BUREAUCRACY [Noun]
"Rule of a governing body"
Includes: Systematic inefficiency, Layers of authority and delegation, Stacks of paperwork, Form over function..............................
BEERAUCRACY [Noun]
"Rule of Beer"
Includes: Hops, Barley, Water, Yeast............................
Join our two BEERAUCRATS,
Mugsy and Jugsy, as they cut through the red-tape
to discover the true essence of good beer.
Just a little something to keep you entertained until we put up our next post... which will either be a review of the new Stone collaboration "El Camino (Un)Real Black Ale" or the "Sawyer's Triple Ale" (whose proceeds go completely to charity - more on that later) or, we were toying with the idea of reviewing a He'Brew beer in honor of Passover. Any thoughts?
It's true what they say, "So many beers, so little time!"
We know that we review a lot of Stone brews and some of our followers on the East Coast get frustrated from time to time, but you're likely to see even more in the near future, since that's where we went to celebrate Jugsy's birthday this past week! The folks at Stone are as lovely and welcoming as their brews.... Stay tuned for our interview with Dan, the Tour Master at Stone (at least, that's what we call him!) There's a lot of typing involved for us on that one, so it might take a while ;-)
In the meantime, we thought we'd offer up an "appetizer" of sorts. Since so much is often said about the pairing of wine and cheese, we thought it would be a good idea to celebrate the heavenly combination of beer and cheese! It's not entirely new, as a commentator on the AOL article this morning said, "Beer and cheese have always been a matching pair in my book. Forget the fancy stuff... any kind of beer goes with any kind of cheese. At the high end: Guinness and brie. At the low end: Bud Light and Cheetos. The flavors just seem to compliment each other in a way that wine does not."
There's also a pretty cool pairing on the Kegerators blog. Mmmm. Wonder what would pair well with vegan cheese???
Beer: Smithwick's Irish Ale Brewed by:Guinness & Co., Dublin, Ireland (originally brewed by Smithwick's, Kilkenny, Ireland) Style: Irish Red Ale ABV: 4.5% IBUs: Unknown Bottle: 12 fluid oz. Served in: English pint glass Place of purchase:Trader Joe's Price: $6.99 per 6 pack
So, here we are, the middle of March. The 17th, to be exact. Why do I have a strange inclination to eat boiled potatoes and soda bread while listening to The Pogues and drinking beer? OK, I always have an inclination to listen to The Pogues and drink beer, but all of it combined speaks quite strongly of - - Saint Patrick's Day! The celebration (at least here in the U.S.) of all things Irish: wearing o' the green and tons of other Irish stuff, most importantly, drinking. Yes, drinking. Drinking beer. And drinking whiskey (notice the spelling, boyo?) Wait, that's a whole different blog!
OK, back to drinking beer. Jugsy & I, having been to the British Isles (including Ireland) many, many times, did some very serious searching for a beer to review at this specific time. Of course, we could have chosen Guinness Stout or Harp Lager (both fine beers!) but we decided on a brew that is not as readily available, or at least, is not as well known, here in the U.S.
Smithwick's Irish Ale is celebrating it's 300th anniversary this year, having started its brewing operation at the St. Francis Abbey brewery in Kilkenney, Ireland in 1710. A family tradition of brewing resulted over the next 300 years and gives us the beer we have for review today.
In passing, here are a couple of famous Irish sayings - ones that we love; just to get you in to the St. Patty's Day spirit:
"There are many good reasons for drinking, One has just entered my head. If a man doesn't drink when he's living, How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?"
"Here's to a long life and a merry one A quick death and an easy one A pretty girl and an honest one A cold beer and another one!"
In every proper review, your trusted husband & wife team of Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouthfeel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.
Mugsy: Deep bronze color. Dark amber when held to light. Creamy looking head that dissipates quite quickly. Slight bit of carbonation visible. Very little lacing left on glass. Jugsy: Clear, copper/red in color with a thick, frothy head that dissipates to a thin, white head. Very little carbonation can be seen. No lacing left behind.
Aroma:
Mugsy:Slight bit of yeast. Some malt comes through also. Not a strong aroma at all. Jugsy: Delicate scent of mild yeast and hops. Smells slightly sweet and fresh, a hint of peppermint candy and pine cones.
Taste:
Mugsy: First and foremost is a "cheesy" taste. I can only assume that this is attributable to the yeast. Slightly sweet malt is present, as well. While the hops couldn't be detected with scent, they do come through here, if only very slightly. Slight toasted nut after taste and very slight chocolate, caramel and coffee become present as the beer warms. Jugsy: Unusual combination of yeast (Irish soda bread?) and roasted coffee/malts. There's a skunky bitterness from the hops that becomes a very pronounced middle-note before the yeast and coffee re-appear. Aftertaste is bitter sourdough. As the beer warms, a distinctly nutty and pleasant taste (and aftertaste) emerges.
