The September issue of All About Beer magazine has an interesting feature on "suitcase" beers; i.e., the rare beers you love so much that you'll pack them home with you when returning from travels.
A suitcase beer has to be not only delicious but rare enough that it's not available around your home. The magazine's list of 99 such beers was (not surprisingly) heavy on imperial stouts, IPAs and obscure Belgian beers. It got me thinking about my suitcase beers. Here's my top five, shaped by my narrow travels in the Western U.S.:
1. Terminal Gravity IPA. This IPA is widely distributed and well-loved in its native Oregon, but it does not get enough respect outside the state, unlike California favorites such as Racer 5 IPA and Russian River's Pliney series. Terminal Gravity's offering is redolent with citrus, and extremely tasty. Perhaps the nation's best six-pack IPA.
2. Avery Brewing Co.'s barrel-aged beers. The Boulder brewery has an extensive barrel-aging program, and the best of these are a wonder to behold - not to mention difficult to find outside of the Front Range. If you can get them, Brabant and Depuceleuse deserve your attention (and something like $8 per 12-ounce bottle).
3. Deschutes The Abyss. This legendary imperial stout is the only beer I currently have aging in my fridge. I can't wait to do a vertical tasting. Happily, its 2009 vintage was more widely available than previous versions.
4. Upright Brewing Co.'s seasonal releases. This small Portland brewery is an increasingly poorly kept secret. Brewer/owner Alex Ganum completely eschews English-style brewing: you will not find an IPA, a pale ale or a porter on premises. His basic line of beers (named Four, Five, Six and Seven) could loosely be described as French and Belgian-inspired farmhouse ales, but that falls short of justly describing his innovative use of yeast and local ingredients. I avidly want to try his recent seasonals, including a Gose, an obscure German style brewed with salt; and an oyster stout, brewed with oyster juice and whole oysters in the kettle. Ganum is a brewer who is truly pushing the art of brewing forward.
5. Pelican Brewery's seasonals. This Oregon Coast brewpub has been justly celebrated with multiple GABF medals. It sits on the beach, amid the salty Pacific Ocean air and swarming sea gulls. Seasonals such as the biere de garde Bridal Ale are worth the high price.
Those are my suitcase beers. What are yours?
Monday, August 9, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Ska anniversary party details
Here are some details from Ska Brewing Co. about the brewery's 15th anniversary party, set for Sat., Aug. 28 at the brew plant in Durango:
“This anniversary is a great chance to look back on how far we’ve come”, co-founder Bill Graham said in a news release. “In the beginning, all we really wanted to do was brew great beer, but we’ve been lucky to have awesome employees, loyal customers who know good beer when they taste it, and we’ve made a few good decisions along the way, too.”
Certainly one of those was the decision to become the second craft brewer in the nation to can its beers, after Oskar Blues Brewing Co. in Lyons. “Canning has been huge, and the whole industry is really looking at it now because it’s an excellent way to package craft beer, it’s better for the environment, and it allows people to take good beer with them on all kinds of trips,” said Graham.
So what does a Colorado craft brewer like Ska do to celebrate a major milestone? Throw the biggest party they can, of course. The “Ska 15th Anniversary Bash and Brewer’s Invitational” will feature special beers from 15 breweries, and three bands including local Durango favorites Farmington Hill, as well as The Supersuckers—a band that calls themselves “The Greatest Rock And Roll Band In The World” (and Ska concurs). The party will be held at Ska Brewing’s World Headquarters in Durango on Saturday, August 28 from 4-9 p.m. Advance tickets are required and can be purchased locally or online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/119019. The event is produced for adults. For more details call Ska Brewing at (970) 247-5792.
“We’re really throwing a party to say ‘thank you,'" said Ska President and co-founder Dave Thibodeau. “Not a day goes by that we don’t stop and think about how lucky we are to live in Durango and brew beer for a living. We’re grateful, and we want to say thanks. Our 15th anniversary gives us a great excuse to do that.”
“This anniversary is a great chance to look back on how far we’ve come”, co-founder Bill Graham said in a news release. “In the beginning, all we really wanted to do was brew great beer, but we’ve been lucky to have awesome employees, loyal customers who know good beer when they taste it, and we’ve made a few good decisions along the way, too.”
Certainly one of those was the decision to become the second craft brewer in the nation to can its beers, after Oskar Blues Brewing Co. in Lyons. “Canning has been huge, and the whole industry is really looking at it now because it’s an excellent way to package craft beer, it’s better for the environment, and it allows people to take good beer with them on all kinds of trips,” said Graham.
