New Glarus-Imerial Saison

Wow. I was not expecting this when I poured a glass. Its quite sweet and very citrusy. The fruit flavors are big and bold. Apricot and green apple among others. The flavor is quite complex, so I couldn't get all of it in since I only had one. Quite hazy pour with a big sold white head. I can't wait to go up to Wisconsin this weekend, so I can get some more.

Modelo Especial

Nothing goes better with Mexican food than beer. Most Mexican brews are light, crisp, and slightly more sophisticated than the light beer brewed to the north. That's still not saying much. But this Modelo went quite well with my couscous tacos for dinner. Thanks to TK for leaving in my cooler after the USA game.

PS-The foil drives me nuts. I always have a piece that finds it's way into my glass.

The Kolsch

I brewed the beer that started it all. A Kolsch. It's all we drank while in Germany, and it's delicious stuff. This was the first time I used Wyeast activator yeast. The yeast is in a sealed in a pouch with a little bag of activators for the yeast. You smack the activator bag so it mixes with the yeast and in a few hours the bag bulges as the yeast eats the sugars and produces CO2. After I pitched the yeast I put the batch in the closet to ferment. Two days later the lid was blown off the bucket. Fermentation was so vigoruous that the airlock was clogged with foam and I guess the pressure kept on building until it popped. The lid was resanitized and i put it back on. The fermentaion continued, so I hope that a good sign that it didnt get contaminated. I do now have a closet with beer crud all over the walls though.