Mouthfeel:
Mugsy: Quite a nice feel. Very creamy. Slightly bitter bite on the tongue. Goes down without any "soupiness" but with just enough substance to make sure you know that this has some weight to it. As beer warms just past its perfect temperature, it does get a little watery feeling, though. Jugsy: The initial expectation is of creaminess, but this beer actually ends up being a little on the thin side.
Drinkability:
Mugsy:At 4.5% ABV, it would obviously be no problem for a serious beer drinker (who me?) to throw back many of these, however, the watery finish as the beer warms past its point of perfection is a slight turn-off for me and makes me think twice. Guess I'll just have to drink the next several Smithwick's much more quickly! Jugsy: At 4.5% ABV, this is a classic "session" beer and I'm pretty sure Mugsy would have to drink a gallon of it just to feel a buzz! The beer needs to warm somewhat in order for it to reveal its full character. Quite drinkable!
Overall:
Mugsy: Quite well balanced. Not overdone on any aspect, making this an obvious choice for the first pint at the pub on the way home from work. It all comes down to, as mentioned so many times before, "would I drink this beer again?" And the answer is "Yes - but I wouldn't necessarily seek it out." Not a bad beer by any means (and believe me, I've had some pretty bland beers in the British Isles), I just feel that there are so many better, more interesting beers out there on which I would rather spend my money. Let's put it this way - the next time I go shopping for a great beer, am I going to head straight for the Smithwick's? If it's St. Patty's Day, then it would certainly be one of the two or three Irish beers I would select. Otherwise, no. However, the next time I find myself in Ireland or anywhere in the British Isles (as Jugsy and I often do, believe it or not) then Smithwick's would definitely be one of the beers on rotation at the pub. Would pair very well with rich St. Patty's day foods and equally well with rich, creamy desserts. Jugsy: I'd love to be in Ireland, drinking this ale alongside a talkative, old pub-regular, nestled in the supernaturally green and misty countryside. There's something in this beer that I can't put my finger on, but when I taste it, I know I'm drinking either an Irish or a Scottish ale. Yeast strain, perhaps? Peaty water? I don't know, but it makes me a bit nostalgic.
Score: Mugsy: 5.0 Jugsy: 6.0
From both of us at Beeraucracy, we wish you a very happy Saint Patrick's Day!!
We know it’s been a little longer than usual since we’ve posted a review, but rather than give you a long story about pipes bursting and flooding our home, we figured we’d just give you more bang for your buck!(We realize it’s free to read our blog, so really… you’re getting a heck of a lot of “bang” for nothing!)
Last Thursday, one of Mugsy & Jugsy’s favorite purveyors of fine beers (and other spirits), Wades Wines, hosted a Belgian Beer Tasting.Jason, or “the beer guy” as Jugsy refers to him, selected 10 Belgian brews for the tasting and provided lots of cool information to all the curious tasters in tow.(Did we mention it was only $5?!?!)
Beers were presented in a specific order according to the complexity of taste and alcohol by volume, in general, lowest to highest. We struggled over whether or not it was fair to assign a point-value as we would normally do, simply because the environment and amount served was not conducive to the proper attention and appreciation that beer usually requires.So, bear that in mind before taking our ratings too seriously on these!
Without further ado, we present our mini-review of 10 beers!
Belgian Beer Tasting – 10 Beers for $5!
Beer #1 – Bavik Belgian Pilsner
Mugsy:Hoppy, clean – 4.5
Jugsy:I didn’t even bother to take notes on this one.It tasted watery and weak. – 4.25
Mugsy:Slightly sour, some malt, a little hops; maybe a little too sour for me – 5.75
Jugsy:Clear brown, some head, roasted malt & yeast smell, very funky sour yeast and malt flavor; not pleasant to drink – 4.5
Beer #5 – Malheur 10 (Tripel)
Mugsy:Super murky & super funky, very citrusy – like orange, smooth, sweet and creamy.Can definitely taste the ABV. Quite balanced between sweetness & hops. Fruity – 7.5
Jugsy:Amber/opaque (murky), lots of fruity yeast, smell of fresh citrus; smooth, creamy, fruity with a nice hop balance.Delicate, sophisticated flavor, and I’m feeling the ABV.Sweet and light. Love it!-- 9.0
Beer #7 – Brasserie des Rocs Gran Cru (Belgian Special Brown Ale)
Mugsy:Smells sweet, malty. Slightly sweet, definitely brown sugar – 7.0
Jugsy:Slightly murky/brown, coffee, malt, yeast scents.Wow!Coffee and sweet barnyard funk!Brown sugar, coffee, rotten fruit – good brew but not for my taste – 7.0
There's no denying that our prejudice against beer that comes in cans prevented us from trying the Coconut Porter sooner, but as soon as we took a look at their reasoning, we couldn't argue against it. As it says right on their can, "Cans are lighter, chill quicker... eliminate light damage and reduce the risk of oxidation, keeping our beer fresher than in bottles!" And "Aluminum is the most recycled and most eco-friendly material." It struck a chord in both the environmentalist and the beer lover within us!
