Into the Dark: Beer, Cigar, and Black Friday

It had been almost two weeks since I’d enjoyed a cigar. Between day trips, weekend travel, holiday prep, and time with family, I hadn’t found a moment to sit down for a proper, relaxing smoke. I’m not one to light a cigar just because — for me, a cigar is an intentional pause to sit, unwind, and appreciate the craftsmanship.

While the family binged on football, I slipped away for an afternoon smoke. It was cold and windy outside, but the enclosed screened porch offered welcome shelter. And since it was “Black Friday,” I went with the theme and grabbed two dark companions: a Micallef Black and a Winter Storm from Heavy Seas Brewing. That’s a far better way to mark the day after Thanksgiving than chasing supposed deals at the mall.

Winter Storm “Category 5 Ale” is a seasonal ESB (Extra Special Bitter) from the Baltimore brewery, a longtime favorite of mine going back to its Clipper City days. The label has changed over the years, but the beer remains the same.

At 7.5% ABV, the malt-forward ale shows rich caramel-toffee and dark fruit notes, balanced by a subtle pine and herbal hop presence. It’s thoroughly enjoyable. In years past I’d buy it by the case to age into the summer — or even for far-future drinking — but this year’s stash will likely be enjoyed fresh.

The Micallef Black I chose was the 5” x 52 Robusto. A Mexican San Andrés wrapper encases an Ecuadorian Habano binder with Nicaraguan fillers. The dark, oily wrapper and gold-on-black band make for an irresistible presentation. The Black is full-bodied, opening with earth, cocoa, and pepper. As it warmed up, I picked up dark chocolate, roasted coffee, and a touch of sweetness. Construction was excellent, with a clean burn and thick, flavorful smoke.

I actually selected the Micallef Black before considering the pairing, but the combination turned out beautifully. The bold, dark-leaning profiles played off each other well. The beer’s slight sweetness and dark fruit lifted the chocolate and sweeter tones in the cigar, while the cigar’s pepper and earth kept the ale from drifting too sweet. A satisfying match all around.

Outside, the day hinted at winter — 38° with a windchill of 26°, though sunny. Inside the porch, with the portable heaters on low, it was a comfortable 64°. Add some jazz from the speaker, a good book in my lap, and a cigar in hand, and it made for a remarkably pleasant afternoon escape before heading back inside to resume the holiday feasting.

Cheers!

Heavy Seas Ale House Beer Blessing

Hugh Sisson, founder and Managing Partner of Heavy Seas Brewing in Baltimore, gives his blessing of the new Ale House.

Tip o' the hat to Tom Cizauskas. See Blessings for Heavy Seas at Yours For Good Fermentables for Tom's informative perspective of the history behind Heavy Seas Brewing.

A previous post about a more traditional beer blessing is here.

When the Beer Planets Align

Some days it seems that everything just falls together. A recent string of events had me wondering if perhaps I should by a lottery ticket. First, a couple of background bits to set things up. Recently I lamented about the recent absence of Clipper City and other beers in the Fredericksburg area. Also, last week I picked up the latest issue of Mid-Atlantic Brewing News. In it I read how Bear Republic Racer 5 was a "delicious profitable mistake" created when the brewers added too many hops to a batch of their house IPA. This invoked memories of enjoying this big IPA on draft many times in the past. Now, on with this tale...

Recently while shopping at our local chain grocery store, I remarked to Colleen that I was going to check the beer aisle to see if anything inspired me, though I wasn't optimistic. As I rounded the corner and passed a rack of singles available for mix-and-match purchase, I spied several bottles of Clipper City Loose Cannon and Small Craft Warning. I laughed and thought, "Wow, those must be left over." Then I turned and spied an entirely new section of craft beers on the shelves. There, at the bottom were full six-packs of Clipper City beers. "Look at that!", I said to Colleen, who was by now also perusing this new display. I then spied some bombers of Racer 5 on the shelf. I remarked that I liked that beer a lot, but had only ever had it on draft.  I wished aloud that it was available in six-packs, rather than the 22 ounce bottles. Then, looking further down the shelf, that wish came true. There is was in that more consumable package as well.

