Day 573: Troegs DreamWeaver Wheat

Odd fact about me: I love a good Rube Goldberg machine. And this one is amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEBJmZL8G1E

I'm not sure what part is the best. The angry nerd domino effect? The chomping fish? Golf balls playing percussion? The entire thing is totally amazing. Seriously.

You know what else is amazing? Troegs beer. It's so amazing that I'm declaring it Troegs Beer Week on a Blog Named Brew!

Let's start with DreamWeaver Wheat.

So pretty.

DreamWeaver Wheat pours a hazy wet straw color with a thin white head. It didn't have a powerful aroma, which was a bit surprising. The flavor is creamy banana, peppery with a mild hop finish. It's brewed with wheat, Munich and Pilsner malts, German Northern Brewer hops and uses an open top fermentation. There's also a yeast strain that imparts a peppery, clove taste with a slight hint of banana. Dear Troegs, you got this one right!

I noted that it didn't have much of a head. Per Troegs' website, they recommend "rousing the yeast" at the bottom of the bottle and pouring it into the glass for a big frothy head. I guess that doesn't work when it's on draught.

Beer stats
Style: Wheat ale
ABV: 4.8%
IBUs: 15

Rating: Good

Previously reviewed from Troegs
His review of Scratch 95 * (kolsch), pale ale, Nugget Nectar and Scratch 57 (weizenbock)
My review of Sunshine Pils

* The Scratch Series is Troegs experimental line of beers. My advice to you is to try them out whenever you see them. I've had some amazing beers that were part of the Scratch Series. Unfortunately for you, I was drinking for fun and not stressing about reviews when I had them. I'll try to do better for you in the future!

Day 566: Fort George Quick Wit

I love this photograph. It's like I'm magic!

Today's beer is thanks to a fellow beer geek who very kindly shipped it along with a few other favorites to me from Portland, Oregon. (Note to self: Organize another cross-country beer trade.)

This one is the Fort George Quick Wit--a Belgianesque ale. It looks like an Arnold Palmer...the beloved blend of lemonade and iced tea. It didn't have much of a head. But what's hanging around the edge of the glass is nice and white.

It smells sweet and lemony. Those notes carry over gracefully into the flavor, which also has a good amount of wheat. Go figure. It is a wheat ale. This particular beer is brewed with lemongrass and that gives it a really nice lemon/green pepper flavor. Interestingly it is also brewed with elderflower, which is believed to have supernatural powers to ward off evil. So I have that going for me. And clearly from the photograph, my supernatural powers are working.

Lately I've been very wishy, washy about wheat beers. I swear I'm off of them and then I find a winner like Fort George. I guess it shall be an on-again, off-again relationship.

Interesting note about Fort George Brewing. It's located in Astoria, Oregon, which is where Goonies was shot. The house is still there and there seem to be lots of Goonies-related events every year around the release date of the film (June 7)!

Beer stats
Style: Witbier
ABV: 5.2%
IBUs: Unknown
Rating: Great

Previously reviewed from Fort George
Quick Wit is first out the limo!

Day 557: Ommegang Witte

Ever have one of those days where packing it all in and finding a job with zero responsibilities sounds like THE BEST THING EVER? Yeah, that's been the last way too many weeks in my world. But what do I do? Soldier on. But for how much longer can I just buck up and deal with it?

Luckily I have this creative outlet and some really good beer on deck. Take for example the Ommegang Witte.


It's billed as a Belgian-style wheat ale, flavorful, soft and hazy. I thought the description referred to the beer, but I guess the folks at Ommegang were psychic about the quality of the photo I was about to take of their beer. Soft and hazy. Or out of focus. Whatevs.

It poured a very light straw color, but it wasn't quite the hazy I anticipated after reading the label. It had a medium, quick-to-dissipate white head. The aroma is wheat and some light orange. The flavor is crisp and citrusy. There's lots of orange and what I'm guessing is coriander. There's also a bit of cracker flavor and it's nicely carbonated. It's a very refreshing beer and perfect for a summer day.

