Lagunitas Maximus

Greetings and hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.


Tonight's featured beer is Lagunitas Maximus a super charged version of their standard IPA.  Let me start by saying I'm a huge fan of any and all beers brewed by Petaluma, CA based Lagunitas and Maximus is my go to IPA.  I always have it on hand and even though I drink many different IPAs I think this has to be, hands down, my favorite.  Everyone has their opinion and that's mine.

So, with that being said, let's see what they say about this beer on the Lagunitas website: "IPA Maximus: At the height of the heat in the heart of the summer, we felt the only cure was a raging mouthful of fresh Hops and Malt. Caution: May remove enamel from teeth."

Appearance : Poured nice bright copper/red with an off white head.

Aroma : Hops, hops, and more piney hops. Sweet smelling malt, citrus (grapefruit) with a hint of alcohol.

Taste : Hops take center stage, but this beer is sweet like the smell. Well balanced with nice toasted malt and hops.  The floral and fruit shine through as well.

Overall:  As I said before, this is one of my favorite beers. For those who like Lagunitas IPA this one is bigger, badder and better (again, in my opinion).  


With an ABV of 8.2% you can get in deep with a few of these.  I've done it...


If you find yourself anywhere near Petaluma, CA  you need to go visit Lagunitas.  They've got all sorts of fantastic beers - ones I purchase regularly and ones that I plan to review in the coming weeks. 


"Beer speaks, people mumble"...


Cheers!


Mark Harvey

NCBB "Heavy Mellow" Stout

Greetings beer lovers,

Well, we did it.  Brian and I brewed a NICE one yesterday and after posting some photos of our "work" online my buddy Jay came up with a bunch of names, one of which I really liked...."Heavy Mellow Stout".  Hopefully Brian is OK with the name.  "Heavy Mellow" is a term that was coined to talk about the music on Nobody Records and since I combine all that I do - music, brewing, life - I figure the name is fitting.  This stout should be around 7.5% ABV when it is done so it will be a little heftier than a typical stout.

First step was to activate the yeast packet so we'd be ready to pitch it once we finished the boil. After I activated the yeast I create a mini-mash by soaked the grains in hot water for a half hour.  We filled up the kettle with five gallons of water and added the mini-mash grains to the rest of the grains in the grain bag.  We brought the heat up and let it steep until we reached 180 degrees.

We pulled the grain bag out, dunked it a few times, and let it drip until we had all the goodness out.

Then it was time to add the malt.

After we had the malt stirred in very well we added the first round of hops (Chinook pellet hops along with Irish moss).  We let that boil for 60 minutes.

Next we added 1/2 oz of Cascade pellet hops and let that boil for 20 more minutes and with 10 minutes left in the boil we added the remaining 1/2 oz of Cascade pellet hops.

We had a couple of boil overs, but overall we managed to keep the temperature at a good level.

The next step was to use the newly purchased wort chiller.  We hooked up the hose and watched as the temperature rapidly decreased.  Brian and I were really happy we got the temperature down so quickly.

We let the wort settle a little, pitched the yeast into the carboy and then moved the wort into the carboy for fermentation.

Now we wait for the fermentation process to commence and in about a week or so we will be ready to bottle.

Can't wait to taste this one!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Anderson Valley Brewing Company Winter Solstice

Hello beer lovers, happy Friday and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.


Tonight's featured beer is Anderson Valley Brewing Company's Winter Solstice.  I have been a fan of Anderson Valley Brewing Company's beer for many, many years.  It started with their Boont Amber, a beer that is still a favorite of mine.  After years of enjoying their beers I took a trip to their old location at the The Buckhorn Saloon (before they moved to Boonville) with my buddy Brian (on the same camping trip that we visited North Coast on). Since then my wife and I have visited their Boonville location many times and I always enjoy spending some time there seeing what's on tap and enjoying their fantastic beers.

