Sunday Afternoon Beer and Cigar Pairing

On Sunday we finally got to a point where we needed to head out for a few supplies. Walking the aisles of the store I was reminded why I dislike crowds and shopping in mega-stores. That disdain made all the greater dealing with the dystopian drama of face masks and directional arrows herding people like sheep. On the bright side, I also stopped into another store and picked up a few more cigars to put in the humidor for another day.

The shopping chores done, I needed a strong beer and a strong cigar. The development of a sunny, warm afternoon made the deck all the more welcoming. I checked the beer fridge and found a Founders KBS Espresso. The bourbon barrel-aged stout gets the addition of espresso beans during the aging, and checks in at a respectable 12% ABV.

A hearty beer merits a hearty cigar. I grabbed a Blanco Nine JT Limitado that's been aging in my humidor for almost two years. The limited edition cigar actually has a warning on its website, "WARNING!! 100% LIGERO." I've seen reviews with folks counseling on the strength of the smoke. I've always been a fan of extremes, whether it's beer, whiskey, or cigars, so was looking forward to the adventure.

The stout features a flavorful mix of bourbon, caramel, and coffee notes. The alcohol content is well masked, with no harshness noticed. Definitely one you want to sip and savor.

The Blanco cigar did not disappoint and complimented the beer to perfection. Cocoa, leather, espresso, and cedar spice were present throughout the nearly two hour smoke.

I nursed my beer through about the halfway point of the smoke. The nicotine strength didn't make itself felt to any extreme. Maybe the effects were checked by the alcohol strength of the Founders stout. In any event, I thoroughly enjoyed both.

When the smoke was finally finished, it was time to fire up the grill and prepare some spicy barbecued chicken for our dinner. Sunday was certainly a full-flavored sort of day.


If you're interested more cigar and beer pairings, as well as other tidbits that don't make the Musings, check out my Instagram content.

Founders Pale Ale on Nitro

Sunday evening, Colleen and I decided to grab a quick dinner at Capital Ale House. Early Sunday evenings at the pub are generally quiet and we enjoy sitting at the bar and chatting. This evening it was so quiet that we both commented on the enjoyable background music and wondered if it was always playing and we missed it on our numerous previous visits.

After enjoying our meals and accompanying beers, Colleen treated herself to dessert. The desserts at Capital Ale House are made for two people (at least) so I helped a little. However, my "dessert" was a glass of Founders Pale Ale served on nitro. I generally associate Porters and Stouts with nitro servings, though using the gas on other beers is not unheard of, so I ordered a glass, strictly out of curiosity.

As I saw the server bringing my glass over, I immediately thought of a pour of Boddington's Pub Ale. The beer had the unmistakeable creamy appearance from top to bottom, and the glass was topped with fine foam. I said to Colleen, "Quick, get a picture" since the beer was rapidly clearing as the bubbles rose to the top. The Pale Ale doesn't hold the creamy appearance for long. The bitter citrus flavor of Founders Pale Ale is muted somewhat by the nitro serving, but it is still quite flavorful. As expected the mouthfeel was smooth and creamy. The nitro-induced creaminess lasted throughout the glass, even as the liquid cleared in appearance.

I rather enjoyed the Founders Pale Ale on nitro, and will look for it, and other Pale Ale's served that way in the future.

An Evening of Dark Beer

This week's "Steal the Glass" event at Capital Ale House featured the beers of Founders Brewing Company, served in an etched snifter. I'd been looking forward to the event, and based on the crowded bar, so had others. After perusing the offerings, I started out with Breakfast Stout, Colleen ordered the Oatmeal Stout served on nitro, while our friend Checkered Flag went big with the Backwoods Bastard Scotch Ale. To accompany the beers we put in an order for a couple of appetizers too while we decided on our dinner choices. The Fried Pierogies and Sausage Fritters went quite well with the dark and roasty beers.