So what does a Colorado craft brewer like Ska do to celebrate a major milestone? Throw the biggest party they can, of course. The “Ska 15th Anniversary Bash and Brewer’s Invitational” will feature special beers from 15 breweries, and three bands including local Durango favorites Farmington Hill, as well as The Supersuckers—a band that calls themselves “The Greatest Rock And Roll Band In The World” (and Ska concurs). The party will be held at Ska Brewing’s World Headquarters in Durango on Saturday, August 28 from 4-9 p.m. Advance tickets are required and can be purchased locally or online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/119019. The event is produced for adults. For more details call Ska Brewing at (970) 247-5792.
“We’re really throwing a party to say ‘thank you,'" said Ska President and co-founder Dave Thibodeau. “Not a day goes by that we don’t stop and think about how lucky we are to live in Durango and brew beer for a living. We’re grateful, and we want to say thanks. Our 15th anniversary gives us a great excuse to do that.”
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Flash flood warning (beer news)
In the spirit of the summer thunderstorms, I hereby unleash long pent-up beer news:
The Brewers Association reported craft beer dollar sales rose 12 percent during the first half of 2010, while brewing volume rose 9 percent compared to the same period last year.
Total beer volume sales were down 2.7 percent, indicating the macro-lagers continue to stagnate while craft beer sales grow.
Ska Brewing Co. announced via Twitter that its sales rose 36 percent, an astonishing number. The brewery's spectacular growth has been driven by increased capacity at its two-year-old plant and the market success of Modus Hoperandi IPA and other canned beers.
In other Durango craft-beer news:
Durango Brewing Co. has released its seasonal Blueberry Wheat ale. I'm usually not a fan of fruit beers, but this one is worth checking out.
Steamworks Brewing Co. currently has a barrel-aged brown ale on cask at its Durango brewpub.
Carver Brewing Co. has a new limited-release beer, Cornerpocket Pale Ale, on tap. I'll let Carver's head brewer, Erik Maxson, tell you about it:
"Cornerpocket is yet another in our summer long river themed pale ales. It was designed and brewed by my assistant Jeff Albarella. It is a single-hopped pale using all German Northern Brewer hops (from bittering all the way through to dry hopping). The malt profile comes from English Maris Otter and some German Pale Ale and just a hint of caramel malt. ABV is 5.7%, 40 IBUs."
The Brewers Association reported craft beer dollar sales rose 12 percent during the first half of 2010, while brewing volume rose 9 percent compared to the same period last year.
Total beer volume sales were down 2.7 percent, indicating the macro-lagers continue to stagnate while craft beer sales grow.
Ska Brewing Co. announced via Twitter that its sales rose 36 percent, an astonishing number. The brewery's spectacular growth has been driven by increased capacity at its two-year-old plant and the market success of Modus Hoperandi IPA and other canned beers.
In other Durango craft-beer news:
Durango Brewing Co. has released its seasonal Blueberry Wheat ale. I'm usually not a fan of fruit beers, but this one is worth checking out.
Steamworks Brewing Co. currently has a barrel-aged brown ale on cask at its Durango brewpub.
Carver Brewing Co. has a new limited-release beer, Cornerpocket Pale Ale, on tap. I'll let Carver's head brewer, Erik Maxson, tell you about it:
"Cornerpocket is yet another in our summer long river themed pale ales. It was designed and brewed by my assistant Jeff Albarella. It is a single-hopped pale using all German Northern Brewer hops (from bittering all the way through to dry hopping). The malt profile comes from English Maris Otter and some German Pale Ale and just a hint of caramel malt. ABV is 5.7%, 40 IBUs."
New Ska beers for August
Ska Brewing Co. will host a big bash Aug. 28. The brewery will debut a Bourbon-barrel aged version of Euphoria Pale Ale, typically a winter seasonal. Tickets cost $30, getting you tastes from 15 breweries from Colorado and the Four Corners, and a commemorative glass. The party marking Ska's 15th anniversary starts at 4 p.m.
Also, Ska's Local Series #16, a Schwarzbier, should be out soon. The classic German-style dark lager was designed by Clancy Calhoun of Aztec, N.M., who won Ska's homebrew competition in February. (More on that here).
Monday, July 26, 2010
Newspaper story on "Skavery" ride
The Durango Herald has a short story today on the Ska/Avery/Oskar Blues statewide tour that culminated in the release of Wheelsucker Wheat Ale on Saturday.
The bicycle ride seems like a great way to build camaraderie among craft brewers. The beer ain't bad, either.
I attended the release party Saturday. A band called S.O.B. played ska tunes while the first kegs of Wheelsucker were tapped. The band moved inside as lightning threatened.
The bicycle ride seems like a great way to build camaraderie among craft brewers. The beer ain't bad, either.
