We'll be tasting three Porters today at the Tuesday Taste. The was named for the street and ferry porters from London who fell in love with the dark, rich ale. One of the earliest references to the style is from the 1700's about a longer aged and darker version of a brown ale. The agreed upon style range for Porters has a SG of 1.040 to 1.052 and IBU's between 18 and 35. Come join us between 4:30 and 7:30 on Tuesday, September 29 to sample the fine Porters below:
Alaskan Baltic Porter: Alaskan Brewery's high end, high alcohol seasonal. Pours a thin tan head with chocolate malt, cherry and licorice flavors.
Avery New World Porter: A traditional black porter, with a surprise twist - it's dry-hopped!! We've expanded the porter category a bit, adding a delightful, dry hop aroma to blend with the sweet caramel and chocolate characteristics of a Robust Porter.
Fullers London Porter: Fuller’s London Porter captures the flavours of those original brews perfectly, although you won’t find a cloudy pint these days! Rich, dark and complex, at 5.4% ABV the beer has an outstanding depth of flavour. It is brewed from a blend of Brown, Crystal and Chocolate malts for a creamy delivery balanced by traditional Fuggles hops. The range of flavours works well with a wide variety of foods, ranging from rich meat dishes, to oysters, and even chocolate puddings.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Saturday Taste 9.26.09
We've got three of the most highly rated Pale Ales in the U.S. for tomorrows tasting. Come visit us on Saturday and give us your opinion, and don't forget, Oskar Blues Dales Pale Ale is on sale!
Hair of the Dog Ruth: Ruth is a light and refreshing American Ale, made with pale malt and crystal hops. She was inspired by my Mother's Mother, Granny Ruth because of her love and support. Don't be Ruthless. Have one on Granny.
Stone Pale Ale: Our flagship ale, Stone Pale Ale is our Southern California interpretation of the classic British pale ale style. Deep amber in color Stone Pale Ale is robust and full flavored. A delicate hop aroma is complemented by a rich maltiness. This is an ale for those who have learned to appreciate distinctive flavor.
Oskar Blues Dales Pale Ale: Brewed with hefty amounts of European malts and four kinds of American hops, it delivers a blast of hop aromas, a rich middle of malt and hops, and a thrilling finish. It weighs in at 6.5 % alcohol by volume. Why squeeze such a big brew into a little can? Because we think fun in the great outdoors calls for great beer. Our cans go where bottled beers can't, where flavorless canned beers don't belong. And no matter where you drink Dale's Pale Ale, our can protect it from light and oxidation far better than bottles do.
Hair of the Dog Ruth: Ruth is a light and refreshing American Ale, made with pale malt and crystal hops. She was inspired by my Mother's Mother, Granny Ruth because of her love and support. Don't be Ruthless. Have one on Granny.
Stone Pale Ale: Our flagship ale, Stone Pale Ale is our Southern California interpretation of the classic British pale ale style. Deep amber in color Stone Pale Ale is robust and full flavored. A delicate hop aroma is complemented by a rich maltiness. This is an ale for those who have learned to appreciate distinctive flavor.
Oskar Blues Dales Pale Ale: Brewed with hefty amounts of European malts and four kinds of American hops, it delivers a blast of hop aromas, a rich middle of malt and hops, and a thrilling finish. It weighs in at 6.5 % alcohol by volume. Why squeeze such a big brew into a little can? Because we think fun in the great outdoors calls for great beer. Our cans go where bottled beers can't, where flavorless canned beers don't belong. And no matter where you drink Dale's Pale Ale, our can protect it from light and oxidation far better than bottles do.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tuesday Taste 9.22.09
Tuesday's Taste will be 3 Northwest ESB's. A classic english style known as the premium version of a Bitter, the American Extra Special Bitter is a nice balance of sweet maltiness and bitter hoppiness. We will be tasting Harmon's Browns Point ESB (WAS), Elysian The Wise ESB (WAS), and Bridgeport's ESB.
Harmon's Brown's Point ESB: Two time GABF Bronze Medal winner. Hopped exclusively with fuggles.
