http://www.hallofbeers.com Beer reviews, news, and adventures in booze. posterous.com Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:34:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/C6gpPdNiPeI/table-tap-delight http://www.hallofbeers.com/table-tap-delight <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/hallofbeers/dn9Ga9ZFXBSeI7wJfRQBvQlwKqhCyLtnHeWZKACz1FqLDLunNPueR2WQSxI2/photo.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Photo" height="448" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/hallofbeers/Ef27h2ukZKetUxZdQlQJbOdX5CJhnwARpNqdccoFOSsPF5SNSqfev4NT75dB/photo.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="600" /></a> </div> </p> <p>Captain Beer and Admiral Ale (me) are currently enjoying some fine beverages over lunch at Century City's new restaurant: Smith House Tavern. Not only does it feature 120 beers on tap, but they also have these fancy beer taps at the table, where an imbiber only has to provide their credit card in order to experience the ultimate in lazy-dining drunkery. Unfortunately, this "Beery Susan" only features Stella and Bud Light.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/table-tap-delight">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/table-tap-delight#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/C6gpPdNiPeI" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/table-tap-delight Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:46:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/b22ItYtn5sw/you-thought-the-dream-was-dead http://www.hallofbeers.com/you-thought-the-dream-was-dead <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/hallofbeers/1pkpBhSMdeEnOTsBxZe2Bdr4T6lsPXCz1HA36NbfIgxmj3Fe4qCLY1KG4RFT/CAPN_BACK.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Capn_back" height="448" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/hallofbeers/ns705MJmQOqZG9tv2pyGVuVNCFVUp5TmUmIo6nuZ5ZZDV1BhyU7XYzkVFBmk/CAPN_BACK.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="600" /></a> </div> </p> <p>Oh no... the dream lives on. Captain Beer is back on deck, peoples! And the Brew Crew will soon assemble, riding into glory (and maybe a bar or two) and bringing you along for the journey! Or maybe we'll sample some beers and review them for your pleasure. Or... both?<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /> </span></span></p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/you-thought-the-dream-was-dead">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/you-thought-the-dream-was-dead#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/b22ItYtn5sw" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.hallofbeers.com/you-thought-the-dream-was-dead Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:06:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/58lrr6JWrcs/still-here http://www.hallofbeers.com/still-here <p> <p>We're still here, people... if you are. This Captain still drinks beer and thinks beer all the time. If you're out there, beer readers... if you want us back here... oh, it shall be so.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/still-here">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/still-here#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/58lrr6JWrcs" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/still-here Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:49:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/RLgilUDK3Zc/all-about-stout http://www.hallofbeers.com/all-about-stout <p> Ohmigod... oh baby.... So we brewed a stout over at (hey!) Sgt. Stout's house 2 weekend's back and I bottled the sumbitch on Sunday. It's going to be a life-affirming beer, I'm telling you. Kahlua infused coffee beans, darkass malts---this brew smells amazing, and is the color of motor oil. I'm sure there's no way I'll be able to resist cracking one early this weekend, and I'll give a full report when it has been conditioned for 3 weeks or a month or so. Awwwww yeah. </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/all-about-stout">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/all-about-stout#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/RLgilUDK3Zc" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/all-about-stout Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:12:04 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/V75Qa9EaudM/review-michelob-dunkel-weiss-a-pleasant-surpr http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-michelob-dunkel-weiss-a-pleasant-surpr <p> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpwwwhallofbe_ujuud" height="400" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-uvso/wCGICGkCaBlcIIinEhnokbAvDEukEiFtohzutFDxholoxIepqqxyoGcmJsII/media_httpwwwhallofbe_uJuud.