Breakfast Stout & Oatmeal Stout

Founders Breakfast Stout pours pitch black with a thin head. Dark chocolate and dark roasted coffee aromas wafted up as soon as the beer was set in front of me. The taste of bitter dark chocolate and rich espresso predominates. As the beer warms, hints of vanilla and smoke come into play. At 8.3% ABV it's a moderate sipper, but still my glass was emptied much too quickly. Now I had a decision to make, order another or try something else?

I stole a few sips of my generous wife's Oatmeal Stout. The creamy, soft mouthfeel of the nitro-pushed beer is a treat. The flavor is similar to the Breakfast Stout though with more of a nuttier, burnt lean. The nitro does tend to soften the harder roasted edges. At a reported low 4.5% ABV, it's definitely an option for my second beer.

Next I turned to our friend's glass of Backwoods Bastard. I've always had an affection for a good Wee Heavy/Scotch Ale. Dark like the others, with a reddish tint, the beer gives off a strong aroma of bourbon. The taste is woody bourbon, brown sugar, and hints of vanilla with roasted malt. Did I mention bourbon? At 10.2% ABV it's a sipper for a full meal, but I think not as my second beer.

Back to the beer menu, I finally settled on a glass of Red's Rye IPA. I've seen this one recently on the CAH list. I've not been a fan of some "rye beers" I've tried, so have shied away from ordering this previously, despite my fondness for IPA. My mistake. This had to be one of the best IPAs I've had in some time, and my favorite drink of the evening.  The beer pours a reddish-amber color with a persistent head of sticky foam. The aroma is that of grapefruit citrus and resinous pine. The flavor boasts juicy citrus goodness. There's a sweetness that keeps iy all somewhat balanced. Although this is a citrus-forward beer, it's not overwhelming and the tastebuds are left unaccosted to continue enjoying the delightful flavors. As the beer warms, the rye imparts some bready aspects. At 6.6% ABV this is a richly flavored beer that is easy to enjoy, especially with my Ale House classic Bacon, Black and Blue burger.

A friend stopped to talk and offered the advice that I needed to try the Founders Porter as well. And many folks at the bar were also enjoying the Pale Ale being poured. So many beers yet to try, but alas, it was time to go. It was a "school night" after all. Perhaps a return trip soon is in order.

Breakfast Stout. For Dinner.

It was one of those rare fifth Tuesdays, and there was a cool beer featured at the Capital Ale House "Steal the Glass Night", so Colleen and I decided to head downtown for a quick beer and a bite. Our intention was to perhaps grab an appetizer but then come home for dinner. Well, we all know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men.

Capital Ale House was featuring three beers from Founders Brewing; Porter, Centennial IPA, and Breakfast Stout. We both decided to have the seasonal Breakfast Stout. After delivering our beers, the server told us about the evening food specials. One of these was a Schnitzel Sandwich, consisting of a breaded veal patty, served with sauerkraut and spicy mustard on a pretzel roll. It sounded so good that we decided at the same time that we'd have dinner too.

The Breakfast Stout was pitch black with a frothy beige head. The aroma was that of bitter chocolate and espresso, but was surprisingly mild. The flavor is rich, dark coffee with a hint of bitter chocolate. There's a bit of sweet chocolate that rolls in at the end. The finish is dry with lingering bitterness. The beer is moderately carbonated with a thick mouthfeel. Founders Breakfast Stout is a rich and complex beer, and quite enjoyable.  Even at 8.3% ABV, it's easy to drink and the alcohol is well masked.

We very much enjoyed our food as well. As with most Capital Ale House entrées, the sandwiches were serve with frites accompanied by a variety of seasoned mayonnaise. The flattened veal cutlets were a generous size, with a light breading and topped with a crispy sauerkraut that was tangy but not overbearing. The pretzel roll was sweet and light. I added a large helping of the spicy and sweet mustard to my sandwich as well. Colleen declared the dish one of the best meals we've had at Capital Ale House and I would agree.

A fun time out with Colleen, good food, good beer, a couple of "stolen" pint glasses made for an enjoyable evening.