Imperial Stout

A local bar near me always has large promotions when they get new beers on tap. This week, they were promoting Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout). I had never heard of this stout, let alone tried it, so I figured now would be a better time than any.

KBS is an imperial stout with 11.2 percent ABV. That is a rather high ABV, so it is advised to only drink a couple. Because the ABV is so high, KBS will be served in a 12oz glass when ordered.



This is a very heavy stout. It pours a dark black color, and is best served from a tap as opposed to a bottle. You can taste a hint of vanilla, chocolate, and toffee.

This beer paired well with meats and cheeses, but I had it with bowl of oatmeal, and it really hit the spot.

To learn more about the Founders Brewing Company and the Kentucky Breakfast Stout, visit here. (Imaging also found from this site.)

American Pale Ale



I am normally hesitant to try pale ales, but I figured it would be nice to go slightly off my normal path.

I have tried Great Lakes before, but I had never tried Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale. Since our restaurant had just recently tapped this keg, I thought now would be a better time than any to explore some other options.





                                                                (imaging found here)

Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale is available year round, unlike many other beers provided by Great Lakes. Burning River is six percent ABV, with a medium body. It is slightly fruity, but the taste does not overwhelm. This is a great go-to American Pale Ale.

Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale is a great dinner beer. It is not too filling, and not overwhelming. This beer goes particularly well with pasta with white sauce, or smokey red meats.

To learn more about Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale and more about the other amazing beers offered by Great Lakes brewing company, visit here.

O.K. followers, this week, my life and palate have been forever changed.

This week, the restaurant that I work at had the opportunity to get a very rare, specialty beer:

Bell's Bourbon Aged Cherry Stout

 

 

 

This beer cannot be found just anywhere. My restaurant was one out of two in the area that was lucky enough to receive this keg. They had only tapped it a few days ago, when I noticed it on the draft menu and simply had to sample it.

 

When I first sipped this Bourbon Cherry Stout, it almost tasted like a Cherry Pepsi at the beginning, and then you can begin to feel the warm burn of the bourbon. It is definitely a beer that challanges your palate.

 

It is only served in a 12oz glass due to it's high alcohol content of 8.5 percent, so drink with caution.

 

I don't know if I would necessarily pair this beer with any particular type of food. I feel this beer would serve as a great after-dinner drink, and dessert within itself.

 

I highly suggest going out and finding this beer in an area near you, and sampling the beer of a lifetime.

 

To find out more about Bell's Brewing and this Bourbon Cherry Stout, visit one of my favorite beer sites here. (Imaging used can also be found at this site)





Euro Pale Lager

This week, it was getting slightly more difficult for me to choose a beer to discuss. I haven't been doing much taste-based research, so I couldn't find a beer to inspire a new blog post. So, I decided to go through my list of favorites, and chose my first import: Stella Artois.

Stella Artois is a great go-to beer. If a company sells Stella on tap, they are required to pour it in a certain glass called a "Stella Chalice" designed specifically for the perfect Stella.



 Many people prefer it as a draft, but for me, I enjoy it much better straight from the bottle. It is a light golden-brown color, and is very smooth and light to taste. I have heard some people describe the smell as "skunky", but I find it enjoyable  and not off-putting in the slightest.

Because Stella Artois is a lighter beer, I think it pairs best with either chicken or fish.

For more information on the beer that is Stella Artois, and why it is served in a chalice, not a glass, visit their site.

(Imaging found here)

Irish Dry Stout

Happy St. Patrick's day, followers!

In honor of today's holiday, and my taste based research over the weekend, I found it necessary to do the most popular beer of the weekend: Guinness Draught.

Originally brewed in Ireland, this stout was perfect for the weekend's celebration.

Guinness has a very distinct taste, and a specific person enjoys a Guinness. It is a heavy brown to black stout when poured from a tap, with a heavy malt flavor. Because the flavor is so distinct and heavy, I wouldn't recommend this beer to anyone that isn't a fan of  dry stouts.

This beer goes particularly well with barbeque or burgers.

With a Guinness Draught, the taste relies on the skill of the bartender's pour. You must do a double pour to allow the nitrogen to settle. The nitrogen is what makes Guinness so special compared to other stouts. To learn exactly how to pour the perfect Guinness, visit here.

(Photo not taken by mysef. They can be found here).

Witbier

Inspired by my recent vacation to Florida, and the slowly warming weather, I decided to focus on a beer the goes great with the excitement of summer: Blue Moon Belgian White.

Blue Moon is a citrus beer that is very recognizable and popular. Because of it's citrus blend of flavors, this beer is great for the summer time. It is very refreshing, and doesn't make you feel too full after drinking a few. Blue Moon is my go-to beer of the summer.

After doing some research, I was surprised to find that Blue Moon Beligian White is brewed by the Coors Brewing Company.  Blue Moon has an ABV of 5.4%, and best served with an orange slice.

