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Somewhat of a portmanteau, this beer is named for the variety and amount of hops used, in combination with the moniker of a puppet from 1775. I like it already. And at $5 for an 11.2oz bottle, I better.
From the start, it’s all suds; even when poured gingerly, a tightly-packed column of white microbubbles leaps up to the top of the glass. It takes a while to settle and be close to at least a half-and-half ratio of liquid to foam. So as I wait, I go over a laundry list of things to do that won’t get done. Then I think about the tanking economy. And now that I’ve begun to worry myself, it’s time for a beer.
As is evident from the slow descent and thick web of residual bubbles, the head had real issues with letting go. A sweet, Belgian, dare I say “Duvel-ish” aroma wafts upwards from a quick swirl. I get candy sugar with slight citrus, like Lemonheads, and a grainy pale malt base underneath. The spiciness of the Saaz comes through, but I can’t definitively detect the Tradition, Goldings, or Spalt hops.
The first sip is a mouthful of foamy sweetness, with a good measure of hop bitterness that appears alongside it in short order. Again, I taste the peppery Saaz, but cannot distinguish the other three. As the hopiness culminates at the back, the finish becomes quite drying. Oddly, the sweet side is almost headache-inducing. Seems like an Houblon Chouffe that went slightly awry.
Perhaps it’s just personal preference, but I find the “Belgian IPA” or “Hoppy Belgian Pale” or whatever you want to call it a tough category to crack. Most of them appear to be just hopped-out tripels. And while they may not be my cup of tea in general, there are a couple in particular that hit the nail on the head in terms of balance and mouthfeel. Even as it warms, though, the Hopsinjoor just doesn’t sit right.
As an aside, I must make a note about styles and labels. The same label lists this beer as three separate styles, none of which seem apt. On the left side, above the original gravity and other stats (where the flavor is listed as merely “hoppy”), it calls itself a pale ale; on the front, a “great blond ale”; and on the right side, a “Belgian amber ale.” I’m not one to split hairs over beer styles, and you won’t see me flogging someone with a BJCP style guidelines book in a merciless rage anytime soon, but what’s with the confusion? Why is the same label calling this beer three different things?
I’ll simply call it what it is: a hoppy tripel.
So maybe this whole Amethyst Initiative thing has some merit to it, as far as discussing both sides of the legal drinking age issue. In particular, the laws that vary from state to state regarding consumption of alcohol should be examined.
In Wisconsin, apparently it’s okay to give your kid an alcoholic beverage as long as the parent is present. One Fond du Lac resident had a rather loose interpretation of his home state’s legislation, and decided to let his two- and four-year-old children share a beer of their own. Reminds me of myself as a youngster… although I used cunning and subterfuge for a mere sip or two.
Ignorance of the law is no excuse… or maybe posession is nine-tenths of the law? I feel like there’s some legal cliche that would work here. Remember when you were younger, and you wished your dad would be more like your zany, fun-loving uncle? Well, that guy lives in Wisconsin, so be careful what you wish for.
Someone thought this was a good idea. Now, I’m no beer industry expert, nor do I pretend to be. To be completely honest, I’m not sure I actually know all that much about beer. But coming from a guy that has a
blog and half a brain in his head (two not-so difficult things to come by), I can tell you this: Kid Rock does not deserve to have his own beer.
Little known fact about me: I like music. Widely known fact about me: I do not consider Kid Rock’s issuances of noise “music.” If I have to sit through four minutes of the “Citizen Soldier” video before a movie in theatres, which I’m assuming is supposed to inspire me to join the National Guard/kick ass/save lives in the name of the USA, I don’t want to see the same guy pushing his “premium” beer on me.
So maybe this is more a rant about how I dislike whatever it is that Kid Rock stands for, but I take it as an affront to beer and beer lovers everywhere.
Beer seems to straddle the line between luxury item and staple. Dependent upon cultural context, market conditions, and an array of other factors, the impact that beer has on daily life may vary from state to state, and thusly affect that sector of a particular country’s economy. Regardless, beer is not a necessity to remain alive, and it is treated with reverence in varying degrees around the globe.
