A Sixer of Six Different Beers February 20, 2009

I know it’s a been a while . . . since December actually . . . I got bogged down with my PhD applications and then stressing about said apps . . . then there was the holidays . . . then I started feeling apathetic about blogging . . . but hey, I’m here now aren’t I?

I’m always up to try new beers and with my Beer Cap Mosaic project, I’ve been even more into trying new and different beers so as to collect the bottle caps . . .

So . . . I thought I’d feature six different beers that I’ve tried recently that I feel are pretty damn good.

Longboard Island Lager
Kona Brewing Company, Kona, Hawaii

I honestly just bought a 6-pack of this beer because the bottle caps were cool and it was on sale at Raley’s. I ended up liking it quite a bit and it definitely will be a repeat in the future.

Kona’s Longboard Lager is a pale lager with mild sweetness. It’s the kind of beer I could sit and watch a game and knock back quite a few as it goes down easy. It also differs from the hoppy, bitter beers I generally drink, so it’s one that I can share with a lot of my friends who don’t like what I’m usually sipping on. I’d probably rate it in the same class as Harp, although it’s a bit sweeter (I’m actually drinking a Harp now).

Alaskan Stout
Alaskan Brewing Company, Juneau, Alaska

It’s quite a contrast going from a lager to a stout, isn’t it?

The Alaskan Stout is an Oatmeal Stout and has become one of my favorite beers. Definitely not one that you want to sit down and drink like say, a Coors Light, but one you want to sip and enjoy. This is a really dark beer — almost black — and tastes kind of creamy and sweet caramel-ly to me. Kinda makes me wonder if it would go good with ice cream. Kind of like a dessert beer? lol It’s actually pretty mild for a stout and I highly recommend it if you’re fortunate to find it where you live.

Organic India Pale Ale
Eel River Brewing Company, Fortuna, California

I don’t have many friends who like IPA’s, which is good for me, since that means more beer for ME!

The Eel River IPA is an amber beer and the malt is about as prevalent as the hops.  This one isn’t as hoppy as most IPA’s.  It’s pretty drinkable, but it kind of tastes more like a strong pale ale rather than like an IPA.  Definitely not akin to Goose Island, but it’s a pretty good beer.  I actually have some left in my fridge if you want to come over and taste it!

Blonde Bock
Gordon Biersch Brewing Company,San Jose, California

This is the American version of the Bock beer, so a bit of a watered down as compared to a traditional Bock, but isn’t that how American’s like it?

The Blonde Bock is smooth and a little hoppy with not a large amount of flavors, but definitely drinkable and I enjoyed it. You can sure feel the amount of alcohol in it. I think I was bit buzzed after drinking this one during the NFC Championship Game.

Black Butte Porter
Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Oregon

Oh yes, a porter. I don’t think an eclectic list of beers would be whole without a porter, especially this one from Deschutes Brewery.

I do believe that this may be the best porter that I’ve ever tasted. This may even be my most favorite beer on this list. As it’s a porter, it’s really dark. It has kind of an espresso and toffee taste. It also smells really good and goes down easy. There’s no wonder why this one has won so many awards. It’s simply superb. Very highly recommended.

Kingfisher Premium Lager
Kingfisher Breweries, Bangalore, India

I would generally rate this beer as being the Indian equivalent to Miller. It goes down easy and tastes good, but not really something that I’d write home about (although . . . I am including it in blog . . .).

This lager is light and kind of sweet and not hoppy or bitter at all. It’s kind of watery though — like you’d expect from a macro, but it tastes good and it’s the kind of beer that you could sit and drink all night with your friends. It does smell kind of skunky to me and definitely not the best beer in the world, but hey, it goes good with tandoori chicken and some naan!

The Beer Sommelier’s Five Favorite Beers December 8, 2008

Obviously I am a huge fan of beer and I consider myself a connoisseur.  I am always searching for new beers to try and I am one of those people who will stand in the beer section at a grocery store and just stare at the labels, contemplating which kind to buy.  And BevMo is like utopia for me.  I’m like a kid in a candy store when I’m in there.  But I certainly didn’t start out like this.

Back in the day when I first started drinking beer, I thought that Coors Light was the end all and be all for beer.  Every weekend my friends and I would buy a 20-pack (bottles only) or a keg and party it up.  It’s the beer I always ordered at a bar and I’d drink it all night long.

Every once in a while I’d buy a 6-pack of something different and try other things.  My parents always had microbrews around, so I’d try them.  Then one day I decided that Coors Light was mediocre and I never went back.  Drinking anything like that tastes like water to me now.  I equate it to tasting a fine gruyere and then going back to Velveeta.

