Beer Review #9 - Orvalicious

The Belgian Ale known as Orval hails from one of the world's seven authentic Trappist breweries. These monastic beer powerhouses produce some of the most complex and tasty beer available on the market. In Belgium it is said that beer has many nourishing properties, giving it the witty nickname, "liquid bread." Orval doesn't taste much like liquified honey wheat but it's earthy, slightly hoppy, dry, and very fruity nature makes it a culinary adventure in itself. The Trappist ale pours a burnt orange and showcases a large white head with a powerful froth. The fragrance is tart and fruity, almost like a dry white wine but with more earthy and robust qualities. The body is smooth and the ale showcases flavors of spice, clove, a unique yeastiness, and green apples. The finish is long, dry, and slightly hoppy, giving the brew an enticing close until the next sip.

Legend has it that an Italian noblewoman by the name of Mathilda of Tuscany once visited the Orval Abbey. During one of her strolls through the grounds she stopped at a rustic fountain, while fiddling with her hands she somehow lost her engagement ring in the depths of the fountain's cool waters. The noblewoman, being of strong faith and conviction, fell to her knees and prayed for the return of her precious ring. Her wish was soon answered by a magical trout that sprung from the water and returned the token of love to its grateful owner. The lady of Tuscany was so impressed by the fish that she decided to donate massive funds to the Abbey, which soon led to the foundation of the monastery and to the tradition of brewing excellence. The Abbey's coat of arms displays the trout and the ring, and the water from the legendary fountain is still used for brewing. Other Trappist breweries might have their own legends, but none have a magical trout that enchants the water used in the first stages of production. The monks of Belgium have been crafting outstanding beers for a long, long time. The least a secular layperson can do is try them out, and of course, don't forget the trout.

Grade: A

ALC:6.9%

Foxy Nation - Keeping America Mad

I've never been a huge fan of television. The amount of predictable, cliche, voilent, and supremely uninteresting material on the "air" is overwhelming. But in a t.v. world filled with meaningless sorority and guido drama there is still real drama, man drama, mad drama. I'm not ashamed to admit that I have a soft spot for AMC's Mad Men. From the moment I heard Don Draper utter the words "love doesn't exist" during an advertising meeting and before returning home to his wife and children, I was hooked. Mad Men is successful because it's characters are interesting, complicated, and conflicted. The show is also a major hit because the cast is full of foxy, dapper, and stylish characters who educate viewers about politics in the early 60s and the benefits of the greyhound cocktail at the same time.

So what does all this praise have to do with the planet's greatest beverage? Isn't mad men about classic cocktails, the American dream, and clever add tag-lines like, "Lucky Strike...It's Toasted?" What Mad Men has done for television is similar to what American microbreweries are currently doing for beer. People are tired of tasting the same generic flavors and want a beer with a little more depth and complexity. If a Budweiser is the beer equivalent to the awful show known as "Say Yes to the Dress," (a harsh comparison but personally my least favorite show ever) Mad Men would be more like an Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, it's rich, dark, complex, and seems to have developed a substantial cult following. Like Mad Men and it's star John Hamm aka Don Draper, North Coast Brewery's Rasputin Imperial Stout is a little bitter, but it will warm you up in the strangest of ways.

Suppenkuche Review Continued - Das Boot

The beer sizes available at Suppenkuche in Hayes Valley

Restaurant Review - Straight Outta' Bavaria

Dining at Suppenkuche in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco was my first German style dining experience, and who knew that a meat and potatoes style joint could be so tasty. Germany has never shined particularly bright in the world of European culinary delights compared to the powerhouses that are France and Italy, but the hearty, nourishing, and fresh food at Suppenkuche proves that Germany has more to contribute to the world than a torn and frayed urban landscape and great philosophers. Starting your meal with a nice suppen is a good idea, maybe the kartoffelsupe mit landwurt-bratwurst (potato soup with farmers bratwurst) For the main course the meat selections reign supreme and ordering only vegetables would be foolish and next to impossible. The Gebratene Rehmedaillions in Rotwein-Pflaumensoe mit Rotkohl und Spätzle (sauteed venison medallions in red wine plum sauce with red cabbage and spatzle) is a robust German dish that will make you feel far more manly than you really are. Finish the night off with a nice piece of black forest cake if you have a sweet tooth. The entrees are in the $15-20 range and are substantial in portion.

