October 23, 2009
I have some friends who don’t like baseball. “It’s boring’, they say. If you watched last night’s matchup with the Angels, it was anything but boring. We were all on the edge of our seats during that last inning, and I think I downed a pint of Captain Lawrence Pumpkin in less than 5 minutes I was so nervous. Its what makes baseball great. You never really do know how it is going to work out in the end. After the first few innings, it looked as if LA was gliding to a win, and when Lackey got into a little trouble, I thought it was nuts to pull him out. They guy, despite the trouble, was clearly in the zone.
Next thing you know, the Yanks are slamming hits, and you would have guessed that was demoralizing and nerve wracking for the Angels. They came back, and tomorrow, we’ll meet them in the Bronx. Everyone says also that Philadelphia has the edge since they will be getting a nice long break, but the World Series against the Yankees, yes, I said it, there is no way the Angles are going to beat the Yanks in a best of seven, is going to be really, really tough for Philadelphia. That Yankee lineup is unbeatable when they are on. All we need is for Jeter, A-rod and Jorge to be hitting well, and its all over.
Lagunitas has a new brew, and its pouring at Hop Devil Grill. Get it while you can. Its a beautifully crafted strong Imperial India Pale Ale. Pale and hazy, this brew exudes a floral aroma and a soft, buttery mouthfeel. Hops hit you pretty hard, but in a nice way. Watch out, its 8.74% alcohol by volume, which is really strong.
We are gearing up for the Daze of the Devil when Hop Devil Grill will be pouring an eclectic grouping of extra strong ales. The hardest part is getting the great beers.
October 17, 2009
I’d say that last night, the Yankees had all the luck. It was cold, they were playing at home, Angels were unusually prone to errors last night and their ace on the mound was, well, Aces. I am glad the Yankees won, after all, I am a New Yorker involved with bars that have TVs in them, and we serve beers, but I think last night’s was a boring game. I am hoping for more action tonight. I guess its Pettite for New York, and man, has he been pitching for the Yankees a long time. Him and Rivera.
Its early, but I am having a beer. A Trappist at that. This is a La Trappe Isid’or. Dark honey murkiness with a fluffy, billowing head of off white, its redolent of figs and a hint of spiciness I can’t quite determine. Its not refreshing like a Pilsner or a pale ale; its got that yeasty heaviness and cloying sweetness common among Belgian ales which aren’t golden like a Duvel, for example. So, its slow going. I would guess that this brew is pretty strong, so that is a good thing. I had a salad for lunch, so anything stronger would go straight to my head. I am resting up for tonight’s game, despite the pretty high probability that it will be rained out.
I am not going to the game, I will be watching on all the screens at the Hop Devil Grill. Come hang with me!
October 15, 2009
Pumpkin beer is really popular. Nobody who makes a good one seems to be able to brew enough to meet the demand. A good example is Southern Tier, who’s Pumpking is nowhere to be found right now. I want a keg. I really do. Captain Lawrence has a good one, as does Southampton, and Smuttynose has a very spicy, strong one that is a little much for me. You can find the ones available at Hop Devil Grill if you like this seasonal specialty.
Another popular style of brew this time of year is Marzen, or Octoberfest. This strong, malty beer goes down easy, and pairs nicely with spicy cuisine. I enjoyed one brewed by the Thomas Hooker Brewing Co., out of Connecticut. Tawny and traditional, it packs a wallop you won’t discern until after the quaffing. On the lighter side of these is the Hofbrau Oktoberfest from Munich, Germany. Its what is going on in Germany now, but since most of the German brewers sell made for export beer to the USA, Hofbrau is the only lighter colored and softer bodied version here in the states. Lownbrau? Where are you?