My Favorite Beer Has Reached the East Coast

OK guys, this is a big deal for me. When asked what my favorite beer is (an impossible task, no doubt) I usually respond with one in particular - Fat Tire. I'm not quite sure where to begin with what makes this beer so special. The taste? The history? The craft brewers responsible for it? Maybe I'll start with the personal aspect first.

Beer, like anything in one's life, allows you to make a personal and meaningful connection to it through the circumstances and people you find yourself with when drinking it. For me, I had an amazing opportunity after I graduated from undergrad; I was able to take two weeks off to drive from scenic Harrisonburg, VA to Seattle, Washington with my Norwegian friend Adam.

En route to Denver we stopped in Colorado to have dinner at a restaurant. Our server turned us on to a local brewery called New Belgium Brewing Company in nearby Fort Collins. So we spent one night in Denver and woke up early the next day to go to find this malted Mecca named Fort Collins.

Their new brewing facility is known within their organization as the "Mothership"; and it is a sight to be seen. New Belgium encourages their employees to bike to work (there are huge bike racks out front), and their brewery at the time was more than 90% carbon-neutral (which I believe has increased since then). They use methane gas to power their boilers, and wind turbines for electricity. They constantly strive to improve their ecological impact, and you can learn more here.

The best way to describe visiting the brewery and tasting in their tasting room, is to compare it to sitting in on someone's family reunion. The locals routinely come there to get their beloved Fat Tire straight from the source, and the employees don't seem to stop smiling (maybe because they're allowed to drink on the job?) Adam and I sampled a few beers and took the tour, and our lives were changed forever. We had to buy coolers and ice to take all the beer we bought with us; regrettably it never made it home.

So, while this was an amazing experience, it was also heartbraking. Until March, the furthest East they distributed their brews were Chicago. I got some shipped to me once, but it froze and all the bottles exploded. Total bummer! But, my salvation has arrived! My wife discovered it in North Carolina THREE DAYS after they first started selling it there. As you can see in the photo below, this is a commemorative "Taking Flight in North Carolina" bottle. This is now a family heirloom, and my future children will be confused why I left them a beer bottle in my will.

Today's Beer
New Belgium Brewing Company's Fat Tire

This beer is a great example of how craft beers can trump mass produced beers. The name for Fat Tire comes from a bike tour of Belgium that the creator Jeff Lebesch took in 1989. While in Belgium, he was able to learn the craft of brewing and brought these tricks home to Fort Collins.
Fat Tire is a beer in delicate equilibrium. The malts and hops are paired together so that neither overpowers the other. It has a light, fruity taste, and is a perfect way to take refuge from summer heat. Just watching this glass sweat in front of me makes me want to open another one. Not too malty, not too hoppy, this beer has become so popular because there is something for everyone in it. Next time you pass through one of the lucky states to have New Belgium, buy a Fat Tire and make your own personal connections.

Forget Boston... Come Home to the Commonwealth

Look, other people on this blog might tell you there is something of merit North of the Mason-Dixon line. Don't listen. He's probably drunk from spending too much time at a Red Sox game, or maybe hanging out with Good Will Hunting. The truth is, the Commonwealth of Virginia is awesome for the following reasons:

1. Nudity and murders on our state flag
2. James Madison University
3. Delicious sandwiches

That is why I present to you this delicious taste of the Commonwealth.

Today's Sandwich
Palani Drive's Shenandoah Wrap

• Grilled chicken
• Sweet Potatoes
• Grilled green apples
• Spinach
• Smoked Gouda
• Sherry walnut dressing
• Warm flour tortilla

This filling monster can be found from a local Richmond restaurant called Palani Drive where they advertise "Well-Built Food". It is named after Virginia's Shenandoah Valley in the Western part of our state; known for it's apples, I-81, and mountains (as well as ONE FANTASTIC UNIVERSITY). Each year I like to head out to the Valley and fill my house with apples from Carter Mountain Orchard, and the inclusion of green apples in this wrap showcases one of the Valley's finest crops.

The warm green apples and sweet potato puree adds a complimentary sweet taste to the crisp spinach and hot chicken found inside. As they grill the entire beast in the back, the smoked gouda melts together with the sherry walnut dressing into a blissful combination. The last bite of the wrap is a collection of all the flavors and tastes this sandwich offers and leaves you full and happy knowing you've eaten well for cheap.

OKTOBERFEST!

This is the time of the year all young men dream of. When the air turns crisp, the leaves change color, and BEER FLOWS LIKE WINE. Yes, that's right, it's time for a fest. Oktoberfest!

To welcome this wonderful time into being, most breweries release seasonal beers that capture the spirit and aroma of the greatest beer festival in the world. You may have just thought to yourself: sweaty men in lederhosen... who wants to capture that aroma? Well, I assure you, Oktoberfest is amazing. So many fuzzy and vague memories are born those wonderful days.