How quickly a routine trip to the grocery store turned into a near stream-of-thought experience. A newly stocked beer section, an old favorite beer making a return, and a new bottle selection added to the home fridge. Life is good.

Changes at Clipper City

There are changes afoot at Clipper City Brewing Company in Maryland. Considering that Clipper City's Heavy Seas beers are among my favorites, I've been remiss in mentioning the changes here. There has been some misinformation floating around, but Managing Partner Hugh Sisson posted all the correct details on his blog today. The changes are focused mainly on branding, although a few beers will be going on hiatus. In part, Hugh writes:

With this in mind, we are making big changes here at Clipper City Brewing Co. Effective February 1, “Oxford Organic Ales” will go on hiatus, and “Clipper City” as a brand will cease to exist.

The current economic environment has not been kind to “organics”. We just weren’t getting the traction we need to sustain our organic portfolio. While we still believe in the category and sincerely hope to re-enter this area down the road, we need to focus our efforts in other areas.

The beers that have been heretofore marketed under the “Clipper City” name will continue to be made – after all, they are all GABF medal winners and damn good beers! But the packaging will now show a different name with “Heavy Seas” as the brand.

So what happens now? “Heavy Seas” beers will now come in three “fleets”. The former “Clipper City” products, as well as any new offerings in the 4 to 5% alcohol range, will now be sold as the “Clipper Fleet” of Heavy Seas. Our 7 to 8% products – Loose Cannon et al – will now be sold as the “Pyrate Fleet” of Heavy Seas. And our bigger, more experimental offerings (usually higher than 8%) will now be exclusively in 22 ounce bottles as the “Mutiny Fleet.”

So there you have it. This is bold move for the brewery, but one that I think makes a lot of sense. I wish them well and look forward to continuing to enjoy Clipper City, er, Heavy Seas beer, no matter what the labels look like.

See Hugh's entire post here.

Last Year's Beers

Winter seasonal beers have started appearing on store shelves and it's time to start drinking some of my favorite beers. But not the stock that is on the shelves now. No, I'm talking about the beers I stashed away last winter. While many winter-release beers are fine to drink right away, they are often even better with just a bit of age on them. Over the past few weeks, we've enjoyed several of these "old beers."

Not surprisingly to regular readers of these musings, one of the first beers to come out of storage was Clipper City Winter Storm. One of my all-time favorites, I've had a case stashed away since last fall. The 2009 release made it to the stores a few weeks ago. I've enjoyed quite a few from the stash already.

Tröegs Mad Elf is one that is eagerly awaited by area craft beer fans. I too look forward to its release. However, I am not a big fan of this beer when it's "fresh." Aging in the basement for a year serves to blend the flavors. I find the fresh version a bit harsh, but I'm certainly enjoying the previous season's batch.

Barleywines are great beers for holding on to. Old Dominion Millennium Ale is one we picked up last year, but saved for later. It seems a touch sweeter than I remember from last year.

In additional to barleywines, imperial stouts are perfect candidates for a bit of aging. Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout is a favorite around here. Indeed, there's a case from last year waiting to be enjoyed on a cool evening in front of the fireplace.

Of course, many folks store these, and other beers, for much longer than a year. I too, lay down a few bottles to keep for a longer time. But these are just a few that I look forward to enjoying after a short rest in the cellar. As the weather starts to cool, and I start hearing folks on the look out for their favorite winter seasonals, I'm ready. No trip to the store needed.

Naturally, I'll need to restock for next year!

Local GABF Winners

The winners at the Great American Beer Festival were announced today.

Congratulations to the Virginia winners!

