The Church Brew Works Comes to the Party

We finally officially celebrated my 50th birthday Friday evening, even though my actual birthday was last Friday. We had a few close friends over for an evening of food, beer and fun. I was happy to have our two parish Priests among our guests as well. There were numerous kids of varying ages in attendance who spent most of the evening in the basement playing Rockband, while the adults enjoyed classic rock and blues upstairs. Colleen, as usual, put together a fine spread of food, including some very thick hand-patted burgers, and my buddy Frank offered to man the grill. The burgers were excellent. Good show Frank!

Some of my friends travel often, and they are always on the lookout for interesting beers to bring back. Jerry recently made another of his frequent trips to North Carolina and brought along some Duck-Rabbit and Carolina Brewing beers. Frank walked in with two growlers from The Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh. Those growlers were filled with "M", a special release from this brewery:

Amarillo Black Ale
After eleven years I am proud to unveil our 1,000th batch of beer. The brew crew wanted to do something off the wall to help celebrate this momentous occasion. So I give to you M. This beer can not be categorized into one beer style. It incorporates two styles into one brew. The first style and base of the brew is a stout. You will notice that the beer is as dark as our oatmeal stout and has a rich full body. We achieved this with the addition of a significant amount of chocolate malt. The second style of beer incorporated into the brew is an IPA. If you smell the brew you will notice a significant hop aroma from the use of the Pacific Northwest hop Amarillo. We achieved this by dry hopping the brew with twenty pounds of Amarillo’s in the fermenter. Upon first sip you will taste espresso and chocolate similar to a good stout. After that the citrus hop bite kicks in and lingers on the palate through the finish like a good IPA. We went all out on this brew to reward our loyal customers through the years.

Frank's visit to Pittsburgh was timed just right to coincide with the release of "M" and we all enjoyed the opportunity to try this special brew. The brewer's description is spot on. The smell of the beer is West Coast IPA, but it looks for all the world like a fine dark stout. Both the stout and IPA flavors are present and compliment each other quite well. "M" was very smooth and easy to drink, and a bit unusual. I would be interested in trying out some of the brewery's other offerings.

Besides the above mentioned beers, Star Hill Jomo Lager and Pale Ale made appearances, as did Dominion Spring Buck. Later in the evening I brought out some Blue & Gray Minor Dementia Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout. This was the first serving I've had of this from the bottle and it was just as good as it was direct from the keg. Frank and I also enjoyed some Sierra Nevada Bigfoot and Old Dominion Millennium later in the evening.

As a special treat Colleen had ordered 16 oz nonic pints engraved with "Ad augusta per angusta" and "Celebrating David's First Fifty Years". The latin phrase translates "To high places by narrow roads". Everyone got to keep their glass as a souvenir; party bags for grown ups. Of course, the evening was capped by the requisite gag gifts and over-the-hill remarks. It was all good natured and I truly enjoyed spending a fun-filled evening with family and close friends. How does it feel to be over 50? As I've answered many times recently, I barely feel a day older than I did yesterday.

Upcoming Beer Tasting Events

Here's a summary of some upcoming local tasting opportunities. Please support the generous folks who open beers for these events. I was recently told by one store owner that beer people often refuse to try out new beers at tastings and that wine shoppers tend to be more open to trying something new. Why is that?

Friday, March 28 - 5:00 - 8:00pm
Total Wine, Fredericksburg
Friday 5 @ 5 Beer Tasting:
Brooklyn Brooklyner Weisse
Fiddler’s Green Amber Ale
Penn Pilsner
Unibroue Ephemere
Old Suffolk Ale

Friday, March 28 - 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Corks and Kegs, Richmond
Beer tasting:
Unibroue 17 Strong Dark Ale (Anniversary Beer)
Stone Russian Imperial Stout
Bells Oberon Summer Wheat Beer

Friday, March 28 - 3:00 - 8:00 pm
Rick's Wine and Gourmet, Alexandria
Lambic tasting:
St. Louis Pêche
St. Louis Framboise
St. Louis Kriek
St. Louis Cassis Lambic

Saturday, March 29 - 12:00 pm - ?
Kybecca, Plank Rd., Fredericksburg
Customer choice tasting:
First person in chooses beer of the day (with reasonable restrictions)

Saturday, March 29 - 12:00 - 5:00 pm
Rick's Wine and Gourmet, Alexandria
Devin Arloski from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Presents:
Dogfish Head Aprihop
Dogfish Head Red & White
Dogfish Head Black & Blue
Dogfish Head Burton Baton
Dogfish Head Raison D'Extra 2007

Every Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Blue & Gray Brewery, Fredericksburg
Beer samples and brewery tours

Wednesday, April 2 - 7:00 - 10:oo pm
Old Dominion Brewing, Ashburn
First Taste From the Tanks - Beach House Golden Pilsner

Thursday, April 3 - 4:00 - 7:00 pm
Total Wine, Fredericksburg
A Starr Hill Brewery representative will be on hand for a Starr Hill tasting.