What drew me to Suppenkuche initially was the epic selection of German, Austrian, and Belgian beers on draft. The beer menu is organized from lightest to darkest, starting with pilsener, then to the bottom-fermented and balanced helles style, the top-fermented and usually unfiltered hefewiezen stlye, all the way to the bock and doppel bock, copper colored brews with flavors of toasted malt. Since Oktoberfest is approaching rapidly I decided to have a newly imported festbier, (fest beer) the Hacker- Pschorr Brewery Oktoberfest. The Hacker Oktoberfest was copper in color and had a malty sweetness characteristic of the style. Many of the festbiers possess a sweet finish that can be slightly overwhelming but the Hacker has a very subtle hoppy note at the end that rounds out the brew. The on-tap advantage was also apparent, the festbier tasted smooth and fresh and put me in the mood for a flavorful sausage. The bartender, who was large, muscular, germanic looking, and very friendly was knowledgeable and easy to talk to. The staff was attentive, the service was good, and the food was filling and tasty. Eating at Suppenkuche might just change your mind about German food or it might create a fresh notion all together. At the very least go and have a festbier on draft, it's a unique beer experience and all the festbiers tend to be fox-like in color.

Restaurant Grade: B

Brew Grade: A-

http://www.suppenkuche.com/

American Fox Phenomenon- The Grey Fox

It's obvious that America is obsessed with cougars, almost as much as vampires, now perhaps more so than zombies. A cougar can be defined as a woman in her 30s or 40s who is on the sexual "prowl" for a much younger man. An older woman can be valued for her independent nature and experience, but the term "cougar" is often used in a negative way, describing a woman who is looking outside of her league and acceptable age range. But what about men in their 40s or even 50s who are interested in younger women, is there a way to describe them other than creep, pervert, or the classic "dirty old man?" Yes there is, the answer lies in the wisdom of the grey fox.

A grey fox is a successful, suave, and attractive man who displays some measure of grey hair. This can range from a touch of grey to a full head, although the latter would most likely be found on a relatively younger man who has turned grey prematurely. The grey fox is a term that is more specific than the cougar, the word fox implies a sex appeal that is not necessarily inherent in the female counterpart. Perhaps this evolved from the term "stone cold fox" or even "foxy," either way the grey fox is becoming a more accepted aspect of American culture. The Beer Fox pays tribute to one of the most ultimate grey foxes of all time, the Clooney.

Beer Review #8 - Ol' English Fruity Nightmare

The fruit/vegetable beer style is hard to execute successfully. On occasion I have tasted fruity flavored beers that are quite tasty, but the style is usually heavily unbalanced, the malt and hop flavors of the brew are downplayed so the fruit flavor can dominate. Fruit and citrus flavors that come through in a subtle way can add a lot to an ale, but when the fruit is overwhelming it feels like you're drinking a 5th grade science experiment gone wrong. The Samuel Smith Organic Raspberry Fruit Ale is a perfect example of a fruit beer where the negatives outweigh any positive qualities.

The fruit ale pours like an old-fashioned soda but it doesn't drink like one. The weak, fizzy, and light ale is overpowered by a sticky, tangy, and syrup like raspberry flavoring that reminds you of ingesting cherry flavored cough medicine as a child rather than tasting your favorite berry. Although the brew is light, thin, and fizzy, it is more of sipping beer, the reddish liquid is tart and jammy causing intense mouth puckering and strange facial expressions among tasters.

I questioned the beer buyer at Whole Foods Market as to why they carry the product and was informed that it's organic nature made it one of the only fruit ales possible to place on the shelf. Many classic fruit beers, such as the Cherry Boon Kriek from Belgium, contain artificial flavorings and preservatives that don't jive with the market's whole planet, whole person philosophies. If you want to try a decent and slightly fruity beer try the Dogfish Head Festina Peche (a neo-Berliner Weissbier brewed with peach concentrate) If your obsessed with raspberries and are fine with a beer tasting more like medicine or a wine spritzer than an ale, try the Samuel Smith variety, otherwise... avoid.

Grade: C-

ABV:5%

Beer Review #7 - Azteca Nectar; Dogfish Goes Ancient

The Dogfish Head Theobroma has been described as a liquid time capsule. The people who describe it as such have absolutely no idea or experience regarding the era they are referring to, but it seems like a good phrase to encapsulate the heady concept beer. Dogfish Head brewery tends to lean towards the adventurous side of things with their creations, and the Theobroma fits nicely into the category. The Theobroma, which is translated roughly as the "food of the gods," is based off the chemical analyses of pottery shards recently found in Honduras. The discovery of the shards informed eager scientists that the earliest human consumption of chocolate occurred in 1200 BC, (in liquid form of course) pushing back the previously accepted date about 500 years. Dogfish Head wanted to recreate a version of what the early chocolate beverage may have tasted like, and produced an interesting, but not outstanding beer.

