Fermentation Friday: Dec 2008 - Yeast

I've been out of town for nearly 4 months for military training. During that time I only had limited Internet connectivity. This inconsistent connectivity, coupled with November's poor showing for Fermentation Friday, ended up with me not hosting December's installment of Fermentation Friday. I was ready and rearing to go, but I get it... I was more or less off the grid, and Adam needed to do what he needed to do, so no worries... (You're dead to me! Just kidding!)

So, this month's topic is yeast. Yeast make beer better by farting in the wort... It's true! My only real experience with yeast, other than the dry yeast re-hydration from the various home brew kits I've used, had not so great results...

I tried a smack pack on one batch, and something went terribly terribly wrong... That was the batch I lovingly refer to as the disastrous brew. From the original post...

My second batch of beer was a complete failure. I think I had some handicapped yeast this time. The recipe kit I used (I brain dumped what brand it was, so don't ask...) came with a "slap pack" of yeast. You slap the pack and the yeast activates. You know you're good to go when the packet bloats up. But something may have gone wrong with the yeast. The amount of bubbles produced in the airlock was dismal, but it may have been an issue of sanitation, or something else.

I also used some liquid yeast, you know the type that comes in a vial, in my Oktoberfest inspired Ale, AKA "Franken-Beer"... Also a not so great brew...

By the way, I never posted the photos and update from the night we used the Tap-A-Brew kit for the Franken-Beer... I'll dig that stuff up and post them...

Long story short, I've had NO LUCK with better yeast... The lower quality the yeast, the better the beer for me... Clearly, I still have a lot to learn...

At any rate, this wasn't a great post, but... It was the YEAST I could do...

Merry Christmas!

Dogfish Head Alehouse

Jesse and I high tailed it to Dogfish Head Alehouse after missing the Flyingdog tour.

So many choices, so little time...

After we departed Flyingdog last week, we swung over to Dogfish Head brew pub for some chow and a couple more craft brews. We hit the Gaithersburg location.

A nice place, think wood grain, dim yet warm lighting, good beer and good food...

Here's what the guys from Dogfish Head have to say over at their site...

Here you'll find many of the favorite features that folks have enjoyed at the original Rehoboth, Delaware Brewpub for more than ten years; comfortable, casual surroundings and service, tasty and unique wood grilled food and, of course, the craft-brewed Dogfish ales! Don't forget to check out our newest Alehouse in Falls Church, Virginia.

When you visit, first check our beer chalkboard, it'll tell you what we have on tap. We usually have a great selection of the year-round beers, and we get all of the seasonal and special release beers - you can certainly quench your thirst for Dogfish here! And keep in mind - any choice you make travels only two hours from the brew vats in Milton, Delaware to our beer taps in Gaithersburg.

Wings and a sampler, can't go wrong...

We split a plate of extra crispy, hot all drum, buffalo wings. (They left 2 wings under the pile of drums, but I guess you can't win them all...) I also decided to get a sampler and took some notes via twitter on each of the samples. Here's what I twittered:

Have cell phone, will twitter...

• 60 Min IPA: great session IPA, citrusy hop finish... 5:59 PM
  
• 90 Min IPA: decadent, velvety, rich malty and hoppy... sip this puppy, 9 % ABV 6:04 PM
• Indian Brown Ale: Brown Ale meets IPA... Awesome hybrid, something for the hop head and malt head alike... 6:12 PM
  
• Shelter Pale Ale: OK, peanut finish... Good with some pan-Asian food or maybe PB&J? 5:56 PM
• Chicory Stout: coffee & licorice... Don't love it but well built none the less... 6:17 PM
  

From your left to your right, Chicory Stout, Shelter Pale Ale, 60 Min IP, 90 Min IPA, Indian Brown Ale, Shelter Pale Ale, and one cool dude... (note: cool dude is way in the background...)

I had a really good bacon cheeseburger and rounded the night off with a pint of 60 minute IPA, all good. Jesse had a Lawnmower Light, which he said was a, "...great beer for a hot day of mowing lawns, go figure..." He paired that with a portabella mushroom burger, which he thought was pretty good as well.

Regarding the local DC/Baltimore area brewpub scene... So far, Dogfish Head and Rock Bottom in Bethesda are my favorite area brew pubs... Du Claws is pretty good too, but I was not overly impressed with Capital City or Gordon Biersch. In fairness to Capital City and Gordon Biersch, we hit those places after walking across DC in the cold rain. I was just underwhelmed by their customer service.