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="272" /> </div> So... Michelob. You think Ultra, yes? And Light. Fair enough. While my natural inclination is to scoff out of hand this thinly veiled offshoot of Zie Anheuser Busch family, well... a lot of Michelob beers are pretty good. Take its stalwart Amber Bock and its new forays into the world of Pale Ale. And then take me in the refrigerated beer aisle seeing a mixed wheat beer 12 pack on sale for $9.99 and we have ourselves a review of Michelob's Dunkel Weiss.* I'll start with my principal criticism: there is almost no hop presence to this beer. Now I know, I know... you're saying "But Captain Beer! It's a wheat brew! There's <em>never</em> a strong hop presence LMFAO! ROFL! BBQ! SOS!" Well... I should cut you. Granted that hops and wheat are usually distant cousins, but here we're dealing with once-removed third cousin voodoo madness. I need more spice! That's what I'm getting at. Overall, though, this is a pleasing beer and a decent example of the style. Its active carbonation keeps the rich, nut brown beery flavors moving. Sweet but not saccharine and with a nice unfiltered mouthfeel, the head diminishes after a few minutes and the Dunkel's highly drinkable nature means that the rest of the brew soon follows. *<em>the others will follow... if I don't consume them all tonight.</em> </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-michelob-dunkel-weiss-a-pleasant-surpr">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-michelob-dunkel-weiss-a-pleasant-surpr#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/V75Qa9EaudM" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-michelob-dunkel-weiss-a-pleasant-surpr Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:08:22 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/fSG2aWTS6NU/yes-yes-we-are http://www.hallofbeers.com/yes-yes-we-are <p> You know what? Screw it---this diagram made me proud as hell. Proud because, given the right circumstances, I would do serious damage to a 12 pack of Schlitz, but on any given day, this is about right: <a href="http://www.sloshspot.com/blog/12-22-2008/How-to-Know-If-You-Are-a-Beer-Snob-92" target="_blank">http://www.sloshspot.com/blog/12-22-2008/How-to-Know-If-You-Are-a-Beer-Snob-92</a> </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/yes-yes-we-are">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/yes-yes-we-are#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/fSG2aWTS6NU" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/yes-yes-we-are Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:11:01 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/npEkdf2TQ9I/birthday-beer http://www.hallofbeers.com/birthday-beer <p> Just a quick note of appreciation for Sgt. Stout, who brought over 5 gallons of birthday beer for Mrs. Beer's birthday. A nice batch of golden ale bubbles away in our uh... what do I call that... mud room? Back hall/room/thing. We may add spices, we may go simple. But 5 gallons of beer is good news any way you cut it. </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/birthday-beer">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/birthday-beer#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/npEkdf2TQ9I" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/birthday-beer Tue, 12 May 2009 01:04:50 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/k7m3wKjSEjk/review-samuel-adams-pale-ale http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-samuel-adams-pale-ale <p> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpwwwhallofbe_vhslf" height="398" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-uvso/qhJHItdnzkecpxAfeyezHbtBmcrCqgfiIsryhlvDlvJCdegmItHncJbtBIaB/media_httpwwwhallofbe_vHslf.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="300" /> </div> Friends, it's a happy time when a Sam Adams mix pack comes out. As you all know, darker, winter beers are this Captain's favorite, but summer/spring beers are wondrous too. The most recent mixed 12er I picked up has 2 of each of the following: Boston Lager, Sam Light, Blackberry Wit (<em>finally!