Beer distribution

I ran across a great article on a fellow beer lover's blog. It deals with beer distribution and how it really hurts the little guy. Check it out and complete the survey, we need to join together to get the three tiered system changed.

http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/distribution/wheres-my-beer-1102610/


I want to add, obviously I haven't been posting much at all recently. I want everyone to know that I am trying to get back on track but I recently was promoted to Beer Manager at my store. I pretty much go to work then do some "research" when I get home. I'm lucky to do this job in a state where it is allowed that breweries can self distribute to liquor stores but things still need to change. 

Great American Beer Festival - From the Other Side

So over the weekend I did something that I had never done before. Don't get me wrong, living in Denver I have been to the Great American Beerfest plenty of times, but this time I volunteered. If you are unfamiliar with the GABF then I am guessing that you're probably not much of a beer geek.

The GABF is the largest beer festival in America; where American breweries can showcase their beers and compete against other breweries around the country. It is not only for the little guys, the big three compete as well. The only stipulation is that the brewery must be located in our great nation.

Imagine a large convention center filled with rows and rows of tables. Upon those tables are pitcher after pitcher of beers brewed from coast to coast. Upon entry you are given a tasting glass where you can taste as little or as many beers that you want. You get the idea...

I was chosen to pour in the Rocky Mountain region and wound up standing in front of New Planet Brewing out of Boulder, Colorado. I am not gluten intolerant nor do I follow a gluten free lifestyle, however I found it quite the perfect match seeing as I want to bring in more gluten free variety to my store and I had never run across their beer before.

About 15 minutes before doors opened our team captains came by and said we could start filling the pitchers and taste some of the beers from our region. Quite a necessary step when hundreds of people are going to come up to you and ask about a beer you may have never even tasted before. I was expecting something not quite up to my liking with what I was pouring but was greatly impressed with my tasting of the New Planet offerings. Tread Lighty was a nice light summery ale that was much better than some of the other gluten free offerings I have tasted before, and their 3R Raspberry Ale was a fruit beer that was perfectly done. The raspberry flavor was fresh and slightly tart and didn't leave a syrupy sweet feeling as a lot of fruit beers tend to do. This is a beer that would easily sell to the masses that can consume gluten. I tasted some others around my area and got ready for the crowds to rush in.

The hoards of beer lovers began to show up in front of the table and the pouring began. 1 ounce and 1 ounce only was really the only rule to follow and it was one of the easiest jobs I have done. The best part about volunteering is that you are allowed breaks where you can go and try beers from different regions.

I was able to meet some great people. Not only the costumed masses, (above was a couple completely covered in denim) but was able to network with some of the brewers competing at the event. Pedro and Seneca Gonzalez, the owner/brewers of New Planet were probably some of the nicest people I have ever met. Pedro being extremely sensitive to gluten, left his former life as a non-profit accountant to live his dream of brewing great beer for the people who share his love of beer but cannot drink it. Not even a year in they have grown greatly. Not too long ago they were selling the beer out of the back of his truck but now have established themselves with a local distributor and are growing greatly in this region. As I can attest to, good things happen to great people. Pedro and Seneca walked away with a Bronze medal for their 3R Raspberry Ale in the Gluten Free category. The most amazing part is this beer was only released to the public in the last few months. I am excited to try to gluten free pale ale they were telling me about; it is being developed and will be released shortly.

It was a great experience and will probably only volunteer at the GABF from now on. My favorite beer from the day was probably The Lost Abbey's Red Poppy Ale but I pretty much enjoyed everything I was able to try. The only disappointment about the festival is I think the medals should be a little bigger (Seneca is wearing theirs in the above picture).

Click here for a list of winners at the GABF

Beer Review: Left Hand Brewing Co - Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest

This beer is available each autumn in celebration of the great Bavarian festival season. Brewed in late spring and cellared throughout the summer, our Oktoberfest is produced through traditional methods as it has been for centuries in Germany, This copper-hued lager owes its rich malt flavor to a generous combination of select Vienna and Munich malts. Cool, open-fermentation develops a subtle elegance and drinkability suited to any festive occasion.
2000 to 2009 vintages - 6% abv
2010 vintage - 6.6% abv

Appearance: Pours a crystal clear and perfect copper color. Head starts at about one finger but reduces to just over the head leaving a nice thick white layer over the top. Carbonation bubbles dance their way up sustaining the head.

