World Beer Cup

This month the Craft Brewers Conference and World Beer Cup were held in San Diego. I had to watch over the brewery thus couldn't make it. However, the results for the competition were posted online. The category that I took notice of was American Light Lager. I always thought it was funny that Miller Lite was so proud of winning this category a few times over the years since there are 90 other categories that taste much better.

If you take a look at category 33: American style light lager you will notice that Miller lite did not place this year. The top 3 were Old Milwaukee Light, Lone Star Light (God Bless Texas), and Natural Light (better known as Natty Light). Now I'm not saying that these beers are all that good, I just find it funny that these beers are usually consumed through a funnel and were able to beat out Bud Light, Miller Light, and Coors Light in a blind taste test.

Time Magazine

A little over a month ago a reporter from Time Magazine came through the Wynkoop to do a piece on the Colorado beer market. He was escorted by Sheraton's Chief Beer Officer (Where do I apply for that job?). He seemed a little quiet and I thought he didn't really want to do the story or was expecting something else when he came through. But last week they sent a photographer, David Bowman, out to take a bunch of pictures because it apparently turned into a feature story for the magazine.

On Friday the article appeared online along with a picture of Amy and I drinking on the patio. I thought it was pretty cool but that no way it would get in the magazine. Heck yes it did! My name isn't on there, but still it's pretty cool. Page 61 of the April 21st issue. The story is pretty much right on track with how I perceive beer. The writer says that this area is the "Napa of Beer," but people aren't as snobby about it as wine drinkers usually come off. Beer is still about hanging out with friends on the front porch with your shoes off playing some corn hole. Even though beer in America is getting better all time, let's not lose that laid back image.

Beer Review:

This is my first beer review to go along with a post, I'll try and keep it up so people can find out about new beer though my taste buds.

I decided to open up a "sweet-as" Belgian beer named Duchesse De Bourgogne. If you have never had Belgian or Flemish beer I suggest you start trying some just because of the subtle sour notes the Belgian yeast brings out it the beer. This was not an aggressively strong beer, but tons of flavor. It is aged in oak barrels and has a great balance between sweet and sour. That's usually what I'm looking for in a really good beer... balance. Balance between sweet and sour, maltiness and hoppiness, or alcohol strength and drink-ability. And if it sucks really bad and has none of these aspects, its best enjoyed through a funnel. Prost.

Nothing Classier...

...than a Schlitz. I'm not talking about the canned stuff. This is the new, or not so new, version of beer from the former mega brewery. Schlitz Original has just been released in the Chicago area to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the repeal of prohibition. No, I have not tried the stuff, but I bet it is better than anything from the major 3 breweries. Here is my reasoning:

Before prohibition beer in America was probably on par with Germany. Lots of German immigrants moved to the States and brought their beer heritage with them including the Miller, Busch, Pabst, and Spotzel. Then along came prohibition which shut down the brewing operations except for near beer and malted milk. After prohibition I'm sure people palates were about the same as a high school kid drinking anything they could get thier hands on and would give them a buzz. The winners were those breweries that could make it the fastest, not caring about quality. Since so many breweries were shut down only a handful could compete and until the 70's Schlitz was right atop with everyone. However, thier advertising dollars could not keep up with Miller, Anheuser-Busch and later Coors which forced Schlitz to change thier recipe and destroy what was once a decent product. After this the company had no chance.

However, now people have a chance to try a solid lager not banking on advertising dollars, but on taste and the nostalgia of beer's better days. My hope is that this will bring the beer drinking in America full circle and people will once again enjoy full flavored beers for thier taste rather than drinking light lager because of image. But I doubt the big breweries will allow that and will continue to attept to make American dumber through advertising. So, if you can find a Schlitz Original crack one open and let me know how great American beer was before prohibition.