Sampling

As usual Meg and I hit up Norm's last night to hang out with Rich and the gang while we were waiting for our sushi order. We sampled a couple of different things and I probably would have bought everything if money was no object. Here goes:

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

-I will undoubtedly buy a couple of six packs this fall, because nothing says its November like this annual favorite

-As usual it had a big hop flavor, but this year it tasted more minerally/soapy to me than in years past. Not as much floral hop kick as had two years ago.


He'brew Jewbelation Twelve

-This was a really cool beer. Brewed with 12 malts and 12 hops (oh yeah its 12% ABV). This beer was huge and tough to describe, a whole lotta flavors crammed into this bad boy. Very malty with caramel, toffee, and even some chocolate flavor.

-If you like barleywines or strong ales pick this one up.


Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

-This is usually one of the best values on the shelf. In years past you have been able to pick up sixers of this for $7.99. Its tough to find big imperial stouts for that price.

-Last year I felt that BCS was kind of "hot" in that you could really taste the alcohol and feel it up in your nose. This year's batch tasted much smoother, almost creamy. I can't wait to pick up some of this for the colder months.


As usual it was a fun trip to Norm's. We ended up picking up a bottle of Weyerbacher Merry Monks and Gouden Hopsinjoor.

-HolzBrew

Lucky Seven

As in Seven Maß. Thanks to Matthew for sending the picture. Prost!

This just in

Just got this message from Norm of Norm's Beer and Wine:

"There's a mountain of Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale that just appeared in the store!"

Go on out and get yourself some SN Celebration.

That will make your day!

-HolzBrew

Keep On, Keeping On

Wow it's been too long since the last post. Things get busy at work .... yada yada yada ... blah blah blah ... and all of the sudden you've written nothing in the last three weeks. Seriously though work has been hectic lately and I really haven't participated in too many "beery" events. I have found a new beer recently that I have fallen for: Lagunitas Imperial Red. I'm pretty sure this is Lagunitas fall seasonal offering ... wait ... yep. Apparently its available in 6-packs and kegs ... that's an interesting mix of offerings. This is a must have for the nation of hop heads out there. Repeat after me!!! MORE CASCADE HOPS PLEASE!!! If your looking for that west coast taste this is it. A whole lot of grapefruit flavor as well as .. dare I say raspberry. If you find that you like the milder things in life then this beer is NOT for you, stick to Bud American Ale.




Things on the horizon:

1) Polino Engagement Party (this weekend) where I will unleash a Saison that I've been fermenting for the last two months and half months. Hopefully it doesn't suck.

2)Oktoberfest Dinner @ the Dogfish Head Alehouse in Falls Church, VA on October 27th. Not sure if we'll make it to this, but FYI.

3) Also on Monday the 27th: Great October Beer Dinner at Pizza Paradiso.

If I had to choose I'd probably go to the Paradiso beer dinner. Maybe Meg and I will make it there.


It's Fall in DC, love it!

HolzBrew

fall

fall breaks

Well, fall is here. And I mean full-blown fall. Rainbow foliage, lovely sunshine, chilling breezes, dried brown leaves whooshing below your feet. Fall in Munich is beautiful. When it's so fall-y. The sudden drop in temperatures just in time for Oktoberfest brought us beautiful foliage and stunning panoramas.

I spent the weekend in the alps, and boy oh boy, there are just postcards waiting to be made. Mountains dotted with rust toned trees, verdant green slopes blanketed with fallen leaves, but still the sunshine and the clear air enough to drink a bavarian beer in the open air.

In Buchenberg, the sun was shining and the ski-jumps that are so integral to the training of young (and mini) skijumpers were dusted with the traces of fall that we all so love. We took a long walk and the cow bells klanging accompanied us along our treck past plump red berried bushes and sun-sprinked hillsides dusted with such picturesque landscapes that I practically invisioned myself in that Robin Williams film where he walks through oil paintings. Van Gogh would have had a field day.

In Munich, fall is still stunning, if not somewhat dulled by the smoke and banter of a "bigger" city. When I climb the stairs out of the Ubahn every day, I am greeted by fall-tinted trees swaying in the wind and Cafes deciding whether to haul in their outside sitting and offer only a well heated interior or if they should deck all the hardy outdoor furnishings with fleece blankets and tempt cafe-goers with warm glühwein or spicy-warm fall teas with cinnamon and apples.

Oktoberfest is over but I drove by the Theresienwiese the other night and they are still dismantling the tents-- a bit of a somber sight, but then, we're all camping down for the long winter.

But not yet. I am preparing hardily for a festive halloween party with glowing jack-o-lanterns and costumed germans (i force them), a glutinous thanksgiving evening where i try to roast a turkey in my iffy electric oven and attempt to approximate cranberry sauce by using "johannesbeeren" currant jelly. I will enjoy those somber november months, before the air turns crispy and the cars frost over with drunken messages from wobbly teenagers on their way to the subway at night.

So there's still a pre-winter time. And it's not even "fall back" yet, where the evening hours are short and it's dark even before I leave my office at night. So I'm embracing the rainbow, crunchy, orange fall. Winter, you'll have to wait a bit.

Approximately 335 more days till Oktoberfest

Okay, that sounds depressing, kind of like the day after Christmas. Oh well, at least you've got Oktoberfest Girls for the next 335 days. Prost!

Oktoberfest Girls 2008

Here is a web album of all the photos from the past year. Click on the picture to open up the album or enjoy the slideshow above. Prost!

Please read this post

Please read this post on the above gadget. It had me rolling.

http://gizmodo.com/5059100/beer+filled-usb-drive-raises-disturbing-questions

I can't say anything other than, I agree wholeheartedly.

-HolzBrew

Turn out the lights...

...the party's over.

Now back to our traditional Oktoberfest Girl

Okay, I admit that I like a to look at those tarted up Oktoberfest Girls occasionally. But really, the old fashioned Oktoberfest Girl is more for me. Here's a nice Oktoberfest Girl working the Hofbräu tent. Prost

Oktoberfest Tarts

Okay, there is a real difference between the authentic dirndl-clad Oktoberfest Girls, and those who just tart it up for the sake of the party. Guess which ones these are. But, really, the Oktoberfest Dude can't complain.

Celebrity Oktoberfest 2008

Even Claudia Schiffer is an Oktoberfest Girl!

Still the most popular Oktoberfest Girl

If you google images for Oktoberfest girls, hers is the most popular face you will see, although this is a shot I haven't seen before. More to come later.