As a sort of follow up to the last post The Chick has managed to get the whole line of ales from the Heather Ale Company in Scotland.
Oringinally we picked up the Fraoch as a novelty more than from any high expectations, but the results are that these are a fairly impressive set of ales. Although overall none form much of a head and all have poor retention. On the other hand all are either low or no-hop beers with some unique flavor profiles.
Fraoch. The Company's namesake Heather ale. This one is a medium golden that is flavored with heather flowers. The result is a very herbal almost grassy taste. Has a very smooth mouthfeel.
Grozet. This one has ripe Gooseberries added in. For those not familiar with gooseberries they are a rather tart green berry often used in pies. My expectations here were for a fairly acidic, tart fruit ale. Unfortunately it didn't really seem to have much flavor at all. It is light, refreshing and easy to drink, but not memorable.
Ebulum. Elderberries are added to a dark almost stout like ale. This one is a real standout. Rich in chocolate and black fruit flavors.
Alba. As much as I liked the Ebulum this is probably a new favorite. It has pine and spruce shoots added in. My experience with Juniper Ales had led me to expect a rather tart ale. That isn't the case at all. This ale has a rich almost perfume-complex sweet aroma and the flavor is sweet and floral. It is meant to be drunk at room temperature and you will lost a lot of complexity if you chill it.
Kelpie. Seaweed. Yes, really. This one is dark and dry. It has some interesting earthy notes and some other flavors I couldn't quite put my finger on. Not sure how I feel about this one yet, but I will try it again.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Saturday, December 8, 2007
The Hops Shortage
OK, the Chick is a week or two late jumping on the band wagon for this story. The truth is she wasn't going to address it at all, since there is only so much that can be said.
However, since some of you probably don't follow beer related news here's the skinny. Due to a combination of bad crops in Europe, a fire in the US and farmland lost to low prices in general there will be about 15% less hops available worldwide this coming year than usual. This will mean higher prices.
The ethanol craze is aslo driving the price of corn and other grains up.
Upshot, making beer is going to cost more so beer is going to cost more. I believe current estimates are about $1 a sixpack. There has been a lot of gloom and doom talk about costs forcing small breweries to close.
Some may. But for the most part, the American brewing industry survived Prohibition, it can probably survive one or two years of higher cost supplies.
And there is some good news here. Neccessity is the mother of innovation after all. The Chick thinks we may see some very interesting beers being offered as a result of the shortage. Hops have been a part of beer for a long time (since about 400 CE) but they haven't ALWAYS been a part of beer, which it is estimated has been around since about 600 BCE. By the Chick's count, that 1000 years.
So clearly, beer has been flavored with herbs other than hops in the past. We know the Scots used heather and the Chick has had some heather beers. They are quite good, with a grassier element than you generally get from hops.
The Chick thinks we are going to see a lot of craft and micro brewers gravitate to traditional (and non-traditional) hops alternatives in the next year or two. Which should be an extreamly interesting trent to watch (and partake of).
However, since some of you probably don't follow beer related news here's the skinny. Due to a combination of bad crops in Europe, a fire in the US and farmland lost to low prices in general there will be about 15% less hops available worldwide this coming year than usual. This will mean higher prices.
The ethanol craze is aslo driving the price of corn and other grains up.
Upshot, making beer is going to cost more so beer is going to cost more. I believe current estimates are about $1 a sixpack. There has been a lot of gloom and doom talk about costs forcing small breweries to close.
Some may. But for the most part, the American brewing industry survived Prohibition, it can probably survive one or two years of higher cost supplies.
And there is some good news here. Neccessity is the mother of innovation after all. The Chick thinks we may see some very interesting beers being offered as a result of the shortage. Hops have been a part of beer for a long time (since about 400 CE) but they haven't ALWAYS been a part of beer, which it is estimated has been around since about 600 BCE. By the Chick's count, that 1000 years.
So clearly, beer has been flavored with herbs other than hops in the past. We know the Scots used heather and the Chick has had some heather beers. They are quite good, with a grassier element than you generally get from hops.
The Chick thinks we are going to see a lot of craft and micro brewers gravitate to traditional (and non-traditional) hops alternatives in the next year or two. Which should be an extreamly interesting trent to watch (and partake of).
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Repeal Day
Happy Repeal Day everyone.
That is right. Today in 1933 Phohibtion ended.
So have a beer or glass of wine or mixed drink to celebrate the fact that you CAN.
That is right. Today in 1933 Phohibtion ended.
So have a beer or glass of wine or mixed drink to celebrate the fact that you CAN.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Holiday Ale Fest
I promised you all an update after the fest, and here it is.
First thing to be said is this was a very well organized event. The area was tented off and there were enough heaters to make this Decemeber outdoor event very comfortable. More comfortable, in fact, than many of the Chistmas light displays around town.
None of the lines thoughout the day were exceptionally long and there were many tables and chairs available so that attendees had a chance to socialize with each other.
As for the beers, the offerings were the holiday seasonals, mostly from the usual line up of NW brewfest suspects. There were however a couple of rarer Belgians to be had. One was the incrediably nuanced and subtlely spices Cuvee De Noel from Brasserie St. Feuillien. This is one that The Chick plans to seek out a few bottles of ...
Not to take anything away from the locals, however. Caldera turned out a fine Cauldron Brew with thier '07 and there was a gorgeous oakiness to Hair of the Dog's Jim III, also getting points for the use of oak is Lagunitas with their Oaked Brown Shugga. New Old Lompoc's Brewdolph was a nicely balenced lighter spiced ale.
There was no shortage of highly hopped contenders either with Pelican's Bad Santa Black IPA and Rogue's Double Hopped Santa's Private Reserve leading that list.
Also present was Mountain Valley Meadery with their full line of products, which come in a varierty of sweetness levels, they were both offering tastings and selling on site and The Chick came home with a bottle of their Spiced Mead.
First thing to be said is this was a very well organized event. The area was tented off and there were enough heaters to make this Decemeber outdoor event very comfortable. More comfortable, in fact, than many of the Chistmas light displays around town.
None of the lines thoughout the day were exceptionally long and there were many tables and chairs available so that attendees had a chance to socialize with each other.
As for the beers, the offerings were the holiday seasonals, mostly from the usual line up of NW brewfest suspects. There were however a couple of rarer Belgians to be had. One was the incrediably nuanced and subtlely spices Cuvee De Noel from Brasserie St. Feuillien. This is one that The Chick plans to seek out a few bottles of ...
Not to take anything away from the locals, however. Caldera turned out a fine Cauldron Brew with thier '07 and there was a gorgeous oakiness to Hair of the Dog's Jim III, also getting points for the use of oak is Lagunitas with their Oaked Brown Shugga. New Old Lompoc's Brewdolph was a nicely balenced lighter spiced ale.
There was no shortage of highly hopped contenders either with Pelican's Bad Santa Black IPA and Rogue's Double Hopped Santa's Private Reserve leading that list.
Also present was Mountain Valley Meadery with their full line of products, which come in a varierty of sweetness levels, they were both offering tastings and selling on site and The Chick came home with a bottle of their Spiced Mead.
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