Day 632: Perennial and Half Acre Make a Beer Baby

I'm just going to borrow what's already been written about this collaboration between Perennial Brewing and Half Acre Brewing from the Beer Street Journal (obviously correcting for typos because typos! Seriously?): One of St. Louis, Missouri’s newest breweries Perennial is collaborating with Half Acre Beer Company (Chicago). The beer is dubbed Plan B and is the first collaboration by Perennial. Plan B is a sour mash Belgian dark ale brewed with black currants. Currants are perennial berries with a sweet taste.

I found my Plan B at TJ's--my go to beer bar. It poured a deep, dark brown color ale with a tan head. It smells like wet wood and light smoke. The flavor is mild with just a hint of sour. The currants were very understated and I'm not sure I would have noticed them if I didn't already know they were in there.

Beer stats
Style: Belgian dark ale
ABV: 8%
IBUs: Unknown
Rating: Good

Previously reviewed from Half Acre
My review of Daisy Cutter with a warning on the dangers of string cheese
Mr. Blog's review of Daisy Cutter and some excellent breakfast recommendations in Chicago (mine has a far greater entertainment value!)

Previously reviewed from Perennial
First one!

Day 517: We Were on a (Jolly Pumpkin) Break!

My break from drinking Jolly Pumpkin beers is over. Instead I'm taking an unplanned social media break.

What?

I've been suspended from Twitter. I shared this with some friends from work and one of them very kindly noted that while it sucks for me, my cool factor took a significant bump up with her. I'm kind of an anomaly in the office with my social media skills--although I'm questioning those skills given my current suspension.

I've been Twitter-free since 6:00 a.m. on Friday morning. I've logged a complaint with the folks at Twitter noting that I didn't do anything to deserve the suspension (i.e. mass following and/or unfollowing, mass invitations, porn). I've also attempted to log-in several times during the course of the day to see if I've been reinstated and no such luck yet. More troubling is that my following count has dropped from 378 to zero. Even more troubling than that is that my 127 followers are MIA.

Editor note: As of 6:58 p.m., I'm back, baby! Twitter suspension lifted. In hindsight I should have been keeping a log of snarky things to tweet. You all missed out on so much today!

So what did I learn from my social media blackout?

I am without a doubt addicted to Twitter. The number of times that I reach for my phone or log onto the website to see what's happening in the world is astounding. It's how I get my news. It's how I stay connected. I tried getting the same from Facebook to no avail. I'm also realizing that Facebook isn't relevant to me. Sure it was cool five years ago, but not so much anymore. Having to sort through the "like this to save this child from cancer" nonsense posts, the cool picture of the day posts, the irrelevant and uninteresting ads is all just too much. Yes, that is totally a first world problem but it's a barrier to my enjoyment and is totally preventing me from seeing Facebook as a viable option.

I'm also realizing that as much as I declare that I'm done adopting new technology, that's really not true. Playing with the latest, greatest and smartest is kind of my thing. And that may be the most interesting thing I've learned from this exercise.

So while I take a break from Twitter, I'm done taking a break from Jolly Pumpkin.

The latest beer I'm enjoying from Jolly Pumpkin is the Sobrehumano Palena'ole and it's a collaboration between Jolly Pumpkin and Maui Brewing Company. Brewed with Michigan cherries and Hawaiian liliko'i, it's listed as an American wild ale and is oak aged and bottle conditioned. But what's a liliko'i? You may know it by its more common name...passion fruit. How does passion fruit mix with cherries in a beer? Awesome!

Interesting note about this beer. We drank it on May 3, 2013. When was this beer bottled? May 3, 2012! It was meant to be drunk--seriously, what are the odds of that unintentionally happening again?

It poured a hazy orange/brown color with a fluffy white head. I could smell the tartness the moment I popped the cap off. And there was lots more of that once it got into my glass. It has a woody smell...presumably the oak. It has a very tart cherry flavor, kind of astringent. There is a good amount of malt in the flavor profile as well.

