Craft Beer Monday Review: Riverwest Stein Beer

This is easy for me. I first tasted this one at a Brewers game since they have a little stand there and have loved it ever since. It is one of this that I associate with baseball and have to have one every time I go to Miller Park, and that's not easy since the Wisconsin beer selection is pretty great there and I have been tempted by the others offered. But a sports arena discussion is one for another post.
I have been a fan of Lakefront Brewery, have even posted about the tour, but I realized I have never mentioned my favorite beer there, so I had to taste it again and review it.

On the label is a street in the Riverwest section of Milwaukee- I was driving by that church when visiting a friend up there and did a double-take, it looked so familiar.
A very dark brown color, even though it has been labeled an amber, and malty sweet, with very little bitterness, a light yellow head with no too much carbonation, it is easy to see why this put Lakefront on the map. It is their flagship beer after all.

A little information about the Stein Beer: in Bavaria and other parts it was a challenge to get the beer boiling consistently without modern heating techniques so it was common to drop hot rocks into the beer to generate a lot of boiling for a short period of time. The resulting brew was called Stein Beer (stein is German for stone). This represents the brewing method, not the style, by the way. The style is an amber lager.
Purchased as part of the create your own six-pack at Mariano's.

CBC Rating: 5. ABV%: 5.7.

Brewery Visit: Tighthead Brewery Mundelein Illinois

Finally happy to be able to visit Tighthead in Mundelein, after watching it grow from a simple announcement in the Daily Herald as a craft brewery started up by one guy and now open as a simple brewpub. See mention here a while back. The name comes from his rugby playing days, where a tighthead was apparently a position that was played or something like that. All I know about the rugby guys is their ability to hit the bar hard after games, playing such exciting games as quarterhorse. You have to be a Johnny B fan for that reference.

But anyway, as the beer tour we took explained, they provide their beer in barrels only and to local breweries and to this taphouse. Not in bottles or cans yet nor do they offer a lager, in case you were wondering. I tasted the Scarlet Red in a previous post. But this time I was able to try the other ones they offer. They sell them in a sampler glass, pint and growler. I personally thought the growler prices were a little high, especially since I wasn't completely thrilled about most of them ($18 including the growler, $13 without-that breaks down to $13 for a 5 pack of beer you've never had before most likely).
Now for the beer that we tasted. I am putting them in the order they have them on their website.
This trip I took with Tim from Cincinnati, who I have beer-traveled with before (Yuengling, Great Crescent to name a couple). He and I did not agree on our favorites, so I am not CBC rating them here.
Comfortably Blond: Light, refreshing, a little fruit, mild, good tasting.ABV: 4.8%
Scarlet Fire Red Ale: Toasty and a little sweet, slight bitterness in good balance. ABV: 5.6%
Boxcar Porter: Bold, roasty and coffee tastes mostly, without the creaminess usually associated with porters. ABV: 6.9%.
Irie IPA: Almost a double IPA, a little bold for the amateur, and without a lot of room for enjoyment of rest of brew. I think they should have left a little hop in the bag this time. ABV: 7.5%, IBU: 134.1!
Hat Trick Tripel: A well-made tripel, a little fruit, a little malt. I picked up a little too much apricot or peach, but I was told by a few people I was full of it, it is a great brew. ABV: 8.9%
Upright Extra Pale Ale: Refreshing with a little bitterness, I compare it more to a GI Green Line than a SNPA, and due to its relatively low alcohol I assume we get the Extra Pale Ale name. ABV: 4.8%.

 I personally liked the Upright and Scarlet and Blond, and wasn't too thrilled with Hat Trick (but love the name). Irie and Boxcar were too knockout in their flavors, for me.

I was happy to have gone, and I was thankful I knew where it was because it is tucked away and hidden but worth the trip.

