Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Ale

I think Tupac and Dre were on to something when they wrote "California Love." As one of the biggest states in the country in one of the best hop-growing regions in the world, it's no surprise that California is home to some of the best breweries; namely, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Sierra Nevada is based out of Chico in the northern part of the state and is well known for its hoppy brews produced year-round. Mike already tested and wrote about their seasonal winter release, the Celebration Ale, but I'm happy to be writing about a specialty brew that created a brewing trend throughout the US.

Image courtesy of grapesandgrainsnyc.com

Every fall in the Northern Hemisphere, hop farmers are harvesting their crops for various brewers to use in whatever way they see fit. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, in a hop-crazed frenzy, made a decision some time ago that fresh, wet hops are essential in creating a great beer. Much like some restaurants get the freshest foods and ingredients delivered on a daily basis, Sierra Nevada buys the freshest hops out of Washington state within 24 hours of being picked. These hops, full of the oils and resins that provide their unique flavors and aromas, are immediately tossed into the brewing process to create a unique beer aptly named the Northern Hemisphere Harvest ale. With Sierra Nevada's dedication to freshness comes an excellent brew.

Pouring this beer into my glass, I was astounded by the appearance of this beer. With a gigantic, white head, lacing that just won't quit, and a spectacular orange and copper haziness, this beer looked unlike any I've had before. I can't think of a better way to describe the head than to compare it to that of an ice cream soda; It's just think, frothy, and won't settle at all. At the last sip, I still had a complete white covering on top of the body and my empty glass has lacing all over it.

My camera doesn't do this
beer justice, but just look at that head!

Much like most other IPA-style beers, the aroma had a characteristic spiciness to it. With some citrus and floral tones and the faintest hint of caramel, this beer seemed pretty average. Once I tasted it, the story was totally different. In contrast to it's dark color, the taste was actually pretty light. There was an immediate bitterness from the hops with a faint spiciness and a definite floral aroma. Also apparent was a subdued lemon-orange taste and the lightest caramel taste. There was essentially no aftertaste, unlike most IPA-style beers.

Drinking with a thickness not usually seen outside of darker and heavier beers, Sierra Nevada's Northern Hemisphere Ale is not your regular Fall or Winter beer. I could easily see myself kicking back on a hot summer night drinking this brew with some friends. In trying to stay as fresh as possible, Sierra Nevada created a brew that confuses and excites the senses. I highly recommend you try this beer, no matter what time of year it is.

There Can Only Be One Highland Brewing Company

Having just finished my final fall semester of my undergraduate career, I felt it was time for a nice little vacation. A few friends of mine and I went down to Outer Banks, North Carolina for a few days since one of them has a house down there. Since I was far out of my usual area I decided it would be the perfect time to try and find some local beer that I couldn't find in the Northeast. We went out Sunday for lunch and football to a local bar/restaurant, which i expected to have a decent beer selection. Unfortunately, I was wrong, they had a very limited list of beers. Fortunately, they did have a few local options, so I went with the Highland Brewing Company's Gaelic Ale. Highland Brewing is located in Asheville, NC and while not within a short drive of where we were staying it was by far the closest option and one I have never seen any of back home. The waitress gave us our bottles as well as glasses to pour them into if we so chose to.

Courtesy of Highland Brewing Company

While I really wanted to drink straight from the bottle because I'm lazy, I felt it would be a great disservice to not pour it into a glass since it took me an extra 30 seconds.  As I expected it had a beautiful deep amber/brownish color. After pouring it into my glass I noticed very little head and even less lacing. What little head there was, was very light in color. There was a very nice slightly sweet aroma to it, which was rather surprising to me. Now for the most important aspect of the beer, the taste! On first sip I was very confused about what exactly I was tasting besides hops and malts.  After letting my taste buds adjust, I found it had a nice lightly sweet flavor similar to how it smelled when you first took a sip.  However, that was only how it opened and welcomed itself.  Once it hit your mouth for more than the initial moment the flavor changed. While not a dramatic or crazy change it does give a stronger hops and wheat taste.

All in all this is a solid beer. It may not be the best I've had, but it is far from the worst I've had.  I thoroughly enjoyed it while watching some decent football and would not mind having it again.

I'm beginning to drink a lot like Christmas.

"It's just nice to meet another human
that shares my affinity for elf culture."

With Christmas quickly approaching, I've been getting into the holiday spirit. After finally convincing Mike to watch Elf with me, I decided I wanted an equally “Christmas-y” beer for the night. I chose Lakefront Brewery’s 2012 Holiday Spice Lager, mainly because I chickened out of trying it for National Lager Day and I decided it’s time to stop being a beer baby and try new things (the Christmas theme was just an added bonus).

Cheers, Buddy.

