Ultimate Food Snob

A Hop Trip to Antiquity

2010-01-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

Russian River Brewing Company makes all types of ales, so some highly developed palates. Some of their ales I can't even drink yet. I am not into sour beers. But some of there other ales are phenomenal. One such ale is called Pliny the Elder. This is a powerhouse of fragrant hops. Wonderfully aromatic, a bouquet of sweet hops, almost floral in scent rise from the glass. Wow. I just enjoy sitting down and smelling the beer like a wine. Isn't that incredible? I have never had an IPA dedicated to pure hops this fragrant and flavorful in my life. This truly is a dedication to the man, Pliney the Elder, who discovered hops back in ancient Greece. What an amazing ale. This one will always have a home with me.

Chippy Chipotle Ale Charm

2010-01-19T09:18:00.000-08:00

Chipotle ale? What? Yeah, it might sound somewhat strange until you actually try it, then you will believe. Right out of the bottle Rogue Ales' Chipotle Ale smells of smoked peppers. Wow. Upon tasting it the medium bodied ale opens up from a slight sweetness to a deep pepper smokiness. Chipotle! How did they do that? Then the aftertaste comes and you can taste the heat and spiciness at the back of your throat. Wow again. This ale will pair perfectly with gamey food, or spicy dishes. For that matter, you can probably have it with any type of snack food as well. I like it by itself.

Bordeaux Redux Monsieur

2010-01-08T13:46:00.000-08:00

I keep on trying new wines, Spanish, California Pinot Noirs, and French Cote du Rhone & Bordeauxs. Some are good, but most of them have been average. That is not to say that they are bad, but they have nothing spectacular, nothing singular about them that makes them shine above the rest. Granted I am looking for wine bargains below $25. $15 I am sold.

I did manage to find a bottle that sparked my interest enough to recommend it, buy another bottle of it and to write this post about it.

It's an unassuming Bordeaux that even the prestigious wine shop I bought it at was unaware of? One person said they never heard of it and the other never tasted it. Odd. I think I am on to something with this wine. It might be that it was pushed out of the 90's with a score of 89. But it's character alone should make it a 90-91. I would dare to say if it had a longer, more perfumey finish it would be a 94-5.

Open a bottle of 2005 Chateau de Rochemorin Pessac-Leognan Rouge

and let it breath in your glass or decanter for as long as you can bear, maybe 20-30 minutes. This is a dark red wine with wonderful flavors of dried plum and black fruit intertwined with the slightest amount of earthy, forest floor goodness. Maybe it's a little tobacco and cocoa added to the balance. This gem is not acidic, nor tannic. It's ready to drink, but if you can wait a few more years, it should develop into a dark, earthy, dried fruit powerhouse.

A Racy Stout

2009-12-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Get ready for some whiplash. Speedway Stout by Alesmith might be the world's most perfect stout. They have perfected the integration of flavors to create a remarkably smooth and intensely dark craft brew. I have had this twice so far, and am thinking about picking up a third bottle. It's that good. Dark coffee, roasted hops, deep malt, chocolate all add to the palate but nothing dominates the effort. Instead you are left with a strong desire for more to try to explain what you just drank. This is the perfect winter drink.

German Forest Fire in a Bottle!

2009-12-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock to you I say! Can you repeat that? No, the smoke in front of this Urbock German bottle must be too thick I guess. This ale is a pure smoke lover's delight. Do you like Islay Single Malt Scotch? Then, this beer is for you. It is a dark brew with a slightly sweet and powerfully smokey profile. Roasted hops and warmth are apparent too. I need to pair this with a glass of Lagavulin and some roasted, smokey lamb shanks (or tandoori chicken).

Another Spanish Gem

2009-12-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

Here is one more to add to the list, be it your Holiday list, grocery list or debauchery list. This Spanish beauty is affordable, relatively unknown and very tasty. This one goes down so easy, it can be quite dangerous. Why does my glass keep filling itself? I don't know, but I won't argue. It's a dark, rich and smooth red wine with deep dark fruit flavors from 20-40 year old vines, not too acidic, very little tannins, and a wonderful herb and earthy undertone to bring power and refinement the structure of the wine. A real winner. Castro Ventosa "El Castro de Valtuille" Mencia Joven Bierzo, 2007 is the culprit. Buy a case without hesitation and enjoy with family and friends.