Beer stats
Style: Wheat ale
ABV: 5.2%
IBUs: Unknown
Rating: Very good

Previously reviewed from Ommegang
My review of Gnomegang (Belgian pale ale), Biere d'Hougomont (biere de garde), Three Philosophers (quad) and Aphrodite (fruit beer)
His review of Witte, Biere d'Hougomont and Three Philosophers

W(a)HOO!

Day #550 Wahoo Wheat / Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego, CA
Previously from this brewery: Wahoo, a sampler, and a sampler highlighted by Sculpin IPA

Today was a busy day, and I'm too tired to even get in the details.  It was a good busy, though.  Not a bad busy.  Don't want you to think I'm complaining, just letting you know why you aren't getting a five-star, black label, platinum level post tonight.  Hey, no one said my blog posts were going to be 1000% awesome every day.  You, dear reader, just assume that because they more or less always are.

Tonight's beer is a Wahoo Wheat from Ballast Point, that I had a post-work outing to TJ's a while back. In the glass, you find a light straw color with a thin, persistent white head.  There's an aroma of crackers and light citrus, and when you take a sip you're greeted by a light and fresh flavor, with orange, wheat, and bready malt.  There's some hints of banana, but nothing too surprising or overpowering.  Super easy drinking at 4% ABV, so you can put these back without care (relatively speaking) on a warm, summer day.

Wheaty.

A good bit of San Diego beers seem to be finding their way to taps in Pennsylvania these days.  A status I completely support, by the way.

Thing to Think About Today:
If it's a wheat beer I'm drinking, then it's Wheatus you're listening to.  What, you don't remember (relatively speaking) one-hit wonder Wheatus?  Maybe you'll remember their (relatively speaking) smash hit Teenage Dirtbag.  And because it was 2000, this video features Jason Biggs and Mena Suvari.  Why?  Why not!  Enjoy your night people.  I had a good day, and hope you did too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC3y9llDXuM

"How does she know who I am / And why does she give a damn about me?"

Day 531: Ballast Point Wahooooooo!

Reasons why I love Mr. Blog Named Brew—because the following email exchange is totally normal for us. (Portions redacted for security purposes.)

From: Marci Generose
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 11:18 AM
To: 'gary generose'
Subject: RE: Re: Fwd: FW:

All I have to say is things could get hella awkward today.

From: gary generose
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 11:32 AM
To: Marci Generose
Subject: RE: Re: Fwd: FW:

More awkward than you using the word 'hella'?

Interesting....

From: Marci Generose
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 11:34 AM
To: 'gary generose'
Subject: RE: Re: Fwd: FW:

I’m an ever-evolving creature. I’m trying it out. Sometimes things work. Sometimes things get awkward.

From: gary generose
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 11:38 AM
To: Marci Generose
Subject: RE: Re: Fwd: FW:

Hella so, in fact. You should try telling people that crazy things are "cray". Like prosciutto in sushi. That shit cray.

From: Marci Generose
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 11:40 AM
To: 'gary generose'
Subject: RE: Re: Fwd: FW:

Indeed.

And yes, there’s a sushi joint that was briefly considered for dinner last evening that puts prosciutto in sushi. THAT’S NOT SUSHI. That’s crap.

In other news, I drank a beer.

It's the Ballast Point Wahoo Wheat. It's an American wheat ale and (per Ballast Point's website) is brewed to be light and refreshing with unique citrus character that comes from adding orange peel and coriander to the boil. The haziness comes from the unmalted wheat and a special yeast adds the refreshing tangy flavor.

What do I think? It poured a very pale, hazy yellow with a medium white head. It smells of wheat with mild undertones of citrus. The flavor is very much citrus and wheat, but I thought it was more lemon than orange. Maybe that was the yeast tangyness coming into play. It has a thin mouthfeel. It also screams summertime just like San Diego, where it's brewed. I bet it's hella nice there right now. Here it's 10 degrees colder at 4:32 p.m. than it was when I left for work this morning. That's cray.

Is it working? Nah. I didn't think so.