Elysian's The Wise ESB: A malty, reddish-copper-colored ale with strong hop character, allusive to the goddess Athena, patroness of warriors, weaving and wisdom. Bittered with Chinook and finished with Cascade and Columbus hops. Gold Medal Winner 2003 & 2004 GABF ESB Category.
Bridgeport's ESB: Abounds with Imported English Goldings hops at a weight of one pound per barrel. It has the assertiveness, aroma and unbanished flavor beer used to have before the cost-cutters started.
Harmon's Brown's Point ESB: Two time GABF Bronze Medal winner. Hopped exclusively with fuggles.
Elysian's The Wise ESB: A malty, reddish-copper-colored ale with strong hop character, allusive to the goddess Athena, patroness of warriors, weaving and wisdom. Bittered with Chinook and finished with Cascade and Columbus hops. Gold Medal Winner 2003 & 2004 GABF ESB Category.
Bridgeport's ESB: Abounds with Imported English Goldings hops at a weight of one pound per barrel. It has the assertiveness, aroma and unbanished flavor beer used to have before the cost-cutters started.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Saturday Taste 9.19.09
We have over 70 IPA's in stock at The Beer Authority so we're grouping our tasting from different regions for the time being. Today we will be focusing on 3 IPA's from Rocky Mountain states: Grand Tetons Sweetgrass IPA (IDA), Averys IPA (COL) and Great Divides Titan IPA (COL). It's rainy today so why not stop by and try some great beer to chase the clouds away?
Grand Teton Sweetgrass IPA: Sweetgrass is crisp and fragrant with a generous yet smooth hop character. The sweet bouquet and spicy flavor come from the combination of five hops and Idaho grown barleys. The color? We call is “Suntan”!
Avery IPA: In the 1700's one crafty brewer discovered that a healthy dose of hops and an increased alcohol content perserved his ales during the long voyage to India (as depicted in our label) to quench the thirst of British troops. Today, we tip our hat to that historic innovation by brewing Colorado's hoppiest pale ale. Avery IPA demands to be poured into your favorite glass to truly appreciate the citrusy, floral bouquet and the rich, malty finish. Brewed by hopheads for hopheads!
Great Divide Titan IPA: Great Divide brews Titan IPA for hop disciples -- independent beer drinkers seeking out robust, flavorful beers characterized by their abundance of hops, flavor, aroma and bitterness. As a big aggressively-hopped India Pale Ale, Titan IPA fills this bill -- beginning with piney hop aromas and citrus hop flavors, and finishing with a rich, malty sweetness that is carefully balanced with crisp hop bitterness. 65 International Bittering Units (IBUs).
Grand Teton Sweetgrass IPA: Sweetgrass is crisp and fragrant with a generous yet smooth hop character. The sweet bouquet and spicy flavor come from the combination of five hops and Idaho grown barleys. The color? We call is “Suntan”!
Avery IPA: In the 1700's one crafty brewer discovered that a healthy dose of hops and an increased alcohol content perserved his ales during the long voyage to India (as depicted in our label) to quench the thirst of British troops. Today, we tip our hat to that historic innovation by brewing Colorado's hoppiest pale ale. Avery IPA demands to be poured into your favorite glass to truly appreciate the citrusy, floral bouquet and the rich, malty finish. Brewed by hopheads for hopheads!
Great Divide Titan IPA: Great Divide brews Titan IPA for hop disciples -- independent beer drinkers seeking out robust, flavorful beers characterized by their abundance of hops, flavor, aroma and bitterness. As a big aggressively-hopped India Pale Ale, Titan IPA fills this bill -- beginning with piney hop aromas and citrus hop flavors, and finishing with a rich, malty sweetness that is carefully balanced with crisp hop bitterness. 65 International Bittering Units (IBUs).
Friday, September 18, 2009
The Bruery Now in Seattle
The Beer Authority is now stocking two beers from Orange County based The Bruery. Like so many other micros, The Bruery was founded by Patrick Rue, his brother Chris, and his wife Rachel when their passions for home brewing became a career. Their beers are unique, however, in that every batch is completely bottle conditioned and pushing the limits shows in their offerings. From Saisons to Black Wit beers, there is nothing ordinary about The Bruery.
