Sixth Glass Quadruple Ale (Review)

This is not the first time we have reviewed the Boulevard Breweries beers here at S&B (and we hope to review more this Saturday at the Missouri Beer Fest). In the past, we have done Single Wide IPA and Nut Cracker Ale, however this is our first foray into their Smokestack Series.

For starters, I really love the label on the bottle. From the color palette to the “retro” Devil with lightning bolts, it just works. It reminds me of the advertisements you used to find in the back of comic books (Sea Monkeys, Army Men, Mental Powers ect), although I don’t want to say that to loud…..least the various Attorney Generals decide to go after Boulevard for “Marketing at Children”.

The brew master from this series, Steven Pauwels, is from Belgium…and I think this really shows in his style of brewing and the tastes of the beer.

A second generation master brewer, he makes a fine addition to the Boulevard Staff. There is a great Q&A with Steven HERE if you have the time. Belgium’s loss is our gain.

• Appearance- Easy to pour and resulting in a slightly cloudy, dark Mahogany color with a lively carbonation that culminates into a large bubble “loose” head.
• Nose – A big nose of a heavy yeast and cinnamon sweetness with hints of fruit.
• Taste – The Malty and Yeast combinations easily distinguish this as a Belgium (inspired) style beer., brown sugar/caramel. Evan at a 10.5 % ABV, there was no hint of malt liquor flavor or alcohol “Burn”
• Finish – Light an crisp, with a fruity aftertaste

Score – I will say up front that I am not a huge Belgium Style Beer fan. That being said, I definitely found this beer enjoyable and would rate it as a 3.5 Stars based on my tastes. I could easily see fans of this style giving it a 4+ Rating, so I would highly recommend it.

Next up out of the fridge, another Boulevard Brewing Beer – Boss Tom’s Golden Bock. Check back tomorrow.

This is why you shouldn’t try and steal beer

or at least wear a belt

The Ultimate Guy Gift

I totally get this one.

So many times, women think they are getting the perfect “I love you gift” for their significant other. You know the gifts- flowers, a sweater or tie, books or even the dreaded “Romantic Dinner”.

Now I just want to go on record that these things are not bad…..but they really highlight the differences between men and women.

Sometimes a guy just wants to sit in his “Man Cave”, watch his favorite team and have a beer.

Enter Beer Bouquet.

After three easy steps on-line, you can have shipped to your significant other a Bucket (with his favorite team logo on it) full of peanuts and beer, plus a custom message.

While the starting price of $49.99 might seem a little steep, I would bet that he keeps that bucket far longer than any of the aforementioned gifts, and he will ALWAYS remember where he got it.

Bucket Logos covers the big the Big 5 (Hockey, Basketball, Baseball, Nascar and Football) and the also have Ultimate Fighting (do you notice this Glenn?), Seasonal (St. Patrick’s and Valentine's Days) and they even show support for our Armed Forces. Outstanding.

Currently, it appears they have 18 different beer companies to choose from (including Guinness and two Non-Alcoholic Selections) plus a variety pack.

This is such a cool idea, I have to applaud the genius who thought up the idea. I know a few people that will be getting them from me.

Keep up the great work.

Cheers-

Hops, Hops and HOPZ

I was originally going to run this review on Easter, but I couldn’t find the cable to my digital camera (again), so even though I lost out on the Hops joke….I think I made up for it in a pretty good day.

A few days ago, I received some of the new HOPZ cigars from Teds Cigars. Ted’s has been around since 1996, and I am sure you have seen their flagship product in your local cigar shop, The Maker’s Mark Cigar.

I’ve tried the Maker’s cigar before, so I had rather high expectations going into this review. I was particularly excited, because my wife had also picked me up a 6-pack of New Belgium's Ranger IPA. I sensed a pairing made in heaven.

The Cigar-

HOPZ

Shipped in a glass tube, the 6 X 50 Toro (Cameroon Wrapper, US Connecticut binder and Dominican Republic filler) looked good, solid leaf that was not to veiny. Opening the tube didn’t reveal to much of a hops nose, but there was something there. I don’t know if it was the Centennial hops as advertised, but the cigar smelt fresh. I particularly like the glass tubes, as I can keep the cigar in my humidor, without the oils/scents permeating and lingering into the wood.

Lighting was easy, as the draw on the cigar was very smooth.

