Lake Superior Old Man Winter Warmer

Ah, we're near the end of January. Some of my fellow Minnesotans might be dreaming about the coming of spring; lighter weight coats, no gloves or stocking hats, and melting snow. Well, we probably shouldn't start thinking about that too soon, 'cause we've got a couple months of winter to go! Don't worry though, here's a beer that can keep you warm and happy until the first thaw. The name of the beer says it all: Lake Superior Old Man Winter Warmer.

This beer is a barleywine style from Lake Superior Brewing. Their website lists it at a big 10.3% ABV. That should definitely heat you up from the inside! I'll tell you right now; I've had this brew in the past and I really enjoyed it.

I pour the 12 ounce bottle into my snifter. It builds a 1/4" light tan head that fades into a small thin island of foam and a ring around the glass. The viscous-looking liquid is dark brown in color with just a touch of ruby when held up to a light.

The sugary aromas of honey and cotton candy are present to represent the malt. However, they are dominated by the smell of herbal, spicy hops and a bit of grassiness. There is also a definite alcohol scent in the nose.

Flavors of sweet, rich caramel and some biscuity malt are followed by anise and... Is that grapefruit? Then, a hint of black pepper spice and some solid building bitterness even out the sweet malt.

The medium-thick weight feels substantial in my mouth, like I could almost chew it. There is a pleasant alcohol warmth in my throat after each sip. Minimal lacing appears on my glass.

This is an awesome American-style barleywine that starts malty sweet but is well balanced by a significant hop presence. It is a perfect "winter warmer" and does it's job well, while still remaining surprisingly easy to drink. Be careful with this one, as that high ABV does its job well (I can attest to that). After consuming this tasty beverage, I think spring is actually starting in my belly!

Coborn's Tasting January 29th

On Saturday, January 29th, I will be pouring samples from 3 - 7pm at the Hastings Coborn's Liquor. This time, the tasty brews will be:

• Founders Red's Rye PA
• Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold
• Lake Superior Kayak Kolsch
• Leffe Blonde
• Rush River Unforgiven Amber
• Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout

Be sure to stop by for the tasting and to chat with me about anything beer related!

Schell's Snowstorm 2010

Ah, Schell's Snowstorm. This is a winter seasonal that many craft beer loving Minnesotans look forward to from the moment they finish their last bottle of the previous year's batch (including myself). One of the main reasons for this longing anticipation is the fact that Schell's uses a completely unique recipe for this brew each year.

I don't know who was responsible for this brilliant idea, but it has been greatly successful for the brewery. It seems to be the perfect way to test market some special beers. In fact, 2 of Schell's year-round offerings were once Snowstorm recipes: Stout and Firebrick. Their popularity sealed the deal.

Snowstorm 2010 is a Weizen Doppelbock. It weighs in with a respectable 7% ABV and is brewed with Munich, Wheat, Xtra Special and Midnight Wheat malts, according to the Schell's website.

I pour from the 12 ounce bottle into my large Weizen glass. A 4-finger light tan head is generated with ease. The coarse foam gradually settles to a rocky-looking 1/4" thick layer. The body is dark amber in color and slightly cloudy.

The pleasing smell of bananas and cloves immediately wafts up from the glass. There is also a touch of caramel, some candied fruit, and a very slight herbal hop aroma.

Mmmmm. I like the flavors going on here. First I notice some sweet stone fruit, like an apricot or a peach. Then, there's a little cocoa powder followed by something similar to darkly toasted marshmallows. A bit of spice comes in at the finish.

The medium velvety viscosity coats my mouth with each drink. It's very easy to swallow and has a small warming effect. Some faint lacing is present on the sides of my glass.

Wow. This is a spectacular beer. It is quite drinkable with its light, easy-going flavors, but remains wonderfully complex. The 7% alcohol is not all that noticeable and could make this one dangerous. I would definitely enjoy drinking this brew in any season. Hear that Schell's? You think you could do that for us?

Opening People's Eyes

This past Saturday, I had a tasting at the Hastings Coborn's Liquor. I've had much busier tastings, but I don't think I've had one that was more successful than this one. What I mean by "successful" is this: more people who would normally skip past the beer tasting stopped to try the beer and many of those people found one they enjoyed enough to purchase.

The beers I sampled that day were examples I had asked the manager to take a chance on. In the past, our store had a very minimal array of Belgian imports (Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Wittekerke). I pointed this out and suggested the appeal of some other Belgian brews. Then he allowed me the opportunity to choose 6 new beers that we could put on the shelves. I was also sure to request that we order them in 750ml bottles. Once they arrived, I planned a tasting.

As people walked through the door and past the tasting table, many of them did a double take. Quite a few times I was asked by inquisitive-looking faces, "Are you sampling wine?" When I told them, "No, I'm actually pouring some quality imported Belgian beer," they were very surprised. Some of them said, "Oh, I don't normally like beer," but it wasn't hard for me to convince them to try one. They were usually pleasantly surprised by the first sample; which led to me pouring them some of the others.

One of my favorite things about doing what I do is changing a person's perception of what a beer can be. I was very happy after this last tasting due to that fact. It just goes to show that if you can present a beer to someone in a way that is different than what they're familiar with, there's a chance you can get them to enjoy brews they never knew existed.

January 8th Coborn's Tasting

Hey everyone.

Wow, what a busy holiday season...

First off, I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up with my posts lately. Now that December is behind us, I should be able to get back to my more regular posts and beer sessions. Mmmm, beer sessions...

OK, back to business: This Saturday, January 8th I will be pouring samples of some very special brews that are new to the shelves at the Hastings Coborn's liquor:

• Chimay Grande Reserve
• Duvel
• Karmeliet Tripel
• La Trappe Quadrupel
• Liefmans Fruitesse
• Rodenbach Grande Cru

These are some nice Belgian imports (along with one from Holland) that are definitely worth trying. Another nice tidbit of info is that 2 of them are Trappist brews. Not sure what Trappist means? Just stop by the store anytime from 3-7pm and taste some beer with me. I'll be happy to answer any questions you have, including that one!