Institutionalized Racism

The French government is proposing to tax all beers over 8.5% ABV. This is part of a national program to curb alcoholism. I’m so glad that the United States isn’t the only government with its head up its ass.

There must be some alterior motive, since wine, wich has a higher % ABV, has less tax than beer in general. State sponsored racism, or however you’d qualify it. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, though France does make some great beers.

Fortunately the EU will probably strike this down as an unfair tariff. I might have this wrong, but it also seems sorely misguided to target higher alcohol beers, since they are generally luxury type goods. As the article points out, it would be easier and cheaper to buy cheap wine, or even cheap beer if you’re really in it for the Alcohol. My guess is the AAP (average alcoholic person) doesn’t pick the 8 dollar bottle of Chimay when they want that funny feeling, especially since they can get a 12 pack of cheapo American Lager. Its everywhere, man.

Battle of the Beers

Last year realbeer.com had a battle of the beers where anyone could log on and vote daily on one of two beers. Out of 32 beers from 32 different breweries, Alaskan Smoked Porter won. Well their doing in again this year but with 64 different beers. The tournament starts around mid Feb, but right now you can go to the sight to nominate which beers you would like to see on the list.
I nominated Bridgeport IPA, Grant’s Scottish, and Rogue’s Shakespeare Stout.

Maudite

I tried the famous Maudite trappist style beer from Quebec two weekends ago. I can see why people who enjoy trappist style beers would like, but I don’t like trappists and thus did not really enjoy it. Its very strong flavored and has a good body, but it has the typical fruitiness of a lambic beer. Maybe some day I will like lambic/trappist beers but until then I will have to stay away from them.

Chocolate Stout

Last weekend I moved the chocolate stout to secondary, and like I expeted the gravity was at about 1.020 after adding the extra gallon of espresso. A little high but thats ok because I want it to be sweet since the espresso obviously will add some bitterness. I think that I am going to let it mature a little longer than usual before bottling. This will help reduce the strong bite of the espresso. I want to esspresso taste to be there but right now its a little to much.

Hop Heaven

My father-in-law gave me ~5 lbs of brewer’s cut hops for christmas. Imagine how that package smelled as you unwrapped it.

Brewer’s cuts shipped from growers/packers to brewers for sampling. I got some Cascade, Willamette, and Centennial. Yum.

Blackbeard Oatmeal Stout Update

When I moved my stout from primary to secondary fermentation, the gravity had dropped from 1.050 to 1.020. Not quite what I wanted, so hopefully secondary will keep the process going.

I’m skeptical however, since below the layer of yeast trub was a dark layer of settled malt sediments. It was kind of pretty, but I fear it may have weakened my beer. So far its good, but a little sweet.

Double Chocolate Espresso

This weekend I brewed a stout that I think I am going to call Hells Bells Stout, but I’ll wait until its done to make that decision. Its a double chocolate espresso stout that I found the recipe for in last months Brew Your Own magazine (byo.com). I changed the recipe slightly (different yeast) but for the most part I held true to the recipe in the mag. The wort tasted very good (it had a pound of Ghiradelli chocolate powder in it, mmmm…), so I hope it turns out well. Next weekend I will move to secondary and add the espresso. I will let you know how it turns out.

~posted by Scott Dunlap

Fire Station 5

So this weekend I tried a porter from the brewing compony Fire Station 5 that is located here in Portland. It was ok but I wasn’t that impressed. It had the typical color and after taste of a porter, but the flavor and smell were a little off. Its smelled sweet almost “like my wort” as Andy stated. Plus it tasted like a porter wort, too sweet for my tastes. The taste was very mild, not like the typical porter that explodes with flavor upon tasting. Basically, I would drink it again but I wouldn’t go to the store looking to buy this beer.