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It’s A Good Day For A Beer!

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It’s a cold, drizzly, freezing rain, sleet and snow kind of day in the Ozarks as I write this article.

Home from work, dinner cooked and eaten and it’s just bbbrrr outside. So, now in my comfy and warm jammies, watching the boob tube with the ol‘ ball and chain(don’t tell her I said that), I’m thinking that it’s time for a beer!

Ah, but settling in for knocking a few back is more complicated than you might think

It requires all the thought and finesse in making a good mix tape.

You see, I can’t start with Mother’s Materfamilias, an 11% Imperial Stout aged in multi spirit barrels. No, no, no, you can’t shoot your wad too early, your evening would be over. This ain’t a wham bam thank you ma’am kind of night.

You can’t start too weak either, it has to pique your interest, but not lay too heavy on you.

Now, you don’t have to decide right now how many that you’re going to have, you just have to commit to see where the night takes you.

Where the night takes you, indeed!

Alright, now that you’re all in, let’s do this thing!

Let’s be clear, I’m not talking about getting drunk or, as my dad used to say, tying one on, I’m talking about enjoying a few beers.

How many is a few you ask? Well, more than 2, or I would have said a couple of beers. As I’m on my first beer as I write this portion, I’m thinking possibly four, but at least 3.

Alrighty then, you made it through beer one and you’re feeling good about yourself. The magic elixir is starting to work, you’ve got that little wry smile on your face and you just said something witty and charming to your significant other, but where do you from here?

You have to kick it up, but how far? We’re not ready for that barrel aged masterpiece yet, and to steal from Nigel Tufnel, it’s not time to take it to 11 yet. Let’s say you started with a 3 or 4, I’d say ratchet it up to about a 7.

I mean, enough horsepower to turn that wry smile into a full-on grin, but not so much as to turn you into Bozo the Clown.

Okay, now you’ve committed to beer 2 and a little more ABV, you’re about half way through and really feeling good about yourself. Don’t worry, not yet anyway, you’re a pro.

You came through like a trooper and now beer 3 is calling your name. So, which way to go? Well, just like a good mix tape, take it down just a bit, but not too much.

For the sake of argument, let’s say you started at 5%, jumped to 7%, I’d say meet in the middle at 6 ish%. And now you’re ready to go.

Relax, you’re doing fine. You got through the first two, you’ve made perfect beer choices, you’re a rockstar, so drink with Gusto! Well, medium gusto anyway, I mean, we’re not chugging here, but we’re not nursing either.

Now on to beer #4! You’ve got a slight buzz, but it looks good on you. We’ve decided to call it a night on this one, so let’s make it a big one. Yeah, that’s right. That aforementioned barrel aged beauty.

Okay, I know some of you studs and studettes can get through 10- 12 in an evening, and this has all been done a little tongue in cheek, but the truth is, at my age, at this stage in my life, I’m quite content drinking 4 quality brews while watching TV with the wife.

However, that doesn’t make my theory any less valid. That being, picking the perfect beer is like making the perfect mix tape. The right choices will make your evening. The wrong choices, well, at best will give you indigestion and at worst, well a porcelain bus you’ll be a drivin’!

At the risk of being redundant …

I Am The Beer Whisperer

Beervangelist, Prolific Beer Drinker

Purveyor Of Wisdom and …

All Around Good Guy!

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A Shot And A Beer!

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Or more aptly titled, a nice whiskey served neat alongside a fine beer.

I Am The Beer Whisperer, Beervangelist, Prolific Beer Drinker, Purveyor Of Wisdom and … All Around Good Guy!

However, I’m also the Whiskey Whisperer. Sometimes my alter egos duke it out, but sometimes they’re simpatico and hold hands around the campfire singing, “Kumbaya”, this is one of those times.

The Pairing: KC Style

As I write this, it’s the day before the AFC Championship game between the KC Chiefs and the New England Patriots. I should also point out that I’m writing this from Springfield Mo.

As it so happens, I have a Boulevard Whiskey Barrel Stout and J Riegers Kansas City Whiskey, so it just seemed appropriate the pair the two.

