beauty and the brew

As my beer stash began to diminish, especially over this weekend as my boyfriend and I drowned our financial woes in fermented comfort as the time to pay rent draws nearer, my choices for what to review have also significantly decreased.

Mostly I have things I have had plenty of in my lifetime. This is truly because they are good ol' standbys, but I really wanted to look into something new.

In the back of my fridge I've been storing a find that I am extra proud of, especially considering it's something I grabbed through my job at an incredible price, and it was the only one they had available. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

The beer was Ta Henket from Dogfish Head Brewery. This limited edition brew comes in at a measly 4.5% abv and was brewed in a traditional fashion according to hieroglyphs in Egypt. The backstory alone was enough to peak my curiosity. The bottle boasts that this spiced ale is brewed with doum fruit, za'atar, and chamomile. It was specially brewed with wheat and loaves of hearth baked bread with actual native saccharomyces yeast strains the brewers gathered in Cairo.

I was also excited because this beer was pre-aged for me. Not the ideal conditions as it had been a return based on the date, so it had been sitting on a shelf since it was bottled in January 2012, but I was particularly anxious to see how it aged. I only wished I had a fresh bottle to compare it to, but they are impossible to get now.

I tried this during a beerscapade with my friend Franklin, where we also tried some things from his cellar, including Short's Cornholio, a group effort that included ingredients contributed by Dogfish Head and Three Floyds, and The Sixth Glass from Boulevard Brewing Co.

Anyway, there was a lot going on needless to say, but we started with Ta Henket.

Poured into a tulip, it was a somewhat cloudy burnt umber gold with an off white head that dissipated instantly and became somewhat lifeless in the glass (possibly due to its age).

In the nose you got a little bready yeast, but likely less than if it was fresh. There was a little earthy funk to it, kind of like white onions. We've got something floral and juicy in there, which was probably the doum fruit, but I have to tell you, I know no clue what doum fruit smells or tastes like. But it didn't resemble any other fruity odor. Then you got a huge nose full of Za'atar, which was very pleasant and peppery and spicy.

Taste matched the aroma to a T. There was some nice funk in this guy, and the chamomile came through more in the flavor than in the nose. With some age on this, I think the fruit has gone a little south. It comes off as over ripe and bruised stone fruit, but fortunately the finish is a nice and cleansing heat from the middle eastern flavors of the za'atar herb and spice blend that really linger at the end, especially in the back of your throat. There is a little bit of cinnamon sweetness that makes this drink easy, especially mixed with the incredibly low alcohol percentage.

This beer would have done well with a little carbonation, it was a little dense for me. But all in all, you'd probably chock that up to a combination of age and the ancient techniques they were using.

In general, this beer is like nothing I have ever tried. I am glad I had the opportunity to taste this one, especially because of its ancient roots, but I am glad I split the bottle. There is no way I could have finished that whole thing, there were some strange flavors going on in there. If for some crazy reason you can get your hands on this one, don't pass up the chance. It's a very unique experience.

It's a little late in the week to be squeezing this in, but believe me when I say I have been BUSY. Like, beyond belief huddle in a corner and cry between jobs busy. So this post is my TGIF post, where I celebrate the fact that in five hours, I will be more free than I am now and at the very least, I can enjoy a good beer in the midst of the chaos that is this week.

I'll try to delve into the vast selection of marzen beers soon as I know many of you are probably anxious to begin celebrating Oktoberfest, that joyful time when the only solid foods you should be eating for 16 straight days are sausages and all liquids should be bubbly fermented gold. But this year, for me, Oktoberfest just means that October is coming entirely too soon. What happened to summer? Wasn't Fourth of July just last week?

Beside the point.

This weekend will be filled with me laying around my house drinking away this entire week... in moderation of course. So I'm sure I can get a review in there somewhere.

And to be honest, this post was going to be BEER SWAG, because I found this really well done calendar that had illustrations that resembled those of Eric Carl, and contained beer and food pairings for every month. I was going to explain that this calendar is sadly no longer produced, but with enough votes it could go back into production. You can see said calendar here.

And this is what it looks like.