</em>), Hefewiezen, Summer Ale and Pale Ale. I've chosen to review that Pale Ale today because I have about three minutes. And the review will be simple, as this beer is basically exactly what you'd expect from a good American Pale Ale. It's hop forward but without any sharpness. There is no specific note of pine, grapefruit, etc---now, at times this sort of "general bitterness" would be less, say, intriguing than I like out of a beer. But if you're eating a good meal, cooling down after exercise, starting off your morning, etc, sometimes you just want a good, balanced pale ale. Not a Pliny the Elder that you'll taste for hours. Not a Ruinator that will, well, ruin your taste buds for the rest of the day. You just want a drinkable beer. That's what this is. It's a pleasantly bitter, refreshing beer with subtle, bready malt and firm but not overbearing hops. Serve it cold when the weather's hot and then get me three to five more and a sandwich. Turkey club. Mustard, yeah. But no mayo. That stuff's wack, man. </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-samuel-adams-pale-ale">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-samuel-adams-pale-ale#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/k7m3wKjSEjk" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-samuel-adams-pale-ale Tue, 05 May 2009 22:13:44 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/sAeqjGSDpzk/review-mighty-arrow-pale-ale-new-belgium-brew http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-mighty-arrow-pale-ale-new-belgium-brew <p> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpwwwhallofbe_avalj" height="400" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-uvso/weErDBcjuChCFvlvhjwpAimlmvqDegCHdxuHkysfmoBvjEzpeBlBcomryeCB/media_httpwwwhallofbe_avAlj.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="300" /> </div> Fellow Beer-ers and Beer-ettes, It seems we have been focusing recently on a 'back to basics' for beers, and thus I shant disappoint. From New Belgium, a company which in spite of relative youth delivers fine and innovative beers consistently, comes Mighty Arrow Pale Ale. It's a medium-bodied, medium-hopped pale ale, and it's just an even-keeled representation of the BJCP guideline. That's not to say it's mediocre by any means. With a perfect copper hue and a rich complement of hops, this is the one that's the Great Equalizer: Aroma is not too bitter, not too sweet. The blend of Cascade and Amarillo hops makes the mouth water a little before tasting. Nice body, doesn't stick around too long, and finish isn't perfect but fairly even, ending with the sweet and bitter notes ping-ponging back and forth. &nbsp;Bit of a citrus flavor at the end. It's a shame I've heard there's a short run of this beer. It's not the biggest, baddest beer to come from New Belgium, but there's something to be said for a nice drinkable pale ale. </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-mighty-arrow-pale-ale-new-belgium-brew">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-mighty-arrow-pale-ale-new-belgium-brew#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/sAeqjGSDpzk" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-mighty-arrow-pale-ale-new-belgium-brew Sat, 02 May 2009 16:46:22 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/wY10oL8sWpU/news-general-german-sends-shipment-to-sam-ada http://www.hallofbeers.com/news-general-german-sends-shipment-to-sam-ada <p> So, just a quick post...I sent my kickin' IPA to Sam Adams for the Longshot competition, and the shipment was received by <a href="http://vimeo.com/3805453">Bob Cannon</a>, one of the Brewmasters. Dude! Sweet! <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpwwwhallofbe_qbciy" height="374" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-uvso/vGIJBlpgqedjifDmbpsguqlpzogipsnDomzEnAqFxwzIaqvigBfCilxaqGyI/media_httpwwwhallofbe_qbcIy.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="569" /> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/news-general-german-sends-shipment-to-sam-ada">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/news-general-german-sends-shipment-to-sam-ada#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/wY10oL8sWpU" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/news-general-german-sends-shipment-to-sam-ada Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:48:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/54j3cM6NoF8/review-samuel-adams-imperial-stout http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-samuel-adams-imperial-stout <p> HOOOOOOOOOOOO doggy! See below for their lovely label. Here's just a quick little note to say that I finally had this beer and it it's amazing. It's everything you'd expect. BIG roasted malt flavors with notes of toasted bread, bitter coffee and a slight almost leathery outside. The hops are a bracing bitterness in tandem with but slightly overpowered by the immense grains. TRY IT! I wouldn't let you down, beer reader. </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-samuel-adams-imperial-stout">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-samuel-adams-imperial-stout#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/54j3cM6NoF8" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-samuel-adams-imperial-stout Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:38:20 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/Re8holY7vvc/review-mission-street-india-pale-ale http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-mission-street-india-pale-ale <p> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpwwwhallofbe_wwudb" height="400" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-uvso/bcuobzEfspayqztElIgJmwxFidcpichyGGzxDnGouqhGxxorGkEAalEyamne/media_httpwwwhallofbe_wwudB.