Devils Backbone Brewing Co. : Gold Leaf Lager : Gold : International-Style Pilsener
Devils Backbone Brewing Co. : Natural Born Keller : Silver : Kellerbier/Zwickelbier
Devils Backbone Brewing Co. : Danzig : Silver : Baltic-Style Porter
Devils Backbone Brewing Co. : Vienna Lager : Silver : Vienna Style Lager
Great American Restaurants (Sweetwater Tavern) : Crazy Jackass Ale : Gold : Rye Beer
Great American Restaurants (Sweetwater Tavern) : Wit's End : Bronze : Belgian-Style Witbier
Rock Bottom Brewery - Arlington : Dude! Where's My Vespa? : Gold : Coffee Flavored Beer
Starr Hill Brewery : Dark Starr Stout : Gold : Classic Irish Style Dry Stout

Special kudos to Jason Oliver at Devils Backbone for the impressive showing of 4 medals!.

Our friends at Clipper City and Flying Dog were among the Maryland Breweries bringing home medals.

Brewer's Alley Restaurant and Brewery : Brewer's Alley India Pale Ale : Bronze : English-Style India Pale Ale
Clipper City Brewing Co. : Clipper City Marzhon Vienna Lager : Bronze : Vienna Style Lager
DOG Brewing Co. : Pub Dog Black Dog Stout : Bronze : Classic Irish Style Dry Stout
Flying Dog Brewery : Horn Dog Vintage 2007 : Gold : Aged Beer
Flying Dog Brewery : Dogtoberfest : Gold : German Style Märzen
Flying Dog Brewery : Gonzo Imperial Porter : Gold : Imperial Stout
Flying Dog Brewery : Barrel Aged Gonzo : Silver : Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer

In addition to the 4 medals, Flying Dog Brewery, and brewer Robert Malone, also won the award for Mid-Size Brewing Company and Mid-Size Brewing Company Brewer of the Year.

North Carolina breweries were well represented on the winners' podium as well.

Foothills Brewing : Sexual Chocolate Imperial Stout : Bronze : Imperial Stout

The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery, Inc. : Duck-Rabbit Baltic Porter : Gold : Baltic-Style Porter

The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery, Inc. : Duck-Rabbit Barrel Aged Baltic Porter : Bronze : Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer

I'll be sure to look for some of those North Carolina beers next weekend at the World Beer Festival in Durham.

You can see all the GABF winners here.

Photos ©2009 www.nelsoncountylife.com :

TOP: Aaron Riley (bartender @ DBBC), Jason Oliver (head brewmaster @ DBBC), Charlie Pazian (President of the Brewers Association), and Steve Crandall (owner of DBBC) accept their awards at The Great American Beer Festival.

BOTTOM: Mark Thompson (brewmaster @ Starr Hill), Jason Oliver, Steve Crandall

Photos by Heidi Crandall.

Update, September 29: Draft Magazine has posted an interview with Jason.

Clipper City Heavy Seas Big DIPA

Clipper City Heavy Seas Big DIPA is the first in the new Mutiny Fleet series of big beers from Clipper City Brewing Company. I'm a big fan of Clipper City, especially their Heavy Seas line of beers, so I was excited to try this new addition to the lineup.

As is obvious by the name, Big DIPA is a Double IPA style. It pours a copper-orange color with a persistent and sticky head. Copious sticky lacing is left behind on the glass. There is a bready, caramel aroma that becomes more noticeable as the beer warms. The beer has a strong malty base and equally strong resinous, citrus rind hop flavors. The mouthfeel is slightly slick with a sweet, long lasting after flavor. The beer is labeled at 10.6% alcohol and there is some alcohol warmth noted but it is masked fairly well.

In keeping with the Heavy Seas tradition, Big DIPA is a hoppy, big beer. It's meant to be sipped and savored, and I did just that during a relaxing evening on the screened porch listening to the sounds of nature.

The Mutiney Fleet beers didn't make it to Fredericksburg so I had to travel to Norm's Beer & Wine in Fall Church to pick up my supply of Big DIPA. It was well worth the trip to pick up a few bottles of this limited release beer. (Sorry, I think it's all gone now.) And now that Clipper City has released the next beer in this series, Prosit! Imperial Octoberfest Lager, it would appear that another trip to Northern Virginia is called for.