The Beer Authority is proud to carry our two favorites, the Orchard White and Saison Rue.
Orchard White: Orchard White is an unfiltered, bottle conditioned Belgian-style witbier. This hazy, straw yellow beer is spiced with coriander, citrus peel and lavender added to the boil and whirlpool. A spicy, fruity yeast strain is used to add complexity, and rolled oats are added for a silky texture.
ABV: 5.7%, IBU: 15, SRM: 3
Saison Rue: Saison Rue is an unfiltered, bottle conditioned, Belgian/French-style farmhouse ale. This is a beer of subtlety and complexity, with malted rye, spicy, fruity yeast notes, biscuit-like malt backbone, and a slight citrus hop character. With age, this beer will dry out and will become more complex with rustic notes of leather and earth from the contribution of a wild yeast strain. Being a Saison, Saison Rue is ambiguous unto itself as it is a different beer when fresh and when aged. We hope you enjoy it in all of its incarnations.
ABV: 8.5%, IBU: 30, SRM: 9
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Sale a Trois! Three Beers Go On Sale Today.
The weekly poll ended in a three way tie so it looks like everyone will have a good selection of beers on sale this week! Southern Tiers Cherry Saison, Midnight Suns Kodiak Brown and Bayerns Oktoberfest (available on Thursday 9/10) have been marked down and will remain on sale through Tuesday, 9/15. What are you waiting for - you've been good, have a beer!
Southern Tier Cherry Saison 22 oz. bottle: Was $7.05, Now $5.77. The days are long and warm, and the spring blossoms have gracefully turned to plump drupes. Much in the same way, our Imperial Cherry Saison undergoes subtle but noticable changes while cruising from kettle to bright tank. Like the sun ripening fruit, a pit stop makes this beer better. Cherry Saison is aged with French Oak staves, imparting overtones of spice and balancing the natural sweetness of the cherries. Cherry Saison is the first in this series to incorporate oak aging. Enjoy it as a dessert beer, or tilt it back while sitting under a shady tree on a warm summer afternoon.
Midnight Sun Kodiak Brown 22 oz. bottle: Was $5.59, Now $5.29. Rugged yet smooth, Kodiak Brown Ale sports abundant yet graceful portions of pale and specialty malts, balancing caramel sweetness with a roasted malt character. Perle and Willamette hops accent without overpowering this brown ale's intrepid maltiness. The result is a bit bold but beautifully balanced. That Kodiak Brown Ale is our most popular beer says something about the adventuous spirit found in Alaska. But we are not surprised; we know Alaskans are not afraid of the dark.
Bayern Oktoberfest 12 oz. bottle: Was $1.44, Now $1.24. Classic German Dark Marzen. Not too sweet and yet very malty and nice hop flavor. Available Late September until it's gone.
Southern Tier Cherry Saison 22 oz. bottle: Was $7.05, Now $5.77. The days are long and warm, and the spring blossoms have gracefully turned to plump drupes. Much in the same way, our Imperial Cherry Saison undergoes subtle but noticable changes while cruising from kettle to bright tank. Like the sun ripening fruit, a pit stop makes this beer better. Cherry Saison is aged with French Oak staves, imparting overtones of spice and balancing the natural sweetness of the cherries. Cherry Saison is the first in this series to incorporate oak aging. Enjoy it as a dessert beer, or tilt it back while sitting under a shady tree on a warm summer afternoon.
Midnight Sun Kodiak Brown 22 oz. bottle: Was $5.59, Now $5.29. Rugged yet smooth, Kodiak Brown Ale sports abundant yet graceful portions of pale and specialty malts, balancing caramel sweetness with a roasted malt character. Perle and Willamette hops accent without overpowering this brown ale's intrepid maltiness. The result is a bit bold but beautifully balanced. That Kodiak Brown Ale is our most popular beer says something about the adventuous spirit found in Alaska. But we are not surprised; we know Alaskans are not afraid of the dark.