The initial 3rd of the cigar was much lighter than I expected. While I could definitely get the floral tastes, it was not as overwhelming as I expected. Slightly sweet and creamy, there were also undertones of the outdoors that I associate with pine.

After a good 5 minutes, the cigar began to open up and I could really get not only taste of hops, but also its telltale flowery aroma with hints of cedar.

It was at this point I started pairing the Ranger IPA, and the true nature of this cigar came to light.

Score – 3.5

The Beer-

Ranger IPA

Appearance- Clear, Golden Orange in Color with small foamy head. The head held well almost all the way through the drink.

Nose- A nice pungent hoppy aroma that dominates the nose really got my taste buds flowing. Hints of fresh cut grass and citrus round out the scent and were very enjoyable.

Taste – A little drier than expected. The light complexity of the beer covered a Fruity (Orange and sourness of Grapefruit) palette, combined with a crisp, heavy hops taste (with minimal maltyness). There was a slight piney and citrus aftertaste that I usually associate with an American IPA, and while the “Pineyness” lingers, it did not distract from the beer.

Score- 3.5

The Pairing -

What is particularly interesting about this combo is how well they worked together. Traditional cigars are said to perfectly match with Scotches and Brandy/Cognacs, and I think HOPZ Cigars are going to expand that horizon by saying flavored/infused cigars can now tailor themselves to a new market.

By pairing HOPZ with an IPA, we are enhancing the flavors of the beer with the subtle nuances of the cigar and vice versa.

Not only did the flavors then jump out at me from the Cigar (enhancing/bringing out the hops infusion), but the beer actually took a step forward and took on another level of complexity. By pairing these two above average products together, you actually improve the overall experience.

While I rated both a 3.5 standing alone, I would score the pair as a solid 4.

I can really see this type of marriage as something that could introduce Beer Drinkers to Cigar Smoking, especially if Ted’s expands their range to include other beer types (I’m thinking roasted malt infused with a Guinness Stout pairing).

I realize that Cigar Purists are not going to to be big fans, but they need to realize that innovative ideas such as this expand the market and allow other people exposure into a world that might otherwise been closed off to them. Not only do I think this is brilliant on many levels, I applaud Ted’s for partnering with some of the best of breed when it comes to flavors (Maker’s Mark, Gran Marnier, Dumante ect…).

These are both excellent products and I look forward to the upcoming Missouri Beer Festival, where I can sample this cigar with even some local IPAs.

Great job to both vendors.

PS- For those of you wondering what is in the bags, that is the 3rd “Hops”, my newly arrived Hops Rhizomes. Stay tuned as I blog about the growing process.

Bad News for Beer Drinkers?

Beer drinking ups gastric cancer risk

A new study has found that heavy beer drinkers who have a specific genetic variant in the cluster of three genes that metabolize alcohol are at significantly higher risk of developing non-cardia gastric cancer.

Study results also showed that the same risk is also elevated (but not as significantly) for heavy beer drinkers who do not have the variant, known as rs1230025, and for non-drinkers who have rs1230025 or rs283411.
"This is a classic gene-environment interaction," said Eric Duell, senior epidemiologist in the Cancer Epidemiology Research Program at the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Barcelona, Spain. "Having both of these risks - heavy beer consumption and rs1230025 - appears to be worse in terms of gastric cancer risk than having just one or neither."
Duell and colleagues conducted a comprehensive analysis of alcohol consumption and gastric cancer risk in the more than 521,000 people aged 35 to 70 years old who participated in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study from 1992 through 1998.
The researchers evaluated the type of alcohol consumed (i.e. wine, beer or liquor) and the location and grade of cancer. Total consumption of 60 grams of pure ethanol/alcohol from all beverage types combined carried a 65 per cent increased risk. (One 12 ounce beer contains about 13 grams of pure alcohol/ethanol.)
However, this association was confined to beer. Results showed that drinking 30 grams of pure ethanol/alcohol or more a day from beer was linked to a 75 per cent increased risk of developing gastric cancer. Wine and liquor was not associated with gastric cancer risk, Duell said.

Md. AG goes after Blast and Colt .45

Md. Attorney General Doug Gansler Wants Blast by Colt 45 Alcoholic Drink Taken Off Market: MyFoxDC.com

Here we go again. As we blogged before (HERE), the Government is trying to step in and stop what consumers can legally purchased.

