Beer and Campfires Go Together

Howdy Folks!

2010-09-29T19:32:00.000-07:00

Haven't been here in awhile, have I? Thing is, I have been blogging elsewhere, and fairly schiziod about that even. But, hopefully I have my junk together and am currently blogging at Fungal Threads. It is not a site where I ponder beer exclusively, but it's presence will be felt commonly there. Please stop by and check the site out - it is mostly an outdoor site, but who knows what's going to show up on it.

I just posted my first review there of Leinenkughel's Creamy Dark Lager, and I'm hoping to talk Foolish Took into adding to the beer conversation. Please stop by and check it out.

Thanks -

Casey

Sam Adams Winter Lager

2009-12-11T19:57:00.001-08:00

I had some gas money left over this week and decided that I was going to invest in Sam Adams Winter Lager. This would be a departure for you Bud Light fans.

Albeit not too much, this stuff is brewed with freshly ground cinnamon, orange and ginger. I don't really taste the spices until a couple of seconds after I've swilled the potion. I LIKE that. This beer impressed me 2 years ago, and this years batch is just a tad mellower.

Head : Thin and yellowish. But it leaves some lacing! Hell yeah!
Aroma : I didn't get much.
Color : Medium copper.
Flavor : Like I said earlier - the flavor came a few seconds after. It's a beauty.

Profundity : Ranks very high in my book. Good mouthful.

Overall grade : A. Bet I get drunk a few times this winter and this will be part of the menu!

I have to make a pitch for the new Beer and Campfires Forum! Join up and let's talk some beer. Its' free!!!!

Click the link below our blog header or click the badge on the right hand column of this page. You can do it!!

I Was Beginning To Accumulate A Lot of Beer....Part One

2009-10-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

Ever since Owl's post of the want and desire to sample and savor a bevy of Oktoberfest style beers, I have been making trips to my favorite beer store and gathering a plenty. Not all were Oktoberfest style beers (remember, Owl and I like 'em roasted!), but there was a grand selection growing.... much like the number of companies putting out Oktoberfest style beers. Now this makes me laugh, a little. And I will tell you why: What most people don't know is that Oktoberfest started back in the days before refrigeration as a way to get rid of all the excess beer that had survived through the summer, but would not likely subsist through the winter. Had to have the kegs empty for the next batches, you know. As well as being a part of harvest festivals dating back to when pagans ruled the land. What makes me laugh? The fact that now beer companies brew beer specifically to be drank in October! Sometimes these beers have hardly matured! Oh well, I guess Capitalism is what makes this country great.

But why do I only laugh a little? Well let me digress for just a bit...October is the quintessential month of Fall. There is a chill in the air, the earthy smell of leaves decaying, and – I don't know how else to put it – there is actual cheer in the air. People can sit outside and not be hot, folks are helping each other with outdoor projects before Old Man Winter settles in, and not to mention, it is the penultimate time for dark thick Beer, grilled foods, good company and Campfires! (I mean you can do it in November, but due to the temperature in Iowa, it is highly unlikely...) And let's not forget Halloween!

Now for the reason(s) of my sequestered laughter: One, October is my month. I own it, it belongs to me (don't argue with a Took, it gets you no where. It doesn't get him anywhere either, but he doesn't care where he is going...Hobbit Logic!) - and I am a dark beer drinker. That alone sets me off. Who are these captains of industry to market normal hoppy style beer in MY MONTH?! (I know, they are captains of industry, and they are making more money than me, so I should just suck it up...) Second, um, er, well, second is that Fall and Winter are the months that you are supposed to be drinking the calorie filled, life sustaining, malty chocolatey, heavenly bodied, profundity abundant, absolutely yummy, heavy rich dark creamy thick good cheer beers!

But wait there's more! I haven't completed my thought yet! Why am I laughing at all? Because some companies KNOW that October is dark beer weather, and they make their Oktoberfest beers in accordance. Specifically, Sam Adams; their Oktoberfest just always seems to be perfect, even though they change the recipe slightly each year. Ayinger put out an exquisite Oktoberfest beer this year, and new kids on the block Left Hand put out an absolute stunner. But I am getting to the part of the blog where we actually review some beers, and here Owl (who tends to stay a bit more on track) will do the actual writing. I will leave where I started: I was beginning to accumulate a lot of beer, and my nephew, Owl and I decided to put a dent in the stock...