Aroma: Very rich malt aroma highlighting toasty, bready, and subdued caramel malts. Some earthiness is evident but no hop nose can be found. A tiny bit of sweet fruit can also be picked up in the nose. A very nice smelling malt driven beer.

Flavor: Flavor is a bit more subdued than I expected after smelling this beer. Malt and bread are the most dominate profile in this beer. Toastiness makes itself present near the middle of the sip, while caramel malts and noble hops are the undertone throughout. Slight hop bitterness drys this beer out as the sip ends.

Mouthfeel: Low body with medium carbonation. Somewhat watery but broken up with a carbonic bite.

Overall: Seems like a pretty typical American style Oktoberfest. The beer is malt driven and showcases the profiles of Munich and Vienna malts. The body is a bit low for the style and would benefit somewhat from a little more residual sugars. I like that this beer is pretty dry, which may be a small reason why the body lacks. Something I would probably pick up over Sam Adams Oktoberfest but have tasted better festbiers from other American breweries. 

Beer Review: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co - Tumbler

Tumbler

As the nights grow cool, the leaves on the valley oaks begin to turn and fall. In honor of this yearly dance, we bring you Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale and invite you to enjoy the show. We use malt within days of roasting at the peak of its flavor to give Tumbler a gracefully smooth malt character. So pour a glass, and grab a window seat to watch as the leaves come tumbling down. 

alcohol content: 5.5% by volume	yeast: Ale Yeast
beginning gravity: 13.6 Plato	bittering hops: Challenger
ending gravity: 3.5 Plato bitterness units: 37	finishing hops: Challenger & Yakima Goldings
malts: Two-row Pale, Crystal, Chocolate & Smoked

Appearance: Pours a nice brown, a little bit lighter than a Hershey bar. Crystal clear with a slightly off white head that sticks at about one finger. The lacing is stupendous and sticks around the full rim of the glass.

Aroma: The aroma is a little light but malt driven. Roasted, nutty, and some sweet caramel show themselves. A tinge bit of smoke reminds me of sitting by a wood burning stove.

Flavor: Flavor very much resembles the nose. There is more flavor than the aroma would suggest, starting off with rich roasted malt and some sweet caramel. Toasted nuts covered in slightly burnt sugar start to come forward near the middle of the sip. Earthy somewhat herbal hops are also present which balance very very well with the profile of this beer. The sip ends with a touch of sweetness and a touch of smoke.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low carbonation. Feels fluffy in the mouth and goes down smooth.

Overall: I was once angry with Sierra Nevada for discontinuing their Spring ESB for the (not as good) Glissade bock. They have redeemed themselves to me with this new Fall offering. Out of every Fall seasonal I have reviewed these past few days, this is the one that really exemplifies the Fall season. With each sip I can imagine the trees starting to turn and the neighbors starting to burn their leaf piles. The touch of smoke is what I really think puts this beer over the edge. Smoked malt is a touchy thing to play with but they really got it right in this beer. I highly recommend going out and getting yourself a 6 pack of this, so you can try it for yourself.  

Beer Review: Boulevard Brewing Company - Bob's '47 Oktoberfest

 Bob's '47 Oktoberfest

Our fall seasonal beer, Bob’s ’47 Oktoberfest is a medium-bodied, dark amber brew with a malty flavor and well-balanced hop character. With this Munich-style lager we salute our friend Bob Werkowitch, Master Brewer and graduate of the U.S. Brewer’s Academy, 1947.

Color (EBC)	29.5
Bitterness (IBUs)	27
Original Gravity (Plato)	13.6
Terminal Gravity (Plato)	2.6
Alcohol (ABV)	5.8%
CO2 - Bottles	2.6 vol. (5.1 g/L)
CO2 - Kegs	2.5 vol. (5.0 g/L)

Appearance: Pours Amber to a very light brown with a head at almost a finger. Head quickly dissipates to almost nothing. Carbonation bubbles break the stillness at the top. 