A Royal “Boozy” Wedding

You knew it was only a matter of time before there was a post regarding the royal wedding.

I’m “Lucky” enough to remember the last one, when Prince William’s Father (Prince Charles) married Lady Dianna. I remember my Mom being fascinated by it, my regular (cartoons) TV shows being interrupted, Nancy Reagan attending…..but most of all, I recall thinking Charles married out of his league. Sure, he was all set to be king (how’s that working out for him now?), but she was definitely the looker of the two. And her memory is probably going to be better remembered for her charity work and the way she died.

Oh well.

Flash forward 30 years and now we have another wedding. Luckly, this time we have the internet….a wonderful thing that exposes all things booze to commemorate this event-

First, it’s no secret that I am a Whisky man…so we have the English Whisky Company producing a commemorative decanter containing whisky aged in a red wine cask. What makes this distillery interesting is that Prince Charles opened it in 2007. This date, 4 years earlier, coupled with the quote “It has got remarkable quality and has nearly sold out, but we are getting some more in the next few weeks” tells me that either the maturation process is lacking or they outsource their whisky and this is just another marketing ploy. At £65, I shant be buying any.

Next up, we have Macallan jumping onto the Royal Commemorative Bandwagon. I will say up front that I like the Macallan line and at least they have a precedent for this. They produced a special bottle in 1981 that was a blend of two casks…both from the birth years of the newlyweds. This quickly sold out and is very collectable to this day.

This time around, they will be creating a blend bottled on April 29th from two casks (a 1996 and 1999). Bottled at 46.8%, “the single malt gives abundant wood spices combining with orange zest, floral and barley to produce a creamy overtone”.

This one could be interesting, but at £150, a little out of my price range.

Meanwhile, on the Cocktail front - the great folks over at Pusser’s Rum (an S&B Favorite HERE and HERE) have two cocktails using their fine rum-

Also, we have the “Official Cocktail of the Royal Wedding-

The Regal CV Cocktail- A mix of Chambord Flavored Vodka, cucumber, fresh organic raspberries and fresh squeezed lemon juice.

Over at The Martini Diva Blog, we have the

Royal Coconut Martini- 1ox Gordon’s Gin

• 1tsp. Coconut Cream
• 1oz Curry Infused Coconut Milk
• 1 Tbsp Lavender Honey (to taste)
• 1/2 oz Earl grey tea (Cold)
• Splash of Lime Juice
• 1tsp Curry Powder
• 1/3 C. Sugar Crystals
• 1 Tea Biscuit
• Candied Tudor Rose Petals

Yes, she calls this a Martini and you will have to go to the blog itself to see how to put it together. First, because I am to lazy to type all the instructions and secondly because TheMartiniDiva has copy written the image she has it imbedded on (really?). Personally, this seems like something I would see on Sex in the City (IF I ever watched the show), so I won’t be making it anytime soon.

Finally, we have the best marketing deal of the whole shebang. Sent to me by constant reader (and long time BoozeBuddy) Glenn – Royal Virility Performance Beer, a beer laced with Viagra. I think anyone marketing to the wedding really needs to step back and see how this is done. Remember how I said that now we have the internet…..this is how you play to going viral. Well done Brewdog Brewery. We blogged about you earlier this year (Sink the Bismark), but this time you win the 2011 Smokes and Booze Marketing Award (as soon as Glenn does one up) for this great idea. Keep up the great work.

In closing, I’m sure there are 1000s of other Smokes and Booze items out there pertaining to the wedding. If you run across anything, just post it in the comments section below. We can all use a laugh.

Cheers-

The United States of GOOD Beer

Submitted by Reader and Long Time Friend Jenn, she correctly points out the original story (United States of Beer) had some poor quality stuff showing.

She stumbled across this awsome map and passed it along. Give it a click and see if your state’s representitive beer is a good call or not.

Let us know.

Cheers

Tolkien and Beer

I’m going to go out on a limb here and name JRR as the Official Author of Smokes and Booze.

I’ve been reading the Hobbit and LOTR series almost longer than I can remember. Mike introduced me to the books (while I nudged him to Forrester and the Hornblower novels) when we were kids, and we have spent countless hours discussing these books and their meanings.

