Early August Beer Adventures

I was invited to a tasting event for New Planet Beer on 8/5 in Boulder. New Planet is coming out with a Pale Ale later this month. We were given 4 different recipes to taste and rate.



We tasted #2, #5, #41 and #530. I thought they were all very good but favored #5. #530 was very hoppy (and good) but more of an IPA than a Pale Ale. I found #2 the least interesting but it might be the best for mainstream America.

Next up, I volunteered for the Gnarly Barley Beer Festival in Loveland that was held on Saturday, 8/7. There were 22 breweries attending including Oskar Blues, Left Hand, New Belgium, Grimm Brothers (new brewery in Loveland)and Equinox Brewery (new brewery in Fort Collins).

I spent the morning pouring for Equinox Brewing. I had a great time working with Colin from Equinox and Nancy from House of Neighborly Services (the recipient of some of the proceeds from the event). We were offering Equinox's Sunrise Golden Ale and Orbit ESB. I really enjoyed the Orbit ESB.



Then on Sunday, 8/8, I was invited to a friend's house to try some New Glarus beer. My friends picked up a few beers while they were back in WI about a month ago. My very sweet friends sent me home with a six pack which included a few Road Slush (Stout), a Crack'd Wheat, a Fat Squirrel (brown ale) and a Moon Man (pale ale). I am looking forward to drinking these soon.

Summertime Pilsners

I attended the monthly tasting at the Pumphouse Brewery on 7/27. This month was Pilseners and our guest speaker was Bill Eye from Dry Dock Brewing Company.



We tasted: Corona (Mexico), Stella (Belgium), Heinenken (Holland), Pilsener Urquell, Czechvar, Bittburger, Paulaner Pils, Spaten, Budweiser (US), Boulevard Pilsner (american style lager), Pumphouse Pulaski Pilsner (German-style), Left Hand Polestar (German-style), Oskar Blues Mama's Little Yellow Pils (Czech-style), Gordon Biersch (Czech-style) and New Belgium Blue Paddle (Czech-style).


On Aug 2nd, I attended the monthly meeting of Ales for Females at Left Hand Brewing. The focus of this meeting was also on Pilsners. Head Brewer, Ro Guenzel, was our guest speaker. We tasted Left Hand's Polestar Pilsner, Pilsner Urquell and Miller Lite. These beers were served with german pretzels from Helga's Deli in Aurora, CO and Lowensent Extra Mustard (extra hot mustard from Germany).

Ro said that this is the beer he uses the most to judge the brewing capabilities of breweries since these beers are difficult to brew. I guess that is similar to how I use salsa to judge a Mexican restaurant. All good Mexican restaurants should be able to make an excellent salsa.

The Polestar Pilsner from Left Hand and Mama's Little Yellow Pils from Oskar Blues were my favorite of all the pilsners I tasted that week. But, I must admit that I am not really much of a lager lover.

Ales for All!