Personally, I don't think Mugsy was too excited about drinking Coconut flavored beer of any kind, but I couldn't wait to try it! After all, not only has the Coconut Porter won several awards; not only is it brewed with six varieties of malted barley, hops and hand-toasted coconut, but it's brewed with Aloha! How many beers can say that?!?!
In every proper review, your trusted husband & wife team of Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, MouthFeel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.
Mugsy: Extremely dark brown. Completely opaque and unable to be seen through, even when held to light. Light tan colored head that dissipates to practically nothing. No lacing left on glass whatsoever. Jugsy: Very dark brown -- almost black. Thick and dark, even when held up to light. Tan, frothy head dissipates quickly down to nothing.
AROMA:
Mugsy: Strong smell of roasted malt is first to hit the nose. Very sweet. Lots of dark chocolate aroma mixed with toffee, as well. Slight hint of coffee is in there also. Jugsy: Sweet chocolate, toffee and sugary coconut scents are right at the forefront. Spicy aromas are also present: vanilla, nutmeg and allspice blend in with a slightly funky yeast. Roasted malt/coffee marries nicely with toasted coconut for a candy-scented harmony throughout.
TASTE:
Mugsy: Strong taste of chocolate and roasted malt. The toasted coconut is prominent. Very nice balance between hops and malt here. While the malt is dominant, the hops are quite obviously present, unlike what is found in some porters. Aftertaste is slightly of coffee and definitely of toffee and caramel. The sweetness and bitterness do a lovely little dance with each other. Jugsy: Bitter roasted malts and hops are among the first flavors to hit your tongue, followed immediately by sweeter toffee and coconut taste. The coffee, spices and sweet coconut combine to deliver a complex flavor palate with the distinct aftertaste of toasted coconut and coffee grounds.
MOUTHFEEL:
Mugsy: The coating left on the tongue, as if one has just eaten dark chocolate is the dominant factor here. Slight sting from the roasted malt and hops. Goes down nicely, if not just a tiny bit watery. Jugsy: Creamy and bold with a fair amount of carbonation. Leaves a roasted malt and bitter hops coating on the tongue.
DRINKABILITY:
Mugsy: The aforementioned watery finish (really, very slight) actually makes this somewhat of a refreshing beer, if one can imagine saying that about a porter. At 5.7% ABV, I'd have no problem throwing back several of these before feeling like I'd had enough. However, the sweetness, which is not overbearing after only one, might become an issue after two or three. Also, the heavy tongue coating might become an annoyance after a while. Jugsy: Very nice beer. Only the price-tag would keep this from being a session beer. It's rich in flavor, but not heavy feeling and I could certainly enjoy drinking this brew all evening.
OVERALL:
Mugsy:Nicely done! Overall, quite a nice balance between the sweet and the bitter, even if the sweet does take over a little. While some porters become more complex in flavor as they warm, this one most certainly does not. The flavors become far less distinct and the finish becomes even more watery. This is definitely meant to drunk cold. Still a nice job and I would be happy to drink again. Would go well with sweet chocolately desserts and would go extremely well with rich, hearty stews on one of those cold winter nights. Ahhhh, cold porter, warm stew and a hot wife! Tonight, I think I'll take all three! Jugsy: I had to overcome the idea that quality beers only come in bottles. After looking at Maui Brewing Co.'s reasons for choosing cans (both environmental and to protect the flavor of beer) I was convinced that they really cared about what they were doing and became very curious about what the CocoNut PorTeR actually tasted like! The smell and taste of this porter is truly unique, rich and extremely pleasant. I became an instant fan the first time I tried it. (The colder, the better on this one!) It doesn't taste like it comes from a can, but it does taste like it costs $9.99 for a four-pack! You'll forget all about the price-tag once you taste its greatness!