The Beer

Boulevard Brewing(KC Mo) Whiskey Barrel Stout. She’s 11.8% 32 IBU’s, no kidding! The nose alone is intoxicating! Chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and the slightest notion of coffee highlight the nose.

The roasted barley shines with flavors of deep, dark malted chocolate, caramel, molasses, creamy vanilla with toasted oak and a slightly warming finish, letting you know that yes, yes there was a whiskey barrel involved.

The Whiskey

Oh yes, the whiskey! J Riegers Kansas City Whiskey, a 92 proof whiskey that they say uses their signature blend of corn, malt & rye.

The nose is warming with an even mix of caramel, vanilla & cinnamon. You may also feel hints of dark fruit and I also detected just a touch of apple.

Although the nose was caramel, the flavors are rich, nutty toffee with hazelnut accents. The spicy rye is exquisite, heading to the finish with toasted oak and cinnamon spice.

The 92 proof is warming, but it never quite gets too hot, it’s one of my personal favorites.

Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together!

I know not everyone digs the beer/whiskey pairing, but I think those of us that do, just get it!

You may have noticed similar aromas and flavors from the beer to the whiskey. That’s part of why these two work together, but the other part is the slight differences in the two are what brings them together.

Like chocolate and peanut butter, the right beer paired with the right whiskey just works, they not only taste great together, it’s libation for the soul. To borrow from the legendary Duke Robillard, Are You Soulful Baby? If you’ve got the stones, grab your beer du jour with a like-minded whiskey and free your soul, baby!

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The 12 Beers Of Christmas!

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   The 12 Beers Of Christmas!

On the 1st Beer Of Christmas, My True Love Gave To Me …

Okay, I did steal the idea for this months feature from the song, you probably figured that out, but it was the inspiration.

So, the idea is to talk about 12 beers that I feel represent the holiday season.

Just keep in my mind that this is NOT a ranking, although I will number 1 through 12 … So, let’s get started by saying MERRY CHRISTMAS … and here we go!

#1 Sierra Nevada Celebration

The classic Fresh Hop IPA, a holiday favorite for me. First brewed in 1981, heck, I didn’t know what an IPA was back in ’81. This wonderful classic IPA usually comes out just before Thanksgiving but is great through the entire holiday season and a must for any craft beer lover.

There are slight differences from year to year, but every year is incredible.

6.5% ABV  65 IBU’s

She pours a beautiful light copper with a rocky tan head that seems to linger eternally.

They describe intense citrus and pine aromas and by golly, they’re right!

I should also mention that I’m using the Sierra Nevada IPA glass and the lacing is just spectacular.

Orange & grapefruit highlight the intense citrus portion with bright, fresh & herbal pine surrounding the big malt notes, which are equally intense. Using 2 row and caramel malts, you’ll get notes of light brown sugar. It’s aromatically stunning.

The flavor of orange zest shines through immediately, accented by grapefruit and then … wow! As big as the hoppage is, the malt is equally huge. Big malt and light brown sugar tickle the taste buds until that pine comes at you in a great big finish with it all just lingering slightly until it all dries up in a beautiful crescendo.

This one typically comes out around Thanksgiving and should be enjoyed throughout the holiday season.

  #2  Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome

 

   What can I say, it’s a classic! 

They describe it as having a full body and a luxurious malt character balanced by Fuggle and Golding hops.

  Well, when they’re right, they’re right! 

 A hint of malt sweetness on the nose surrounded by the earthy and herbal hops.

 A rich and luxurious body as previously described, followed by a toffee like sweetness before the hops come together and clean it all up.

 Sometimes, a classic is a classic for a reason and seasonal beers don’t get any better than this one.

 

#3 KC Bier Co Winter Bock

  An 8.25% Doppelbock and a more faithful American Craft interpretation you will not find.

Malty sweet, chocolate and caramel are dominant but don’t completely overshadow the clean earthy hop finish.

And through it all are wonderful hazelnut notes.