From wikipedia:

"The original "Oktoberfest" occurred in Munich, on October 12, 1810 for the commemoration of their marriage, Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen (namesake of the Theresienwiese festival grounds)organized a great horse race."

Since then, it's turned into the world's largest booze-fest (citation needed?). The beers that Americans get to enjoy in honor of the happy couple are generally malty lager affairs, often a deep red or brown, opposed to the German versions that are lightly colored lagers.

Today's Beer
Paulaner Oktoberfest


Paulaner is considered one of the "big six" breweries represented at Oktoberfest in Munich. In fact, if I can understand their website (es ist deutsch) they are selling liter size cans of it in Germany! The perfect fit for my liter stein I got for free from the best Richmond Oktoberfest party. So jealous...

This is one of my all time favorite Oktoberfest beers. It's a nice malty beer, with a fragrant aroma. I would liken it to a red ale, not too heavy but highly malted. I recommend it highly! Get ready for the fest next weekend!

A Real American Hero (Beer)

Hey there, you. It's been a long time. Too long. I think a break did us good. I hope you didn't see any other sandwich or beer related blogs while I was away!

So I have been thinking a lot of beer lately. I was put onto a very interesting article by a friend. In the article, Edward McClelland explains what the purchase of Budweiser by InBev means to American brewing. Specifically, he investigates what beers remain truly American today. He notes that a beer I have always considered to be quintessentially American, PBR, contracts it's brewing out to Miller, who is now owned by a South African conglomerate. In fact, PBR closed their Milwaukee brewery in 1996, and now only holds office space in Chicago. It is technically the same PBR recipe that won the Blue Ribbon in 1893, but it is disheartening to think of this classically American brew not really being brewed by Americans.

McClelland goes on to discuss what breweries remain true blue, and stumbles upon Yuengling (colloquially referred to as "Glingers"). I am lucky enough to live in the few states that Yuengling distributes it's tasty lager, so I have been happily consuming Glingers for years now. McClelland is not lucky enough to live in a "Green state", so he has never had the pleasure of an ice cold Glinger at a backyard bar-b-que with friends. Well Edward, this one's for you!

Today's Beer
Yungling Porter

Taste the sweet taste of America! Brewed since 1829 "expressly for tavern and family trade", the porter has some great label art. Look at that majestic eagle getting his drink on!
The masters of D.G. Yuengling and Son have had time to perfect this beer, and I assure you, they have. The strong scent of malt fills my office as I write, and it's dark color gets me excited for Fall. After drinking three quarters of it, the taste lingers on the back of your tongue, reminding you of what a deliberately crafted beer can give you. When crafted well, a beer should taste great before, during, and after drinking it. Porters such as this are heavy and sweet, with a bitterness obtained from roasting malted barley to a deep brown hue. This beer reminds me of dark chocolate; sweetness and bitterness intertwine creating something that tastes great and is good for your heart. At least, that's what I tell myself...

A Fantastic Beer to Try

This beer comes highly recommended to me from my cousin's husband Eric in Michigan. As I understand it, Eric keeps a full keg on tap in the basement all summer long. I am definitely very jealous of having a keg in the house. Once I have a house of my own, I would like to make a kegerator an integral part if it. Maybe I can make a full service sandwich shop in my basement!? A man can dream...


Today's Beer
Bell's Oberon

Made in Kalamazoo, MI; Bell's Brewery has impressed me before. I previously wrote about their IPA named Two Hearted Ale and still think of it as a good IPA. Previously known as Solsun, Oberon is a seasonal wheat ale (similar to Blue Moon) possibly named after the Fairy King Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
It has a light taste with a hint of orange and coriander. It was a bit heavier than Blue Moon, but in a great way. I can see why Eric gets a keg as soon as it comes out each year, I think I would too! I will definitely add this as a stop on my dream tour of US breweries.

Also, as a side note, I need to work on the photography I do for this site. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get a good shot of a glass of beer and bottle? What lighting should I use? I only have a Canon Powershot SD600, and I don't think the wife would appreciate buying a new camera to take pictures of my sandwiches.

I know, she just doesn't get it.

My New Favorite Sandwich is 700 Miles Away!

So, on my recent honeymoon to Portland, I took it upon myself to try the fruits of the land up North. Great seafood abounds in Portland, and I wanted to try a bit of everything. Let me elaborate...