Beer: Juxtaposition Black Pilsner Brewed by:Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, CA / BrewDog Brewery, Fraserburgh, Scotland, UK, / Cambridge Brewing Co., Cambridge, MA Style: Pilsner (That's what they say, but even they know it's tenuous. We'd call it an Imperial Stout. You be the judge!) ABV: 10% IBUs: 100 Bottle: 12 fluid oz. Served in: Pint glass Place of purchase: BottleRock, Los Angeles, CA Price: $6.99
As followers of our blog may know, we are big fans of Stone Brewing in Escondido, CA. So, what might a collaboration of Stone Brewing along with two other world class craft brewers be able to produce? Well, in this case a true beer anomaly: a black pilsner!
You read that correctly, a black pilsner!!! (If you're keeping track, the Juxtaposition is the first lager ever brewed by Stone!)
Stone, BrewDog and Cambridge collaborators decided to use lager yeast, and a longer, colder storage / fermentation time. So, naturally, one would think they were making a pilsner, which would mean the beer would be super crisp and hoppy, possibly a low alcohol type of brew, right? Think again. You've never tasted anything like this before.
The folks at Stone, Brewdog and Cambridge set out to push the envelope and succeeded in pushing said envelope to its limit! This is definitely a unique hybrid beer and the three brewers certainly had a lot of fun making it. Three cheers!
In every proper review, your trusted husband & wife team of Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouthfeel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.
Mugsy: Well, it's black. That's right. Just as the name would imply - black. As Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap put it so profoundly, "It's like, how much more black could this be?' And the answer is... None. None more black.'" You can't see through it at all, even when put up to the light. Slightly off-white colored head that dissipates somewhat quickly. Some lacing left on the glass. Jugsy: The blackest beer I've ever seen! Completely opaque and seemingly impenetrable to light. Medium tan head dissipates, but thin head remains.
AROMA:
Mugsy: Malt comes to the nose first followed closely by woodsy hops. A tiny bit of funky yeast is present, as well. Little bits of chocolate and toffee are in there, too. Jugsy: Coffee grounds and an immense fruity funk hit the nose immediately! Rotten Banana peels, pineapple, and dried apricots comprise the funky scent, followed by a touch of yeast. It smells a bit like sweet garbage. Possibly some piny hops mixed in with the roasted malts, but the funk is overwhelming.
TASTE:
Mugsy: Bold taste of semi-sweet chocolate hits the tongue, closely followed by slightly bitter roasted malt. Hops are really only an aftertaste here. There's another sweetness in there, as well, quite possibly from the yeast. Very complex. Jugsy: Bitter hops and burnt malt taste right off the top, but there's also a sweetness I can't quite identify. The bitterness is actually heightened by a very sour (yeast?) flavor. Very complex palate - I can taste different components in every swig. The yeasty funk is in there, too, tying all the flavors together.
MOUTHFEEL:
Mugsy: This one is chewy and very creamy. The creaminess is almost like drinking chocolate milk. Going on that same path, the coating left on the tongue is quite similar to what one might have after eating cacao or a dark chocolate bar. Jugsy: This is a creamy pilsner with a moderate amount of carbonation. Bitter, yeasty coating on tongue that lasts for a while.
DRINKABILITY:
Mugsy: I can already feel this one. At a whopping 10%, one could only throw back a few of these before getting into serious trouble. And let me tell you, I'm looking for trouble. Jugsy: The beer is a little on the heavy side. At 10% ABV, I feel confident saying it isn't a session beer -- even for Mugsy! If you can tolerate the bold punch of flavors - or if your taste buds just like a challenge - this may be your beer.
OVERALL:
Mugsy:OK, I know this is considered to be a pilsner. It has lager yeast and is stored for a longer period of time, like a lager. But I mean, seriously. If I described a beer as black, smelling and tasting of chocolate and being extremely creamy, wouldn't you figure I was talking about a stout? Nonetheless, pilsner, stout, apples, oranges, who cares - this beer is fantastic. Extremely complex in flavor and aroma. I would drink this again within a beat of my black heart. I only wish the $6.99 price tag for a 12 fluid ounce bottle didn't leave a black hole in my wallet! Oh well. Guess I'll just have to savor this one. Hey! Looks like Jugsy drank the last of it. Black is black. I want my Juxtaposition back.... Jugsy: I'm having a love/hate relationship with the Juxtaposition. Now I see why they decided to call it that! So many opposing, clashing even, flavors, yet there is an undeniable harmony - a beauty to the madness. Stone, BrewDog and Cambridge set out to push the envelope and they definitely succeeded in doing so. On one hand, I feel like I've been tricked into drinking alcoholic garbage water, but on the other hand, I kind of like it! Definitely a unique brew. Try one for yourself and see!
