Thoughts on Beer

Today was the dawn of a new era in Iowa beer.  The signing of SF 2088 occurred today. This allows Iowa Brewers to create “high-proof” beers, and allows wholesalers to distribute such beers.

Ayinger Celebrator

Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock (6.7% ABV) From Ayinger: A beer that has a dominant malty taste. This beer’s origins in a monk’s recipe are reflected in its heartiness.  A well known Austrian journalist and leading German language specialist on beer, Conrad Seidl, describes it as: “Almost black with a very slight red tone, a sensational, festive foam and truly extraordinary fragrance that at first summons up visions of greaves lard. The first taste is of mild fullness with an accompanying coffee tone, which becomes more dominant with the aftertaste. There is very little of the sweetness that is frequently to be tasted with doppelbock beer.”  The Ayinger Celebrator has been ranked among the best beers of the world by the Chicago Tasting Institute several times and has won numerous platinum medallions in competition.

Have you tried Ayienger Celebrator?  What did you think?

Sofie

Sofie from Goose Island, made in Chicago,  is a 80% Belgian style ale blended with 20% Belgian style ale aged in wine barrels with orange peel.  At the start, it smells fruity, kind of like peach. It is very effervescent, and tastes very orange-y and peachy. It was served at 60 degrees, and had a slight Belgian yeast flavor.  It was a very delicious beer, and is my favorite of the three Belgian-style Goose Island beers distributed in Iowa: Pere Jacques, Matilda, and Sofie.

From their website, it is for lovers of the saison style, and uses Amarillo hops, which may be the main reasons I enjoy this so much.

Have you tried Sofie?  Which one is your favorite: Pere Jacques, Matilda, or Sofie?

Weihenstephaner Korbinian Doppelbock

Today’s beer of the Weihenstephaner Korbinian Doppelbock (7.4% ABV), brewed & bottled by Bay. Staats-Brauerei Weihenstephan, Freising, Germany. This Korbinian is a hearty, malt-driven doppelbock (or “double bock”.) The Beer offers complex, roasted malt aromas of coffee, chocolate, caramel, bread and raisins, and delivers plenty of malt – with notes of peppery spice, alcohol and hop bitterness – on the palate. At the same time, this smooth, creamy, medium-to-full-bodied beer is eminently drinkable and highly regarded by lovers of the style.

If you feel the urge to do a comparison, I would suggest you try the Ayinger Celebrator (it has the little goat charm) and see which comes out on top.

If you’ve tried the Korbinian, let me know what you think. I’ve really enjoyed all of the Weihenstephaner beers.

*Side note: The Weihenstephaner Brewery opened back in 1040 making it the worlds oldest brewery.

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.