Summer cookout - Summer beer

The last couple of weeks have been pretty busy, but I've tried some new beers and had some great beer moments. So I figure I'll back it up to Sunday, July 25th. Amanda had invited a friend of ours over to start planning a State Fair party, and while he was over he asked if we had any summer beers.

Unfortunately, I didn't.

And it got me thinking - maybe I should take more advantage of the seasonal aspects of beer. That evening, we decided to have a cook out with John, John and Gregg. I ran to the store to get some brats (I just grabbed a Johnsonville party pack) and some summer beers. John had mentioned Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy, so I picked up a six pack, and since I don't care for Summer Shandy I also picked up a six pack of Sam Adams Summer Ale, which was a new one to me.

Now one thing I like about cookouts is beer brats. My love of beer brats is two-fold. The first is definately the easiest - I love eating them. But the second is important in maintaining a properly stocked refrigerator - Making beer brats gives me a chance to use beer in my fridge that I'm not drinking before it gets old and skunky.

Why would I have beer in my fridge that isn't getting drunk? Because although I'm willing to try any beer, I'm not willing to keep drinking some of them. Since everyone has different preferences in beer, it stands to reason that there isn't any bad beer, there is just better beer. But that doesn't mean I'm going to drink a beer I don't care for if there's something else available.

This time I used MGD and Harp. I don't really drink MGD, but we always try to keep some on hand for guests. Plenty of people drink Miller and I'd rather have MGD in the house than Miller Lite. I've gotten to the point where it has become my preferred beer for making beer brats and beer dip. But this time I only had one bottle left in the fridge so I broke into the next oldest beer in the fridge - Harp.

Unlike MGD, I do drink Harp, but since I prefer darker beers, I only drink it regularly. I had originally bought it to make black and tans (or more acurately half and halfs, since Harp is a pale lager instead of a pale ale) - but after a couple I got tired of them and the Harp wasn't going anywhere - So it was time to start cooking with it.

Anyhow, the cookout was a good time - relaxed and enjoyable. A perfect way to end a relaxing weekend. The Summer Shandy's went over well and I got to try my first Samuel Adams Summer Lager. It was a success. It was light, with a pleasant tartness and a little bitterness that went down quite nicely over dinner. I had thought of having a second as we sat out in the back yard around the firepit and chatted, but I find that beer makes me thirsty and I didn't want to end up dehydrating myself before work. That's fine, it's still there waiting for me.

Celebrating German Heritage with a New Beer

This weekend is German Fest on the Summerfest grounds. I didn't make it today, but I hope to tomorrow. When I realized today would be out, I decided to celebrate my little bit of German heritage by trying another new beer - Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse.

With my first sip there was an element of the flavor that I know I can't properly describe. Without that flavor I was sure I'd like my beer. With it, I wasn't so sure it was my style. But something about it sparked a feeling, or maybe the hint of a memory that I couldn't quite place. So I kept on, focusing on that flavor, trying to determine what it was. I want to say it reminded me of my childhood somehow, but I'm not sure how. My parents didn't drink too often and they discouraged me from doing it, so I don't think it's something I had tasted. Well, I gave up trying to figure out what the taste reminded me of, but by that time I has started to enjoy it. So Franziskaner, first impressions were misleading and I have to admit I like you.

One New Bar Three New Beers

On Friday I decided to have lunch out. My original intention was to eat at the Red Accordion on Old World Third Street, but when I and a co-worker started walking that way, it looked like there was a great deal of steam coming up from the street right along that block. I assume it had something to do with the heavy rains the night before, but neither one of us wanted to walk through it to grab lunch. So I suggested we head one block east and try The Harp on East Juneau. It's been there since 1965 and although I went out drinking right in that area along Water Street in my early 20s and I have been working right in that area for the last 7 years, I've never stopped in.

