Saturday, December 27, 2014

Meet the Brewer - Sean Lawson (Lawson's Finest Liquids)



Two Roads Brewery hosted the third of their "Meet the Brewers" events. This one featured the mastermind behind Lawson's Finest Liquids, Sean Lawson.

Two Roads brewery is contracted by Lawson's to brew two beers - Sip of Sunshine and Super Session #2.

It is wicked exciting to me to get the opportunity to be able to get my greedy little hands on some of that fine Lawson's beer without having to make the trek all the way up to Vermont.

I managed to work my way through the throngs of beer enthusiasts and to have a short conversation with Sean. He told me that he found in Two Roads a contract brewery that was true to his recipes and made his beer taste the way it would if he had made it himself. That's quite a compliment!

Sip of Sunshine (8% ABV), a double American style IPA, is a rich honey gold color with a big floof of clingy white foam.

The aroma is very hop-forward. Resin, citrus, and tropical fruit.

The taste is very hoppy. Again with the resin, citrus, and tropical fruit but with a dank quality that clings to the back of the palatte. Some malty sweetness seeps through the back end. The finish is crisp and mildly bitter.

The mouthfeel is on the full side of medium with tingly carbonation. Solid.

Super Session #2 (4.2% ABV), an American IPA, is a clear bright sunny color with a puffy tenacious head.

The aroma is big on citrus - lots of grapefruit - pine, and a hint of malt.

The taste is lovely tart grapefruit and resin. There is a deeper yet almost elusive fruitiness that could be tropical or sweeter citrus.  There is a nice malty character to balance out the hops. The finish is clean, dry, with a teasing linger of hops.

The mouthfeel is medium-ish with a smooth effervescence that makes this brew awesomely drinkable.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Cooking with Beer - Stout Beer Jelly

If you're handy in the kitchen and are looking for ideas for homemade holiday gifts, this is a tasty gift for beer lovers or someone who enjoys cooking.

This beer jelly is yummy on toast or grilled cheese or roasted veggies or baked brie or roasted meat or burgers.  You get the picture.

And, with only three basic ingredients and a bit of canning know-how, this is a pretty easy recipe to make.

Stout Beer Jelly

2 Cans Guinness Draught
1 Box Pectin
3 1/2 Cups Sugar

A word of warning - use the biggest pot you have. Trust me, on this. Otherwise you're going to end up with an expansive lava-esque foamy frothy mess all over the place.

Pour the beer and pectin into the largest pot you own. Stirring continuously, bring to a boil. Keep on stirring and boil for one minute. 

Then add the sugar. This is when all the voluminous foam-ulation occurs. Stir, stir, stir. Don't stop even when big, fat, spumous bubbles start belching molten syrup out of the pot. Keep stirring for two minutes.


If you didn't use an enormous pot, this is when you'll wish you had.

Remove the pot from the heat. The foam will settle a bit now.  

Prepare canner pot. Put enough water in canner to cover filled jars with at least one inch of water. Bring to a rolling boil.

Ladle the jelly into clean sterilized jelly jars. Fill to within a 1/4 inch of the lip of the jars. You may need to top off the jars as the foam settles. Wipe the rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band until fit is fingertip tight.

Process the jars for 10 minutes in a water bath. Remove the jars from the hot water bath and allow to sit undisturbed for at least 24 hours.

What's cool is that the jars look like little pints of Guinness. 

Once the jars are cool, you can check that they are sealed verifying that the lid has been sucked down. Just press in the center, gently, with your finger. If it pops up and down (often making a popping sound), it is not sealed. If you put the jar in the refrigerator right away, you can still use it.

Now, store them in a cool, dark place and use them as needed or gift them. 

Cheers!

(Hot water bath canning basics)


Friday, December 12, 2014

Lagunita Pils


I'm a big fan of Lagunitas beer. Their brew is consistently oh-so good. So, when I spotted Pils on tap at my favorite spot for hot wings and cold beer, I immediately requested a pour.

Lagunitas Pils (6.20% ABV) is a Czech style pilsner.

It pours a hazy golden color with a very dense head of foam.

The aroma is remarkably tropical for a pilser - namely pineapple. There some bread / cracker notes, as well.

The taste is crisp and clean. Malty, doughy, and - again -  pineapple. There is a whisper of floral hops that adds just a touch of bitterness. The finish is dry with a nice lingering tropical aftertaste.

The mouthfeel is light and bubbly.

Lagunitas Pils is a well balance tasty pilsner. Remarkably refreshing and ridiculously drinkable. I'm a fan!

Overall: very good!

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

20 Ton Ale




Since Two Roads Brewery is practically stumbling distance to/from my home, it's only natural that it's a great place for us to congregate and imbibe with friends who also just so happen to live nearby. We meet up there nearly every single week.

While I enjoy most of Two Roads' standard brews, I look forward to their seasonal and limited offerings.

'tis the season for Route of all Evil and Holiday Ale - both very yummy beers. This year they've released a limited quantity of 20 Ton Ale. So named after the 20 ton overhead crane with hook that graces the center I-beam over the brewery floor.  Recently seen decked out with a beer can Christmas Tree.
20 Ton Ale (12.00% ABV) is a blond barleywine style beer.

It pours a clear bright honey gold color with a small but clingy head.

The aroma is sugary sweet and mildly fruity with a mouthwatering hop presence. And booze.

The taste is initially caramel and sugary. This followed by a wash of wonderful hoppy goodness that clears the palate of any sweetness and leaves behind a remarkably dry, crisp finish. There are also some fruit and citrus notes. The alcohol is clearly present but not particularly boozy tasting.

The mouthfeel is somewhat sticky but fairly light for the style.

Overall: excellent.

20 Ton Ale is a wonderful and tasty barleywine. The hops mellow out the sweetness and make this a dangerously drinkable brew.


Monday, December 1, 2014

Warlock

We were in New Hampshire for the holidays. While we was there we went to our favorite place in the Mount Washington Valley for ribs and beer.

The ribs are always slammin' good at the Red Parka Pub and there is always something new-to-me on tap.

This visit they had Warlock by Southern Tier. Warlock  (8.6% ABV) is an imperial stout brewed with pumpkin and spices.

Mmmm, sounds good to me. Southern Tier brews some mighty fine beer.

So, of course I got a pour.

As I'm sipping the beer I'm nibbling on ribs. And I'm all like shnikes! The beer and the ribs tasted perfect together!

RPP also has some ridiculously decadent desserts. So, of course I had to get one. I got the Misssippi mud pie to share with hubby.




As I'm sipping Warlock I'm nomming on the coffee ice cream pie. And I'm all like jinkies! The beer and the ice cream tasted perfect together.

Holy moly. Needless to say I was in a very happy place.

WarlockPours into a cherry brown with a floof of thick foam.

The aroma is incredible. Fresh pumpkin and subtle spices make this beer smell exceptionally inviting.

The taste is kind of wonderful.  Pleasantly pumkin-y without being overwhelmingly pumpkin-y. Vanilla, soft pie spices, a little cracker, and a touch of hops.

The mouthfeel is full and rich.

Warlock is pumpkin-y sweet-ish and nicely hoppy. Not at all overdone in any way.

An excellent beer! I would drink this again and again. Especially with ribs and ice cream!