Features
Resources
by Randy Mosherwww.cheesesociety.org This trade association (ACS) has a good deal of useful information on its site, including a membership directory that lists not only cheesemakers, but specialty retailers as well. www.cheesemaking.com In case you need another hobby. Honest, the microwaved mozzarella is like a miracle! The Atlas of American Artisan Cheese, by Jeff Roberts. This is... View Article
Getting Started With Beer and Cheese
by Randy MosherCheese offers the same kind of variety, subtlety, sense of terroir and sheer bliss of a great beer, so there’s no reason not to dive right in. As a beer lover, you are already more than halfway there. Here’s my thoughts for getting started.
Cheese Primer
by Randy MosherSemi-Soft—These are the familiar cheeses, such as Colby and Jack that have little or no rind, and are not treated with bacteria or fungus. Pasta Filata—These are kneaded cheeses, like Mozzarella and Provolone. The fresher varieties tend to have simple, milky flavors. Wax-Dipped—This is the classic American method, in which cheeses are sealed in an... View Article
Glassware Directory
by Brittany LykeFrosted Pint Glass We’re mounting a campaign against the frosted glass: the chill drops the temperature of your beer another five degrees and robs you of flavor. But this is a simple shaker pint with a lightly sand-blasted exterior. That’s a frosted glass we can welcome. $4.00 each, Pub Glasses, www.pubglasses.com
Fine Reproductions
by Randy MosherAs you can imagine from your own fumbling at the dishpan, there isn’t a lot of genuine 16th century glass left intact. So if you want to know what it’s like to hoist one of these ancients pots to your lips and drink from it, you’re going to have to go repro. There are a... View Article
The Stein
by Brittany LykeThe stein, or steinkrug, is the epitome of masculine drinkware, despite being closely associated with lederhosen. This epic container is a ubiquitous classic—easy to recognize no matter how ornate or plain its exterior may be. From high culture to pop culture, you can find steins that commemorate anything from military victories to cartoon characters to... View Article
Glasses as Decorative Art
by Randy MosherSince the dawn of civilization, people have been drinking their favorite beverage out of special, artistically decorated vessels: pottery and metal at first, befitting the social class. Glass was used in Roman times, but became much more important for drinking vessels in late Medieval times. Drinking glasses have always been, as they are today, status... View Article
Oddball Drinking Gadgets
by Brittany LykeBeer has inspired a variety of odd games, glasses and gadgets. Some were necessary, while others—well, not so much.
Glassware
by Brittany LykeLike wine, many beers’ underlying aromas and tastes are both influenced and complemented by the vessel in which they are served. This goes beyond visual appeal—although a well-poured beer in a sparkling glass certainly sharpens your anticipation of that first sip. The shape and construction of the glass are meant to enhance aroma and flavor,... View Article
The Real History of Beer
by Lew BrysonWe all know how craft beer history goes. Beer was great until the 19th century, when mass production of lagers took over the world, and American brewers put corn and rice in their beer to make it cheaper. By 1950, everyone was hypnotized by marketing into drinking the fizzy yellow beer. It looked bad, but... View Article
The Irish Heartbeat
by Eileen McNamaraWalk through The Front Door in Galway and the ear-splitting volume of the music and the size of the fashionable crowd spilling between the first and second floors might deceive you into thinking that you have stumbled into a nightclub in Manhattan.
The Irish Heartbeat
by Eileen McNamaraWalk through The Front Door in Galway and the ear-splitting volume of the music and the size of the fashionable crowd spilling between the first and second floors might deceive you into thinking that you have stumbled into a nightclub in Manhattan.
The Irish Heartbeat
by Eileen McNamaraWalk through The Front Door in Galway and the ear-splitting volume of the music and the size of the fashionable crowd spilling between the first and second floors might deceive you into thinking that you have stumbled into a nightclub in Manhattan.
Cheese and Beer: A Perfect Partnership
by Randy MosherBeer and cheese have a lot on common. As Brooklyn Brewing’s brewmaster, Garrett Oliver, is fond of pointing out, cheese is grass processed by microbes in the cow’s stomach, and beer is grass processed by the brewer and the action of a microbe, yeast.
Columns
Fred’s 2007 “Good Stuff” Tasting: The Quest for the Holy Ale
by Fred Eckhardt
Departments
Belgian Masterpieces, American Style
by Paul Ruschmann“Mussels in Brussels?” That’s what the gal who wrote our plane ticket asked us before our first trip to Belgium.
Big Baltic Porter
by K. Florian KlempBritish brewers began “imperializing” ales over 200 years ago. Stout and pale ale were re-formulated as stronger variations designed for export: Imperial stout and India pale ale. Imperial stouts were sent to the relatively nearby Baltic regions as a pure commodity; India pale ale to distant India to gratify British troops.