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="274" /> </div> It's been a busy 2009 so far, beer readers. I've had time to sample some new brews, but I haven't been able to tell you folks about them. My humble whatevah. Anyway, here's a review for you. Enjoy with a side of beer. Mission Street's beers are very good. You may recall earlier this month when I discussed their Pale Ale. Well, what's the logical progression? Yeh... India Pale Ale. These beers run you$5.99 a 6-pack. Good recession brew. This IPA is a good kind of "standard bearer" brau.* Nice amber body and a dissipating white head in top. It's very hop heavy, as is to be expected. Pine and floral hops dominate the aroma and initial flavor. The body has enough malt to stand up to the hoppy invasion** but this beer is not for those who don't like hops. In the finish the character grows slightly more citrus in taste and the sip ends rather dry. The 6.1% ABV is surely adding a bit of taste to the beer but it's subtle enough to remain anonymous. The active carbonation keeps the flavor movin'---serve it cold when it's hot. Awwwwww yeah. <div><em>* from the German for "Chevy Malibu"</em></div> <div>**<em> "hoppy invasion?" WTF?</em> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-mission-street-india-pale-ale">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-mission-street-india-pale-ale#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/Re8holY7vvc" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-mission-street-india-pale-ale Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:45:12 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/8TgNjGzmkFI/just-hold-on http://www.hallofbeers.com/just-hold-on <p> We're... we're still here dammit... just buckin' fusy with lots of other things but I promise, beer volk, that Captain Beer is still out there sampling many a fine brew---he's just been focusing on "mental" updates or... something. Stand by for Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale and Firestone's Double Barrel Ale reviews. </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/just-hold-on">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/just-hold-on#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/8TgNjGzmkFI" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/just-hold-on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:50:40 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/FY6Fm9s4L9s/auuuugh-aaauuuugh-joy http://www.hallofbeers.com/auuuugh-aaauuuugh-joy <p> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Those daring, beautiful people have done it again: Jim Koch and his Samuel Adams crew have made me scream like a little girl. Here's an article (ahem) lifted from their newsletter. Why gild the lily, I asked myself. Read on. Oh, the beer of it all! <h1 style="border-top: 1px dotted #666666; font-weight: normal; font-size: 30px; color: #7c1d20; padding-top: 25px; font-family: georgia,garamond,serif; text-align: center;">Pushing Beer's Boundaries</h1> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpsamueladams_ydfbl" height="200" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-uvso/DltayFnFhtjtfJutffGdwFelIilbuEpphcEDCHErfqjBqthHGIddkBoleuau/media_httpsamueladams_yDFbl.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="495" /> </div> <p style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; font-family: georgia,garamond,serif; text-align: justify;">In 1984 Jim Koch first brewed Samuel Adams Boston Lager&reg; thus helping set the stage for American beer drinkers' broadening interest in high-quality, full flavored brews. Now in 2009 we give you the <em>Samuel Adams Imperial</em> Series. Three distinct brews available in their own 4-packs, the <em>Samuel Adams</em> Imperial Series takes some of your favorite traditional beer styles and kicks them up a notch. Each is brewed with twice the amount of malt found in <em>Samuel Adams Boston Lager</em>. With more robust flavors these brews are intended to be savored and appreciated like you would a fine wine. This new series of beers will be offered year-round and includes Samuel Adams&reg; Imperial White, Samuel Adams&reg; Imperial Stout and Samuel Adams&reg; Double Bock. Read on for a more detailed description of each... <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpsamueladams_jjfqj" height="250" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-uvso/ogedDsapyuCrujvzfelohajfcJeBdpjDgBqxznsxAlmyGBvqdfyflDefasdH/media_httpsamueladams_JjfqJ.