Home For The Holiday Ale

2009-12-06T13:00:00.000-08:00

Home For the Holidays is a wonderful winter ale with a very present flavor of burnt toffee/caramel on the body of a mouth-warming smooth dark ale. I immediately wanted to drink a second bottle. The first I split. This is from the High & Mighty Beer Company.

Note: Too good to share. Hoard for self!

Commercial Description:

Home for the Holidays is a smooth, malty, warming brown ale, brewed with loads of roasted malts to give hints of chocolate and raisin, liberally dosed with noble Halletauer and Saaz hops, and fermented with a Belgian yeast strain. It’s perfect for evenings with that special someone (or your dog, or ideally, both) in front of the fire, or to celebrate the return of a family member who’s been away . . . Profits from the sale of this product will be donated to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (www.iava.org).

Norwegian Winter Wonder

2009-12-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

I had my first Norwegian beer as of date and I am hooked. This particular brewery, Nøgne-ø, is excellent. It was Thanksgiving night, I was out in the snow watching my brother-in-law frying a turkey in peanut oil. We proceeded to open this unsuspecting bottle of God Jul and pour it into our glasses, smell the nose, then sip this dark liquid. What a surprise it was. Dark, burnt toffee, cocoa and massive licorice taste with a warm enveloping flavor profile, unlike any other dark beer I have had. I will drink this seasonal again. Pairing: drink with strong gamey meats, richly marinated meats (lamb with Guinness sauce, and especially, lots of rich chocolate and coffee desserts.

SPECS FROM WEBSITE:

GOD JUL 19°P, 30 IBU, 8.5 % ALC/VOL

A dark ale brewed specially for the Christmas season, with a rich, complex taste of caramel. This is a strong, dark and rather sweet Christmas Beer – just the way we think a Christmas beer should be. Recommended serving temperature 12°C/53°F. Great with cheese or nuts. Ingredients:Lager, Munich, caramel, black, and chocolate malt; Chinook, Columbus, and Centennial hops; English ale yeast, and our local Grimstad water.

Spanish Wine Fest

2009-12-04T21:30:00.000-08:00

I am in the middle of drinking some new bottles of Spanish wine, not all in one night, but tonight I have tasted two out of the bunch, and thought that there was one worth trying because of its unique flavor profile. It is a dark spanish Ribera Del Duero wine with strong flavors of dried dark fruit (almost Italian in flavor) and slightly earthy/smokey. This is rare for most Spanish wines I have tried, especially one for $15. It is called Villacampa del Marques Crianza 1999. I found this at K&L Wines (also at klwines.com).

A Mysterious Stouty Imperial Russian!

2009-12-04T10:19:00.000-08:00

KGB? The Kremlin? What? A red commy you say? Hey, after all the wall is down and their oil is in demand. Spread some of the legacy of Catherine the Great this way my friend. All the way to California. Here we have a little gem of a brewery (one of many hundreds actually on the westcoast) called North Brewing Company who happens to make the famous Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout. Although this is good, they have an annual limited edition ale called the Old Rasputin XII, Twelfth Year Anniversary Russian Imperial Stout. This is the best RIs I have ever tried. It is so incredibly outstanding that I had to buy three more to try. Only two are left. It tastes of the most decadent and superbly rich flavors you can imagine, all in a 500ml bottle–dark chocolate, dark dried fruit, toffee, espresso, roasted goodness and deep hops. This is flat out my current favorite dark ale. Have this for dessert with a chocolate flourless cake or by itself. Either way you can't go wrong.

A Mammoth Ale

2009-12-03T11:14:00.000-08:00

Literally, a beer from Mammoth Mountain. Mammoth, CA has a fantastic line up of beers out of which is a spectacular IPA. The 365 IPA from Mammoth Brewing Company pairs incredible well with poultry and most hearty foods, but should do well with most anything because of it's very unique flavor profile. It is made with desert sage, mountain juniper and local hops. It is fantastic, but not to easy to get your hands on. I am trying to get my local wine shop & beer shop to stock it. ummmmmm……yum.

Kwak Kwak Bigfoot!

