Wednesday, April 02, 2014
Hey, look - Mexican beer that isn't watered-down and skunky!
Between last week's celebration of Colorado Craft Beer Week and next week's arrival in Denver of the Craft Brewers Conference, you might get the impression that only America produces worthwhile craft beer. And, for the most part, you'd be right.
But in a darkened corner of Denver - OK, actually in a tequila bar in a hipster neighborhood - the Fearless Tasting Crew recently discovered a cache of the rare specimen known as Mexican craft beer. And we came away impressed.
Day of the Dead beer is made in the town of Tecate, but it has no relation - either business-wise or taste-wise - to the beer of that same name. Instead, it was created by a Mexican who lived in Oregon for a while and got addicted to things he couldn't find in many of his home country's beers, like hop presence or color or, hell, flavor. It's made by the third largest brewery in Mexico, but there's not a lot of places around the Mile High City where you can find it.
One of those places where you can, however, is La Biblioteca, Richard Sandoval's tequila bar next to Zengo just west of downtown. And, as it turns out, Day of the Dead beer goes pretty well with the mini bahn mi hot dog sliders and chipotle-laden sushi rolls that are on the menu there.
There are four offerings from the brewery - all of which are decorated with wonderful Dia de Muertos art - and the stand-out of the bunch is Immortal Beloved, a hefeweizen with a big banana and clove nose. It hits the palate with just a little bit of spice, accompanied by a citrus bite that puts the beer down very easily.
Another crew member was equally impressed by Pay the Ferryman, a porter that offers the palate heavy roast with light chocolate and a very smooth, light-alcohol (5% ABV) body. Hop on or Die, a 6.8% ABV IPA, won't make anyone forget about the legions of taste-bud-bursting India pale ales from this state, but its English-style earthy tones are complimented by just a touch of pineapple in the mouthfeel.
The only real disappointment in the foursome available here was Death Rides a Pale Horse, a blonde ale whose flat maltiness can't live up to its awesome moniker. But by the time you run the gamut of Day of the Dead beers, you may feel the courage to crack open one of the skulls holding Mexico's Kah Tequila (see below) - or you may even want to go back for another round of some surprising craft cleverness from south of the border.
But in a darkened corner of Denver - OK, actually in a tequila bar in a hipster neighborhood - the Fearless Tasting Crew recently discovered a cache of the rare specimen known as Mexican craft beer. And we came away impressed.
Day of the Dead beer is made in the town of Tecate, but it has no relation - either business-wise or taste-wise - to the beer of that same name. Instead, it was created by a Mexican who lived in Oregon for a while and got addicted to things he couldn't find in many of his home country's beers, like hop presence or color or, hell, flavor. It's made by the third largest brewery in Mexico, but there's not a lot of places around the Mile High City where you can find it.
One of those places where you can, however, is La Biblioteca, Richard Sandoval's tequila bar next to Zengo just west of downtown. And, as it turns out, Day of the Dead beer goes pretty well with the mini bahn mi hot dog sliders and chipotle-laden sushi rolls that are on the menu there.
There are four offerings from the brewery - all of which are decorated with wonderful Dia de Muertos art - and the stand-out of the bunch is Immortal Beloved, a hefeweizen with a big banana and clove nose. It hits the palate with just a little bit of spice, accompanied by a citrus bite that puts the beer down very easily.
Another crew member was equally impressed by Pay the Ferryman, a porter that offers the palate heavy roast with light chocolate and a very smooth, light-alcohol (5% ABV) body. Hop on or Die, a 6.8% ABV IPA, won't make anyone forget about the legions of taste-bud-bursting India pale ales from this state, but its English-style earthy tones are complimented by just a touch of pineapple in the mouthfeel.
The only real disappointment in the foursome available here was Death Rides a Pale Horse, a blonde ale whose flat maltiness can't live up to its awesome moniker. But by the time you run the gamut of Day of the Dead beers, you may feel the courage to crack open one of the skulls holding Mexico's Kah Tequila (see below) - or you may even want to go back for another round of some surprising craft cleverness from south of the border.
Labels: International beers, Mexican beer
Monday, December 20, 2010
Our Australian Beer AdventureThe Beer Geekette and I recently returned from a three-week trip overseas (which only partially explains why I haven't written anything for three full months now). Included was one week in Thailand - great food, but no beer worth writing about - and two weeks in Australia.
And there we were quite surprised by two things in particular: How tasty emu is on pizza, and how much the Australian craft brewing and regional brewing scene is advancing beyond its reputation.
During our stay we hit six different breweries, everything from the ultra-local and recently opened to the mega-brewery sans the tour.
First among them was quaint 4 Pines Brewing Co. in the Manly Beach area of Sydney, a 2-year-old gem with a char-heavy Dry Irish Stout and a Pale Ale with a bit less of a citrus profile than its American brethren. The place wasn't rolling at 4 p.m. on a Monday, but it was a great first-day introduction to the local efforts happening there.
Then, friends introduced us to The Lord Nelson Brewery in Sydney's oldest hotel, which serves a wicked lamb burger and a varied selection of largely English-style beers. The 3 Sheets Australian Pale Ale was particularly compelling with a citrus splash accompanying a surprisingly heavy malt profile.
Rocks Brewing Co., in the historic Hart's Pub in Sydney is also a 2-year-old entrant to the scene, a fine place with its own beers and guest taps, cricket on the TV and kangaroo on the menu. Not to sound redundant in its stylings, but the Fearless Tasting Crew, Sydney chapter (all five of us), ordered several pints of the 1809 Pale Ale to enjoy its aggressive, nearly American-style citrus bite.
Hunter Beer Co., located in the Hunter Valley wine region, also had a pale ale that the bartender correctly labeled as hoppy enough to be American, but what the crew fell in love with was Liquid Bacon. A golden ale with a heavy mesquite smoke presence (that really did smell of bacon), it bordered on mouth-watering, leaving us vowing to come back to the small hotel brewery on some future trip.
Bluetongue Brewery, also in the Hunter Valley, tasted American in that what-the-rest-of-the-world-thinks-of-us-after-they-drink-an-Old-Milwaukee way, complete with a premium lager reminiscent of high school parties. It was no shock to learn that it was a joint venture of SABMiller and Coca-Cola Amatil.
By far the most interesting experience, however, was touring the Malt Shovel Brewery, maker of the ubiquitous James Squire ales and brainchild of Chuck Hahn, former Coors brewer extraordinaire. Chuck, who appeared to love the sound of American accents, was nice enough to show us around and explain how he'd started the microbrewery after leaving the U.S. and trying his hand at several other Austro-Kiwi breweries. James Squire - named for a convict who became Australia's first brewer - was found at most watering holes, and for good reason. From the sweetly malty amber ale to the orange- and licorice-tinged Abbey Ale, the beers were spot-on renditions of each style and very refreshing at that.
What we did not find anywhere we went was a Foster's, which apparently is spurned by Australians in favor of their locally made and distributed products. And after sampling those products for two weeks, it's understandable why. The country's microbrewery community doesn't seem to be into the cutting-edge experimentalism of Colorado's most notable brewers yet. But it's making a host of tasty beers in multiple styles that, hopefully, can make their way overseas one day.
Labels: Australian beer, International beers