Beer stats
Style: American wheat ale
ABV: 4%
IBUs: 15
Rating: Excellent

Previously reviewed from Ballast Point
The one where I had all the samplers (porter, fruit beer and Scottish ale)
Then Mr. Blog Named Brew had all his samplers (IPA, pale lager, barleywine)

Day 529: A Few Things Including Breckenridge Brewing's Agave Wheat

On Monday, May 20, The Doors' founding keyboardist Ray Manzarek passed away after a battle with cancer. One would have thought after surviving The Doors, you become immortal; however, it doesn't seem to work that way.

I found myself listening to a lot of music by The Doors during the days since. I'm not seeking it out--it just seems to be everywhere right now. Don't get me wrong, I listened to that band quite a bit in high school and college. And then I stopped. Why? I have no idea. But hearing it, especially L.A. Woman, has brought back some ridiculous memories. Perhaps the most ridiculous among them is a recollection of sitting in my room, blaring The Doors and writing trippy, rambling poetry, burning incense, donning flowing skirts and flannel shirts, reeking of patchouli.

If they say I never loved you

You know they are a liar

                                                 --Jim Morrison

What I would give for that journal of poetry right now...

In other news Breckenridge Brewing is creating a mixed case of canned beer and it includes Agave Wheat, which is one of my favorite beers. And since it's one of my favorite beers, I thought it was about time that I review it.

It pours a hazy yellow-orange color with a medium white head. It smells of wheat with a mild sweetness and just a bit of tanginess. It has a tart wheat-y flavor. Some lemon. And a very light bitter hop at the finish. It's very sessionable. In fact it's been the beer of choice at our tailgate for the warm weather games.

I'm truly bummed that we're not heading to Colorado this summer. It will be the first time in three years that I won't get to experience fresh mountain air--it really does smell better there--and how awesome the lack of humidity is for my hair. Seriously. You should see my hair in Colorado. Amazing.

Beer stats
Style: American unfiltered wheat ale
ABV: 4.2%
IBUs: 9
Rating: Excellent

Previously reviewed from Breckenridge
My 2nd post of this adventure with a review of the vanilla porter
Mr. Blog Named Brew's review of agave wheat
His and hers reviews of 471 Small Batch and my review of Christmas ale

Day 508: So Much Drama in the LBC

As I started to write this post to commemorate Mr. Blog Named Brew's 38th 22nd birthday, I thought I might start with a trip down memory lane to see what we wrote about last May 1. He was thoughtful and I went on a drug-addled ramble.  That kind of sums us up.

Since I'm not sick or on drugs this year, here we go.

Happy, happy birthday to my best friend, my partner in crime, my drinking buddy, my lov-ah! There is no one I would rather spend today with--or any other day for that matter. You are my heart and soul. Thank you for being awesome.

And thank you for introducing me to all sorts of rap music...old school, new school, East Coast and West, gangsta and that with a conscious. So of course any time we visit Lancaster Brewing Company and I abbreviate it in my notes as LBC, there goes Snoop Dogg on and on about his gin and juice in my head.

My segues astound you, don't they?

Lucky for us, this trip to the LBC was without drama. It wasn't without good beer though. I went with the Strawberry Wheat, which poured a slightly pink amber color with a thin white head. It smells of wheat and fruit and that carries through nicely to the flavor. It has a very natural strawberry flavor to it. Nothing unnatural or syrupy here.Overall I think this is a good fruit beer. It may not be up there with 21st Amendment's Hell or High Watermelon, but it holds its own.

Beer stats
Style: Fruit beer, wheat beer
ABV: 4.7%
IBUs: 16
Rating: Good

Previously reviewed from Lancaster Brewing
Gary's review of Kolsch, Rumspringa, Hop Hog
My review of Milk Stout (with a bonus Norwegian beer thrown in for luck), Winter Warmer

Day 506: Spring House, Part 3

My review of beers from a recent trip to Spring House Tap Room concludes with today's review of Goofy Foot summer wheat.

4.6% ABV
It pours a hazy yellow orange with a very thin white head. I couldn't get a read on this beer's smell. It was mild beer. Nothing notable. The flavor was light and refreshing...some wheat with a light lemon hop. Overall I'd call this one average at best. But given the other winners I've had from Spring House, don't let this review deter you from trying them out.