It has been one long week. Oh wait, and it's only Monday.

I'm trying to stay positive, because honestly, nothing horrible has happened to me directly, but I feel like recently, everyone I know has experienced some sort of horrible tragedy and it breaks my heart. Honestly, the nicest people who don't even deserve to accidentally burn their dinner are facing some really hard times and it's making me sad.

The only thing I really know how to do in this situation when there's nothing I can do to directly improve anyone's situation is to sit back, crack a bottle, and cheers to everyone who is having a hard time right now and is strong enough to get through it.

I was going to wait for a special occasion for this one, because I knew it would be so good, but I really do need it right now.

Today is the day for Double Jack from Firestone Walker Brewing Company (9.5% abv).

And it's big enough to split, so I popped this guy open with someone that I love, and we drank to not being broke or sad or sick or dead.

In the glass, it looked like a new copper penny. It also was a little oily looking, with a crisp white head, about half a finger, but with some lacing. For how small it was, it sure did hold a lot of delicious aromatic oils, because this beer was fragrant.

It had the aroma of butterscotchy malts melded perfectly with grapefruit, pineapple, and a little resin.

Taste is superb, just superb. Intitally, pineapple and other more tropical citrus fruits, like starfruit or tangerine, are the main flavors. The tiniest bit of pith comes through in the middle, enough to be pleasant and not overbearing. Finishes with pine sap. There is some buttery and caramel qualities that hit right in the center of the tongue as the beer warms a bit.

The hops taste so fresh and there is substantial body without being too boozy. Medium carbonation, and the mouthfeel is a little tacky.

I wish this beer was available in Michigan, but it might be almost sinful if it were. I'd have to cheat on my favorite Michigan Double IPAs. I'd be cheating a lot of the time....



But anyway, I didn't realize how much I needed this particular beer until it graced my palate, and now I don't think I can live without it. This was brought to me by my friend and co-worker Karl on a recent road trip. I guess now that I'm hooked, I'm going to have to search for it on my own.

Immediately after returning from work, I feel motivated to write a quick review before the night begins (quick being the operative word).

I pulled out one of the few things I haven't tried before from my fridge, Golden Monkey from Victory Brewing Company (9.5% abv), a spiced Belgium Tripel.

It was ok.

Appearance was very cloudy, almost opaque gold.  Thin head, frothiness clings around the edge of the glass with little lacing.

As far as aroma goes, I expected heavy yeast, cloves and banana. But there were some unexpected... definitely black pepper, peach, and a slight ammonia smell. It's not abrasive, but it's definitely a little off putting.

Taste... boring, but kinda boozy. I assumed the banana ethers and cloves and nutmeg. Definitely warms the throat and tummy.

Mouthfeel is highly carbonated with a medium to thin body.

This isn't terribly complex. It's exactly how a tripel should taste if you watered it down. Is that horrible to say? It's not a bad beer, it's just not particularly striking or interesting. And when it says spiced on the label, I expect to notice an obvious amount of spiceage.

I'm going to drink it and I won't be unhappy about it. It's not so bad that I would tell people to steer clear of it. But I definitely wouldn't stick a recommendation on the bottle.

And now, while I drink the rest of this glass, I'm going to upload pictures of actual golden monkeys for your viewing pleasure.

Looking out the giant windows of my office on my lunch break is what inspired me to write this post.

Last year, if you remember, summer was ungodly scorching hot. Not only in Michigan, but everywhere. And I'll be honest, I love it that way. I study Latin American art for a reason, I love the heat. I love the moist tropical heat of Nicaragua and the dry, arid heat of the Andes in the warmer months. I am just a person that likes to be warm.

This summer hasn't been nearly as hot, especially in the past few weeks, I might actually consider this a "cool/normal Michigan summer." But today is different. Today boasts skies so blue and clear, it looks like they would ripple if you somehow could touch them. No wind, no humidity. Just nice, dry, solid warmth (we're not quite up to heat yet). This definitely gives me hope for days to come.

So, to celebrate to forecast showing clear skies for five straight days in Kalamazoo, Michigan, I want to talk about my top five beers from this year that I want to grab when the weather is so beautiful that it should be spent on your porch and not in an office.