Beers News For February 2012

Thanks to Steve-o and Tom S for this mention in Yahoo about some canned beers. Read it here. Have had Fat Tire, other Anderson Valleys, and Brooklyn in the bottle.
And, oh yeah, that PBR crap. Just because it is popular again with the crowd which I was a part of a long time ago doesn't make it good.

Bingo provided me with the link to the show about Lunar Brewing that appeared on Fox. He has been there very recently and it is easy to see why, and not because of the location only. It is a brewpub that sells its own beer there, but the selection is always pleasing and original, and, in my eyes, brightens up an area that can use it (Villa Park).
See this clip, starring Corey McPherrin and Anna Davlantes.

Exciting news about Chicago Craft Beer Week taking place in May. It will now wrap up after 11 days instead, at Revolution Brewing at their new facility. I hope if I am in town to participate in some of these events, since it appears to be right up my alley. More news on this to follow. See link here.

Craft Beer Monday Review: Raspberry Tart

New Glarus  has been coming out with new and different tastes for a number of years. Some are big hits, some are not so much, but they can always be relied upon to do something different and a little bold. This is one of those different and bold ones, in my eyes.
Served in a bomber with purple wax melted over the cap and down the sides, this is a framboise, and as far as fruit ales I think this could be, for me, who has never been much of a fruit beer fan, quite a pleasant one. Except for the extra character of this one: it is also sour.
As I have said before in different reviews, New Glarus has given me a few good thrills, Spotted Cow and Staghorn, to name a couple, but the one area they visited and keep returning to is the sour beer. They usually mark the neck label with this designation, like they have done with their Sour Brown and Enigma, or in this case just go with the Tart in the title.
It is interesting, as a reviewer, to discuss the qualities of a beer I don't like, but everyone seems to determine this as top of the line, world class, but it is a category I find hard to rave about, since it is sour.
So, I will say the CBC rating is 2.
Given to me for Christmas by Tom S. Poured from the bottle into my Seibel mug.
ABV: 4.0%.

Craft Beer Monday Review: Cabin Fever

Which Cabin Fever is this? That is a good question. I have tasted the New Glarus version of a Cabin Fever which is a bock and is pretty good, but gets a little muddled at times with the other offerings from NG in the bock style, like Uff-Da and Back 40. But enough about those Wisconsin beers.I have also seen a version that goes by that name from Schafly's in Missouri and another from Berkshire in Mass. But here we are talking about New Holland's offering, which is a Brown Ale and worthy of discussing. That actually is pretty easy for me since most of the NH beers are tasty and unique in flavor. I have been rather pleased with Michigan breweries on the whole, looking at Livery and Bells, and even Founders. So why is it that some states can really get the job done and others are just sitting there and looking bored?
Anyway, this was a good English Brown, not too overstated in areas I think belong to other brews like porters or even stouts at times. Slightly bitter and a bit stronger than Newcastle and higher in alcohol too, and a good overall brew.
In case you didn't know, Cabin Fever, according to Wikipedia, is the claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or persons are isolated in a small space , with nothing to do, for an extended period (as in a simple country vacation cottage during a long rain or snow). Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, paranoia, irrational frustration with everyday objects, forgetfulness, laughter, excessive sleeping, distrust of anyone they are with, and an urge to go outside even in the rain, snow, dark or hail.
CBC Rating: 4.
Bought in the pick your six pack at Mariano's.
ABV: 6%.

Craft Beer Monday Review: Fat Squirrel

Review submitted by Steve-o:

CBC editor & primary blogger Keenley has been a tad under the weather of late, so much so that he’s abstained from beer for the last several days.  This certainly explains the dramatic drop in Chicagoland craft beer sales recently, but fear not, local brew masters!  He is on the mend and will be back to ‘work’ soon.

 I’ve been asked to pinch-hit and submit this week’s  Midwest Craft Beer review.  Being a huge fan of the New Glarus Brewing Company, creators of my beer-fridge staple Spotted Cow, and  terrific seasonals such as Staghorn Oktoberfest and Totally Naked Lager, I’ve chosen to review one of their year-round brews, Fat Squirrel.  

