Completed the Set - Hofbräu in the Summer

Today I had the last of the Hofbräu beers that the Old German Beer Hall currently has on tap with their amber. It was a darker color than I expected with a mild, full flavor - rich, but not overpowering. It went down nicely over conversation, and had I not been on lunch with work waiting after I was done, I would have had more than one. So I have completed the set of Hofbräu beers - Obviously I have seasonal beers, but none of them are on tap right now.

I also nearly completed the set of free lunches that they offer. Their weekday lunch special is a meal with the purchase of a Point rootbeer, a Hofbräu beer or a cocktail; but it isn't all of their food. The choices are bratwurst, weisswurst, knockwurst, lieberkäse, or hotdog (I believe it's a Klements). The only one I haven't had is the hotdog, and I'm not sure I'm really interested. Don't get me wrong, I still love the old children's meal of mac-and-cheese and hotdogs, but that's one of the few times I'll eat hotdogs anymore. I had the bratwurst today.

This evening I tried the Capital Brewery Fest, which is their summer seasonal. It has a nice mild flavor - slightly sweet, very earthy, maybe a hint of bitter around the edges. Had it with a buffalo chicken salad, but I think it would go better with a tomato sauce based meal, or a tomato soup, or a beef broth based soup. Good. Definately good, but not my favorite. I think I'd have to be "in the mood" to drink it again, but I think I'd definately pick it over plenty of other beers depending on what's available.

Point Nude Beach

Last night with dinner I had a Point Nude Beach. It was good. It had a little more of an earthy taste than most wheat beers I've had.

What struck me as odd is that it had a taste that was similar to something I tasted in the Point Cascade Pale Ale. I wonder if there's some ingredient that they used in both that lends itself to a similar element to the flavor in both - and if I could pick it up in any of their other beers.

Now I really want to try other Point beers to find out.

Surprised by a New Beer

This last week Amanda and I went to see Wicked in the Uihlien Hall at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts with our friends Bryan and Marilou. Before the show started we grabbed drinks from the stand they set up. I didn't want anything strong, so I didn't get a mixed drink. Instead I got a Point Pale Ale.

For some reason I seem to have be prejudiced against Point Brewery beers. And now I'm beginning to wonder why. I think it's because I may have had one of their beers about 10 years ago that I just did not like. I've avoided them ever since - it's kind of part of the "Life's too short for cheap beer" mindset that I had developed.

A couple of years ago I was visiting my friend Adam in Wausau and he had a Point bock of some kind. I enjoyed it, but I figured it was just because I have yet to meet a bock I didn't like.

Well the Point Cascade Pale Ale was very pleasant. I was so pleased that I've decided to give Point beers another chance. Maybe I was just unlucky with my first Point experience. I suppose it just goes to prove that I really do need to try things twice.

Lesson Learned - One New Beer

I am a firm believer that unless you're a lightweight, occasionally having a drink on lunch is fine as long as it doesn't interfere with your job.

Well, I learned a new lesson. I and two of my co-workers went to the Old German Beer Hall on 7/28. They each had a Point rootbeer and I had a half liter of their strongbock. It was really good - not heavy, but not too light with a nice full bodied flavor. I loved it, and it paired very well with their lieberkäse (a fine ground pork meatloaf seasoned similar to a mild sausage - served as a thick slice sandwich style).

Unfortunately, it has a slightly higher alcohol content and I had a second glass. It didn't impair my ability to work, but Brad told me he could smell the beer on me. That's not something I intend to do again. I absolutely intend to drink it again - just not 2 on a work day.