Eastern Coast of England)
If you've ever been to Great Britain, you've probably come across the famed English Pub. Then again, even if you've never set foot in the UK, you're probably still familiar with this famous institution. London is probably the best known English pub city, but the entire country is spotted with the classic pub. In the UK, pubs are often owned and operated by local breweries. With such an abundance of breweries scattered throughout the country, you can bet there are quite a few classic pubs. Head northeast of London to the eastern coast of England, to a region known as Southwold, odds are that the frothy beverage served in this sea resort town will carry the name Adnams. Set in this classic English coastal town, crammed with characteristically British pubs, Adnams is one of England's oldest and most respected breweries.
Their brewery in Southwold is known as the Sole Bay Brewery and has been brewing great beers under the Adnams name since at least 1872. However, more than 650 years ago the brewery began as the brewhouse of Southwold's oldest inn, the Swan. Brewing continued at the Swan until it burned down in 1659. The brewery house was then moved from the inn to its present location at the rear of Swan yard. For most of the 18th century the Swan, home of the Sole Bay Brewery, was owned by local legends the Thompson family, who gained a reputation for their fine ales. In 1825 the Swan was sold to a local maltster by the name of William Crisp for a mere £350.
Over the next 47 years, the brewery passed through a succession of owners until 1872 when the Adnams brothers, George and Ernest, purchased the brewery. Fast forward to 2001—Adnams is owned by the fourth generation of the Adnams family. It was in this year that Adnams gained the esteemed distinction of being "Britain's fastest growing brewery". In 2004, in recognition of their great brews, their head brewer was chosen as Britain's Brewer of the Year by a panel of his peers. If the brewing Brits approve, you know it must be good stuff! In 2007, they'll complete a six year period of renovations and upgrades, officially becoming the most energy-efficient brewers in the country. Good beer and eco-friendly—what more can you ask for? (besides another pint!)
For more information about the Adnams brewery visit www.adnams.co.uk.
The term "broadside" refers to ship-based cannon fire in which all the cannons on one side of the vessel are fired simultaneously. The technique was used quite successfully in the Battle of Sole Bay in 1672 during which the English dealt many a broadside in their successful fight against the Dutch. These days, if someone offers you a Broadside in the seaport down of Southwold—or anywhere for that matter—take it as an act of kindness rather than an offensive maneuver, for this is a fine brew indeed. As far as many pub ales go, this one packs a punch at 6.0% ABV, for the classic pub ale ABV runs between 4 and 5%. It's also a bit darker than many beers of this style (Extra Special/Strong Bitter), running an attractive amber-red color. It was awarded the Gold medal in the Strong Bitter category at the 2003 Great British Beer Festival. And for those who seek the stronger side of that typical English pub ale, this fine ale is a real find indeed. Pour yourself a glass right now and let's review this brew. We found that this beer had an aroma wrought with notes of anise/raisins as well as big, juicy malts, orange-scented yeastiness, and a bit of hop spice. Expect a juicy, biscuity flavor from generous portions of English Maris Otter. These flavors are offset by spicy and bitter elements from tangy English Challenger, Fuggles and Goldings hops. The chewiness of the malts carries though to the finish with a lingering sweet caramel flavor, which is quickly balanced by an ample bitterness characteristic of the style. This beer is fantastic with authentic English cheddar as a snack, or with spicy lobster.
Serving Temperature: 45-55° F
Alcohol by Volume: 6.0%
Suggested Glassware: English Pint Glass or Goblet
Anadolu Efes Brewery—Istanbul, Turkey (Northwestern Turkey)
Every now and again we get mail from our readers describing their visits to the breweries we've featured. We're going to wager that no one is going to send a letter describing their trip to Anadolu Efes Brewery, located in Bahüelievler-Haznedar—now, we know what you're thinking—isn't that in Jersey somewhere? No friends, it's in Turkey; in the historic city of Istanbul to be exact. Not that this wouldn't be a desirable brewery to visit—state of the art and always in operation, the Anadolu Efes Brewery might be a popular tourist spot for some, but for most of us, the remarkable historic sites of Istanbul will consume the majority of one's visit time.
Not well known for its brewing trade, Turkey has a relatively young beer industry as far as private enterprises are concerned. Beer production in Turkey began in 1890 through a brewery founded in Istanbul by two Swiss entrepreneurs. This brewery was later nationalized along with another in Ankara in 1939, during which time Tekel, a state enterprise, was the only beer producer in Turkey. Following a change in the brewing regulations in 1955 that permitted private enterprises to produce beer, the first breweries of Efes Beverage Group, Erciyas Biracilik and Ege Biracilik, started their operations in 1969. Since then, the Turkish beer market has shown significant growth. At the end of 2003 per capita beer consumption in Turkey reached 11 liters, a nearly three-fold increase from 4 liters in 1986. Even after this significant growth, per capita consumption in Turkey is still low compared to averages of Europe, the USA or even Eastern Europe. However, a growing tourism industry, changing consumption patterns and a developing economy are all contributing to an upswing of beer consumption in Turkey.
Today, the young and dynamic Anadolu Efes group has five breweries, two malteries and one hop processing facility located within the Turkish borders. Additionally, they control ten more breweries and two more malteries across a network that spans six nearby nations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, making them the fastest growing brewer in these, the fastest growing beer markets in the world. It would seem that as many civilizations before them have done, they too are using their strategic location in Istanbul, a city long recognized and fought over for its ideal position between the European and Asian continents, to their full advantage.
For more information about the Anadolu Efes Brewery, check out their web site at http://www.efesbev.com.
The name Efes has been synonymous with beer in Turkey since their Pilsener hit the scene in 1969. The country's #1 selling beer gets its light color and rich flavor from the pale "pils" malt chosen from Turkey's finest malting facility (Efes' own!). A combination of crystal clean water and time-tested yeast strain yields superb flavor, while Hallertau hops give it a crisp, mildly tart finish. "But what awards has it won", you ask? To name a few, a Gold Medal at the 1973 Selection Mondial Paris, another Gold at the 1981 Monde Selection Bruxelles, not to mention Silver medals at the same competition in 1996 and 2002, and a Bronze Medal at the 1996 World Beer Cup. Expect a mildly sweet flavor profile characteristic of European pilseners, complemented by a well-balanced bitterness in the clean, crisp finish. Our panel members enjoyed this Turkish classic with pan-seared scallops served with garlic-butter, topped with fresh parsley.
Serving Temperature: 38-45° F
Alcohol by Volume: 5.0%
Suggested Glassware: Pilsner Glass, Flute or Mug (clear)