Beer stats
Style: Wheat
ABV: 4.8%
IBUs: Unknown
Rating: Average

Previously reviewed from Spring House
Gary's reviews of Goofy Foot (wheat ale), Robot Surf Factory (American Pale Ale), Seven Gates Pale Ale, Cliff (saison)
My review of Cliff (saison), Little Gruesome, Cosmic Monster (abbey quad)

Sunday Naps

Day #505 Goofy Foot / Spring House Brewing Company, Conestoga, PA
Previously from this brewery: Robot Surf Factory, Little Gruesome, Cliff, Cosmic Monster, Seven Gates, and more Cliff


Back home after another weekend in State College.  The 125th anniversary celebration was a great event, and I was able to catch up with some old friends and share some laughs (and beers).  Glad to be back home, however, as I need to catch up on some rest before a busy week at work.  Nothing quite like a nap on a Sunday afternoon to recharge the batteries.

So, right into the beer review: today's beer is Goofy Foot, a summer wheat from Spring House Brewing. In the glass, this beer has a hazy yellow color and thin, persistent white head.  There are light aromas of wheat and grain, and there are flavors of grain, bread, and wheat when you take a sip.  This is a lighter beer that would go well on a warm summer afternoon.

Wheaty

Thing to Think About Today:
Summer beer on draft today, so I'll throw in some music that pairs well with summer.  Vampire Weekend, take it away...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX46e4GtlXM

Day 499: Come Hell or High Watermelon

I didn't realize I was writing tonight and don't have anything clever to share. I'm also kind of fried from the past few weeks on the job. Part of on-the-job risks is the inability to be clever after seating 900 people at a variety of events during a three day period. My world is all dining rooms, table numbers and worrying that I lost someone in the last table shuffle. Event planning. Riveting stuff.

So how does one properly escape from the world of event planning when it all starts seeping into one's dreams? Good beer. That's how. It started with Day of Marci yesterday with visits to Spring House Tap Room and then Lancaster Brewing Company. A glorious day like yesterday requires a road trip. That's another proper way to decompress.

Tonight's escape comes from 21st Amendment Brewery. Unfortunately in our 24 hours in San Francisco last summer, we didn't find time to visit in person. Don't worry. That will be rectified in the coming years.

I'm not a fan of watermelon so I was skeptical the first time I heard of this beer. Then I managed to get my hands on some and HOLY COW! SUMMERTIME IN A CAN! Yes, it is that good.

It pours a slightly hazy golden color with a loose white head. It smells of wheat and citrus and light watermelon. The flavor is a strong, natural watermelon wrapped up in a nice wheat beer package. It tastes like best thing ever on hot summer days. It has a nice body with a bit of prickly carbonation.

Beer stats
Style: Fruit beer, wheat ale
ABV: 4.9%
IBUs: 17
Rating: Excellent

Previously reviewed from 21st Amendment
Gary's review of Bitter American with some serious Super Bowl analysis and his thoughts on Hell or High Watermelon
My review of Fireside Chat

Price Isn't Right

Day 465 The Love / Starr Hill Brewery, Charlottesville, VA
Previously from this brewery: Crypitcal, and Cryptical (with Mystikal)

Back in the saddle for another blog post!  Worked from home this morning, which is always a hit or miss option for me.  On one hand, I'm not running to meeting after meeting after meeting (my typical day), so I can actually sit at my laptop and get some work done.  On the other hand, it's super easy for me to get distracted and not actually do any work.  I did refrain from watching The Price is Right today, but only because I'm an old school Bob Barker guy.  I like what I like, and Drew Carey doesn't do it for me.  So, good news for my productivity, I suppose.

Today's review is The Love, a wheat beer from Starr Hill Brewery in Virginia.  This beer has a hazy light gold color, with virtually no head.  There's a light aroma with grain and lemony citrus, and the taste has some sweetness and lemon, along with notes of grain and grass.  Not the greatest wheat beer in the world, but I suppose it's suitable if you happen to find one in front of you.  I think if you name your beer The Love, I expect it to be...  I don't know... better?  Sexier?  More.... committed?  Something.

