Subjective ramblings about beer, pubs and associated topics

Pumpkins not just for Halloween

I thought I'd be seasonal for a change, though there are no pumpkin ales available around here. I bought a weird beer in Austria earlier this year, though, which is brewed with pumpkin seed extract, Steirerman, subtitled Biergenuss mit urkraft.

Well. It looks and smells like a standard lager, but the pumpkin taste and some bitter hops makes this much more enjoyable than I had expected after the marketing gimmick.

Because this is beer Viagra, ladies and gentlemen. Power for the man, enjoyment for the woman. (No, we are talking about Austria, a rather conservative catholic country here. I do not think they have a version for gays just yet.)

According to the web site, one should drink a bottle of this brew every day to stay in top form. Somehow, I don't think my wife would be persuaded by this. And for those of us living outside Austria, we'll just have to wait and see if their birth rate turns upwards.

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 15:19 | link | comments
beer, austria

The Netherlands 1 - In de Wildeman

I haven't been to the Netherlands for decades, but I had heard rumours that the beer revolution had reached the Dutch as well. A few hours in Amsterdam before continuing to the Hague, and the splendid online Amsterdam Pub Guide made sure I didn't waste my time, but could go straight for the good stuff.

The sweet cannabis smoke hits you as soon as you exit the Central Station, but I was not interested in that type of kick. Five minutes walk, a few steps away from the bustle of the main streets and squares, In de Wildman is a friendly, unpretentious type of place. There are two rooms, a deserted non-smoking bar and the main cafe, which was filling up in mid afternoon. The walls and ceiling are stained brown by the smoke, but this smoke being hand rolled or pipe tobacco, not the pot of the coffee shops.Quiet conversations, newpapers, I would not mind having this as my local.

17 beers on draft, hundreds of bottled beers. Lots of Dutch and Belgians, of course, but also a special list of Bamberg beers, which I did not have time to delve into.

A  draft Zeebonck 't Vølen went down very well. An unfiltered golden ale, with plums and apricots. Aromatic and fruity.

A hefe wheat beer, also on tap: Heintre - de Prael. Fine head. Banana aroma, as some wheat beers tend to have. Rather sweet, something to have with fruit pie or a dessert, perhaps?

 

To round off: a glass of 't ij Bio Bokbier. Unfiltered, reddish brown with a firm head. Rather sweet, witha full, warming body. A beer for when the frost set in. Some dried fruit in the aroma, but I would have liked this more generously hopped. Some roasted malt in the finish lifts it up a bit.

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 12:35 | link | comments
beer, bock, netherlands

Bloggstafett: Planetens beste sted

Oppgaven fra rambukk: Du er ute på en trans-galaktisk langweekend. Mens du suser langs Melkeveien, oppdager du ved en tilfeldighet planeten Tellus. Du bestemmer deg for å bosette deg her. Hvor på planeten velger du å lande, og hvorfor?

 Det ser jo hyggelig ut på denne kloden selv om det er områder der det ser ut som om meningen med livet er å stå i bilkø. Skal jeg tro de TV-sendingene jeg snapper opp fra satellittene ligner innbyggerne ganske mye på meg, selv om jeg kanskje er litt mer rufsete etter noen lysår uten stopp.

Men hvor skal man slå seg ned her? Jeg kunne nok ha utviklet noen gjeller, men det frister mer å puste i luften, så jeg velger bort hav og innsjøer.

Ikke for varmt og ikke for kaldt, så jeg tror jeg kutter ut områdene rundt ekvator og rundt polene også. Ikke ørken heller.

Jeg synes den verdensdelen som kalles Europa virker sjarmerende. Et lappeteppe av store og små stater som i stor grad ser ut til å satse på å utbygge det fredelige samarbeidet seg imellom.  Men jeg tror jeg prøver en av øyene, og ikke fastlandet.

England, kanskje? Jeg ser at dagen i dag er den internasjonale dagen for å gi sin støtte og sympati til Paul McCartney, så kanskje Liverpool kan være stedet?  Godt øl er det i England også, har jeg latt meg fortelle?

Nei, jeg skal nok lenger sør, til Middelhavet.

Mallorca? Malta? Ibiza?

 Nei, jeg skal til Syros. Administrasjonssentrum i Kykladene, og med en økonomisk basis som er bredere enn bare turisme. Med flere grekere enn skandinaver, med bratte gater og trapper og nyklassiske bygninger. Nok fastboende til at det ikke er noen spøkelsesby på noen tid av året. Og ti minutter med buss fra hovedbyen Ermepolis har du strender med god plass. Og nok steder der man kan gjenopprette væskebalansen. Det ser bra ut å drømme seg dit en sommerdag, særlig når dette publiseres dagen før sommertiden er over, ikke sant?

