July 2008 - Oskar Blues Old Chub

Your eyes are not deceiving you, that is a can on the table next to me. Oskar Blues out of Lyons, Colorado, is one of the few craft breweries that actually can their beer. And don’t let the can fool you, this stuff isn’t PBR. According to their website, in 2002 they became the first microbrewery to can its beer. And why, you ask? “The idea of our bold, hoppy pale ale squeezed into a little can was hilarious. It made us laugh for weeks.” Good enough for me!

Old Chub is a Scottish style ale. Aside from having one of the coolest names of any beer I’ve come across, (don’t you just love saying it? Old Chub…) this is a very tasty, malty beer. The color is very dark, almost like a stout, but it has a little tinge of deep amber. The body is not quite as thick as your typical stout, especially considering this is 8.0% ABV, so it’s a little lighter on the palate if you don’t generally like “dark” beers.

This beer is very malty. Not much hint of hops. The flavor is very chocolatey with a hint of caramel and even smoked flavoring. If you read my blog much, you’ll know that I’m much more partial to hoppy beers over malty ones, but I definitely enjoy drinking the Old Chub. It’s got a nice twist at the end and enough body to give it that extra umph. I probably won’t be slamming many of these at my 4th of July cookout, but I might have one with dessert!

a week without beer

For the past week I was a counselor at Camp Kemo, a weeklong summer camp for children that have cancer and their siblings. Being a children’s camp, alcohol is obviously out of the question and if I wanted to be invited back next year, night-time trips to a local Batesburg-Leesville bar are not an option either. Instead of beer, I turned my substance addiction to coffee. It served me well.

Actually, contrary to popular belief, I didn’t even get the shakes or cold sweats from withdrawal. Although, we had our fair share of pizza and hamburgers, and it would have been perfect to be able to wash it down with an ice cold Budweiser.

But I digress. This was my 8th year as a counselor at Camp Kemo and it was a great week. Having the opportunity to see first-hand the courage and strength of these kids as they battle for their lives is amazing and so inspirational. They are an ever-present reminder in my mind to enjoy each day and to pursue the things about life that I love.

People always say “you never know when it will be taken away” but rarely do people live their lives like that. Listening to the stories of these kids makes you realize that it could happen any day. One day they are playing football for their high school or riding their bikes with their friends, and literally the next day they are undergoing radiation treatment. It can be frightening, but I see it as an opportunity. After all, what do we really have to lose? Why not literally live each day as if it is our last? What are we afraid of?

I am now more dedicated than ever to going after my dreams and making them a reality in my life. My goal is to be successful so that I can give back and help people like the campers that I have gotten to know and love. I hope that you will reach for the stars so you can do the same.

unveiling Great Divide’s Yeti Espresso Imperial Stout

The Big Gnome and I were privileged enough to attend the east coast unveiling of Great Divide’s Yeti Espresso Imperial Stout at Barley’s Tap Room in Greenville last night. The event was to feature Great Divide’s newest twist on their Imperial Stout as a cask conditioned ale, but due to “circumstances out of their control,” we were treated to it as a normally conditioned beer. I don’t get cask ale very much around here, so I was quite disappointed.

Once we got over the initial disappointment of not getting cask ale, we refocused our efforts on the ordering up a pizza and looking forward to being one of the first in our neck of the woods to try this beer. The anticipation was intense!

After we had finished our pizza, we were ready for the beer to be served at 7:00 sharp. When we received our stouts, we were greeted with a beer that was dark-as-night, much as we expected the Yeti to be. The first sip did not disappoint. The flavor is intense from the get-go. The roasted, bitter chocolate, caramel flavor makes you want to slap your mama. The hint of coffee from the espresso beans was subtle, yet apparent. It’s such a big, bold flavor that one could study it for hours. I studied it for two pints…

Overall, I would rate the Espresso Stout as excellent. However, I would rate the regular Yeti Imperial Stout as excellent as well. I’m not sure if I was able to distinguish the espresso aroma and flavor enough to take it to a whole new level, but it made for a very nice, complex beer. My hat goes off to Great Divide for making flat out great stout.

high gravity beers losing their “coolness?”

