The End of Winter

The bad news is, winter is not ending just yet.  Sorry for the misleading title.  The good news is that pitchers and catchers have reported for Spring Training and that spring is on its way, eventually.  On this rainy-changing-to-icy-and-snowy day in Chicago, we baseball fans are switching our attitudes from cold and wet to warm and sunny.  The Cubs seem to have made some good moves in the off season.  That bust named Pryor is now the problem of San Diego.  The White Sox, my beloved White Sox, have not done as much, seemingly, but strengthening the bullpen didn’t hurt.  Getting some new fielders in Nick Swisher, Alexei Ramirez and one of the many Cabreras gives me some hope as well.  Now if Detroit and Cleveland can falter a bit I think we have a chance.  At least a chance of being better than last year.  Hope springs eternal, and I have eternally high hopes for a good spring.  Play Ball!

Last of the Poles

I’ve finally exhausted my supply of Polish beer.  I opened the last one last night, and am sorry to say I couldn’t enjoy it.  I’ve been sick for over a week, and I can’t taste or smell anything.  I think I poured the beer for the visual appeal, because I couldn’t even finish half of it, lacking the desire or the stamina.  It looked beautiful.  EB beer is light to medium yellow, retains a good head and produces decent carbonation.  It felt nice and full in the mouth.  I believe I detected some hops in the bouquet and some sweetness in the finish.  Kind of a half-hearted review, but my instincts tell me it is above average, and I’d try it again.

Trader Joe’s Vienna Lager

There’s nothing quite as exciting as when my wife greets me with “I have something for you”, with a knowing smile on her face and a gleam in her eye.  And when that statement is followed by the presentation of a 6-pack, I know I have found my soul mate.  This is the manor in which I was introduced to Trader Joe’s Vienna Lager.  Yes, I know it’s made by Gordon Biersch, that’s probably why I like it so much.  It’s orange in color, has visible carbonation and manages to support a thin head.  The bouquet is notable, with carmel, roasted malt and sweetness followed by a nip of alcohol.  It has a full mouthfeel, is smooth and tastes like it smells:  mellow, carmel, roasted grain.  Hops are not notable, but that does not detract from this good brew.  Complex and simple at once.  Good stuff, and at $5.49 a 6-er, not a bad deal.  That was litotes, for all you English Majors.

Czech your store for this

This may be the best Czech lager that I have tried.  Czechvar, Premium Czech Lager.  I guess I haven’t tried too many, but maybe 6 or 7 different varieties.  Urquell, Rado-something, Krusovice, what have you.  Despite it’s affiliation with A-B, it is unique and authentic.  It has similar qualities to Pilsner Urquell, the very same qualities that make Czech lagers and pilsners the best in the world.  I drank this at a party, and did not take notes as I drank it, so as not to look like an asshole and know-it-all beer snob.  I am both of those, but I don’t need to prove it in public.  I did peel and save the label thohg, as I do with all the beers I try.  Anyway, it was smooth, clean, malty, hoppy…fabulous.  I look forward to studying it more closely in the future.

Any suggestions for another good Czech beer that I might find in the Chicago area?  I’ve concentrated on Belgians most recently, and need to branch out.  Let me know.

One last thing.  Why do some breweries use label glue that releases easily in warm water and others use 3M high performance vinyl adhesive that is almost stronger than the bottle?  Don’t they realize people want to save the labels?

Is it Pulaski Day Yet?

I ask because I have just tried Warka, brewed in the birthplace of that greatest of Chicagoans, Casimir Pulaski.  Warka 1478 (High Quality Beer) is somehow affiliated w/ the Zwiec Group of beers.  It is a deep gold to orange beer with a thin, consistent head and a bit of carbonation.  There’s a good malt presence in the bouquet, with a touch of roasted carmel and some yeast.  Tastes a little yeasty too.  Some sweetness in the finish, some hops, but mostly sweet.  At 7% alcohol, I become more forgiving of a beers weeknesses as I near the end of the glass, but the yeastiness reminds me of a homebrew, and not a great one.  As a Chicagoan and Honorary Pole, I’d have to steer you away from this one, when there are so many better offerings from Poland available.

90 Shilling Ale

If you are ever in Columbus, OH, or have an older brother who lives there and who visits bearing drinkable gifts, check out some of the product from Columbus Brewing Company.  I’ve enjoyed their IPA and their Pale Ale, but I really enjoyed the 90 Shilling Ale.  It was a beautiful, deep, ruby red with noticeable carbonation.  It only produced a thin head, but was persistent throughout the drinking.  The bouquet was exceptional, with a hint of coffee, bitter chocolate and sharp hops.  The taste was true to the bouquet, but added a healthy dose of yeast in the finish.  It was fairly smooth, full and somewhat dry with a great malty quality to it.  Definitely above average.  I recommend it and would buy it again.