5. Sunspot - Greenbush (6% abv)

This is probably my go-to Michigan Hefe. If you're looking for something a little less experimental for summer, definitely go for a Sunspot. This particular style definitely serves well ice cold, and carries nice biscuity aromas and traditional banana wheat flavors with some baking spice. It's crisp and surprisingly complex. Just picture yourself holding a pint of this in a wicker chair on a hot summer day, feeling the cold glass perspire between your fingers. Drink and say "aaaaahhhh." Repeat.


4. Mango Magnifico - Founders Brewing Company (10% abv)



Just reviewed this, so you can read the long discussion here, but just to reiterate, this beer is a perfect option for summer. Just perfect.


3. Duchesse De Bourgogne - Brouwerij Verhaeghe (6% abv)




This flemish red ale isn't super easy to come by, nor will it be easy on the pocketbook, but boy do I crave it when I'm sitting on the porch at dusk watching fireflies. This beer is heavily laden with fruity tannins with flavors of tart raspberry, cherry jam and passionfruit. Served chilled, this highly carbonated beer is super refreshing and drinks like a really good sour. I have dreams about this beer.


2. St. Lupulin - Odell Brewing Company (6.5% abv)




This hoppy masterpiece is enough to make me want to pack my bags and drive out to Colorado tomorrow. It's the perfect blend of citrusy hops and herbal flavors that make this beer scream summer. It's got just enough bitterness and piney resin to balance perfectly with the touches of honey throughout. A great American Pale Ale.


1. Anniversary Ale - Short's Brewing Company (10% abv)



This limited release American Wheatwine is one of my favorites from Short's Brewing Company out of what I have tried so far considering their portofolio is ENORMOUS. It's brewed with multicolor peppercorns, corriander, orange peel, blood orange zest and 225 lbs of blood oranges, which makes it incredibly refreshing for summer with a nice kick in the pants from the peppercorns. I love Nicie Spicie because it has the citrus and peppercorns, which both come through beautifully, but this beer takes it to the next level in flavor and in abv considering it's a wheatwine. The richness and tartness of blood orange versus valencia oranges really brings this beer up a notch in comparison. It even looks like summer in the glass, as it pours a beautiful copper orange creamsicle.

Most photos taken respectfully from the internet as I haven't personally photographed the beers recently. Click the image to see its original source.

So today, I have returned! Well, technically last night I returned, but I've been laying around my house recuperating from my week up in Northern Michigan with my boyfriend's family followed by some time with my own family.

I got to enjoy what living in Michigan is all about. It was a great week filled with kayaking in Lake Michigan, canoeing, water slides and roller coasters, open fire cooking, petting llamas, donkeys, goats and a camel, watching Michigan's only live animatronic chicken show, fresh fudge, camping, hand made cheese and ice cream straight from the dairy farm, and of course, beer.

I have been so content over the past week, it's been hard to get back into going to work. It was even hard for me to muster up the will to post again because I just want to go back on vacation!

But here it is, I know breaking through that first post since vacation barrier is the hardest part.

So I'll ease back into real life with BEER SWAG.

I'm happy to post another etsy find this week. I've actually seen lots of varieties of beer soap, mostly oatmeal stouts because of the moisturizing benefits of oatmeal.

Though this is such a plentiful product, I found a beer soap that I'm particularly drawn to because it uses IPA and has actual dried Amarillo hops on top!

This soap is from NaturalDreamDesigns. It looks awesome and definitely would be very exfoliating. The amarillo hops will give it a nice piney scent. It's made with lots of natural oils as well, so it looks like it would be great for your skin.

So the greatest thing in the world is happening starting tomorrow, and its name is TIME OFF FROM WORK.

 Yes, you heard right, I am actually going on two back to back voyages into Michigan for five total days of workless freedom.

I figured I had to at least write one more review before I disappear into the wilderness, so here are my last words in case I get eaten by a bear or drown in the river attempting to remember how to canoe, something I've done since childhood but because it's not a desk in front of a computer I might just flop around like a limp noodle and then fall out of the boat.