Those Winter Beers for Summer Enjoyment

We've been enjoying some "old" beer lately. I don't mean those high alcohol beers that are traditionally set down in the cellar to age for years. I'm talking about beers that we bought last winter, beer that has been sitting for 9, 10, 11 months. Talk to the average factory beer drinker, and they know you can't let beer sit around that long. But, buy good craft beer and it's entirely possible, with little or no loss in quality.

Around November each year, Clipper City releases its Heavy Seas Winter Storm. I always pick up several cases. Despite this being a winter release, it's a favorite that I enjoy through the summer. The strong malt base and bitter hops hold up quite well. Another favorite around our house is Sierra Nevada Celebration. Released each year around Christmas, Celebration is another one we stockpile when it hits the stores. Even now, months later, the citrusy hop goodness still prevails. At 7.5% and 6.8% alcohol respectfully, these beers aren't your typical suitable for aging beers.

These beers and others are stored in a cool basement, in their closed cases. We keep a few in the beer fridge, chilled and ready to be enjoyed. As we drink them, the fridge is restocked. I expect the stash to be gone about the time this year's releases hit the shelves.

While it may seem odd to be enjoying "winter beers" at the height of the summer, "beer seasons" are simply man-made restrictions. Traditionally, lighter beers such as Pilseners and Hefeweizens are considered summer beers, and while I certainly enjoy them, it's the bold winter flavors that I enjoy the most. So when the time comes for these beers to hit the shelves, I stock up. I'm then able to enjoy these favorites through the summer months.

Of course, these aren't the only two winter releases suitable for summer enjoyment. They just happen to be two of our favorites. What are your favorite seasonal release beers that you keep on hand to enjoy throughout the year?

Clipper City Red Sky at Night Wins Gold

Regular readers will know that I am a fan of Clipper City Brewing. Despite the intended Virginia focus of this blog, you'll find a large number of posts that reference the Baltimore brewery. Today we learned that Clipper City has picked up yet another award, this time for their Red Sky at Night Saison. The United States Open Beer Championships was held in Atlanta, GA, by the Carolina BrewMasters. Red Sky at Night was awarded a Gold in the French / Belgian Saison category.

It so happens I recently picked up some Red Sky at Night and have been enjoying it the past couple of weeks. You can read a couple of previous posts about the beer here and here. I won't post a new review, other than to say you should pick up this seasonal beer while you can. It's generally available May - August. Congratulations to Hugh Sisson and the crew at Clipper City on their latest award.

I was alerted to this news via a post from the Clipper City Twitter account, HeavySeasBeer.

Yes Fredericksburg, there is cask beer here

Craft beer fans in the area have been "teased" with the prospect of fresh cask beer at a couple of local pubs for some time now. Unfortunately, we've seen very few casks being served locally. In all fairness to the proprietors, the logistics required to prepare, properly store, and serve cask beer are complex. Wednesday evening I joined a friend for dinner at The Fredericksburg Pub. I made my usual query, "Anything on cask?" Imagine my surprise when the waitress replied "Yes, we just got something." She reached for her notes and said "Loose Cannon, Hop3." Wow! One of my favorite Clipper City beers, and on cask!

The Clipper City Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale was served cellar temperature, with a sticky one-inch foamy head. As soon as the beer reached the table I got a whiff of the citrus and floral hops. The taste was crisp and very citrusy. Despite the attractive head, the carbonation level in the beer was low, as it should be. I've had Loose Cannon on cask several times in the past, but this serving seemed exceptionally fine. I enjoyed the Loose Cannon with a Pub Burger, savoring the aroma of the beer as much as the flavor.

I don't know how long it will be before this beer runs out, but I'm hoping to get back to the Fredericksburg Pub for more very soon.

The Big DIPA - Double IPA

Exciting news for Clipper City Brewing fans (check) and fans of big beers (check) in yesterday's Clipper City Brewing newsletter.

The Big DIPA - Double IPA

We're adding to the Heavy Seas fleet with bigger beers in bigger bottles!
Beginning late June - the NEW Heavy Seas Big DIPA a 10.6% Double IPA will be available in 22oz bottles in a very limited quantity. But the greatest treasure will be to find the Big DIPA on tap in your neighborhood as the number of kegs will be extremely limited.