If you attend these events, tell us about it in the comments, and be sure to let the store know you heard about it here.
Have something to add? Let me know, my contact information is here.

Starr Hill Beers Arrive in Fredericksburg

When Starr Hill Brewery announced last December that they had signed a distribution agreement with Anheuser-Busch, brewer Mark Thompson let me know that we could expect to see his beers in Fredericksburg by May. It's only March but Starr Hill has arrived on store shelves. I've heard only good reviews of Starr Hill brews and I'm excited to be able to get them locally. Despite the brewery being located less than a 2 hour drive away, the beer had very limited distribution until recently and didn't make it over to Fredericksburg. Last week I picked up a six pack each of the Pale Ale and the Jomo Lager.

I tried out the Starr Hill Pale Ale this weekend. It pours a copper-orange color with an amazingly thick head that stands well over the rim of the glass. You could almost mold the foam into shapes! Copious amounts of sticky lacing is left behind has the head slowly drops. The aroma is reserved, with faint citrus hops over light malt. The taste is full of grapefruit zestiness, along with a toasted malt backing. There’s a lingering grassy hop bitterness left in the aftertaste. This is an easy to drink beer with a moderately strong but not over-powering flavor profile. I can see coming back to this one regularly. The Pale Ale would drink well on a warm summer afternoon, paired perhaps with some spicy nachos. I'm looking forward to trying out the Jomo Lager next. Starr Hill's Amber Ale is also on local shelves. It's great to see another Virginia brewery getting wider distribution. I'm hoping some of the Starr Hill seasonal beers will also be candidates for wider distribution.

Happy Easter

Today is the Feast of Easter. After a long Lent, it's finally here. This is the holiest of holy days. Today's Feast marks the fulfillment of all that was foretold by the prophets and our Lord Himself.

"But what about beer?" you may ask. Well, today we will spend the day with family. The fridge is well-stocked with beers in numerous styles so there should be something for everyone. I've got some nice Belgian-style beers picked out for the main meal, and I'm planning to enjoy some nice stouts with my dessert (that birthday cake I finally get to enjoy.)

I wish you a happy and blessed Easter day!

Trappist Beers - Westmalle

[Installment #7 in a series]

The Brouwerij Westmalle is associated with the Abbey of Our Lady of La Trappe of the Sacred Heart near Westmalle in Belgium. Monks first arrived at the site in 1793 and the monastery was officially established in 1794. It's interesting to note that it was three French monks who stopped in Belgium on their way to America, who were convinced by the local prelate to stay and establish the community. The monks were forced to abandon the site a number of times due to war, but have been on the site continuously since 1814. A brewery was set up in 1836, and the first beers sold to the public in 1861, though beer was only sold at the Abbey gate until 1921. With the exception of a brief lapse during WWI production has been continuous.

The brewers of Westmalle are said to have coined the Dubbel and Tripel names. The monks brew three different beers. The Westmalle Dubbel and Westmalle Tripel are sold to the public. As with some other Trappist breweries, the monks reserve a third, Westamlle Extra, for themselves and their guests. For this entry we decided to enjoy some Westmalle Dubbel. The embossed bottle bore a label date stamp of 18/12/08. The beer pours a dark brown color, reminiscent of root beer, with a frothy light brown head. The head soon drops leaving behind a thin ring. The aroma is very subtle and we struggled to come up with specifics. It's mostly lightly sweet malt, with some faint dark fruit and a mild spice note. The taste is as easy on the palate as the aroma was on the nose. Malt and caramelized brown sugar come to mind. There's a hint of cinnamon noted. The finish is dry and mildly bitter, with a lot of carbonation felt on the tongue.

As we enjoyed the Westmalle late on Good Friday, we were unable enjoy any food with the beer as it was a day of fasting, but some soft cheese and/or chocolate would have made an enjoyable pairing.

This is the last post in our Lenten exploration of Trappist beers. We managed to look at five of the seven Trappist breweries producing these exceptional ales. Each of the beers we tried was unique and enjoyable. Looking at the history of the breweries was very interesting to me. That these simple and holy men could create such fine beers, and continue making them for many years, often enduring trials and hardship, is a testimony to their dedication. Producing beer is a sideline for these monks. The profits are used to support the abbey and the charitable works of the monks. Dedication to quality not quantity is at the forefront and production is controlled by the monks themselves. It's no wonder beer aficionados the world over seek out these tasty beers.

The first post in the series is here.