Beer stats
Style: American wild ale
ABV: 6%
IBUs: Unknown
Rating: Excellent

Previously reviewed from Jolly Pumpkin
Prepare yourself, this is a dousy!
Mr. Blog's review of Sobrehumano, 
My review of E.S. Bam
His and her reviews of La Roja
My review of Luciernaga from a Jolly Pumpkin bender
Gary's review of E.S. Bam
My review of Madrugada Obscura and some crazy lady ranting about St. Patrick's Day
Gary actually has tried all the Bam bieres

Beer 365: Hair of the Dog, A Homonym

The 9th anniversary of TJ's was a raucous celebration with outstanding beer and good friends. The only casualty of the day was the half of my barbecue chicken wrap that got left behind. I drank a ton of beer for the blog and can't wait to tell you more about it. After six hours of an amazing variety of beer, one would have thought that this morning would have called for a little hair of the dog to get going, but alas it did not. I should probably be worried about that...

Instead I'll tell you about another Hair of the Dog -- the brewery that partnered with de Proef to collaborate on Flanders Fred. This is a beer that I've been stalking for awhile now and was delighted to find it last night at TJ'S.

See what I did there? Hair of the dog. Hair of the Dog. Homonyms!

Gary's second career? Beer model.

Anyway this is an excellent beer and well worth the wait. It poured a deep apricot color and smells of overripe fruit, malt and funk. The flavor reminded me of tea and figs. It was sweet and sour with an almost IPA-like bitterness. Truly amazing. And it looks like it's still on at TJ's. If I weren't still lounging in my pajamas, I'd be tempted to go back for more!

In case you wanted to know more about the collaboration, here is some information: Legendary brewer Alan Sprints of Hair of the Dog joins Dirk Naudts at De Proef to create this unique bottle conditioned beer. Flanders Fred is a blend of Flanders-sourced lambic with a collaboratively-brewed version of the famous Hair of the Dog Fred. Now you know.

Cheers!

Beer 303: Diversey and Lill(e) Collaboration

Tonight's beer is a collaboration between Two Brothers Brewing Company (Illinois) and Brasserie Castelain (France). It is the Diversey and Lill(E), a biere de garde with an ABV of 6.5%. The credit on this collaboration between Jason Ebel and Nicholas Castelain goes to Castelain/France where the beer is actually brewed.

It poured with a big fluffy and sticky ecru head. It smells really good with a little fruit in the nose. The taste is ripe fruit and spice. My notes indicate that I thought it was a crazy biere de garde. It's been awhile since I drank this one and I'm now wondering what brought on that note.


From the Vanberg & DeWulf site: It is a little known fact that Chicago’s first brewery, Diversey and Lill, had a French connection. Diversey, a Frenchman, and Lill ran the largest brewery in the West in the mid-19th century. The brewery was lost in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Now how many years later, the name Diversey and Lill(e) is back on the beer scene.

As fleeting as it is, I think this was a good beer. Cheers!

No, Really: Why Can't We Be Friends?

Beer #299 Diversey & Lille / Brasserie Castelain, Benifontaine, France

I need to get some hustle on tonight - basketball game, dinner, blogging, and preparation for the weekend need to happen between now and bedtime.  I'm getting right down to business here.

On deck today is a bottle of Diversey & Lille, which is a collaboration between Brasserie Castelain in France and Two Brothers Brewing Company out of Illinois.  Credit goes to our friends across the pond, as it was actually brewed in France.  For anyone keeping score at home, this is the second Franco-American beer collaboration I'm reviewing in just over a week.  In the glass, this beer shows off a clear, beautiful deep amber color.  Some beers just look good, and this one definitely falls into that category.  The aroma is of malt and candied fruits, and the taste brings more malt, with toffee and honey, and a dry, nutty finish.  Not a bad choice at all.

The international language.  You know, love.

The name for this beer comes right out of the history books - Diversey & Lill was the first brewery in Chicago.  It opened all the way back in 1833, but was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.  No connection to the current breweries in the collaboration, but a nice tip of the hat to a brewing legacy in Chicago.

