The beer for today is Cucapá Imperial Stout.
On August 4, 1924. diplomatic relations between Mexico and the Soviet Union were established.
I'm not exactly sure what that means, but whenever I think of relations with Russia, I think of Imperial Stouts. There don't seem to be many Imperial Stouts made in Mexico. The only one I've found so far is from Cerveceria de Baja California, Cucapá Brewing Company.
The stout is in very limited distribution, and probably isn't available right now. The reviews for it on Ratebeer and Beer Advocate place it mostly at a bar called O'Briens.
Now for a beer lesson on Imperial Stouts.
Imperial Stouts, also Russian Imperial Stout, or Imperial Russian Stouts, are normally a strong, black, thick, kitchen sink of the brewery beers. They are normally pitch black, and the foam will normally be a darker murky brown color. They can have smokey, chocolatey, coffee, toffee, vanilla smells. They can feel like molasses or syrup; or like a chocolate milk on the tongue. There can be huge varieties in the taste from one bottle to the next or even from one sip to the next. All the smells, plus dried darker fruits (raisin, prune), some hops bitterness, dark chocolates, and espresso. They will usually coat the tongue and leave a pleasant aftertaste. Some are very thick and it's somewhat difficult to drink several in a night.
Some of the more popular Russian Imperial Stouts are: Bells Expedition; Stone Imperial Russian Stout; Three Floyds Dark Lord; Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout; Victory Storm King; North Coast Old Rasputin; Founders Breakfast Stout; and AleSmith Speedway Stout to name a few.
The story behind the style is that they were originally brewed in Great Britain and sent to the courts of the Russian Czars. Because the beer had to travel across very cold areas, it was brewed with a higher level of alcohol to prevent freezing. Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia was a huge fan of the style.
So if you can find it, in honor of those relations that started 84 years ago, have one of the only Mexican Imperial Stouts.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
Days of the Beer, August 2
The beer for today is Cannabia. You can't get this beer in the U.S. (at least not legally).
On August 2, 1937, the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 was passed.
This law made marijuana and all its by-products illegal.
The Marihuana Tax Act was one of the first stepping stones (stoned) that led to the criminalization of cannabis. The act itself didn't criminalize the possession or use of pot, but it put a tax of a dolla on someone who dealt commercially in cannabis, hemp or marijuana. There was a penalty of $2000 and five years' imprisonment for violation of the rules of the law. Ultimately, this law made it to difficult for anyone to deal in pot until World War 2, when Hemp was needed for the U.S. to win the war.
The act was found unconstitutional in 1969, since a person seeking the tax stamp would have to incriminate themselves. It was replaced in 1970 by the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970.
As for the beer, to over-simplify; hemp has historically been used in beer instead of hops when it was available. Germany disallowed it's use in 1516, with the Reinheitsgebot. The other spices and herbs used in beer would have supported the Catholic Church, as the Martin Luther's Reformation was gaining strength, the German nobility would have wanted to remove any revenue stream going to the Catholic's so they outlawed the use of "gruit" (herb mixture) and left only the use of hops.
According to the Brewer:
On August 2, 1937, the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 was passed.
This law made marijuana and all its by-products illegal.The Marihuana Tax Act was one of the first stepping stones (stoned) that led to the criminalization of cannabis. The act itself didn't criminalize the possession or use of pot, but it put a tax of a dolla on someone who dealt commercially in cannabis, hemp or marijuana. There was a penalty of $2000 and five years' imprisonment for violation of the rules of the law. Ultimately, this law made it to difficult for anyone to deal in pot until World War 2, when Hemp was needed for the U.S. to win the war.
The act was found unconstitutional in 1969, since a person seeking the tax stamp would have to incriminate themselves. It was replaced in 1970 by the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970.
As for the beer, to over-simplify; hemp has historically been used in beer instead of hops when it was available. Germany disallowed it's use in 1516, with the Reinheitsgebot. The other spices and herbs used in beer would have supported the Catholic Church, as the Martin Luther's Reformation was gaining strength, the German nobility would have wanted to remove any revenue stream going to the Catholic's so they outlawed the use of "gruit" (herb mixture) and left only the use of hops.
According to the Brewer:
So, if you are in Germany or some other country where this beer is legal; go out and find you a beer made with Marihuana, and celebrate the erosion of American liberties.
