Watermelon Lime IPA Infusion

Blending the flavors of fresh lime and watermelon with a hoppy IPA makes for a refreshing infusion. The fruits mellow out the sharpness of the brew, simple and delightful.

Cheers!

Watermelon Lime IPA Infusion

Place several chunks of fresh cut watermelon into the bottom of a French press. Squeeze a couple wedges of lime into the pot and drop the lime pieces in with the melon. And then pour 12 ounces of IPA in with the fruit. Let the beer soak into the watermelon for 4 to 5 minutes.  Finally, press the filter down slowly and pour into a glass.  

I threw some chunks of watermelon into the beer, too. After it was infused.  

Wonderful!

Alaskan Baltic Porter

Alaskan Brewing makes some good brews.  I haven't had one that's disappointed me yet.  So, when I was placing an order for some west coast brews that are generally unavilable on the east coast I snatched up a bottle of Baltic Porter Ale.

Little did I know, at the time, that this was a limited edition brew. Lucky me for grabbing a bottle while it was available!

It is a strong, hoppy ale with the rich flavors of black cherries and whole vanilla beans - it is complex and wonderful.

Alaskan Baltic Porter (9.80% ABV) pours a dark cherry red with small but dense head that dissipates quickly leaving behind a wisp of foam.

The aroma is deep and pleasant. Roasty malt, dark fruit, and mellow sweetness with a hint of booziness.

The taste is a mosaic of flavors. It's a little sweet with dark fruits and dark sugars, a little roasty with dark toasted malts, and gently bitter. The alcohol can be felt as a cozy warmth and tingle on the tongue. The finish brings forth the essence of vanilla and cherries that lingers nicely.

The mouthfeel is thick, smooth and coating with gentle carbonation.

This is a really lovely beer.

Overall: excellent

Cooking with Beer - IPA Vinaigrette

I've been on a bit of a salad kick lately.  When I'm making a lot of salads I like to use various salad dressings to keep things interesting.  

I also like to make my own fresh salad dressings.  So, I'm always looking for something different and tasty to drizzle over my greens.

You may not think that beer and salad pair well.  But I made a dressing using one of my favorite India Pale Ales and it was superb. A wonderful combination of sweet and tart and citrus, it was refreshing and a perfect accompaniment to a hearty salad.

I used Alaskan IPA, but you can use whatever you like.  Experiment with different beer types for a new flavor sensation.

IPA Vinaigrette

3 Ounces Alaskan IPA

1 Tbsp Vidalia Onion, Minced

1 Tsp Orange Zest, Grated

1 Tbsp Raw Honey

1 Tbsp Spicy Guinness Mustard

4 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Tsp Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper

In a food processor or blender combine onion, orange zest, honey, mustard, salt and pepper. 

Slowly add the olive oil and process until mixture well combined.

Toss with your favorite greens and pile on your favorite toppings.

I used this dressing on a salad topped with grilled steak, frizzled onions, provolone cheese, roasted red peppers, green olives and pepperoncini.  Yum!

Brewmosa

I've had an idea knocking around in my head for a while.  A brewmosa.

A traditional mimosa is a concoction composed of one part champagne and one part orange juice with a splash of triple sec.

My idea was a mimosa kind of cocktail using an IPA instead of champagne and grapefruit juice instead of orange juice. With the obligatory splash of triple sec, of course.

I wasn't quite sure how it would come out. The bitterness of an IPA would certainly be complimented by the bitter-sweetness of grapefruit.


I just wasn't prepared for how completely wonderful, delicious and refreshing it actually turned out to be.

My brewmosa could easily replace a mimosa at any brunch or special occasion.

You can use any IPA you want, but I think this would work best with a super citrussy hopped beer. I also used juice squeezed right from a fresh grapefruit.  The juicy bits were awesome.

My brewmosa?  It's a winner!

Brewmosa
(Makes two)

1 12-Ounce Bottle IPA
1 Ruby Red Grapefruit
1 Splash Triple Sec
2 Wine Glasses

Into each wine glass, 3 ounces of the IPA and top with fresh squeezed grapefruit juice.  Roll the grapefruit around on the counter or between the palms of your hands to loosen up the fruit and get the most juice.

Pour in the another 3 ounces and top off with a splash of triple sec.

Prepare to be amazed, sip and wow.

À la vôtre!

IPA by Alaskan Brewing

I was hanging out with my hubby, helping him work on his motorcycle.  And by helping I mean I was watching him work on his motorcycle while drinking a beer.

I thoroughly enjoyed my frosty cold brew while he ratcheted doohickies, fiddled with thing-a-mah-jiggers, wrenched what-cha-ma-callits, and whatnot.

Yes, yes I let him have a few sips.  I even let him finish the bottle.  Cuz I'm nice like that.

And I really did help.  A little.  A very little.

What was I enjoying so thoroughly?  IPA (6.2% ABV) by Alaskan Brewing.  





The beer poured a clear rich golden color.  The glass was filled with bubbles that created a fluffy champagne like head.  All those bubbles left behind layers of glass grabbing lacing.  

The aroma was loads of citrus, tropical fruit and pine.  Of course, I was surrounded by pine trees but I'm pretty sure it was the hops I was smelling.  

The taste was at first bitter but then it went down so fast I barely gave myself a chance to taste it.  It was so cold and refreshing.  The next sip I took my time to actually experience the beer.  It's a good one!  

Bitter hops, lots of citrus and some pine tempered by a bit of juicy fruit and malt.  Excellent balance of bitter and sweet.  Very nice. Very tasty.

The finish was crisp and clean and left me wanting for more.

The mouthfeel was fairly light and very effervescent.  This is an exceptionally drinkable IPA.  Perfectly refreshing.  Great for a hot day while watching your spouse struggle with disagreeable machinery.

I would rank this pretty high among my favorite IPA's.  Good job Alaskan! 

Overall: excellent

Sweet Goddess Ninkasi, the beer fairy came!!!

Fresh from the west coast . . . I can't wait to bust into this stuff!

Smoked Porter

Smoked Porter brewed by Alaska Brewing Company is a beer that I can't get at my local beer store but I got this as a gift.

This porter is a limited edition bottle aged beer and is know to be one of the first rauchbiers brewed in the U.S.  It is released in small quantities each November so if you can get your hands on a bottle then grab it!

I was able to get a 2011 "vintage" bottle.  It pours black as black with a thick but quickly dissipating head and wafts a big smoky aroma.

I'm not a big fan of smoked beer but this one was different.  It had, of course, a smokey (mesquite?) flavor but it didn't overpower other taste aspects . . . dark chocolate, a touch of caramel, coffee and nuts.

It has a full, creamy mouthfeel that I loved.  It goes down smooth and easy . . . interesting in a dark rich beer . . . with nice bite of bitterness at the end.

Drink it slow and savor this beer.  The flavors and aroma enhance and are accentuated as the beer warms in the glass.

Overall, I liked this beer a lot . . . for it's uniqueness as much for its deliciousness.  

I'm hoping to snag a bottle of the 2012 to see how it compares.

6.5% ABV

Visit Alaska Brewing's website for more information about their beer or check them out on Facebook!