SF 2088, originally set to be signed today, March 8, has been stalled until Wednesday, March 10. The high-alcohol provision will be effective immediately, allowing these beers to be purchased as soon as the law is signed and licenses can be purchased.
Month: March 2010
Quelque Chose
- Quelque Chose
I just tried Quelque Chose, from Unibroue, in Chambly, Quebec, Canada. It is labeled as “50% Dark Ale, 50% Brown Ale brewed with cherries”.
It reminded me more of a cherry wine than a beer, mostly due to its slight acidity and very low carbonation. It smelled of cherries, and had a very strong cherry character. It was a good beer that would be nice served warm and/or over ice.
Have you tried Quelque Chose? What did you think?
SF 2088 Set to Be Signed Monday
According to several sources, the large Iowa Government Reorganization Bill, SF 2088, is set to be signed by Gov. Chet Culver on Monday. This includes the “Iowa Beer Equity Law“, and would allow 12% ABW beer to be brewed by in-state brewers and allows beer wholesalers to sell “high-alcohol” beer.
Beer of the Day: Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA
Today I bring you the Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA (7.2% ABV), brewed & bottled by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico California. The beer has an Amber body that reveals little carbonation. When properly poured, a 2 inch white foamy head appears, exactly how an IPA should look.
The Torpedo opens with a piney hop bite that slowly dissipates, replaced by an orange-y sweet sourness with nice full malt overtones. The alcohol content makes it quite a “warming” beer. Toward the end of the taste, there is a sense of brown sugar, and the rich hoppiness appears again towards the end that slowly fades into an easy finish that creates a lingering citrus bitterness.
All-in-all, the Torpedo Extra IPA is another pretty enjoyable beer.
Have you tried Sierra Nevada’s Torpedo?
The Beer Glass Makes a Difference
If you are a fan of beer, you may notice many beer brands have their own glass. Many Belgian-style beers, and the Guinness & Co. Brewery have created their own types of glasses. They claim the glass makes a difference. Within the past few years, Jim Koch of the Boston Beer Company, the makers of Samuel Adams, hired a company, TIAX, to help them develop the perfect beer glass (shown to the right, click for a larger picture) to showcase the Boston Lager. From their website:
The key requirements for the perfect glass for Samuel Adams Boston Lager included: delivering sweetness from the malt; maximizing the hops aroma and flavor; maintaining the ideal temperature; supporting a rich and creamy head; and sustaining the right amount of carbonation.
Many restaurants have begun using this glass to serve their Samuel Adams Boston Lager.
So, do these glasses make a difference?
I recently tried the perfect glass/Boston Lager combination at a local restaurant, and I have to agree, it made my Boston Lager better. Since this experience, I have used a goblet, tulip glass, wheat beer glass, pilsner glass, or even a wine glass to drink many of the different beers I purchase, and it has made my beer more enjoyable.
So, what of the common tapered pint glass? It has been said that it was intended to mix drinks, and was never meant to dispense a beer. So the next time you want to relax with a beer, a pint glass is better than out of the bottle, but the proper glass is even better and makes a world of difference.
Want to try it for yourself? The next time you visit your local Applebee’s or Red Lobster, ask for a Samuel Adams Boston Lager in the Samuel Adams glass. Let us know what you think!