From the great Rankin and Bass Cartoon in 1977 to the upcoming Hobbit feature, I’ve been captivated by the world of Middle Earth.

James’ first movie (yes, I even bought him a ticket for us to have seat for his carrier) was the Fellowship of the Ring Midnight premier.

I’ve enjoyed tales of Pubs and Inns, Pipeweed and Beer, and even Miruvor.

I cried when I saw they omitted the Scourging of the Shire from the Movies (obviously due to Peter Jackson inexcusable killing of Sauruman).

You could say I am a Tolkien Geek.

So, to hear Professor Tolkien say (in his own words) how he enjoys a good beer and smoking……man, that is icing on the cake. It even makes the line in Fellowship (the movie) even funnier, when Merry says “It comes in PINTS”.

Anyway, here is the vid- Jump to the 11:20 Mark if you just care about the beer and smoking, but the video itself (and the 2nd part of the series which is also below) is worth the time.

Greatest Arcade Game EVER

Do you like driving style arcade games? Do you like Beer? Do you have an extra $6K laying around? Then allow me to introduce the Octane 120 Pro Beer Arcade.

From Fox News-

Who said you can't drink and drive?

Not only does the Octane 120 Beer Arcade Machine ($6,000) support it, it even includes a kegerator behind the rear seat — with a secondary tap in the dash — so you don't have to pull over to get a refill.

Other features include leather wrapping on the fully adjustable, force-feedback steering wheel and on the seat, metal gas, clutch, and brake pedals, a Full HD projector up front, an integrated gaming PC with 200 racing and arcade video games and PS3 connectivity for good measure, a conveniently placed cup holder, and the ability to swerve with impunity.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/04/16/gamers-delight-beer-fueled-arcade-machine/#ixzz1JitGdCeL

Quote of the day

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day. – Greg Pine

Brewmaster Pees in Beer Glasses

Considering that Goose Island Brewery just sold out to InBev/Anheuser-Busch, maybe the Brewmaster was practicing serving AB Products.

Brewmaster apologizes for bar pee

CHICAGO, April 12 (UPI) -- The brewmaster of Chicago's Goose Island brewery apologized for urinating into beer glasses while standing on a bar during a birthday party.

Brewmaster Greg Hall, 45, whose family's Goose Island brewery was recently purchased by Anheuser-Busch for $38 million, said he was highly intoxicated Friday when he stood on the bar at Bangers & Lace and urinated into two beer glasses, the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday.

Hall said his memory of the incident is incomplete due to his intoxication level, but he admitted it happened.

"I did what I did and I take responsibility for it," he said.

"I feel awful. I wouldn't stand [for] it if someone did it at my place or if one of my people did something like that."

Matty Eggleston, the Bangers & Lace bartender who cleaned up the mess, said he does not accept the apology.

"It was disgusting, vile and revolting," he said. "We all do dumb things; that went to a level that was pure insult."

However, Bangers & Lace co-owner Matt Eisler said the establishment is taking "the high road."

"You can imagine we're not happy, but an apology has been offered and we'd like to move on," he said. "It's too bad because it started off as a cool night with a bunch of people from Goose coming to our bar to drink beer."

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2011/04/12/Brewmaster-apologizes-for-bar-pee/UPI-82651302643710/#ixzz1JLieGPlP

The Thirst Extinguisher

There are certain points in history where someone does something of pure genius, you  know those times -

• Putting Peanut Butter and Jelly together
• Mixing Barley, Hops and Water
• Opening presents on Christmas Eve
• Breakdancing
• Creating an All Sports Network

The list can go on and on.

Well, today we link to Ben Krasnow….the creator of the “Thirst Extinguisher”.

The Thirst Extinguisher is a slightly modified recycled Fire Extinguisher that has been repurposed to act as a mini-keg. 

BRILLIANT.

Please visit Ben’s Blog and give him a big Thumbs Up.  He deserves it.

Now, we just need to find some ourselves

Cheers

Stout Beer Chicken Thighs (Recipe)

Ha….that almost sounds like a night out in the UK <Wink>.

Anyway, I wanted to post this, as St Pat’s is coming up and what a perfect time to cook with Stout.

I personally will be in LA for a User’s Conference and don’t have time to try this for a few weeks, but there are some more accomplished cooks out there (TommyG, Marsha, Kendra) that would do this better justice than me anyway.  Will any of you three take up the challenge and give this a try?  Send me your pics and I will post.