We really enjoyed Dogfish Head Alhouse and may try to squeeze in a trip to see the "the brew vats in Milton, Delaware" before we leave the area if time permits. Stay tuned!

Flyingdog tasting room (missed the tour)

Road trip!

A friend and I took the hour ride out (from where we currently stay for work) to Flyingdog in Fredrick Maryland to catch a tour. On our way their it started to rain heavily, and apparently Maryland drivers can't hack it. With slow moving traffic, and marginal GPS directions, we got there a little late. And although they let us sign up for a tour, that tour never took place.

Jesse was kind enough to drive...

That's OK though, we still managed to hang out for a couple of hours, try some tasty brews and spoke with Adam, one of the guys who gives the tours. When Adam found out we were military guys, he was very cool and invited us back urging us to bring some more of the troops with us. He even said no charge next time. Here's how it works...

Enjoying a pint and glad to be out of the rain...

Jesse raises his pint in good cheer

When you get to Flyingdog you dish out $5 and you get a company logo emblazoned pint glass for sampling and for a keepsake. Unlike some breweries, there are no tokens to exchange for beer, nor are there any limits to the amount of samples you can enjoy. (Within reason I'm sure...)

Flyingdog and Wild Goose brews on tap...

The tasting room offers the full array of Flyingdog Ales available as well as the beers from Wild Goose.

A large crowd kicking back and enjoy friendly conversation over a few good brews

The crowd was larger than I've seen at other breweries, and for the most part, they were younger and perhaps a bit more trendy. Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of "middle aged folks" that bellied up to the bar too. They also had an outdoor patio, which remained popular for the smokers despite the rain.

Our GPS didn't get is all the way there, but we knew we were good when we saw the logo

The tasting room is large with one side festooned with framed prints of Ralph Steadman's beer label artwork, and the other side consisting of large nearly floor to cieling windows.

Nice place, great beer, good time...

Beers of note from the tasting were as follows:

• Snake Dog IPA - An overall solid IPA...
  
• In-Heat Wheat Hefeweizen - Interesting aroma/flavor. Jesse decided it smelled/tasted a little bit like BBQ sauce. And now that he mentioned it, I think I agree. How odd... Probably the banna and clove translated into something else in our minds.
  
• Double Dog Double Pale Ale - Good but not for the faint of heart. Hoppy...

Found these youtube clips, which may give us a better idea of what we missed on the tour. Although, these were shot at their old brewery in Colorado...

Clipper City Brewery Tour

Clipper City is a big supporter of wounded war vets,

so Hugh Sisson and I toasted to that fact after the tour.

Continuing with my Baltimore/DC area beer adventure, a friend and I drove out to Clipper City Brewery last weekend to catch a tour. I was amazed that the man himself, Hugh Sisson, was on hand to guide us through the inner workings of his production facility. Apparently Sisson handles most of the tours there.

My buddy Jesse decided to join me and experienced his first brewery tour.

For $5, you get a commemorative logo pint glass and 5 tokens to exchange for 5 samples from either the Clipper City, Oxford Organic Ales or Heavy Seas product lines. I spent my tokens on the various Heavy Seas beers available from the tasting room that day. Unlike some breweries, you're encouraged to top off your glass and bring it along on the tour with you. What could be better than enjoying a tasty brew, straight from the tap, while walking through the facility it was just freshly made in, during an up close and personal tour from the head of the brewery? Honestly, how cool is that?!?

Hugh Sisson and I chat with some of the other guests after the tour.

Sisson shows us how the brewery works.

Sisson did an excellent job educating his audience, not just about his own beers, but also about craft beer in general. He ran us through the brewing process, providing a great tutorial suitable for the seasoned brewery tourist and brewery-virgin alike. Covering a multitude of topics, Sisson stressed the importance of quality ingredients, beer styles and food pairing, proper pouring methods and the dangers of drinking straight from the bottle. He also explained the concepts of balanced beer, fireplace beer, organic beer, and beer economics.

Sisson hands out hops and gives us the skinny on their contribution to flavor and aroma.

After the tour, Sisson mixed and mingled with his guests in the tasting room, enjoying a beer and friendly conversation, often talking one-on-one with us. Over all, it was very educational, down to earth and fun. Hugh Sisson successfully created an association between his "Joe the Brewer" persona (my words, not his) and the tasty beers he provides.

Bottom line, Sisson sells his beer by selling himself.

Good times!