Style-wise, this is a Nut Brown Ale.  I’m normally not a fan of the ‘nutty’ flavored beers, but Fat Squirrel has a nice balance of nut and caramel with a slight hint of vanilla and rye. Poured into a pint-sized shaker glass, Fat Squirrel is translucent, brownish-copper in color, developing a ¼” head that dissipated quickly.  Unlike other beers in this style, the nuttiness is subdued and not too overpowering.  While a bit too sweet for session drinking, Fat Squirrel is a nice change of pace, a beer that I enjoy a bit more each time I sample it.  Another winner from New Glarus!

Rating: 4.  Purchased as part of a variety 12 pack at Woodman’s, the candy store for beer lovers, located in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

ABV: 5.8%

Craft Beer Monday Review: Argus Brewery Selections

I was lucky enough to do a small beer tasting with CBC Member Steve-o and he picked up the three from Argus at Binny's for a create your own 6-pack. It was a good way to taste them, since they offer the three different selections from Argus and I wasn't familiar with any of them up to that point. I have personally never seen them in a bar, but Bingo had reported them in the Southwest by him, plus Steve A-Bell reported that he went to the bar where they first launched their McCaffereys Irish Cream Ale, and that it was quite unique and tasty.

The three we tasted were the Holsteiner Lager, the Pegasus IPA and the California Steam. The third I was a little puzzled by, not only because the Steam name is trademarked by Anchor, but that Argus even brewed a California Common. Very rare indeed. As it turned out, I was happy enough with all three. They each had their own characteristics and I think I will need to try them all again. This time I will pick them up and Steve and I can taste them and re-rate them.

We started with the Steam, and it was surely a malty offering, tasting a lot to me like a Vienna (like Sam Adams Lager), but it was decent enough and a little different without being too heavy or tangy. More of an average beer than anything else, but with a little different taste than I have had much before.
CBC rating: 3. ABV: 5.4%.

In the mean time, the Pegasus IPA was a little on the milder side of the hop,
but still a smooth mellow brew. Flower and pine, but still not very bold, plus this unfiltered one poured a little dark and foamy. Overall not too bad, but more of an American IPA as it describes itself. As I spoke on another occasion blurring the lines of American Pale Ales and others makes me not sure where it falls, especially with this rather unknown description.
CBC Rating: 3. ABV: 6.5%

Finally the Holsteiner Lager, which is described as a Marzen, an Oktoberfest specialty, but it is not so much like one. It is a little dark and malty, but I think there is too much bitterness to be like other Marzens, like Sam Adams, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr etc. This is unique but I don't think it is of my liking so much.
CBC rating: 2. ABV: 6.0%

Maybe at a pub served on tap and maybe under different circumstances I would have other feelings. On the whole, at least, for a newer brewer I don't think their beer is that bad, but they just don't thrill me too much. 

Formerly Chicago Beer Review: Goose Island Green Line

I think maybe I am trying to hold out on Goose Island: they were usually there for me as a craft brewery but now that they have sold out they have fallen out of that category. Can they even be considered a Midwest Beer anymore? Probably not.
Please understand, I am not one to blame them for selling to the big guys, I realize when opportunities come along you have to take them.

Listed as a Pale Ale, this is another one that is not exactly what I expected. This is a little different than some of their other more mass-produced brews, like 312 and Honkers. It tries to be somewhat bold and unique but I think they could have done more to it to make it more unique.
They wanted a local sounding smooth one that they serve only in Illinois and as a part of a bigger project, the Green Line Project. Quoting them:

Green Line Pale Ale is a honey-colored, immensely session-able American pale ale with a pronounced, bright, American hop aroma and citrus flavor. Notes of biscuit and lightly toasted malt create the backbone for Green Line’s pleasant, crisp bitterness. 