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="200" /> </div> <strong>9.2% ABV</strong>. Much bigger than your average stout, <em>Samuel Adams</em> Imperial Stout is a colossal beer inspired by centuries-old stouts. These traditional stouts were first brewed by 18th century English brewers for the Russian Imperial Court of Catherine the Great. The first thing you notice about this beer is its color. It is black as night and almost completely opaque. Next is the cappuccino colored head: the aroma is filled with notes of coffee, smoky chocolate and licorice. And the taste delivers on all of those aromas, you can pick out each one. <em>Samuel Adams</em> Imperial Stout was brewed with seven different varieties of malted barley, including Roasted Barley, Special B and smoked malt, each delivering its own unique flavor to the beer. But this beer is not a "malt bomb". It is balanced by 50 BUs of East Kent Goldings hops that have a clean earthy aroma and pleasant bitterness. This is a colossal beer that should be savored and enjoyed. <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpsamueladams_dteer" height="250" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-uvso/mIxkcdBlCljtwdqxBoviuIEjfdDsjpEorrbyHIgiBrzbpohsrthetnxopBba/media_httpsamueladams_DteEr.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="200" /> </div> <strong>10.3% ABV</strong>. <em>Samuel Adams</em> Imperial White expands the boundaries of the witbier style. While showcasing the traditional witbier aromas and hazy appearance, it delivers a bigger mouthfeel and body. This beer has a lot going on. Brewed with 50% malted wheat and two-row Harrington and Metcalfe malted barley, Imperial White also includes a number of brewing spices, highlighted by the orange peel and coriander. The rest of the flavors come from the yeast and the alcohol. As this beer warms and opens up, you start to get complex flavors of dry fruits, exotic spices, and floral blossoms. These are flavors typically associated with wine and spirits, but they are showcased in <em>Samuel Adams</em> Imperial White as a bouquet of flavors. We knew we were going to enjoy watching this beer develop and we are thrilled with the result. <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpsamueladams_hinta" height="250" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-uvso/umIJxgxxFkkzvzgdEDdtHywBxfEFDtxdxHgjrGnyHIekbooAafxHwaghdiCh/media_httpsamueladams_hintA.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="200" /> </div> <strong>9.5% ABV</strong>. Over the past 20 years, <em>Samuel Adams</em> Double Bock has become one of the Samuel Adams Brewery's most acclaimed beers. An enormous amount of two-row Harrington Metcalfe and Caramel 60 malts, half a pound per bottle, is used to brew this intense, rich lager. This beer is close to the idea of beer as "liquid bread." <em>Samuel Adams</em> Double Bock, as with all of the beers in the Imperial Series, is brewed using only first wort (wort that has not been sparged in the lauter tun) to obtain a liquid that has a very high sugar content, or gravity. This high gravity allows for a fuller body and higher alcohol content in the final beer. We age this beer for over 4 weeks to allow all of those intense flavors to develop and mature. For it's inclusion in the Imperial Series, we've amped up the recipe for <em>Samuel Adams</em> Double Bock a little to reach 9.5% ABV, but you still get those complex rich flavors that define the style. Its deep mahogany color, velvet smooth, rich yet slightly citrusy flavor and mouthfeel is a testament to the beer's balance. In the past, <em>Samuel Adams</em> Double Bock has been available only for a short six-week period. The brewers have decided to make it available year-round with the other Big Beers in the <em>Samuel Adams</em> Imperial Series.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/auuuugh-aaauuuugh-joy">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/auuuugh-aaauuuugh-joy#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/FY6Fm9s4L9s" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/auuuugh-aaauuuugh-joy Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:27:01 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/w-y8l58c13o/review-mission-street-pale-ale http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-mission-street-pale-ale <p> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpwwwhallofbe_gsyfd" height="400" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-uvso/adfCwkgveioappGJeFerzydbFkCFIrpdwnnIdytqpybuBIqzbGvIeoEnCfxb/media_httpwwwhallofbe_GsyFd.