Beer Nut

Some down time

Posted on September 5, 2008 by Norman Miller
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I just wanted to let you know, I will be on vacation next week, so I don’t know if I’ll be posting much.

But, I’m sure I’ll have plenty to write about when I come back.

I’m going to western Massachusetts to celebrate my birthday this weekend and plan on hitting a lot of the brewpubs and beer bars that have fantastic reputations.

I will also have a chance to go to the liquor store and look for beer that I want to drink without worrying about having to write about it.

Please continue to read the blog. I will be back, and keep sending me your ideas.

Thanks, Norman (AKA The Beer Nut)

It’s nice to see

Posted on September 5, 2008 by Norman Miller
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I have never been to a Morton’s Steakhouse. My tastes usually run toward cheaper food.

But, they do seem to give some respect to beer. I’m not sure how extensive the Morton’s Steakhouse beer list is, but I do know the entire chain had the 2007 Samuel Adams Utopias available.

And, beginning in October, they will host throughout its chain a Chimay beer dinner.

The Trappist beers will be paired with Morton’s Hors d’oeuvres. I don’t know about the food, but I absolutely love the Chimay beers. Actually, I don’t have any at home right now - I’ll have to change that.

This is good to see. If you read this blog, or know me, you know I often complain about the lack of beer options compared to wine and other liquors. I feel they should all have equal billings.

The Chimay events will cost $45, and a portion of that will be donated to the Make-a-Wish foundation.

The Morton’s in Back Bay will have its Chimay event on Oct. 20 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., while the Seaport location will have its dinner on Oct. 23 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Have you ever been to Morton’s? How is the rest of their beer selections? Any other steakhouses with good beer?

Breweries getting political

Posted on September 4, 2008 by Norman Miller
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You can tell it is election season - at least three breweries have politically-themed beers available right now.

Luckily, they’re all pretty tasty, so if you don’t care about politics, enjoy the beer.

The best is Sixpoint Craft Ales’ Hop Obama. The New York brewery describes this beer as a “fiery amber.” I was actually expecting an IPA based on the name, but I was not disappointed. It is a very tasty beer.

Hop Obama is only available on draft. The Armsby Abbey in Worcester and the Sunset Grill in Allston both had this on tap recently.

Also available is Avery Brewing Company’s Ale to the Chief. If you know anything about Avery, you know this beer was going to be big. Actually, at 8.75 percent ABV, it’s actually only mid-range for Avery.

Either way, it’s a fantastic double IPA. More balanced than many of the Avery beers, it still has a nice punch to it.

The third is Magic Hat’s Participation Lager. Meant to encourage people to vote, this is a tasty, all-malt lager. The brewery partnered with headcount.org with this beer.

The Participation Lager is available in the latest Magic Hat mixed pack.

Good beer in a somewhat unexpected place

Posted on September 2, 2008 by Norman Miller
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I’ve been to the Bison County Bar and Grill on Moody Street and was always happy they had a few good beers available.

But, I stopped there on Sunday with a friend and was really impressed with the beer selection. I don’t know if I just never noticed, or they’ve improved their choices, but it’s always good to have a place you can stop in and grab a meal and a couple of good beers.

They have about 15 draft lines, with the highlights being Brooklyn Brown Ale, Victory Hop Devil and Smuttynose’s Shoal’s Pale Ale.

The bottle list is also also very good for a non-beer bar. There are several Abita beers, Chimay, Flying Dog, Anchor, Porkslap and several other top notch beers. (I didn’t write them down, that’s why I didn’t list more).

I think more restaurants should dedicated more space to beer. I don’t advocate getting rid of wine or spirits, but at least try to show the same respect.

Any other restaurants in the MetroWest area with a good beer selection that is not a beer dominated place, such as the Sunset Grill in Allston? Let me know, I’m always searching for new places to try out.

Bring on the Oktoberfests

Posted on August 28, 2008 by Norman Miller
Filed Under Beer, seasonal | 2 Comments

I know this blog will seem somewhat contradictory to one I wrote a couple of weeks ago about seasonals being released too early, but I’m happy to see Oktoberfest beers hitting the shelves.

Maybe it is because it’s been a cooler than usual August, but I have been looking forward to Oktoberfest beers for a couple of weeks.

Also, I’ve noticed by beer tastes have begun to change. Although I still love the big hoppy IPAs and the dark, heavy stouts, I find myself craving lagers much more often.

Oktoberfest beers fit that category very well. So far this year, I’ve had Clipper City’s Marzhon and Sam Adam’s Octoberfest.

Some of my other favorites include Paulaner Oktoberfest, Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest, Ayinger’s Oktober Fest, Smuttynose Octoberfests and Berkshire Brewing’s Octoberfest.

I interviewed a German beer expert last year who said he thought American’s brewed Oktoberfests more to the traditional style. He said the German brewers were brewing the beer lighter, almost Americanizing it.

Do you think that’s true? I’m not so sure.

That’s why, in September, myself and a few co-workers are going to do a blind Oktoberfest tasting - five German Oktoberfests vs. five of their American counterparts.

Who do you think will come out on top? Any recommendations on which beers, both from here and in Germany I should include? What are your favorites?

