Beer 238: Girardin Geueze and What Should Have Been Beer-turday

Today started with the most impossible bike ride ever. The five mile loop at Valley Forge National Park is a bitch. It doesn't matter if you're on foot or on wheels. It SUCKS. That loop allowed me and my bike to have a not so lovely walk today. Tomorrow I'm hitting 30 very flat miles...thank you very much.

The remainder of today was all beer, all the time. We hit up Round Guys Brewing to refill our growler and sample some new beers. I tried the Wild Eyes Series 3 and it was quite good. We also got to render an opinion on a new syrup to accompany the Berliner-Weiss. Between the elderberry and black currant...black currant all the way.

Next up was a stop at Tired Hands. I stopped for the Mysterious Mood, stayed for the Undertow, and then really stayed for a random encounter with friends. A quick stop at The Beer Shoppe was our final destination. The only way this place could get better is if they separated the recent arrivals into a section that made it easy for us beer fiends to find the new stuff. Three sacks of beer later, the blog is stocked for the coming days. Big shout out to Ralph...thanks for the help!

Salinger says, "Hey.".


He also claims it's tough guarding all that beer. I compensate him well in Milkbones.

Tonight's beer is the Girardin


Gueuze. It poured a light amber color with a minimal head. It smelled funky with a little mustiness. There was also a sour aroma. The flavor was mineral, tart and a bit watery. The smell was way more potent than the flavor. But the flavor doesn't disappoint. There's an interesting softness to this Gueuze...kind of malty underneath the lemony tartness and funkiness. I would put it in my top ten Gueuzes.

Cheers!

Of Three Day Weekends, War, and Beer

Beer #170 Gold Star Lager / Tempo Beer Industries, Netanya, Israel

As all good things must come to an end, we must wrap up this fantastic long weekend.  Got another bike ride in this morning, and spent some time this afternoon drinking at the new taproom at Round Guys Brewery.  Sampled some delicious beers (including one not yet on the menu), chatted with Scott, one of the Round Guys (I've seen rounder), and brought home a growler of a fantastic sour beer with raspberry.  However, they've already been crossed off the list, so I need to sample another beer tonight.

Tonight's official beer is the Gold Star Lager from Tempo Beer in Israel.  This brew is a clear amber color, with a sweet aroma of malt.  When you take a sip, you pick up a very sweet taste, with caramel and malt dominating the palate.  This isn't a great beer, but it's not the worst thing I've drank so far by any stretch of the imagination.  Next time I'm in Israel, I'm ordering one.  This being said, I'm not sure how "craft beer" this one is; it seems like Tempo Beer is the InBev of Israel.  However, it was a rare find on shelves near us, so we're going ahead and putting it on the books.  L'chaim!

Thing to Think About Today:
I'm sure you've already taken a moment to thank those who have served in defense of our country.  I have a deep respect for those who are willing to put their lives on the line so that I can enjoy my way of life.  My father served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, and his brothers served their nation as well.  For a hot minute back in high school I kicked around the idea of West Point or the Naval Academy - great education, leadership training, tradition galore, etc.  However, I realized that I didn't have the discipline or dedication to make that a reality.  For those who did serve, allow me to say again: THANK YOU.

While I appreciate the sacrifices made by those in uniform, I wish they didn't have to make any sacrifices.  I'm no pacifist, but it seems we've been at war in the Middle East for a decade now, and that certainly seems not right.

Without getting too deep into politics or religion, two topics I have little use for, I'll leave you today with John Legend (backed by the Roots) performing a cover of I Can't Write Left Handed, a Vietnam era song by Bill Withers.  This song, in addition to being completely amazing, tells the story of a wounded Vietnam veteran back home from the war.  Yes, this video is twelve minutes long.  Yes, you should listen to every damn second.  I had the privilege of hearing Legend perform this live, and it was one of the most moving songs I've ever heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrkeR3ZKPcI

"Tell him I ain't gonna live, I ain't gonna live to get much older...."

Funky Brews, Funky Music

Beer #149 Berlinerweisster / Round Guys Brewing Company, Lansdale, PA

A busy, rainy Monday here, with a very early morning coming tomorrow means I'm keeping it short but sweet today.  But short and sweet doesn't mean I can't share info on another new and local brewery, Round Guys Brewing out of Lansdale.  I tried the Berlinerweister, which was on draft at Capone's in Norristown.  Great beer list on draft, and an impressive, if small, bottle shop around back.  But back to the beer - it poured a hazy pale yellow in the glass, and looked more like lemonade than beer.  The aroma gave off aromas of citrus, grass, and funk from the brettanomyces.  The flavor had a nice mix of lemony citrus and dry, crisp, tart notes.  Definitely some funk in there as well, which was nice, along with some effervescent fizz.  Drinks sort of like a funky shandy.  It was a very nice choice at 4% ABV, particularly on a warm day.  

From their website, it seems they've been selling beer to the world since March.  Looking forward to seeing some of their other offerings on tap in the neighborhood.  Good luck, new and somewhat local brewery!

Thing to Think About Today:
Talked about Prince yesterday, and like magic a radio station played the "top 5 songs by Prince's proteges" today.  So, I've been singing this song all day, even though I don't know any of the words.  Now you can too!  A little funk in the beer, a little funk to close things out today - Sheila E, the floor is yours:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-VZ1WSu-5Y

1. HOW MANY SEQUINS ARE THEY WEARING?
2. WHERE CAN I BUY THESE OUTFITS???

Beer 149: Round Guys Berlinerweise

After quite an enjoyable weekend, I found myself home sick on the couch again this afternoon.  Perhaps my weekend was too enjoyable.

Luckily I have a few beers in reserve from my adventures this weekend and I don't have to waste one tonight.  This review comes as a result from a stop at Capone's in Norristown on Saturday afternoon.  In addition to an impressive draft list, they have quite a bottleshop next door.  We managed to score a few things for the collection, which you'll be reading about soon enough.  I'd rate Capone's bottle selection up there with The Foodery in Philly.

Round Guys Berlinerweise was my selection from their draught list.  It poured the color of cloudy lemonade with a quickly dissipating white head.  It smelled strongly of the funk of brettanomyces - always a good thing in my book.  The flavor was delicious and very refreshing.  Dry. It also reminded me of a shandy - lots of lemon but then you get that wheat flavor and the earthy funk in the middle and, of course, a very dry finish.

Traditionally a Berlinerweise is served with the option of either woodruff or raspberry syrup, which cuts the sour characteristic.  I think this beer stands on its own nicely but would be curious how the woodruff would change it.

Round Guys Brewing Company is very new and based in Lansdale (PA).  Per their blog, they just got on tap at Capone's in mid-April and the brewery either just opened to the public or is about to. Perhaps a road trip to Lansdale is in our future.  Cheers!