BEER

[Mortice Root]

Cag wrote

This thread makes me want to homebrew for the next fest and have SRD related labels and names.

Who wouldn't want to tuck into a six of Ur-vile Sputum Stout? How about Pitchwife Porter? Aliantha Ale? Glimmermere Lager? Earthblood Red?

Anyone else fancy a try?

Hell, yeah, Cag!

What about Starfare's Gem IPA? Or Halfhand Wiess?

[Zarathustra]

Where's the "yummy" emoticon?

Menolly wrote

...I wanna try it...

Me too, Menolly. Me too....

I could send out a couple bottles, but then you guys would have to trust that I'm not some nut who is going to use your address to track you down.

Let me taste it first, see if it's up to my standards, then if you both are serious, I'll send you two a sample. But I can't do this for every person on the Watch! Brewing takes all day, and shipping gets expensive.

If Cag or others started brewing, swapping homebrew would be cool.

[Mortice Root]

Malik wrote

I could send out a couple bottles, but then you guys would have to trust that I'm not some nut who is going to use your address to track you down.

Hey, that's directed at me isn't it?!? Well,

I mean, you do seem sorta stalker-ish....offers of beer to entice people - then who knows what shows up at the door...

It's actually totally dependant on Mrs Root's approval at this point - and with the pregnancy induced mood changes it's a 50/50 shot for acceptance or rejection (which could be painful, on my part )

Let me know if you think it's good first, then I'll decide whether or not to risk it.....

[Menolly]

Me..?
LMK when you want my address, Malik!!

Anyone married to Ki is safe in my view...

[Ki]

Awwww, thank you for saying that. You made my day.

[Cail]

9 Things (You Think) Your Beer Says About You

If you drink… Guinness
Reason your beer is better than that asshole’s:
Your beer comes from pretty far away, and is the drink of choice for many of the top professional alcoholics.
Is my beer really better than that asshole’s?
There’s better stouts out there, but this is a solid all round choice, and apparently a mandatory one if you aspire to be an Irish novelist.

[Zarathustra]

That was pretty funny. But I disagree that you can't drink a Cantillian lambic half-submerged in a kid's pool. 20? No. I wouldn't want to drink 20 of anything.

Yeah, I'm taking it way too seriously. Reading through the ignorant comments after the article brings that out in me. American brewers are the best on the planet, and hardly anyone knows it. We really are on the forefront of experimentation and advancement of this craft. When was the last time Belgian monks or German breweries created a new style? You'd have to measure it in centuries. American microbrewers (and homebrewers) create new styles every single year.

By the way, my initial taste of the chocolate IPA was a little disappointing, but that's to be expected halfway through the aging process. They always transform in the bottle. So, it's not spectacular, but neither is it infected or seriously flawed. I dry hopped it, so the flavor and aroma should only intensify. I'll let you know when it's done, Menolly. Meanwhile, I've got another batch already fermenting away behind it. They'll both be ready within a week of each other, so you could be getting a sampler pack.

[Menolly]

By the way, my initial taste of the chocolate IPA was a little disappointing, but that's to be expected halfway through the aging process. They always transform in the bottle. So, it's not spectacular, but neither is it infected or seriously flawed. I dry hopped it, so the flavor and aroma should only intensify. I'll let you know when it's done, Menolly. Meanwhile, I've got another batch already fermenting away behind it. They'll both be ready within a week of each other, so you could be getting a sampler pack.

I'll bet they'll be better than anything I'm used to.
Looking forward to it!

[Zarathustra]

Menolly, both batches are shaping up to be something special. The dry hop has transformed the first batch (aroma is such a crucial component to taste--but I don't have to tell you). And the second batch has settled down enough that I can start dry hopping it, too. Last night I took some more samples to check the progress. Even at room-temperature and completely flat, both were outstanding. I'm really, really happy with them.

So now I've got to prepare you for what you're about to experience. It's unfiltered, unpasteurized, and very fresh. Without a doubt, you've never had beer this fresh (unless you've tried someone else's homebrew). That freshness means unprecedented amounts of hop character. And I use a LOT of hops. While I think my beer is amazing, the majority of my friends and family can't stand it. It's too intense. Only one person liked it--and he *loved* it. But he was used to drinking craft brew (he once worked at a microbrewery). So unless you've tried, and liked, some IPAs, Double IPAs, Russian Imperial Stouts, or American Strong Ales, this will be a shock to you. And not in a good way. I've had several "beer lovers" try it who were simply unprepared for what they were about to taste, and couldn't stand it. If the word "beer" conjures of impressions of Bud or Miller--or any pale lager--this won't even taste like beer to you.

