Alt ternative to kolsch

As Kolsch beer is the signature brew of Cologne, Altbier (or Alt) is the signature brew of Duesseldorf.  A relative of kolsch, alt beer is also an ale, but as this ale is traditionally lagered in wooden barrels, it developes a crisper, cleaner flavor and has a deeper color than a pale ale.  Frankenheim Alt is relatively easy to find in the states, and a fine introduction to the style.  It has a nutty, roasted carmel bouquet with a hint of dryness.  It has a smooth, creamy mouthfeel and a clean finish.  The toasted malt is the first flavor to grace the tongue, followed by a light hoppy dryness.  There is even a hint of grape, reminiscent of Warsteiner Dunkel.  If you like crisp, brown ales, this is the beer for you.

What the heck is a kolsch beer?

I’m glad you asked.  Kolsch beer (hang an umlaut over the o) is a beer style brewed in Cologne, Germany, and is reproduced here as well.  It is a straw yellow, clear ale, top-fermented and cold-conditioned, and it has a prominent hoppy character, although not overpowering.  It is similar in appearance to a pilsner, but tastes a wee bit sweeter, with fruity overtones.  It should be served in a tall, thin, straight glass, known as a Stange in Germany.  Perfect for a warm summer day.  No get out there and drink some!

Here Comes the Summer!

It may seem that I spend a lot of time at Trader Joe’s.  In fact, I do, so it is with great pleasure that I share this review with you.  Joseph’s Brau Summer Brew is a Kolsch-style beer that is true to the style.  It is a medium gold ale with a fluffy white head and lots of lacing.  The carbonation is average at best, and the malitiness in the bouquet is very appealing, with a touch of hops thrown in as well.  Texture is nice and smooth with some graininess evident.  Flavors are well balanced, finishing slightly bitter.  The hops may be a tad soapy tasting, noticeable in the finish.  Not a bad brew, but it’s no Reissdorf.  I think Goose Island’s Kolsch-style beer is better as well; not as bitter, not as soapy.

White Beer fit for a Monarch

Not affiliated with the old Monarch Brewing Co. of Chicago

I’ll tell you what…it’s great to have such fine breweries in the Chicagoland area, such as 3 Floyds, Metropolitan and Two Brothers.  Brewed in in March in celebration of their anniversary, Monarch White Beer by Two Brothers is a Belgian-style witbier, and a good one at that.  It is a bit more golden in color than I expected, but that’s not a bad thing.  It holds it head well and features some lively carbonation.  The bouquet is great, with mild spices, citrus and a yeasty, hoppy whiff to decorate your nose.  The taste follows that pattern as well, while displaying good texture, mouthfeel and balance.  The malt can be appreciated best in the finish.  This brew is light enough to be very drinkable, without displaying any thinness of character.  You may or may not want to pour the yeast in the bottom of the bottle.  It makes it slightly more bitter if you do.  Hang a star on that one, DJ!

More quality from Joe.

I have never doubted the quality of Trader Joe’s offerings.  That doesn’t mean that I like them all, but for the most part, Joe can find brewers.  I recently tried Trader Jose’s Dark Premium Lager (remember when premium meant you paid a tax on something, not that it was of a superior quality?  I don’t either, I was born in ‘63), and found it comparible to Negra Modelo, which is one of the best Vienna style lagers I know.  Jose’s is brewed in Mexico, adding to its authenticy.  It pours orange-brown with lots of carbonation and a head that hangs around.  There’s a good caramel whiff in the bouquet and a bit of yeast as well.  The hop character is a touch on the…stinky side.  There is a hint of grain heretoo, maybe corn.  There is plenty of lacing, and a smooth, pleasnat flavor with mild coffee notes in the finish, follwed by more yeast and hops, this time more floral.  This beer would be great with spicy foods, as it very drinkable and not at all heavy.  It would cut through frijoles and extinguish medium hot peppers rather nicely.  Bien trabajo, Jose!

Memories left behind

Beck's served here.

Remember when Beck’s beer was your only exposure to a foreign beer?  For me it was about 1983 and it was Beck’s or Heineken.  There was no Mexican beer, no Guinness, no nothin’, just Old Style, Miller High Life and those two exotic offerings from afar.  Just as I chose the White Sox over Cubs because of Bill Melton and Dick Allen a decade earlier, I chose Beck’s over Heineken, largely because of the scene in Das Boot when they are leaving on their mission and the sub is packed with sausages and Beck’s.  I loved that movie, what can I say.  But just as the sausages mouldered, the beer was rationed and the denizen’s of Jurgen Prochnow’s vessel grew ratty beards and started flicking boogers on each other, my beer world became more complex as I was introduced to such brews as Moosehead, Schaefer, Tucher Hefe Weizen and that most exotic of all beers to the folks east of the mighty Mississippi, Coors.  The appeal of Beck’s sunk much like Das Boot in it’s French mooring.  Where is this going?  Well, I bought a case of Beck’s this weekend at Sam’s Club, as it was the best they had to offer, sadly.  Man, that stuff is really kind of bland.  It’s not bad, and I could certainly go through a few quickly on a hot summer day, but I’m so glad that my horizons have broadened and my south side sensibilities have matured.  Beck’s may have fueled the Kriegsmarines, but for my money, I’ll take any one of a number of domestic offering and leave the Beck’s for the hoi polloi.

Best to leave the pumpkins to the pie bakers.

I’ve had two bottles of Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale in my fridge since October.  A friend brought a 12 pack to our Halloween party.  I got tired of seeing them there, so I finally decided to try one.  This beer poured amber/copper and a floated a decent, consistent head, left good lacing and produced a fair amount of carbonation.  The bouquet hit my nose in this order:  malt, hops, spices, butterscotch…and plastic.  The texture was full and smooth, and the mouthfeel was nice.  There was a bit of caramel in the malt, lighly sweet, and the spice was not overpowering, but that hint of plastic remained in the finish.  I didn’t finish this one, and won’t try it again.  The other bottle left in the fridge…I’ll dump it and fill the space with something good.

This Harvest Moon will not shine on.

Disclaimer

The Beerbliographer doesn’t encourage or advocate underage drinking.  The Beerbliographer supports designated drivers and responsible drinking.  Let’s keep it fun for everyone.

Ordinary is correct.

Setting the bar medium

Frugal Joe’s Ordinary Beer certainly lives up to it’s name.  I think the price for a 6-pack of 12 oz. bottles is good at $4.99 though.  The stuff they are selling at the Trader Joe’s in Westmont was brewed by Steinhaus Brewing in New Ulm, MN.  The bouquet is grainy with a slight hop presence.  It is a crystal clear, light gold brew with plenty of carbonation but little retention of the fleeting white head.  The flavor is mild but balanced:  you can’t find the hops or the malt.  The texture is not too thin, surprisingly, and there is a touch of tartness in the finish.  It’s pleasant, but average.  I don’t think it’s trying to be anything else, and at that it succeeds.

I didn’t know Eyetalians liked beer

Sure I did, but I haven’t had much of it, and can only think of 2 brands off the top of my head.  But last night, my wife had (she let me taste it) a fantastic dopplebock, namely Moretti La Rossa.  It’s dark with a tan head that leaves plenty of lacing.  Plenty of alcohol too, at 7.2%, but it was smooth nonetheless, with a full mouthfeel.  Nice roasted barley notes and a spiciness reminiscent of licorice, but not so much that it is offensive.  It definitely rates up there with the good Bavarian doppelbocks and I’d say this is worth seeking out.  It would compliment a hearty, flavorful  Italian meal, too.  Find a driver if you’re going to have 2 or more.