Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club, Author at Craft Beer Blog from The Beer of the Month Club

Dia de Los Muertos with Los Vivos y Los Muertos

November 2, 2014 by Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club

Hello friends! It’s Dia de Los Muertos – Day of the Dead – a holiday in which my family and I celebrate to remember those who have departed. It may sound a bit odd to some but while sorrow definitely accompanies this sad reality of life, today we celebrate the lives of our deceased with activities they enjoyed, such as, parties, food, and of course, drink.

I can’t think of a better brew to pop open than the appropriately named, Los Vivos y Los Muertos from our friends at Jolly Pumpkin. This beauty was especially brewed for us last year and I’ve been saving this bottle just for this occasion. What are you brew are drinking today?

Salud!
David

He That Seeketh, Findeth

October 25, 2014 by Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club

I went into this looking for a tasty beer that I haven’t had before and appropriate for the season. As I made my way through the isles perusing for the one… This beauty caught my eye, and if you know me you know I had to stop as soon as I saw the word SOUR. Not only that but it was surrounded by “dry-hopped” and “grapes.” Game. Over.

I bring you, Atomic Kangarue, a collaborative creation from two of my favorite breweries, The Bruery and Smog City Brewing. I must admit it was the name that first drew me in but the description sold me on it. The name must come from the two varietals used to make this wonderfully complex beauty. Semillon from what I gathered, first arrived in Australia in the 19^th century and Viognier originated in the Rhone region of France but can also be found in regions of North and South America as well as Australia and New Zealand. These, along with the Brettanomyces Trois, work together in unison to make this delicious treat.

It pours a hazy rich golden yellow that reminds me of a ripe mango or a golden SoCal sunset, with a white head that fizzes and grows to about 2 inches before dissipating and clinging on to the glass for dear life. The nose is greeted with slight tartness that is definitely present but not prominent. There are also grape skins, fruity esters similar to white wine, hints of tropical fruit like mango from the Brett Trois, and a wild funky earthiness that comes out more as it warms up. How does it taste you ask? Well, there is initial tartness, a sharp acidity and sourness that hit the tongue right away. It’s followed by notes of mango, stone fruit, and green grape, then some funk and tannins come through in the middle. The sourness is there but not over the top. It has a refreshing funky finish that’s well balanced with lingering tropical fruit notes. So much going on here, my novice palate may not capture it all.

Overall this is a delectable and complex beer. Well balanced despite everything that’s going on and deceptively easy to drink coming in at 9.8%. Be easy on this one and respect it.

Salud!
David

Oktoberfest is going vegan in Santa Monica October 4th!

September 27, 2014 by Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club

Could a meatless Oktoberfest carry enough intrigue to be a successful event?

When one thinks of Oktoberfest, easy drinking German beer in tall steins and an endless bevy of Bavarian-style meat products comes to mind. Frankfurters, Bratwursts, Blood Sausage, Schnitzel, and the list goes on! So if I said Vegan Oktoberfest, you would probably think that sounds a bit odd, right? Well the folks over in Santa Monica, CA don’t think it’s odd and they are throwing the world’s 1st Vegan Oktoberfest. Almost all their beers will be vegan by default, so the real noticeable difference will be with the food. Still focusing on German favorites like pretzels, potato pancakes, & sauerkraut, an array of food trucks will be present preparing themed menus to be paired with beers from over 20 local breweries. And just like any successful Oktoberfest, you will still get the opportunity to enjoy live polka bands, stein-lifting contests, and beer maidens walking through the oceanfront festival grounds in authentic Bavarian garb.

To learn more about this unique festival, visit www.veganoktoberfest.com.

Cheers!
Shelton

Sour Beer Day!

September 13, 2014 by Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club

Yes, it’s time to shock the taste buds, make the tongue curl, and pucker up! Today is Sour Beer Day, and to celebrate, I’m enjoying one of my favorite brews, Hofbrouwerijke’s Flower Sour– perfect for a warm SoCal day!

Flower Sour, pours a rich and hazy orange-brown with sweet candy and lime tart notes, reminiscent of fresh gummy bears. You get an initial refreshing, effervescent tingle on the tongue. The tartness rises just enough before being tamed by the floral notes and finishes with apricot and grapefruit and a solid dry finish that actually leaves a herbal and welcomed aftertaste.

What sour treat are you drinking today?

Cheers!
David

Craft Beer in Cans?

August 15, 2014 by Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club

Some of the best beers in the world are only available in cans, such as Heady Topper. So the perception that cans are only for crappy macro-lager is as outdated as the perception that American beer is only crappy macro-lager. Many experts say that canning can help the beer in many ways by protecting it from light, provide an air tight seal, and make it easier for transport just to name a few. But does it affect taste? Many experts say that the can itself won’t affect the taste unless you drink from the can itself but as most brewers and experts agree, you should always pour your tasty brew into a glass regardless of the packaging.

For us, the most compelling reason to go with cans is that it will open up more breweries for us to feature, because some breweries do not bottle their beer at all – they only use cans.

What is your take on cans?