One thing that beer consumption and sales may well reflect is a burgeoning economy. As beer tends to have a more populist appeal than wine in many countries where alcohol is not completely condemned, it may be a better indicator of overall economic growth for average denizens. In essence, beer may serve as a valuable gauge of the effects that development and globalization have on the Developing World.
It’s no secret that China is on the rise when it comes to economic prosperity. Yet, there are still restrictive challenges and obstacles to their development and infrastructure, such as institutional instability and the constant need for sources of energy. Regardless of any outcome that may result from these problems, many Chinese citizens are experiencing a boost in earning power at present. And although many more still struggle with basic needs for survival, sales of consumer goods have continued to climb.
According to a report by Seema International, Ltd., in 1988 China’s per capita beer consumption was only 6 liters, but had risen to 23.4 liters by 2005. This was about a liter and a half less than the world average.
But to understand China, you have to examine the demographics and geography of the country. China’s industrialized eastern coast is crowded with people, while its western frontier is vast and sparsely populated. While the Han Chinese comprise a majority of the land’s population, there are several linguistic subgroups and other ethnicities that differ from region to region. Central to Western China also features pockets of Muslim populations, such as the Uyghurs, who for the most part abstain from alcohol of any kind. These regions also experience a disparate proportion of distributed wealth compared to their fellow countrymen. And yes, all this relates to beer consumption.
Regionally, the Eastern part of the country was producing 37.2% of the total quantity of beer in China, and consuming 30.7 liters per capita. Whereas in the Northeast, which would include Beijing and Manchuria, only 14.2% of the national output originated there, yet per capita consumption was 40.6 liters. Compare that with 12.7 liters in the Southwest and 16.6 liters in the Northwest, with both regions claiming less than 10% of overall output.
Out of the top ten breweries by volume in 2006, there were only two that had no foreign investors whatsoever: Yanjing and Kingstar breweries. Yanjing announced in August of this year that it would still have no foreign involvement. Anheuser-Busch had complete control over Harbin and a 27% stake in Tsingtao, numbers seven and two on the list respectively. Now, InBev will fill that spot with the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch to become the largest brewer in China. SABMiller has a 49% stake in China Resources Snow Breweries, makers of the number-one selling Snow beer that could surpass (or perhaps already has) sales of Bud Light to become the bestselling beer brand in the world.
The Wall Street Journal, using data from Euromonitor, point to China’s massive population as a catalyst for the growing market for beer, driven from the supply side. So even though the Chinese don’t consume as much beer per person as Americans or Europeans, their beer market is still the world’s largest, and has been steadily growing at a rate of 10% each year.
Pricing has limited the actual profits per hectoliter raked in by these breweries, even though volume is going through the roof. So what is the logical next step? Target the trade-uppers. CRSB and SABMiller are already conjuring up ideas for new brews under the Snow aegis that will entice consumers that have a little more money to throw around. If China’s capitalist leanings and communist political structure remain intact, albeit in a delicate balance, then as earning power increases, there will be a market for these upper-end beers.
Once people start trading up, your average consumer has extra income to spend. The ever-expanding beer market in China is but one indicator of the impact of economic growth in the Developing World.
Sure, I could probably point to other products or luxury items to make the same point, but this is a beer blog.
Photo by Nick Dawson
This charming corner cafe located at Main and 17th Streets downtown holds a special place in my heart for a variety of reasons. I often find myself there in the presence of good company on special occasions, and it never seems to disappoint. As its name suggests, it’s a cafe designed with the original Viennese Cafe Gutenberg in mind. The place prides itself on delicious light fare, Illy coffee, and believe it or not, a solid wine and beer list.