Today's Sandwich
Old Port Sandwich Shop's Crab Wrap
Crab Meat
Mayo
Sprouts
Tomato
Lettuce
Spinach Wrap

This sandwich was a dream. I love crab steamed and in cake form, so it was not surprising that I liked this sandwich so much. Old Port Sandwich Shop is located near the coast of Portland, in the "Old Port" section of town. We had been out on the town all day, and I was starving when I got there. Under advisement of the sandwich artist on staff, I tried the crab with mayo, and I think it was a great move. It was a nice compliment to the sweetness of the crab meat, and this particular meat was VERY fresh. It tasted like they pulled it out of the water right before I walked in the door. Fantastic. I've tried to recreate the sandwich here at home, but it just hasn't been the same. Blue crab from the Bay may be a good substitute, I will let you know when I have the extra money to buy some. Anyway, mark this as a strong contender for "sandwich of the year". Oh man, does that exist? If not, I am totally inventing that award. I'll be back tomorrow to write about Portland's microbrew scene!

Update I found a link to the shop I was talking about. You know, in case someone in Portland reads this. Probably not going to get a lot of traffic from me...

I'm Back... and I'm Doing PRIME

Hello blagoblag! I'm back from a three week hiatus. It turns out gettin' hitched will take a lot out of a guy. There are plenty of beers, and even more sandwiches to be talked about, so here we go!

Today's beer was a gift from a friend. While I generally do not trust Jonathan when he tells me to drink things (especially after I won a dollar drinking the beer we brewed ourselves... WORST DOLLAR EVER) I decided to give it a chance. Also, it helped that someone other than he and I made it.

Today's Beer
Legacy Brewing Co.'s Hoptimus Prime

If any of you know me, you know that Optimus Prime is probably the most important person of my childhood (he's real if I think he's real!!). So when Jonny saw the cartoon version of a giant hop monster serving up Legacy Brewing Co's Double IPA, he thought of me. How kind!

It's a good beer. IPA beers are all about the hops, and fans of them can't get enough hops. Dogfish Head has a fantastic 120 minute double IPA; and while Hoptimus is not as good as that, it is quite good. Plus, marketing it alongside Optimus made it so I had to like it. I am compelled to like it, like a long hidden hypnotic suggestion, I have to love all things Transformers. It worked, it's good!

Hopalicious

After a long day, I had a surprise waiting for me on my doorstep. My early "wedding" present finally arrived, and let me tell you, it is AMAZING. To celebrate, I indulged in a new beer. Purchased from Total Wine a few weeks ago, this tasty brew hit the spot.

Today's Beer
Two Hearted Ale

Two Hearted Ale is one of Bell Brewing Company's IPAs. For about three months last year I went hopcrazy and had a hopattack, resulting in a constant stream of IPAs being purchased. After that, I have been pretty sick of IPAs; however this one brought me back. Two Hearted Ale is not overly hoppy and has a delicious and slightly fruity taste. I think this one will be added to my list of vices next time I go on a hop rampage.

My Time As A Sandwich Supervisor

Today's sandwich is a passport to a land where my wedding is final and done. A taste vacation, if you will, that lets me escape the all encompassing vortex that is planning a wedding. Not even really planning a wedding, just listening to someone complain about planning a wedding. Good thing this sandwich ripped me away for a second. As for today's beer, I will likely be drinking them too fast to write about it.

Today's Sandwich
Joe's Market MTO
Sun Dried Tomato Wrap
Turkey
Honey Mustard
Horseradish Spread
Avocado
Tomatoes
Banana Peppers
Lettuce
Provolone Cheese

Sometimes it is nice to have someone do your dirty work for you! For those of you who don't know, MTO is the single greatest combination of letters in the English lexicon. Go to Sheetz if you don't believe me. I oversaw a small woman construct this delicious turkey monstrosity. I say monstrosity not because of it's taste, but because of it's epic proportions. It filled me up right, and I like that. Joe's Market has a fantastic horseradish cream sauce that perks up an ordinary sandwich; and of course I couldn't resist some honey mustard to accompany. Anyway, back to getting yelled at for seating arrangements.

Taste of the Far East

In honor of Spring's unexpected arrival, I tried a new beer today. It was a delicious hay-colored Asahi Super Dry lager. Man, I needed it too; today I spent an hour and a half with our fabulous wedding event coordinator. Men: beware. If you ever get asked to go along with your fiancée to help with the table arrangements and final wedding preparations, get out of it! Seriously. Like, cut off your arm if you have to. An hour and a half passed in what seemed like a week. Ugh, sweet beer...

