Flying Dogs on the Attack

They can smell your fear. The dogs, that is. The fear grips after the realization that the weakest mutt in the pack barks a snarling 8.5% alcohol by volume and it’s called a Tripel. Yes, the new Kerberos Tripel is actually the lightest beer in Flying Dog’s new Canis Major Mixed Four Pack.

I’m hoping to avoid wimpering away with my tail between my legs at the end of this night so I’ll probably just have the Tripel, and maybe the Gonzo Imperial Porter, which itself registers a 9.2% ABV on the bite-o-meter (at least that’s what the label says, but the Beer Information Chart that came with my beers says 7.8% and so does their website). In any case, I’m trying to stick with the beers that won’t leave teeth marks on my Tuesday night.

The Kerberos Tripel delivers what its name promises, a three-headed hell hound reminiscent of the strong Belgian golden ales from which it derives its style designation. It starts out sweet like a cuddly puppy dog but soon erupts in a hot alcoholic growl that threatens to burn out the insides until a quick, dry finish douses the flames.

Flying Dog swaggered away from the recent World Beer Cup (which I was gleeful to be able to attend this time) with a paw-full of shiny metal objects. One of the medals was a Gold awarded for The Gonzo Imperial Porter in the American-style Imperial Stout category. The Dog also earned petting for the Old Scratch Amber Lager, receiving a Silver medal in the Amber Lager category and the Wild Goose IPA won a Gold in the English-style IPA category.

Speaking of the Gonzo Imperial Porter, click right here to read my previous review.

One week ’til Savor, an American Craft Beer & Food Experience

Move over wine, here comes craft beer. Savor is America’s first modern national event aiming to elevate beer to a seat at the grown-ups table of high cuisine.

For as long as anyone can remember, beer has been the pedestrian beverage that knows its place: the bar, the barbecue grill, and the front porch after cutting the lawn. Meanwhile, we reach for the wallet and the wine bottle when it comes to toasting high occasions: the hot date, weddings, anniversaries, and fine dining.

The Brewer’s Association is launching Savor with the ambitious and admirable goal of raising public awareness of beer’s complexity, versatility and appropriateness alongside the most haute of cuisines.

Beer has a number of characteristics that make it a desirable choice for the linen-draped table. Beer has a far wider range of flavors than wine due in part to the fact that more and more variable ingredients are employed in its production. It is also far cheaper, on average, than wine and therefore can be more economically matched with each course in a meal. Wine, on the other hand, is expensive and discourages diners from pairing an appropriate bottle or glass with each course which means at best one course will be well-paired while the others might clash distastefully. Beer is also a bit more approachable while wine has an ingrained culture of snobbery (despite some laudable attempts to change this).

Savor will bring together fifty of America’s finest craft brewers and offer attendees a food pairing specifically chosen to match their beers. And I do mean fifty craft brewers - unlike many great beer festivals, Savor will not be staffed by volunteers but instead the brewers booths will be tended exclusively by brewers and brewery owners. This is not meant as a slight to volunteers. In fact, there will be volunteers helping with certain logistics, but the intention is to allow direct face-to-face experiences between attendees and the highly skilled and knowledgeable experts responsible for crafting the selections.

In addition to the food and beer pairings, there will be talks and presentations from some of America’s foremost beer and food experts, including a lively debate between Sam Calagione and Marnie old entitled “He Said Beer, She Said Wine” after their new book by the same name. Savor is an event not to be missed. My partner Seung and I will be there during the Saturday evening session. Get your tickets now before they sell out.

SAVOR: AN AMERICAN CRAFT BEER & FOOD EXPERIENCE
WHAT: Fine beer and food pairing event
WHEN: Friday-Saturday, May 16-17, 2008
WHERE: W. Mellon Auditorium, Washington, D.C.
COST: $85 all inclusive
INFO: http://beertown.org/events/SAVOR/index.html

Organic Beer Dinner at Magnolias

Mark your calender and reserve your tickets now for the Clipper City beer dinner at Magnolias in Purcellville, Virginia on Thursday, May 22 featuring Oxford Organic Beers, brewers from Clipper City, and me talking about organic beers.

The details:

Oxford Organic Beer Dinner and Book Signing
WHAT: Clipper City Organic beer dinner
WHEN: 6-7pm meet the brewers, 7pm dinner, May 22, 2008
WHERE: Magnolias, Purcellville, Virginia
COST: $75 all inclusive
INFO: http://www.magnoliasmill.com/Events.htm

There’s a Tinge of Green in the Glass

Greg Kitsock writes today in his Washington Post column about the growing interest in organic beers. His article begins:

“All beers were organic 100 years ago,” says Christopher Mark O’Brien, Silver Spring-based author of “Fermenting Revolution: How to Drink Beer and Save the World.

He goes on to announce the launch of Clipper City’s newly organic Oxford line of beer which includes a raspberry wheat and an amber.

Check out the whole article in the Washington Post right here.

Drink, Don’t Drive

My mom sent me this photo today. I love my mom.