Well I count it as a success. It's a nice little place with a spot out back right on the Milwaukee river, which is where we decided to sit. First off, that was a good choice because the day hadn't gotten too hot, and the clouds were just beginning to burn off. And secondly, we got to enjoy the view of the river (and the random tree that floated past while we were eating). But I was also pleased to discover that in addition to a nice selection of beer, they also had Strongbow on tap and Magners in bottles.

I'm a fan of hard cider, but I've found my tastes have settled some. Woodchuck is nice, but I find that it's usually a bit too sweet for me. Magners and Strongbow aren't quite as sweet to my taste, and I like them both. I was rather excited to find both Strongbow and Magners at the same establishment since I haven't seen that very often. Usually if I'm looking for a cider while I'm out I only see one available. Two - and two of my favorites - was a nice change of pace.

I'd heard of Magners before I went to Ireland a couple years ago, but I don't think I ever tried it until I was there. My wife, Amanda, isn't much of a beer drinker (aside from Leinenkugel's Berry Weiss) So while I had Guiness or Smithwick's for nearly every lunch or dinner while on vacation there, she started drinking Bulmer's Original Vintage Cider (which is sold outside of Ireland as Magners Original Irish Cider). Strongbow is one of the first ciders I ever had and is a nice dry English cider with a crisp finish. The fact that it was on tap made my decision for me, so that's what I decided to have with my lunch. It was a lovely choice for the day, but I think it was still a bit too sweet for the rest of my meal. I had the tenderloin sandwich which was superb, but in hindsight I probably would have been happier with my drink if I'd paired my meal with a Smithwick's instead of a cider.

When I got home from work, I decided to start my evening off with another beer from my Lakefront Brewery sample pack and tried their Organic E.S.B. It has a nice flavor, light with just a little bitter and a slightly sour finish. Not a bad sour, but kind of like the sour you get off a nice tart lemondade. I loved it, and would definately recommend it. With dinner, I decided to have a second beer and I tried the Lakefront Brewery's Wheat Monkey Ale. After having enjoyed the E.S.B. so much I was extremely disappointed with the Wheat Money Ale. I found it bland with a light bitterness that I didn't find pleasing. Now don't get me wrong, I don't think I would qualify it as a "bad" beer - but it just wasn't flavorful enough for my liking, and I probably won't buy it again. (Unless I forget that I didn't like it and pick it up because I like the name. I've done that before, and I'll probably do it again.)

This morning I was at it again. I woke up late and started working on some of the household projects that needed to get finished. I hadn't thought about food, but by about 10:30 Amanda made me some eggs. Since it is a beautiful summer day out I was in the mood for a beer, and since it was late morning I decided to go for it. I grabbed the Lakefront Brewery Fuel Cafe which they label as A stout brewed with coffee especially for Fuel Cafe. It helps that I like stouts to begin with, and I've grown to like coffee every now and then too. I could definately taste both flavors very clearly, and I have to admit it's a nice combination. Because of the coffee flavor, I probably wont't drink this often, but since I enjoyed it I don't doubt that I'll drink it again. Lakefront Brewery's website suggests the Fuel Cafe stout be drunk with dessert. I can definately see that and wouldn't mind trying it sometime.

Tried Two New Beers - and Revisited an Old One

The last few days have been unfortunately busy, but not so busy that I missed out on a little down time here and there. On Sunday I bought myself a Lakefront Brewery eight pack sampler and had myself a Klisch pilsner. Honestly, I didn't think I would like it. I assumed it would be too light for me, but I was wrong. It had a nice full flavor and a crispness that was real nice while I was getting stuff done around the house. Now I can see why some people think of pilsners as a great summer beer.

On Tuesday, I didn't have a new beer, but one I'd only had once before. I went to Milwaukee's Old German Beer Hall and had a half liter of their Hofbrau Dunkel, a refreshing dark beer, and followed it with a second half liter. I must admit I love the atmosphere there... and the beer.

