Past Newsletters
Vol. 2 No. 5
| Brewery | Beers Featured |
| Table Rock Brewpub and Grill | Nut Brown Ale |
| Table Rock Brewpub and Grill | Table Rock Hefeweizen |
| Great Divide Brewing Company | Hibernation Strong Ale |
| Great Divide Brewing Company | St. Brigid's Robust Porter |
Table Rock Brewpub and Grill
Located in downtown Boise, Idaho, the Table Rock Brewpub & Grill was founded by Mike and Peg Fitzgerald in March of 1991 thus becoming the city's first brewpub. The brewpub was soon expanded and in 1992 TableRock's beers were kegged and wholesaled exclusively in Southwestern Idaho. To meet growing demand, the brewery has expanded five times since opening and the current 35 barrel brewhouse's annual production is roughly 2000 barrels per year.
The upscale, yet comfortable brewpub serves a wide variety of sandwiches, soups, burgers and other pubfare. In addition to the two beers featured this month, the brewery bottles a filtered American Wheat and a raspberry ale. Rotating taps at the brewpub allow greater variety where they have served a red ale, dunkelweizen, Irish red, Irish dry stout, sweet stout, extra special bitter, porter, golden ale, amber ale, and a rye ale to name a few!
For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (208) 385-9060.
Serving Temperature: 50-55° F
Original Gravity: 13.6° Plato
Final Gravity: N/A
Int'l Bittering Units: 20.0
Alcohol by Volume: 4.3%
Table Rock's Nut Brown is brewed with a combination of no less than 9 different malts including: Two-row Pale, Crystal, Carapils, Carastan,. Brown, Dark Caramel, Black Patent, and Chocolate malts. Brewmaster Terry Dennis uses Willamette hops only towards the beginning of the 90 min. boil to balance the beer's malty profile with some bitterness. An American Pale Ale yeast strain is used.
Notes From the Panel:
Immediately note a malty and fruity nose with roasted notes lingering in the background. Look for good head retention in this brown, clear, medium-bodied beer. This nut brown starts out with nice roasted tones with a well-balanced hint of hops evident. Table Rock finishes roasted as well and with slightly dry, nutty, toffee-like characteristics. Overall, a very complex and flavorful malt profile in a exceptionally clean and drinkable American Brown Ale.
Serving Temperature: 40-45° F
Original Gravity: 12.0° Plato
Final Gravity: N/A
Int'l Bittering Units: 15.0
Alcohol by Volume: 4.05%
Table Rock's Hefeweizen is brewed with organic wheat flakes, and a combination of two-row Pale, Munich, Carapils and Soft White Wheat malts. Here, Terry uses both Willamette and Mount Hood hops for bittering and Mt. Hood again towards the end of the 90 min. boil for their aromatic contributions. An American Ale yeast strain is used in this unfiltered beer.
Notes From the Panel:
Look for a yeasty, fruity and slightly sweet malt nose up front in this American Hefeweizen. Look for average head retention in this very cloudy, pale, medium-bodied beer. This Hefe begins fruity and bready with some tart notes and a mild hop profile. Overall, a clean and flavorful session beer and good example of an American Hefeweizen.
Great Divide Brewing Company
Located in downtown Denver, Colorado, The Great Divide Brewing company was founded by Brian and Tara Dunn in early 1993, introducing their first product, Arapahoe Amber Ale in June of '94. Brian had just completed his MA in Environmental Policy and when frustrated with the lack of opportunity available at the time, decided to take his homebrewing passion and turn it into a career.
The brewery is located in an old 1930's dairy building which has allowed for two expansions since the brewery's inception. Head Brewer Chris Dunne studied pre-med, has a BA in English and was a passionate homebrewer prior to hiring on at Great Divide. It seems he's learned his trade well as the brewery has received no less than nine accolades for their beers, most from the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Championships. In addition to the two beers being featured this month, the brewery also brews an American Wheat, a Honey Ale, an Amber Ale, a Wild Raspberry Ale and several seasonal beers.
For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (303) 296-9460 or check out their web site at www.greatdivide.com.
Serving Temperature: 45-50° F
Original Gravity: 20.0° Plato
Final Gravity: N/A
Int'l Bittering Units: 40.0
Alcohol by Volume: 8.1%
Hibernation Ale is a mahogany colored Strong Ale, with a huge malt character, assertive hops, and a warming character. Chris uses nearly double the amount of malted barley and hops to brew this winter seasonal beer than he does for any other beer in the brewery's line up. Primary fermentation takes a few days longer than usual and the beer's conditioning period is extended five weeks to fully develop its malt character and better balance the aggressive ingredient composition. Although "Strong Ale" is an actual beer category, the BATF will not allow that specific phrase to show up anywhere on the label as they feel it implies "strength or power", which is prohibited. Hence, the label reads, English Old Ale. We are extremely pleased to be able to bring you this beer. Hibernation received the absolute highest average rating from our panel, with over half our judges deeming it a perfect 10. We know you'll enjoy it.