If, like myself, you abstain from eating meats or fish, Gutenberg always has something on the menu suited to your dietary inclinations (including a surprisingly convincing mock-duck meal for brunch!). Not only that, but even a beer lover can geek out with a cheese plate and one of the bottled beers they have available. The beer section is split up from light to dark, a grave sin to the most ardent of beer nerd I’m sure, but there’s a rotating cast every so often; most recently, I’ve spotted Bell’s Porter, Saison Dupont, and Delirium Nocturnum to name a few, but have also seen Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen and Duchesse du Bourgogne in the past.
As for atmosphere, this place seems to nail it. Patrons are surrounded by books on both floors, which naturally ties in with the name and overall theme of the restaurant. And yes, the place can attract the too-cool-for-school crowd from time to time. But for the most part, this is a cafe with its eyes toward Europe, without the pretense and attitude of a locale that’s trying too hard. It’s not confused about its actual geographical position, and doesn’t make excuses or irrational claims about it either. On the whole, its staff and clientele reflect that exact mindset.
There are some places of business in Richmond that confuse themselves with others in New York, or Paris, or any other large city that people seem to, for some reason, saddle with a sassy panache. I feel that Cafe Gutenberg is one of the few that actually gets it right, and has some quality beer to show for it.
German blood runs through my veins. Figuratively speaking. Seeing as how blood itself doesn’t technically
have a nationality, and the fact that I was born in America, doesn’t exactly help my case. My family’s German lineage stems back to at least the 1800s in South Carolina, so that barely counts. Suffice it to say, I’m going to increase my blood-alcohol content with some German-inspired beers brewed right here in the United States. This is Oktoberfest: red, white, and blue style.
I’ve selected three American Oktoberfest beers on which to pontificate, in keeping with the German-American theme. Those beers are: Victory’s Festbier, Penn Oktoberfest, and Harpoon Octoberfest.
The Festbier from Victory Brewing is a transparent and illustrious copper affair that is topped by nearly three fingers of alabaster head that recedes gradually and leaves about an inch of lace. The aroma is of caramel, from an almost smoky, toasted malt presence. A big noseful of grains that is very robust and tempting.
Much to my surprise, this beer was more subtle than expected, with the aforementioned aromatic notes rather absent on the palate. The cleanness of this lager comes through combined with a big biscuity flavor at the middle. The toasted malt notes come in the finish and begin to dry out. With a creamy, carbonated body, this is a decent enough Oktoberfest sipper.
Next we have the Penn Oktoberfest. This one pours an ambery-goldenrod color with a centimeter of fast-fading, soapy suds forming at the top. Honestly, this one isn’t much to look at, but looks can be deceiving. The bottle’s label, however, is decked out in the light blue and white-checkered pattern of the Bavarian flag. Neck label also indicates 20 years of brewing for Penn. Extra points for the Teutonic-looking gent clad in lederhosen, clutching a stein, and the lovely blonde lass accompanying him whilst carrying eight one-liter glass mugs filled to the brim. Furthermore, the back label indicates they also brew a Märzen.
The beer smells clean and dare I say, soapy. The bouquet exhibits a dull malt sweetness, but with some of that toasted character coming through as well. Not much else, other than maybe a hint of spicy Hallertau hops.
Keeping in mind, the idea is drinkability. That’s one reason they’re not handing out DIPAs at the Munich beer gardens. This seemed much lighter and cleaner than the Victory, as its level of carbonation wasn’t as high and it displayed a thinner mouthfeel. Though much like its counterpart, it did have a soft introduction and let the bready and toasted notes shine toward the center. The aftertaste was cleaner and less dry, but featured the subtle spiciness of the Hallertau, which was a nice aspect of this beer.
Lastly, we have the Harpoon Octoberfest. The beer is a clear, russet-colored hue that looks somewhat like cherry finish on wood, to tell the truth. Two fingers of brilliant, white head on top also resembles soap bubbles, but they seem to stick around longer as it holds to the edge of the glass and retains its colonies of bubbles for quite some time.
