New Belgium Brewing - 1554 Enlightened Black Ale

New Belgium Brewing - 1554 Enlightened Black Ale was a gift from a friend who had recently been out west. If you can imagine the coffee-chocolate of a stout without being too rich or leaving a lot of aftertaste. It has an exceptional aroma and a very clean finish, but I'm starting to sound like one of those wine reviewers, so I'll just use New Belgium's own description of the beer.


"1554 Enlightened Black Ale redefines the phrase keeping time in a bottle. From an ancient, crumbling Belgian library book, our intrepid researchers found references to this obscure style dating back to the year 1554. Overcoming obsolete script and units of measure, our brewers discovered an ale with a surprisingly bright taste and a dry, chocolaty finish - one evocative of dark brews enjoyed in Belgium taverns 500 years ago."

I hate green beer...

wrong wrong wrong

and lots of things that have to do with St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the United States. Wearing green on a particular day is annoying. It's one of my favorite colors to wear, but not because of some basically made up holiday. Don't tell me what to do - I don't like it. And if any body pinches me, they get popped one right in the chin. Parades... groan. Maybe it's because by now, we've been through Mardi Gras and the whole Carnival season, which is a huge regional celebration, and seen plenty of parades - more parades than is ever necessary - adding a green themed one is just annoying. Everyone pretending to be Irish for the day must be an insult to those that truly are Irish. It's sort of silly, really. And the biggest travesty is green beer. Who would do something like that? It's ridiculous, it's insulting to good beer, and it's just plain moronic. 

If you're going to celebrate St. Patrick's day, drink a real Irish beer - and the first one that comes to mind is one of my favorite beers of all time - Guinness. Guinness is complex. It's rich, slightly thick, tastes of coffee and chocolate and is creamy and smooth. It might be an acquired taste, but I think if people just went to it with an open mind instead of the "I don't like dark beer" mind set, it might be an easier transition from pale green swill that has been dyed green. 
So stop with the green beer already. 
Please.

Victory Prima Pils

I found this beer at the 2010 BAM Fest (Beer, Art, Music) at the Bridge Bar in Gulf Breeze. I had never had anything from Victory before that time and just finding this pilsner was worth the cost of admission to BAM. I hope they will hold the festival again this year - need to call and find out.
Victory Prima Pils - it's just so clean and so refreshing. I can't get enough, but what's great is that now my local grocery store carries it. Craft beer seems really to be making it mainstream - a lovely thought indeed. 

From Victory: Though we'd been through a few (pilsners) in our years with other breweries finally, with the choicest, freshest European hops and the finest German malts, we had achieved what we'd sought for so long Prima... an exclamation of our Victory.

Heaps of hops take the stage as elegant German malt supports this classy quencher beautifully. Grand Champion Pilsner - US Beer Tasting Championship '02 - '05 Approx. 5.3% a.b.v.
www.victorybeer.com

Pensacola Bay Brewery

Pensacola Bay Brewery

The Gulf Coast Beer-Loving Community has something new to celebrate - The Pensacola Bay Brewery. The PBB is located on the corner of Adams and Zaragoza Streets just off historic Seville Square, just across from Old Christ Church, has been open since before Thanksgiving. They had a quiet opening on the last gallery night of the season for 2010, and the MotH and I stumbled on them that Saturday. 

Old Christ Church

They have received lots of nice press and every time we've been there, it's been busy with customers. What a great thing!

They are in a lovely old brick building, with the Tap Room up front and brewery in the back, which you can see through large glass windows. They offer several different beers at a time. A couple of  weeks ago when we were in they had just (an hour before) released their ESB (Extra Special Bitter) and it was a huge hit with MotH. I'm a huge fan of the Deluna Extra Pale Ale and that's my take home beer of choice.

Bomber waiting to be refilled

Speaking of take home - they have an interesting business model at the PBB. They do not sell beer to be served on site - technically. You receive a sample tasting when you purchase a PBB pint glass - you may also receive a flight of tastings for purchase of a PBB pint glass.

