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Brau Beviale

Posted by Nick B. on 2012-11-14 23:43:50

So this year, the various experimental German beers (Pils with new hop types like Mandarin Bavaria, Hallertau Blanc, another one, and Polaris) just haven't excited like a few of them did in the previous couple of years. Interesting, sure, and I may have to secure some Polaris --amazingly oily flowers-- to brew with myself. Just not hopped up enough to really show off the hops. The American hops seminar with Charlie Papazian and brewers from Bell's and Firestone Walker(?) was interesting, though the choice of beers wasn't the greatest to really show off the various hops. Only a few single hopped beers, and also beers like amber ale with too much crystal malt or Scottish ale with peat-smoked malt. They should get some English brewers for 2014 who manage to do single-hopped beers without getting them mucked up with dark malts, I say. And also without 10% alcohol. Tuesday at the Beer Star gold winners blind tasting with Gerhard was nice. The IPA and IIPA were *excellent* and pale, even if I really don't like those styles of beer any more: just too much alcohol getting in the way of those beautiful hops. Both from Firestone Walker, as it turns out. < http://www.lieblingsbier.de/images/Gewinnerliste%20EuropeanBeerStar2012.pdf > (organised by brewery) (Kitzmann got a gold medal for Dunkelweizen??? Again, need to know who the competitors were!) The Boston Beer sour ale was very, very Rodenbach Grand Cru like. Left Hand's sweet stout was also great, and the porter was simply fantastic. Reminded me of the old Deschutes Black Butte, creamy and a bit roasty, and it turned out to be from Thwaites. Also briefly saw deciBeer and Jos B. Free flowing Belgian beer and Weyermann 7.2% licorice porter and 7.4% IPA turned out to be my downfall Tuesday at the end of the day; I'm simply not accustomed to such strong beer any more. Had nice discussions with Oregonian hop farmers, one of whom farms thousands of acres that I used to drive by on my way to work when I lived in Keizer. Also chatted up some guys at the Yakima Chief stand. The guy on the right looked familiar, and was surprised to be asked if he happened to be in Seattle in 2001 when the power went out. This led to discussion with the guy on the left, who turned out to run a very nice brewery/brewpub I've been to a couple of times. Small world. < http://www.flickr.com/photos/13211556@N08/8187850180/in/photostream/ > (If he objects to that photo, I'll delete it.) The "four seasons" beer with four Yankohops brewed at some semi-pro operation in Brussels was quite good (CO2 draught) at that stand, though I passed on the draught Westmalle Dubbel and Bel "Pils" in favour of a bottle of Chimay. Unfortunately, it was 2 months old, so nearly undrinkable. Same for the Rochefort 10 that followed. I drank it all though, just on principle of not letting Klosterbier like that go to waste! I'll probably go back again again this afternoon, especially if I get word from an English brewer...actually, he's a Kiwi, but brews at the most excellent Hawkshead brewery in the Lake District. Didn't drink much real ale at the two beer engine stands, despite the warm welcome Gerhard & I enjoyed at the one with Harviestoun, where we were invited to stay and chat "for hours"! The Thornbridge Kipling was in fabulous condition at the other stand; very glad Gerhard got to experience this one.

Brau Beviale by barry on 2012-11-15 01:06:31

Brau Beviale by DonS on 2012-11-15 08:16:50

Brau Beviale by barry on 2012-11-15 09:26:09

Brau Beviale by Nick B. on 2012-11-15 23:33:16

Brau Beviale by Nick B. on 2012-11-15 23:37:16

Brau Beviale by barry on 2012-11-16 01:36:56

Brau Beviale by Nick B. on 2012-11-16 15:27:14

Brau Beviale by JosB on 2012-11-27 15:50:40

Brau Beviale by JosB on 2012-11-27 15:53:48

Brau Beviale by Nick B. on 2012-11-28 00:34:20

Brau Beviale by DonS on 2012-11-28 05:51:24