Men svorsken får ikke skrive om hvite strender og solbadolje ved Middelhavet. Svorsken skal skrive om Island, Færøyene eller Grønland.....

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 00:48 | link | comments (2)

We'll be back after this message

The curious post tomorrow will be in my native Norwegian. It is a part of a blog equivalent of a relay race, where various bloggers challenge each others to blog on a spesific topic. We will resume regular blogging after the interlude.

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 15:22 | link | comments
beer

The old smuggler

Back from the Netherlands, a very pleasant surprise. Splendid beer cafes, an amazing beer shop, a wide range of domestic and imported beers to suit any palate. And 28 beers in my suitcase. Most of the Dutch, a version of Guinness brewed for the Low Countries, some Belgian beers and even two Young's beers that will be disappearing now that the brewery is closed. And I managed to get them all home.

Suddenly the prospect of a cold and rainy evening isn't so bad any longer!

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 13:18 | link | comments
beer, youngs, belgium, netherlands

NYT on porters

The New York Times takes its coverage of ales seriously, this time with a comprehensive survey of porters. They cover porters from England and the US. They had porters from Sweden and Lithuania as well, but they were off because of poor storage.

From the article: American brewers tend to prize power over finesse, and love to express themselves by taking a style and making it bigger and stronger, with more, more, more. Yet, though American brewers have taken some liberties with porter, whether by adding hops for citrus and pine aromas or using smoked malt, we found that most of our favorite American brews adhered to the classic porter. They were balanced, with modest levels of alcohol and plenty of room for the delicate, complex aromas and flavors that make porter so interesting and easy to enjoy. In fact, our No. 1 porter, which hit all the classic porter notes, was an American brew, Geary’s London Porter, from Portland, Me. It was dry and tangy, softly carbonated, with earthy coffee and espresso flavors, the kind of ale that I imagine I could enjoy immensely through an evening with friends.

 

There is a multimedia presentation there, too.

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 13:10 | link | comments (3)
beer, england, sweden, stout, usa , porter

Pub origami

I tend to buy quite a few books related to beer and pubs. But there are limits.

The blurb:

Forget beer mat flipping, coin snatching and playing with burning matchsticks, this book is full of incredible paper tricks that you can really amaze your drinking buddies with. Readers can wow the regulars with their folding prowess and impress the barmaid with their range of origami masterpieces, all designed to help enhance the pub experience. From the fun and games of the Frog Olympics to more practical items such as the Emergency Beer Glass and a Peanut Catapult for when you have to fight your way to the bar, this book will become a faithful companion down the pub. Professional origamist Nick Robinson combines his two favourite hobbies - trips to the pub and paper folding - to bring you these 17 projects. The social importance and inspiration behind each of the pieces is explained before launching into the step-by-step diagrams and helpful advice that will get the reader folding perfect pub origami pieces.

I didn't know there were professial origamists, which only proves the shallowness of my general knowledge. Or at least my knowledge og origami.

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 15:34 | link | comments (1)

Back to Dublin

I was in Dublin again earlier this week, and I can only repeat what I have said before - it is not much of a beer destiantion. There is a new branch of the  Porterhouse opened next to Trinity college, where I had a pleasant evening. Warm and cozy when the rain was pouring outside, live blues and rock  - well played and not too noisy - at the other end of the rather large barroom. And their range of beers is very fine. I was a week too late to try their kölsch, but the real relevation this year was their bottled Celebration Stout. Bottle conditioned with a strength of 10% it is as smooth as velvet with a wonderful complex aroma. Their web site is not frequently updated, as the Porterhouse Central, as the new bar is called, is not even mentioned. The Celebration Stout should be available in their London bar as well.

I went to the Guinness Storehouse as well, and it works very well as a museum. Modern and interactive, and a stunning view and a pint at the end. I will try to photoshop some of the picktures from there.

Two new stouts in the Guinness Brewhouse series were available on tap at selected pubs in town, the Toucan Brew and the North Star Brew. Neither of them are very interesting, and I doubt they will be exported.

I went to visit The Dublin Brewing Company, but it was all locked up, and from what I could see through the window, their bar was covered in a deep layer of dust.

Messrs. Maguire had a few of what they call their home brews on tap, but they were not in any way outstanding. Lots of staff around, but they were mostly flirting and playing cards with each other.

The rest of the pubs have Guinness and uninteresting lagers, and the shops do not have much to offer, either. I think there is a potential for an entrepeneur who dares to offer a broad selection of imports in this market. Maybe a Belgian bar? A few hours by ferry from Liverpool means easy access to cask ales from England, too.

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 13:24 | link | comments
beer, ireland, stout, porter

Too good to be true

An e-mail scam promising people free beer has been reported to the police, South African Breweries said on Tuesday.

