THE ROOT OF BEERS!

Hello all,
Got to get right to it. To tell you the truth, I didn't have any story tonight. Oh I thought of a ton of them but with everything that took place this weekend, I believe a targeted blog is what the doctor ordered.
Vicki and I went to the Saratoga Brewing Company on Saturday afternoon and as usual had a great time. They are friendly and help with your beer selection in the tasting room.
Well this day was great! I was very happy to discover an Autumn Lager. I have to say since I've been on this adventure I have enjoyed all the IPA's, Stouts and Porters I could handle but like the rest of us, I look to the spring and summer for new additions like Bocks and Pilsners and on this day Lager.
I liked it very much. This beer had a great amber color and a nice dry finish really set this one apart. Not to the level of an IPA, but bolder than the few lagers I've had. So try a beer that will satifsfy.
I enjoyed it with a hamburger and fries. I can see it going along side a rack of ribs too.
Now to the Root - BEER that is. Wow!!! What a root beer! If you haven't tried it, you don't know what you're missing. This root beer brought me back to a time when I was so much younger. This was one of the best I've ever tasted. I shared the jug with my father in-law. He's a root beer guy and he believes that it is the best.
Just to let you know I made a root beer float on Sunday night and man, oh man, I may move to have one of them at least once a month.

So do yourself a favor and try the Autunm Lager. At least you've got to try the root beer!

'Til next time........BEERS to you!!!

Ken

A TRIP WORTH TAKING

Late post...

Hello everyone, I guess your waiting to see how the trip to Ommegang went! Like I said in my last post, I'm stopping there to get an education. The wife and I were coming east on the thruway Monday. We had already decided that we were going to stop at Ommegang. The wife always has the directions ready and is a terrific navigator. So Exit 30 it was and off we went. I never realized we would be going up the most beautiful mountain and countryside from that direction. Boy, the country life looked good at that moment. We had come from the west off route 88 before and that was great too. But this......Wow!

Sorry - got caught up there for a second.

Let's talk Ommegang. If you haven't been there you owe it to yourself to go. We got there at 12 noon and we were welcomed by a young man named Sean (I hope that's how it's spelled). He had taken us on the tour the first time we visited back in October. He was a very knowledgeable fellow both about product and people. Even though he was the one that was going to do the tour and commit to helping people purchase in the store, he made sure no one was or felt neglected.

We made our purchase and he invited us to the tasting room to sample a bit of Abbey Ale. This is my favorite. My last post encouraged you to smell the yeast at the bottom of a bottle of Abbey. Did you? I hope so!

While at the bar, all the spices were there. Now it was time to sniffffffff! Oh my goodness! Everything was coming together. Those smells were good in the container but I think once they're fermented they become ever so soft to the nose. Hey, I think I just used my first beer term. Anyway, I believe I prefer the subtle smell of the yeast at the bottom of a bottle of Abbey Ale, so dive in and SNIFFFFF! The aromas get better and better. Now I get why people age these beers.
I can only imagine an Abbey Ale at two to three years old. (Just a side note I'll be able to cover that in a short time because I've got one that will turn two in just a few short months.) This is a dark luscious ale that has lots of malt and the anise is very predominant. I also love the dried fruit aromas the Abbey give you.. I also picked up a hint of caramel in the beer. So take the path to better taste. Enjoy those Belgian ales.

I'd like to make an acknowledgement. Since I have been enjoying this little hobby, I have become friends with the most wonderful people you could imagine. "Proof " beer drinkers are nice people.

'Til next time... Beers to you,



Ken

Yeast! The aroma will carry you away.

Hello again all,

All week I have been thinking about what I could possibly write about. It didn't hit me until this morning that I actually have a story to tell you.
On Friday night I have a beer or two and play Trivia Persuit with two of the smartest people I know (the wife and cousin Jack). Last Friday night I had two thirds of an Ommegang Abbey Ale. I corked it and thought I'd finish it on Saturday.
Saturday came and around noon I popped the cork. As usual for me, I put about three ounces in my glass. As I sipped away the remainder of the bottle in this fashion, I saved just a little bit of beer to shake loose the yeast that had held itself way down in the bottom of the bottle. That my friends, is what they call bottle fermentation.
Now the grand finish to a perfect Belgian Ale. I poured the yeast in my glass. I'd say at the most it was half an ounce. I held my hand over the glass, held the glass tightly and swirled it. Then.................brought it to my nose and inhaled slowly and with purpose. I wanted to experience what so many of the pros and brewery web sites have said...........
SPICE!!!!!!! It was there - MY GOD.............IT WAS THERE! What exactly did I smell? Well, to start I had a wonderful aroma of orange. I think I got the sensation of clove and it was very fruity.
I wish I could tell you in more detail the exact aromas but I can't. I chalk it up to my inexperience. I encourage you to do this because as my header says, I'm a novice and if you're following me, we're learning together.
A trip to the Ommegang Brewery this month is going to help with my education. So look for that post to help make future posts more informative.

P.S. I did win the game that night. --- AHHHH - The sweet smell of success.

Beers to you,

Ken

Wow! This past Sunday I discovered the Creme Brulee Imperial Milk Stout made by the Southern Tier Brewing Co.
Let me start by saying I've had it in my basement for about two months. I kept saying to the wife how I'm afraid of it. Well it turns out it was one of the eye opening moments we all come across now and again.
I'll tell you all the complete story of how I've come to love this thing called beer in the near future, but right now let's stay on topic and let me tell you of the Creme Brulee moment.
Sunday night 8:00 P.M - I venture down into the basement (at this time of year it's a steady 55 degrees), grab the bottle and tell myself I'm going in.
I, in my novice mindset reach for a stemmed goblet and pour 4 or 5 ounces of a very dark, very aromatic beer. I watch the head die its death and leave only a hint around the edge. Bringing it to my lips, I inhale the most pleasing vanilla and chocolate aromas I think I've ever experienced. Now the taste; what a dessert. Rich, creamy and delicious.
I believe in following your instincts. I instantly went to the freezer for a bucket of Espresso Therapy ice cream...................... WHAT! I know! I can hear you right now as you read this. I firmly believe you could use vanilla or chocolate and get the same great dessert.
Back to my story - I dropped a scoop in and the result was fabulous. I encourage you to be brave and take the risk . You won't be sorry.
Till next time - Beers to you!

189 Beer Tasting Terms

Let me start out by providing a link to beer tasting terms that are used to describe beer so you can become familar once I start describing the beers I will be evaluating. Just click on the link above.