He Said Beer, She Said Wine

While my own beer book collection is no match for that of fellow beer blogger Ron Pattinson, I do enjoy books, and adding a book that combines beer and food, is always is exciting. I first heard about "He Said Beer, She Said Wine" a couple of months ago via this promotional video. The banter on the video was enough to intrigue me to pre-order the book, which was released, and arrived, on Monday. (I never cease to be awed by the efficiency of amazon.com.) "He Said Beer, She Said Wine" is co-authored by Marne Old and Sam Calagiane. Marnie Old is a nationally-renowned sommelier, author and wine educator. Sam Calagione owns Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and is well-known for his "off-centered ales" and evangelization of craft beer.

This book takes a good-natured look at the rivalry between beer and wine and is a result of a series of challenge dinners the authors hold. At these events, they each choose a beer or wine to go with each course and the participants vote on which beverage provides the best match for the food. The tone of the book is set in the opening chapters. The authors introduce themselves and the beverages with a series of essays full of good-natured jabs at the opposing beverage and its supporter. The introductory chapters also include primers on beer and wine. These chapters could stand on their own to provide an interesting background on both beverages. The information is presented in a clear, orderly manner. Even if wine, or beer, isn't your forte, you'll find the contents very easy to digest. (Okay bad pun.) These chapters serve to put everyone on an even footing before diving in to the food and beverage pairing specifics.

The bulk of the book is devoted to an in-depth look at individual food groups, such as cheeses, vegetables, spicy food, desserts, followed by discussions on how beer and wine are paired with that particular food, along with specific beverage suggestions. The reasoning behind the specific choices are well-explained. At the end of each section, the authors make their summary arguments in keeping with the debate theme of the book.

The final chapters of the book offer a unique twist. Instead of settling the debate as to which beverage is superior, the authors challenge the reader to take the debate into their own homes and put the question before their friends. Suggested recipes, along with beer and wine pairings are listed for twelve different foods. Of course, you aren't limited to the recipes in the book, there are lots of tips and suggestions for creating your own challenges. The authors work to ensure the readers are well-equipped to put together their own menus and pairings. It is the goal of the book, as Sam writes, to give the reader the knowledge to "... experience the excitement and competitive spirit of our beer versus wine dinners at home."

Throughout the book, the emphasis is on fun. Although each author is steadfast in support of their chosen beverage, the book is devoted to helping folks gain even more enjoyment from food, beer, and wine. It doesn't matter if you prefer beer over wine, or vice-versa, this book just may open your eyes to the other side.

Good Friday, and Happy Birthday To Me

Today I mark 50 years of life, or as Colleen likes to tell me, the first 50. However today we will only note it, not celebrate it, as today is also Good Friday. For Catholics this is a day of fasting and abstinence. This is the day in which we remember the Passion of our Lord; His suffering and His death. We call it Good Friday because His suffering was, and is, in reparation for our sins. So today, we too suffer just a bit. Just one meal to sustain us and no meat. It's also a day without toil, one of reflection.

Do I lament not celebrating my 50th birthday today? Not really, being trumped by our Lord is something I can handle. Considering that Good Friday hasn't fallen on this day since 1913, and it won't happen again until the year 2228, I could allow myself to feel a bit special to have been given this tiny added sacrifice.

After Good Friday services and our one small meal, I'll sit down this evening, perhaps with a nice barleywine or Trappist beer. It will be a time to reflect further on the meaning of this day, and how that might be reflected in my 50 years. That's time well spent. The party with friends can wait. (And is indeed planned for next Friday.)




Update: I read on the Brookston Beer Bulletin that I share this birthday with brewing legend Pierre Celis.

Weekend Roundup

Here's a summary of some local tasting opportunities this week.

Total Wine, Fredericksburg
Friday, March 21 - 5:00 - 8:00pm
Friday 5 @ 5 Beer Tasting:
Delirium Nocturnum
Tetley’s English Ale
Lancaster Amish Four Grain Ale
Sea Dog Apricot Wheat Ale
Stone Brewing Arrogant Bastard Ale

Corks and Kegs, Richmond
Friday, March 21 - 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Beer tasting:
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale
Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre

Kybecca, Plank Rd., Fredericksburg
Saturday, March 22 - 12:00 pm - ?
Customer choice tasting:
First person in chooses beer of the day (with reasonable restrictions)

Rick's Wine and Gourmet, Alexandria
Saturday, March 22 - 12:00 - 5:00 pm
Beer tasting:
Kronenbourg 1664
Legacy Euphoria Ale
Legacy Hedonism Red Ale
Legacy Hoptimus Prime

Blue & Gray Brewery, Fredericksburg
Every Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Beer samples and brewery tours


If you attend these events, tell us about it in the comments, and be sure to let the store know you heard about it here.
Have something to add? Let me know, my contact information is here.