Bayern Oktoberfest 12 oz. bottle: Was $1.44, Now $1.24. Classic German Dark Marzen. Not too sweet and yet very malty and nice hop flavor. Available Late September until it's gone.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Tuesday Taste 9/8/09
Labor Day Weekend has come and gone and some of us are feeling a little bit fuzzy from the consumption of fermented beverages. Why not come down for our Tuesday Taste to get you fixed right up? We'll be doing an easy one for you all...three NW Pale Ales: Caldera Pale Ale (ORE), Deschutes Mirror Pond (ORE) and Fish Tale Ales Wild Salmon Organic Pale (WAS). As usual, the Tuesday Taste is from 4:30 to 7:30 and you have to have your ID to taste. No Fee!
Caldera Pale Ale (ORE): A West Coast style pale ale balancing plenty of hops with a malty backbone. Two Row, Light Munich and Crystal malts. All Cascade Hops and an O.G. of 1.050 for an abv of 5.4%.
Deschutes Mirror Pond (ORE): Tawny colored, full bodied Pale Ale. This ale has a distinctive, lingering hop flavor attained by adding copious quantities of Cascade hops throughout the brewing process. Abv is 5.3%.
Fish Tale Wild Salmon Organic Pale (WAS): Wild Salmon Pale Ale is a light bodied and beautifully balanced Northwest-style pale ale. Its gentle sweetness, drawn from Pale, Carastan, Vienna, Cara-pils, and Honey malts is nicely matched by Chinook hops and late additions of Cascade and Willamette hops. On draught or by the bottle, this treat from Fish Tale Ales is remarkably bright with a brilliant golden color and thick creamy head. Wild Salmon Pale Ale is sparkling and crisp with a fresh hop aroma and refreshing finish. Abv is 5.5%.
Caldera Pale Ale (ORE): A West Coast style pale ale balancing plenty of hops with a malty backbone. Two Row, Light Munich and Crystal malts. All Cascade Hops and an O.G. of 1.050 for an abv of 5.4%.
Deschutes Mirror Pond (ORE): Tawny colored, full bodied Pale Ale. This ale has a distinctive, lingering hop flavor attained by adding copious quantities of Cascade hops throughout the brewing process. Abv is 5.3%.
Fish Tale Wild Salmon Organic Pale (WAS): Wild Salmon Pale Ale is a light bodied and beautifully balanced Northwest-style pale ale. Its gentle sweetness, drawn from Pale, Carastan, Vienna, Cara-pils, and Honey malts is nicely matched by Chinook hops and late additions of Cascade and Willamette hops. On draught or by the bottle, this treat from Fish Tale Ales is remarkably bright with a brilliant golden color and thick creamy head. Wild Salmon Pale Ale is sparkling and crisp with a fresh hop aroma and refreshing finish. Abv is 5.5%.
Friday, September 4, 2009
The Beer Authority Now Carries Sake!
That's right, the Authority is now carrying 8 labels of Sake. Admittedly, we have a lot to learn about this wonderful potent potable so we did a little research on the few that we are carrying. Go ahead and let me know if I missed something or if I need to make a correction. So next time you're taking out Sumo Sushi, you'll know where to get your Sake!
Takara has been a leading producer of Sake in Japan for more than 150 years. Takara Sake USA, established in Berkeley in 1982, takes advantage of the pure snow melt from the Sierra Nevada Mountains and superior rice from the fertile Sacramento Valley. To that, they applied traditional sake-making craft and modern technology to produce a high quality Sake. We stock three of their Sho Chiku Bai sakes:
Nama: Nama Sake is a draft-style sake that is purified not by heat pasteurization but rather through micro-filterization. Since high temperatures can often change the subtle flavors of sake, this micro-filterization process better retains all of the original flavors of sake. "Nama " means fresh, indicating that it is bottled immediately after production rather than being aged for a few months like our other sakes. 15% abv.
Organic Nama: It's totally natural, using OCIA certified rice harvested from the Sacramento Valley with absolutely no preservatives, no brewers alcohol added, no sulfites. It is brewed under the direction of Takara's master brewer combining the most traditional methods with modern technology to arrive at the Ginjo grade.