Enjoy-

Stout beer makes saucy chicken thighs

Braise them with carrots, mushrooms, peas and bacon.

Most health-conscious cooks focus on boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
It makes sense. This ubiquitous piece of the bird is convenient, versatile and virtually fat-free. But there are other options on the same bird. The more flavorful and just as convenient boneless, skinless thighs really should be near the top of your shopping list. Here's why:
While it is true that the humble thigh is fattier than the breast — about 7 grams per 3-ounce cooked portion — that fat brings with it the extra flavor and moisture breasts can so often lack. Plus, the dark meat of the thigh contains the nutritional jackpot of considerably more iron and twice the zinc of white meat.
That extra fat also means it's harder to ruin a chicken thigh recipe, even with quick, high-heat cooking.
Boneless, skinless thighs are just as convenient as breasts, but they do take a bit longer to cook, which makes them well suited to absorb plenty of smokiness on the grill or flavor from a sauce during a stovetop braise.
This recipe for stout-braised chicken thighs, which is perfect for St. Patrick's Day, combines flash browning over high heat and a quick, low-heat braise. By switching around the sauce ingredients, you can turn this method for cooking thighs into an endless variety of dishes
Here, the recipe calls for 3/4 cup of a stout beer and a single strip of chopped bacon to make a smoky, malty sauce that's balanced by the sweetness of peas, carrots and onions, plus the earthiness of mushrooms.
Serve with mashed potatoes or even an Irish colcannon (potatoes mashed with kale or cabbage) to help soak up the sauce.

Stout-braised chicken thighs

Start to finish: 50 minutes (30 minutes active)
Servings: 4.

• 1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons flour, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 slice bacon, finely chopped
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 3/4 cup baby carrots
• 4 ounces mushrooms, halved
• 3/4 cup stout, such as Guinness
• 3/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 3/4 cup frozen baby peas

In a shallow dish, combine 1/4 cup of flour with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and black pepper. Dredge chicken thighs in flour mixture to coat completely, then set on a plate. In a 12-inch, nonstick skillet over medium-high, heat olive oil. Add chicken thighs and cook until well browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a clean plate and set aside.
Add bacon to skillet and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add onion, carrots and mushrooms and saute until vegetables begin to brown, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle remaining 3 tablespoons flour over vegetables and cook, stirring constantly, another 2 minutes.
Add stout and broth to pan and bring to a boil using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from bottom of pan. Return thighs to pan, nestling them among vegetables. Reduce heat until liquid is gently simmering, then cover and cook 15 minutes.
Add peas and cook, covered, for 5 minutes more. Uncover pan and simmer 5 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper and serve chicken with vegetables and sauce spooned over top.
Per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 409 calories; 180 calories from fat (44 percent of total calories); 20 g fat (5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 98 mg cholesterol; 21 g carbohydrate; 31 g protein; 2 g fiber; and 397 mg sodium.

San Tam vs Sam Adams

I’m sorry….but this time I totally side with “the Big Corporation”.

In the following story, we learn of San Tam Brewery, which has decided to copy the patented Sam Adams  Beer Glass. 

<I tried one and even gave it a mention HERE>

San Tam pulls out all the clichés

• “It’s ironic that Sam Adams calls themselves a craft brewery and then goes after a fellow craft brewer”
• “Each one is hand blown by an artisan, the Sam Adams glass is a machined glass”
• “Our base is 40 percent larger, our weight of our glass is 78 percent heavier, our volume is 25 percent bigger”
• “The fact that ours has similarities to Sam Adams I think is coincidental”

How about “We increased the size x25% and totally ripped off the design”. 

Below is the video and you can find the story HERE.  In the end, this is an open and shut case….they ripped of the design and are ignoring the cease and desist.  They will get more business now (which is why I am not back linking) due to the media and in the end, The Boston Beer Company (the GIANT that hold less than 1% of the beer market) will spend tons on defending their intellectual property and Anheuser Busch/InBev laughs all the way to the bank.

 

 

The Flinstones and Busch Beer

I knew of the “Banned” Flinstones cartoons where they pitched Winston Cigarettes, but I never knew they did beer too.

Here are two FULL Cartoons that were sponsored by Busch….this would never fly today.