It said the scam surfaced about three months ago. The electronic letter was being widely circulated in South Africa, promising free products from the company.

Despite two warnings from SAB against the scam, the e-mail had re-appeared.

"We have reported this issue to the commercial fraud unit of the SA Police Service for investigation," said the company in a statement received in Johannesburg.

"The e-mail resembles a 'chain' letter and promised 12 cases of SAB's products if an e-mail was forwarded to 'ten friends', and then copied to a company which SAB had never heard of and had no dealings with," said SAB.

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 14:32 | link | comments
beer, south africa

But I'll be all right in a day or two..

 

 

 

 

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 12:28 | link | comments
beer, ireland

On the road again

Or rather in the air. Off to Trondheim for a few days. Then Dublin via Copenhagen, so don't expect much here for a week or so. Be good!

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 12:21 | link | comments
beer, ireland

The cappuchino challenge

A survey by a major research firm says drinking cappuccino is threatening to become more popular than beer in Ireland, according to the news agency UPI. News. Analysis. Insight. says their masthead. I don't really know if this is any of the three. News, maybe.

Traditional pub life, the survey found, is being replaced by a continental culture that favors coffee drinking.

Maybe, just maybe, all these beautiful pubs could consider offering their customers a better choice of beers? I am not suggesting they should kick out Guinness, Guinness Extra Cold or even the dreaded Harp Lager. But maybe they could have another ale on tap as well?

Today's photo is not from Dublin, but from Gothenburg, Sweden. Where they have not had Auld Oyrish pubs since 1870. It's probably been around from a year or two at the most....

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 10:17 | link | comments (1)
beer, sweden, ireland

Imperial stouts

The Scandinavian micros are not hesitant to take on the classic beer styles, and the best of them make some splendid ales. These two imperial stouts come from Nils Oscar in Sweden and Nøgne ø in Norway.

Nils Oscar Imperial Stout is dark, with a lovely ruby tone. It is easy-drinking, and the quality comes through in the finish, with coffee, port, fruit and an alcohol warmth. I have written about this brewery before, who even grow their own barley and oats to make sure they have control over all aspects of the production.

The Nøgne ø beer has a stronger smell of roasted malt. Lovely complex aroma, with coffee, plums and raisins. This has a warming finsih, too. The bitterness if fifting a malty portlike sweetness here. Lovely, and it will be interesting to see how this beer will age.

So, two splendid stouts, and it's about time some of the really good Swedish stuff is available in Norway!

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 07:37 | link | comments
beer, sweden, norway, microbreweries, stout, nøgne ø

Book review: Three Sheets to the Wind

Pete Brown, who entered the world of beer writing with the book Man Walks Into a Pub, has now widened his scope to beer on a global scale. His new book, Three Sheets to the Wind, offers observation on drinking culture in Bavaria, the Czech Republic, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Australia, Japan, China and the US. And back to Barnsley, England.

Puh.

 And he manages to do this without being a trainspotter like some of us tend to be. Pete Brown loves to tell stories, and he is not a beer snob. He enjoys the small glasses of lager served with tapas in Madrid and enjoys both a glass of Stella and a bottle of the more obscure Trappist beers. He does his research properly, which means that he has interesting drinking buddies in the places he visits, and he is not afraid to lean on their insights..

 

While this book chronicles his travels, it is not a guide book, but more for planning and armchair reading. But most of all it is well written. Parts are really funny. I was sitting on a bus reading parts of it, and found myself laughing out loud.

 

This is clearly not the place to find a traditional Irish welcome. Eventually some women arrive to watch Eastenders. That makes the atmosphere a little less chilly, but also underscores that I am not part of it. No one invites me to their sister’s wedding. No one tries to tell me their life story. In fact no one speaks a word to me. And, really, why should they? I’ve been reading too many whimsical accounts of journeys through Ireland. That way of life may or may not exist, but I’m not going to find it in a Dublin suburb.

 

But the book contains some more serious analysis, too. There are some wonderful takes on the American macros, particularly Anheuser-Busch. And there are some words of advice for CAMRA, too:

 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned researching this book, it’s that drinking beer is supposed to be about having a laugh. Until CAMRA can convince ordinary drinkers that crafted, flavourful beer – whether real ale or the original blonde lager – is about enjoyment as well as appreciation, about socializing more than campaigning, Britain will struggle to accept quality beers.

 

You may not agree with all his views (although I tend to!), but this book is recommended to anyone interested in beer and interested in a good read.

In case you've already forgotten, we did an interview with Pete Brown last week. Have a look at A Good Beer Blog.

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 09:13 | link | comments
australia, beer, england, german, spain, denmark, ireland, usa , belgium, czech republic