The Big DIPA is part of the brewery's Heavy Seas Bomber Series. According the the Clipper City website, a new Heavy Seas 22oz Special Edition Series beer will be released each month through the end of 2009. The first beer in the series, Big DIPA, was unveiled at the Real Ale and BBQ Fest, held by Clipper City on May 16 at the brewery in Baltimore, MD. Tom Cizauskas has pictures from that event here.

It appears that a trip to Baltimore will be necessary for this Clipper City fan. I wouldn't want to miss getting my hands on some Big DIPA.

Local Breweries Make Good Showing at USBTC

The Winter session of the United States Beer Tasting Championship was completed recently. In the USBTC competition the beers are judged in regional field trials. The regional winners in each category then move on to a national judging to determine the Grand Champions.

In the Mid-Atlantic regional trials several Virginia breweries made good showings.

Barleywine: Grand Illumination, Williamsburg AleWerks, Williamsburg, VA
Porter: Legend Porter, Legend Brewing Company, Richmond, VA
Porter Honorable Mention: Washington’s Porter, Williamsburg AleWerks, Williamsburg, VA
Brown Ale Honorable Mention: Tavern Ale, Williamsburg AleWerks, Williamsburg, VA
Spice/Smoke Beer: Smoke-Out Rauch Beer, Starr Hill Brewing Company, Crozet, VA

Our friends in Maryland did well also.

Strong/Old Ale: Winter Storm, Clipper City Brewing, Baltimore, MD
Imperial Porter: Gonzo Imperial Porter, Flying Dog, Frederick, MD

Two of these regional winners went on to be named Grand Champions in their categories. Williamsburg AleWerks Grand Illumination won the Barleywine category. In the Imperial Porter category, Flying Gonzo Imperial Porter came out on top.

Congratulations to all the winners! I was happy to several old favorites in the winner's circle. Be sure to check out the complete results here to see how your favorite breweries did in the competition.

Clipper City Below Decks Barley Wine

Clipper City Below Decks Barley Wine is part of the brewer's Heavy Seas series of "big" beers. Released each December, it's only on the shelves a short time. Clipper City's seasonals have limited availability in this area so I was glad to see the beer at Total Wine. I picked up a 4-pack during my last beer run and have been looking forward to cracking one open.

Below Decks pours a hazy copper-orange color. Even a hard pour produces a thin head that drops rapidly leaving a thin ring. The aroma is sweet malt and toffee with some dark cherry and plum fruits. When tasting, the sweetness of the malt hits first. There are also dark fruit and hints of vanilla. There's just enough of a bitter hop presence to add some balance, but still allow the sweet malt to remain dominant. Alcohol warmth is apparent and there's no ignoring that this is a 10% beer. The mouthfeel is creamy and slightly sticky. A lingering bitterness, and warmth, in the finish wraps it up.

The notes on the bottle suggest cellaring a few bottles to enjoy later. I do think aging would serve to mask the alcohol presence a bit and bring out the dark fruit and sweet malt aspects even further. The beer was enjoyable "fresh" but I do think that with a bit of time it will become even more enjoyable. However, I'm not promising I have the fortitude to ignore the remaining bottles long enough to test that.

Winter Beer Trinity

While deciding what I wanted to drink on a recent cold evening, my decision was essentially focused on three options. It was the same three beers that I find myself going back to over and over in the Winter months. I dubbed it my Winter Beer Trinity. (We Catholics are naturally inclined to group in sets of three. :-)

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout - I picked up a case of the Brooklyn Brewery Winter release on the day it arrived at the local retailer. Black Chocolate Stout is my choice for a late evening repast. Though frequently served with a dark chocolate dessert, I most often enjoy this one from a snifter, sipping slowly as I unwind from a busy day.