Saranac Octoberfest

This has a medium copper color. The nose is not big and the head was minimal. And it is a tasty beer! But our notes show (and you'll see how expansive they get the further we get along) we gave it an overall grade of B-. It may have been the cost.

Spaten Ur-Marzen Oktoberfest

Smoky copper color and thin head. But what the hell is with the aroma? We are not fans of this type of stink. Is it the green bottle? I get this aroma from St. Pauli Girl and Heineken, also. Is it the type of hops? Enlighten us. But we both agree that the beer tastes OK. The body trumps the aroma. Both of us would still drink this over a Bud Light. Our overall grade was a D.

Sam Adams Octoberfest

We cleaned our palates with a slice of dry colby-jack cheese and poured this beauty. Clean copper color with a thicker, buttery colored head. Took didn't notice much of an aroma, but Owl smelled a touch of earth. It's profundity is wholesome and it turned out to be a guzzler! Took commented that this years' batch is not as sweet. We recommend it. And Owl has purchased more since this event. Yep - this one can go down all night. There is nothing off-kilter with it.

More to come with a special guest appearance by a Balrog...

Oktoberfest-style Recommendations Requested!

2009-08-19T18:42:00.000-07:00

My, my, my.... Ahh, the cooler days of autumn are just about here.

Football season starts. The baseball season winds down, but the penant races are in full throttle. The garden needs harvested and cleaned up for next year. Camping season is more comfortable. Good trout fishing gets going again. Friends gather around the warmth of the campfire. And my most favorite - duck season starts!

It's only August, and I'm getting geared up to be drinking me some Oktoberfest - style beers. A most wonderful segue into the seasons of scottish ales, porters, and stouts. But enough about all that.

I have only scratched the surface of Oktoberfest - style beers. And I truly dig them. But Foolish Took and I need any and all recommendations from any and all readers who would be inclined to lend us a hand. What are some of your favorites? What do you look for in this style? We look at RateBeer and BeerAdvocate, but your opinions count, too!

Ya see. I don't like lawnmower beer season. I need to get started on the thicker, foodier potions ASAP!

Millstream's Generations White Ale

2009-08-09T17:15:00.000-07:00

I made a trip to the Amana Colonies earlier this year and I had to make a stop at Millstream
Brewing Co. After a few or four of their Oatmeal Stouts, which I highly recommend and hope to include in other posts soon, I decided to do some more supporting of an Iowa brewery by purchasing a mixed 12-pack. In it were 2 Generation White Ales. These were brewed in honor of John's Grocery's 50th anniversary. And before you ask, I haven't been to John's Grocery - yet another thing I hope to include on this blog someday.

Now summer has happened and I figured to give these white ales a try. See how they fit in the scheme of what I consider a summer-type beer to be. Here's what I thought:

Generations White Ale
Millstream Brewing Company

Style : White Ale.

Color : Gold with a moonlight haze in it.

Head : White and thin.

Aroma : Nothing overwhelming, but please excuse my sense of smell. It sucks.

Flavor : Cool but a bit spicy. It's weird, but I swear I taste BBQ sauce. Almost like Kraft Original that has been sitting on chicken hindquarters all day in a crockpot. Seriously. But it doesn't belch that way!!

Profundity : This has a medium body to it. Thicker than an American macro-brew, but not as refreshing. Fairly smooth and not much punch to it. Drinkable, though.

Overall Grade : C. I'm not a real big light ale fan, but if this was offered to me again, I would drink it. But not more than 2 or 3 at a sitting.

And Now for Something Completely Different...

