Grizzly Growler » Holidays

Top 10 Worst Things Overheard on St. Patrick’s Day

Tim — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:31:51 +0000

I was astounded to overhear these things in only two different bars last night. I won’t name the bars, for fear it would damage their reputation that such smart and attentive people are patrons.

Top 10 Worst Things Overheard on St. Patrick’s Day

Hey, does that green beer taste like mint? (Not the best pickup line ever dude)
How do you think they turn the beer green? (Well, see, this here is the magical work of Leprechauns)
Do they brew it green like that? (Why yes, it’s brewed from green grains)
I believe St. Patrick brewed the first green beer. (Yes, he must have, otherwise why would we drink it?)
This is weird, this [green] beer tastes just like PBR. (Well, that’s just wrong, it’s obviously Bud Light)
The non sequitur – The beer is green, because there are no snakes in Ireland. (No need for a comment)
Kiss me…I’m not really Irish, but I love the Irish. (He then proceeded to hold up a green beer as some kind of evidence of his love for the Irish)
The only time of year I ever drink green beer is on St. Patrick’s Day. (Really?)
Is this [green] beer imported from Ireland like Guinness is? (No, this special beer comes all the way from St. Louis)
I’m a Bud Light man, I don’t really like the taste of green beer. (Um, excuse me sir, that green beer you’re holding is Bud Light with tasteless, odorless food coloring in it)

Prost,

Share on Facebook

Soak up your corned beef and cabbage with free stout at Tamarack Brewing Company

Tim — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:49:58 +0000

I’ll have a roundup of Montana St. Patty’s Day celebrations at area craft breweries soon, but this one is good enough to post all on its own.

From Tamarack Brewing Company’s Facebook page, check it:

We’re tapping a fresh keg of Stout at 6pm on March 17th and giving it away free until it’s gone! So do your part, and help us set a record! You can soak it up with some corned beef and cabbage after it’s all over! Join us at The ‘Rack on ST. PATRICK’S DAY for a little… or a lot… of Stout and good cheer!

Last year, it took us 79 minutes to drain a keg of Switchback Stout giving it away FREE ’til it’s gone… we can beat that, people, come on and lend a hand!

We’re tapping a fresh keg of Stout at 6pm and giving it away free until it’s gone! So do your part, and help us set a record! You can soak it up with some corned beef and cabbage after it’s all over!

See all you Lads and Lassies at The ‘Rack on St. Patty’s!/blockquote>

Prost,

GG

Share on Facebook

It’s kind of creepy, but President’s Day and craft beer were made for each other

Tim — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:48:46 +0000

George Washington was said to have a taste for porter style beer, something which he brewed at his plantation before, during and after his terms as the first president of the United States of America. Well, I don’t know for sure if he brewed during his actual presidency, but that would be cool. I often wonder what a home brewing president might be like. I have a feeling that Obama probably doesn’t drink a lot of craft beer. In fact, when watching those television shows about the folks who serve the president, I’m often a little dismayed at the personal beer choices for Air Force 1 or White House state dinners.

But Washington brewed and drank great beer, as did many of the founding fathers.

In honor of the proud tradition of early brewers, my pick for a President’s Day beer is Stone Brewing Co.’s Old Guardian Barley Wine.

According to the Stone Brewing Co. blog, the 2010 release of this beer is today, so you won’t likely get any unless you live in Southern California, but if you see some, pick it up and put it away for next President’s Day.

Prost,

Old Guardian

Share on Facebook

Video Blog – Belle Vue Kriek

Tim — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:09:06 +0000

Being Valentines Day, this video caught my attention. Have fun with it.

Prost,

Share on Facebook

Merry Christmas beers and a holiday in Oregon

Tim — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:15:19 +0000

The Grizzly Growler will be Oregon bound for a week, which means I’ll be reporting about, and hopefully collecting, many good beers that might not be available in Montana. All the better to stretch my imagination. But look for posts about some really cool beer coming up in the next week. I’d like to wish all my readers a very happy holiday and a great New Year. I’m very grateful to you for your support and readership throughout the years. But 2009 is the best year yet. Readership is up this year, and craft beer in Montana is doing better than ever.