Cheers

 

Survival Drinking- Coffeepot Beer

It’s actually pretty amazing the odd stuff I run across at 1AM in the morning, and this time I came across an interesting article at Southern Fried Science.

In the article, they describe being on an oceanographic research vessel, and during the long stay at sea….running out of alcohol.

They then go into detail on how to brew beer using ingredients found onboard and a coffee maker.  This is actually pretty ingenious and, even though I am listing the basic steps below, I highly recommend you check out their website for the backstory and full details.

1. Grind up your ‘grains’ (but not so much that it becomes powder).
2. Place your ‘grains’ in coffee pot (not the filter basket, the carafe).
3. Run 2 cups of clean water through coffee maker and let it sit on the hot plate for an hour. This releases all the good chemicals from you ‘grains’ and creates a fluid called wort.
4. Strain the wort through the coffee filter and place the filter full of ‘grain’ into the filter basket. Add the ‘malt’ to the filter basket. Pour the strained liquid back into coffee maker and add 1 cup of water.
5. Run the wort through the coffee maker 5 times, each time adding 1 cup of water.
6. Pour the wort into the saucepan and boil for 45 minutes. Two minutes before boiling is done, add the hops.
7. Carefully pour the wort into the canning jars.
8. Let the wort cool to between 60 and 70 F. Once it is cool enough to touch the outside of the jars without burning, pitched the Bakers’ Yeast into the mixture.
9. Seal jar with a handkerchief and rubber band over the mouth, and let sit for 3 to 5 days.
10. And table spoon of sugar to the jar and seal with the lids, making sure they’re air tight.
11. Store in a cool, dark place where it will not be disturbed for a week

MBT–Stop Number 1- Broadway Brewery

So, about a month ago, I had an idea to start a series of articles regarding the Craft and Micro Breweries of Missouri.  

I think these small time (I don’t mean that derogatory) breweries are really the only thing that keeps us from drinking Budweiser day in and day out (remember, Guinness started this way) and are an essential part of the Missouri culture and economy.

When I felt out my friends, fellow bloggers and a few breweries, I got some instant feedback.  Everyone seemed for it, so we just waited for the perfect minute to strike. 

We had another Brewpub in mind to kick things off, but things didn’t work out as we thought, so…on the spur of the moment, we decided to hit a local…Broadway Brewery in Columbia MO.

                  

Established in 2009, Broadway is one of the newer breweries on the tour.  Focusing on locally produced produce on their menu with a brewpub to boot, the owners felt that Columbia MO could support two Craft Breweries…with both complementing each other vs. directly competing.

A quick look showed us that Sunday was our best bet, with a Signature Brewery Glass and first drink for on $5 and a additional beers for $2.50 (some of the higher end beers would be an additional $1).

We arrived unannounced Sunday Morning and took over a corner of the pub as 6 of us sat down to taste various beers.

As we sat down, various questions came up

• Is this a serious tasting? <I voted that since this was the first, it would be more informal>
• How do we cleanse palettes? <I didn’t know, but researched it for Rex HERE>
• Do we have score sheets? <No, but we are working on being more professional in the future>
• Should we eat while tasting? <Against everything we would later learn regarding palettes, we all voted YES>
• Where is Morton? <He was too depressed to come>

We started out with no rhyme nor reason, and again…this could impact the views here and in the future, we will take a more systematic approach (hey, this was our first time )