From the Anderson Valley Brewing Company's site: "From the first sip of Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale, your senses will be aroused with the vision of a glowing fire, warming the hearth and home, as gently drifting snow flakes silently blanket the trees outside. Each lingering sip will gently warm your soul with thoughts of family and friends, gathering around the table for the feast. Luscious, creamy, smooth, and warming, this medium bodied ale is brewed with Caramel and crystal malts to give it just a hint of sweetness, then paired with our private blend of holiday spice. Winter Solstice Ale is great alone or as an accompaniment to any meal, and it has been known to liven and spice up nearly any social event. This coveted and much sought-after brew is released in November, just in time for the holidays, and by the first of the New Year will be only a fond memory.
As with all of our products, Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is never sterile filtered nor heat pasteurized, and should be stored in refrigeration. However, to fully enjoy its rich and complex flavor, it should be served between 40° and 45°F."   

Appearance : Pours a reddish-brown color with a nice cream colored head. Some moderate lacing.  Active carbonation bubbling up from the bottom of the glass.

Aroma : The aroma is sweet and malty with a ginger/nutmeg/clove spice to it. Smells like candy and a little fruity.

Taste : Flavorful and complex. Perfect balance between hops and malt. The malt sweetness of this beer is incredible with fruit flavors rushing in (I'm getting cherries, apples and plums). The spices are not prominent, more of a supporting role. Buttery smooth and not boozy at all.

Overall : I love this beer! Anderson Valley Brewing Company's Winter Solstice is one seasonal I always buy and keep on hand until their Summer release, Summer Solstice Cerveza Crema, comes out.  My wife prefers the Summer release, but I have yet to make up my mind which one I prefer.  At an ABV of 6.9%, AVBC's Winter Solstice can creep up on you (if having more than a few), but you'll never know it.  This beer is magic!


Cheers!


Mark Harvey

Brew day...TOMORROW!!!

Greetings beer lovers,

I like to drink beer, no doubt about it, but I REALLY like to brew my own beer (and drink it).  There's something about home brewing that just makes me feel...well...I guess traditional.  Brewing beer feels like getting back to my roots and when I have the chance to do it I'm just SO HAPPY.
Today I visited the local home brew shop, HopTech. Roberto and Jade are extremely knowledgeable, helpful and very, very cool.  If you're home brewing in the Bay Area I HIGHLY recommend HopTech.

Today I picked up the ingredients for a stout and since I was hoping to create a higher ABV for this brew (beyond 5.5...probably a 7 or 8) I worked with Jade and upped the malt extract.  Here's the recipe I'm brewing with Brian tomorrow:


The malts:

7.5 lbs of Dark Liquid Malt Extract
2.5 lbs of Amber Liquid Malt Extract

The grains:

1 lb Gambrinus Dark Munich
1 lb Hugh Baird Crystal Malt 50-60
1/4 lb Victory
1/2 lb Hugh Baird Roasted Barley
1/2 lb Hugh Baird Chocolate Malt
1/2 lb Muntons Black Patent

The hops:

2 oz Chinook pellet hops
1 oz Cascade pellet hops

Other ingredients:

Irish Moss
Priming sugar
Wyeast 1084XL Irish Ale yeast

I also picked up a wort chiller.

Needless to say I am super stoked about brewing tomorrow and I am hoping to be able to get batches going with more frequency.

We will see about that...

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Pyramid Outburst Imperial IPA

Good evening beer lovers!


I am a HUGE fan of IPAs and when I found a mixed 12 pack that has Pyramid Outburst Imperial IPA in it I thought I was doing a great service for myself and my family.  The mixed 12 has three Pyramid Outburst Imperial IPAs, three Thunderhead IPAs, three Haywire Hefeweizens and three Apricot Ales.  Six for me and six for my wife.

I was really looking forward to trying the Pyramid Outburst Imperial IPA. I'm a giant fan of double and triple IPAs so I felt good about a three beer commitment to try this one from Pyramid. From the Pyramid Breweries Website: "With big beer taste and massive hop flavor, Outburst lights spring's fuse. Dry-hopped for an extra rejuvenating rush, this imperial IPA causes a thirst-quenching commotion wherever it's poured. Ignite the season with a bang."

Let's get started!

Appearance : This double IPA pours a clear golden amber with a small, creamy, off-white head which leaves some light lacing.

Aroma : Quite nice with sweet roasted caramel malt, floral/piney hops, citrus and a little mint.