2009-08-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

What the hell does that hairy, smelly legend of a sasquatch have to do with little loud ducks you say? Beer is the answer. I just happened to have them all over for a drink.

WTF? Yep. From Sacramento comes a unique beer called Sac-Squatch and from Belguim comes the duck, Kwak. Both are fantastic and worth trying. The Sac-Squatch is a darker ale make with the peat of Scotch. Nice. It has a great peaty and deep flavor to contrast with that of the light, flavorful, and ever-developing flavor of the Kwak.

Not Sick of Heidsieck

2009-07-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

I am not usually one for champagne. I do not like the fuzzy nature, the sweetness, nor lack of signature flavors, and the frilly nature associated with it. But in time, all must reconcile their differences and see things for what they are. Champagne therapy you say? Not quite. Most of it is still crap. For the champagne that will displace my wine glass or Belgian beer glass, it has to be spectacular. Usually, ones I have considered have been from France. As so with this.

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne is worth drinking when you want a great bottle of champagne. It is dry with a powerful body, upfront biscuit like flavors with hints of light orchard fruit. The flavors are well integrated and constantly develop on the palate. This one stays in my list of champagnes worthy of the wallet.

Chick Beer for Guys

2009-07-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Why would you want fruit in your ale, especially if you are a guy? Unless you are German, this would be a strange ale to down. Maybe, maybe not. Finally, an A-list world class brewery has taken this on and created three outstanding ales, of which I have only tried two, that you have to taste to believe.

England's own Samuel Smith Brewery, maker of so many great ales has created organic Strawberry, Cherry, and Raspberry ales that are a flavorful punch to the palate. These are addicting and too easy to drink. The first will go down fast as you are amazed with how an ale can taste like this. The second will put you in a state of shock. Knowing that someone has created this and you must tell all foodies you know about it.

I have tried the Strawberry and Cherry and they are excellent. They taste as if the fruit was freshly mashed into the ale. Spectacular.

Try them now before they are gone.

Quite a Strange Brew

2009-07-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

Strange Brew, Cheech and Chong and a funky ale all have distinct personalities. You can smoke dog crap, pretend to crush people with your thumb and index finger against your eye (works better if you are tipsy) or drink something transformative and difficult to explain. While I will forgo the dog crap, I will try the other two, with the strange brew of a special ale first…then try the thumb crushing.

I had another spectacular beer, obviously I am on a beer kick, that I feel the need to write down and let others know about. I have read about this one for years and finally picked up a bottle to try.

Trappistes Rochefort 10 is a strange beast instead. It could almost be a magical elixir or a ancient mayan root potion. What is in it? probably some monk spit and some other bad jokes that are being played on people like me trying to figure out what the heck this thing tastes like. Ultimately, it tastes like itself. There you go. Not helpful at all is it? This 11.3% quadrupel Belgian ale comes in a small 11.2fl oz bottle all the way from Abbaye St-Remy. Quite a trip for such a small lad.

But open that bottle and pour it in a good Belgian beer glass and it has machismo and refinement to battle any larger bottle with a muscle complex. Frankly, it will kick your ass and shock your palate. The flavors are this: (I did a double take, so this is quite accurate): it has a upfront tinge of apple followed by old coffee, leather and then raisins and a tawny port. Can you imagine? This is funky and dark and definitely worth exploring once in your life.

Mid-Life Crisis Pinot, Testarosa 2005

2009-07-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

Short and sweet. Not this wine, but this post. This is the best Pinot Noir I have ever had. Testarossa. Flat out. It has that elusive Pinot funk that everyone is searching for, complimented by a beautifully long finish. This is one to try.

GET IT.

Scottish Black Oil in a Bottle

2009-06-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been on the search for the ultimate ale experience. I have tried some not so great beers and ales, some great ones, and a select few that are outstanding. Yes, I have new favorites, but that is always evolving with every tasting. This past tasting (tasting being the entire bottle) I found a gem from Scotland that is superb. Scotland you say? Don't they have beers with funk? Yes, they do. But here is one that goes beyond funk and creates what maybe the best beer in the world. This thing is other-worldly.