These are going to only be 6.5% and 5.5% ABV, so they're not strong. But because they are homebrewed, they will have more flavor than any microbrew you might have tried. And they'll be "raw," as described above (no filtering or pasteurization). So there will be yeast floating around in it, or yeast sediment at the bottom of the bottle. (This is a good thing. It allows the beer to "bottle condition," like a fine wine. The yeast also has a lot of vitamin B12, which helps with hangovers.) And these aren't brewed by a business which must cater to the tastes of the masses, or even niche drinkers. This beer was brewed to be as intensely flavorful as I could make it . . . brewed to appeal to a guy who has spent the last 4 years training his palate to withstand the world's most powerful beers.

So I guess I'm saying this as a kind of warning. I've seen Ki make the "that's freakin' disgusting" face too many times not to feel a little defensive about my brew. (She does that to microbrews I make her try, too.) I certainly don't mean to brag or be condescending. It's just . . . .if you don't like it, I'll understand.

[Menolly]

Understood, Malik. But, my taste may surprise you.

Should I not like it, nor Hyperception as well, would you mind if I use it to replace the Guiness in my corned beef recipe? For it truly sounds perfect for that, should neither of us find it appealing as a beverage.

This I promise you, if we can't drink it in no way will it be wasted. I will find a method in which I will appreciate it. If not corned beef, perhaps a cheese soup, or a beer bread, or...

[Mortice Root]

Malik, I did finally get "permission" from the wife so if you would still be willing to send some my way, let me know and I'll PM you my address.

The descriptions you're giving sound great, though.

[Cagliostro]

Yeah, Malik, I'm not homebrewing right now, but I conceivably might this winter. I love hoppy beer, and the more the merrier. But I do understand how awful it is to send via mail though.

[Zarathustra]

The first batch is now ready (carbonated, bottle conditioned), and the second batch is coming along. Probably another week until sample packs go out. I haven't forgotten!

[Menolly]

What's the verdict on the first batch, Malik? Does it live up to your expectations?

[Zarathustra]

Both are quite good, but certainly not the best I've made. I need to tweek the recipe. But it's different from anything else you (or I) have ever tried, believe me!

I think they are a little too bitter. I wish they were sweeter. I mashed low to make them more fermentable, because some of my brews have turned out too thick and sweet. I may have mashed too low, and lost some of the sweetness I had intended. Anyway, they are interesting. I love them, and have drank them way too quickly. I guess we'll see what you think in another week or two.

[Menolly]

Looking forward to it!

If they are too bitter, they sound perfect for the corned beef I mentioned, but I would much prefer drinking them, if I can.

[Wyldewode]

Miracle of all miracles. . . I finally found a beer I can drink! A friend introduced me to Lindeman's Peche Lambic, and I really liked it! I'm going to try the Apple and Framboise as soon as I get over to the international wine center again. Just thought I'd weigh in about my first positive beer experience.

[Zarathustra]

Lambics are delicious. Such a wonderful combination of sweet and sour. Framboise is my favorite, but Kriek is good too.

[Ki]

Miracle of all miracles. . . I finally found a beer I can drink! A friend introduced me to Lindeman's Peche Lambic, and I really liked it! I'm going to try the Apple and Framboise as soon as I get over to the international wine center again. Just thought I'd weigh in about my first positive beer experience.

I'm with you on that one. I am not at all a beer drinker, but I do like Lambic. I like the raspberry one and the cherry one. (Malik is now thinking how cute it is that I didn't refer to the names of these beers; only that I described their flavors).

[Zarathustra]

Miracle of all miracles. . . I finally found a beer I can drink! A friend introduced me to Lindeman's Peche Lambic, and I really liked it! I'm going to try the Apple and Framboise as soon as I get over to the international wine center again. Just thought I'd weigh in about my first positive beer experience.

I'm with you on that one. I am not at all a beer drinker, but I do like Lambic. I like the raspberry one and the cherry one. (Malik is now thinking how cute it is that I didn't refer to the names of these beers; only that I described their flavors).

Everything about you is cute. Even that "OMG that's horrible" face you make when trying my homebrew.

[Everybody say it together, "Awwww. . . ." ]