The use of Hemp Flowers (among other entheogenic plants) in Beer was a common thing in whole Europe before the year 1512, when the so called "beer purity law" appeared in Germany. This purity law is perhaps the first anti drug law of the menkind... Hemp is an emparented plant with hops. Hemp flowers have more than 140 different aromatic compounds. Many of them are found in hops too and many others that are not produced by hops but fits perfect with hops together. This all different essential oils that results in the unmistakeable hemp flower aroma of Cannabia. Cannabia contains more hemp flowers than hops flowers. The production of Cannabía was autorized in '96 by the Berliner authoritys. For more on this beer visit: http://www.dupetit.de/english/framer.htm
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Days of the Beer, August 1
The beer for today is Mendocino Brewing Company Black Hawk Stout.
On August 1, 1832, the Black Hawk War ended. Black Hawk was a war chief of the Sauk, Fox and Kickapoo Native Americans. He fought against the U.S. for their lands. The Black Hawk War has it's roots in earlier Indian U.S. wars. After the Fox Wars, the Sauk and Fox were forced to move further west from their Great Lakes home. Most settled between the Illinois and Wisconsin Rivers. Black Hawk was born in Saukenuk (in modern Rock Island, Illinois) and when he returned home in 1831, was declared an invasion of the state.
The Illinois governor called for federal help to get Black Hawk and his men from the state. On June 30, 1831, Black Hawk and his men signed a surrender agreement, in which they promised to remain west of the Mississippi.
On April 5, 1832, he came back to Illinois. He had been promised the help of the Ho-Chunk Nation, but instead was only offered the support of a tribe. He was also promised British help, but that didn't show up either. Black Hawk's 500 men and 1000 women and children, were then on their own against about one half of all federal troops (1500) and 9000 Illinois militia members.
There were skirmishes between Black Hawk's forces and the U.S. soldiers through the rest of 1832. The final meeting was known as the Battle of Bad Axe (Bad Axe Massacre). The battle took place near modern Victory Wisconsin. Black Hawk's men were fleeing from the Battle of Wisconsin Heights and were stuck at the eastern bank of the Mississippi. The battle was very one-sided and is a massacre. Black Hawk and most of his commanders managed to escape. Throughout the months of conflict the U.S. side lost about 60 members, while 450-600 native Americans died.
Black Hawk died October 3, 1838 in Iowa.
Of all the wars in U.S. history, the Black Hawk War is the only one named for a person.
While Black Hawk may have lost his land, there is now a Black Hawk College in Moline, Illinois.
About the beer:
On August 1, 1832, the Black Hawk War ended. Black Hawk was a war chief of the Sauk, Fox and Kickapoo Native Americans. He fought against the U.S. for their lands. The Black Hawk War has it's roots in earlier Indian U.S. wars. After the Fox Wars, the Sauk and Fox were forced to move further west from their Great Lakes home. Most settled between the Illinois and Wisconsin Rivers. Black Hawk was born in Saukenuk (in modern Rock Island, Illinois) and when he returned home in 1831, was declared an invasion of the state.
The Illinois governor called for federal help to get Black Hawk and his men from the state. On June 30, 1831, Black Hawk and his men signed a surrender agreement, in which they promised to remain west of the Mississippi.
On April 5, 1832, he came back to Illinois. He had been promised the help of the Ho-Chunk Nation, but instead was only offered the support of a tribe. He was also promised British help, but that didn't show up either. Black Hawk's 500 men and 1000 women and children, were then on their own against about one half of all federal troops (1500) and 9000 Illinois militia members.
There were skirmishes between Black Hawk's forces and the U.S. soldiers through the rest of 1832. The final meeting was known as the Battle of Bad Axe (Bad Axe Massacre). The battle took place near modern Victory Wisconsin. Black Hawk's men were fleeing from the Battle of Wisconsin Heights and were stuck at the eastern bank of the Mississippi. The battle was very one-sided and is a massacre. Black Hawk and most of his commanders managed to escape. Throughout the months of conflict the U.S. side lost about 60 members, while 450-600 native Americans died.
Black Hawk died October 3, 1838 in Iowa.
Of all the wars in U.S. history, the Black Hawk War is the only one named for a person.
While Black Hawk may have lost his land, there is now a Black Hawk College in Moline, Illinois.
About the beer:
Black Hawk Stout retains the big traditional flavors of an Irish-style stout and yet offers a refreshing dry crispness that is rare in many dark beers. "Bottle Conditioned" Black Hawk Stout is replete with a rich, roasted malt flavor that makes this not-so-heavy stout, creamy and ever so smooth. It has a subtlety that surprises and converts even the most reticent stout drinker.I had this beer March 7 last year. It isn't named for Black Hawk the war chief, but for the bird.