Thing to Think About Today:

Every spring, my fraternity would throw a two three four five day riot nuclear disaster party to celebrate spring.  In true Greek life fashion, t-shirts were made up with a slogan each year; typically some form of inside joke from daily life in the house.  I distinctly remember the slogan for one of the years (although admittedly I don't recall which one): "We're Not Here to Make Friends."  The shirt may have also involved a drawing of a Pacific Islander controlling by chain a harem of ladies wearing dog collars around their necks, but then again maybe it didn't or maybe I just shouldn't talk about these things in public.

Thankfully, times have changed and having friends is cool once again, as evidenced by this beer being one of many, many collaborations reviewed this year.  You know what; I think we're now here to make friends.  So, I'll let the positive vibes of the 70's smooth things out tonight, and drop some War and their super friendly song Why Can't We Be Friends to close out today. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5FfJ89rGPc

In this space yesterday, I mentioned my belief that the 80's were insane.  I stand corrected, as the 70's were clearly from another galaxy - a galaxy populated by funk and crazy huge amounts of drugs.  The 70's in fact make the 80's seem completely, perfectly normal in comparison.

Beer 293: Dock Street Collaboration and Cross-Eyed Editing

I am blind from editing things today. Reports, agendas, tables of content, annual reports, donor profiles.  I've also been typing with such fervor that my finger joints ache.  If you find a typo in what I'm about to write, forgive me. I'm currently cross-eyed and exhausted.  It also seems that I forgot that I'm 37 and went to a concert on a school night last night.  What was I thinking???

Will I ever take a photo in public
that doesn't suck?

Les Biere des Amis is a collaborations between Dock Street Brewing Company and Daniel Thiriez.  Thiriez is the owner and brewer at Brasserie Thiriez in France and is renowned for his Saisons and biere de gardes.  Two beer styles that I thorougly enjoy.  Supposedly -- if one were to believe the internetz - this collaboration is the first between a U.S. and French brewery in America. 

This "beer of friends" has an ABV of 4.5%. It pours a slightly hazy golden ale with a minimal white head.  It didn't have a noticable aroma for me.  First sip made me think crisp and refreshing.  Further sampling revealed wheat, good balance of malts and hops with just enough hop to make it interesting, and grass.  I could have also sworn that there was a hint of salinity to it. It almost reminded me of this gose or perhaps this one. Not in style but with that faint taste of salt the lends an interesting twist to a beer. 

This is a good beer.  Cheers!

Yes, Soup For You!

Beer #67 Bittersweet Symphony / Brouwerij t'Gaverhopke, Stasegem, Belgium

After a long day, it's nice to come home and relax.  Which explains why after work I went to Wegman's, then came home and immediately went to work on making soup for dinner.  And no, we're not talking about opening up a can of Campbell's, we're talking about soup from scratch.  Time consuming? Sort of.  Delicious?  Yes.  Rewarding?  Yes.  Easy?  Eh, this one wasn't too bad.  More on that later.

Tonight's beer comes courtesy of a collaboration project between t'Gaverhopke from (surprise!) Belgium and a small American brewery, Tired Hands, which hails from the nearby town of Ardmore.  Tired Hands will get their day in the sun soon enough (with a visit, I hope), but we're crossing t'Gaverhopke off the list today.

I tried this one on draft at The Farmer's Cabinet, and it pours a hazy orange color with a pleasing citrus and yeast aroma.  The taste combined malt and hops, with some citrus notes and a faint hint of caramel.  Really, a very enjoyable beer that I hope to drink more of in the future.  One of the challenges of this beer blog has been when I find a good beer, I might not get to drink it again due to the need to cross breweries off the list. A risk is that really good but temporary collaborations like this one will disappear from existence before I ever get to drink another one.  Say what you want about macro beers, but I can guarantee that Miller Lite is going to not only taste the same, but also be on tap for years to come.  Bittersweet Symphony?  You better drink it while you have the chance....