In a hop-centric craft beer world, malty masterpieces like a Doppelbock get overlooked, but this style is ideal for your winter/holiday/Christmas pleasure and they don’t get better than this one!

#4 Anthony’s Pacification Russian Imperial Stout by Public House Brewing

Coming in @ 10% 70 IBU’s, this is a superb American craft stab at the classic Russian Imperial Stout.

A perfect style for those cold winter nights, huddling around the fireplace or dancing naked around the Christmas tree … what? Okay, maybe that’s just me, regardless this one is rich & malty and I can’t help but think what barrel aging would do this already amazing beer.

#5 Goose Island Bourbon County Bourbon Stout!

Oh Geez Louise, I went through a lot of inner turmoil deciding whether or not to include this one, but like it or not, it is a holiday classic.

I refuse to stand in line for any beer, but luckily I was able to find it easily, just sitting on a shelf.

I purchased this beer religiously before the AB-InBev buyout, since then I pick it up every now and then, but the quality hasn’t been consistent since the takeover.

Having said all of that, this is The Classic Bourbon Barrel Stout and no Christmas beer list would be complete without it.

#6 “Brown Shugga” from Lagunitas

10% 51.1 IBU’s, they describe it as a “Special Ale” that uses brown sugar, but it’s so much more than that.

Rich, malty and intensely hoppy, it’s a beer that defies style, which is sort of what Lagunitas does.

It is a tad boozy, but not so much as to be off-putting. Just enough to make you feel warm & fuzzy all over to put you in the Christmas spirit.

#7 Mother’s “Nudie Suit” Porter

A 5.5% American Craft Robust Porter. Stunning to look at in the glass, with a head that seems to linger on forever.

Oh, the porter, luscious and delicious, decadent but not too heavy and perfect to pair with almost any holiday meal.

This one is chocolate and more chocolate, more specifically, malted chocolate with just hints of vanilla and toffee. A “feel good” beer if there ever was one.

#8 Boulevard Whiskey Barrel Stout

Oh, Cheez Whiz! WOW, 11.8% of whiskey barrel stout goodness.

Now, since the BCBS is already on here, this may seem redundant, but can you really have too many Whiskey Barrel Stouts? I think not!

Viscous, yet silky smooth with the Whiskey notes flowing through every sip.

Beers like this make winter tolerable.

#9 Ballast Point Peanut Butter Victory At Sea!

A 10% Imperial Porter that uses coffee and, on their bottle,”other natural flavors”, for the purposes of this list though, we’ll refer to it as an adjunct porter.

A combination of coffee, peanut butter and a smidgen of vanilla and a touch of chocolate permeate the nose with coffee being dominant.

To boil it down to the simplest, the flavors are that of possibly the very best coffee infused dark chocolate peanut butter cup imaginable!

#10 Springfield BrewCo Tsarry Night Variant

Ah yes, the “Variant”, taking an existing beer, chucking stuff in it so you can charge much more, err … I mean, make it more valuable, in beer geek speak.

Tsarry Night is a 9.8% Russian Imperial Stout, this variant adds blackberry, raspberry and cherry.

Obviously, I like Imperial stouts and anything barrel aged during this holiday season, but frankly I’m not a fan of these fruit flavors added to beer as a whole, so why is this one on the list? Because it’s good!

Also though, because these particular flavors also fit the Christmas season.

The rub here though is although I’m usually a bigger fan of the base beer, in the case of the Tsarry Night, this one improves on a theme.

Initially you get the big, decadent Imperial stout notes then you get the fruit flavors that act like a fine supporting cast making it all better.

Then the Bourbon barrel does what it does, adding light whiskey notes with hints of vanilla and caramel, but where you feel it most is in the brilliant oaky finish.

What this beer says to me is, in the immortal words of the Peanuts gang,”Christmas Time Is Here”!

#11 The Bruery 11 Pipers Piping

A Scotch style ale brewed with candi sugar and coriander and comes in at 11%.

Deep malt, a tad sweet highlighted by dark fruit with the herbal intensity of coriander in the finish.