Now that’s it’s been a year since the cap on the alcohol content for beer was lifted in South Carolina, we can look back and see what the effect has been on the overall beer climate in the state. Check out this article from the Post and Courier:

http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/may/26/hgbeer41984/

The conclusion from the article is not surprising. When the cap was lifted, high gravity beer sales immediately took off and rose for a few months as more and more new beers made their way into the market. Many people were rushing out to try these new beers that they had never been able to try before. As time has past, they have found that the immediate increase in high gravity sales has leveled off, and it has reached more of a niche status.

When you think about it, that’s probably where high gravity beers should be, and the market will dictate that. Once people get over the newness of it, the novelty will wear off and many will go back to the cheaper beers that they are used to. High gravity beers are too intense in their taste and potency to ever be accepted by the masses. But that’s what makes them so good to those who enjoy them. It’s like spicy food. They may not necessarily prefer it, but anyone can eat mild food. Not everyone can handle spicy food.

In my opinion, I would predict that high gravity and craft beer sales in South Carolina will continue to climb slowly but surely over the years. It’s still very early in the game and we started at ground zero. As people get more educated and acclimated to these different beers, I think more and more people will be converted and will the demand for these beers will increase. That’s why it’s my quest to continue to educate and promote these beers. They are just too good not to spread the love!

head-to-head: Hercules vs. Double Dog

Being from South Carolina, I don’t really know if there is a heated rivalry between Denver’s own Flying Dog and Great Divide. Just for fun, let’s pretend there is. To fan the flames across the nation, I wanted to do a head-to-head comparison between Flying Dog’s Double Dog Double IPA and Great Divide’s Hercules Double IPA.

Let’s start with the tale of the tape. Double Dog measures in at a beefy 11.5% alcohol by volume, while Hercules comes in at 9.1%. Both brews claim 85 IBUs (International Bitterness Units). These stats capture the essence of the difference between the two beers. Both beers are crazy hoppy, but higher alcohol content of the Double Dog gives it a slightly maltier, and sweeter, character. (Perhaps in my next post, I’ll explain why a higher alcohol percentage can give a beer a sweeter flavor.) I feel that the maltier character of the Double Dog gives it a more balanced flavor, while Hercules accentuates the hop character more.

The difference is not only shown in the flavor, but also the aroma and color. The Double Dog is slightly darker than Hercules, and the aroma of Hercules is more floral (hoppy), while Double Dog has a sweeter smell.

Both beers are really good and very similar in many respects. I’m a hop-head, so I definitely enjoy the Hercules and I think it is an excellent beer. The floral aroma and lingering hop bitterness is a joy to my senses. However, if I were to pick a winner, I would choose the Double Dog. It is extremely intense, yet very well balanced. It has so much going on that it can satisfy hop-heads, yet brings enough malt to tone down the lingering bitterness of the hops. You can’t go wrong with either beer, and it ends up being a matter of personal preference. Both are excellent, but not for the faint of heart. They will knock you on your ass and won’t apologize for it.

in pursuit of beer

The time has finally come. Over Memorial Day weekend, Big Gnome and I are taking a leap of faith and moving to Greenville, South Carolina. We hear there’s more beer up there…

It’s going to be quite a transition for me. I’ve quit my full-time job in hopes of pursuing more of my passions and living out some dreams, which include becoming a certified beer judge, brewing all-grain beer, hiking part (if not all) of the Appalachian Trail, and learning to play the guitar. Since no one is going to pay me to play the guitar for them any time soon, one might ask, “What is he going to do for money?” Well, that’s where the faith comes in. Don’t worry about me. I’m pretty resourceful.

