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Next saturday, I'm having a small get-together, myself, SWMBO, and 6 friends. Everybody's pitching in $25 and I'm supplying samples of 25 different beers! It's going to be a long night.
At first it was going to be beers around the world, but then I thought about it and decided to focus on awesome beers... then I thought some more and decided to do "beer styles" instead since that's really the easiest way to explain the world of beer. Everyone is pretty excited about it, I'll be giving a brief introduction to each beer, 2-6 sentences, discuss the style, nothing too in depth, if they remember one thing about each beer it would be amazing enough. This isn't college. I'm trying to stick with traditional manufacturers (IPA from England, Barleywine from USA, Hefeweizen from Germany, etc). I'm trying to grab as many beers as I can that nobody's ever had before, but also trying to avoid getting things so obscure that the guests won't be able to find them again on their own.
Samples will be about 3 ounces. There will be food and smokes between the session to keep things fresh and interesting.
Here's what I have so far... they are intended to be introductions to the style... feel free to comment...
SESSION ONE: The European Brewing Tradition
Spaten- Munich Helles (talk about the german beer tradition)
Franziskaner Hefeweizen- Hefeweizen (talk about another german style, wheat as used in brewing)
German Rauchbier
Also included in this round (hopefully) are: Spaten Optimator (Doppelbock), Victory Brewing's Prima Pils (because I can't find a Pilsner Urquell that isn't skunked); Midas Touch (For history of beer discussion), some dunkel weizen, also Aventinus weizenbock maybe??
SESSION TWO- English Brewing tradition
Young's Special London Ale- ESB (talk about the english, bitters, special bitters, and ESB's)
Samuel Smith Imperial Stout (no other stout is included in this tasting, so I'm going with the imperial; talk about the history of stouts and the "Imperial" designation)
Bellhaven Draught- Scottish Ale
Also in this session, I will pick up Hobgoblin (would that be considered a brown ale?). I also want a traditional IPA. Any recommendations?
SESSION THREE- Disneyland of beers
Lindeman's Framboise- Lambic; it's easy to find and something that people will relate to easily.
Trois Pistoles- Belgian Dark (from Canada!)
Also in this round will be a Chimay, probably Grand Reserve. Discuss the trappist tradition perhaps with Rochefort 8. Also probably Delirium Tremens- Strong Belgian Blonde. Also probably Brasserie de Musketiers Troubador- Farmhouse Ale (another wilder beer, though not belgian).
SESSION FOUR and FIVE- The New American Brewing Tradition
Mama Mia- Pizza Beer
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
I have none of these beers picked out yet, but I'm thinking SNPA, Anchor Steam, Avery Hog's Heaven Barleywine, some light American wheat, an Amber, and an American IPA.
At first it was going to be beers around the world, but then I thought about it and decided to focus on awesome beers... then I thought some more and decided to do "beer styles" instead since that's really the easiest way to explain the world of beer. Everyone is pretty excited about it, I'll be giving a brief introduction to each beer, 2-6 sentences, discuss the style, nothing too in depth, if they remember one thing about each beer it would be amazing enough. This isn't college. I'm trying to stick with traditional manufacturers (IPA from England, Barleywine from USA, Hefeweizen from Germany, etc). I'm trying to grab as many beers as I can that nobody's ever had before, but also trying to avoid getting things so obscure that the guests won't be able to find them again on their own.
Samples will be about 3 ounces. There will be food and smokes between the session to keep things fresh and interesting.
Here's what I have so far... they are intended to be introductions to the style... feel free to comment...
SESSION ONE: The European Brewing Tradition
Spaten- Munich Helles (talk about the german beer tradition)
Franziskaner Hefeweizen- Hefeweizen (talk about another german style, wheat as used in brewing)
German Rauchbier
Also included in this round (hopefully) are: Spaten Optimator (Doppelbock), Victory Brewing's Prima Pils (because I can't find a Pilsner Urquell that isn't skunked); Midas Touch (For history of beer discussion), some dunkel weizen, also Aventinus weizenbock maybe??
SESSION TWO- English Brewing tradition
Young's Special London Ale- ESB (talk about the english, bitters, special bitters, and ESB's)
Samuel Smith Imperial Stout (no other stout is included in this tasting, so I'm going with the imperial; talk about the history of stouts and the "Imperial" designation)
Bellhaven Draught- Scottish Ale
Also in this session, I will pick up Hobgoblin (would that be considered a brown ale?). I also want a traditional IPA. Any recommendations?
SESSION THREE- Disneyland of beers
Lindeman's Framboise- Lambic; it's easy to find and something that people will relate to easily.
Trois Pistoles- Belgian Dark (from Canada!)
Also in this round will be a Chimay, probably Grand Reserve. Discuss the trappist tradition perhaps with Rochefort 8. Also probably Delirium Tremens- Strong Belgian Blonde. Also probably Brasserie de Musketiers Troubador- Farmhouse Ale (another wilder beer, though not belgian).
SESSION FOUR and FIVE- The New American Brewing Tradition
Mama Mia- Pizza Beer
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
I have none of these beers picked out yet, but I'm thinking SNPA, Anchor Steam, Avery Hog's Heaven Barleywine, some light American wheat, an Amber, and an American IPA.