ranger creek homebrew competition

Think you got what it takes to win a homebrew competition? If so, you're in luck, because Ranger Creek is hosting their Sippy Cup Homebrew Competition in May. Details below, and can also be found here. Deadline is May 13. I think I will be making an American IPA. What will you brew up?

Homebrewers, submit your best brews for our first ever Sippy Cup Homebrew Competition! The winning beer will become our fall seasonal AND our Pro-Am entry for the 2011 GABF. The winning brewer will come to Ranger Creek to brew the commercial batch that will be released this fall! Check out the details below and please follow the submission instructions carefully. We look forward to trying your brews!

Styles: 

IMPERIAL versions (minimum ABV of 7%) of the following categories:

Category 10- American Ale

Includes 10A. American Pale Ale, 10B, American Amber Ale, 10C. American Brown Ale

Category 12- Porter

Includes 12A. Brown Porter, 12B. Robust Porter, 12C. Baltic Porter

Category 13- Stout

Includes 13A. Dry Stout, 13B. Sweet Stout, 13C. Oatmeal Stout, 13D. Foreign Extra Stout, 13E. American Stout, 13F. Russian Imperial Stout

Category 14- India Pale Ale

Includes 14A. English IPA, 14B. American IPA, 14C. Imperial IPA

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sierra nevada hoptimum

I was very lucky to get a couple bottles of Hoptimum when it first came out. There was a lot of hype around it, and the bottles just seemed to fly off the shelves here in Austin. However, when I tried it the first time around, I was not as impressed as I wanted. I think the hype got to me. However, this second time around definitely changed my mind. Check it out.


Appearance
Beautiful clear golden color, with a very small white head. There is great retention around the glass. The head would just cling onto the glass, just like how I’ve been clinging onto this beer, waiting for a good time to open it.

Aromas
Pine, floral, very pungent on the pine though. Could this be because of the whole cone hops used? Most likely! The aromas are great though, it really fills the room with floral notes. I think Air Wick should make an IPA smell (could you imagine if your house smelled of your favorite IPA?). Also, this might be weird, but fresh spring water comes through after I’m done swirling it. I’m getting it with every wiff, which maybe indicates the freshness of the beer.

Flavors
Exactly how I expected it to taste, very hoppy, but surprisingly balanced. It’s smooth on the tongue right away, then it begins to fill your mouth and tingle a bit. The bitterness comes right away, and it definitely lingers (but in a good way, like comical awkwardness). It also tastes fresh. It kind of reminds me of Deschutes, as all of their beers taste fresh too. The alcohol is surprisingly hidden too (considering its 10% abv!). You just get a little kick after swallowing, where the alcohol just kind of warms your whole mouth.

Overall
It didn’t Wow me the first time I had it since I hyped it up too much. This bottle’s been sitting in my fridge for awhile now, but im really enjoying it this time around. It’s smooth, balanced, and very fresh and hoppy. If Thumper from Bambi were to try this beer, I don’t think the thumping would stop.

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cooking with beer - canned chicken

I'm giving y'all an assignment this week. Go out, buy this, and pair a beer with it. Enjoy!

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boulevard chocolate ale

Boulevard Brewing Company has been around since 1989, and it has progressively gotten more and more popular over the years. It's been great seeing a Midwest favorite become so popular down here in Texas. Needless to say, the popularity of Boulevard has grown exponentially since the release of their Smokestack Series. These beers push the boundaries of taste, creativity, and style. Their most recent Smokestack Series ale brought them together with a local Kansas City chocolatier, hence the collaborative efforts to bring us the Chocolate Ale. Well, let's dig right in shall we?

Appearance
It poured a mirky orange/copper color with a small beige head, not at all what you would expect for a chocolate ale. Usually a chocolate ale is used with a stout, so this was definitely something different. There was decent retention around the glass here as well.

Aromas
Chocolate...duh. Pure chocolate though. Not milk chocolate, not dark chocolate, but pure cocoa nibs. There was an intense, almost whiskey-esque aroma that came through too, with some kind of a berry.

Taste
More chocolate flavor. When a little colder, the mouth feel was intense and tingly, especially on the alcohol front. More whiskey flavors came through, pungent on the chocolate silkiness. As the beer warmed, it got more smooth, with less alcohol punch.

Overall
It wasn't as balanced as I would have liked, but it was still very good. When a great craft brewery and a local chocolatier get together, it's going to be something special. Some have really disliked this beer, saying it was 'revolting'. Subjective, I know, but this beer is far from it. Complex, and different. I admire the brewery's confidence in making a non-stout chocolate ale. I actually want to buy another to have on hand to age. I'm curiuos to see what would happen to the chocolate  and whiskey flavors.

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ginger man pint night - jester king

Tonight is pint night at the Ginger Man here in Austin, so you know what that means. Buy the beer, keep the glass.

Tonight's pint night is Jester King's Wytchmaker Rye IPA. If you buy a pint, you get to keep their special Grand Opening snifter...nice! If you haven't had a chance to try this beer, I highly recommend going out to try it. Plus, it's a pretty kick-ass glass you get to keep.

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