Beer. The world’s oldest and still most widely-consumed alcoholic beverage, usually made from malted barley, with hops added for flavour, and for bitterness, to counter the sweetness of d malt.
Its been around for ages – fuckers have been gettin drunk for at least 10,000 years! (And still no real hangover cure?? Other than this recent attempt. Dafuck man. Goddam slackers.)
There are two types of beers in the world – lagers and ales. Explain in a sec.
Last week tried out some American craft beers available at Craft Brews (7722-3000). Earlier in the month tried their draft beers.
These babes are from the Flying Dog Brewery, an award-winning one that began brewin d piss in Aspen in 1990.
It wasn’t a beer-pairing dinner; just beer. Four of ’em. (Hmm. Dunno why no bars / restaurants have hosted beer dinners.)
To kick off t’was Old Scratch (amber lager). Obviously the colour is amber as its a lager.
Wats da diff between a lager and an ale? To d layman, a lager is a pilsner like Tiger, Chang, Angkor, Bintang and all d beers brewed in this region. Its filtered, clear gold, crisp, and has a clean taste.
An ale is generally unfiltered, usually darker beer.
The difference in creation is lager uses bottom-fermenting yeast, ie yeast that gather at the bottom of the fermentation barrel. Ales use a top-fermenting species. Like cider. And wheat beers.
Ales are generally robust, more complex, bolder and stronger in taste and aroma, and normally darker. Very common in US, Europe, not really in Asia. Early beers were all ales. They usually have a higher hop content. Stouts fall under ales.
The strongest beer made so far is 32% – the Tactical Nuclear Penguin. Haha! Penguin also kena exploited.
Anyway the Ol Scratch (5.5%) is a malty beer, more on the sweet side, but mellow. The finish is light.
The Snake Dog (India pale ale) is a different story altogether. Its fosher a straight-up, big-dick ale. The aroma is of…. lychee. Seriously.
The IPA is hoppy (meaning heavy in hops). Translation = bitter. Tasting-buddy Grace, who’s a freak, digs dis.
The finish is pretty strong & long. ABV is da highest among the four – 7.1%.
Hmmm. Now Grace’s choice makes sense.
Its got an IBU (some new shit i learned) of 60, which means its goddam bitter. All these bottles have an International Bitterness Unit number at d back, ranging from 12 to 60.
Next, the Doggie Style (classic pale ale).
Dis dude’s got character, a lil too much character for i n Grace. It’s gotta real bite. But a shorter finish than the Snake Dog IPA. ABV is 5.5%.
Its supposed to make u engage in doggie-style d same night. Didnt happen.
Even if it did, i aint no snitch.
.
Final beer’s the In Heat (wheat hefeweizen – 4.7%). Its got the aroma of pisang goreng. No shit.
Dead easy to drink, the traditional German hefe is my fave. Simple unfiltered wheat beer.
My ranking – In Heat, Ol Scratch, Snake Dog, Doggie Style.
Grace – In Heat, Snake Dog, Ol Scratch, Doggie Style.
The beers are only served from bottles and cost $20.70.
Party continued as we hit Alexis with my buddy Rubin for long islands. Got pretty bent on d way there.
Brain damage: 6.5/10