Why the Reinheitsgebot is crap
How many times have you held a beer in your hand and it said something like:
Most people read that and take it to mean one simple thing. The beer is made with 4 and only 4 ingredients. Water, Barley, Hops and Yeast.
It's even more interesting when you see a beer that says:
Ok, that's what most people think of when they see Reinheitsgebot, WBH&Y. What was the reason for the Reinheitsgebot?
The "law" was put in to help prices for both wheat and rye and barley. Wheat and rye were getting too expensive to make staple bread, so the law was enacted to FORCE brewers to use only barley in beer. Barley doesn't make the greatest bread, it's too crumbly and doesn't hold well. So, the original law wasn't originally made to protect German brewers, it was made to protect the German bread makers. The original law also set the price for beer; and allowed it to change based on the price of barley. The penalty for making beer that didn't follow the law, was to have your beer confiscated.
The "law" has been changed over time and has some new parts to it. Here's a breakdown of each of 10 parts of the "German Beer Law" (which most people think of as the Reinheitsgebot).
1. Water, Barley, Hops, and Yeast are the only ingredients allowed in bottom-fermented beer. The WBH&Y rule ONLY applies to lagers.
2. Top fermented beer can use other malts and sugars.
3. Malt is germinated grains.
4. Beer can be colored.
5. Whole leaf hops doesn't have to be used; powder and hops extracts can be used.
6. Beer doesn't necessarily have to be filtered.
7. (this one is my favorite) Brewers can get permission to use other ingredients in their beers. ALSO (and pay attention) Beer brewed for export doesn't have to follow the first or second rule. Did you get that? If the beer is made in Germany and is for export (i.e. to the U.S.) it can be made with whatever ingredients they want. They could flavor a beer with rat guts if the beer was for export.
8. Homebrew can use any ingredients.
9. Once beer has been fermented, water cannot be added to it.
10. Beer cannot be mixed after the tax has been calculated. (there can be exceptions)
So the main thing we come away with from this is that beer made for export doesn't have to follow the "Purity" rule. This law also prevented the import of any drink labeled "beer" into Germany.
Everyone also says that the Reinheitsgebot is the oldest food purity law.
The Zythophile has done some excellent myth busting on various subjects.
So you see, the Reinheitsgebot is neither the oldest food purity law; or has anything to do with ingredients put into beers consumed outside of Germany (Bavaria).
The Reinheitsgebot doesn't guarantee a good flavor of beer, Beck's claims to follow it.
Most German beer laws have been set aside since their inclusion into the EU.
So there you go; the Reinheitsgebot is crap.
References:
Wiki: Reinheitsgebot
Zythophile: Myth 2
The Reinheitsgebot - what a load of old b*llocks
"Brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot"
Most people read that and take it to mean one simple thing. The beer is made with 4 and only 4 ingredients. Water, Barley, Hops and Yeast.
It's even more interesting when you see a beer that says:
"Brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot of 1516"The original text in 1516 says beer can only be made with Water, Barley and Hops. (Yeast wasn't discovered until Louis Pasteur in 1857).
Ok, that's what most people think of when they see Reinheitsgebot, WBH&Y. What was the reason for the Reinheitsgebot?
The "law" was put in to help prices for both wheat and rye and barley. Wheat and rye were getting too expensive to make staple bread, so the law was enacted to FORCE brewers to use only barley in beer. Barley doesn't make the greatest bread, it's too crumbly and doesn't hold well. So, the original law wasn't originally made to protect German brewers, it was made to protect the German bread makers. The original law also set the price for beer; and allowed it to change based on the price of barley. The penalty for making beer that didn't follow the law, was to have your beer confiscated.
The "law" has been changed over time and has some new parts to it. Here's a breakdown of each of 10 parts of the "German Beer Law" (which most people think of as the Reinheitsgebot).
1. Water, Barley, Hops, and Yeast are the only ingredients allowed in bottom-fermented beer. The WBH&Y rule ONLY applies to lagers.
2. Top fermented beer can use other malts and sugars.
3. Malt is germinated grains.
4. Beer can be colored.
5. Whole leaf hops doesn't have to be used; powder and hops extracts can be used.
6. Beer doesn't necessarily have to be filtered.
7. (this one is my favorite) Brewers can get permission to use other ingredients in their beers. ALSO (and pay attention) Beer brewed for export doesn't have to follow the first or second rule. Did you get that? If the beer is made in Germany and is for export (i.e. to the U.S.) it can be made with whatever ingredients they want. They could flavor a beer with rat guts if the beer was for export.