Some baking help

Posted on August 27, 2008 by Norman Miller
Filed Under Beer, food | 2 Comments

A bunch of women I work with have decided they are going to have an in-house baking contest, and I decided I wanted to be involved in it.

The food of choice is chocolate chip cookies, and I want to enter a cookie made with beer.

But, there are a couple of problems. First off, I don’t have a recipe for beer cookies. Secondly, I don’t bake. My grandfather was a baker his whole life, but I never learned.

However, for some reason, I really want to do this. I don’t know why, but I do.

So, what I’m looking for is a beer-cookie recipe, and one that is extremely easy to follow.

Do you know of any cookie recipes? Do they exist? Please help.

Misconceptions

Posted on August 26, 2008 by Norman Miller
Filed Under Beer, bars | 2 Comments

I like beer. I always have a stocked fridge of various beers available.

Many of my vacations have some type of beer-related theme. I got to several beer festivals a year and heck, writing about beer is part of how I make my living.

Because of that, a lot of people assume I drink all of the time. Many people make jokes that my normal state is being drunk.

It’s something that is simply not true.

I rarely drink to excess. The only time I ever really over-indulge is when I am on vacation - I have no responsibilities, I don’t have to wake up early the next day and I know that I will not be driving.

The rest of the time, I rarely have more than one or two 12 ounce bottles of beer, or more than one bomber or 750 ml bottle.

I’ll have a beer with dinner, or maybe as an after dinner drink. Most of the beer I drink are actually for articles I plan on writing.

I don’t really care that much what people think, but I do think it’s a double standard when it comes to those who drink wine.

Many people go home and have a glass or two of wine with dinner, maybe splitting a bottle with someone.

Does your love of beer ever have people questioning your drinking? Does it bother you? Does it bother you that people who drink as much wine (which is much stronger than most beers) as you do beers don’t get the same type of reaction?

Atwater Block problems

Posted on August 21, 2008 by Norman Miller
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I don’t know if you’ve been following the posts over at Beer Advocate about the Atwater Block Brewery bottling problems.

Apparently, at least two people were recently injured when bottles of Atwater beers have randomly exploded. Also, several people have complained about infected bottles.

In response, Julio’s Liquors has pulled all bottles of Atwater beers off the shelves.

“It’s better to be safe,” manager Joe Santos said.

I’ve tried several of the Atwater beers, and I personally have never had an infected bottle. I found the beers decent, if not outstanding, and I hope whatever issue is plaguing them, they can fix.

If you happen to see Atwater on the shelves anywhere, just keep in mind the problems they’re having before you decide to buy it.

Jessica Simpson as an inspiration

Posted on August 20, 2008 by Norman Miller
Filed Under Beer, commercials | Leave a Comment

A friend of mine forwarded me a story this morning about pop star Jessica Simpson joining the world of beer.

Simpson, best known for her MTV reality show, is now the spokeswoman for Stampede Lite, brewed by Dallas’ Stampede Brewing Company.

In return, Simpson will receive a 15 percent stake in the brewery.

I think this is a fantastic idea. I mean, let’s face it, Jessica Simpson is hot, so maybe some craft breweries should look at hooking up with some actresses to sell their beers.

Some Bay State breweries should try to hook up with some Massachusetts-born actresses.

Take Sherwood Forest brewers. There offices are based in Marlborough, which just happens to be the hometown of “Desperate Houswives” star Marcia Cross.

I can see the ad now, Marcia Cross dressed as Robin Hood, shooting the cap off a bottle of Archer’s Ale with a bow and arrow.

If that doesn’t float your boat, how about Eliza Dushku of Watertown - that’s not too far from the Harpoon Brewery.

Dushku is best known for her roll in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” so, in the ad, she could be slaying a bottle of generic, mass produced beer, using a bottle of Harpoon IPA.

Sound good to you?

The Boston Beer Company, brewers of Sam Adams, already runs plenty of commercials. They feature Jim Koch, which is all fine and dandy, but maybe they should look for a beautiful actress in the form of Alicia Witt of Worcester.

Currently, Witt stars in “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” and she is a classically trained pianist and graduated high school at 14. The commercial I picture in my head is the red-headed Alicia playing the piano and using her incredible intellect to discuss the history of beer and Sam Adams’ many beers.

I think these are all good ideas. Well maybe not. I just wanted an excuse to use celebrity photos in my blog.

Berkshire Brewing and food

Posted on August 19, 2008 by Norman Miller
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The Berkshire Brewing Company and Stone’s Public House in Ashland are teaming up for a beer dinner next month.

The dinner will be on Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Stone’s located at 170 Main St.

The five course menu includes lobster rolls, braised rabbit stew, pork enchiladas, seared tuna with an avocado salad and tiramisu.

The beers to be served will be the Steel Rail Pale Ale, Oktoberfest, Lost Sailor IPA, the River Ale, Coffeehouse Porter and a possible surprise from BBC.

This sounds like a fantastic time. I’m a big fan of Stone’s Public House, both the food, beer and just the atmosphere, while Berkshire is one of the better breweries in New England.

Tickets are $65 and are only available at the bar.

keep looking »