 So I guess, if either of those happen, I can say I at least reviewed a beer I really loved!

 Today I tried the Spruce Pilsner from Short's Brewing Company (7% abv).



 Smells a bit like rosemary. Mixed with the yeasty, biscuity notes, I'm getting rosemary bread, fresh out of the oven. Definitely a little floral and just so herbal, almost like a holiday spice rub for all your savory dishes. There is also a touch of resin.

The beer looks like the most golden olive oil with a slight head that reduces to a very, very light mist of foam after about thirty seconds. No lacing. I'm surprised it didn't pour more murky, because there was still a thin layer of sediment in the bottom of the bottle.

 This is an incredibly unique beer with a taste I've never experienced before. They chose a possibly challenging ingredient, but nothing says Northern Michigan quite like a blue spruce tree.

 The spruce comes through less sappy and more like a nice juniper. It starts a bit sweet, like a saltine cracker without the salt crystals on top, and then gets incredibly piney and herbal in the middle, and then finishes just hoppy enough to remind you that it's a beer, not a liquified herb-crusted pork roast. The hops linger and mingle with a mild earthiness.

 Mouthfeel is a little oily, a tad sticky.

 Overall, this beer is a huge success for me. I just, flat out, do not like pilsners. I know that is a horribly broad statement, but I've reached far and wide, across countries even. But they do provide a good starting block for more experimental flavors, like blue spruce.



Short's should be very proud of this one, it really does scream "I AM A MICHIGAN BEER" at the top of its fermented lungs. It's got our state tree (well... almost... our state tree is the white pine, but they're all evergreens goddammit), it's made in Michigan, it's unique, and it's really, really good.

 I'm taking this beer camping tomorrow and I plan to drink it exactly where it belongs: out in the middle of Nowhere, Northern Michigan with good company.

Ok. Here it is. Finally.

THE REVIEW.

I figured if I was going to take such an extreme hiatus to get better, I might as well choose something good and interesting.

So I ended up choosing Mango Magnifico con Calor from Founders Brewing. This is the 7th installment from Founders' Backstage Series, so it was a very limited release in a 750ml bottle. They describe it as a "high-gravity fruit beer brewed with mango and Michigan-grown habaneros," which is right up my alley. I think I've said before that I love a beer with nice, balanced heat, so I have been anxious to try it since Founders announced its release.

I have heard mixed reviews from a lot of people, but I was really a fan of this one.

Mango Magnifico was a gorgeous, jewel-toned amber. It was really carbonated in the glass, as you can see from the photo. Nice powder-white head initially, but almost no retention whatsoever. The head dissipated and the beer quickly resembled more of an orange colored cider. Really subtle aroma, with soda biscuit scents and some tropical sweetness way down in there. There's a little bite, more like black peppercorn than habanero.

On the tip of the tongue, there's a lot of overripe mango that comes through. The mouthfeel is as soft as a mango is naturally and then the heavy carbonation plays in with the heat. It starts to fizz right as the habanero hits the palate, and when it comes, it really hits hard. It doesn't stay on the tip of your tongue, as not to overwhelm the soft mango flavor, but in the back of your throat it really burns, and it leaves the same warmth on your lips as a nice plate of spicy Mexican food.

Fortunately, your palate adjusts to the heat and it doesn't burn as vigorously as the first few sips once you get further down the glass. The heat lingers and it acts as an excellent counterpart to the sweetness.



Honestly, it's like drinking mango chutney. And these are the things I don't complain about. I don't mind when a beer reminds me of a food very specifically, I don't think it messes with my senses at all, but rather it gives me a new and interesting textural platform to enjoy these flavors from.

This bottle is definitely meant to share, because these flavors are robust and distinct, and 350ml is quite a lot to handle, especially at 10% abv. But while you can grab this brew, I would absolutely recommend snatching up a bottle at your local fine beer distributor, and if you're not much of a mango person or even much of a spicy beer person, grab a sample on tap. It's different, it's interesting, and it's worth the experience. I promise.

Somehow Wednesday keeps coming back around and it's officially time for another BEER SWAG* post!