Merry Christmas,

Share on Facebook

Traditional Christmas tree lighting at Bayern Brewing on Saturday

Tim — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:33:54 +0000

Lighting of the Christmas Tree at Bayern Brewing

Growing up in Austria, traditional Christmas celebrations happened almost daily through the Advent season. Christmas tree lightings and a visit from St. Nicholas as well as traditional Christmas hymns and special services dedicated to this or that are my greatest memories of my time there.

In our plastic American culture, it’s easy to make Christmas just another power shopping exercise or a feel-good reminder that we’re not all affected by the economy. But for many of us, the traditional things that surround Christmas are a reminder of giving back to your community, friends and family members.

So if you’re lacking a little tradition in your life, head on over to Bayern Brewing at 5 p.m. on Saturday for a traditional lighting of the the Christmas tree.

I can’t quite tell if those are candles on that tree, but growing up we put candles all over the tree and lit them and sang songs. Later, we used fire-proof sparklers. When we moved back to the United States, we continued the tradition for a few years until one fateful Christmas Eve, when our too-dry tree caught fire and our house burned to the ground. Call it stupid if you will, I’m sure my dad still kicks himself for that, but traditions are hard to kick. And besides, the community rallied around us, and by noon on Christmas Day, the floor of the living room where we stayed after the fire was two-feet deep in presents.

We eventually rebuilt the house, and though we’ve discontinued the practice of lighting the Christmas tree with fire, the traditions of the holiday season are very real to us.

So you just might catch me toasting the season with a Doppelbock on Saturday down at Bayern Brewing.

Prost and Happy Holidays,

Share on Facebook

A Stille Nacht on St. Nicholas Day

Tim — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:55:54 +0000

A Stille Nacht every St. Nicholas Day

It is St. Nicholas Day, and I’m sitting next to the Christmas tree drinking a Stille Nacht and enjoying the atmosphere. The kids woke up at the crack of dawn to find out what St. Nicholas left in their shoes, and we’ve been snacking on chocolates and nuts throughout the day.

This is a tradition going back many many years for me and my family. If there was ever a beer that was more enjoyable to consume every year on the same night I have not found it. Stille Nacht tastes like Christmas with its Belgian fruity yeast characteristics and spicey nature.

In a few weeks I’ll depart for for Portland, Oregon and go in search of next year’s Stille Nacht, which will reside in my refrigerator for a full year. This particular vintage is 2006, and though the head doesn’t last long, the flavors are deep and complex, the way I seem to like things in my life right now.

Tonight I gave my wife a taste, and it looks like I’ll be buying two bottles of Stille Nacht for next year. But that’s good. What kind of traditions do you share with your friends and families.

Prost,

Share on Facebook

Holiday Gift Guide for craft beer lovers

Tim — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:02:26 +0000

I’ll do my own list soon, but I really liked the list from DrinkCraftBeer.com.

Prost,

Share on Facebook

Beer to be thankful for

Tim — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:00:02 +0000

I have a lot to be thankful for this year. Beer is but a small footnote in the list of things I’m thankful for, but since I write a beer blog, I must include it here.

I’m thankful for a good job and the ability to provide for my family. I’m thankful for being able to do a job that I truly love. I’m thankful for the freedom to write about what I want and to be able to explore the world of craft beer.

I’m also thankful for good friends and their suggestions, encouragement and criticism when necessary.

In honor of that, here’s a couple of extra Thanksgiving tips from my good friend and fellow beer aficionado Chuck Slothower, who tends bar over at Beer at 6512.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, my good man. I like your Levitation suggestion. That beer has huge flavor for its low alcohol profile. And Mirror Pond is an old favorite. For Thanksgiving, I’m starting with Durango Dark Lager (not unlike Full Sail’s Session Black), followed by a Belgian sour (Duchesse de Bourgogne) to pair with the turkey, finished with a squirreled-away bottle of Black Butte XXI with dessert. Good health to you and yours!