2009-08-02T10:57:00.000-07:00

The Drudgery had come to an end. It was Saturday and I had just gotten home from work. I didn't work hard, but I was at work on a Saturday. I know, a LOT of people work on Saturdays, especially those that work at watering holes, and work much harder than I do / did. God bless 'em. This does not alter my vehement denunciation of such an atrocious waste of time on a day that is meant to be spent LIVING, not working... um where was I? Ah, yes, well it was Saturday and now I wasn't at work. Did I forget to mention that the family wasn't home either? Mwuhahahahahahahahaa (that would be evil laughter. Go on, say it in your best deep gravely voice, it's fun!). My ambition to do something out of the ordinary is humble to say the least. I thought I would watch a movie that I wouldn't normally get to watch in front of the kid (NO, NOT THAT KIND OF MOVIE sheesh you guys! What am I thinking!? I mean- what are you thinking!?). Perhaps a good war flick and a Stout or five.

Such was not to be the case. The phone rang. It was my niece. She and my nephew (not brother and sister either! Did I mention that Owl and I have strong familial connections?) were at the driving range, doing the thing that I had not been doing (you know, the LIVING part), and had decided they were going to get some food to replenish their LIVING depleted bodies, and imbibe some spirits to to re-attune their Irish Souls. They wanted to know if I was interested in coming along. This family likes to hang out together. One did not need to ask the Took twice. I mean, my calendar was open...

So off to Old Chicago we were! For those that don't know, Old Chicago is a chain restaurant that sports some pretty good pizza, and 110 brews. One Hundred and Ten. Now, some people reading this are humbled by this number and others are thinking that Old Chicago is a rip off chain restaurant, and they could name a dozen better places within walking distance of their home. We here in our corner of Iowa, are not that lucky, so Old Chicago is a nice change, even if the price of some individual bottles cost as much as a six pack of the same name. I say this because there are many eat and drink places here, but the majority of them have about 3 to 5 beers, with Sam Adam's Boston Lager being the stretch into the “we have culture” venue. Not that I have anything against SA or their premier lager. It's just that there is so much more....

First let me say that the Pizza was awesome. It was just traditional pepperoni and sausage but wow just the same. Must have been the herbs sprinkled over it. Mmmmmm.... Now to create a beautiful and inspiring segway to the next paragraph.

Or I won't do that and I will simply say that the change in plans from TV and beer I have had before – to going to a restaurant that I haven't visited yet with and impressive array of brewed paradise – pushed my “try something new” button. I was on my search in the (five page!) beer menu for a brown ale when I came across the Black and Tan entry. Guinness with Bass Ale. That sounded really good. But what was that listed underneath it? Snakebite? Guinness with hard cider? Really? Umm... Button pushed.

My nephew started with a Miller Lite, and my niece with Michelob Golden Ultra. Both pretty tasty, and good beers for the summer heat. But my Tookish side almost always prevails, and let's just say that we HOBBITual drinkers prefer our brews dark. I am not sure if it was the heat, but outside of my pressed button, I am not sure why I ordered the Snakebite. I don't normally drink ciders or fruity drinks or wine coolers, but I must say that the Snakebite was a pleasant surprise. They used Guinness Draught, which I absolutely have an aversion to (I prefer Guinness Extra Stout), but the fact that the Draught is (disturbingly) smooth with no after bite, went well with the cider. So Guinness Draught does have a place in Society, to be mixed with something that isn't even beer. Say what you want, Guinness Draught does not compare to the other beers in the Guinness line, and since this my blog post, that makes it true (Hobbit Logic!). The cider was really sweet, and they had more cider than Guinness in the glass, so by the time I got near the bottom, it was getting pretty hard to swallow for a guy who prefers his brew almost burnt.

It was time for round two. My nephew had a Rolling Rock (another summer time fave) and my niece repeated her Michelob. She is not a big beer drinker, and that she was keeping up with us was impressive, even if we were drinking pints to her 12 ouncers. After the extra sweet cider drink, I needed something a little more traditional. So I ordered the Black and Tan. It wasn't bad, but again, I am used to my Black and Tans being made with the Extra Stout (you know, how it was ORIGINALLY MADE, hint hint restaurant owners). As I neared the bottom of this, my nephew mentioned that they had the Guinness 250^th Anniversary Stout on Tap. WHAT?! Had I known that, I think my Snakebite and Black and Tan may have been another experience altogether. So, they have Guinness 250^th Anniversary Stout...