Could be more lovely.

Thing to Think About Today:
While I didn't love this beer, if you name your beer The Love, we're going to get something love related.  Specifically, the wonderfully talented Florence Welch (+ the Machine) singing You've Got the Love.  I'm not certain, but I think she when she references the love, she means the deep, passionate, emotional state of being, and not the beer I just reviewed.  Hey, it still works.  Enjoy, my friends, and hopefully you have a good evening!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQZhN65vq9E

"Now and then it seems that life is just too much / But you've got the love I need to see me through"

Beer 355: What Would Mom Drink? Benediktiner Wheat Beer?

Back on November 4, I posed some questions about what I've learned during this adventure. I guess with a mere eleven beers to go, I better start coming up with some answers. 

Let's just rip this band-aid off and start with the hard question.  Has all this writing helped honor my Mom's memory?

I don't freaking know. I don't think she even liked beer. But seriously this woman never stopped encouraging me to pursue my dreams, even when my dreams seemed ridiculous for any number of reasons. You want to be a cheerleader? I'll drive you to practice everyday. You want to play tennis? Sure where do we buy a racket? You want to move to the suburbs of Philadelphia? Ok, just don't get shot. Mom never fully grasped how safe it is here, that I don't really live in Philadelphia and that the museum area where I work is quite safe. God rest her soul. You're going to buy a house with a guy that you aren't married to? When's the housewarming party? You're marrying that guy? Thank god because I really like him.

Fast forward to now and I have a feeling that she's sitting there thinking good job. Keep writing. It makes you happy.

Thanks, Mom.

Another question -- would she like tonight's beer?


It's the Weissbier from Benediktiner Weibrau in Germany. It's a hefeweizen with an ABV of 5%. It pours a deep, golden brown color with a full white head. It smells of lemons and wheat grains. The flavor is thick...wheat, general citrus and I would have said berries but I couldn't find them again. I may have hallucinated that part. Overall I think this is a good beer and I would totally share it with my Mom.

Cheers!

Beer 338: Three Floyds Gumball Head

I bought myself a cashmere cape. It has a lot of buttons and I'm not sure how to put it on exactly. And here I thought I was smart.

One thing I do know is a good beer when I taste one. And the Gumball Head from Three Floyds Brewing is an awesome beer. It's brewed in Indiana and is an American pale wheat ale. I'm fortunate to have gotten my hands on this one. Three Floyds only distributes to Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Thanks to a good friend who was willing to part with one of his last bottles!



First off the artwork on the label is phenomenal. Next the aroma. So good. It smells of strong, rich citrus hop with some pineapple and peach mixed in. The flavor is citrus hops, wheat and peach. It has a solid hop profile and is a very flavorful wheat beer.

If you've ever said you don't think wheat beer is for you, definitely find yourself a Gumball Head. It'll change your mind. This is a great beer and I wish I had more. Cheers!

Can't We All Just Get Along?

Beer #332 Oregon Trail Raspberry Wheat / High Noon Saloon and Brewery, Leavenworth, KS

Earlier this year, I spent some time on the actual Oregon Trail, tracing the steps that Lewis and Clark took on their voyage westward.  I also previously shared the wonder that was is the Oregon Trail video game, which taught countless kids the 8-bit dangers of not having extra wagon wheels and the fact that dysentery can kill.  So imagine my surprise when I picked up a can of the Oregon Trail Raspberry Wheat from the High Noon Saloon and Brewery..... and found that it was brewed in Kansas.  More on that later.

This beer has a cloudy gold color with no head, and you find a light aroma of raspberry.  The taste is light too, with some raspberry flavor and notes of grain and barley.  This beer is an easy drinking 4.5%, and would certainly wash away some of the dust from a hard day on the Oregon Trail.  However, it's probably not one you're adding to your regular rotation, despite the sassy blonde cowgirl who adorns the can.

Yee-haw!

