Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Outting @ Wolff's

 





 

Monday, March 16, 2009

Sierra Nevada To Release Kellerweis



Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is set to release Kellerweis Hefeweizen, their newest year-round beer. This is their second year-round release this year, and a great addition to their lineup of world-class beers.

The name Sierra Nevada is synonymous with hops, and lots of them. Kellerweis is an exception to that rule, but fortunately, no less exceptional. Several years ago, the brewers began working with a unique Bavarian hefeweizen yeast strain unknown in this country. This amazingly flavorful yeast was so exciting that they began working on a recipe for a traditional German hefeweizen with the Sierra Nevada twist. Traditional hefeweizen is a style that seems deceptively simple, but in reality is devilishly complex. For years the brewers weren’t satisfied with the beer; something was missing. In a flash of inspiration, an epic trip was arranged. The brewers took a whirlwind tour through the legendary Bavarian wheat breweries to see what they were doing. It was there they realized the advantages of making wheat beer using the traditional system of open fermentation.

Sierra Nevada Kellerweis

Sierra Nevada had been making a portion of their beer using the difficult and labor-intensive technique of open fermentation for years. Most modern brewery fermentation takes place in closed, stainless-steel tanks; this method is efficient, quick and clean. In closed tanks, however, the yeast doesn’t have the opportunity to coax as much complexity from the fermenting beer. Using shallow open fermentation, the yeast has space to build layers of flavors and aroma that would otherwise be impossible.

After seeing the technique in use in Germany, the inspiration to make Kellerweis in the open system took hold. The name is an homage to the German Keller, meaning cellar—the name breweries give to their fermentation systems, and weis, or weiss—the German name for “white” or wheat beer, hazy with suspended yeast.

Kellerweis is a light and refreshing beer with deep complexity of flavor. The yeast provides hints of fruit flavors and spices, including ripe banana and clove. This hazy-golden beer glows with suspended yeast creating a velvety texture; perfect for a sunny California day. Sierra Nevada’s Kellerweis Hefeweizen will be available in 6-packs starting in early summer 2009. 

  by Jay Brooks  http://www.realbeer.com

Friday, March 6, 2009

Evans Counsel Further Investigation




Counsel's birthday lunch at Evan's Publick house was a great success.  The bar lounge area has soft chairs and lots of pillows. (We like soft chairs)  Stephanie our server was a lot of fun and very attentive.  With only six taps they had three interesting beers we liked.  As Albany pub food goes it was very good.  The shepherd's pie went well with the UBU ale from Lake Placid. Others who liked the ruben seemed to think it went well with the Abita Jockamo I.P.A.  I have to say the burgers looked the best and the hand-cut fries were very good.  Spring is in the air and I can't wait to have an Allagash White in the outside area looking at the Helderberg.  Cheers To Evan's Publick House

Wolff’s Biergarten


 Wolff’s Biergarten, the restaurant replacing the nightclub Noche in a former Albany city firehouse at 895 Broadway, next to the Miss Albany Diner, will open to the public on Thursday, March 19.  Wolff’s will be open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. It will offer German, Belgian and Czech beers as well as wurst, schnitzel, spaetzel, pommes frites and, on new TVs, futbolWolffsBiergarten@gmail.comhttp://wolffsbiergarten.com/

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

That Old Chariot is now Irish Pub


That's right the former Chariot on rt 20 in Guilderland is now Evans Public House.  A few club members stop in for quick pint on Saturday after the wine tasting.  We all had a pint of Abita Jockamo I.P.A..  Very nice to see Jockamo I.P.A. in a bar in Guilderland.  The staff was pleasant and had some interest in the product they served.  This Guilderland Irish Pub is going to require much further investigation.   Maybe birthday lunch for Counsel on Thursday?