Clipper City Winter Storm - This ESB from Clipper City is my usual go-to beer, with meals or by itself, during the Winter. I'll stock up on enough to be able to still enjoy it occasionally during the summer months. This beer combines sweet malt with bitter hops for a balanced treat at any time of the year.

Sierra Nevada Celebration - The brewers at Sierra Nevada take a slightly different approach to Winter beer. Neither a dark beer, nor high in alcohol (relatively speaking), Celebration is a rich, hoppy treat. The enticing hop aroma and flavor make this one easy to enjoy at anytime.

All of these beers get frequent mention on the Musings. Their frequent mention is one of the things that earned them a place in my Winter Trinity. There are numerous Winter releases that we enjoy and look forward to each year. But these three are staples in the house for as long as they are available. What is your Winter Beer Trinity? You can share your picks in the comments.

The Session #21: Favorite Beer

The 21st installment of The Session is hosted by A World of Brews. The topic chosen chosen by Matt is "What is your favorite Beer and Why?" I had to think long and hard about this question. I've never been able to answer that when asked. Despite our host's admonition that everyone does indeed have a favorite beer I couldn't pick one.

What I will do is talk about a couple of beers that I buy in quantity over other beers. Believe it or not, I rarely buy more than a 6-pack of a particular beer at a time. While I may purchase large quantities of a particular beer through repeat purchases, I typically limit the quantity brought home at one time. At any given time, my beer fridge will be stuffed with 45-60 varieties of beer, so there's only room for so much. (And yes, I sometimes do what my parents forbade, I just stand there with the fridge door open pondering what to select.) Looking back at 2008, there were just a few times that I bought beer by the case. So, let's go with those as (some of) my favorite beers.

Early in the year, it was Tröegs Nugget Nectar. This hop explosion hidden in a amber ale is a Spring favorite. It might even be the beer that opened my eyes to hops. If not, it was at least one of the first really hoppy beers I tried. I anxiously await the early Spring when this one arrives on the shelves.

Jump forward a couple seasons, and we come to my favorite time of the year for beer, Winter. Just a few weeks ago I picked up another in-bulk beer. Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout is a favorite that I reviewed late last year. There's little that can better warm up a cold evening like a snifter of this dark beer. Pair it with a dark chocolate dessert and it doesn't get much better. I remarked recently that Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout probably had the best aroma of any beer I've tried. When I'm enjoying it I have my nose to the glass as often as my lips.

Of course, those aren't the only beers that do get bought in bulk around here. Last Winter we were well-stocked with Sierra Nevada Celebration. While most brewers' Winter beers tend to be darker or even spiced, Celebration is a hop-lover's Winter treat. Another favorite Winter beer is Clipper City Winter Storm "Category 5" Ale. I typically reserve a few bottles to enjoy over the Summer. If "favorite beer" was defined by the number of times it gets mentioned on this blog, then this beer would likely win hands down. Both of the aforementioned beers have been released this season so I'll be picking them up, in quantity, soon.

So, my favorite beer? I still don't know. But I've developed quite a thirst just from the exercise of writing about these beers that get extra space in my refrigerator and cellar.

Update: Matt has posted the summary of all the Session posts.

Local GABF Winners

Well another Great American Beer Festival has come and gone. I didn't go to Denver, but was fun to attend vicariously through various craft beer blogs. Those of us enjoying our beer at home were also able to participate in the "not at GABF" Twitter stream. We even got to peak in on the gatherings at Falling Rock Tap House via their pub cam. This year's winners were announced on Saturday afternoon. 2902 beers were judged this year and 223 medals plus three Pro-Am medals were awarded. Many of our local breweries are among the winners.

Starr Hill Brewing of Crozet, VA. won a Silver medal for The Love, in the South German-Style Hefeweizen category. Also, in the Pro-Am category, Mark Thompson of Starr Hill and Fredericksburg resident Lyle Brown brought home a Silver for Lyle's Bamberg Hellerbock. Congratulations guys!

