Outting @ Wolff's

 





 

Hop over to Steve Barnes Blog

Steve Barns review and coments about Woff's http://blogs.timesunion.com/tablehopping/5320/what-did-you-think-of-wolffs

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 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

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, futbol. WolffsBiergarten@gmail.comhttp://wolffsbiergarten.com/

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?

2008 Craft Beer Sales Figures Announced

Editor's note: This article has also appeared on www.realbeer.com/

February 23rd, 2009 | Posted by Jay Brooks

The Brewers Association, which tabulates industry growth data for U.S. breweries, announced that today’s small independent craft brewers are gaining alcohol market share due to a shift toward full flavor beer and increased support for local breweries. From 2007 to 2008, estimated sales by craft brewers were up 5.8 percent by volume and 10.5 percent in dollars. Overall share of the beer category from craft brewers was 4.0 percent of production and 6.3 percent of retail sales. More than 1 million new barrels of beer were sold in 2008, and close to half of those barrels were beer from craft brewers.

“2008 was a historic year for beer with the large brewers consolidating and imports losing share, while the top ten selling beer brands dropped in sales. At the same time, small independent craft brewers continued to gain share and attention,” said Paul Gatza, Director of the Brewers Association.

With total U.S. beer being more than a $100 billion industry, the Brewers Association estimates the actual dollar sales from craft brewers in 2008 were $6.34 billion, up from $5.74 billion in 2007. Taxable barrels of the total beer category was 1,210,018 more in 2008 with craft brewers producing 473,364 of those barrels. Total craft brewer barrels for 2008 was 8,596,971, up from 8,123,607 barrels in 2007.

Beer’s popularity as America’s favorite fermented beverage continued in 2008 with Gallup stating “beer is back to a double-digit lead over wine.” Taking into account the challenges in today’s economy, BevincoNielsen released a survey showing beer was faring better than spirits, with wine lagging. The Brewers Association emphasized trading across from wine and spirits to beer continues, with some of today’s wine drinkers discovering the affordable enjoyment and rewards of craft beer.