Taste : The flavor is nice (and a bit surprising).  Juicy citrus notes (orange, tangerine, grapefruit and lemon), sweet toffee, huge piney hops, and a touch of malt sweetness.  

Overall : A very solid beer by Pyramid and one that I would like to try next on tap.  With an ABV of 8.5% it falls into the "coupla beers" category in my book. Available May - August.


Cheers!


Mark Harvey

Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.


Today I'm going to review Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout.  Last year I finally ventured out and bought some Firestone Walker beer.  For some reason I had been avoiding it, but when I found a mixed 12 at BevMo (and at the prompting of my buddy Reggie) I bought the mixed 12 and liked it.  I'm a fan of their Solace and Union Jack so when I saw the Velvet Merlin at Whole Foods I thought I'd pick up a six and try it out and I am SO glad I did!

From the Firestone Walker website: "A decadent Oatmeal Stout brimming with cocoa and espresso aromas. Partially aged in bourbon barrels, this beer features a rich, dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavor with a creamy mouth feel and wonderfully dry finish. The addition of U.S. grown fuggles hops contributes the perfect amount of bitterness to this exceptionally balanced beer."


Velvet Merlin is partially blended with Merlin that has been aged in bourbon barrels for a year. The aging adds even more complexity to this very rich beer.

Appearance : Pours dark and black with a small creamy head. A trace of lacing left behind.

Aroma : A very nice aroma featuring coffee (mocha/dark chocolate), sweet caramel, light bourbon, oatmeal and a bit of sweetness.

Taste : Coffee with light caramel. Finish has lots of coffee, dark chocolate, roasted oats and roasted malt with a  touch of sweetness followed by a subtle bitterness. A nice creaminess which was probably acheived due to the barrel aging process.

Overall : Fantastic! This beer is light enough at 5.5% ABV to enjoy multiple pints yet decadent enough to slow down and enjoy.

Every now and again I like a little liquor with my beer and Velvet Merlin was complimented very well with some coconut rum. YUM!


With Velvet Merlin being a seasonal I suggest you go find it, QUICK!


Cheers!


Mark Harvey

Positive beer drinking

Good evening friends and readers,

Tonight I only have time for a quick post.  I've got a bunch of reviews to write and I'm looking forward to getting those reviews posted.

I spend a bit of time in the evenings reading beer blogs and review sites and I've found a lot of negative posts and reviews out there.  One thing I will try and promise the readers here at the NorCal Beer Blog is a positive reading experience.  If I don't like a beer, I won't write about it.  If I have an opinion about a brewery that isn't favorable, I won't share it.  I don't typically purchase beers that I don't like and when I do I just quietly drink them until they're gone.  Believe me when I say I've had LOTS of bad beer, but I've found that for every beer I didn't like I've met someone who LOVES that beer.  Beer like anything else is personal and I choose to not offend those who like a beer or worse let my opinion stop someone from finding a beer they may enjoy.  Now I may discuss a beer with friends and in those circumstances I will voice my opinion, but putting out on the WWW is a whole different subject (not that I have a zillion readers).
What I will do is bring my thoughts on good beers to light and then let you, the reader decide if you like that beer, or not, want to try that beer, or not.

With so much negativity in the world I figure this should be a fun place to come.  After all, we're talking BEER people!

Mark Harvey

BEER vs.WINE

Hello fellow beer enthusiasts and welcome once again to another entry here at the NorCal Beer Blog.  Hey! Check out the GROOVY logo my buddy Jay made for me (on the left). Cool, eh?
I know a lot of folks who just can't get into the whole beer thing (and that...is OK).  Either they don't drink at all or they prefer wine or spirits.  What I have found is the wine crowd tends to look down on beer as if it is a lowbrow beverage.  Well, I'm here to tell all you wine drinkers...lighten up.  There's nothing lowbrow about beer...well, OK some beers, but c'mon for every lowbrow beer you can think of I'm sure you can think of wines like Boone's Farm or Thunderbird wine and yes, I'll even bring up Night Train.

Everyone has a different palate - and thankfully there are choices of many types of beverages for each of us.  Wine and cheese? How about beer and cheese?  Wine and chocolate?  How about beer and chocolate? Please don't get me wrong - I LOVE WINE (and spirits), but there's just something about beer.
I am going to focus on the plus side of beer as this debate (or argument) will rage on regardless of what I say here.