Aroma: Aroma is filled with caramel, toffee, and some nuttiness comes through. Bready notes are subdued with malt and butterscotch showing themselves.

Flavor: A very caramel malt focused beer. Toffee, butterscotch, peanuts, honey, maple syrup, and bread can all be detected. Bitterness becomes evident at the end and rounds out the high amount of sweet malt. The beer finishes lager crisp but sweet. A slight bit of noble and earthy hop flavor can be distinguished near the end. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body. with medium to high carbonation. Creamy until carbonic bite breaks it up.

Overall: Not perfectly to style if judging by BJCP standards. Rather than bready/toasty/malty grain, this beer really showcases caramel malts. Carbonation is also a bit high for the style. When looking away from style this beer is quite interesting for those who like sweeter beers. Seems to me somewhat like an english brown without the dark malts and with crisp lager characteristics. I like it and think it is one of the better offerings from Boulevard.

Beer Review: New Belgium Brewery - Hoptober

 

Hoptober

 

Five hops and four malts make Hoptober Golden Ale a veritable cornucopia of the earth.  Pale and wheat malt are mashed with rye and oats to create a medium-bodied ale with a creamy mouthfeel.
Centennial, Cascade, Sterling, Willamette, and Glacier hops form a bonfire of citrus notes, fruity cheers and a bold finale.

Seasonal: August, September, October.
40 IBU
6% ABV

 

Appearance: Crystal clear and golden in color. Large rocky white head diminishes to a half of finger with around the rim lacing.  

Aroma: Sweet fruit hop aroma touching on apricots and tangerines. Light touch of bread malt and wheat. 

Flavor: Strong citrus hop punch up front. The bitterness is subtle and very nice. I taste exotic fruits like pineapple and something like mango on top of a strong citrus component of tangerine and orange. Smooth malt goodness is apparent in the middle of the sip. The beer finishes crisp almost like a lager. Very refreshing. 

Mouthfeel: Low to medium body with medium carbonation. Somewhat creamy with a slight carbonic prickle.

Overall: Something out of the ordinary for a fall seasonal beer. Very refreshing and will get you through that transition period from Summer to Fall. The best thing about this beer is that it showcases hop flavor and not much of the bitterness. The malts accentuate the hop goodness and it leaves you wanting another bottle. Probably my favorite of all of New Belgium's beer lineup. 

Beer Review: Avery Brewing Co - The Kaiser

The Kaiser

Beer Style: Imperial Oktoberfest Lager
Hop Variety: Magnum, Sterling, Tettnang, Hersbrucker
Malt Variety: Two-row barley, Vienna, Munich 10L, m-100, aromatic
OG: 1.080   ABV: 9.3 abv   IBUs: 24
Color: Copper
Availability: One vintage brewed and bottled August 1st of each year. 22oz. bombers, 1/6BBL and 1/2BBL kegs.

The Kaiser sonce said, "Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world." If the Kaiser and his significant other had tipped this bottle, we'd all be "sprechenden Deutsch!" We took all that is good in a traditional Oktoberfest - gorgeous, deep copper sheen, massive malty backbone and spicy, floral, pungent noble hops - then intensified each into this, an Imperial Oktoberfest.

Appearance: Pours a beautiful copper that is crystal clear. Off white head rises strongly but then falls to almost nothing with minimal lacing. 

Aroma: Toasty, biscuity malt up front leading into faint floral and noble hops. Strong bread like component throughout.

Flavor: Toasted bread and thick malt dominate the profile. Hints of dark fruit and burnt sugar also present in the profile. Noble hop presence is there, slightly floral and pleasant. Focused towards the malt but the hop bitterness does a nice job of not making it too much. 

Mouthfeel: High body with medium carbonation. Thick and chewy with a small carbonic bite at the end. 

Overall: Such a great fall beer. Avery, known for taking beers to the next level, has succeeded in making a traditional Oktoberfest take steroids. I really would like to know what a German native would think of this. American's have already ramped up the traditional Oktoberfest that you can get on draft in Germany. I have set a bottle of this aside to age, and look forward to it next year.