ON TAP! Of course we had to have a round of this. At least my nephew and I did. My niece stuck to her guns, but had a third drink with us nonetheless. The Anniversary Stout (which is lighter and crisper than the Extra Stout) made up for the (boring and dismal) Draught, and was a perfect capper to the outing as I was near to bursting from the appetizer, excellent pizza and rich drinks.

It was a good night. After this we went to the Beer Store and picked out a six pack or four (apiece) for our next Beer and Campfire adventure.

You hear that Owl? I have 24 beers here, 5 different flavors, and a pile of wood just begging to be burned.

Until next time, keep it Dark!

The Foolish Took

Familial (over)Indulgences

2009-07-19T19:27:00.001-07:00

It was last Thursday night. All four of us had Friday off. How does that work? Took and I were on vacation, the other two just have it worked out that way. Four drinkers. Same clan. All with Irish livers, and good, happy drinkin' attitudes. It's been awhile since we last got together, so we made sure we had enough beer. Here's the beer list:

Sierra Nevada Porter
Big Sky "Moose Drool" Brown Ale
Olde Main "Off Kilter" Scottish Ale
Brau Brothers Cream Stout
Millstream Shokolade Bock
Sam Adams Cream Stout
Brau Brothers Scottish Ale (not pictured)
Bud Light (not pictured)

Took was thinking ahead. He grilled up some burgers, chicken breasts, and some venison bologna. I'm here to tell you the chicken was awesome! The venison bologna was a close second. It wasn't all meat and beer, though. Potato salad and macaroni salad made an appearance, too. We were hoping the food would soak up a bit of the alcohol. Right. We had a total of 62 bottles of beer ahead of the 4 of us.

Before the fire, we had a good time watching Clutch and Ratt videos on YouTube. Oh yeah - we were primed. Headed outside and built the bonfire. I can't believe none of the neighbors called the cops. I crashed at 1:45 a.m. and the other stayed up talking and throwing more pallets on the fire. That got hot! Lit the inside of my tent pretty good.

I dug through the ashes the next morning for bones. Didn't find any, thank God. A body count revealed that we had no human sacrifices that night. Whew!
But we left 5 bottles of beer unscathed. Wimps.

Brau Brothers Scottish Ale - I'm Longing for a Turf Fire...

2009-07-03T10:49:00.001-07:00

We beer lovers here in the midwest of the U.S. may be into something pretty good going on around here. Our friends up in Minnesota have a company that is brewing some very good beer. Foolish Took and I have shared a few Brau Brothers Cream Stouts and Scottish Ales, and they are both delicious. These guys are doing something right. Maybe it's the pristine waters of the Land of 10,000 Lakes, or maybe the winters are so long and cold up there that the brewing of dark fulfilling liquid food is a necessary science. Either way, thank you Brau Brothers!

I gave the Scottish Ale some consideration last night while the family and I were out working with our horses. And I drank a few to back up my thoughts about it. Yep - it's good stuff. You can tell by the photo above that the Scottish Ale is a dark caramel color and the head disappates quickly.
The aroma is fantastic. It has a smoked peat aroma to it, making me wonder and wish I knew anything about turf fires and the cottages of Scotland and Ireland. Alas, it looks like I'll have to keep dreaming of the day when I can escape the woods and streams of Iowa (which, honestly, is pretty nice!) and land amongst the hills and salmon-filled rivers of the northern Celtic islands. Dreaming...
The profundity is enormous. A thick, full potion with a hint of the campfire. It's actually beautiful. Wandering Owl gives it a grade of A.

Here's a couple of jackasses. Well, one is really a donkey.

Stop right there, boy. No glass behind the fence!

On The Lightness of Being a Foolish Took...