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="267" /> </div> A&nbsp; fine young beer, friends! And a Trader Joe's-available (in fact, it may be an exclusive... someone research that and get back to me*) beer at that, so we're talking $5.99 a six pack. Most affordable! But let's not muddle around over who paid what for who when and why and where and let's focus on this very decent brew. Mission Street's Pale Ale defines its category: it has a nice golden-amber color beneath a white, medium-thickness head. The body is light and full of active carbonation. The aroma of hops defines its scent---pine and mildly grapefruit hops, to be precise---and its flavor is a lovely interplay of hops bracing a mildly sweet bready malt. It finishes hop-dry and refreshing. Now I drank this beer in "Winter" if I may call it such here in southern, CA, and that may have been a disservice to the brew. This baby has refreshment written all over it. Or maybe it says "Mission Street" and "Pale Ale" but whatever---this would be a perfect "lawnmower beer" as I call them.** The ABV is relatively low at 4.6% and doesn't much affect the flavor of the brew. But hey, you can have an extra one and still operate heavy (or lawn-care) machinery. Not that we at Hall of Beers condone that. Unless it's a golf cart or jet ski or something awesome like that. *<em> Yeah, it's exclusive. Those lucky skunks</em> <em>** You know, "I just finished mowing the lawn and it's hot and muggy and boy do I need a good BEER BEER BEER!" </em> </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-mission-street-pale-ale">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-mission-street-pale-ale#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/w-y8l58c13o" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-mission-street-pale-ale Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:51:39 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/ARFv9W-71WU/some-thoughts-about-american-beer http://www.hallofbeers.com/some-thoughts-about-american-beer <p> Friends, ever wonder if that delicious Budweiser you've just cracked open is <em>really</em> <strong><span style="color: #3366ff;">A</span><span style="color: #ff0000;">m</span><span style="color: #3366ff;">e</span><span style="color: #ff0000;">r</span><span style="color: #3366ff;">i</span><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span><span style="color: #3366ff;">a</span><span style="color: #ff0000;">n</span></strong>? Then go away. Now. One, it's not delicious. Two... you know little of the beer world. (ImBev mean anything to ya? Maybe a little thing called The Cotton Gin!? Aberdeen!!?? But I digress. And make no sense.) But there are some good beers out there that are questionably American. Not that their provenance matters. At all, really. But hell, if you're on a beer site, you're likely interested in this kinda bizness. So, check out the article. It's interesting dammit. (Like the venerable, German-sounding <strong>Yuengling</strong>? Awww yeah---American since 1829. Widmer Brothers... <em>sounds</em> pretty American... but are they a part of a shady, European brewing conglomerate bent on uh... well... profit? FIND OUT BELOW!) <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Know-if-a-Beer-is-American-Made">IS YOUR BEER 100% AMERICAN!? (NOT THAT IT MATTERS, MUCH!)</a> </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/some-thoughts-about-american-beer">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/some-thoughts-about-american-beer#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/ARFv9W-71WU" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/some-thoughts-about-american-beer Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:46:48 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/hiiQku6aQlQ/news-sam-adams-posts-video-of-new-beers http://www.hallofbeers.com/news-sam-adams-posts-video-of-new-beers <p> Readers: The prodigal son hath returned: General German is alive and well, making a post. Check this out--Sam Adams Brewer Jim Koch has a thing or two to say about his new brews! Think he has enjoyed a few along the way... <a href="http://www.samueladams.com/promotions/newsletter/imperial_email/media/Imperial_v2d.mp4">Sam Adams Imperial Beers