Our friends in Maryland put on a good showing as well. Flying Dog Ales in Frederick was awarded Gold for Dogtoberfest in the German-Style Märzen category. Flying Dog also received a Silver medal in American-Style Amber Lager for Old Scratch Amber Lager. Rock Bottom Brewery in Bethesda made a good showing with Silver for Right On Rye and a Gold for their Highland Courage Scottish Ale. I've never had either of the Rock Bottom beers so it would seem a drive up to Bethesda is in order. Rock Bottom and the Rock Bottom Brewing Team was deemed the Large Brewpub and Large Brewpub Brewer of the Year. Hugh Sisson and the gang at Clipper City in Baltimore received a Bronze for Clipper City BaltoMärzHon and a Silver for Clipper City Pale Ale. Capital City Brewing in D.C. took a Gold for their Honey Lager in the Specialty Honey Beer category.

Further afield, I was pleased to see that the Black Mocha Stout from Highland Brewing in Asheville, NC received a Silver medal. Highland beers aren't distributed locally, and we always look for them when we travel south. I happen to have on hand a couple of bottles of the Black Mocha Stout that we brought back from our recent trip to the Outer Banks. I'm looking forward to opening them even more now.

Congratulations to all of the winners.

You can download the complete GABF awards list here. A searchable database of the awards is here. How did your favorite breweries do?

On to a new adventure says Clipper City's Cizauskas

Friend and fellow blogger, Thomas 'Tom' Cizauskas has announced his decision to leave the employ of Clipper City Brewing. When I read the news, my first thought was of all those fresh casks that Tom brings to so many beer events and tasting sessions.

Tom has probably done more to introduce folks to fresh cask ales in this area, and throughout the South, than anyone I know. He is enthusiastic and knowledgeable on the subject and made it a point to bring casks to many of the events and dinners he attended on behalf of Clipper City. Whether the cask is being served indoors, or outdoors in oppressive heat, you can be sure the cask is being properly handled. I've enjoyed quite a few Clipper City beers from fresh casks thanks to Tom. He's now going to go to work for Select Wines, a wholesaler in northern Virginia that distributes wine and good beers, including Clipper City, Otter Creek, Flying Dog, Brooklyn, Stouts and Allagash. I think this move could be seen as good news for area craft beer fans. His new position provides the hope for fresh casks of an even larger variety being served at area events. Hopefully the breweries will recognize the opportunity presented, as did Clipper City, and provide casks for local events. (That's a hint from me to Mr. Oliver. :-)

Tom emphasized that his leaving Clipper City is voluntary and the change is done with no ill will. He remains a big fan of Clipper City beers, and told me his favorites "are the Red Sky and the Winter Storm, and of course the casks of Loose Cannon." That's exactly the same answer I would give if asked about my favorite Clipper City beers. (See, the man does have good taste. :-) Factoring in his decision is his desire to travel less in order to stay close to his elderly mother. Who can fault a son for that? I wish Tom the best in his new adventure and look forward to see him pulling from a fresh cask very soon.

Steaks with Dunkelweizen and Spice Marinade

We enjoy trying out new recipes and this weekend we tried a new marinade to prepare some steaks for grilling. This marinade recipe is from Lucy Saunders' book "Grilling With Beer". The marinade is made with fennel, mustard, and celery seeds, red pepper, garlic, salt, chipotle pepper, brown sugar, and dunkelweizen beer. We used Erdinger Weissbier Dunkel, or Dark Hefeweizen. While Colleen prepared with marinade the house was filled with the aroma of the spices. Our son declared "It smells like barbecue." We let NY strip steaks marinate most of the day before throwing them on the gill. I also slow grilled some Vidalia onions with butter and parmesan cheese. Add in some corn on the cob and we had a super Summer time dinner in the works!

Per the author's suggestion, Colleen held a bit of the marinade aside and thickened it for use when the steaks were plated. We all enjoyed the flavors added by the marinade quite a bit. Colleen and I spooned the reduced sauce over our steaks, while my son found the steaks spicy enough on their own. There's an interesting multi-faceted profile to the marinade. The initial flavors are fennel and sweet, brown sugar. The flavor of the meat is not hindered at all. Then you are hit by the pepper and chipotle spiciness in a flavorful burst.