2009-06-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

One may wonder why people use aliases on line, when the arena they dabble in presents no real danger. Beer and Campfires Go Together would be one of those arenas. Our (notedly, mostly Wandering Owl's) intention is not to get anyone's ire up, provide any shock value, or much of anything outside the (hopefully) enlightening endeavors of a couple simple souls who enjoy one of mankind's greater inventions. So, why the monickers? Is it to be someone you are not? In many cases that is probably so. But unabashedly, not quite the case in Wandering Owl's, or my own pseudonyms. Wandering Owl's nickname reflects his passion for a good stroll through Mother Nature. But the Owl part of the name lends more than just a name of a creature of the wilderness. The owl, from time on end has been revered as wise and reflective. Any of those who have read Wandering Owl's entries will find exactly that, a being who is at one with the universe - even when he is conflicted - his poise and reverant phrases are exactly those one would expect to come from the wise old owl from Native American Folklore, disseminating truth in simple human insights.*

Which begs the question (okay blog readers rarely beg the next question...) what is a Foolish Took? Those of you who have read the books of a certain english author can be assured that many of the facets of silliness you imagine when this name rolls off the tongue are undoubtedly true concerning this blogger. As are many of the 'human truths' that same author placed upon his small - seemingly less than human - creations. For Tooks are but a line of Hobbits, who at thier core, are simple folk who enjoy simple pleasures in a simple life; but tend to embelish a bit on some of thier simple tales to refashion them into grand adventures. But mostly, this particular blog entry is to point out that most Tooks are lackadaisical individuals, and that my lack of blog entries is more than just laziness, we actually have errant souls, and our lack of prodigiousness should not only be expected, but embraced. Or so our delusions of granduer would lead us to believe that is what people should believe. And if that ain't hobbit logic, nothing is.

So, my apologies to Wandering Owl and those one or two other souls who may have actually been looking forward to reading many entries from the Foolish Took (again, the delusions...), but here I have given a blog entry, and following - believe it or not, an honest to goodness beer review. Lastly, I would like to say, that at least in our case, and most likely in most simple souls' on-line alter egos: our names chose us, and like it or not, we are who we are. And accepting that is the first step towards truly enjoying life.

... and the Delectation of a Truly Great Stout.

To say that I like stouts is akin to saying "I like air. I simply don't know what I would do with out it." Some of you might say, okay - you can live with out beer, but you can't live without air. To you I say: Posh. Fiddlesticks. Or - So you think! Or many other such lines of verisimilitude that means 'lighten up, this is a beer review by a guy who calls himself Foolish Took! But, I digress, as is my nature. So, where was I? Ah yes, beer review. Stouts. Like 'em, love 'em, CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT 'EM. There, that ought to drive a stake into the heart of you realists out there. And so therefore, I have a tendency to sample quite a few. Recently, I had the luck of having some like minded friends bring over a six of one I had never tried. BRAU BROTHERS BREWING CO. Cream STOUT to be exact. Man, you gotta love friends like that. I also see these folks at least once every week, and we have tendency to sample at every get together, and henceforth the morning after usually is spent in a recliner, and not in front of my computer writing a long over due review.

Now, as some of you may or may not know, stouts are bitter, malty chocolately (?) coffeyey (??) thick black mouthfuls of chewey beer goodness. I can say this: with every beer, my vocabulary shrinks. What? Right! Review. Of beer.

Any who, the Brau Brothers Cream Stout falls into that category of "Well, I only have twelve, so I am not sharing". It is at once, thick, yet light enough to actually drink twelve of them, if you were so inclined and had a ride home. It has the traditional burnt or cooked bitterness of stouts, but lacks that harsh afterbite of many stouts. This is a good thing. The bitter after taste of stouts is what stops most beer drinkers from ever adventuring into brown/black beer territory. (In fact, the only stouts I have ever noticed the lack of afterbite is in a few oatmeal stouts.) It is not overly sweet, as some stout makers have gone, and yet the creaminess in it's namesake is evident. In fact, I would have to say, it is mildly chocolate, without being sweet at all. If that is even possible. It smacks of Profundity, and I think I would even drink this stout in warmer weather, as it does not sit really heavy either. It really pays to put a mouthful of this in and roll it all around your tongue. It's complexity is amazing, and I really don't want to influence would be samplers with what my taste buds might interpret differently than theirs.