This is what we did first to get an idea of what we did / didn't like. They also sell, as mentioned, take home beer. We typically have a 32 oz. bomber filled each week. These will keep for a week or so as long as you drink them within two or three days of opening. They also sell 1 gallon growlers. Once you have purchased the vessel, the price to fill them is very inexpensive for a craft beer and quite enjoyable in the evenings at home.

From our last conversations with the guys behind the counter at PBB, there are a few bars/restaurants in town that will be carrying their craft beers - I'm very pleased to hear that, because distribution is an important part to having PBB to be successful in our community. Although, based on the numbers of people we see when we visit, the Tap Room isn't doing too shabby either. 

Currently on tap are the following: Pensacola Special ESB, Li'l Napoleon IPA, Deluna Extra Pale Ale, Riptide Amber, Banyon Brown, Maiden Voyage Pale Ale, and Lighthouse Porter. Also, look for the Root Beer and the Cream Soda - lovely!

Contact Details:
p. 850.434.3353
a. 225 E. Zaragoza Street, Pensacola FL 32502
w. http://pbbrew.com
e. beer@pbbrew.com

Mon - Thur 11 AM – 8 PM; F-S 11 AM – 10 PM;  Sun - 12 PM – 6 PM

Pensacola Bay from the PB Brewery

Beer Garden: Presidente

It's taco night here at Casa JJ. Not upscale tacos with pickled red onions and radishes on the side (sorry Rick Bayless, but I've been at work all day). But tacos like we had when I was a kid: grated sharp cheddar, sour cream, guac, homemade salsa, shredded lettuce and seasoned ground beef (if all those people that call me a food snob could see me now). We have both flour and corn tortillas. I heat them in the microwave instead of frying them in oil . Why the big deal about tacos? This was my birthday meal when I was a kid (no it's not my birthday today) and I remember the oil and taco seasoning running down my arms - great fun! Tacos and pecan pie - what a mix... it was what I wanted every year, now that sounds kinda ick. 

Now when I make tacos, I want a light beer that's refreshing so I go for something from a hot country and this time, it's Presidente from the Dominican Republic.
Thoughts: This is a nice pils with a clean finish and little aftertaste with 5% alcohol, it's pretty tame stuff, perfect when it's hot out (currently 90.5 degrees and 60% humidity and rising - and it's 7:00pm in the evening - ugh). Good beer decision. 
Six Pack Score: 4.5 bottles

Beer and Miss Austen - The Summer Edition

In a recent conversation with another Janeite that enjoys beer (shock - are there more than two of us??), the question came up - what beer goes best with what book?
I have several beer prejudices: 1) I learned to drink beer when I lived in Great Britain just as I turned 30, not at keggers in high school, so I am a huge fan of stouts and porters. I mean what goes best when it's dark outside at 3:45pm? Guinness, of course. 2) That said, I live in a tropical climate now and stouts and porters have their time (our 6 weeks of winter), but the rest of the time it's hot and humid in the gulf coast (and sometimes covered in oil... damn you BP), so I turn to lagers and pils and almost anything from the Czech Republic. I've also decided that beers that come from hot places make nice beers here in the 46 weeks of summer - so Presidente from the Dominican Republic or Estrella Damm from Spain make nice summer enjoyment.


I have often been know to have a beer while reading Miss Austen's works, so here are my thoughts on what works well for me with each novel. I imagine that during the winter, my tastes would change - somewhat. 


Sense and Sensibility - something fresh and crisp - Stella Artois


Pride and Prejudice - something light, easy, and familiar - Warsteiner would work well here.