The brew utilizes artisan Aztec cocoa nibs from Askinosie chocolate, chillies, honey, and annato, a fragrant tree seed found down south. Theobroma is lighter in color than expected, it pours a dark orange hue, very clear and without much head or creaminess. The biggest faults of the beer stemmed from my pre-conceived notions and missed expectations. I pictured either a strong, toasty, and slightly bitter dark chocolate flavor or a serious chili kick to dominate the palate, but the Theobroma dosen't deliver. The flavor is very dead pan, the elements are there but all seem to be represented at such a similar level that none shine through. The chillies become noticeable on the finish after a while, but the flavor is far too mild. The Theobroma is interesting and worth trying but won't have the chance for a repeat performance. It may make you ponder the Aztec ways but it won't make you want to hunt a jaguar, it's not that inspiring.

Grade: B-

ALC:9%

Beer Review #6 - My Peeing Hero

My initial introduction to the Blanche de Bruxelles was close to ideal. I wasn't at the top of a massive cathedral in the beer's native Brussels homeland watching fireworks, but I was at a nice French/Cali bistro type restaurant on a warm summers day. Blanche de Bruxelles was served chilled in it's personalized glass with a fresh slice of lemon, highlighting the bright yellow unfiltered haze that sat in front my plate. The glass featured an image of a small cherubic boy whose angelic and metaphorical urine was the closest analogy to the liquid on hand. I quickly learned that this boy was actually Manneken Pis, the mascot of Brussels Belgium. Legend has it that a fire had started near the royal castle, which in turn awakened a heroic tot who unleashed a powerful stream on the flames, saving the king and the royal blood line.

The Blanche De Bruxelles from Brasserie Lefebvre is not a spin or interpretation of a classic blanche wheat ale, it is the classic. The beer's composition features a high percentage (40%) of wheat, and is re-fermented with yeast and brewing sugar after it reaches the bottle. During the brewing process coriander and orange peels are slowly added, creating a natural citrus and spice aroma. Overall the flavor is fresh and mellow and is dominated by lemon and bright citrus. Some might describe this beer as one dimensional, but that dimension is a good one to be in. If you like wheat beers and haven't had the Blanche De Bruxelles prepare for a treat worthy of Belgian boy-wonder full exposure.

Grade: B+

ALC:4.5%

Beer Review #5 - Bananaweis

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale has always been a flagship beer around the Bay Area and Northern California in general. It made Chico and the Sierra Nevada brewery famous and has received numerous awards and high praise from noteworthy organizations. Far before I was interested in drinking beer I can recall faint memories of family and friend related functions that featured coolers stocked to the brim with the staple green label brew. Now that I'm at the point where I almost always opt for a beer opposed to a Juice Squeeze, I still don't go out of my way to sample the CA classic. But if you're a fan of Sierra Nevada and want to try a new varietal, the Kellerweis Hefeweizen is well worth checking out.

The Kellerweis is a refreshing and complex beer with strong flavors of clove and ripe banana. The brew is hazy and golden in color with plenty of suspended yeast that adds a lushness to the body and an uncommon amount of depth for a hefeweizen. The brew is one of the only domestic hefeweizen style beers that uses the traditional Bavarian style of open fermentation, a process that is labor intensive but well worth it for the added flavor complexity. The Kellerweis uses two-row pale, wheat, and Munich malts and either Sterling or Perle hops. The word "Keller" comes from the German word for cellar, the term that breweries use to refer to their fermentation system while the word "weiss" is German for white, or wheat beer. The Kellerweis is very flavorful and refreshing and would be great with a hamburger, bratwurst, a chocolate soufflé, or even bananes flambé!

Grade: B+

ALC:4.8%

IBU:15

OG:12.3 Plato

OG: Original Gravity measures the density of the fermentable sugars in the malt and water mixture with which brewers use at the start of any batch. The measurement uses the "Plato" scale, a hydrometer scale used to measure the density of wort (unfermented beer) in terms of percentage of extract (sucrose) by weight. Beer gets technical!

Taking a Moment for a Lady Fox

Megan Fox: Actor, model, cultural sex symbol, and co-star of the highly overrated, directed, and produced blockbuster hit "Transformers," is quite literally a lady fox. Although Megan's film credentials to date have been far from impressive, The Beer Fox recognizes her as a member of the fox clan and continues to support her work. Silver screen legend has it that director Michael Bay had Ms. Fox wash his Ferrari in the pre-production stages of "Transformers," and after her top notch wash, detail, and waxing performance she was offered her big breakout role.

Could Megan become the femme mascot for The Beer Fox... Perhaps.

