Tag Archives: beer

Gary Vaynerchuk with Brooklyn Brewery’s Brewmaster Garrett Oliver

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Gary Vaynerchuk pumps out another AWESOME episode of Wine Library TV where he goes to Brooklyn, NY to talk to Brooklyn Brewery’s brewmaster Garrett Oliver.  The interview runs almost 40 minutes long.

In the episode, they try Brooklyn’s Local 1, Local 2, and Black Ops, none of which I’ve tried.   (I do know a DC store that carries Local 1 and Local 2.  I’ll go pick them up. Ha.)

They also talk a lot about Garrett’s background and his passion for beer and pushing the boundaries of beer making.  Sounds like Garrett has done some really fascinating collaborations with outside groups to make beers that you wouldn’t normally be able to get.  From the interview, you get the impression that Garrett is a really dynamic guy and that he’d be fun to talk to.

One thing that stood out for me was how, on Friday nights, they transform the brewery into a town gathering place where everyone (young and old) gathers to celebrate the week.   He said it was very much alike to the notion of a beer garden in Germany.

Here’s the episode.  It’s so good.  As I was watching it on the subway today, I missed my stop because I was so engrossed in it…

Leinenkugel’s 1888 Bock is a Great Winter Beer

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The Washington area is sitting under what remains of two record-breaking snowstorms. School, not to mention the Federal Government, is closed. Children are making snowmen. D.C.’s young professionals are engaging in snowball fights. Family’s are huddled inside around the fire. Justin is making a daily trek to Peregrine to keep his winter sanity.

You know what that means? Yes, exactly. The spring beers are here!

Some marketing study must have convinced U.S. brewers that Americans prefer to anticipate seasons rather than live in the present. That’s why we can drink winter beers while passing out Halloween candy, drink Oktoberfest bier before the NFL preseason even starts and, of course, buy a six-pack of spring seasonals while stocking up on frozen pizza and toilet paper to wait out the winter storms.

Indeed, while I was elbowing my way through the crowds at Harris Teeter the other day, I noticed the spring beers had arrived and were on sale. Justin already mentioned Sam Adam’s Noble Pilsner is here, but I needed a beer that says, in effect, “come in from the cold, sit down by the fire, drink a pint in the warm glow of the embers.” Leinenkugel’s 1888 Bock fits the bill.

Yes, I am well aware that the Wisconsin brewery’s winter beer, Fireside Nut Brown, is supposed to fill that niche. Maybe it does. Maybe they also stopped selling it before Thanksgiving. But forget the 1888 Bock packaging, which features green grass, a pleasant river and a rowboat – this beer tastes like winter to me.

Spring beer should be well-lit and refreshing, something to enjoy on the front porch the moment it’s warm enough to wear flip flops outside. But, and beer brewers please take note, we ain’t there yet. Fortunately, 1888 Bock is dark, flavorful and goes great with rich, heavy comfort food. It left me with the sort of warm, happy feeling in my chest that good bocks leave behind, kind of like the feeling you get when a good friend gives you a bear hug.

Spring seasonal? Ok, if they say so. But if you ask me, this is a great beer for a snowy day.

Samuel Adams Noble Pils is Now Available in Stores

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This afternoon, on the way home from work,  I ducked into the local liquor store in my neighborhood and we pleasantly surprised to find a new Samuel Adams beer that I had never seen before.  It’s the Samuel Adams Noble Pils.  It’s obviously a pilsner.

Samuel Adams Noble Pils is the Boston Brewing Company’s brand new spring seasonal.  It replaced the Samuel Adams White Ale.  The Noble Pils is made with the 5 noble hop varieties.

It’s a light, easy drinking, and really delicious beer.  If you can find it, I’d recommend giving it a try.

(Photo by H Dickins)

Boston’s Beer Culture

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When I was in Boston a couple of weeks ago, I definitely stopped by my share of neighborhood pubs, bars, and restaurants.   It seemed like each one had a pretty decent baseline choice of beer on tap or in bottles.

At the very least, every bar has Sam Adams or Harpoon (the locals) on tap.

When I talked to Boston folks, I was really impressed with the level that beer is a part of the culinary culture of Boston.  It’s just everywhere.

It’s very different than DC.  You could go into DC  bars that just have Coors Light and only in bottle.  It was funny telling this to Bostonians.  They responded like I was coming from a third world country.

So… yeah.  Boston is great for beer.

(Photo by xJasonRogersx)

Beer Wars Movie Now Available For Purchase Or Download

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I’m kind of excited.  The previously mentioned movie Beer Wars, which chronicles the interplay between the big and micro-breweries, is now available for purchase, download, or streaming. The indie film got a distribution deal through Warner Bros., which is AWESOME.  I can’t wait to get my copy.  Will write a review as soon as I see it.

