Sam Adams Harvest Collection

It's here! The Sam Adams Harvest Collection:

• Boston Lager (of course, it's in every collection)
• Dunkelweisen
• Harvest Pumpkin Ale (new!)
• Black Lager
• Irish Red
• Oktoberfest

Reviews coming soon

New Belgium Hoptober Golden Ale

W

With all the brown-ness of the Autumn beers, I was surprised to see the sunny gold of Hoptober, the golden ale from New Belgium. Nothing unusual about the appearance, standard yellow with a small white head, but the taste was exceptional. Kind of a wheaty-citrussy sweetness about it, battling with the hops for your attention. (Although it's not a wheat beer technically, there is wheat in the mix). IBU of 40, but tastes almost like an IPA - maybe in the Pale Ale category. Very nice.

Beer Review: Left Hand Oktoberfest

Some times ya gets a head and sometimes ya don't...no head at all, deep orange in color, little to no carbonation, hint of some bourbon in the aftertaste. Some nuttiness, maybe a bit of cinnamon too. I thought I caught a whiff of cloves, but maybe not. Not a "quantity" drink, but a nice after dinner warmer.

Beer Review: Red Hook Late Harvest Autumn Ale

Red Hook Late Harvest doesn't bill itself as an Oktoberfest, and technically it's not. Oktoberfests or Marzens are lagers and this is an ale. Very hoppy, but with the solid flavor that one would expect from a 'fest. Kind of creamy body, although not much of a head. Coppery in color, with a mild, almost undetectable citrus note. Very similar to some brown ales or nut brown ales that I've tried. Should pair well with some fall grilling, like barbequed chicken or even some salmon.

Beer Review: Leinenkugel's Oktoberfest

You can't really lose with Leinie's, or Oktoberfest. Pours a coppery amber, thin caramel hued head, malty aroma. Faint peach taste overlaying malt and robust hoppiness. Pretty drinkable, but enough complexity to provoke one to go back for more.

Religious Freedom, Religious Tolerance...but not for religions that we don't like.

One of the more controversial issues of the last month has been the plans for a group called The Cordoba Initiative to build a Muslim Community Center on the current site of a small mosque, two blocks from the former World Trade Center site known as "Ground Zero". There has been opposition to this construction, from families of 9-11 victims, but also from a broad spectrum of New Yorkers and other Americans, including moderate Muslim groups. Some folks sit on the fence, including President Obama, by saying that this group has freedom of religion, but that they should build it elsewhere.

It is my opinion the opposition is in large part due to an identification of all Muslims with terrorism and blaming all Muslims with the attacks on September 11, 2001. These particular Muslims do not appear to be terrorists, there is no evidence that they support terrorism and there is no indication that this community center will be connected to terrorism. Many of the opponents have brought up specific verses from the Koran and tenets of sharia that they find objectionable to back up their objections to this building. I for one am no fan of Islam and certainly oppose the imposition of sharia anywhere, but utilizing a book of scriptures that has unpleasant parts to it does not mean that all adherents follow a literal interpretation of it, and for those who do, we have that short paragraph in our constitution called the First Amendment. There are sections of the bible where the "believers" literally slaughtered their enemies, men, women, children (and livestock). Of course most Christians today don't believe that we should be doing that anymore, some have biblical justifications like dispensationalism to back that up, and some just choose not to literally interpret their holy book. Christians can do it, but we are to believe that all Muslims are tied to a literal interpretation of their book? And furthermore, do we really want the government deciding where and when houses of worship can be built? Do we want freedom of religion based on a majority vote?

In addition to the wrong identification of all followers of Islam with terrorism, there are some other basic facts that don't get covered by the opponents:

• The Muslim group owns the space and there is already a mosque on site. The proposed construction will be an expansion of the existing mosque
• The dedication will take place on September 11, 2011. Not true, there is no indication that this will happen. 
• The site is not on "Ground Zero", but two blocks away. It will not be visible from the old WTC site, but will be blocked by buildings. (How far away would be acceptable?)
• It is not a "victory" or "conquest" mosque to commemorate the victory of Islam on September 11, 2001

Another thing to consider is that President Bush, correctly in my opinion, declared that our "global war on terror" was not a war on Islam. President Obama has not changed that. If Muslims worldwide and American Muslims in particular perceive that it is a war on Islam, how will that increase and accelerate the radicalization of Muslims?

If we allow freedom of religion by poll or vote, if we allow our own prejudices and fears to guide how we view our fellow Americans (yes, many Muslims are our fellow Americans) than what do have left?