A warm and cozy beer sure to make you feel happy all over with ideal flavors for the Christmas season.

#12 Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA

Well, it says it’s an IPA anyway, but I think its alter ego is that of a barleywine. However, I must note that this is the 2017 Vintage.

Weighing in at somewhere between 15-20% ABV and according to their website it’s 120 IBU’s.

Malty sweet on the nose, but surprisingly, there is still citrus hop notes remaining.

It’s clearly drifted more towards an American barleywine, but the IPA foundation isn’t completely lost.

Somehow, I managed to hang on to this one from last year so I thought is should be on the list. Not necessarily for the style, but as an accidentally aged beer which happens to me from time to time.

Well, there it is, my 12 Beers of Christmas!

Not intended as a 12 Best or even a 12 Must Try, but rather 12 Beers that I’ve enjoyed this Christmas season.

So, Merry Christmas and Cheers from me, The Beer Whisperer!

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I Feel Like Drinkin’ Beer!

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 I Feel Like Drinkin’Beer!

Howdy Doo Buckaroos and how the heck are you?

       I Am The Beer Whisperer

     Beervangelist, Prolific Beer Drinker

              Purveyor Of Wisdom and …

      All Around Good Guy!

And I Feel like drinkin’ beer!

     I Like Beer … Really, Really!

For some it’s an acquired taste, but for me, it was love at first sip. Like most of us of a certain age, I grew up drinking the American adjunct lager, but I can still remember my first Anchor Steam.  I didn’t realize at the time that I was drinking a craft beer. Then I had my first Guinness, my first foray into a stout. All of my friends HATED it, but I thought it was wonderful.

  And Then …

And then I moved up to Washington State where I discovered Red Hook, first it was their flagship ESB, and then their Rye, oh my goodness, their Rye ale. I’d never had anything like it! To be honest, at the time I didn’t understand style, I just knew that I liked it! A LOT!

And then, and then, and then …  More travels, more beer, well, you get it.

I wouldn’t say that I loved every one, but I loved the idea, the ability to try as many as possible.

 From Working Class Beverage To Hipster Heaven! 

From it’s most humble of origins, beer is/was mostly regarded as a working class beverage. Something for blue collar slobs to chug down after a hard days work. This stereotype mostly perpetuated on TV, but partly because of what American beer became, just a mediocre, or worse, adjunct lager.

Then, in the 70’s, brewing renegades like Jack McAullife and Fritz Maytag tried building a better mousetrap, with New Albion and Anchor Steam respectively.

Although the large evil empires put the kibosh on most new breweries, in the end they couldn’t stop the desire and thirst for better beer and the Microbrew era was born in the late 80’s.

  And It Was Good!

Oh yeah it was good! The 90’s saw brewpubs pop up like weeds, burgers, pizza, BBQ and REAL BEER! So many of us, myself included, were introduced to unfamiliar styles, it was beautiful!

The sad part is many of these early brewpubs didn’t make it to the new millennium to see the onslaught that is now known as “craft” beer, however, it wouldn’t exist without these early breweries/brewpubs paving the way.

And then hipsters found craft beer and decided that they invented it. Okay, I kid the hipsters, but many of the younger brewers resurrected forgotten styles and put a spin on existing styles.

What bothers me about it though is the pretentiousness that came along with it. Don’t say the name of the beer or style wrong, use the right glass and whatever you do, don’t use a “shaker” pint or these pretentious knuckleheads will crucify you!

For me, beer is and will always be a beverage accessable to all(of legal drinking age of course). I appreciate and love all that is available, and I think we should enjoy our fine beer, but leave the pretentiousness for the wine guys.

So … If you’ll excuse me, I feel like drinking beer!

    And Remember Folks, Life Is Serious, Beer Shouldn’t Be!

 

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It’s Oktober, Fest Me!

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      It’s Oktober, FEST ME!

It’s Oktoberfest season baby and I love the fall beer drinkin’ when the summer rooti tooti fresh and fruity beers give way and malt makes a comeback.