I attended the release party Saturday. A band called S.O.B. played ska tunes while the first kegs of Wheelsucker were tapped. The band moved inside as lightning threatened.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Pagosa to tap Wolf Creek Wheat
Pagosa Brewing Co. is tapping its Wolf Creek Wheat on Friday, July 23.
The brewery describes Wolf Creek Wheat, a returning summer seasonal, as a "cloudy, unfiltered American wheat beer."
For an extra 50 cents, Pagosa will let drinkers add peach, orange, pomegranate, ginger, raspberry or apple flavor to the wheat ale.
It'll be a wheaty weekend in Southwest Colorado. Ska and Avery Brewing will be tapping their Wheelsucker Wheat Ale a day later at Ska HQ in Durango.
Last year, Ska had flavors available to turn Wheelsucker Wheat into a Radler, a popular German drink. I suspect that option will be available again Saturday.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Skavery Wheelsucker Wheat Ale returns
Ska Brewing Co. and Avery Brewing Co. will release this year's version of Wheelsucker Wheat Ale at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 24, according to Ska's Facebook account.
Wheelsucker Wheat Ale is a superb imperial hefeweizen that won Beer at 6512's Beer of the Year 2009 award.
Wheelsucker is a thick-bodied wheat beer that has a refreshing aftertaste despite its approximately 7 percent ABV heft. I assume it will again be bottled in 22-ounce bombers.
Wheelsucker was brewed last year with 50-50 two-row malt and wheat malt, Hallertau Hersbrucker and Hallertau Mittlefruh hops and yeast from the Hopf Weissbier Brewery in Meisbock, Germany. Sweet and bitter orange peel were added at the end of the boil, lending a distinctive citrus note.
This beer is a crown jewel of Southwest Colorado craft brewing. It's worth seeking out.
Wheelsucker Wheat Ale is a superb imperial hefeweizen that won Beer at 6512's Beer of the Year 2009 award.
Wheelsucker is a thick-bodied wheat beer that has a refreshing aftertaste despite its approximately 7 percent ABV heft. I assume it will again be bottled in 22-ounce bombers.
Wheelsucker was brewed last year with 50-50 two-row malt and wheat malt, Hallertau Hersbrucker and Hallertau Mittlefruh hops and yeast from the Hopf Weissbier Brewery in Meisbock, Germany. Sweet and bitter orange peel were added at the end of the boil, lending a distinctive citrus note.
This beer is a crown jewel of Southwest Colorado craft brewing. It's worth seeking out.
Ska-blogger collaboration in Zymurgy
The current July/August issue of Zymurgy, the journal of the American Homebrewers Association, includes a column I wrote about my brewing collaboration with Ska Brewing Co.
I covered the project last winter extensively on this website, but it was fun to reach out to some new readers via Zymurgy.
The column is not available online. Zymurgy is sold at Magpie's in downtown Durango, along with homebrew shops and newsstands nationwide.
An archive of all the blog posts I wrote about the project to brew Soggy Coaster Imperial Red Ale is available here.
It was very cool of Ska to open up their brewery to bloggers like myself and Jeff Hammett (formerly of Beer N Bikes in Durango, now writing at San Diego Beer Blog). Thanks especially to Ska Head Brewer Thomas Larsen and President Dave Thibodeau, without whom I wouldn't have had any clue.
I hope this project leads to other interesting collaborations between bloggers and brewers.
I covered the project last winter extensively on this website, but it was fun to reach out to some new readers via Zymurgy.
The column is not available online. Zymurgy is sold at Magpie's in downtown Durango, along with homebrew shops and newsstands nationwide.
An archive of all the blog posts I wrote about the project to brew Soggy Coaster Imperial Red Ale is available here.
It was very cool of Ska to open up their brewery to bloggers like myself and Jeff Hammett (formerly of Beer N Bikes in Durango, now writing at San Diego Beer Blog). Thanks especially to Ska Head Brewer Thomas Larsen and President Dave Thibodeau, without whom I wouldn't have had any clue.
I hope this project leads to other interesting collaborations between bloggers and brewers.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
George Orwell, hop head
The English writer George Orwell led an austere life, but he did appreciate the finer things, including well-hopped English beers. This is from his autobiographical novel Down and Out in Paris and London (1933):
"There are, indeed, many things in England that make you glad to get home; bathrooms, armchairs, mint sauce, new potatoes properly cooked, brown bread, marmalade, beer made with veritable hops - they are all splendid, if you can pay for them."
"There are, indeed, many things in England that make you glad to get home; bathrooms, armchairs, mint sauce, new potatoes properly cooked, brown bread, marmalade, beer made with veritable hops - they are all splendid, if you can pay for them."
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