So, after looking at the 12 year, 16 year (which I already tried) and the special edition 30 year ales, I decided to spend the extra cash and go for the gold, the 30 that is. Harviestoun Ola Dubh 30yr ale. This is an incredible ale that is aged in Highland Park 30 year single malt Scotch casks. Ola Dubh translates as "black oil". That it is-viscous and dark. Wow! This ale truly evolves with every sip. Not only is it well integrated and smooth, but it boasts an incredible nose that evaporates into your brain. Like I said, it's not of this world. It has a nose of peat, chocolate, coffee and slightly sweet and bitter hops. It tastes the same, but more etherial. There is a long lasting finish of peat and hops. This maybe the best ale in the world.

Tremendous Truffle Tremor Cheese

2009-06-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Cypress Grove Chevre Truffle Tremor is spectacular. End of blog. Go get the cheese.

Well, maybe not so fast.

For those who love a great goat cheese and those who love truffles, this is a fantastic marriage of the two. It has a nice creamy outer layer and a flakey inner layer that is speckled with bits of black truffle. It adds a perfect amount of earthiness and smokiness to the already earthy and sweet goat flavor of the cheese. This is definitely one of the better cheeses Cypress Grove makes.

I can see this cheese on a cheese platter, used in a beet salad, or with rack of lamb. It has power and delicacy.

You can find this cheese at Whole Foods, your local cheese shop or any other fine food shop. Cypress Grove has a great reputation and most everyone in the world who knows anything about cheese will carry one or two, maybe this one.

One Minty Brownie Bomb

2009-06-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

How many times have you walked into Whole Foods and seen all those deserts in the display case? They look good, but there are so many. I have tried a few, and like a few, but most are too creamy and sweet for me. I received a recommendation on a brownie they make, and boy, it is damn good. Next time you walk in, take a look and see if you can find the Peppermint Brownie.

The brownie has a nice thin layer of potent peppermint near the top, just under a rich and dense layer of frosting. The brownie itself is superbly dense and not crappy and cakey at all like most brownies. I am usually disappointed with brownies, as they are made by people who like crappy cupcakes and puffy pastries. There is a difference here, and the bakers don't get it. This is a brownie, so make it a brownie. It's not cake.

Anyways, off my rant…, inside the superbly dense chocolate brownie are small crunchy flakes of even more chocolate. Yep. What more can you ask for besides having the entire brownie dipped in single source dark chocolate?

These are good. Don't even think of buying one. Listen to the little devil and buy two.

Apple Chip Yumminess

2009-05-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Health food freaks rejoice! Watch our Mr. Potatohead! I am seeing a trend in the stores where apples are joining the rank of potatoes in the form of chips. Crunchy, either plain or with Cinnamon, sour apple, red apple, organic… They are getting there.

I have become addicted to the applechip. It's no horsechip either. These are damn good and deserve a place in the cupboard or pantry.

Bare Fruit Cinnamon Apple Chips are what you want. They are organic too! Seeing that apples are the number two toxic crop you can eat. This is bad news, so take it seriously. Buy organic when you buy apples!

These things are fantastic! Bare Fruit makes several different products, but these are my favorite so far. You can find them at your local Coop or request them at Whole Foods if they are not there yet.

Get out your inner hippie.

Belgium's Biggest Beer

2009-05-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

On with the fine Belgian beer search. I have finally had a taste of the infamous Scaldis Prestige ale by the Dubuisson Brewery. This is Belgium's strongest ale (more info on the beer). It is also a $40 beer. What? Yep, you read it. That is why I have waited to buy it myself. I was given a taste by my future brother in law. Awesome guy. So, back to the beer. This beer is around 12% alcohol. Drink the whole 750ml bottle and you will be happy or on the floor watching the ceiling spin. But, you will be dreaming of another glass of this oh so refined ale. Very, very smooth and not to sweet, like most high alcohol beers.

The flavors are amazing from a beer. First, they are simple flavors, not complex. Not better or worse, just a different style. Amazingly enough, the beer smells and tastes like a apricot and butterscotch tinted beer. Nice refined nuances usually found only in excellent Single Malt Scotches. The beer goes down well, too well. That bottle will be gone quickly, so enjoy and savor every sip.

Accosted by a Mad Mango Mix!

2009-05-15T09:57:00.000-07:00

Trader Joes has some amazing little treats hidden in its isles. I recently discovered a little delight that sounded so bizarre I had to try it. First off, I love chocolate. Second, I like strange combinations in my chocolate. You never know what might work with the cacao bean nuances.