I picked up 5 Oktoberfests and stayed in Mo. Newly canned this year was the Piney River German Road Oktoberfest Lager. The Urban Chestnut O-KATZ, as true to style as an American Craft gets. And 2 home town favorites, Mother’s Oktoberfest and Springfield Brewing Company Mayhem Marzen. P!us one new, KC Bier Co Fest Bier, new brewery in KC MO specializing in German styles.

Malty, rich and a little nutty, just like me!

And of course, the Oktoberfest festivals are in swing everywhere, big, small and in-between.

The Brown Derby International Wine Center here in Springfield Mo does an Oktoberfest every year, okay it’s really more of a Beerfest, but nevertheless here it is.

A friend had an extra VIP ticket and invited me this year and …it was a HOOT!

Although I haven’t found a way to make a living as The Beer Whisperer, every now and again there is a perk, My friend Tom inviting me to the Oktoberfest for one thing.

For Another, Amy, the head brewer at Wages Brewery in West Plains invited me down for the Ozarktoberfest to be a beer judge for their festival.

This is my second year as a beer judge at this festival and I enjoyed every minute of it!

What sets this one apart is the “Homebrew” competition and sampling. That and Wages Brewing is a hidden gem in the Ozarks.

 

It also happens to be the season where everything gets pumpkin spiced, but I’ll leave that for the soccer moms.

So, go get yourself some malty goodness in the form of an Oktoberfest Lager or Festbier. Enjoy more malt and less fruit and rediscover beer that tastes like beer. Take advantage of the fall Festivals and let’s get fested!

The weather may be getting chilly, the beer is getting warmer, so enjoy it while you can.

  I Am The Beer Whisperer

 Beervangelist, Prolific Beer Drinker

     Purveyor of Wisdom and …

             All Around Good Guy!

Remember y’all, life is serious, beer shouldn’t be!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Be Careful Out There, It’s “Whalez Bruh” Season!

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             Lord Have Mercy, the “Whalez Bruh” Are Back!

“Whalez, Bruh” that annoying craft beer phrase that makes me cringe every time I hear it. I’ve joked that the next time I hear it I just may take a hostage, but I’m not sure if I’m joking anymore.

As much as I’d love to blame millennials and hipsters, as I’m relatively certain that it was a hipster that coined the phrase, I’ve heard folks my age(50’s) utter this nonsense.

Used to describe a hard to find and/or special release beer, typically pricey and usually high in abv and overused by the pretentious, anyone not full of themselves would never say anything so ridiculous.

These cockroach like creatures usually skulk in pairs or packs, huddling at the end of the bar, pretentiously making fun of non craft beer drinkers and anyone they don’t deem as socially relevant as they are.

Fear not my friends, though they are obnoxious and convinced of there own superiority, they are relatively harmless as they are more afraid of you than you are of them.

But, be vigilant, the sole purpose of their existence is to make your drinking experience a miserable one, so you’ll be as miserable as they are on the inside.

     Don’t Fear The Beer!

Yes friends, don’t let these pathetic creatures stop you from enjoying a special beer any way that you like. They’ll insult your glassware, the way you drink, heck maybe even the way you ordered the beer. Fire back if you like, wit isn’t typically their strong suit, but it’s best to just ignore their ignorance as it’s attention that they crave.

Beer, even craft beer was meant to be accessible, ALL CRAFT BEER, so don’t let these chucklenuts convince you otherwise.

As summer turns to fall, they’ll become more brazen and crawl out from the rocks they’ve been hiding under. So don’t be afraid to go out to your favorite pub, taproom or beer store, but beware, they’ll be skulking around every corner just looking for happy beer drinkers to make miserable.

Just remember, they have no power unless you give it to them. So … choose your brew and order with confidence, raise your glass, smile and nod at the “Bruh’s” at the end of the bar with a self assurance sure to make them cower and mutter to themselves.

   I Am The Beer Whisperer

Beervangelist, Prolific Beer Drinker

 Purveyor of Wisdom and …

 All Around Good Guy!