Right off the bat I was excited to try this beer. It’s deep amber in color and smells of spices and a touch of oranges. The smells alone made me feel like I should be sitting by a fire listening to Christmas music. The taste was no different. I could pick out flavors of nutmeg and cinnamon, as well as a slight sweetness. The taste lingers long after you’re done drinking,and I was left smiling with a warming sensation that could definitely be blamed on the 11.0% ABV. Regardless of the high alcohol content, the Holiday Spice Lager is extremely smooth and easy to drink. It wasn't overly carbonated, so it didn't make me feel too full. The beer had a very thin, off-white head that dissipated quickly and hardly any lacing which I’m also pretty confident can be blamed on the high alcohol content.

Ratebeer.com gave Holiday Spice Lager an overall rating of 91. I absolutely agree with this high rating. I would make it a point to buy this beer again on a cold night (assuming I don’t need to drive any where afterwards).

Merry ChristmaHannaKwanza and Happy New Year everyone!

Kolsch-style is my style!

Last weekend, Nick and I took an adventure with some friends down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Leaving our beloved tri-state area, we figured this would be a great opportunity to try some local brews that would otherwise be unavailable back home.

A closeup - how pretty!

The 6 pack we picked up to try was Mother Earth Brewing’s Endless River Kölsch-Style Ale. (Side note: I learned that the classification of “Kölsch” is strictly reserved for only 20 or so breweries in Germany surrounding the town of Cologne, and therefore anything else must be designated as Kölsch-Style. Most Kölsch-style ales are actually mistaken for light lagers, as noted here).  This brewery was about 180 miles inland of us…sounds far, but seemed close enough to be considered regional to us. I was drawn to this beer by the artwork on the 6-pack and the bottles…it was just too artistic to pass up. (Nick: I couldn't agree more, I'm a sucker for beautiful artwork on the bottles. I will definitely try a beer based off of its packaging.)

Kölsch beers are typically light and easily drinkable – probably my favorite style of lighter beers because they’re crisp and have a bit of a bite to them on the finish. To me, this one did not disappoint; Nick might tell you otherwise. (Nick: While I do agree that there is a certain crisp flavor to it, I'm not enamored with it. It was a little too light for me and just seemed to be missing a little something. While not a terrible beer by any means, I would prefer something with a little more flavor to it.) 

When poured from the bottle, it has a soft golden color with a decent but quickly dissipating head and next-to-no lacing. There was quite a bit of carbonation to it, so I probably should have drank it a bit more quickly than I did so it wouldn’t go flat – woops! Definitely very drinkable, you could take this sucker down in a few gulps and be on to your next. (Nick: I can attest to that. I may have not that with the second one I had.) Aroma gives off a slightly grainy malt smell, a bit corn-bready. It also had some fruity-ness to it, perhaps some lemon and apple. If you’re not into this on a regular basis, I’d say it’s still an absolutely great choice as a summer beer.  (Nick: I definitely got a hint of some sweeter fruit flavors, but no cornbread smell for me. I would certainly add this to the summer beer rotation.)

From the brewer:

Super artsy-fartsy.

"A clear, crisp beer, Kölsch offers a very slight fruity flavor and aroma. It is light gold in color, with a delicate head. This light-bodied beer appeals to nearly everyone who samples it. Expect to enjoy a slight tang in the finish.

Food Pairings: Leafy Green Salad with Creamy Dressing, Broiled Lobster, Grilled or Steamed shrimp, Fried Soft Shell Crab, Peach Cobbler" (Which sucked for the two of us, having bought this after our delicious seafood dinner at The Black Pelican). The packaging had a sweet QR code to scan that told you all of this, instead of cluttering up the 6-pack with words. 

Happy drinking!

-Maggie (& Nick)

Last minute holiday shopping? We've got you.

With less than a week to go until Christmas (and just under a day away from the end of the world), people are scrambling to find some last minute gifts. We here at Drink Like an Adult know this feeling all too well, so we're here to help you out. In the spirit of beer and giving, we present you with some unique gift ideas for your favorite beer-lover:

Handcrafted Glassware



This full set is available through Matthew Cumming's Etsy store



To truly appreciate a beer, you need to pour it into a glass. It becomes more aromatic, it improves the flavor, and it just looks nicer. Many people stick with standard pint glasses, but for the real beer aficionado, we'd suggest taking a look at these handcrafted beer glasses from Matthew Cummings. These glasses from his appropriately named store, PretentiousBeerGlass, are specially designed to enhance the drinking experience. Whether you're drinking a hoppy beer, a malty beer, or you suck at pouring a black and tan, he's got you covered. Be warned; however, as these glasses are not cheap. His coasters start at $8 and a full set of his special glasses will run you $180.

The Clink N Drink Bottle Opener

If that glassware is a little too much and you know your gift recipient would rather just drink out of the bottle, consider the Clink N Drink bottle opening system. It magnetically attaches to any surface allowing you to place a cool, customizable bottle opener on your fridge, workbench, or even your car. Best of all, below the bottle opener itself is a magnetic cap collector, allowing you to make a bit less of a mess along the way. At around $25 per Clink N Drink, these are affordable and definitely a nice addition to any beer drinker's collection.