with Matthias Trum, Bremaster
by Julie JohnsonWhat’s the history of the Schlenkerla tavern and brewery? The building dates back to 1405, so it’s a little more than 600 years old. At the time of its first recording, it was owned by coopers, people who make barrels. In Bamberg, coopers and brewers were united in one guild, so very often the coopers... View Article
Beer Talk
St-Ambrose Oatmeal Stout
by Charlie PapazianMcAuslan Brewing Imported by Eurobrews Ashland, MA Available: NY, RI, VA, PA, KY, MA, OH, MD, CA (USA); QC, ON, NS, AB, BC (Canada) This stout, first brewed in 1990, is newly available in the United States. ABV: 5 ABW: 4 Color: black Bitterness: n/a Original Gravity: n/a
Schlafly Reserve Barleywine-style Ale (2007)
by Charlie PapazianSt. Louis Brewery Available: MO, IL This limited-release beer is aged on new Missouri oak. Schlafly Beer was born in 1991. The company brews 34 different beers, of which it typically serves six or more at a time. ABV: 10.3 ABW: n/a Color: 24 Bitterness: 75 Original Gravity: 23.2
Track Town 100 Meter Ale
by Charlie PapazianEugene City Brewery Eugene City, OR Available: OR, WA, CA, TN, TX, LA, NY, MA, IN Rogue Ales re-opened the brewery where the Eugene Brewery, originally built in 1866, stood. Henry Weinhart purchased it in 1890. The building was torn down in 1914 and rebuilt across the street , where it is sited today. ABV:... View Article
Wolaver’s Brown Ale
by Charlie PapazianOtter Creek Brewing Co. Available: ME, NH, CT, MA, VT, RI, NY, NJ, DE, PA, MD, DC, VA, NC, FL, OH, IL, WI, OR, CA, WA, NM Wolaver’s ales are certified organic by Vermont Organic Farmers, using at least 98% organic ingredients. ABV: 5.7 ABW: 4.5 Color: 20 Bitterness: 21 Original Gravity: 1056
Dark Island
by Charlie PapazianThe Orkney Brewery Legends, Ltd. Baltimore, MD Available: AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA. MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WA, WI strong>ABV: 4.6 ABW: 3.65 Color: deep ruby Bitterness: n/a Original Gravity: n/a
Firestone Pale Ale
by Charlie PapazianFirestone Walker Brewing Co. Paso Robles, CA Available: CA ABV: 4.8 ABW: 3.8 Color: 7 Bitterness: 38 Original Gravity: 1046
Lazy Mutt Farmhouse Ale
by Charlie PapazianMinhas Craft Brewery Monroe, WI Available: WI, IN MN The brewery, founded in 1845, is now owned by the sister and brother team of Manjit and Ravinder Minhas, the youngest brewery owners in the United States. ABV: 5 ABW: 4 Color: 4.3 Bitterness: 7 Original Gravity: n/a
Blonde Ale
by Charlie PapazianOrlando Brewing Orlando, FL Available: FL Orlando Brewing Co. is Florida’s only certified organic brewery with beers containing “99% organic ingredients.” ABV: 4.46 ABW: 3.55 Color: 2.9 Bitterness: 10 Original Gravity: 1040
Caldera IPA
by Charlie PapazianCaldera Brewing Co. Ashland, OR Available: OR Caldera is the first craft brewery in beer-crazy Oregon to join the growing number of craft brewers releasing their beer in cans. ABV: 6.1 ABW: 4.9 Color: n/a Bitterness: n/a Original Gravity: 1057
Nut Brown Ale
by Charlie PapazianPeak Organic Brewing Co. Portland, ME Available: CA, CT, IL, FL, ME, MA, MN, NH, NY, NJ, PA, DC, VT, VA, WI Organic beer sales are rising in the United States. ABV: 4.8 ABW: 3.8 Color: n/a Bitterness: 28 Original Gravity: 48
Hoppy Otter IPA
by Charlie PapazianOtter Brewing, Savannah, GA Tipple Time, Savannah, GA Available: GA, NC, MA, NY, KY, OH, IN, OR, WA, MD, DE, DC, VA, PA, NJ After a visit to the United States, the team from the Otter Brewery in England decided to create an Old-World-meets-New IPA that combines English floor malts with American hops. ABV: 6.8... View Article
Imperial Choklat Stout
by Charlie PapazianSouthern Tier Brewing Co. Available: NY, PA, OH, NJ, MA, RI, CT, MD, VA, MI, IL, WI, ON (Canada) The Popal Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya describes the mystery of xocoatl which was popularized in Europe at the court of Louis XIV. Now it is an ingredient in beer. ABV: 11 ABW: 8.76... View Article
Chocolate Indulgence
by Charlie PapazianBrewery Ommegang Cooperstown, NY Available: n/a This chocolate stout was released to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Brewery Ommegang. ABV: 7 ABW: 5.8 Color: n/a Bitterness: n/a Original Gravity: n/a
Narragansett Lager
by Charlie PapazianNarragansett Brewing Co. Providence, RI Available: RI, MA, CT, NH, ME, VT, FL Fans of this Rhode Island beer which dates back to 1888 will remember the jingle “Hi neighbor have a “Gansett!” that played on the radio until 1981. ABV: 5.22 ABW: 4.16 Color: 5 Bitterness: 5.5 Original Gravity: 1004
Steelhead Double IPA
by Charlie PapazianMad River Brewing Co. Blue Lake, CA Available: AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NC, NV, OR, PA, VA, WA, WI Mad River Brewing Co. is an industry leader in environmentally responsible brewing, achieving a waste-reduction rate of 98% through composting, recycling, and reuse. ABV: 8.6 ABW: 6.85 Color: reddish-copper Bitterness: n/a Original Gravity: 1080
Stinger Wild Honey Wheat
by Charlie PapazianEstes Park Brewery Estes Park, CO Available: CO, WI Stinger is brewed with Colorado honey. ABV: 6.1 ABW: 4.86 Color: 10 Bitterness: n/a Original Gravity: 1050