Have you seen it yet?  If not, here’s the trailer.

Going “Three Sheets” Around The World with Zane Lamprey

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A few months back, my bro-in-law told me about this TV show “Three Sheets.”  He mentioned that it was about this dude who goes around the world and observes drinking cultures.     I just kept on forgetting to check it out, even though the show sounds right up my alley.

Well, this weekend I was on Hulu and noticed that it had “Three Sheets” so I gave it a whirl.   This show is AWESOME.

Just like food, alcohol in one shape or another plays an important role in most cultures.  Whether it is Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey, Tequila or Champagne,  there are all people and stories behind those drinks.

Comedian Zane Lamprey, the host of the show, probably has the best job ever.  He get’s to drink his way around the world, meet the people, and learn the stories.   When you have that background, I think it makes that drink that you have after work with friends that much more meaningful and fun.

Would highly recommend that you check out the TV show “Three Sheets.”  You can now find it on cable on the Fine Living Network.

Here’s my favorite episode.  Zane and “Three Sheets” in Munich.

Anchor Brewing Co. Launches Their 35th Annual Christmas Ale

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christmas_2009_bottleOver the last couple of years, within my beer drinking years, one of the highlights of  late fall has been when San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Co. launches their Christmas Ale.

Was very excited when I stopped at one of my local liquor stores to see that they were carrying this year’s batch.  This year the ale is in its 35th year.

Each year the batch is a different recipe.  This one is dark but not heavy, like it may look.  My first thought when opening the bottle was how aromatic it was.  It’s smooth and easy to drink.   It’s delicious.

If you see it, I’d highly recommend picking it up.

Cheeky Tastings: “Papa Burgundy”

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Editor’s Note: Welcome my friend Mark Drapeau to Justin Loves Food.  He is a retired fruit fly brain surgeon currently hiding in sleepy Washington, DC. He spends his leisure time writing and eating. Here, he combines both skills.

I was recently turned on to Burgundy wine by a friend. It’s generally lighter than what I usually order, but it was wonderful at a meal in New York with a vegetarian pasta appetizer followed by a light scallops dish and bread pudding. So when I returned to Washington, I thought I’d try a couple more bottles at reasonable prices (these were both about 20 bones).

I had them with the new Papa Johns “Perfect Pan” pizza with six cheeses. Yup, pizza. Seriously, it’s okay to pair wine with things like pizza, hot dogs, and McDonald’s, just as it’s okay to pair a beer with a steak – you just have to do it right. Anyway, the first wine was a 2006 Jacqueson Rully Chaponnieres, and the second was a 2005 Martin Michel Chorey Le Beaune.

First, the Jacqueson Rully. This was a lovely, fruity wine that was light to the lips. It smelled light as well, and was somewhat like what I had expected from New York. It paired really well with the cheap pizza – just enough to break through the oil and fruity enough to overpower my senses briefly.  The Martin Michel, on the other hand, tasted nice but had a more earthy flavor. It was light like a Burgundy of course but was too deep for the pizza.

Burgundy can work with pizza. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the 2006 Jacqueson Rully Chaponnieres.

- Mark Drapeau

That bar…

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So, I’ve been in Western New York all weekend because my buddy Shaun got married.  Today, I made the jaunt with my buddy John farther West.  He dropped me off in Rochester so that I could visit some other friends.  It’s been a weekend filled with culinary adventures (more of which I’ll write about later) but the one I had tonight was pretty much the pinnacle.

Tonight I got to visit my favorite pub in the world, The Old Toad.   It’s some place that I started going to back when I was attending the Rochester Institute of Technology and I’ve been a fan ever sense.

You walk in and your struck by the fact that you’re seeing all different type of people from all different shapes, sizes, and ages.  They’re all peaceably coexisting together.    It’s busy but it’s not overflowing with people.  Music is on but it’s low enough that you can actually hear the people across the table and have a conversation.  It’s very chill and relaxing.

For me, it’s “that bar” that I just always love to go to.  When you add some good friends and one of their many delicious beers that they have on their rotating tap list and it’s really perfect experience.

It’s the kind of place that I want to tell people about but I don’t at the same time.   I like that it’s just *my* bar (even though I don’t live in Rochester any more.)  I’d be afraid that if word got out that it’d become to cool to go there and I’d have to find some place else.

In Washington, DC, there are just too many people.  Over the last couple weeks we’ve seen the opening of the Birch & The Barley/The ChurchKey but when I tried to go last weekend, I was met at the door with a “We’re currently at capacity and can’t let any other to go to the bar.”  That’s just far far far too crowded for me.

Tonight, the Old Toad was busy but it wasn’t overflowing with people.  It’s just my favorite bar.

Do you know what I’m talking about?  Is there a place the Old Toad which is “that bar” for you?