Beer News: Coors Can Contest

Someday I hope to make it out west to Coors (Golden, CO for the tour). Maybe while I'm there I hit the New Belgium and Fort Collins Brewery tours. I thought I would mention this contest for an American classic. Always had a soft spot for the Banquet Beer, some good times associated with it, plus, of course, Smokey and the Bandit, one of the best movies of all time. Like others I have some favorites for some occasions, (like Bells Oberon while on Sean's boat), and Coors has occasionally been the fill in for those times when a session beer is needed.

This contest was to pick the next can to hold their beer. I liked the blue-bottomed post Prohibition can (B), but I think a small part of me wants to have all the cans so I can re-start my beer can collection that we (well, mostly my dad and brothers) started when we were kids.

As it turns out, by the time I posted this the contest is over and my can won! I don't know why I am telling you this other than I hoped the contest would go on longer and you could participate.

Are there any other CO breweries I missed? Let me know so I can plan that trip!

The Livery-Hand Forged Brewing

Last weekend we traveled to the eastern coast of Lake Michigan to spend time with some good friends and to visit the first Michigan microbrewery I have been to. I have been hearing about many from Northern Indiana through Michigan and was excited about being able to go here. My excitement was well-founded, because the Livery proved to be worth all that I have heard.

Describing itself as a maker of hand forged micro-brews, the beer list was extensive (15) and they were serious about their beer. They offered a variety of styles for all sorts of tastes, some available on hand pull. Besides their beer, ciders and pop, they offered some local wines, and that's it. No hard liquor or non-Livery beer sold there. But, with the list they had, why would you want any other?
The bar itself was downstairs, and had an industrial feel to it, yet welcoming, thanks to its friendly customers and knowledgeable staff. I think we knew we were in the right place when one of the customers had embroidered into his shirt hop vines.

Among the things I liked here the most was the names of the beers, such as Telewhacker, Lawnmower Lager, Kilt Tilter, Mt Baldy and Hoppy Chick. But throughout the night and later at a local restaurant we were able to try quite a variety of choices.


We sampled 4 beers, throughout the course of the evening, and I think there was a good mix of their offerings. My tastes differed a little than those of my drinking partner, Bingo, so I wanted to try those with a little less alcohol, especially after the blaster we had first.

This first one we tasted, the Runemeister, was described as an Imperial Honey Pilsner, with its 9.25% ABV. Served in a snifter it was one of the best beers I have ever had, a classic. Slightly sweet thanks to the caramel malts and Michigan honey yet its rusty color was warm and inviting. I prefer a stronger alcohol taste, especially for my first of the night so it worked well for me. Rating: 6. (My first ever!)
The second I tasted was the Mandau Man, served in a pint glass, was reddish in color and was listed as an English Red Ale. I prefer the ambers and reds and this was one also good, but maybe too much of a bite, maybe not a good enough balance of malts.
Still good and definitely repeatable: Rating 4.
Next, we tried the Bungtown Export Lager, which was served at a local restaurant we visited for dinner, Clementines. Sure, we left the bar for this, but it was worth a try and when you think about it, since it was only exported a few blocks away and was draft it is about the same.
The Bungtown had the familiar feel of a lager, comparable to Sam Adams Lager. It is a Dortmunder, a regular summertime lager beer, but was a bit heavier and with a slightly metallic taste which changed greatly as it warmed up. I was quite surprised by that. I think it was a good beer, just nothing to brag about. Rating: 3.
We did a taster of the Lawnmower Lager but apart from the name it was a lot like Coors regular, a straw colored session beer that I wasn't terribly thrilled with either.
Lastly on our way back home we swung back and picked up a quick Red Canoe, a dark red lager that had a surprisingly bitter finish that was quite enjoyable. I would like to return and try another of these. My rating: 4.

Can't wait to return to Livery, where hopefully I can try some of the others. I think its my kind of place.

Ales of the Revolution at the City Tavern, Philadelphia

On my recent trip to Philadelphia, we ate lunch at the City Tavern, a multi-story tavern that used to host George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, and whose servers still wear the colonial clothes from those old days. The food is traditional and on the fancy tablecloths and napkins, but the highlight, as you may have guessed, is their beer selection. I think it should have been pretty obvious where I was going with this.

I tried the flight of four beers they serve, which are brewed from recipes used in colonial times by a local brewer, Yards Brewing.

Sadly we were unable to go to the brewery due to our schedule so the tastings I took at the tavern there will have to suffice.
The four they offered were: General Washington's Tavern Porter, Thomas Jefferson's Tavern Ale, Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce, and Alexander Hamilton's Federalist Ale. These are also offered in bottles for "Take Away", which is what I will do on my next trip out there. I was a little unfamiliar with the policies in Pennsylvania, whose beer selling practices are extremely archaic and anti-craft in just about every way possible. I will cover those practices and others I have encountered in an upcoming post.

Now for the tastings:

General Washington's Tavern Porter, which has been brewed from a recipe on file at the New York Public Library, and is sold exclusively at the City Tavern. It is rich and bold with a certain nuttiness to it. One of the better porters, not too rich. Rating: 4.

Thomas Jefferson's 1774 Tavern Ale, is light and clean, without a lot of bitterness associated with most European style light ales. Thomas Jefferson himself made beer twice a year, and this sweeter recipe reminds us of a brew that would have been by a farmer and beekeeper such as he. Rating: 4.

Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce, which is according to Benjamin Franklin's recipe when he was ambassador to France, uses spruce essence and molasses, since it was too difficult to get hops and barley at that time. It was amber and sweet and you could pick up some hints of spiciness. With an unusual flavor and the first Spruce I have tasted, so, therefore I have to give it a Rating: 5.

Alexander Hamilton's Federalist Ale is crisp and light and full of hops. It can be considered an American Pale Ale but I get the feeling it was added later, since I don;t see a lot of Pale Ales originating from those times. Excessive hops is a 19th century process I am pretty sure. Still, it is a good and memorable one. Rating: 5.

All in all I was impressed by these, and it was an impressive place to go, in a really impressive town. Next trip there will have me going to the Yards Brewery for a tour and especially to the tasting room for more of these.