*No Bruh’s were hurt in the writing of this article

 

Life is serious, beer shouldn’t be!

 

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Hot August Nights! Beers Of Summer!

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   HOT AUGUST NIGHTS!

(A nod to Neil Diamond)

   Beers Of Summer!

(A nod to Don Henley)

 

Okay, of course you can drink any beer, any time of year, the Beer Police  won’t show up and arrest you for drinking a summer beer after Labor Day. However, your beer snob friends may mock you endlessly.

So … Let’s talk about a few styles that just taste better during the summer.

    The Shandy, Radler, Gose, Berliner Weisse 

It took me a little bit to warm up to the Gose and the Berliner Weisse, but I finally got there. The bright citrus and tart finish make both styles ideal for summer drinking. I will admit however that I’ve had couple that made my sphincter pucker!

The Shandy and Radler are similar, the idea being to cut with fruit juice or pop to lower abv for a low alcohol drink that’s smooth and refreshing. For a bit it seemed like Leinenkugels had cornered the market on the Shandy, but we’re seeing a rise in craft breweries doing either a shandy or Radler. Although traditionally they’re under 4% abv, most craft styles hover between 4 and 4.5%.

  Lager, Pilsner, Kolsch and Hefeweizen

Although “Lager” encompasses many beer styles, here I’m referring to the lighter side, a Helles or American style Lager. These styles are crisp, clean and refreshing when done right. The beer you want after a hard days work, or mowing the lawn or … hell, anytime you’re just damn thirsty!

Many American craft breweries have also brought back the classic Pilsner with some doing German or Czech style and a few just improving on or doing a pre-prohibition American style Pilsner.

I personally have been loving the resurgence of the Pilsner, crisp and clean, big bready malts, herbal, spicy hops, they don’t get more refreshing than a perfectly executed Pilsner.

Ah, the Kolsch, that chameleon lager/ale hybrid of a beer. Typically a little more body than most American style lagers, fruity in the middle, but finishing crisp, clean and refreshing in classic lager fashion.

 

Banana, Clove, cloudy, yeasty, of course I’m describing the Hefeweizen!

The elder sibling to the American craft wheat, bigger and bolder with the aforementioned notes, yet smooth and approachable.

 

 

Now of course there are many more styles for summer drinking, the Saison and Grisette, IPA’s by the dozen, the New England or Hazy, West Coast, session etc …

 

 

And if I were write about them all we’d be here through winter, so I picked a handful to write about and post a few pictures.

   

 

However, remember that no matter the season or what your town beer snob says, always drink what you like.

 

Drink craft beer with love, drink with passion and drink with appreciation.

  

 I AM TOM THE BEER WHISPERER

 

  BEERVANGELIST, PROLIFIC BEER DRINKER

 

  PURVEYOR Of WISDOM and …

 

  ALL AROUND GOOD GUY!

             CHEERS!

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Have A Beer And A Smile 2018!

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   Have A Beer And A Smile!

Howdy Doo Buckaroos and how the heck are you?

    I Am The Beer Whisperer

    Beervangelist, Prolific Beer Drinker, Purveyor of Wisdom

And …

         All Around Good Guy! 

Last year at this time, the July feature was, “Have a Beer and a Smile”.

My wife and I were dealing with losing our house, grieving the loss of our son 4 years prior and just trying to find a way to move forward.

The article was about trying to focus on the positive. Bad things happen, you can use it as an excuse to become bitter or as a reason to become better.

As I pondered what subject to do this months feature on, I happened to re-read the article from last year.

I thought about the changes we’ve went through from last year to now and it seemed like the topic should be revisited.

And … That brings us to this year.

The one bedroom apartment that we had moved into was starting to feel a bit small and it was becoming apparent that her mother, who was just shy of 91 at the time, was going to need to move in with us so …

Yeah, you guessed it! We needed a little bigger place, so we found a 2 bed, 2 bath duplex that would work.

So, we moved that cranky old broad, err, I mean, lovely woman in with us.