Same to you Chuck, I’m inspired by your beer choices. Keep sharing the beer wisdom with us, your faithful followers.

Thanks to you, my readers. Without you, this would be very self indulgent.

Prost,

Share on Facebook

Thanksgiving Beer Primer Day 3

Tim — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:33:57 +0000

So far we’ve had a barley wine breakfast and some session beer for the long, holiday football game. Now it’s time for the main course, so to speak. Every Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I see people searching frantically through the wine section at their grocery store for some wine that will match some part of their holiday meal. Perhaps it’s a wine to match a rich, roasted game dish or a dessert wine, but no matter how hard they try, they will not find a wine that will match the entire meal. And thus you see them leaving with a six-pack carrier full of different wines.

Such a feat is possible with beer, however. Thought you don’t necessarily need to try. If your Thanksgiving meal is served in courses, feel free to try a few different beer styles to match the various moods of your courses.

But let’s start with one, overall beer for Thanksgiving dinner.

Most traditional turkey dinners are a rich tapestry of flavors and textures, not all of which go smoothly together or with a single beverage. However, if you analyze the meal as a whole, you’ll see that it generally lacks fire heat, which means hops and higher alcohol are acceptable, and it can mix bland and sharp flavors like mashed potatoes and cranberries, which means the beer should be neither too heavy nor too light.

For this kind of food, I like to look in the craft beer world’s meaty center. Medium ales and lagers to slightly heavy are best. And beers with a great balance of malt and hops are best. You can’t go wrong with pale ales, amber ales, medium Pilsners, Belgian tripels of even a Belgian sour.

Here are Some beers I would look for as an overall accompanist to your T-Day meal:

Saison Dupont from Brasserie Dupont – Light, grassy and refreshing, will not fill you up and should pair nicely with

Old Stock Ale from North Coast Brewing Co. – This is a heavy beer, but if you pour it like you would a $50 bottle of wine, it just might be the nicest pairing you’ll ever have.

Cuvee Rene from Lindemans – This is a sour beer, but if you want to really get interesting with tastes and flavors around your Thanksgiving Day spread, this beer might be perfect.

For some more familiar beers to try:

Mirror Pond Pale Ale from Deschutes Brewing Co. – A dry, crisp pale ale with some maltiness that will lend itself to lighter vegetable dishes and some hops to cut through greasy gravies.

Lake Missoula Amber from Kettlehouse Brewing Co. – A rounded, malty amber that could bring out the caramelized flavors of turkey skin and roasted root vegetables. If you don’t live in Missoula, many amber ales will have these characteristics and might be a great match for Thanksgiving.

Levitation Ale from Stone Brewing Co. – The caramel malts and residual sweetness on this beer make it a great overall Thanksgiving Day beer, and a few bottles of this spread around the table won’t feel that much different than having wine bottles around. This might be my favorite pairing this year.

As for matching various courses with different beers, keep in mind that pale ales work well with salads and appetizers, while ambers and Belgians side nicely with heavier courses. I won’t go into desserts, as I know believe that almost any bourbon-barrel-aged stout is a perfect dessert in and of itself or along side your favorites. Make sure you have a bottle of something on hand this Thanksgiving.

With that, I’ll conclude the Thanksgiving Day Beer Primer. Just remember that it’s all about personal taste and style. If you find something that looks good, try it. If you don’t want to experiment, these beers are a guideline, and you can replace any one recommendation with others in the same style.

And I’ll just take a moment to say thank you to all the craft breweries and fans of craft beer who make this blog all that it is. It’s your interest and dedication to craft beers that bring this to life. May you have much to be thankful for this year.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Make craft beer your Thanksgiving tradition

Share on Facebook