The information below came from Team Beachbody here.
Have a read...more of my comments to follow...

"Beer is more nutritious than wine. Unfiltered beer contains nearly all the B vitamins, several minerals, and as many antioxidants as wine (though different ones, since wine comes from grapes and beer is made with grains, mainly barley and hops). And though beer has only a small percentage of the recommended daily allowance of vitamins, it contains significant amounts of trace metals and minerals. Both wine and beer are made with yeast, but the yeast is filtered out of wine. Not so with the many varieties of unfiltered beer on the market the vitamins in the yeast are preserved. (Look for "genuine draft beers," also known as "ice" beers. They have to be kept refrigerated to preserve their flavor. Unfiltered beer also includes many "craft" beers, which are nearly all malt as opposed to best-selling American beers that are made with 30 to 40 percent rice or corn, and sugar.)
Beer reduces heart disease. Besides the fact already mentioned that moderate levels of any alcohol reduces heart disease including beer and wine a 2001 Czech Republic study found that vitamin B6 in beer reduces the buildup of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood, which has been linked to heart disease.

Beer drinkers have low-cal alternatives. Light beer is the best-selling of all the beer segments, with four of the top five leading brews consumed in the U.S.: Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light, Natural Light. Light beer didn't even exist 30 years ago, so its triumph in the beer market is a testament to the beer industry's willingness to cater to health- and weight-conscious consumers. And though purists and beer connoisseurs may scoff at its "watered down" taste, light beer is a good choice if you're watching your waistline."
It is a good read regardless of which side you're on.  What I will say is, for those who are counting calories you need to be sure you "get it" - although wine may have less calories you're only getting 4 oz. of it.  I'd take 12 oz. of beer goodness ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!

And for those who just "don't like the taste of beer"....how 'bout you spend a little time with me.  I'm sure I'll find something you'll like.


Cheers!


Mark Harvey
(and this IS beer in that glass - a lovely 9.8% ABV Imperial Pumpkin Ale from Buffalo Bill's Brewery in Hayward, CA - website here)

North Coast Brewing Company PranQster Belgian Style Golden Ale

Hello beer lovers!

Time for another beer review in photos (not video yet).  You know, Jay, I will need to swing over to your place (or you over to mine) to do this video review thing since I can't seem to find a minute to do more than take a few pictures whilst I drink my frosty beverage and with the kids yelpin' in the background it would make for a VERY interesting video review (yeah, yeah, I'm sure you'd get a kick out of that).  So, for now...photos only (sorry Jay).

OK, let me get back on track here.  Today I am reviewing North Coast Brewing Company's PranQster Belgian Style Golden Ale.  PranQster was the first North Coast beer I tasted and I've tasted everything they've brewed over the years. I've been drinking North Coast beers for A LONG time and have had the opportunity to visit their brewery in Fort Bragg, CA a few times as well.  Over a decade ago was my first trip up there (camping) and my buddy Brian and I gave 'em a call and they gladly gave the two of us a tour of the place.  VERY COOL. 

So, on to the beer.  From the North Coast Brewing Company's site (here): "Belgian Ales represent the height of the brewers' art. Sophisticated brewing techniques, yeast blends and unique flavoring elements have elevated the beers of Belgium to the status enjoyed by wine in other countries. PranQster follows in this tradition using a mixed culture of antique yeast strains that produce a floral nose, a full fruity flavor and a clean finish."

I didn't use the appropriate glass (I used a pint glass). When pouring the aroma is fruity with a predominant banana scent, Belgian yeast, citrus, sweet malt and finally hops. 

Beautiful pure white head, great swirls of carbonation and a deep yeasty gold color.

The taste is of banana and coriander, sweet malt and bready.  Well balanced. The taste always surprises me (as you can tell by the photo).  I LOVE THIS BEER!

At an ABV of 7.6% this is one beer you may want to take your time with before you go for round #2.

It had been awhile since I had some PranQster in the beer fridge, but I'm glad I picked up another four pack.  

This blogging about beer thing has prompted me to pick up some of my old favorites to review and in this case I am SO glad I did.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey