15th Beer: La Rossa from Birra Moretti

BEER: La Rossa (The Red)
ABV: 7.2% bottle

BREWER: Birra Moretti
Date: 30NOV2005

Appearance (from light to dark): 4 (1 - 5)

Head - Initial appearance

• Size – small
• Creamy

Head - Color

• Light brown
  

Head - Lacing

• Virtually none
  

Head - Longevity

• Fully diminishing
  

Body - Clarity

• Clear - sparkling / normal / flat
• Cloudy - hazy / murky / muddy
  

Body - Particles

• Density - average

Body - Hue

• Dark
• Orange
• Red

Aroma (from weakest to strongest): 7 (1 - 10)

Malty

• Heavy
  
• Bread - dark
• Cookie
• Grain
• Toasted / Roasted
  
• Molasses / Caramel
• Coffee - mild

Hoppy

• Light

Yeasty

• Light

Miscellaneous

• Maple syrup
• Alcohol

Palate (again from worst to best): 3 (1 - 5)

Body

• Medium to full

Texture

• Creamy
• Syrupy

Carbonation

• Soft

Finish - Feel

• Alcoholic - light / moderate

Flavor (again from worst to best): 8 (1 - 10)

Initial flavor

• Sweet - heavy
  

Finish - Flavor

• Sweet - heavy

Finish - Duration

• Long
  

Overall rating (out of 30, dumbass): 22

Comments: The malty overwhelmed the hoppy. I like sweet beers but this was too malty for me. It has a very deep red color - beautiful. I probably would have liked this beer better if I was feeling better.

Beer As Cancer Fighter?

Yes, it may be true. Hops may be a potential cancer fighter. Read the article here. HT: Slashdot.

13th Beer: The Alaskan Smoked Porter

BEER: Alaskan Smoked Porter - year round
ABV: 6.5%, bottle

BREWER: Alaska Brewing Co.
Date: 27NOV2005

Appearance (from light to dark): 5 (1 - 5)

Head - Initial appearance

• Size – average
  
• Fizzy

Head - Color

• Off-white
• Light brown
  

Head - Lacing

• Excellent

Head - Longevity

• Mostly lasting

Body - Clarity

• Cloudy - murky
  

Body - Particles

• Density - thick

Body - Hue

• Dark
• Brown
• Black

Aroma (from weakest to strongest): 8 (1 - 10)

Malty

• Moderate
• Burnt
  
• Molasses / Caramel
• Chocolate - dark
• Coffee - strong

Hoppy

• Light

Yeasty

• Not really
  

Miscellaneous

• Port - tawny
  
• Smoke / Tar / Charcoal
  
• Coriander / Ginger
• Allspice / Nutmeg / Clove / Cinnamon
• Alcohol

Palate (again from worst to best): 4 (1 - 5)

Body

• Full
  

Texture

• Syrupy

Carbonation

• Lively

Finish - Feel

• Astringent - moderate
• Alcoholic - light

Flavor (again from worst to best): 7 (1 - 10)

Initial flavor

• Sweet - light
  
• Bitter - moderate
  

Finish - Flavor

• Sweet - light
  
• Bitter - moderate

Finish - Duration

• Long
  

Overall rating (out of 30, dumbass): 24

Comments: This smoked porter really reminded me of coffee as I smelled and drank it. It tasted good and strong - just like my coffee again. I'll see if Dan wants to rate this beer or not. Thanks to Dan the Geologist for sharing and the Intolerant for bringing.

How to enjoy beer...

After the lovely Thanksgiving season, I have a few short observations on how to NOT to drink beer. I don't know much, REALLY... but I do know this:

- Having ten cans of cheap beer in one day is NOT enjoying beer;
- Drinking cans of beer that you can purchase in most grocery stores, because it is cheaper to consume massive quanities in this way, is NOT enjoying beer;
- Having children comment that mommy or daddy is "wasted" is most definitely NOT enjoying beer;
- Having several cans of beer a day, every day, because you "need" it to function is NOT enjoying beer.