Since then I’ve tasted a lot of different beers all around the country and found some great ones.  And the good thing about beer is that there are so many breweries and so many different kinds of beer that it is a never-ending journey.  I am always finding new beers that I love and I’m always anxious to try new ones.  Sometimes I do get stuck in a rut, especially if I find a regional beer that I’ve found elsewhere that is now available in my area (like I’ve just found that Lienenkugels is being sold out here in California!).  This is an extremely difficult list for me to make, as I could probably list 100 of my favorite beers, but here goes . . .

MY FIVE FAVORITE BEERS

5. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

I am a big fan of Sierra Nevada and not just because I live in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas  — they make excellent beer.  It’s hard to pin down the best beer from this brewery as the old standby — Pale Ale — is always great and the Summerfest Lager and Stout are always good, but I still find myself jonesying for the Celebration Ale.

The Celebration Ale only comes out once a year and most people that I introduce it to find it to be too strong and bitter to their liking.  For example, I bought some last New Year’s Eve and left some bottles at a friend’s house and when I came back from the midwest this summer, it was still there.  They obviously weren’t too fond of it, but I was happy, because I got to drink a beer that’s only available during the holidays.  It made my month.

The Celebration Ale is kind of similar to an IPA with a strong after-taste and it’s not a beer that I could sit there and drink a sixer in one sitting.  It’s the kind of beer that you sip and enjoy.  It’s a great beer for cold weather, although it’s not really cold here in Cali . . .

4. Goose Island India Pale Ale

I first tasted this beer when a beer-lovin’ friend back in South Dakota bought it for me as a going away present back in ‘07.  I hauled it back to Cali and was sad that I only had a 6-pack.  When I got back to the midwest I tried a couple other beers from Goose Island — the Harvest Ale and Honkers Ale — which I both like, but the IPA is my favorite.

Goose Island is a Chicago brewery and is pretty much only distributed throughout the midwest, although they do ship their beer.

Obviously I like bitter beer, so this isn’t a beer for everyone.  Like the SN Celebration Ale, it’s strong with an after taste, although I find it to be a little lighter.  I don’t currently have a bottle of each here to sip and do comparison tests, but that’s my thoughts from memory.  The Goose Island IPA just seems to be little milder.  Now I wish I was back in the midwest so I could go to the store and buy myself some . . .

3. Samuel Adams Black Lager

Sam Adams has so many great beers that it is definitely hard to choose just one.  I was looking for a new beer to try one day and found this one and since then, I’ve been forever hooked.  The Black Lager is from the Brewmaster’s Collection which has a lot of great beers including the Irish Red, Hefeweizen, and Creamy Stout.  The White Ale is also one of my faves.  Actually, I don’t think that Sam Adams makes a bad beer.  I just wish I could find all of these around here . . .

I really do love dark beer and you can’t get much darker than this.  The Black Lager is a Schwarzbier and very tasty and full of flavor.  I fell in love with this one immediately.  It’s not too heavy and is actually a little sweet and goes down very smooth.  I haven’t shared this one with any of my friends (yes, I’m selfish), so I can’t tell you how the “non-afficianodos” (I taste test different beer on my friends who like domestic brews like Bud and Coors) like it, but I looooove the Black Lager and I think that unlike the IPA, a wider number of people would enjoy it.

2. Yuengling Traditional Lager

I first tasted Yuengling while in Hershey, Pennsylvania for a conference.  I was there in ‘03 during a big blizzard and pretty much everything was shut down, so there was nothing much to do but hang out in the hotel (the Hershey Lodge) and drink beer.

Yuengling is America’s Oldest Brewery, yet when the PA bartender first told me about the beer, I thought that it was an Asian beer from the name.  I immediately fell in love.

I tried to get Yuengling when I lived in Georgia, but I was told that they didn’t distribute it south of South Carolina, so I was out of luck (although I see that they do now distribute to the South).  And when I was in NY this past March I didn’t get any either (my bad! lol), but fortunately, someone just brought me some back from the east coast a couple of weeks ago, and it still tastes just as good as I remember.

I’ve actually only tasted the Lager, but by looking at the website I think I’d probably enjoy the Black & Tan and the Lord Chesterfield Ale, but I’ll have to wait until I’m back in the northeast to try them.

Yuengling Lager is an easy drinker, unlike the last three I featured on this list.  It’s not too complex with a somewhat sweet aftertaste.  It’s a pretty refreshing beer and not a “meal in itself” like many of the beers that I like to drink like Guinness.

1. Smithwick’s Irish Red Ale

I first tasted this beer in ‘05 when I lived in Savannah, Georgia.  I was wandering around one of the beer aisles in Habersham and asked a guy who worked there what beer he recommends and he pointed me towards Smithwicks and I have been a die-hard fan ever since.

Smithwick’s is imported by Diageo (importers of Guinness and Harp) and at one time I was only able to find it on tap in Irish pubs.  I started seeing it at BevMo and high-end grocery stores a couple years ago and I even found it at a grocery store in Nebraska, so I think it’s getting pretty widespread distribution across the US now.