This brewpub is housed in a building that previously manufactured cast iron stoves.  Now you know.  You should also know that the Lewis and Clark expedition officially shoved off from St. Charles, MO, and traveled west along the Missouri River, which runs right past the town of Leavenworth.  Now you know more than you did previously.

Thing to Think About Today:
Clearly, this seemingly never ending election has everyone a bit on edge.  I hate politics, but love you guys, so let's go ahead and drop something about peace and love on everyone.  Why?  Because half of America is going to be furious tomorrow, and I prefer harmony.  Let it ride, Elvis Costello, with some (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUGmwDB49Tc

Beer 326: Stevens Point Brewery

I'm currently playing Halloween Scrooge and not handing out candy to the neighborhood children and glowering at them from my darkened windows. We got burned by those darn kids the first year we moved into this house and I've never forgiven them. Why, you may ask?

Because I went all Martha Stewart that first year. I invested hours assembling individual bags of candy with cute little hand tied bows, decorating, redecorating after the squirrels ate my pumpkins, donning my best vampire teeth. And for what? All the kids trick or treated at 4pm and I got home from work at 6pm! Imagine how it makes my blood boil that there are scores of witches, ballerinas, Batmen and an Elmo running around at 8pm. Perhaps next year, my pretties!

And in one of the stranger transitions I've made on this blog, we're changing gears to talk Stevens Point Brewery and their Nude Beach summer wheat. It's brewed in Wisconsin and has an ABV of 5.1%.



It poured a hazy golden color with a very fluffy white head. It smells of yeast and bread and a little plastic wrap. Yeah, I thought that was odd too. The taste is watery and thin. Sweet orange. Grains. All together too thin.

The Nude Beach is average at best. Those are words I never thought I'd type. Cheers!

Beachfront Property?

Beer #325 Point Nude Beach / Stevens Point Brewery, Stevens Point, WI

Hurricane Sandy is moving out, and leaving behind a wide trail of destruction.  Thankfully, we were spared any significant issues - lost power for about ten minutes, and we have some branches down in the yard.  Nothing to write home about, which is great, as last night all you heard in our neighborhood was the wind howling and police/fire/ambulance sirens going off around the clock.  Obviously everyone wasn't so lucky, including a neighbor six houses down who is currently extracting a tree from their roof.  Best wishes to all of the blog readers out there for a safe and speedy recovery from the storm.

As I'm fairly sick and tired of rain, wind, and dreary weather, today I'm going to pretend it's summer again and sample a Point Nude Beach, a summer wheat beer from Stevens Point Brewery.  This one is a hazy, pale yellow color with a big white head.  You pick up the aroma of yeast, grain, and spice, and when you take a sip you find light citrus and a slight peppery spice, along with wheat and a hint of sweetness.  Great beer for summer - I could easily picture a case of this on ice for a baseball game or concert tailgate, or even a day at the beach.  And, if we see more hurricanes like the one that just blew through, I just might own some beachfront property here soon (sorry, New Jersey - you had your turn)!  To honor this beer, I hereby decree any beaches outside my door will be Nude Beach only.

Sexy time at the nude beach

Very cool history to this brewery, as they first made beer all the way back in 1857.  However, it wasn't until 1990 that their product was sold outside of Wisconsin - thankfully, they now distribute to Pennsylvania, along with much of the Midwest and East coast.

Thing to Think About Today:
Howling winds are gone, but it's still raining a good bit here.  Which begs the question, Why Does it Always Rain on Me?  Travis, the floor is yours.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vIHsKKv_CI

"Why does it always rain on me?  Even when the sun is shining, I can't avoid the lightning..."

Beer 322: High Noon Saloon and Brewery

Game day, bitches! By the time you all read this, I'll be two hours into the best tailgate ever! Don't worry about me...I have deep fried peanut butter and jelly.

Today's beer of choice? The High Noon Saloon and Brewery Oregon Trail raspberry wheat ale. It's brewed in Leavenworth, Kansas, which is the start of the Oregon trail.