Beer Review #4 - Punk Rock Pumpkin

If America's hearty pilgrims had developed advanced punk rock brewing techniques and had somehow managed to produce Thanksgiving type meals on a weekly basis, the Dogfish Head Punkin Ale would be the beverage of choice. Punkin Ale is a thick brown ale brewed with classic holiday spices such as brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and of course the meat of pumpkin. Dogfish Head brews Punkin ale every fall to help the citizens of America warm up, get cozy, and survive the often stressful and consumption heavy holiday season. The brew is malty and toasty, it features hints of brown sugar, pumpkin and caramel, making it a perfect vessel for mental transportation into the holiday spirit. It seems unlikely that this brew would be craved with most meals due to it's undeniably holiday vibe, but paring the Punkin Ale with roasted duck, turkey, venison, or the pheasant you recently shot, would be an excellent choice. Buying several four-packs or even a case to save might make the holidays and family receptions just that much more bearable.

Grade: B

ALC: 7%

IBU: 28

Beer Review #3 - The Beer that Launched 1,000 Ships (but was named after one)

The Don De Dieu from the Unibroue Brewery in Chambly Quebec is a top fermented triple wheat Belgian strong pale ale, and what a mouthful it is. It's fairy tale meets Peter Jackson cover art preps the drinker for a slightly exotic wheat beer experience. In 1608 the King of France commissioned explorer Samuel de Champlain de Brouage to command the Don De Dieu and explore "this vast and inhospitable land called America." The Don De Dieu's exotic aromas and flavors certainly support the imperialist spirit that the Europeans so deeply cherish.

The brew is a golden amber orange and features a medium body and yeasty haziness that gives you something to chew on. The aroma is filled with tropical fruit, spice, vanilla, malt, and a yeastiness characteristic of the re-fermented Unibroue beers. The 9.0% ALC is hard to notice due to the beer's lushness and smooth complex flavor. The Don De Dieu is a Belgian style wheat ale to compete with the best of them. Viva la Canada!

Grade: B+

IBU:10.5 IBU stands for International Bitterness Unit, a scale that indicates the level of hop bitterness of a beer. Technically speaking an IBU is 1 ppm isohumulone, an acid that comes from the hops used to brew. A 10.5 is very low! Bitterness seekers look elsewhere, start with an Irish Stout or an IPA.

Beer Review #2 - A White Ale From 日本

Every great nation has some type of beverage associated with it (hopefully more than one). When you think of Japan a couple of things should come to mind, tea, sake, and maybe Suntory whisky if your really into the salary man Japanese boozing scene. You might not think of delicious beer, but as the world becomes "flatter" and beer recipes continue to spread over hill and dale Japan's Kiuchi Brewery in the Ibaraki prefecture has produced some excellent selections as part of the Hitachino "nest beer" line.

The Hitachino White Ale is in the "Witbier" style. It features a light and hazy golden straw color with a nice frothy white head, smooth carbonation, and classic wheat beer aromas including coriander and lemongrass. The body comes in at a creamy medium, fruit and spice dominating the initial impressions. The White Ale has a dry and refreshing finish and would be great with sushi, soba noodles, Thai food, a sandwich, pretzels, or really anything be it from the east or west. I recommend trying one, writing a haiku, having another, and then attempting some difficult varietal of martial arts.

Grade: B+

Beer Review #1 - A Stunning Ghost

The first beer up for review is the Belgian artisanal ale known as the Fantome de Noel. Starting with this beer is similar to starting a blog about great ancient cities with a post on Rome, it's grandeur and mysterious nature is hard to beat. This 10% ALC seasonal winter brew falls under the flavorful "saison" or farmhouse style. It is produced by the Fantome brewery located deep in the Ardennes forest of Belgium where ghosts, elves, foxes and other creatures use herbs, exotic spices, and other ingredients to produce adventurous brews that sync with the seasons.

The Fantome de Noel is a dark chestnut brown with a mellow head that features subtle, tiny little bubbles. The flavor is fruity and spicy with just a touch of sourness that adds yet another angle to the already oaky, warm, and complex brew. The high alcohol content is masked dangerously well by the dark fruit, spice, subtle sourness, and ghostly magic. The body is fairly thin and features a delicate carbonation that Santa surely loves. Overall this is a truly excellent beer no matter what season you are in!

Grade: A

A Matter of Style, Man of Science/Man of Faith

Beer styles have evolved over centuries of brewing experimentation, evolving recipes, marketing programs, and consumer recognition. Being aware of a beer's deemed style and origin can help one differentiate between different brews and develop a sense of personal preference. All beers can be divided into two basic categories, ales and lagers, which are classified by factors such as fermentation, temperature, and speed at which the yeast strains make the magic happen (more later) The beer world and the categories that accompany it are constantly changing and hybridizing...

Beer Fox reviews will strive to provide a unique angle on beer styles in a fun, easy to understand, and of course foxy way.

Welcome!

Welcome to the blog that draws inspiration from the planet's craftiest creature to discuss and critique the planet's craftiest and quite possibly greatest beverage. The Beer Fox aims to expose some of the most exciting classic and contemporary beers from around the globe. Stay tuned for beer knowledge, musings, and rants. Many beers to come!