I’ve introduced a lot of people to Smithwick’s and most everyone liked it.  It’s not to strong and is smooth and creamy, not too bitter and very drinkable.  I prefer the draft to the bottle and like other Irish beers, it probably tastes better in Ireland than here in the US, but I’ll have to wait until I go there to let you know about that.

Smitty’s is my old standby and I’m always happy to see it in the store as it wasn’t at all easy to find at one time.  It always puts a smile on my face.

*******

Yes, I know I live on the west coast and I haven’t mentioned Fat Tire, Anchor Steam, Rogue, Lost Coast, Flying Dog or Stone and believe me they are all on the list, but this is my top 5, not top 20 or top 100 . . .

Foray into Indian cuisine: Sweet Lassi December 6, 2008

I first tasted this drink at my favorite Indian restaurant — Taste of Little India — and I have since become hooked on it.  I found a recipe on Whole Foods’ website and because it’s healthy and easy to make, I’ve been making it quite often.  The recipe does take rosewater, but since I didn’t have any, I substituted almond extract.  The next time I’m in a gourmet or Indian store I plan to pick up some rosewater though, as I’m going to start cooking more Indian food and I need to collect the correct ingredients.  I also tried this recipe without rosewater or almond extract, adding a little bit more sugar, and it wasn’t bad, but the extra little taste certainly makes the drink wonderful.

Sweet Lassi

• 2 cups plain lowfat yogurt
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tsp rosewater (or 1 tsp almond extract)
• 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
• 6 ice cubes

Combine the yogurt with water, sugar, rosewater/almond extract and sugar in a blender and blend until smooth.

Add the ice and blend until incorporated.  It will be kind of frothy, but make sure that you don’t make it like an iced drink (aka margarita, pina colada).

Serve and enjoy!

The Four Best Restaurants in Merced December 5, 2008

If you don’t live in or aren’t familiar with California’s Central Valley, I doubt that you’ve ever heard of Merced.  But if you’re ever in the area, these are my choices for the best restaurants in Merced.

4.  Cool Hand Luke’s

475 West Olive Avenue, Merced

(209) 383-3038

• Mid-priced (about $20-25 per meal)
• Steakhouse
• Casual

It is a chain and I’m not a big fan of chains, but it’s the best place to get a steak in Merced.  Previously, I would have put The Branding Iron here, but it’s not quite up to par like it used to be and not worth the money, putting Cool Hand Luke’s in the far lead.

The atmosphere and nuevo western decor is kind of hokey and dated.  I grew up on a ranch and have worked cattle and rode horses most of my life and I even find this kind of stuff lame.  But I’m not there for the interior design or the corny outfits — I’m there for the food.

The sourdough rolls and salad are pretty good, but I don’t care for the campfire beans and if you don’t ask them bring your dinner after you’re done with the first course, they’ll bring it out when you’ve only had a few bites of your soup or salad. I find that annoying, myself, especially when you’re in a group of four or more and your table is already brimming with food and they try to add your dinner plate, too.

I would definitely suggest the crab topped prairie cakes for an appetizer as they are the bomb.  The onion blossom is similar to Outback’s.

They cook the meat rare, which is my preference and the prime rib and New York steak are damn good.  As far as a side, the garlic red mashers are my choice, as I’ve found that the rice pilaf is a little too dry for my taste.  The shrimp scampi portabella is a great choice for the non-steak eater and the calamari steak was cooked to perfection.

The beer selection isn’t that great, but they feature more than just domestic beer.  The wine is so-so, but fair.  They do have a lot of frou-frou mixed drinks if that’s you’re kind of scene.

The dessert menu isn’t very big nor diverse.  I ordered the strawberry pizza the last time I was there and it wasn’t that great.  Just strawberries on a crust with glaze.  My grandparents seemed to like the cinnamon roll bread pudding though.

The service is fantastic, but the staff seems pretty large.  There’s always a lot of people standing around, especially at the hostess desk.  There isn’t a lot of good communication between the kitchen staff and the wait staff.

All in all a good place to eat and I recommend it to those who like steak and seafood.

3.  La Hacienda II

3355 G Street, Merced

(209) 723-7890

• Low to Mid-priced (about $10-20 per meal)
• Mexican (Americanized)
• Casual

When they first built this restaurant I wondered if they were closing La Hacienda I, but no, they just have two, literally within blocks of each other.  But La Ha 2, as the locals call it, is completely different from the first one.

La Ha 2 is in a new building, and to me, it reminds me of a Spanish patio with all of the paintings, iron, crosses and the fountain inside.  The layout is very roomy and open and the booths are cozy.  It’s a great place to go on a date as you don’t feel like everyone around you can hear your conversation.  I’ve also been in there with a big party, and it suits large groups as well.