Today's Beer
Asahi Super Dry

Asahi Super Dry is brought to us by a Japanese brewing company called Asahi Breweries, Ltd. According to their website, Asahi Breweries started a beer revolution in Japan with the release of their Super Dry. They moved from being the third largest brewery to the second largest brewery in Japan. Progress! The term "dry beer" is a marketing (stupid marketing people...) term for a fully attenuated pale lager; which comes from a long fermentation period. During which, nearly all the sugar is converted to alcohol resulting in a clean, lean flavor.
Asahi Super Dry definitely lives up to it's title; and I think it is a very good beer. The "dry" taste is interesting, because I do feel a dryness akin to being thirsty in the back of my throat when I stop drinking it. It makes me think "hmm, another beer would really help quench my thirst." This is likely how many bad nights begin for people in Japan, as the search in vein to quench a thirst caused by the very beer they're drinking. Hangover, I know you well.
Maybe I am a n00b for never having had the beer, but it was a very good beer. Not as good as an Amurican lager, but a nice change of pace. Anyway, I need another four to forget how long I talked about place settings today...

Double Feature

Today we have a wonderful surprise for my blogulating audience! It's a Friday miracle, you get to hear about both a SANDWICH and a BEER. Finally I'm living up to the title of this thing!

Originally I was going to write a post about a sandwich I got from Coppola's deli here in Richmond; however I ate it without taking a picture. Oops! It's better that I don't write about that one though, because it was a let down.

Today's beer looked like it was going to be good. I have become quite a fan of Belgian wheat ales as of late; Blue Moon is one of my favorite beers and I hoped this one would be similar.

Today's Beer
Shock Top Belgian Wheat

This beer was good. The lable claimed to have won some awards the past two years, so I was confident it would at least be drinkable. Shock Top turned out to be made with lemon, lime, and orange peels along with coriander. The inclusion of coriander helped spice this up quite a bit, but I wonder if it wasn't a bit too spicy for what I think of and enjoy in a wheat ale. The hints of fruits and the sweet taste are what make wheat ales so drinkable and refreshing, and I think the coriander might have detracted from that slightly. Overall, a good beer though!



Today's Sandwich
Turkey-liscious
Turkey Breast
Wheat Bread
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Red Onions
Banana Peppers
Honey Mustard


Mmmm buddy. The classic. This was a plain turkey sandwich but it was so good! Sometimes I forget about classics like this and get caught up in the world of exotic pickles, sun dried tomatoes, and pungent cheeses. It's good to return home though. This was the sandwich I made as a kid (maybe not with onions or banana peppers then). Changing up and returning to old standards does wonders for me, as I can appreciate the rare and exotic treats that are more complex sandwiches.

Travelog: A Surprising Find

Today’s sandwich comes to you from far away land in the New World. I had a two hour layover in Hotlanta, which gave me just enough time to reward myself for not going crazy in the large crowd of roaming travelers. I needed something quick, because I had to catch my next flight to Las Vegas. Of course, a sandwich was the first thing I thought of.
Something funny happened while I was waiting to get this bad boy. My traveling companion and I had sat down and ordered two tall refreshing beverages without the waiter questioning our age. Afterwards, a man and woman, clearly in their forties or more, sat down next to us and the waiter decided that he needed to see their ID’s. Not unusual I suppose, but I found it odd that he asked for their ID’s but not ours. After all, I am still a spry 23 years old. But apparently, I look fifty. Who knew? Maybe I have more gray hairs than I realize…

Today’s Sandwich
Boston BBQ Sandwich, Samuel Adams Restaurant
Kaiser Roll
Pulled Pork BBQ
Coleslaw

An amazingly good combination of Sam Adam’s Boston Lager and the Boston BBQ sandwich from their restaurant in Atlanta’s airport. Generally, I would stay away from a southern delicacy served in the style of the North; however this blog is about experimenting. And it is a good thing I took this gamble. The heavy, spicy, and flavorful combination of pulled pork BBQ matched perfectly with Sam Adam’s flagship lager. Not too sweet or heavy, the lager was a great match. If I do this long enough, I should publish a guide to my favorite sandwich and beer combinations. This would definitely be at the top of the list.

Cafeteria Sandwiches: A Windfall

Hello again everyone, today's sandwich is an ingenious adaptation of an old favorite from my employer’s cafeteria. I have run the gamut as far as sandwiches at work go. Some of them are decent (like today’s gem), while some of them are lackluster at best. The first time I decided to order this one was after watching the sandwich artisan behind the counter craft a meticulous and delicious buffalo chicken wrap for the two gentlemen in front of me.

I said to myself, “Self… that looks good. Only I don’t want the hot sauce. Or the ranch dressing. What to do!?” That’s when it hit me. “The mustard you love so well!” and thus was born the BK Chicken Wrap (Burger King will probably take that name from me, if they haven’t already). A healthy dose of my favorite alternative dressing, honey mustard, compliments this sandwich perfectly.

Today’s Sandwich
BK Chicken Wrap
Spinach Tortilla
Chicken Tenders
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Lettuce
Tomato
Honey Mustard

A superb sandwich; however the dryness of the chicken tenders requires additional application of honey mustard. Once the mustard was applied in earnest, this sandwich was truly a delight. I recommend it highly (for those who don’t care if they die young).