Here are the notes from group -

BEER

• Blonde Cream – <TommyG> I like a hoppy beer as much as the next guy, but I would never describe myself as a hop head.  I can and will drink ESBs, APAs, and IPAs and enjoy them; but I much prefer Belgian beer styles that place less emphasis on an overpowering hoppy character.   Perhaps that would explain why I felt that the Blonde Cream was my favorite ...of the day.  Visually it was pleasing, being kind of a cloudy blonde beer and the first that you noticed when you drank it was that it imparted an interesting, almost creamy mouth feel, that almost coated your mouth in a beer-y goodness.  While all of the beers we sampled that morning were tasty, I felt that the Blonde Cream was one that really stood out to me personally.
• ESB – <Rex> Mike and I agreed that the ESB was more like Extra 'Meh' but it did give an opportunity to chat up the server with lame ESP jokes which I'm sure were the first anyone had every heard.
• Dry Stout – <Ed>You can definitely get the taste of roasted coffee and malt. I liked the dryness, but this wouldn’t sit well with me over a three hour bender.
• Alt Bier - Awaiting other input
• Double IPA –  Awaiting other input
• <Ed>From nose to finish, this is for the hopheads. Little disappointed that this was served in a snifter vs a Pint glass, but I can somewhat understand the desire to hold some of the hoppy aromas in with a taper so that your nose is directly in there for full enjoyment. A little darker than I expected, the flavors really come through as the flowery/grassy notes really step out. This and the Winter Strong were my two favorites.
• Imperial Stout – <Ed> Upon initial tasting, it was the general consensus that this tasted just like Guinness (the non-Nitrogen bottled version). No that there is anything wrong with Guinness, it’s my favorite beer, but it was not what was expected nor as advertised. Later, when meeting with the brew master, he checked and found that the taps had been mislabeled with Schlafly Imperial Stout. Easy mistake. Served in a snifter glass, the beer has a great color and aroma. The advanced flavors of caramels and malts work well, but the hint of hops is a little off-putting. While a good beer, I would pour this by the pint instead of the snifter to make it more worth the price.
• One of the menu items that was not available on tap was the Winter Strong Ale.  It was currently in the fermenting process.  Paul was kind enough to draw off some of the wort and let us get a preview-
  • Winter Strong Ale- <Ed>While still not properly aged; this would be the beer I would gravitate to here at Broadway Brewery. Sweeter than I expected (although not sticky sweet like a Barley Wine), I got hints of fruit (Blackberry) and nuts with great mouth feel. Would love to try this when fully matured.

BREWERY TOUR-                                  

Both TommyG and I did get a few moments with the Brew master Paul, and he was kind enough to take us on a quick tour of the brewery.

While smaller than I expected, it was efficient and seemed to handle the demand (400 Barrels a year) for them. 

I was particularly surprised to learn how much Paul’s Assistant Brew master handles some of the brewery process itself.  Far too often, the assistant is not much more than a cleaning lackey, so this is a testament of them cutting their teeth at the same time and learning from experience.  This can only bode well for the future.

In talking with Paul, we learned that the brewery is a second job for him (thus the involvement of the assistant), that he got his start as a home brewer, Broadway Brewery is a sponsor of the True/False Film Festival (hosting the Director’s Dinner) and that they have a vision of expansion…with a plan if need be.

<TommyG> Paul the Brew master admitted openly to being a hophead to Ed and Myself when we were touring his brewing equipment.  That would explain why almost all of the beer offerings were a little too hoppy for my taste.  I drank them all, and enjoyed them all, but I felt a little more variety could be a good thing here.  I get that he is trying to embrace the American brewing style of spiking everything with bitter hops, but its just not my thing.  I think an addition of a milder beer, like a British Style brown ale or a wheat beer could have replaced one either the ESB, APA or IPA and it would improved the portfolio.

FOOD -

<Ed>I personally won’t get into the food (if Debi wants to start her own Food Blog, I would happily support her), other than…while there were a few problems, there was no food left on plates when we were done.  I will commend the manager for a free round when he heard of the shortcomings, as it is this time of engagement that can make or break a restaurant/pub.

<TommyG> So, you go to their website, and trying to read the menu is a disaster.  They really could have done a better job with posting it online.  Even worse?  There are no prices posted online.  That is because while their food isn’t crazy expensive, its priced a little too high for what you get.  Don’t get me wrong, everything is very tasty, and made very well.  It just doesn’t seem like a great bang for the buck.  When I want light pub fair, I don’t want it to be too heavy on the wallet.  And I also expect the food to be made right.  That morning we ordered eggs, 1 order over medium; 1 sunny side up; and one over easy.  There was not anything cooked easy about the eggs.  All of the yolks were cooked hard, and that was just simply not how we ordered them.  That being said, we all ate them with a smile because it was simply delicious; but it was not how we ordered it.  Their dinner menu also feels a little small.  I can always find something on it to order, but I could never shake the feeling that I only had half a menu and that there was another menu with better options on it that someone wasn’t sharing with me.  Food overall 3 out of 5.  A passing grade, but…

<Debi> I ate it, but only because it was there, and I was drinking.  If I ever go back, I will definitely eat first

AMBIANCE and SETTING -

<Ed>On Sundays, they have live music, that was quite honestly nothing short of excellent.  All Proceeds from donations go to a charity that is near and dear to us, so that was a big plus.

<TommyG> Broadway Brewery wins big when it comes to the ambiance.  Located in a basement section of Downtown Columbia, it utilizes its space perfectly.  It is cozy without feeling crowded, the lighting is subdued without ever feeling dim and claustrophobic.  The décor leans heavily towards exposed brick and polished wood and while a little bland, they manage to pull it off.  Our waitress was excellent; friendly, prompt, and helpful. The live music they had that day was fantastic, an Irish string ensemble and they provided the perfect backdrop to the afternoon.  My only beef with the place is the men's room.  It is cramped and they shoved too many toilets into too small of a space.  When you are dropping about $20/person for dinner and drinks you don’t want to be crowded in the bathroom.  Another two or three feet of linear space (or removing a urinal) would have made all the difference.

<Mike> LIVE BAND!!!

<Debi> Gave this a rating of 5 with the Band- They were awesome

<Rex> The bacon was perfect enough to make up for any problems I might have had with the food.

FINAL COMMENTS-

<ED> Overall, as with any place, there were some good and bad, but in the end…it’s all about hanging with friends and experiencing new things. The story regarding the Imperial Stouts being swapped will stick with me for some time, and I really liked the atmosphere.  While small, the brewery meets current needs, and it holds a good spot behind the bar to view.  The bar itself contains the basics of a pub, although I will add that I like the “Guest Tap” idea they currently have going.  This way you can get alternative samplings from other breweries from Tap vs. a Bottle.  Other than the Schlafly mistake, I sampled

• Pear Cider – The nose of this was sweet and inviting.  Flashing me back to my youth, it smelled of Sweet Tarts (not your typical term) and Pears.  (Very) Dry and refreshing, this in itself would make a great palette cleanser between beers.  To bad we found it late in the session.

The hardest thing is rating this brewery…as CoMO also has Flatbranch, one of the best in the nation.  This would be a struggle for any up and coming establishment, but I think Broadway is holding it’s own.  If you go in with an open mind, I definitely think you would find something on the beer menu to satisfy you.  Give them a few years, and they could be a contender.

<TommyG> Giving it an average score of 3.16 / 5.  I can live with that.  I enjoyed myself, and I plan to go to Broadway Brewery again in the near future.

<Mike> A reasonable variety for a small brewery, with a good supplemental selection from other small brewers. 

<Debi> I rated the house beers a 2 (because they all tasted alike – like too much hops) and the Guest Tap 4 (A good variety of interesting beers).

<Rex> Overall I was very satisfied, my only real complaint is that they understandably can't maintain that large a selection of house beers. This problem could easily be remedied by using the slots available for a wider variety.

SCORECARD – I am still waiting on feedback from the others on their rating.  I guess this is the number 1 lesson learned….collect scorecards on the day of the event.  Check back later for their feedback as well.

Broadway Brewery can be found between 8th and 9th Streets at 816 East Broadway in the center of downtown Columbia and they can be followed on Facebook (HERE) or on Twitter (@BBintheDistrict).

Another reason to hate the Seahawks

If you needed another reason to hate the Seattle Seahawks, although S&B completely back Golden Tate and John Carlson, then just look how they rip you off on beer prices.

Probably the greatest invention EVER

We’ve all been there, and you know it’s true.

You go to a bar, buy a round of beer, carry it back to the table and notice that one of the glasses is lower than the other.  USUALLY, as the buyer, you take that beer for yourself and think….it’s cant be that much…..RIGHT?

Well, wrong.  And this is proven by a great invention called “The Beer Gauge”.

Invented by Chris Holloway and marketed under the tagline of “Don’t get short poured again at a bar”, the Beer Guage is a credit card sized device that measures from the top of a pint glass and tell you what percentage of the beer is missing….often with surprising results.

At the website, Chris get’s into the theory, and I particularly like how he points out in Europe that all the glasses have a specific line they must fill too.  This is so true and something I have felt the US should  have been doing since 1776.  Even the German Maas Glass served at fests SHOULD be served up the the band at the top (although I still remember the commotion I started with Connie and Mike when I sent one back at Oktoberfest). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is probably the best drinking invention I have seen in a long time and it gets 1000% of the Smokes and Booze endorsement.  I’ve ordered mine today….and you should too.