Such people give beer a bad name! I am not the owner of this blog, but it is my opinion that anyone who practices the above is NOT a true beer drinker and should not read this blog. I am thankful to the good men who participate in this blog and truly enjoy beer.

The End

Alaska Winter Ale - The Tenth Beer Record

BEER: seasonal
ABV: 6.4%, bottle

BREWER: Alaskan Brewing Company
Date: 25NOV2005

Appearance (from light to dark): 3 (1 - 5)

Head - Initial appearance

• Size – small

Head - Color

• Light brown
  

Head - Lacing

• Virtually none
  

Head - Longevity

• Fully diminishing
  

Body - Clarity

• Clear - normal

Body - Particles

• Size – tiny
• Bottle conditioned
  

Body - Hue

• Medium
  
• Amber
• Brown

Aroma (from weakest to strongest): 8 (1 - 10)

Malty

• Light
  
• Grain
  

Hoppy

• Moderate
• Spruce

Yeasty

• Light

Miscellaneous

• Alcohol

Palate (again from worst to best): 4 (1 - 5)

Body

• Full
  

Texture

• Oily

Carbonation

• Soft

Finish - Feel

• Alcoholic - light

Flavor (again from worst to best): 8 (1 - 10)

Initial flavor

• Sweet - moderate
  
• Bitter - light

Finish - Flavor

• Sweet - light to moderate
  
• Bitter - light to moderate

Finish - Duration

• Long
  

Overall rating (out of 30, dumbass): 23

Comments: This beer is very good. You can definitely taste and smell the spruce tips. Hat tip to Dan the Geologist's girlfriend, the Intolerant Elle for the beer.

Thanksgiving 2005: The Eigth Beer: Spaten Optimator

This double-bock was recommended by Kung Fu Master Paul T. McCain.

See, I think I've tried this beer before - very good BTW. That's one of the reason's I'm going to try to attempt to track my beer.

I have one way to determine my beer consumption - I keep a bag of all the beer caps that I've drank since 1999.

Though I am not THE Beer Tracker, I am a beer tracker!

BEER: year round
ABV: 7.2 bottle

BREWER: Spaten
Date: Thanksgiving 2005

Appearance (from light to dark): 3(1 - 5)

Head - Initial appearance

• Size – small
  

Head - Color

• Light brown
  

Head - Lacing

• Virtually none
  

Head - Longevity

• Fully diminishing
  

Body - Clarity

• Clear - sparkling / normal / flat
• Cloudy - hazy / murky / muddy
  

Body - Particles

• Size – tiny
  

Body - Hue

• Medium to dark
• Red
• Brown
• Black

Aroma (from weakest to strongest): 8 (1 - 10)

Malty

• Heavy
  
• Bread - dark
• Cookie
• Grain / Hay / Straw / Cereal
• Toasted / Roasted / Burnt / Nutty
• Molasses / Caramel
• Chocolate - dark
• Coffee - mild
  

Hoppy

• Light
  

Yeasty

• moderate
  
• Dough-ie
  

Miscellaneous

• Brown sugar
  
• Allspice / Nutmeg / Clove / Cinnamon
• Alcohol

Palate (again from worst to best): 4 (1 - 5)

Body

• Medium to full
• Full
  

Texture

• Creamy
• Syrupy

Carbonation

• Lively

Finish - Feel

• Astringent - light
• Alcoholic - moderate

Flavor (again from worst to best): 9 (1 - 10)

Initial flavor

• Sweet - moderate
  

Finish - Flavor

• Sweet - light
  

Finish - Duration

• Long
  

Overall rating (out of 30, dumbass): 24

Comments: Good stuff, thanks for the recommendation Pr. McCain! The smell and taste were delightful.

I've added two new sites to our beer blog...

...that I've recently discovered: Beer Advocate and My Life is Beer.

I think you will enjoy them - as you recover from your Thanksgiving Feast.