I also hope to become much more active on Untamedbeer.com. I love promoting beer education, and my goal is to make this space more informative and accessible. So here’s to new beginnings! Cheers!

May 2008: Clipper City Loose Cannon

The Clipper City Heavy Seas Loose Cannon may be my favorite beer going right now. I don’t think it’s just me, either. It was an offering at a beer tasting I recently MC’d for a friend of mine, and it was by far the most popular choice, even among non beer-geeks.

What makes this IPA so appealing is the unique flavor. It is intensely hopped (using five different types of hops added during the boil, in the hop back, and dry hopped) yet the citrus flavor really comes out when combined with the malt sweetness. It’s almost like drinking grapefruit juice. It’s a fantastic balance and flavor that make it distinct from other over-the-top hoppy beers.

beer bathing?

I love beer, but this is just plain weird:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/europe/bathe-in-beer/2008/04/23/1208743038757.html?page=fullpage

I had always heard that the Czech Republic, Prague especially, is a great place to visit. This may put it over the top and push it higher on the travel list. They have spas where people can bathe in beer. Yes, beer. According to the Chodovar Family Brewery, bathing in beer is good for “soothing muscles, warming joints and healing the complexion.”

Now, I do love beer, but I’m not sure I’m ready to take a dip in a pilsner. But hey, if they throw in a complimentary pint or two, I’m sure it will make the idea a little more palatable. Who knew beer could be good for you, inside and out?

is the hop shortage all gloom and doom?

In case you don’t follow beer news religiously, we are in the midst of a world-wide hop shortage. It’s more likely that you noticed the price of beer going up over the last few months. I’ve definitely noticed the prices going up $1 or $2 per six-pack of craft beer. (I haven’t priced Bud in a while.) Well, one of the key factors in the rise of beer prices is the shortage of hops along with an increase in the price of barley.

Many microbreweries are really feeling the hit, as it has driven up their production costs. Some have run out of hops and have had to halt production. So is it all over for the craft beer industry? Will it all go back to low-hopped light lagers? As rough as it might be for some individual breweries, I think as a whole we’ll be ok.

Craft beer consumption is up by about 15% over last year. And if there is one thing I learned when I got my MBA (for the amount of money I spent, I wish I had learned more than one thing…) it’s that where there is demand, someone will supply. As more and more people demand quality, locally produced beer, there will be more people willing to supply it.

Several years ago there was a hop surplus, so the price was very low. Hop farmers began switching to higher paying crops, such as corn. As that shift took place, the supply of hops went down, causing the the price to go up. Now, as there is a critical shortage, the price of hops is 3 to 4 times higher than it was a year ago. I’m sure that is going to get the attention of several farmers who will be willing to produce hops knowing they can sell at much higher prices.

Again, it’s all a matter of supply and demand. The market will eventually stabilize supply and demand, and pricing will fall into line somewhere. The biggest disadvantage in this situation is that it often takes 2 to 3 years to develop a mature hop crop. That means that even if the farming shift starts now, we’re at least 3 years from seeing the effects.

So brace yourself for higher prices at the stores and the bars, but as long as you can find the change in your pocketbook, please continue to support the craft beer revolution. Supporting those breweries in these dark times is the only thing that will keep them afloat. Keep the dream alive!

new look, same great taste

Thanks to my graphically talented sister, Untamed Beer now has a new look and a new logo! I am excited, as this will take my blog out of ghetto-fabulous and into the realm of respectability. Well, appearance-wise anyway. I guess I have to start writing some respectable posts to match the look!

My hope is the new look will inspire me to write more and to write better. So thanks again to my sister for her work on this, and thanks to everyone who takes the time to read this site. I hope you get something out of it, along with an occasional laugh. If you’ve ever learned something from what you’ve read or tried a beer you haven’t had before, spread the word and tell someone else. You never know,  you might open their mind to the fantastic world of beer that lies before us.