I personally thought it was refreshing, and a very repeatable drinking beer, but it was not bold enough in the hop to be considered an American Pale Ale. Then again, maybe the definition needs a little revision. I see some of my favorites carrying the APA label yet pack a lot more hops. Try a TB Bitter End or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and they both blow this away in hoppiness. Even Summit packs a bolder punch.
So maybe a different category for those three? (technically the Summit is an EPA, an Extra Pale Ale).

MY CBC Rating: 3. Drank in a shaker pint glass while at Wildfire Steak House in Lincolnshire.

Yahoo Taste Test of Regular Beers

Submitted by Steve-o:

Not too many surprises here.  From Yahoo online. Their reviews, not mine.

Coors Outscores Bud

Our experts conducted blind taste tests of eight top-selling regular and light beers, plus offering from Trader Joe's and Walgreen's. Winner: Coors Banquet, by, let's say, a field goal. It has balanced flavors with some citrus notes, and no off-tastes. Its a Consumer reports Best Buy, at $6.45 per six pack. Three runners up are Name Tag (Trader Joe's), Big Flats (Walgreens) and Miller High Life.                                    

All of the tested beers are lagers, which usually have a mix of floral, fruity, yeasty, malted-grain, and boiled-hop (pungent) flavors. Most are pale yellow and light-bodied, and don’t stay foamy for long. Other face-offs:

REGULAR VS. LIGHT

Light beer will save you about 20 to 50 calories per can (due to lower carbs and slightly less alcohol), but no tested light scored high enough to be very good. Best of the bunch is Miller Lite. Worst is Corona Light, a bitter brew with traces of tinny and sulfury off-notes.

PRICE VS. TASTE

Corona Light costs far more than higher-rated Miller Lite; and Corona Extra costs about twice as much as three better beers.

STORE BRANDS VS. BIG NAMES

Trader Joe’s and Walgreen's stood up to the competition, doing about as well as Miller High Life and besting Corona Extra and Bud.

CANS VS. BOTTLES

We tasted beer from cans, which may seem less refined than bottles, but they keep light, beer’s nemesis, from getting inside. Light can react with beer within weeks or even days to create compounds similar to those a skunk uses to defend itself.

BOTTOM LINE

None of these beers has enough complexity and balance to be excellent, but Coors comes fairly close.

Beer Gifts for Your Loved Ones on Valentines Day

As we approach Valentine's Day and we start talking about newer seasonals I thought I would let you know about some possible gift items to give your loved ones for that day. In case you hadn't see it, you can now buy her (or him) such delicious treats as Hopdrops, Beer Taffy and just plain old caramels. Of course, these caramels are India Pale Ale or Lager caramels wrapped in chocolate. The hopdrops are "wonderfully hoppy hard candies that will make your mouth jump to life".
A couple brewers from Southern California started up their company, appropriately called Beercandy, the First Candy for Beer Lovers a few years ago. Read about them here. Why not?

A manufacturer has not something new with melted beer bottles, making them into clocks. This looks interesting and a little different. I have seen melted wine bottles used for spoon rests or candy dishes and I suppose a melted bomber can be used for nuts or pretzels or other common beer drinkers accompaniments too. These guys are not the only ones to do it, others do melting or "slumping" as they call it, but it is kind of different. If I was going through the trouble I wouldn't do a Coors Light one, but I guess that is someone's preference.

Finally, just a plain old beer gift is appropriate, and it almost would take a home-brewer, like one of my neighbors, to come up with a good beer with an appropriate name. One friend in particular came up with a brew called "PantyDropper", but it was a limited run. Other beers out there that are designed for Valentines Day are anything with chocolate, like the Brooklyn Chocolate Stout, Tyranena's Down and Dirty Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, or any of the many others. These don't necessarily set themselves apart as Valentines Day only, but I think they work. This one here we tasted at Bingo's house around Christmas time, and it was a massive sweet knockout beer that required a drinking in the huge wine goblet.