Past Newsletters
November 2007
Brewery
|
Beers Featured
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| Sherwood Forest Brewers Limited | Sheriff’s IPA |
| Flying Dog Brewing Company | Road Dog Scottish Porter |
| Sherwood Forest Brewers Limited | Archer’s Ale |
| Flying Dog Brewing Company | Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale |
| Brasserie des Géants (Belgium) (Giants’ Brewery) |
Noël des Géants |
| Brasserie Thiriez (France) (Thiriez Brewery) |
Bière de Noël |
Sherwood Forest Brewers Ltd.
"…Sherwood Forest has been considered an enchanted place, home to myths, legends and many a story of honor, tradition and loyalty." So reads the website for Sherwood Forest Brewers Ltd.—explaining the meaning behind their choice in name. Since their inception in 1997 and until just recently, they've brewed one beer and one beer alone: Archer's Ale. Taking a cue from Sherwood Forest's number one resident, Robin Hood, the philosophy behind this beer has been to deliver precision accuracy (stylistically) and consistency (quality), while delivering us from the evil of the tyrant Sheriff of Nottingham (macro-brewed swill).
And like Robin Hood, this particular archer has earned itself a place in lore: it was only the 3rd beer in the country available in a can (Sherwood Forest was just the 2nd company in the U.S. to can). "Microbrewed beer in a can?!?" you cry with disbelief. "Why would you do that?" Well, if you haven't already taken notice of this trend, it's happening all around the world as microbrewers realize that canning microbrewed beer is a cheaper, more portable, more protective way to package their products. For years, it's been a tough sell, as people reported that canned beers had a metallic flavor. But developments in canning technology have yielded a protective lining that prevents the beer from ever contacting the metal of the can.
If you live near a park/beach/river and wanted to bring along some craft brewed beer, you'll have noticed that most prohibit glass bottles—leaving few options for microbrewed beer lovers (or, think back to your last flight; any good canned beer there? Nope.) Other benefits? Turns out canning equipment is actually cheaper than bottling lines, providing a break to start-up microbreweries. But probably the best reason to can is the fact that cans offer superior protection to beer—no oxidation (from air leakage around the bottle cap) and no skunking by light strike!
We tip our hats to these guys for having the guts to can when so few would dare, and for putting something worth drinking in those cans!
For more information, check out their web site at www.sherwoodbrewers.com.
Don't let the Aragorn-meets-Disney-cartoon-meets-'The Rock'-Sheriff on the label put you off; the beer is much better than the label might suggest. The nose is sharp, with a strikingly edgy hop aroma featuring citrus, resinous pine notes and herbal qualities approaching chamomile and, well, we'll just say it, mentholated juniper (here come the e-mails…). The beer has a very long-lived bitterness that goes right to the salivary glands and attacks! (You'll actually feel it). These are all good things for us hopheads. Expect pungent hop flavors, pine and woody flavors all to come through in the flavor, anchored in the finish by a profound bitterness. You'll want to pair this with something spicy, like the recipe found here: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/105195 for broiled shrimp with spicy ginger-lime butter (we doubled the dose of cayenne pepper, skewer-grilled rather than broiled, and loved it with this brew).
Serving Temperature: 45-55° F
Int'l Bittering Units: 60.0
Alcohol by Volume: 6.0%
Suggested Glassware: Pint Glass or Oversized Wine Glass
Malts: 2-Row, Crystal, English Caramalt
Hops: Nugget, Centennial, Cascade
While made famous as a canned beer, our shipping format requires bottles. But we encourage you to seek out canned microbrewed beers so you can see for yourself that canned beer CAN taste great! On the nose, expect a slight whiff of white grapes to mingle with the bigly sweet maltiness. Look for hints of pear and fresh barley grains, sweet bread dough and some toasty caramel notes with very little hop aromatics. The flavor profile is, by contrast, unexpectedly bitter; expect that bitterness to coat the palate and then decay, allowing the sweeter malty notes to develop late. A lightly peppery hop note develops in the finish, with a gin-like berry flavor. Try with Ceviche or Semolina (you can find a recipe for the latter here: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/240114).
Serving Temperature: 45-50° F
Int'l Bittering Units: 18.0
Alcohol by Volume: 5.3%
Suggested Glassware: Pint Glass or Dimpled Mug
Malts: 2-Row, English Dark, Caramalt
Hops: East Kent, Fuggle
Flying Dog Brewing Company
Flying Dog has gained nationwide success since the brand was founded in 1990. By combining bold, uncompromising craft beers with branding that captures the irreverent spirit of today's beer drinker, they've created quite a few canine-inspired "characters" in the beer world. Not surprising, considering what an interesting character founder George Stranahan is. The heir to a multi-million-dollar fortune from the Champion Spark Plug company, he was never content to simply live the trust-fund life. Early on he rejected authority and the stuffy, elitist attitude of the wealthy, opting to pursue a PhD in Physics. In 1959 he proposed what has become the Aspen Center for Physics. Since then, he's been a cattle rancher, pal of Hunter S. Thompson, whiskey distiller, barkeep & cook, trusted publican, brewery owner and investor.