The Oktoberfests are Here!

You know fall is coming when the Oktoberfests arrive! Also known as marzens, the Oktoberfest style is a lager, though maltier and hoppier in general, and more full bodied that most lagers.

See the following wikipedia article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marzen

History

Märzen has its origins in Bavaria, probably before the 16th century. A Bavarian Brauordnung (brewing ordinance) decreed in 1539 that beer may be brewed only between the days of Saint Michael (Michaelmas, 29 September) and Saint George (23 April). The reason for this requirement was the increased danger of fire during the warm and dry summer months.
Over the summer months, beer had to be stored in a Lager (storage), in caves or stone cellars, sometimes built into the sides of mountains or hills. Frequently these locations were chosen because there was a pond nearby. During the winter, when the pond had frozen, blocks of ice would be cut and put into the cave or cellar. This was usually possible until the month of March, when the beer was brewed to be stored there for months to come. The entrance to the cellar or cave would also be shielded from sunlight by planting Horse-chestnut or Conker trees in front of it, which have large leaves.
Some of these cellars and caves are still in use, primarily in Franconia, as part of beer gardens which are often still shaded by the traditional chestnut trees.^[1]
The original Märzen was described as "dark brown, full-bodied". As intended, the beer was often kept in the cellar until late in the summer, and remaining bottles were served at the Oktoberfest.^[2] In order to last so long, either the original gravity and alcohol were increased or the hopping was strengthened.

Description

The style is characterized by a medium to full body, a malty flavour and a clean dry finish. In Germany, the term covers beers which vary in colour from pale (Helles Märzen), through amber to dark brown (Dunkles Märzen).^[3] Brewers in the Czech Republic also produce pale, amber and dark beers in the Märzen style, called respectively 14° Světlé Speciální Pivo, Polotmavé Speciální Pivo and Tmavé Speciální Pivo.^[4]
The North American style normally exhibits a stronger, though not aggressive, hop aroma and bitterness balance. The Austrian style closely resembles a Helles in color, body, and flavor balance, and is the most popular beer style in Austria.^[5]
Common names for Märzen include Märzenbier, Wiener Märzen, Festbier, and Oktoberfestbier.

Beer Review: Goose Island India Pale Ale

Pours an amber gold with a paltry head. Hoppy, but not overwhelmingly so, with overtones of citrus and pine. A cheek slap of grapefruit catches you on the rebound. Not too flash, but a solid IPA. A fine introduction to the fine family of India Pale Ales to the IPA novice.

Beer Review: Sierra Nevada Topedo Extra IPA

Pours a hazy bronze with a thick foamy head. Not much malt balance, but if you're a hop-head, this is your beer. Distinct piney taste with a little citrus, but hard to tell with all of those hops kicking your ass. I enjoyed a Torpedo last night with a prime rib and some zucchini fries. I'd recommend this IPA with fried foods; the greasiness balances out the hoppiness and makes for happiness.

Beer Review: Goose Island Honker's Ale

Pours a nut-brown amber with a thin white head. Kind of bready, with an ESB-like bitterness to it. A hint of roasted quality to it, medium carbonation and a refreshing crispness. I thought that I caught a hint of butterscotch as well. Compares favorably to the better Bitters and Pale Ales.

Beer Review: Goose Island 312 "Urban Wheat"

Named after Chicago's original Area Code, this "urban" wheat is cloudy with sediment and a pale yellow color that seems to darken in the wider part of the glass (no doubt due to the sediment), a minimal head, but heavy carbonation. Recognizable wheat taste with some lemon and honey. Very light and "summery", even though it's not their summer seasonal. I recommend 312 to any fan of wheats.

Beer Review: Goose Island Matilda

Pours with a thick, frothy head that dissipated quickly. Cloudy, due to the sediment from the live yeast added. Cool red grapefruit-like color. Actually, grapefruit really dominated the taste, with a little honey and maybe some peach/nectarine thrown in. Definitely some hoppiness in there, but a different hoppiness than what I'm used to. They're calling this a Belgian Style Ale, but it's got a heck of lot more bite than the other Belgians that I've sampled this year, and not just because of the 7% ABV. Andy, who gave me this one, had asked me if I liked "sour beers", and "sour" is most assuredly one of the adjectives that describes this ale. What kind of food would go well with Matilda? How about some seafood cooked Cajun style? Or maybe some hot Barbeque?