Thanksgiving Eve 2005: The Seventh Beer: Sam Adams Cherry Wheat

From the neck label: Celebrating a centuries-old American tadition of brewing with natural ingredients. Samuel Adam Cherry Wheat combines Michigan cherries with a generous portion of wheat malt to produce a bright, lively ale with a crips finish. Cheers! ~ Jim Koch

I'll try to do an eval next time - sorry. It's a good beer with a delicate taste of cherry and wheat.

Featured Beer: Warsteiner Dunkel

BEER: Warsteiner Dunkel
ABV: Bottle

BREWER:
Date: 21NOV2005

Appearance (from light to dark): 5 (1 - 5)

Head - Initial appearance

• Size – small
  

Head - Color

• Off-white

Head - Lacing

• Fair

Head - Longevity

• Mostly lasting

Body - Clarity

• Clear
  

Body - Particles

• Size – tiny
  

Body - Hue

• Dark
• Brown

Aroma (from weakest to strongest): 5 (1 - 10)

Malty

• Light
  
• Bread - dark
• Toasted
  
• Coffee - strong

Hoppy

• Moderate

Yeasty

• Light
  

Miscellaneous

• Smoke
  
• Maple syrup
• Alcohol

Palate (again from worst to best): 4 (1 - 5)

Body

• Medium

Texture

• Oily

Carbonation

• Medium
  

Finish - Feel

• Astringent - light
  
• Alcoholic - moderate
  

Flavor (again from worst to best): 8 (1 - 10)

Initial flavor

• Sweet - light
  
• Bitter - moderate
  

Finish - Flavor

• Bitter - moderate

Finish - Duration

• Long
  

Overall rating (out of 30, dumbass): 22

Comments: My beer for tonight. This is one of my favorite beers. Website is here.

Lutheran Carnival XI...

The most recent collection of confessional blog posts is gathered here.

Below Is...

...my second post to my 13th blog - I'm looking to conquer the universe.

It's called "Swedish Beer" and it will be my futile attempts to track and rate my beer consumption. It is meant to compliment Purpose Driven Drinking as well.

It's enjoyable now but will probably start getting tedious. I don't know if I'll be able to do it while dining-out either unless I bring the checklist

Suggestions? Comments?

Klaster Brewery- Dark Beer - Traditional Czech Beer

Appearance (from light to dark): 4 (1 - 5)
Head - Initial appearance
o Size – (small)
o Virtually none

Head - Color
o Off-white

Head - Lacing
o Fair

Head - Longevity
o Fully diminishing

Body - Clarity
o Clear - flat

Body - Particles
o Size – tiny
o Density - thin
o Bottle conditioned - no

Body - Hue
o dark
o Brown

Aroma (from weakest to strongest): 6 (1 - 10)
Malty
o Light
o Caramel

Hoppy - not at all

Yeasty
o Light

Miscellaneous
o Maple syrup
o Alcohol 4% by volume

Palate (from worst to best): 4 (1 - 5)
Body
o Medium

Texture
o Watery

Carbonation
o Soft to flat

Finish - Feel
o Alcoholic - light

Flavor (again from worst to best): 7 (1 - 10)
Initial flavor
o Sweet - light / moderate

Finish - Flavor
o Sweet - light

Finish - Duration
o Short

Overall rating (out of 30, dumbass): 21

Note: This is my first time rating a beer using a checklist. Gotta start sometime.

Website: Yes. Try this!

Lutheran Blog Carnival

The most recent collection of confessional blog posts is gathered on the Carnival's main blog site.

Norwegian Pub Songs

Summit Brewing Company, my favorite local brewery, offers a presentation of authentic pub songs from their Summit Good Will Tour. They have recorded some wonderful pieces! The first three were recorded at a pub called Christiania in Norway. You MUST listen to the Lutefisk song! It is obvious that a lot more heavy drinking goes on in Ireland than Norway, judging by Swing Low, Sweet Chariot recorded at the Pine Lodge in Ireland.