Clearly, a can-do spirit like his has much to do with the success of Flying Dog, including their recent expansion east, where they purchased the Wild Goose Brewery in Frederick, Maryland to serve as an east coast brewing center for their growing brand. Yes, this dog truly is flying, all around the country—and into Europe! Flying Dog's beers are now available in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Austria, Italy, UK and Holland with more to come. As they say, in their forever-irreverent style, "we are taking this bitch international!"
For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (303)-292-5027 or check out their web site at www.flyingdogales.com.
This was Flying Dog's first beer to be illustrated by Ralph Steadman. It also boasts a colorful tag line, which we'll let you find for yourselves, that landed them in a civil rights battle before they regained the right to print it. Look for a creamy, soft malty nose with a prominent nuttiness and a yeasty fruitiness. That nuttiness carries through in the flavor, providing peanut- and walnut-like notes (the latter is more evident in the finish). Finishes with a slight note of scotch & maple syrup. Pair with Havarti cheese, melted over multi-grain wheat bread.
Serving Temperature: 50-55° F
Int'l Bittering Units: 31.0
Alcohol by Volume: 5.3%
Suggested Glassware: Thistle or Pint Glass
Malts: 2-Row, Crystal, Black, Chocolate, Black
Hops: Warrior, Cascade
Doggie Style… wow. The guys at Flying Dog certainly have not been neutered if you get what we mean… They're not afraid to bark for your attention, that's for sure. Pale? Nope. No matter, it's damned tasty. This style is typically best served around 40-45 degrees, but this puppy really gets frolicking around 50+ degrees. The nose is full of peppery hops, orange notes, sweet caramel and a touch of roastiness. Expect a big floral bitterness up front on the palate, which quickly relents, allowing fresh grains, biscuit and toffee flavors to pique. Rounds out with some more bitterness and a rosewater-like note in the finish. Packed with flavor, and at only 4.9% ABV, it's quite sessionable, yet the aggressive dry-hopping really pulls the alcohol to the forefront, giving this beer an added, non-neutered kick-in-the-pants sort of presence. Pair with 2-3 more, as irreverently as possible. 'Bone' Appetit!
Serving Temperature: 50-55° F
Int'l Bittering Units: 35.0
Alcohol by Volume: 4.9%
Suggested Glassware: Pint Glass
Malts: 2-Row, Crystal
Hops: Northern Brewer, Cascade
Brasserie des Géants (Giants' Brewery)—Irchonwelz (Ath), Belgium (Southwestern Belgium)
The area of Ath, in Wallonia, is home to more than just great beer; this is the land of the Giants! Since the middle ages, Ath has been known for its annual Parade of Giants in which Goliath, locally known as "Gouyasse", leads brass bands and fellow colossal-sized kinsmen through the streets, towering above carnival floats and groups of more ordinary-sized citizens in customary costumes. No surprise then that the local brewery (in Irchonwelz) is named Brasserie des Géants (a.k.a. the Giants' Brewery).
Not only do they craft big beers that live up to their name, their homestead is rather sizeable as well. Incorporated into the remarkably well-preserved remains of the thirteenth century Castle d'Irchonwelz, the site somehow manages to unite quaint charm and indomitable fortitude. And, as they're quick to point out on brewery tours (yes, they are open for tours—a must if you are ever in the area), their entry gate is hung high enough to permit the occasional giants who may wish to stop in for a quick pint—er, keg—of beer.
Interestingly, there's sort of a paradox at play here. The name Irchonwelz comes from the word for hedgehog (urchon), a rather small creature, and the local inhabitants are affectionately referred to as "urchons". Perhaps to a hedgehog, any visitor could be considered a giant—could this be where the giants of local lore come from? No idea really, but it's sort of a fun notion to consider. If anyone has ever been there, or plans a trip, please ask this question and get back to us! OK, we've spun enough of our own mythology here. Back to the brewery…
The brewery was founded in 2000 by a young couple of urchons, Pierre Delcoigne and Vinciane Wergifosse. The two built and run the place themselves. Pierre, a graduate of the famed Brewing Engineering program of the Louvain School of Brewing, has been brewing strong for years now. In 1997, he and Vinciane acquired the Castle d'Irchonwelz in order to develop their ambitions of creating the Giants' Brewery. After two full years of construction and set up, the brewery opened. Their first brew, known as "Gouyasse" (Goliath in the local dialect), went on sale in August 2000 (perfect timing, as the annual festival of Giants is held during the fourth weekend of August), and all their brews are fit for giant thirsts—and Giants—alike.