8. Homebrew can use any ingredients.
9. Once beer has been fermented, water cannot be added to it.
10. Beer cannot be mixed after the tax has been calculated. (there can be exceptions)
So the main thing we come away with from this is that beer made for export doesn't have to follow the "Purity" rule. This law also prevented the import of any drink labeled "beer" into Germany.
Everyone also says that the Reinheitsgebot is the oldest food purity law.
The Zythophile has done some excellent myth busting on various subjects.
In 1483 the London ale brewers, again trying to maintain the difference between (unhopped) ale and (hopped) beer, persuaded the city authorities to rule that in order for ale to be brewed in “the good and holesome manner of bruying of ale of old tyme used”, no one should “put in any ale or licour [water] whereof ale shal be made or in the wirkyng and bruying of any maner of ale any hoppes, herbes or other like thing but only licour, malt and yeste.”The Reinheitsgebot was first put forward in 1487. Four years earlier, in London, they had a rule that ale could only be made with licour (boiled water), malt, and yeste (which would have been the live yeast froth from the top (or bottom) of the previous batch of beer). The Brits beat the Germans by 4 years.
So you see, the Reinheitsgebot is neither the oldest food purity law; or has anything to do with ingredients put into beers consumed outside of Germany (Bavaria).
The Reinheitsgebot doesn't guarantee a good flavor of beer, Beck's claims to follow it.
Most German beer laws have been set aside since their inclusion into the EU.
So there you go; the Reinheitsgebot is crap.
References:
Wiki: Reinheitsgebot
Zythophile: Myth 2
The Reinheitsgebot - what a load of old b*llocks
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Days of the Beer, July 31
The beer for today is Carib Lager.
On July 31, 1498, Christopher Columbus became the first European to find the island of Trinidad.
Trinidad is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and is just 7 miles off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. It has an area of 1864 square miles and with Tobago, has a population of just over a million people.
Apparently these 1.3 million people all love them some Carib Lager.
This beer is a 3% on Ratebeer; and a C on Beer Advocate.
I'm sure it's very refreshing.
On July 31, 1498, Christopher Columbus became the first European to find the island of Trinidad.
Trinidad is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and is just 7 miles off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. It has an area of 1864 square miles and with Tobago, has a population of just over a million people.
Apparently these 1.3 million people all love them some Carib Lager.
Launched on May 16th, 1950, this full bodied, clear and refreshing lager with 5.2% ABV is the flagship brand of Carib Brewery and the preferred brew of Trinidad and Tobago.I wonder why they would start brewing lagers in the Caribbean, wouldn't the higher temps be better for ales?
This beer is a 3% on Ratebeer; and a C on Beer Advocate.
I'm sure it's very refreshing.
Beer Review, Flying Dog Kerberos Tripel
Last night, while waiting for Andy to show up so I could give him a selection of beer, I noticed that 7 Saints had the Flying Dog Kerberos Tripel, so I ordered one.
It was served in a pint glass, so the smells weren't too strong. It came out light yellow and seemed rather flat-ish. The smells I did pick up were lemon and orange peel, there were other fruits, but mostly just the smell of sour. It felt light on the tongue, almost like an apple juice. It tasted of zest. Zest with alcohol. There might have been a slight cider flavor, or I may have just imagined it based on the look and feel of the beer. As it warmed, it got more spiced.
This is probably a good Belgian Style Tripel, unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of them. Someday I hope I can appreciate them more; I keep drinking them but it's just not becoming a favorite style of mine.
Here's what the label says:
I didn't follow the instructions, because I didn't order another. However, Andy did give me a bottle of Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald, and I did enjoy that.
It was served in a pint glass, so the smells weren't too strong. It came out light yellow and seemed rather flat-ish. The smells I did pick up were lemon and orange peel, there were other fruits, but mostly just the smell of sour. It felt light on the tongue, almost like an apple juice. It tasted of zest. Zest with alcohol. There might have been a slight cider flavor, or I may have just imagined it based on the look and feel of the beer. As it warmed, it got more spiced.
This is probably a good Belgian Style Tripel, unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of them. Someday I hope I can appreciate them more; I keep drinking them but it's just not becoming a favorite style of mine.
Here's what the label says:
Greetings, oh god of the barstool. In your hand resides mighty Kerberos Tripel. A Belgian-style ale so cherished, that its namesake, the three-headed, hellhound, sentinel of the underworld guards thy bottle. So quench thy godly self. Then ask thee barmaid to retrieve ye another. For you are most powerful, and this is your bounty.
I didn't follow the instructions, because I didn't order another. However, Andy did give me a bottle of Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald, and I did enjoy that.
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