Due to the heavy citrus flavor of Blue Moon, it does not pair with too many different foods. I find it pairs best with boneless, skinless, lightly glazed chicken, or a light dessert.




Imaging from here

Fruits

For this entry, I decided to venture out, and rather than doing my favorite beer, I wanted to see if the love for beer that I have is something that runs in the family.

I asked my mom what her favorite beer was, and she didn't even hesitate to answer. "Leinenkugel Berry Weiss!" she said with an overabundance of enthusiasm. With my mom being a wine drinker, I was surprised to here her be so enthused over a beer.

I have had Leinenkugel Berry Weiss a few times before, and decided to try one again this weekend.

 

Berry Weiss is one of the few beers that the Leinenkugel Company makes year round. They have many seasonal beers, but this one is extremely popular, so it remains on the market.

 

Berry Weiss is very sweet. Almost too sweet for my taste. I could only muster to finish one before I felt entirely too full for only having one beer. It is very fruity and crisp.

 

With a beer like this, I would recommend pairing it with a light salad and vinegar dressing to even out the tastes, and prevent you from getting too full.

 

(Pictures from here)





English Brown Ale

This week, I would like to focus on a type of beer that is more common than my previous posts.

English Brown Ales are maltier and sweeter than most beers. Some can be fruity, while others are more nutty in flavor. They do not have high hop content, and they have a low bitterness level, so many "non-beer drinkers" can easily enjoy one.

My favorite English Brown Ale, and that of many others is Newcastle Brown Ale.

 

 

Newcastle Brown Ale is the most popular English Brown Ale. Created and brewed Scotland, this dark caramel colored beer is one of my favorite "go-to's". I know that everytime I have a Newcastle, I am going to like it. I prefer to it as a "pretty" beer. The color alone draws me in.

 

I normally prefer a draft beer over a bottle any day of the week, but with a Newcastle, I prefer it directly from the bottle. It is something about the old school labeling, and the crispness of each sip that makes the taste so incredible.

 

Newcastle goes well with anything, but for me, I like it with a perfectly cooked sirloin, or just a simple burger.

 

(As opposed to my other posts, I did not take this picture. You can find it here)



 



Chocolate Stouts

Seeing the word "stout" might instantly turn some of you away from this week's entry, but I can guarantee it is not what you think. Yes, I know the word "stout" can be scary for some of you non-beer drinkers because it is most commonly associated with beers that are too strong and robust. However, this stout is a little different. I introduce to you, the Chocolate Stout.

My favorite chocolate stout, and the beer of the week is Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout is a Russian Imperial Stout, and as you can tell by it's name, brewed in Brooklyn, New York. With a hefty ten percent ABV (Alcohol By Volume), it is the perfect dessert beer, because you'll only need one.

Through my own taste-based research, it is evident that Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout is blessed with a rich chocolate and coffee taste. It also appeared to have a hint of cinnamon in the finish. I recommend pairing this stout with a chocolate dessert, cheesecake, or icecream. A few coworkers have said they have even gone as far as to make an Imperial Stout Float. Sounds rather intriguing, if I do say so myself.

I guarantee you can't go wrong by simply trying this stout. Then again, in my opinion, you can't go wrong with anything with the word chocolate in it. 

IPA-(Indian Pale Ale)

 



This week I wanted to focus on one of the most popular types of beer: IPA's. An IPA is not for the average beer drinker. They have a very distinct taste. They are very "hoppy" and the bitterness finish is high.

As a bartender, I am always excited when a new keg is brought in with a beer we haven't had before. This week we got in one of my favorite IPA's: Ithaca Flower Power.

When drinking it myself, it is easy to tell that Ithaca Flower Power is full-bodied and hoppy, but has a finish that relates closely to the taste of what I assumed to be pineapple. If you were to go directly to the Ithaca Beer Company website, you will find their direct description of this particular IPA:

"Enjoy the clover honey hue and tropical nose. Simultaneously Punchy and soothing with a big body and a finish that boasts pineapple and grapefruit. Flower power is hopped and dry-hopped five different times throughout the brewing and fermentation process."

Because of it's fruity finish, Ithaca Flower Power would be best paired with a spicy food to balance the taste. I would assume that Thai curry or Mexican food would be the best food pairing...unless you fill up on too much beer first!

Enjoy!

Hi!

My name is Chelsea. This is my first attempt at a blog and am very excited to get started. When deciding on a blog topic, a few different things came to mind. I couldn't decide if I wanted to do something related to food or alcohol, so I decided to do both.

I am a student by day and a bartender/server at night. I like to peg myself as somewhat of a beer connoisseur, so I thought it would be interesting to take my personal favorite beers and mixed drinks and pair them with some of my favorite foods. I plan on supplying recipes for my weekly meals, and web-based ratings for the particular beers and drinks I pair the food with.

I am extremely excited to do some taste-based research and report my findings back to you.