For more information about the brewery, check out their web site: http://www.brasseriedesgeants.com.
"I'm dreaming of a GIANT Christmas…" so goes that old classic Irving Berlin tune… or something like that. Downing a few firkins of this brew is how the giants of Irchonwelz celebrate the holiday, or at least, that's what the brewery tells us. The more 'urchon-statured' of us can get away with a few tulips full. This is a great holiday dinner beer, particularly with stuffing made with raisins, cranberry sauce, cloved and/or candied hams. Even the subtle, sweeter notes in turkey will do well with this brew. Expect a very complex nose giving off fruits (think cherry, strawberry & plum), toasted malts, caramel, raisins, chestnuts, dark chocolate, cinnamon and spices, among other things. As it warms, the profile will blossom—so let it get up there in temp, and enjoy the complexities. On the palate, many of the aromatic elements cited above come through, with a robust spiciness and firm bitterness. Finishes with a very protracted flavor arc—one to savor—featuring dryish, tea-leaf-like hops, dark chocolate, cinnamon and plum. Overall, a highly complex superbly balanced beer. Merry November!
Serving Temperature: 50-60° F
Alcohol by Volume: unknown
Suggested Glassware: Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass or Snifter
Brasserie Thiriez (Thiriez Brewery)—Esquelbecq, France (Northern France)
About 150 miles due north of Paris, at the northern tip of France, just about 12 miles south of the famous North Seaport town of Dunkerque (Dunkirk) you'll find Brasserie Thiriez. Daniel Thiriez founded his brewery in 1996 shortly after settling in this region of France, in the small town of Esquelbecq. We don't blame him for wanting to stick around in this area, with its lush hillsides in the rolling farm country of French Flanders; it's a beautiful place to live.
The brewery is housed in a rustic, rather small brick-and-beam building that harkens back to the days of true farmhouse brewing that took place here before this area was considered French or Belgian. Daniel holds a brewing degree from a Belgian University and brews his beer in a decidedly Belgain-style, with French farmhouse flair and a regionally atypical heavy hand when it comes to hops. He manages to push the envelope with some of his beers while maintaining a traditional approach to brewing.
His brewery buildings were originally those of the old Poitevin firm-brewery, which brewed on the site until 1945 (quite impressive considering that the town of Dunkerque, just a few miles away, was 80% leveled by Nazi bombings from 1940-1945). After having been home to five breweries (and a few dozen pubs), the village of Esquelbecq did not produce beer for nearly one half-century, until Daniel set up shop in 1996. Local residents were glad he did, as we're sure you'll be too. À Votre Santé!
For more information about the brewery, check out their web site: http://brasseriethiriez.ifrance.com/.
Christmas came early this year as we're featuring these "Noël" beers in November. 'November Noël'—got a nice ring to it, no? Regardless of whether or not you celebrate Christmas, this is a fine holiday beer. Expect a hazy brown color, with a medium-sized off-white head on the pour. The bouquet gives off caramel malt, some sugary sweetness and spicy, fruity notes, with a coriander-and-cinnamon kick. The flavor profile focuses on ripe fruits, coriander and some edgy spiciness, touches of nutmeg, and a decent dose of carob. This light-to-medium-bodied beer finishes a bit roasty, and overall presents a nice balance between malty sweetness and spicy flourishes. This beer goes well with most holiday dishes, and is great with a French chevre cheese, particularly those that have been flavored with cinnamon and cranberries.
Remember, cheeses make great partners for beer. And if you're been looking to get into the experience of pairing beer and cheese, we've got a great club for you to supplement your featured monthly beers: The Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club. Some months the guys at corporate throw the selection of 3 monthly cheeses at us for our beer panel tasting sessions and we'll say it right now, we dig it. Now, from time to time we may knock wine a bit since many people consider wine and cheese pairings to be superior to beer and cheese pairings, and those that do tend to have an attitude, and sometimes said people with said attitudes need a little smack in the face. That being said, a few hundred years of history tells us that there's really something to the whole wine and cheese pairing thing, and guess what? We have The International Wine of the Month Club for those of you who want to expand your palate to appreciate good wine as well as good beer, with or without the cheese pairings (or for a unique gift for the holidays, which by the way are fast approaching). Check out www.monthlyclubs.com for more info about these and our other clubs.
Serving Temperature: 48-55° F
Alcohol by Volume: 5.8%
Suggested Glassware: Pint Glass or Stange