Promo</a> </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/news-sam-adams-posts-video-of-new-beers">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/news-sam-adams-posts-video-of-new-beers#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/hiiQku6aQlQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/news-sam-adams-posts-video-of-new-beers Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:35:33 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/L3ON3wx0RhI/review-becks-premier-light-great-when-mixed-w http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-becks-premier-light-great-when-mixed-w <p> Friends, let me be frank. I don't much care for Becks. It is a prosaic beer in the German style. OK, a prosaic German beer (it is imported... it can have that much from me). As most of you know, good ol' Captain Beer isn't one for light beers. If you want to cut calories, put down the pastrami sandwich. If you want to drink beer, <strong>drink beer!</strong> I'll get off my soapbox now. OK... so... Beck's Premier Light: <p style="text-align: center;"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpwwwhallofbe_tpcxw" height="366" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-uvso/svoxcgkvFawjibdaqguyGankmDJiqfkpdJjdjzknjpGEAHhlFAlczvHBqcBF/media_httpwwwhallofbe_tpcxw.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="300" /> </div> </p> <p style="text-align: left;">Meh. Not so hot. Very light malt flavor, the littlest bit of floral-bitter hops in the finish. I mean, the beer has 64 calories---where is the flavor going to hide? It's refreshing, it's extremely "drinkable"* meaning... refreshing. That's about it. But... when you add..</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpwwwhallofbe_irpig" height="118" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-uvso/molEGJwdAjspGigdtvHkpFGibwGdfnEJlxehDzdGsGybJaGuqukJgscjCxEc/media_httpwwwhallofbe_IrpiG.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="121" /> </div> </p> <p style="text-align: left;">Hooooooo<em>wee</em> that's good sippin'! So the other day (OK like three weeks ago) it was some, oh, 80 degrees in January. So Mrs. Beer and I went for a long bike ride and worked up a summer sweat. Some of our neighbors had just moved out and while they will be missed, they left us beer. Beck's Premier Light beer, to be precise. So in keeping with a tried and true German tradition, we took said lager and introduced to the beer a goodly dram of lemonade. OK look, no one is saying this was the least bit original or magical or anything... I'm just saying it was delicious. This process will kind of work with your garden variety cheap beers (not Natty cheap---think Coors or Miller) but in order to be really tasty, you need to use a real German beer. Or its American equivalent. Or beer from any other country that makes a similar beer.</p> <p style="text-align: center;">But if you want a guaranteed good refreshing beverage, go with:</p> <h1 style="text-align: center;"> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpwwwhallofbe_irpig" height="118" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-uvso/molEGJwdAjspGigdtvHkpFGibwGdfnEJlxehDzdGsGybJaGuqukJgscjCxEc/media_httpwwwhallofbe_IrpiG.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="121" /> </div> <span style="color: #000000;"><strong></strong></span> </h1> <h1 style="text-align: center;">+</h1> <h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong></strong> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><strong><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpwwwhallofbe_tpcxw" height="366" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-uvso/svoxcgkvFawjibdaqguyGankmDJiqfkpdJjdjzknjpGEAHhlFAlczvHBqcBF/media_httpwwwhallofbe_tpcxw.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="300" /> </div> </strong></strong></p> </span></h1> <h1><span style="color: #000000;"><strong></strong> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><strong>=</strong></strong></p> </span></h1> <h2><span style="color: #000000;"><strong></strong> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><strong>Uh...</strong></strong></p> </span></h2> <h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong></strong></span></h1> <h2 style="text-align: center;">Well, it's damn good.</h2> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong> Captain <em>out!</em></strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;">*<em>When did that become an issue? This whole Bud Light "DRINKABILITY" campaign makes me vomit with rage!