Notes From the Panel:
Immediately note both a strong hop spicy and intense dark malty nose. Look for excellent head retention in this mahogany, clear, very full-bodied beer. This ale's flavor profile is intensely complex yet smooth, rich and round, offering a heavy dark chocolate maltiness balanced nicely with an equal dose of bitter hoppiness. It's a belly-warmer with the high alcohol content very apparent throughout the beer. Overall, the best of the 40 + winter seasonals we've tasted for Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club in 1996.
Serving Temperature: 45-50° F
Original Gravity: 14.25° Plato
Final Gravity: N/A
Int'l Bittering Units: 28.0
Alcohol by Volume: 6.0%
St. Brigid's Porter is a deep ruby colored, full-bodied porter with a smooth chocolate character and a slightly roasted finish. The name comes from Irish lore about Saint Brigid who reportedly transformed her bathwater into beer for thirsty clerics. As the brewery is sensitive about giving out specific information with regard to the types of malts and hops used to brew this beer, it will have to suffice to let you know that it's a true winner this year after winning the Gold medal in the robust porter category at both the 1996 World Beer Cup and the 1996 Great American Beer Festival.
Notes From the Panel:
Note a predominantly chocolate roasted malt nose with some sweet malt characteristics evident. Look for good head retention in this dark brown, filtered, medium-bodied ale. St. Brigid's has nice clean, dark roasted malt characteristics throughout its body and finish, indicative of a true robust porter. Overall, a clean, flavorful, and true-to-style robust porter well deserving of its recent Gold at GABF.
Food For Thought...
Hibernator Gorgonzola Cheese Soup
This month's selection was contributed by Great Divide's Co-Founder, Tara Dunn.
1 small red onion
3 medium cloves garlic
1 chipotle pepper
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 pound gorgonzola cheese
16 oz. Hibernation Ale
1 quart heavy cream
1 gallon whole milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Puree onion, garlic and chipotle in food processor. Heat oil over medium heat in stock pot. Add onion mixture. With hands, crumble in gorgonzola. Heat just until cheese is halfway melted. Stir in beer. Bring to boiling point. Gradually add cream and milk. Heat just to boiling point. Do not boil or soup will scorch. Whisk occasionally. (Beer and cheese should incorporate on their own so do not overwhisk or soup will foam up). Add salt and pepper to taste. Serves 10-12 humans, 47 mice or 1 Green Bay Packer Fan.
Norm's Corner...
As spoken by Cheers' Norm
Norm: Vera's mad at me. Says I don't listen to her.
Sam: Well, what does she say?
Norm: You know ... blah, blah, blah.
For Members Only
Give Your Friends FREE Beer, Wine, Cheese, Chocolate,
Cigars & Flowers!
Through our Customer Appreciation Program
Your name has real value to your friends, co-workers, and family members! Every time a friend, family member, or anyone else you know joins any one of our clubs, [or gives a gift] for 3 months or longer, we'll give them 50% off of their first month, but only when they mention your name. And we'll also give you 50% off your next month too which can either be applied towards your current membership or you can try one of our other Clubs out! (We can add one more month to your order at 50% off for prepaid memberships!)
The Fine Print: Members giving gift memberships do not qualify for referral credits and you can't give yourself a gift to qualify! This Program is mutually exclusive of any other promotions.
Membership Q & A
Q: What can I do if I'm having difficulty receiving my shipment
at home?
A: You should consider having our discrete box delivered to
your work location or to a neighbor 21 yrs. of age that can receive
it for you. As your shipment requires and adult signature to receive,
it's always best to ship it to a location where someone will be there
to receive it for you. The box is brown corrugated cardboard and doesn't
say "Beer" on it anywhere.
Q: What should I do if I'm moving or want to extend my membership?
A: Please call us prior to the 5th of the month to make all
account related information changes such as address changes, membership
extensions & terminations, or gift accounts desiring to continue
their memberships. Address changes made after that time may require
a repackaging and re-shipping charge of $12.00. Additionally, if your
box is re-routed by UPS from an address different than what was originally
specified, you may incur a $5.00 re-routing charge.
Q: What happens if my shipment is damaged?
A: If your shipment arrives damaged, please call us immediately
toll free at 1-800-625-8238 and report the incident for a prompt resolution.
Q: What happens if my credit card is declined?
A: We will send you a courtesy notice asking you for an alternative
payment method and your order will be temporarily suspended until
we hear from you.
Q: What happens if I join under a special incentive program
and don't stay a member for the entire term committed?
A: Not a problem. Although we want to do everything we can
to keep you as a member, we will allow you to cancel your subscription
early; however, you will be responsible to pay for the item that was
given to you as part of the promotion. If you received a discount
based on a specific term, the amount discounted will be charged to
your card.