It's priced right, and well worth the experience! By the way, the same company makes a damn fine scotch ale too! Can't wait to get together with Wandering Owl and drink one or twenty of each! Owl old boy, I truly want to experience this with you the first time! So if you haven't tried it, wait for me!

Darkly Yours,

Foolish Took

*Let us not forget that Owls are also great hunters, which adds yet another deep level to this individual.

I Haven't Quit Drinking Beer!

2009-05-16T12:36:00.001-07:00

I've just been really busy and the beer drinking really hasn't been that eventful. Unless you count Mother's Day when I took my mom and my wife to the Amana Colonies to go shopping. You know I had to stop at Millstream Brewing! I put down 4 12-oz. keg cups of the Colony Oatmeal Stout in about an hour. I also bought one of their mixed packs that has Schild Brau, Shokolade Bock, and their White Ale. So - reviews should be forthcoming. And tonight I'm drinking with Foolish Took. The battle axe will be against his throat until he scratches out at least ONE review or story or rant or whatever. Wish him luck...

We had a cookout on my mom's b-day. Did some drinking there. Yes - that's Old Mil. I've drunk a case of it recently. I can't really figure that out, either. My brother couldn't bring himself to drink any, so he had a Leinenkugel's Classic Amber.

We had brats and morel mushrooms cooking on this side of the grill!

The Years' First Fire

2009-04-15T18:18:00.000-07:00

Hey - I'm finally getting around to posting a picture or two of a fire!

I decided to try Leinenkugel's Classic Amber, have a campfire and enjoy some decent weather, finally, the Saturday night before Easter. I planned on going to the Easter morning sunrise service so I didn't overdo the intake!

A review? Think Budweiser with a little more malt. There is nothing really special about this beer, except that if I had a bunch on hand, it wouldn't take all night to get rid of it. It's pretty smooth and goes down real good.

I also had good reason to sit around a campfire and drink a few brews. I bought John Denver's Rocky Mountain High on CD for $3. John Denver was a good man and damn talented. Got me to thinking about the close relationship between bluegrass music and traditional celtic music, also. One descended from the other, you know! Anyway - here's the lyrics to Rocky Mountain High.

Rocky Mountain High
John Denver
Words by John Denver; Music by John Denver and Mike Taylor

He was born in the summer of his 27th year
Comin' home to a place he'd never been before
He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again
You might say he found a key for every door

When he first came to the mountains his life was far away
On the road and hangin' by a song
But the string's already broken and he doesn't really care
It keeps changin' fast and it don't last for long

But the Colorado rocky mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullabye
Rocky mountain high

He climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below
He saw everything as far as you can see
And they say that he got crazy once and he tried to touch the sun
And he lost a friend but kept his memory

Now he walks in quiet solitude the forest and the streams
Seeking grace in every step he takes
His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand
The serenity of a clear blue mountain lake

And the Colorado rocky mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
You can talk to God and listen to the casual reply
Rocky mountain high

Now his life is full of wonder but his heart still knows some fear
Of a simple thing he cannot comprehend
Why they try to tear the mountains down to bring in a couple more
More people, more scars upon the land

And the Colorado rocky mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
I know he'd be a poorer man if he never saw an eagle fly
Rocky mountain high

It's Colorado rocky mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
Friends around the campfire and everybody's high
Rocky mountain high

Makes me want to live like the "Wilderness Family". Kinda my dream, I guess.

I even stayed up 'till after dark!

Robert the Bruce : It's Not Normal

2009-04-07T15:47:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I was supposed to get with a few beer drinking friends and check out a new home-brew brown ale and also maybe check out a few scottishes. Threatening weather kept me home because I don't like driving so far (about an hour) on ice. The weather folks couldn't decide if we were going to get hit Saturday night or Sunday. Well, it hit Sunday and wasn't as bad as everyone was talking about.
But I was able to get with Foolish Took last night to see if they saved me any samples. I kinda figured they would - they are that good of guys. And what FRIENDS!!! How they managed to save a 6-pack of Bruce....Bless you guys!