Since yesterday was the official start of Lent, we thought it would be interesting to look into whether or not there were any patron saints for beer.... Buoyed by the the fact that there appears to be a patron saint for nearly everything under the sun, we began our search!
Mugsy and Jugsy are happy to report back that there are, in fact, several saints overseeing the harvesting, production and - naturally - consumption of beer!
Although there are many fine souls protecting our beloved beer, one in particular really stands out: Arnold of Soissons.
According to Beer Church, "He is said to have spent his life warning peasants about the health hazards of drinking water.... Beer, on the other hand, was quite safe. Arnold frequently pointed this out to his congregation. He is credited with having once said, 'From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world.' It goes without saying that the people loved and revered Arnold."
For more info on Patron Saints of Beer, you can visit here and here!
Mid-February means many things to many people. It could mean a few -- or several more -- weeks of Winter (depending on how much you believe in Puxatony Phil's weather forecasting skills); it could mean time to take advantage of President's Day sales; or it could mean, as is the case for Mugsy and Jugsy, time to celebrate the accuracy of Cupid's arrow! By that I mean, of course, Saint Valentine's Day! Given that Valentine's Day is a day for sweethearts, Jugsy and I thought it appropriate to review a beer known for its sweet taste. From Mugsy and Jugsy to all of you: Happy St. Valentine's Day!
In every proper review, your trusted husband & wife team of Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouthfeel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.
Mugsy: Golden yellow. Slightly murky, much like a wheat beer. Some carbonation visible. Thick, frothy head that dissipates to thin, yet still sudsy head. A bit of lacing left on glass. Jugsy:Golden amber in color with a thinnish head. Clear enough to see carbonation when held to light. Some lacing left on glass.
AROMA:
Mugsy:Very fruity. First is sweet pineapple followed by citrus. Strong smell of hops, as well. Very slight scent of yeast. Jugsy:Fruity yeast and a touch of hops at first sniff. Apricots, citrus and pineapple scents abound. In fact, the pineapple sweetness overpowers the other scents when beer is cold. Mild scent of sourdough. As the ale warms, hop aromas come to the foreground - flowery is a given, but I think some piny hops are present, too. TASTE:
Mugsy:Wow. This is very sweet. Hops are in the forefront but fighting to share the spotlight is the pineapple and citrus. It's so sweet that it makes me entertain the idea that they added a simple syrup or maybe just a big spoonful of brown sugar! Aftertaste is of malt. As the beer warms, the hops and malt become even more present. This is quite unusual, as most ales release additional flavors as the temperature slightly rises. Jugsy: Hops - beautiful, aromatic HOPS! Flowery hops and sweet orange flavors explode in the first sip. Bitter, yet extremely inviting. Fruity yeast comes together with soapy hops in a sinfully good combination.
MOUTHFEEL:
Mugsy: Creamy. Also, I get that coating on the tongue that one gets after eating something really sugary, like super sweet cake icing or, well, a big spoonful of sugar. Goes down very easily. Jugsy:Creamy and slightly chewy - very smooth to drink. Carbonation mixes with the hops flavor for a tingly and bitter/flowery coating on the tongue. DRINKABILITY:
Mugsy:I'd have no problem throwing back many of these back, let me tell you. The 8.74% ABV might come knocking at some point, but not too soon, I would hope. The extreme sweetness might become an issue at some point, however. Jugsy: Extremely pleasant to drink. Although the ABV is high, the beer feels light and drinks light.
OVERALL:
Mugsy: Fine beer. Would absolutely drink again any time. Fairly well balanced, if you understand that they were going for a sweet beer, which I believe they were. If that's not the case, well, then balance my be an issue. The strong pineapple scent makes it quite original in character. The folks at Lagunitas care about what they do and it's obvious in presentations like this one. Because of the sweetness, I think this would pair nicely with foods that are both sweet and sour or sweet and savory, like Thai, Chinese or glazed entrees. Have a sweet Valentine's Day! Jugsy: Everything an Imperial IPA should be! This ale is far more complex than I can describe. All the Lagunitas brews I've ever tried have been excellent, and the Little Sumpin' Extra! Ale was just what I needed to usher in Valentine's Day! This beer makes me feel loved! Uh oh... maybe that's the 8.74% ABV talking. Then again, I am sitting a little too close to Mugsy! Happy Valentine's Day, Sweetheart!