I decided to serve Clipper City Red Sky at Night Saison with the meal. The Saison stood up very well to the spices on the meat and provided an excellent palate refresher. Even the mild flavors of the buttery, sweet onions were able to be enjoyed next to the spice of the beef. The Dunkelweizen and Spice Marinade was declared a "keeper" and we'll be enjoying it again, soon.

See Lucy Saunders' site at grillingwithbeer.com for more information on this book.

Oxford Organic Raspberry Wheat Beer

Oxford Organic Raspberry Wheat Beer is one half of the Oxford Organic Ales line from Clipper City Brewing. The brewery has reformulated the Oxford line to be certified organic by the MD Department of Agriculture. I had the other beer in the Oxford Organic line, Oxford Class Organic Amber Ale, served from a fresh cask, at the Northern Virginia Summer BrewFest and found it quite enjoyable. I've had mixed experiences with "fruit beers" and tend to avoid them. However, I was still interested in checking out this new beer from Clipper City.

As previously noted, I had a sample of the Raspberry Wheat last week and wanted to try it again. The beer arrived on store shelves in Fredericksburg this week and I picked some up today at Kybecca. The beer is a amber-copper color, the raspberry adding red undertones. A hard pour created a half inch of pure white head that drops to a persistent ring. Raspberry is quite prevalent in the aroma. Hmm, I'm nervous. I don't like fruity beers I tell myself. However, the fruit flavor is subdued in the taste. When I had the previous sample, I noted that I might not pick this out as a fruit beer. Upon getting a larger taste of the beer, I can pick up the fruit notes better, but they're still not overpowering. The flavor also has some very mild banana notes, probably from the use of a Hefeweizen yeast. The mild fruit tartness is followed by a bit of hop bitterness in the finish.

This is a pleasant beer and one that's very refreshing on a hot day. It's light (not lite) and goes does easily. I can see enjoying this after (or while) working in the yard. I'm beginning to think that the appellation "fruit beer" is misleading. I tend to think sweet and syrupy when I think of "fruit beers". However Oxford Organic Raspberry Wheat Beer joins a few other beers I've had, such as Dogfish Head Aprihop, that use fruit to enhance, not change, the flavors in the beer. My favorite beers from Clipper City remain their Heavy Seas line, however the Oxford Organic line adds some moderation to the brewery's lineup by presenting refreshing, balanced beers for those times when big beers aren't warranted.

Clipper City Beer Tasting

Clipper City representative Thomas Cizauskas was in Fredericksburg today to host a beer tasting at Total Wine. Tom poured samples of a number of Clipper City beers and offered plenty of information about the beers to a steady crowd. Clipper City BaltoMärzHon led the lineup. Next up were beers from the Heavy Seas line; Small Craft Warning Über pils, Red Sky at Night - Saison Ale, Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale, and Peg Leg Stout. Tom also had the brewery's Summer seasonal, Hang Ten Weizen Dopplebock with him. Hang Ten hasn't shown up in Virginia yet but look for it soon.

Tom had both of the new Oxford Organic Ales available for sampling as well. Oxford Class Organic Amber Ale and Oxford Organic Raspberry Wheat Beer are not yet available in Frederickburg. However I understand the distributor has them and we'll be seeing them both soon. I was quite surprised by the Raspberry Wheat. It's not what I had expected from a fruit beer. The flavor is very crisp and refreshing. I might not have picked it as out as a fruit beer in a blind tasting. Of course it's hard to describe in detail without enjoying a full glass, which I'll be doing as soon as the beer makes it to local shelves.

I enjoyed the chance to try out the new Clipper City beers, along with some old favorites. It was also good to see so many shoppers enjoying the beers and showing interest in craft beer. I saw quite a few people picking up six-packs to take with them after tasting the beers. A lot of local beer folks will be enjoying Clipper City beers with their holiday celebrations.

I've posted a few photos from the tasting event here. You can find out where Tom is pouring Clipper City beers by checking his blog at Yours For Good Fermentables.