Reviewed by : Wandering Owl

Robert the Bruce
Three Floyds Brewing Company

Style : Scottish ale

Color : Deep amber/brown. Medium thick looking.

Head : Light brown. Pours a good 1-2 fingers, but cherish it! It disappears quick.

Flavor : Sweet roasted malt. Hardly any hoppiness. A beer drinkers' root beer - but be warned... you could easily get piled up if you're not used to malty beers and a higher alcohol content.

Profundity : You sense the POW with the first drink. Full-bodied and filling. This would go with a lot of different roasted meats, maybe a sweet BBQ. But there is so much flavor and magic in this beer that food may take a back seat.

Overall : A. It would have an A+ if there were a way to put in a maybe just a hint of - possibly a smidge - but not too much! - a touch of a bitter hop? Nah, forget it. Wouldn't be a scottish then.

Off the top of my head , I can think of only two things that the British ever got right. Britcoms and depriving the Scots of affordable hops. So the Scottish brewed without the hops and the Scottish Ale was born. Sweet, beautiful bliss.

I had mine with trout soaked in buttermilk, dredged in flour and seasoned salt, then fried in olive oil until the skin was as crisp as potato chips. The skin ends up my favorite part.
Salty trout skin and deep beer...awesome.

Schlitz : Old School Ain't Too Bad

2009-03-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

I got home last night to beer in the fridge! I must have been talking a lot about old times lately and how I can still handle drinking the old stuff. Especially when it's ice cold. So the wife bought me a six-pack of Schlitz. Brings back memories of my softball playing days.

Reviewed by : Wandering Owl

Schlitz
Schlitz Brewing Co.

Style : American style ale

Color : Clear gold. Plenty of rising bubbles.

Head : Bright white, two fingers if poured into a frozen glass.

Aroma : An old sweaty t-shirt taken from the men's latrine.

Flavor : A lot better than the aroma hints at. It has real freshness when ice cold, but seems to go flat too soon. I want it to stay REAL cold. I should have used a coozie, or drank it from the bottle kept on ice.

Profundity : The slight body to this beer is in the front of the mouth. Deeper than American light beers, though.

Overall : C. It brings back memories, it's cheap, and not so hoppy that I want to hurl. This is an OK session beer, and I could personally down 18 of 'em while roofing a house in the summertime. I drank six of them in pretty short order last night, so it can't be too bad.

It even inspired me to try to figure out how to play Stairway to Heaven again! But the tablature I got off the internet was done in bar chords and I had originally learned the acoustic parts in open chords, and I like the sound of that better. Back to the drawing board and definately a lot more practice!

Olde Suffolk English Ale

2009-03-12T17:51:00.000-07:00

I've got to tell you, this is the second time I've had this beer. And after the first time I was almost sure that I wasn't going to try it again. That was a night full of heavy, tasty brews and it was almost the end of the night when I tried this. I can't believe I'm thinking this, but it put me off!
But Foolish Took assured me that I needed to try this another time. Tonight was the night.

Reviewed by Wandering Owl

Olde Suffolk English Ale (a blend of two classic ales, one aged in an oak vat for 2 years)
Greene King, Westgate Brewery, Suffolk, England

Style : Brown Ale

Color : clean, clear medium brown.

Head : fairly thin, disappates quickly, minimal lacing.

Aroma : it does smell stored-up for awhile. This is my first oak-aged beer.

Flavor : it says that one of the ales this is blended with has been stored in an oak vat for two years. That's funny - this half-tastes old, at least the first few drinks do. But if you take some time between drinks, you can really taste the barrel. That's cool.

Profundity: This beer appears thin, but it tastes big. There are flavors in here that I am new to in a beer - especially the oak barrel. This has a chance of growing on me.

Overall Grade : C+, because of the high price tag ($4 a bottle - 1 pint 0.9 fl oz.) and this doesn't mix with other beers well.