I was a big fan of the Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale, hoppy but smooth, simply a great beer! Sisson showed us how Loose Cannon is hopped in the kettle, again in the hop back, and then finally dry hopped, hence the Hop3 name...

They also had their seasonal brew, Winter Storm on tap. This is also a great beer you really need to try. Sisson was quick to note this beer was the World Beer Cup Gold Medal winner for the "International Pale Ale" category. While he bragged that this beer is the worlds best International Pale Ale, he also (jokingly) admitted he had no idea what an International Pale Ale really was. Apparently the style is unique to this competition.

DuClaw & Ram's Head Tavern

Its only my first weekend in Maryland, and I've already visited three places on my list Friday night, after a particularly lame ice breaker after work, I convinced a few folks from my my class to head out to DuClaw for some local brews and happy hour chow.

We were lucky we got to DuClaws during happy hour as the beers were only $2.50! I enjoyed a few Hellrazor IPAs along with a plate of Buffalo wings and a bacon cheeseburger.

Some words from DuClaw regarding Hellrazor...

From the first sip this American-style India Pale Ale gets in your face with an unruly hop bitterness, big floral flavors and aroma, and just enough malt character to keep you from giving in and acting up.

Hellrazor is an American-Style Pale Ale, light amber in color, mostly clear with a slight haze. A nicely hopped beer, with a solid enough malt backbone to maintain balance. I really enjoyed this one, and you might too.

The wings and burger were typical Friday night bar food, not bad, but not great, just standard. That being said, DuClaws is a solid local brewpub chain with quality beer and fair happy hour prices. Worse case senario, a great place to end a dull trip to the mall...

Our waitress at DuClaws was top notch! She even gave me a little local intel on where we should go next. Based on her recommendation, after a short but confusing drive, I was able to check off another stop on my list and visit Ram's Head Tavern in Savage, Maryland.

Ram's Head Tavern

Ram's Head calls an old mill its home. A very cool looking location!

An old mill lives a second life as Ram's Head Tavern. Ram's Head has a little something for everyone, featuring a huge back deck with built in heaters for outside dining, a quiet bar inside for drinks and friendly conversation, and a more lively bar down stairs with music, darts and pool.

Downstairs provides a fun location to cut loose...

They have a fair selection beer, with some of their own local Fordham brews on tap. Ram's Head, with its multiple locations, is owned by the same company that runs the Fordham Brewery. I took this opportunity to enjoy a Fordham Helles Lager and a Fordham Tavern Ale right off the tap.

Some words from Fordham regarding the Helles Lager...

This Bavarian style lager is brewed with four different German grains to produce a deep golden color and intricate flavor profile. Three hop varieties are used to help craft the subtle bitterness. The result is a clean and refreshing lager we know you'll enjoy. Voted "Best Local Lager" by Baltimore Magazine.

Some words from Fordham regarding the Tavern Ale...

This American Style Pale Ale has an ample amount of malt flavor to compliment its strong hop profile. It's cold conditioned on fresh whole leaf Cascade hops, creating an enjoyable citrus-like aroma.

Both brews were pretty good, although I did not have the time to take notes on them for a more formal review. I'll save the more in depth analysis for next time. You should give them a try if you get the chance... I hope to visit their brewery at some point during my Maryland adventure.

Next post, Clipper City Brewery Tour and a conversation with Hugh Sisson!

Beer Review: Wild Goose IPA

Having some issues downloading images from my camera on the road...

My busy training schedule, here in Maryland, has not allowed me to venture out to one of the local breweries or brew pubs just yet. While I eagerly await the weekend, I decided to get a headstart and picked up a six-pack of Wild Goose IPA, brewed locally by the same folks that make FlyingDog Ales right here in Marland. I hope to visit Wild Goose and FlyingDog at some point during my stay in Marland... In the mean time, here's my review of their IPA...

Beer: Wild Goose IPA
Served: From a pint glass
Location: In my "hotel" room

Style: English IPA

First brewed in England and exported for the British troops in India during the late 1700s. To withstand the voyage, IPA's were basically tweaked Pale Ales that were, in comparison, much more malty, boasted a higher alcohol content and were well-hopped, as hops are a natural preservative. Historians believe that an IPA was then watered down for the troops, while officers and the elite would savor the beer at full strength. The English IPA has a lower alcohol due to taxation over the decades. The leaner the brew the less amount of malt there is and less need for a strong hop presence which would easily put the brew out of balance. Some brewers have tried to recreate the original IPA with strengths close to 8-9% abv.