Things to Think About Today:
Seems too easy to go with the song Bittersweet Symphony from The Verve, right?  I'll skip it and share with you the recipe for tonight's meal, a healthy take on baked potato soup, which we picked up from smittenkitchen.com:

1 head garlic
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium leeks, white & light green parts halved lengthwise, washed, and chopped small
5 to 6 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth (start with 5 cups, save the extra if you want your soup thinner)
2 bay leaves
Salt & pepper
2 1/2 lbs russet potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/3 cup sour cream

Let's do it:
1. Rinse the head of garlic to remove dirt/loose skin, cut the top third out and discard.
2. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat, then add leeks and cook until soft (but not brown), about 5 minutes
3. Add the garlic head (whole, not chopped), broth, bay leaves, and 3/4 teaspoon of salt.  Reduce heat and simmer 30-40 minutes, until garlic is very soft.
4. Add potatoes and continue to simmer partially covered until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
5. Discard bay leaves and remove garlic head.   If you like garlic, take a few soft cloves and mash them with a fork, then return to the pot
6. Add sour cream, cook for another 2-3 minutes.
7. Use immersion blender (or transfer a portion of potatoes & broth to food processor or blender) and process, leaving chunks of potato for texture.
8. Top with something like chives, shredded cheese, bacon bits, or sour cream (or all of them, or none of them), and serve.  Preferably with beer!

Super? Ehhhh.....

Beer #57 Elliot Brew / De Struise Brouwers, Oostvleteren, Belgium
I have something to tell the world: I really don't care much about the Super Bowl.  There, I said it.

Like many things that are supposed to be the "most awesomest thing in the history of awesome", the Super Bowl itself never lives up to the hype.  It's a bloated six hour commercial with some football sprinkled in when Toyota doesn't need to sell you something.  I mean, think of it this way: Madonna is the halftime entertainment.  Did I miss the black hole that spun the planet back to 1988?  There's no one available more compelling than Madonna?  Yes, I'll watch the game.  I'll eat some chips and drink a beer (obviously!) and pay attention to the commercials.  But I refuse to spend an excess amount of energy or time caring about this nonsense.  Now this being said, who's making bets on this year's Puppy Bowl?  Anyone taking action on Bud Bowl?

One highlight of the Super Bowl is that beer advertisements are usually among the most entertaining spots of the night.  Sadly, the beer isn't quite as interesting as the ads.  So, here's a much more interesting beer: Elliot Brew, a collaboration between De Struise and Mikkeller, a highly regarded gypsy brewer.  I'm filing it as a beer from De Struise, as they seem to be the lead dog.  Or at least, their name comes first.  This collaboration brought together two unique perspectives on craft beer to create a double IPA.  The beer pours a hazy amber color with an abundant foamy head.  A good hop bitterness dominates the flavor, and it has a rich malt taste, with some toffee notes hiding underneath.  Definitely a winner, grab one if you can.

Elliot Brew checks in at 9.0% ABV, and it's allegedly the hoppiest beer produced in Belgium.  Not sure that I'm qualified to weigh on that distinction, so I'll just put it out there for you to be the judge.  I've also seen Tsjeesees, another De Struise beer, on draft in our neighborhood, and I intend to try it when it's available again.  There's a bottle from another Mikkeller project in our fridge, so the other half of this combo will get their due soon enough.

Thing to Think About Today:
While everyone is rocking out to the (awful) sounds of the Material Girl, let me suggest you mute the TV and put on some music you can actually enjoy.  Today, I encourage you to think about The New Pornographers.  A Canadian alt-rock outfit, this band has been churning out critically acclaimed albums since 2000.  They're sort of hard to describe - they rock, they have a softer side, they blend harmonies together, they bounce through pop numbers.  Maybe that what makes them so appealing?  The band is fronted by Carl Newman, with Neko Case adding her amazing voice on most tracks (Full disclosure: I have a crush on Neko Case).  This band currently resides on the list of my all-time favorite bands, so there's no way I could just give you one clip today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYyu5vbwvbA

Some awesome cameos in the above video for Moves.  And, cocaine as a pizza topping!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HlTSE46oc8&ob=av2e

A very sci-fi video for Up In the Dark.