As far as the olfactory goes, there’s a little more in the caramel malt department than the other two, but still keeps the bready toffee notes along with that gentle toasted malt scent. Grainy malt comes forth in the beginning of the sip, and seems to last the entire trip from front to back. Hops add an earthy and spicy bitterness, more so than the others, but pulls back before it becomes too much. Aftertaste has lots of bread, and even a noticeable caramel feature. The carbonation is moderate, but the texture is still on the creamy side, and finishes dry like the Victory.
So as the autumn slowly approaches and gains steam, much like Tropical Storm Hanna, it’s great to break out some lower-abv, easy sippers. In an odd homage to my ancestors, it’s good to have some solid Oktoberfest-style beer brewed by some solid American outfits, so that I may enjoy the fruits of their labor. This time of year, it’s nice to be able to find so many of these kinds of beers on the shelves, as the winter can mean only one thing: boozy barleywines and intimidating imperial stouts.
Thanks to lootcorp.com for hosting; a round-up of this Session can be seen here.
Yesterday the Wall Street Journal announced that MillerCoors, the joint venture between both SABMiller and Molson Coors in the United States, was being sued by two Ohio distributors that are upset over the termination of their established partnerships. AFP Distributors Inc. and Beverage Distributors Inc., out of Cleveland and Gloucester respectively, filed suit in a federal court located in Columbus against MillerCoors after being told their agreements would end on September 25th.
From the looks of it, MillerCoors is attempting to position themselves into an even more competitive stature by streamlining their distribution network in order to better compete with the steadily growing InBev empire. This could be a pre-emptive move, as changes could come to Anheuser-Busch/InBev’s distribution throughout the country in the coming months.
Such a risky maneuver could have the joint venture raking in the dough or leaking loot from lawsuits. Also worth watching will be the after-effects the InBev buyout will have on the American beer market in the near future, as I doubt we’ve seen the last of this sort of consolidation and struggle for domestic dominance in the US.
No sooner does one beer extravaganza end than another begins. Hosted by the same people, no less. (This one would dovetail nicely with the theme of this month’s Session, and for some reason, I’ve been craving German beer all month.)
Capital Ale House has just announced the schedule for their Oktoberfest celebrations at the end of September, which has better beer than the other celebration going on a month later. And feel free to check the “Beer Stands” section on that link. I mean really, beers provided by Loveland… and the best German beer they can muster is Warsteiner and Becks? They’ll have Sam Adams Octoberfest there, which would be my pick. I feel like since Yuengling is also distributed by Loveland, a nice Amber Lager would also fit the bill, seeing as how the brewery’s founder was German and the flavor themes would seem to coincide better than,
say, the Miller Lite that’s on offer. It’s a German-American themed festival, so how about some creativity?
But I digress. The Cap Ale Oktoberfest will be held from September 19th through the 30th. On Tuesday, September 23rd, the Steal the Glass Night at all locations will feature Stoudt’s, a brewery from which I have tried only a handful of offerings, but have really enjoyed. So you get either their Lager, Hefeweiss, or Oktoberfest in their seasonal Oktoberfest glassware. I may stop in for one, but can’t promise to stop there, if you follow me.
Friday and Saturday nights seem to be where it’s at. On the 19th and 20th, the Innsbrook and Midlothian locations will have live music and dancing, the heart of their Oktoberfest celebration, as will the Downtown branch on September 26th and 27th. You can fill up on pretzels and wurst, sauerkraut, the usual. But I think most people will be in attendance for the complimentary one-liter Paulaner, Hofbrau, or Spaten stein, with 15 German beers on draft with which to fill it. And if you decide to go, just stay the hell out of my way.
Last year, it was a fool’s errand. Oh, I got my dimpled, glass stein, but was half-sick and had to wade through a sea of people out at Innsbrook just to be denied the Ayinger, as it ran out in record time. Still, it was a blast. I blame myself for being talked into going, feeling like my head was going to implode and my sinuses burst before I even walked in the door. Hopefully this time around I won’t be fighting illness and be able to enjoy the beer. But if not, I’ll still be there.
Prosit!
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