Average alcohol by volume (abv) range: 4.0-6.5%

(In this case 6.0% abv)

Some words from Wild Goose

Wild Goose IPA is an award-winning English-style IPA with a nice bubbling carbonation, fluffy white head and light coppery hue. Goose IPA is medium-bodied with biscuit-like toasted maltcharacter and spicy, earthy and grassy hop notes that finish dry. Nothing is better than a Wild Goose IPA paired with a plate of Maryland crabs. Also goes great with smoked Gouda, sausage, and sharp dressings. Spice cake pairs for a wonderful dessert.

Mmmm That pairing suggestion has my mouth watering. I'll need to scarf down some local crabs with one of these babies before I return home...

1. Appearance - Pale amber-gold, with merely a hint of a slight haze. Moderate, yet creamy head that diminishes rapidly, with some lacing.

2. Smell - I can detect the hops, and a hint of malt. (A note on smell - I have a very limited sense of smell, that comes and goes, so my opinions on beer smells should be taken with a grain of salt...)

3. Taste - Not extremely hoppy when compared to other IPAs. Very approachable and balanced with a creamy smooth, buttery biscuit-like malt backbone. Rounded off with a nearly tart citrus finish. Hints of tea and salt...

4. Mouthfeel - Medium to light bodied. Smooth yet pleasantly carbonated.

5. Drinkability - Not my favorite IPA, but certainly a tasty beer. Hoppy enough to please me, but maybe not sufficient to satisfy some of the extreme hop-heads out there. This leans closer to the balanced IPAs that I enjoy, not over powering, but balanced and pleasant.

Drinkability Scale from 1-10: 7 (Not awesome, but certainly enjoyable.)

Beer Review: Stampede Light Plus

The good folks from Stampede Light were kind enough to send me a six-pack of their beer for my reviewing purposes. Sadly they did not send me Jessica...

That being said, I couldn't think of a better beer (light in calories and created with physical fitness in mind) for me to review tonight after finally getting myself back into the gym. And hey, if Jessica Simpson drinks it, how bad could it be?

What follows is my honest review of their product.

Beer: Stampede Light Plus
Served: From a pint glass
Location: In my "hotel" room

Style: Light Lager

The Light Lager is generally a lighter version of a breweries premium lager, some are lower in alcohol but all are lower in calories and carbohydrates compared to other beers. Typically a high amount of cereal adjuncts like rice or corn are used to help lighten the beer as much as possible. Very low in malt flavor with a light and dry body. The hop character is low and should only balance with no signs of flavor or aroma. European versions are about half the alcohol (2.5-3.5% abv) as their regular beer yet show more flavor (some use 100% malt) then the American counterparts. For the most part this style has the least amount of flavor than any other style of beer.

To judge this beer fairly, I would run your opinion against the style. This beer certainly fits the bill for a Light Lager. So the light flavor and aroma should not come as a surprise. That being said, it's hard for most of us to separate our disdain for a particular style from our views on a specific beer.

1. Appearance - It's yellow, nearly colorless, crystal clear, light head, some lacing, but dissipates rapidly.

2. Smell - Slight aroma, grain perhaps? (A note on smell - I have a very limited sense of smell, that comes and goes, so my opinions on beer smells should be taken with a grain of salt...)

3. Taste - Crisp and refreshing, but not a lot of flavor here; something to drink with some very spicy wings to cleanse your pallet perhaps, but not something to select for it's complexity or flavor. On second thought, it reminds me a little of Sapporro; not a great beer, but something I always get with my sushi. So this maybe a domestic alternative to drink with your next spicy tuna roll. The beer doesn't taste bad, but it doesn't really grab my taste buds either. Slight sweetness, no hops, nothing much to note here.

4. Mouthfeel - Very thin, watery, with a only a hint of a bite from the carbonation in the end.

5. Drinkability - Not a great beer, but not offensive either. When stacked up against other Light Lagers it's not bad. I'd pick this over Bud Lite any day, but is that the endorsement you'd be looking for if you brewed this beer? It lacks character, but it is refreshing and true to style. I think this might be a good beer to inhale after an afternoon of lawn mowing on a hot Summer day. In my case a good beer to review after a visit to the gym. But that's probably it... Reminds me of the "good old days" of happy hour wings and cheap pitchers of Busch...

Drinkability Scale from 1-10: 5 (Sure you could drink it, but there's nothing that calls out to me. Then again, I could probably stand to cut my carbs... If this beer is a 5 Bud Lite is a 3... Just saying...)