Formula 409

Day #409 Moebius / Omnipollo, Stockholm, Sweden
Previously from this brewery: Both of our looks at Mazarin

Two interesting things to note about today, which are indirectly related yet somewhat related.

1. Today is the anniversary of Joe Paterno's death. While some people outside of Penn State will never bother to understand anything about Coach Paterno other than what they read in the headlines, most PSU fans recognize that he did not walk on water, but was a good and very decent human being who made mistakes.  Coach Paterno contributed thousands upon thousands upon thousands of good things to the school, his community, and the sport at large - but he'd be the first to point out he wasn't perfect.
2. Today marks post #409 for the blog, which is also the number of games Paterno won as head coach. Yes, the NCAA stripped a number of those wins to "punish" Penn State, but that's another story for another day, as the NCAA is about as effective of an organization as....well, I really can't think of anything as ludicrously ineffective as the NCAA.  I say: 409 forever.

PSU notes aside, today was a good day.  Got to take in a high school basketball game, managed to get some work done, and didn't freeze to death.  Hooray for the small victories, I guess.

Today's beer is Moebius, an Imperial IPA from Omnipollo, a Swedish brewer.  In the glass, you see a hazy orange color, with a wispy white head.  You find an aroma of citrus fruit and pine, and the taste follows suit with tons of grapefruit and lemon, along with a strong pine flavor from the hops.  This beer is strong, as 8.5% ABV, and bitter throughout, with a good dry finish.  Definitely one for the hop lovers to check out.

Hello there.

Omni means many in Latin, and pollo means chicken in Spanish (shout out to the worlds best fried chicken chain, Pollos Hermanos).  This language lesson really means nothing when you combine them in Swedish, I suppose.

Thing to Think About Today:

I just played some Frightened Rabbit in this space a few days earlier.  I've been listening to them nearly non-stop since then, and they have a new album coming out next month.  So, let's close out the evening thinking about the first song released from the new album.  Please enjoy The Woodpile, because I do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY4j8Ow-CTs

"Would you come and brighten my corner?"

More Swedish than IKEA

Beer #282  Mazarin / Omnipollo, Stockholm, Sweden

Hey Marci, guess who the dogs love more?  Um, I think it was the guy who made them grilled chicken for dinner, that's who.  Yes, occasionally we spoil the hounds to a ridiculous degree a small bit.  What can I say, they're furry children, really.  And unlike when your kids misbehave, we can put these guys in their crate for a time out.

While the dogs are eating their dinner, I'll go ahead and review tonight's beer, the Mazarin, an American Pale Ale from Omnipollo, which is the brewery name for two gypsy brewers operating out of Sweden.  This one was on draft at TJ's, and it has a bright amber color in the glass.  There's a light aroma, and the flavor gives you subtle hop flavors with plenty of lemon, and a nice, mild bitterness throughout.  This is a really nice beer, and it's very drinkable.

NOMZ

What's I've found interesting this year has been the increasing number of European breweries crafting American style beers, such as this one.  It's long been the other way around, so I enjoy seeing the different perspectives on beers like APAs.  I definitely intend to try some additional beers from Omnipollo as I find them, as this one was on the mark.

Thing to Think About Today:
Wanted to add in the great song Submarines of Stockholm from AC Newman in honor of Omnipollo's home city, but couldn't find much on YouTube, so we'll skip it.  Instead, let's take the easy out here and drop in the greatest gift to the world Sweden has ever given - yep, we're going with ABBA!  Nothing would quite get the 1997 sorority sisters of PSU dancing during happy hour at the Gingerbread Man like some Dancing Queen.  Here we go....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYSSD0SVhN0

"Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine..."

Beer 275: Omnipollo Mazarin

I'm not sure what meaning lies behind the name Omnipollo Mazarin, but I'm certain delicious has something to do with it.  "What!?!," you exclaim. Yes, Marci is enjoying another pale ale.  I know, it's like you don't even know me anymore.  See. This is what two weeks on the west coast will do to a person!

I'm at the point where I can recognize
TJ's bar at a hundred paces.

The Mazarin poured a honey color with a slight haze and a thin white head.  It has a nice citrus and woody aroma. The flavor is resinous hops and lightly pine tinged. Between the flavor and the low ABV (5.6%), this is an easy to drink beer. 

From the brewer: "Mazarin is my take on a 'thinker’s beer'. Rather than being big and undecipherably complex I wanted to create something that would calm a hop yearning nerve without fuddling the brain too much. In other words, a lavishly hopped Pale Ale of judicious ABV — an Extra Special Pale Ale if you will."  I think he hit this one out of the ballpark!

Cheers!