Anyways, I found the Dark Chocolate Covered Chile Spiced Dried Mango at Trader Joes and I had to try it. There was just no way to pass this one up. The flavors are complex and shocking to your palate. First you think, yummmmmm…chocolate. Wrong! Try sour-punch me in the face with a twenty pound cinder block from Home Depot. Woooooo! Sour…but the it fades and the next layer comes in. Salt! Yes, Salt. The salt calms down the sour fury and begins to enhance the next layer of flavor. Here comes a nice spicy flood hitting next, warming up your palate as the deep tasting chocolate melts. What a great combo. Now, as you bite into the piece, you can taste the super sweet tropical flavors of the mango combine into the whole mess. What a flavor.

Do I like this? I still don't know. The flavors are so weird I have to keep eating these things. So I guess I like them? Somehow these are addicting, but gross at the same time. How is that possible? This is a treat you want to keep on hand for your friends and family to try. They just have to.

Now, try it with some Single Malt Scotch and lets see where it goes from there…

Amazing Amazon Chocolate Monster Attack.

2009-04-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

So, I definitely have my favorite chocolate, but what comes in second place? To get to the top of the list is a rigorous and taste intensive endeavor. I thought so many were my favorite, only to find some more obscure chocolate that took it's place. The second favorite has changed the most over time, but as of now, I have found one that will always stay on the top 5 list of the best of the best. Right now this chocolate is my #2, and well worth buying a box of.

So, you know The Wild Thing bar by Lillie Belle Farms is my favorite, but do you know my second favorite? It is slightly different in flavor, but still related enough to my favorite to make me addicted to it. Not only that, but it is more widely available than #1.

This is a 75% cocoa mass bar with a strong fermentation of the cocoa bean, which means more sweet fruity tastes come out of it. In the end, this chocolate tastes more like a 60% bar than a 75% which is stunning. But it retains some of the depth of a 75% bar.

Put a piece in your mouth and let it melt on your palate. Taste the earthy and wood like flavors mingle with the opening of the almost apple and rainforest fruit flavors. Good isn't it? It's made from the almost extinct, but recently rejuvenated, famous cocoa bean, Cocao Nacional. Very nice.

So, this bar is the Kallari 75% single source organic chocolate. You can find it at Whole Foods as well as one or two other online stores.

Go get addicted.

Fran's Gray Salt Dark Caramels

2009-03-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Looking to cure yourself of your sweet tooth, even if it's only temporary? Here is something so chewy it might even pull that tooth out for you. I found a new caramel that is so good, that I have to let you know about it. This is one of the best plain caramels (not plain in flavor) I have had. It has the wonderful addition of having sea salt on the top of the caramel to accent the dark chocolate and burnt caramel flavors of this delicacy. You would expect the flavors to be strong since it's from Seattle. It does not disappoint. These are wonderful. You can get them online or at Whole Foods Market. So…they are Fran's Gray Salt Dark Caramels. They have a smoked salt version that is probably even better. I have to try that next! Will you beat me to it?

One Superbly Dark Belgian Ale.

2009-03-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

Is your brain begging for a beacon of a Belgian beer? Have you found a magic place filled with so many Belgian beers that you feel like you might get weak in the knees seeing the exuberating glory of the mighty brew? But, there is that one voice in the back of your head that is asking you which one is the best, which one do you try first?

I know for me, it seems more and more I am liking the Belgian beers that have a more dynamic palate, are less yeasty and less foamy. I really appreciate those that have both the heavy malty taste of wood and leather, yet the refined nuances of orchard fruit.

I have found one that holds the crown in refinement and flavor with no compromises. This mighty ale is the Affligem Noel, by Affligem.

The alcohol content (8-10%) is higher than usual for most beers (3-5%), but on par for good triple Belgian ales. It has the combined flavors of the malty Affligem Double and the refined, almost champagne like flavors of the Affligem Tripple. A perfect combination in my book. This is the one to get and always have on hand for that special occasion when a good, make that great, beer is needed.

These are hard to find by the bottle and by the tap, but well worth the effort. Find one and if you finish the entire bottle yourself, don't be surprised to see in double.