I’ve eaten at most of the Mexican restaurants in Merced and I think that La Hacienda II is the best.  I admit that I usually only order one of two dishes — either the chile rellenos or the fajitas — but I think they are the best around.  They always give you a lot and I generally end up taking about half home.  The food is great, but as with most Mexican restaurants in the US, it’s Americanized.

As they have a bar, the beer selection is pretty good as are the cocktails.  The wine list is fair.  The bar is always hopping on a Friday or Saturday night, but it’s pretty small and not really my kind of scene since it’s too crowded in too tight of a place.  It is a good place to go after work during the work to get a beer, but as with most bars that aren’t Irish pubs, La Ha 2 doesn’t carry my fave beers.

The service is fast, the staff is pleasant, and I’ve never had to wait for a table.

The bottom line:  Good Mexican food at a good price in a good location.

2.  De Angelo’s

350 West Main Street, Merced

(209) 383-3020

• Mid to High-priced (about $25 and up a meal)
• Italian
• White Tablecloth

This is the restaurant that I like to go to when I want dress up and go out.  It’s a great place to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and it has the best Italian food around.

The food is very authentic.  They serve bread paired with olive oil and balsamic vinegar as soon as you are seated.  For an appetizer, I suggest the fried calamari or the steamed mussels — both are wonderful.

The linguine pesto and crab ravioli are two of my favorites and both are served in a large dish and are very filling.  The beef portabello is great and the Trip Around Italy (veal scallopini, scampi, raviolis) is a must-have.

The desserts are utterly fabulous and some are shipped via air mail from Italy.  The tiramisu is definitely the best I’ve ever had.  Pair that with a white Russian and it’s paradise.  I also recommend the creme brulee and the spumoni.

They have a full bar and the wine list is pretty good.

The service is great, although I’d make reservations.  There’s only been one time where we had to wait in the bar for a table, but other than that, it’s quick seating.

I’m actually salivating while I think about De Angelo’s, as it’s been a while since I’ve been there.

1.  Taste of Little India

1052 West Main Street, Merced

(209) 722-2230

• Mid-priced (about $10-20 a meal)
• Indian (Punjabi)
• Casual

This is my favorite place to eat in Merced and the best Indian food I’ve ever had.  The building is spacious and comfortable

The last time I was there, we ordered the combination platter as an appetizer with pakoras and samosas and it was awesome.  I had also tried the sweet lassi for the first time and I got hooked.  The naan is addictive, especially the garlic naan.

My favorite dish here is the shrimp special.  It’s shrimp in a creamy white sauce with nuts and it is spectacular.  It goes great with the basmati rice that they serve, especially since the rice is cinnamony.  I’ve tried the chicken one which is similar, but I prefer the shrimp.

The tandoori chicken is wonderful as is the chicken tikka masala.  Actually everything at this restaurant is superb.  If you’ve never had Indian food, I would recommend coming by at lunch and enjoying the lunch buffet.  You can taste test a lot of different dishes and find out what you like.  The buffet is more mild though, but you can order very spicy dishes off the menu.

The beer selection is great with a lot of Indian and Asian beers.  The refrigerator case with the beer is out in the open so you can view everything and see what you want.  I generally order iced tea though, as I really like the way they flavor it.

The wait staff is always quick and knowledgeable of the dishes and I’ve never had to wait long to be served.

If anyone came to visit me and they liked Indian food, this is where I would take them.  If I could eat here every day, I would.

The Beer Cap Mosaic (Stage One) December 4, 2008

I started saving my Smithwick’s caps about two years ago and added a few others when I remembered to save them.  I had no idea what I wanted to do with them, but after a friend suggested that I make a mosaic table out of them, I decided that was a good plan, being that I’m artsy and pretty creative.  Over the summer, I asked some beer drinkin’ friends of mine from all over the country (and world) to send me some caps, and since then, I’ve amassed a pretty good collection.

I started sorting through my caps and laying out a design the other day and this is what I came up with.

Beer Cap Mosaic Table Tentative Layout

A closer look at my beer cap collection

The table frame that I’m going to use to make my mosaic is a little larger than this one, so I decided to hold off and wait to start my mosaic and focus on some other projects.  I have a lot of caps, but they are an awful lot of domestic beers and I don’t want those to overwhelm my microbrew and international collection.  So, a few friends are going to send me some more and I’ll be saving some more myself and when I have enough, I’ll start my table.

I plan to lay a layer of concrete over my table and set the caps in a design on that and then fill the spaces with grout.  After that, I’m going to put a clearcoat over the caps so that the logos/designs don’t get damaged from wear and tear.  This is an outside patio table, so it will be out in the elements, although it’s under a roof.  And thankfully I’m in Cali, so I don’t have to worry much about snow or ice or anything.

Anyway, stay tuned for more details!