</em></p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-becks-premier-light-great-when-mixed-w">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-becks-premier-light-great-when-mixed-w#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/L3ON3wx0RhI" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/review-becks-premier-light-great-when-mixed-w Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:53:52 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/pC_t6yksEZc/brew-facts-and-um-myes http://www.hallofbeers.com/brew-facts-and-um-myes <p> Folks, The Captain has been sticking to familiar waters lately. Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada and such---beers we have long ago discussed here. I did have a Pliny the Elder on tap on both Thursday and Saturday at the hep and well-tapped (go with it) Verdugo Bar, which I'm sure will become a new haunt. So look... maybe it's kind of an excuse for not sending out beernews to our millions of readers, but here are some ABV stats that I thought were interesting. Maybe you will too. So Amstel Light is... really light. Check it. <ul> <li> <ul> <li>Guinness Draught: 4.0% (4.2% for bottled draught)</li> <li>Beamish Stout: 3.8%</li> <li>Dragon Stout: 6.8%</li> <li>Amstel Light: 3.5%</li> <li>Anchor Steam 4.9%</li> <li>Blue Moon: 5.4%</li> <li>Budweiser: 5.0%</li> <li>Bud Light: 4.2%</li> <li>Bud Light Lime: 4.2%</li> <li>Busch: 4.6%</li> <li>Coors: 5.0%</li> <li>Coors Light: 4.2%</li> <li>Coors Extra Gold: 5.0%</li> <li>Corona Extra: 4.6%</li> <li>Heineken: 5.4%</li> <li>Heineken Light: 3.5%</li> <li>Stone IPA: 6.9%</li> <li>Stone Double Bastard: 10%</li> <li>Icehouse: 5.0% and 5.5%</li> <li>Labatt Blue: 5.0%</li> <li>Michelob: 5.0%</li> <li>Michelob Light: 4.3%</li> <li>Michelob Ultra: 4.2%</li> <li>MGD: 5.0%</li> <li>Miller High Life: 5.5%</li> <li>Miller Lite: 4.2%</li> <li>Olde English 800: 5.9%</li> <li>Olde English 800 Ice: 7.9%</li> <li>Pyramid Pale Ale: 5.1%</li> <li>Pyramid India Pale Ale: 6.7%</li> <li>Pyramid Snow Cap: 7.0%</li> <li>Red Dog: 5.0%</li> <li>Redhook ESB: 5.8%</li> <li>Sam Adams Boston Lager: 4.8%</li> <li>Sam Adams Light: 4.0%</li> <li>Sam Adams Double Bock: 8.5%</li> <li>Shiner Bock: 4.4%</li> <li>Shiner Light: 3.9%</li> <li>Sapporo Reserve: 5.2%</li> <li>Sierra Nevada Pale Ale: 5.7%</li> <li>Sierra Nevada Bigfoot: 10%</li> <li>Widmer Hefeweizen: 4.7%</li> <li>Widmer Drop Top Amber Ale: 4.9%</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/brew-facts-and-um-myes">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/brew-facts-and-um-myes#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/pC_t6yksEZc" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/brew-facts-and-um-myes Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:33:21 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~3/74-5g-6ItfY/this-sounds-amazing http://www.hallofbeers.com/this-sounds-amazing <p> Why, just last Spring I brewed a Blackberry Wheat beer. So either great minds think alike or Jim Koch owes me a sweet piece of this action. No... no... I'm sure it was innocence that created this wonderful (sounding... but I have no doubt) brew. Take it away, Sam Adams On Tap Newsletter... <h1>2008 Beer Lover's Choice Winner - Available Now!</h1> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpwwwsamuelad_dtesi" height="225" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-uvso/eFoqwJlkqplkalkrIHbetibyikGjFEeGvpHgcEoDlEkxcFDbJfJmmshkxsub/media_httpwwwsamuelad_DtEsI.jpg.scaled600.jpg" width="495" /> </div> <p class="main">With 24 hour news coverage can anyone forget that 2008 was an election year?! We're glad that over several months last summer &amp; fall, tens of thousands of you got out the vote and participated in the 4th Annual <em>Samuel Adams Beer Lover's Choice</em> program helping us choose the next <em>Samuel Adams</em> style. The victorious brew was Samuel Adams^&reg; Blackberry Witbier, a traditional witbier with orange peel and coriander, complemented by the subtle sweetness of Marion blackberries. Grown on a family farm in the shadow of Mt. Hood, Oregon, our Marion blackberries add a distinct blackberry aroma that blends with the wheat malt for a smooth finish that is both subtly sweet and crisp.</p> <em>Samuel Adams</em> Blackberry Witbier is available all year round in its own 6-pack, in the Samuel Adams^&reg; Brewmaster's Variety 6-pack and it will be joining the Samuel Adams^&reg; Summer Styles pack this summer. </p> <p><a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/this-sounds-amazing">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.hallofbeers.com/this-sounds-amazing#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HallOfBeers/~4/74-5g-6ItfY" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/971303/manga_max.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eUl7ywqhl7 Max Engel Max Max Engel http://www.hallofbeers.com/this-sounds-amazing