 

 

Beer Brewing Kits & Supplies



Image courtesy of kegerator-review.com



Do you want to truly take some one's beer experience to the next level? Let them brew their own beer! Amazon.com sells a wide variety of beginner kits that provide you with the bare basics to make beer in your very own kitchen. If those are a little too basic for the brewer in your life, then checkout Northern Brewer Homebrew Supply or Midwest Supplies. Both of these reputable companies have been providing great service to homebrewers all over the world for many years and they'll be able to help you out too. They've got bottles, caps, carboys, fermenters, yeast, hops, malts, etc. - everything you'll need to make the beer and bottle it. While prices vary wildly, just be prepared for when the do-it-yourselfer turns into master craftsmen by next Christmas.

DIY 6-Pack Holders

Some people like to stay in with their beer and others like to take it with them. If you know somebody who loves to bring their beer out with them, take a stab at making your own 6-pack holders. They're infinitely customizable, super classy, and pretty damn useful too. If you've got the wood, metal, or plastic, make somebody a gift they'll never forget. Chris of The New Hobbyist provides instructions and templates for one such holder on his website and for the more technologically inclined, Thingiverse has CAD template files available for download to use with a laser cutter. If you use the cheapest Pine you have laying around or the fanciest Brazilian Rosewood you can get your hands on, you're guaranteed to make an unforgettable gift.

YETI Tarpon Beverage Entry Tool

With a name like the YETI Tarpon Beverage Entry Tool, you know you're in for a serious device. Forged from stainless steel, this monster of a drink opener will get you into any bottle or can life throws at you. It's less than $10 and ships within 1-3 days, so you know it will be there just in time for Christmas. This is my personal favorite on this list too!

The "Discount Liquor" Trap

We've all done it. Driven by naivete, idealism, or just sheer laziness, at some point we have all fallen into the "Discount Liquor" trap.

Today, it happened to me.

I was driving home from a school after a long day of studying (yes, when you are in law school you actually have to study for final exams), and decided to pick up some beer. I was on my way to my favorite liquor store near school and hit a fair amount of traffic. This was the last thing I needed. A line of cars was standing between me and a much needed beer. 

Then I saw it. The neon lights and promises of low prices drew me in. Even the name, "Liquor Warehouse," screamed "great selection!" I was sold. I diverted from my original path and stepped into the warehouse. Much to my dismay, this "warehouse" was little more than a closet filled with Natural Light and Traveler's Club vodka. I found myself eye to eye once again with the very products which once lay hidden under my bed from my parents in high school. Overcome with disappointment, frustration, and anger, a mere 20 seconds later I stormed out the front door and back to my car.

Thus, I continued on my journey. Inching through traffic, closer and closer by the second, I thought to myself, maybe I should have just sucked it up at the other store. This moment of weakness quickly subsided, however, when I finally arrived. Like a kid in a candy store, no, like I just walked through the gates of heaven - I could have sworn I saw a bright light surrounding the sign that read, "Micro-Brews."

Finally.

Thirty dollars later, I was was walking out the door with a pack of Dogfish Head's 90 Minute IPA, and two of Dogfish's larger bottles that I had never tried before - Theobroma and Namaste. Well, this night just got interesting.

Dogfish Head beers never disappoint. Everyone that I've tried so far has been flavorful, complex, and most importantly - strong. Each of these brews has an ABV of around 9% (except for Namaste, which was a mere 5%). I'll post a full review of each of these beers at some point in the future, but that is not my goal here.

No, here I attempt to impart one simple message. The passion, quality ingredients, and dedication that go into a quality craft beer all go to waste if you don't know where to look.

Like most of you, in college I reveled in the ability to walk to the corner liquor store and grab a 30 of [insert generic cheap beer here]. And now, living in a city on a graduate student's budget, I won't deny that the allure of this convenience has not completely escaped me. But for those nights when you just feel like sitting on the couch and enjoying, actually enjoying, the beer you're drinking, do me and yourself a favor: put your big boy (or girl) pants on and drive to a real liquor store.

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

I love a good seasonal beer and Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Ale is no different. Pat’s overall summation of winter seasonal beers found here is something I couldn’t have put much better myself (well done Patrick).

This beer pours a nice amber/copper color with a very thick head. This ale has a bit of cloudiness in it, and leaves a substantial amount of lacing on the glass.

An interesting aroma of citrus is present upfront with a pine fragrance at the end.  You also get a bit of hops coming in later with the pine.

The taste is piney, and very hoppy when it hits the tongue but mellows out with malt sweetness that keeps you intrigued. The interesting blend of flavors, and overall smoothness makes this IPA very drinkable. The medium body leaves an average mouth feel, and it is not overly carbonated.

All and all, this beer is great for cold winter nights. The pine flavor is great for the season, but the hops and citrus aspects remind you that spring is on its way. It is a very tasty offering from a brewery that seems to always have a pretty good seasonal variety.