Mansfield Park - I think only an ale would do for this book which I was late to really understand, but now enjoy greatly - Sierra Nevada Pale Ale


Emma - Probably my least favorite heroine (see here and here), but one of my favorite beers - Lagunitas Pils


Persuasion -  My favorite book - the one that breaks my heart every time and then puts it back together - Staropramen (from Prague - an absolute favorite)


Northanger Abbey - Light, bubbly, fun ... and a little gothic mystery too with my new favorite beer - Victory Prima Pils

Beer and Miss Austen - a good combination

BAM Fest 2010

MotH and I went to BAM Fest last weekend. Beer Art Music
$15.00 for a nice engraved flight glass for tastings of beer, tickets to purchase extra beer or wine in the bar, and a lovely blue bracelet to wear - I thought it was a good deal. Art was by Joe Hobbs - from whom I took a weekend glass blowing class (thanks to MotH for my birthday present a few years ago. Glass blowing is super hard work - don't let anyone kid you and make you think it's easy. It's sweaty, arm aching hard work.) Music was provided by Tanya Gallagher and Baylen.
BAM Fest was held at The Bridge Bar in Gulf Breeze just off the three mile bridge - you know - where the undercover (ha) Gulf Breeze Police sit catch speeders coming off the bridge. It's a small bar right on the water - very nice - a good selection of beers, but only 4 drafts (not sure how often/if they rotate) and a few wine selections as well. 
The interior was wood paneled (in a good way) and small - just a few interior tables, but nice windows that view westward over Pensacola Bay. There was a small deck as well with seating just over the water - again, not a large are, but fully taking advantage of its site on the water. The view, even on the less than perfect day, was lovely. 

On to the beer - it was set up under a tent just out back of the bar. I'll start with my biggest surprise of the afternoon. Ace Hard Cider - I have never been of fan of cider, though I admit I have tried a fair share when living in England, but this was light, refreshing, not too sweet (okay dry, I know), more like sparkling wine, but not - had much more of an apple taste -- just lovely. 

Gordon Biersch is a name I've heard before as the group that owns one of the restaurants we frequent in Jacksonville, Seven Bridges. We've enjoyed the beers at Seven Bridges, so I was not surprised when I enjoyed the Gordon Biersch Marzen. We'll be on the look out of this - esp. if we can find it on tap (probably if any where - at hop jacks). 

Sessions Lager is the kind of beer I like: Simple, clean, unpretentious, and tastes great cold. Another lager I'll be on the look out for. 
From the Choc line (since 1919), I really enjoyed the Black Lager (also know as a German Schwarzbier) called Miner Mishap. At 28 bitterness units and 5.3% alcohol, it was smooth and imminently drinkable. The very helpful representative of Pinnacle Imports gave some great hints on where to find the Choc beers. 

But my favorite beer of the afternoon was Victory Prima Pils. Served ice cold, it's refreshing, clean, and smooth. It's dry in the best possible way. Wow! 

Beer Garden: Magic Hat Summer Wacko

Billed as a crisp summer beer, I had great hopes for Magic Hat Summer Wacko. There was also only one six pack left so I had to buy it even though it was Cinco de Mayo and save it for a few days. It was certainly cold enough, but the finish was just too sweet for me. "Big malty aroma," I get it and "a subdued hop bite" (as described on the website), but, "slightly sweet finish?" How about overly sweet finish - almost like maple syrup.  And for the love of pete, did it have to be pink?*
Okay maybe the over the top packaging should have given it away but different often times is better, but I was going for the "crisp summer beer" that I went for and I just don't think it was there. The front was nice, but it was the finish that did me in. 
Never know until you try - who knows when you'll find something that pleasantly surprises you. 


* I did not know it was pink until I was um, pouring the last bit out - so it has no impact on my thought. Besides, I rather like pink. 

Cinco de Mayo

Excellent excuse for a cerveza hecho en Mexico. That is the extent of my Spanish and it's probably wrong.  
I've been keeping up with the different beers we've been trying - actually writing them down and making notes, so I plan to put them here w/photos to help me remember better. 
I'm a fan of Tecate - it's simple, smooth and easy to drink - a good beer for warm weather - it's inexpensive too, which isn't bad either. No it is not complex, not fancy, but it works for us. A great choice for 5 May 2010. 
Our local paper started a column today with a local review of beers - finally, but I notice it's never on the front page of the food section where the wine is.... hm.