After the first half of this beer, you realize that you are drinking something different. A good different. But in this drinkers' opinion, it doesn't go well after drinking some scottishes and porters. I guess that's my biggest problem with it. Save it for a time when it can stand by itself, or drink one before drinking other beers. It's pretty good, and comes in a cool bottle.

Mmm. Chili and beer.

Poor wife...

Left Hand Brewing Milk Stout

2009-03-04T06:15:00.000-08:00

The other day my oldest boy turned 13. That very same day I found out that I had 13 followers on my other blog! I couldn't determine if it was just coincidence, or if there was some sort of meaning to it, being it involved the number 13. After contemplating it for 13 seconds, I figured beers were in order.

Reviewed by Wandering Owl

Milk Stout
Left Hand Brewing Company

Style : Sweet Stout

Color : Deep, dark brown that you can't see through until nearly finished.

Head : Light chocolate, maybe one finger deep, disappears pretty quick. Minimal lacing.

Aroma : Chocolate, a mellow roasted malt.

Flavor : Creamy, chocolate, malty, sweet - but not quite like a candybar.

Profundity : This is pretty deep and filling, a real mouthful. A couple of these will fill you up, so if you want to get some drinkin' done, you may want to pass. If you're hungry, don't go to McDonald's - this will do and it's a whole lot better.

Overall : B+. My drawbacks are it's price (high) and it is too filling too fast, especially if you're in the mood.

What Sam Adams Has Done

2009-02-27T14:25:00.000-08:00

I am not an over achiever. I like what I like, I read what I read, and I drink what I drink. This introduction is only to say, that I do not know when the microbrewery explosion hit America, (even though I am sure this information is readily available to those who endeavor to find it) I am simply glad it did. Immensely glad is probably closer to the mark. Struck silly with awe that I can get beer from Scotland in Iowa is even closer.

I know this much. If a whole bunch of people had not drank Sam Adams Boston Lager and said, "Holy crap! Beer can have flavor? Sign me on!", then I wouldn't be sampling porters and stouts on a regular basis. Now, I know that someone out there is saying "Hey - Bud Light has flavor...", to them I say this - without any hostility or trying to be denigrating - yes it does - and so does water. In fact, most anything you put in your mouth will have some flavor or other. What Sam Adams has - in spades, I might add - is Profundity. Depth, character, myraids of flavor all harmoniously dancing and coming together to give a wonderful experience with each sip. That being said, Sam Adams Boston Lager is my least favorite of the Boston Brewing Company's beer collection. So in comparison, Bud Light may have "drinkability" but it sincerely lacks profundity.

Not only did Sam Adams create (or re-create as the case may be) a vast number of brews (for a single company), but they bravely went where no other microbrewery was going at the time - nation wide. You can get almost every Sam Adams brew anywhere in America with a population center of 30,000 or greater. (Logistics. Like or lump it, numbers rule the world.) And to add to the "not only" list, Sam Adams beers are cheap. You want a good stout but can't afford the Guinness? Sam Adams Cream Stout is an EXCELLENT substitute. I have even heard some say it is better. About $2-$3 dollars less a six-pack as well. Hard to go wrong there, especially with the economy the way it is.

So, what did Sam Adams do? Well, I kind of said it already. I hate summarizing. Summarizing is busy people work for lazy readers. And if you were a lazy reader, you wouldn't be checking out blogs, would you?

Don't be afraid of change. Crack open a Sam's beer that looks like the color of beer you normally drink, and progress from there.

Darkly yours,

The Foolish Took.

The Home Beer / Where it Starts

2009-02-19T19:28:00.000-08:00

This is where it all starts. This is the revelation I drank years ago. And it is still a favorite.

I'll be honest with you. I like dark beer. Stouts, porters, brown ales, scottishes, and oktoberfests. Lately, I'm a bit prejudiced against lighter beers - I guess I like mine cooked. Copyright Wandering Owl.

I Like Mine Cooked is the name of my new band and you can't have it.

So - there's no campfires with this post, but they are coming. So are other beer reviews, campfire photos, beer reviews and campfires combined, home brewing talk, cheese, sausage and roasted meats and beer.

I'll leave you with this quote - "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin. Good ol' Ben.