Nigori Silky Mild: Nigori is the way sake first appeared when it was brewed for the Imperial Court in Kyoto as well as for most of its 2,000 year history. It is coarsely-filtered and the sweetest of all our types of sake. It is especially delicious with very spicy foods. The bottle should be shaken each time before pouring due to the high rice content that settles in the bottom of the bottle.
Gekkeikan Sake is an interesting, niche item which combines images of culture and sophistication, tradition and novelty. Naturally brewed their Sake contains no added sulfites. One of the oldest family operated businesses in the world, Gekkeikan has been producing Sake for 360 years. The Cap-Ace comes with it's own cup built into the cap so you can enjoy it anywhere! The Horin Daiginjyo is ultra-slow filtered and uses the most polished rice. This is considered the top of the line Sake.
Kizakura Stars Sake is an efferevescent sake brewed in Kyoto, Japan. It is sweet, crisp and dry, and pairs exceptionally well with spicy foods.
Yaegaki Sake, founded as a liquor store in Himeji in 1666 and in the U.S. since 1987. Named after a famous poem that means Record of Ancient Matters their Sakes are hand crafted. The Yaegaki Dry is the top of their line with rice polished up to 40% away and slowly brewed at low temperatures. Full bodied and slightly acidic.
Prefecture of Niigata Yukikage Sake is brewed in a region that is widely accepted as one of the best places to brew Sake due to deep snow and an abundance of soft, clear and pure water. Yukikage is the 'Snow Shadow' and the Sake shows apple marzipan and has a fruity aroma, soft, light body and long finish.
Whew, that's a lot to digest. The best way to discover these Sakes, of course, is to try them all!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Closed on Labor Day!
Yep, I'll be taking the day off this coming Monday. We will be open normal hours Saturday and Sunday so if you need to buy some beer at the last minute we'll be there for you! Have a great Labor Day Weekend!
Barry
Barry
Port Brewing and Brewdog Go On Sale Today!
Another draw on the weekly sale poll means that both Port Brewing's Wipeout IPA and Brewdog's Punk IPA go on sale this week. Always a favorite at The Beer Authority, Port's Wipeout - which gets a 98% rating at Ratebeer.com - is sure to go fast, so get your bottle as soon as you can!
Port Brewing Wipeout IPA (CAL): Was $5.37 Now $4.99 With 78 IBUs. Our version of a West Coast IPA- brewed in the San Diego style. This massively hoppy beer gets its flavor and attitude from no less than five hop varieties including Amarillo, Centennial, Cascade, Simcoe and Summit.
BrewDog Punk IPA (SCT): Was $8.60 Now $6.99 A beer of inherent contradiction. This heavy weight of the beer world is strikingly delicate with a white gold appearance. The light fruity aroma dominates the initial confrontation; lychee, kiwi and passionfruit all prevail with subtle nuances of cherry and strawberry. Don’t be fooled however by this smooth medium bodied ale. As it trickles down your throat as this wolf in sheep’s clothing begins to grow teeth. The bite comes as the bitterness builds and endures no matter how hard the malty sweetness of the alcohol tries to tame this ferocious beast.
Port Brewing Wipeout IPA (CAL): Was $5.37 Now $4.99 With 78 IBUs. Our version of a West Coast IPA- brewed in the San Diego style. This massively hoppy beer gets its flavor and attitude from no less than five hop varieties including Amarillo, Centennial, Cascade, Simcoe and Summit.
BrewDog Punk IPA (SCT): Was $8.60 Now $6.99 A beer of inherent contradiction. This heavy weight of the beer world is strikingly delicate with a white gold appearance. The light fruity aroma dominates the initial confrontation; lychee, kiwi and passionfruit all prevail with subtle nuances of cherry and strawberry. Don’t be fooled however by this smooth medium bodied ale. As it trickles down your throat as this wolf in sheep’s clothing begins to grow teeth. The bite comes as the bitterness builds and endures no matter how hard the malty sweetness of the alcohol tries to tame this ferocious beast.
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