 

For the last 2 years I’d been working for a craft brewery in Springdale Ar. Being down there for the week and returning to Springfield Mo most weekends.

After 2 years, being gone so much was getting tough on my wife who has many health issues and I’d worry about leaving her by herself.

I thought I had another job in the industry lined up, so I gave notice and went back to Springfield.

Long story short, the job fell through, but as I was in the process of finding employment, surgery was scheduled to repair a torn meniscus on my knee.

About 3 weeks after that surgery, another was scheduled to repair a hernia that had progressively gotten worse.

So, I ended up having 2 surgeries in a months time. It’s just over a week since the surgery as I write this and I’ve been unemployed longer than planned, but everything seems to be healing well.

 

Anyway … Once again, it serves no purpose to dwell on the negative, as my dad used to say,”no use looking up a dead horses ass”!.

You can find excuses to be bitter or reasons to be better.

So …. Have a Beer and a Smile, or as the late, great Warren Zevon said, “Enjoy Every Sandwich”!

I say enjoy every beer, from the selection to the pour, to the aroma, to the taste, the whole process. Enjoy every second, savor every moment!

If you get a bad one, move on and pour the next one knowing that it only gets better.

    Once Again, I Am Tom The Beer Whisperer

Beervangelist, Prolific Beer Drinker, Purveyor of Wisdom and …

      All Around Good Guy! Cheers!

 

 

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Craft Beer That Tastes Like Beer, Can Be!

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   Once Upon A Time, Beer Was About Being Beer!

After decades of American beer getting watered down and diluted by cheap adjuncts, in the late 70’s a few early brewing pioneers, Jack McAuliffe of New Albion and Fritz Maytag of Anchor just to name 2, set out to make REAL beer again. They were attacked by the big guys but made enough headway for breweries like Sam Adams and others to propagate the “Microbrew”.

And it was good …

And then came the “Brewpub”, which was to the 90’s what the sports bar was to the 80’s.

Many of these early Brewpubs didn’t last for the long haul, but they reminded folks what real beer tasted like and introduced many to new beer styles.

Throughout the 2000’s, with an occasional up and down, what eventually evolved into craft beer flourished.

We saw the revival and in some cases the rebirth of many classic styles.

The Zwickel, The Berliner Weisse, The Gose etc …

Then American craft breweries took those existing styles and kicked it up a notch.

The IPA became the Double/Imperial IPA, beers found their way into every spirit barrel imaginable and … it was still good!

We added 100 sub-styles of IPA, okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but not by much.

But, Oh No, that wasn’t enough.

In came raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, dingleberries, okay, not dingleberries, but we did run the whole damn thing through the garden but that was still not enough.

Then the beer had to taste like chocolate, peanut butter, marshmallow, Graham cracker, goat cheese … okay, I just made up goat cheese, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a goat cheese beer out there somewhere.

We’ve used beard yeast, yeast cultivated from the cootchie of a supermodel, yeast cultivated from the pubic hair of an aboriginal pygmy elder, okay, I made up that one too, but you get the point

ENOUGH? NO!

Then someone decided glitter should go into beer. Why? NO ONE KNOWS!

Those that like the idea have said to me,”It’s just fun Tom” or “Why are you trying to stifle our creativity”.

Hey, like what you like, but glitter, really?!

Now, I’m sure that it’s not the end for crazy flavors and experimentation, but we are starting to see many craft breweries bringing back beer that tastes like beer. We’re seeing more classic English styles like the Mild or Bitter, many are doing German and Czech style pilsners, some doing better versions of American style lagers, more accessible craft beers, beer without pretention, and quite frankly, it’s overdue.

   REAL BEER Is Back!

Oh yeah baby, beer is back!

I’m loving that the craft Pilsner is being brewed more frequently, clean malt, crisp and refreshing, spicy, earthy and herbal hops, oh baby, a beer that tastes like beer, what beer was meant to be.

We are also seeing craft brewing heavyweights like Founder’s, Firestone Walker, Sierra Nevada putting out quality lagers, and behold, real beer is back and it’s good!

Will it stick?

