BJCP Overall Summary of Sweet Stout: (full description here) “A very dark, sweet, full-bodied, slightly roasty ale. Often tastes like sweetened espresso.” So, as I mentioned in my previous post, the BJCP, or Beer Judge Certification Program, publishes a list of beer style guidelines that is apparently about to change. As I hit “publish” on my last Style Study, I happened to check some old tweets from the … Continue reading Style Study: Sweet Stout
I’m kicking off November’s posts with a new series I’m dubbing “Style Study.” And, since this past Thursday was International Stout Day, I’ve decided to start with stouts. According to the BJCP, there are six types of stouts (although, this is apparently about to change–see the first draft of the new guidelines here); Dry, Sweet, Oatmeal, American, Foreign Extra, and Russian Imperial. I’ll be starting … Continue reading Style Study: Dry Stout
Ten Ninety De Ogen 8.4% ABV Pumpkin Saison Appearance: A hazy orange with golden leanings and a huge, fluffy head of lightweight, off white foam (very saison-like in this respect). Aroma: Vanilla extract / Nutmeg / Cinnamon / Earthy Mouthfeel: Dry spices, but smooth Taste: Orangey citrus / Grassy / Funky / Cinnamon / Nutmeg / Clove / Vanilla bean This began to drink as a saison and finished with a pumpkin pie aroma so powerful that … Continue reading 2014 Pumpkin Beer of the Year: Ten Ninety De Ogen
I think it’s safe to say that I’m mildly obsessed with Perennial Artisan Ales. I’d rate myself about an 8 on a scale from one to ten, one being not-at-all-interested and ten being full-on-cray-cray-for-their-beer. Until I have visited their St. Louis tasting room AND stood in line for a bottle release, I can’t truly deem myself “level 10” obsessed, at least in my mind. Admittedly, it’s just a matter of … Continue reading Beer Tasting: Peach Berliner Weisse from Perennial Artisan Ales
Back in mid-March, Matt and I took the Cicerone Off-Flavor course at their Chicago-based Certification Program offices. I’d previously only read about the six off-flavors we studied that day (there are more than six–it was a brief course), and I will say that you truly can’t know what they taste like…well…until you taste them! I took the class to further my skills in off-flavor identification as a home … Continue reading Off-Flavor Fun
Yes, my good friend Matt Deming went to Belgium and without me even mentioning it, brought back the most coveted of all beers, a Westvleteran 12. I may have screamed aloud when I saw the label-less wonder perched upon my desk, anticipating my Monday morning arrival to work. Eeeeeeee! I tasted it on Saturday. Was it the “best tasting beer in all the world?” Well, … Continue reading It’s a Westy!
About two months ago, I was honored to participate in an event at the Brew Camp classroom, put on by Kim Leshinski of Hail to the Ale. And now, a mere 60-ish days later, I am writing about it! 😉 Kim and I met at the 5 Rabbit Iron Brew Challenge, and when my husband and I won the challenge with our mole stout, (<–a post on the subject is … Continue reading Recipe: A Belgian, Wit a Little Too Much Marmalade
“Dude, what is your deathbed beer?” It’s a question I’ve seen posed in the craft beer community many times. I’d like to ask the question in a different way: What beer are you totally in love with? As in, what beer would you elope with? I would run away with and marry Perennial Abraxas. Thus, here’s a visual love letter to my betrothed beer. Continue reading Perennial Abraxas: A Visual Love Letter
Worth A Thousand Beers 