Today I tried my first porter at Waterstreet Brewery. I had heard (I believe while touring the Guinness Brewery in Dublin) that the stout was developed to be a "stouter" form of the porter. But I had never had a porter before. It's a pleasant dark beer that I will definately have again. It's not always on the Waterstreet Brewery menu, so I'll have to make sure I get back there before it's done.

So far this week has been a total success!

Eastside Dark and Murphey's Red

On Friday my wife and I had supper at Paulie's in West Allis, and I tried Lakefront Brewery's Eastside Dark lager. I liked this local Milwaukee beer. It was dark, a little dense, rich and creamy. Does it make the top of my list? No. This is the second creamy dark lager I've had, (The other was Leinenkugel's Creamy Dark.) and although they were both good they just don't seem to be quite my style. I don't know why not, I can't qualify what it is that just doesn't quite do it for me. I think I'll have to drink more to see if I can figure it out.

After dinner I tried the fat tire for a second time, and definately like it. The wierd thing is that this time I got it in the actual New Belgium globe glass. I'm not sure how I feel about beer coming in stemware. I understand why you do it for wine. And snifters are fine for brandy, whiskey, and liqueurs. But for beer? What purpose does it serve? Give me a pint glass, pilsner glass, or stein glass. Even a good old fashioned German beer stein. But stemware? Why?

Today, my second new beer was tried. We went to the Bristol Renaissance Faire with the intention of catching up with friends and eating and drinking our way around the site. While I worked there, I didn't drink during the day, so I'm not as familiar with the bar's around site as many people who go there are, and I discovered a couple of things -

1) Import beers are served at all of the bars. Unless I remember incorrectly I had thought only one did and the rest served your standard Miller fare. Well, if it's something that changed within the last few years, I like the change.
2) They now serve hard liquor at the bars (previously, it had only been malt beverages and non-alcoholic items).
3) I don't know if the other bars do it, but the Blackfriar serves Black and Tans and similar split beers.

Well, I was only interested in beers and water (can't let yourself get dehydrated on a warm day like today). I started with a Murphy's Irish Stout (not a new beer to me) then I decided to try the half Murphy's Irish Stout / half Hardcore cider. That was a new combination to me - and I liked it. I think I'm going to have to play around with that. Then I finished off with a new beer for me (that's right - only 3 and I quit early and drank water. I needed to be sober when we left). The new beer was Murphey's Red. I liked it. Stouts and Reds are probably going to be winners for me every time, but no need to make an assumption when there's uncharted territory just a tapper away.

Friday - good time, decent beer. Saturday - great time, great beer.

Fat Tire Amber Ale

I had my first New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale today. My first two, actually. I found that this Colorado beer is right up my alley. I don't know if I'd consider it one of my top picks, but I'll definately drink it again.

Since I decided to spend some time on my computer this evening, I decided to check out their website , and low-and-behold, not only do they provide the history of it's birth and a description of it's character, but also a recipe and some ideas of food pairing. Brilliant!

Beer recipes and trying to learn to pair beers with foods for maximum pleasure may be something I need to add to my beer journey.

Building a Better Beer Resume

This is not an employment venture, but a personal journey. The last couple of years I've had much less time for my beloved hobbies because of "real life". I've been looking for a way to have a little fun in my spare time that doesn't require a commitment. But some days even the little hobbies are more work than fun.

Then last week it occurred to me that maybe it isn't a hobby I'm looking for, but just an interest. Something that can take lots of time or no time at all. And as I was drinking a beer at the time, I thought that maybe I had my solution in hand.

I haven't always been a beer drinker, but it's been growing on me. I enjoy them, but I can't say I know much about beer. I like darker beers, reds, and hoppy beers. I usually don't care for light beers (except occassionally on a whim), but beyond that I can't claim to have much beer experience or knowledge. So I have decided to broaden my beerizons. I don't know what that's going to entail. But I think trying new beers, including ones that I suspect I might not care for, is going to be a start. Which is perfect. No commitment. Little time. I can get it anywhere. I can enjoy it just about anywhere (besides work). And they make me smile.

So here's to to trying new things!