Oh, who the hell knows. I mean, 30 years ago could any of you have predicted glittering mountain oyster beard beer? I think not.

The truth is these styles never really went away and they’re not going anywhere, but it’s nice to see them in the forefront of the craft brewing industry rather than an afterthought or sidekick to the latest hipster craft beer trends.

This latest shift shows that you don’t have to stand in line for great beer, fine beer doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg and come in a 750. It can even be merely labeled a “shelf” beer.

So, for the time being, I for one am enjoying the resurgence of real beer, what craft beer started out to be, a beer that tastes like beer …

   And IT’S GOOD!

  I Am Tom The Beer Whisperer

Beervangelist, Prolific Beer Drinker

Purveyor Of Wisdom

   And … All Around Good Guy!

 

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Has Craft Beer Jumped The Shark?

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Well, Howdy Doo Buckaroos and how the heck are you?

I am Tom The Beer Whisperer

Beervangelist

Prolific Beer Drinker

Purveyor of Wisdom and …

All Around Good Guy!

    Has Craft Beer Jumped The Shark?

Bull testicle beer. Beard beer. Vagina beer. Glitter beer.

Given that those all have been made into beer, some might say that it’s more of a question of when craft beer jumped the shark.

 

   The Beer Moral High Ground

Oh yes, both craft and macro drinkers like to claim superiority.

Who’s right? Well that depends on who you ask.

The Craft Point of View …

Macro beer is swill that uses cheap malt and even cheaper adjuncts. The result is something that barely resembles beer and drank by those more interested in getting drunk than drinking a quality product.

The Macro Point of View …

Craft beer isn’t real beer! They like these mamby pamby peach pumpkin pineapple creations, that’s not beer.

Who’s right?

Both sides have valid points.

Us craft beer drinkers like to hammer macros for the adjuncts, rice, corn, corn syrup, corn sugar etc …

And somehow we discount that chocolate, raspberry, coconut etc … Are also adjuncts.

It’s hard to claim that you’re the one drinking REAL beer, maintaining superiority while you’re drinking a mango, pineapple, peanut butter, Graham cracker beer aged with yeast cultivated from the pubic hair of an Aboriginal pygmy elder with glitter floating around in it!

    The Evolution Of Craft Beer

What started as microbrew and independent brews morphed into what we now call craft beer.

It started with a few brewing pioneers that were tired of what beer had become and wanted to brew a beer that more closely resembled pre-prohibition beer. And they did, and it was wonderful!

Until …. Well, Americans did what Americans do.

Most early examples of craft beer was based on classic English, German and Belgian styles.

Then American Brewers said,”Hold my beer and watch this!”

    More, More, More

IPA’s went from 5% abv to 6%, to 7% to … Double/Imperial, 8%, 9%, 10%, holy cow, we can’t stop.

Then we decided that everything should be barrel aged.

Bourbon barrels, Rye barrels, Scotch barrels, Sherry barrels, heck, let’s just age it in all of them!

But that wasn’t enough.

We decided beer shouldn’t taste like beer.

We added peanut butter, raspberry, marshmallow, every fruit imaginable, but that still wasn’t enough.

Look Out, I See A Shark!

Oh yeah, beer was made from yeast cultivated from beard hair, vagina yeast and now glitter is being added to beer.

“Jump The Shark”

A pop culture phrase that came from an episode of “Happy Days”.

“The Fonz” must somehow save the day by water skiing over a shark that for some odd reason ended up in a fresh water lake.

Too far?

Well, Henry Winkler that played the character has pointed out that the show lasted a few more years after that episode.

So, did it really “Jump The Shark” or did it just run it’s natural course?

And that’s the question, has Craft Beer gone too far or is it just running it’s natural course?

If you’re asking me if I like the current hipster/gimmick marketing trends, the answer is no, however if you’re asking me if I’m going to stop drinking craft beer, the answer is also no.

So no, I’m drinking good beer until I can’t anymore, but …

No glittering mountain oyster beard beer for me and when I want the taste of vagina, I’ll eat one!