It poured a hazy golden color with a thin white head. It smells strongly of fresh raspberries. The ABV is 5.5%. It has lots of very nice raspberry flavor but is generally watery. It's as if someone left a bunch of ice in my glass and it melted and left this behind. It has potential but didn't quite make it. I'll call it average at best. Cheers.

Beer 291: Gamble Mill Tavern...a Hidden Gem

Behold the awesomeness that is the Victorian Secret raspberry wheat ale from the Gamble Mill Tavern. 

I would vote the Gamble Mill one of the central  Pennsylvania's best kept secrets.  I had no idea it was so good. Not only were the beers delicious, the food was quite good as well.  Gary rates his experience here. 

The Victorian Secret is named after Bellefonte, Pennsylvania -- the town where Gamble Mill is located, which is oft referred to as Pennsylvania's Victorian secret. It's brewed with a combination of wheat and barley, fermented with the tavern's house yeast and finished off with pureed raspberries.

I wasn't picking up much in the way of scent -- just a tiny bit of raspberry in the nose. Darn ragweed allergies are always getting in the way.  There were tons of raspberry in the flavor and there was absolutely nothing artificial about it. I hate, hate, hate when non-natural flavors are used to approximate a particular flavor.  If you want it to taste like raspberries, you've got to use real raspberries and the Gamble Mill's brewer totally gets that.  The flavor of fruit was balanced nicely by wheat.  It poured an ever so slightly pink-tinged hazelnut color, which isn't showing up very well in my photo.  Overall I was very impressed by Gamble Mill's offerings and by this one in particular.

Cheers!

Beer 258: McAuslan St-Ambroise Apricot Wheat

Oh noez! I forgot.

A perfect day like today calls for a summertime beer. I think Brasserie McAuslan's St-Ambroise Apricot Wheat fits that bill nicely.  It poured a golden straw color with a thin white head. The aroma is sweet fruit and orangey apricot. The flavor is sweet apricot and wheat. There's also a lot of peach flavor as well. It has lots of refreshing carbonation and all that fruit is well balanced by a nice wheat tang. I really liked this beer.

High Altitude, High Jumps

Beer #242 Agave Wheat / Breckenridge Brewery, Breckenridge, CO

Hooray for today - officially past the 2/3 mark on this blog.  We're off to a concert and picnic at Valley Forge Park tonight, so let's get down to business and cross another one off the list.

The beer for today is the Agave Wheat from Breckenridge Brewery.  While we didn't get to visit their brewpub in person on our most recent trip to Colorado, we have been there previously - the upstairs deck is an awesome spot to soak in the ski town scene and drink fantastic beers.  This one was consumed at a hotel bar (shout out to Marriott!), but it was delicious just the same.  I drank it out of the bottle, so no comment on appearance or aroma, but the taste is a little earthy, a little sweet, and overall has a nice dry feel with notes of wheat and a hint of pepper.  It's a great beer for summer, and one that I highly recommend you try.  At 4.2% ABV, you can certainly enjoy more than one.

This bottle just screams "party!"

Breckenridge Brewing has been open for business since 1990, and they were the third microbrewery to open in the state.  They've started putting more of their brews in cans, which is awesome, as I find cans far more convenient than glass bottles.  I have a six-pack of Summerbright Ale cans from Breckenridge waiting for me in the fridge.

Thing to Think About Today:
Sure, you can be the best person in your area of expertise.  But what about being the person who completely reinvents the field altogether?

Today, we stop to think about Dick Fosbury, who didn't just earn a gold medal in the high jump at the 1968 Olympics, he invented and popularized a brand new way to execute the jump.  Previously, jumpers scissor kicked over the bar, or dove over the bar face first.  Fosbury realized the advantages of running parallel to the bar, then leaping over it backwards, swinging the legs up and over to clear.

While some doubted his approach, it paid dividends when he cleared 7 feet, 4 and 1/4 inches to wrap up the gold medal and beat the Olympic record in the process.  After that?  No one questioned his new method, and in fact the style was christened 'the Fosbury Flop.'  Okay, so not the most glamorous name, but when you've got that shiny gold medal around your neck, you probably don't worry too much about those things.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKpBKvc0H7w