Way back in May, I posted a photo of the newest addition to the Anheuser-Busch profile, the Budweiser American Ale.  At the time I didn’t really post any thoughts on it.  One, because it was the weekend of the Heritage Festival and I was pretty busy and two, because while trying a beer in the AB tasting room is nice, there’s something nicer about tasting it at your own leisure at your own home.

So a couple of weeks ago I received the press kit from AB containing not only two bottles of Budweiser American Ale, but a pint glass, two Budweisers and the new Budweiser glass as well.  Not to mention it was packaged up in a very nifty box.  It’s amazing what millions of dollars for marketing will get you.

As for my thoughts on the beer, well I’m going to try and avoid a full fledged review, because honestly my opinion doesn’t really mean much.  The first thing I noticed when I smelled the beer is just how much malt aroma I picked up.  It’s mostly a bready smelling malt, with a bit of caramel aroma as well.  I also picked up a lot of citrusy Cascade as well.  I don’t know if the recipe as been reformulated a bit more or if I just received a really fresh sample but the hops really came through more on this one than it did when I tasted it in May.

The aroma carries right through to the flavor, bready and slightly hoppy, but never overly bitter.  The dry hopping seems to have done it’s job well as you can really pick up that hop flavor without being overpowered by the bitterness. My biggest complaint was the carbonation level, it was far too carbonated for my taste.  I thought it could have a touch less carbonation and it would make for an easier drinking beer on the whole.

I guess my way of fully judging a beer is if I’d ever do one of two things: buy a six-pack of it and/or buy it while I’m in a restaurant.  Unfortunately, I don’t think I’d ever buy a six-pack of it.  That’s not to say it’s a bad beer, in fact it’s a very nice sessionable beer.  But I personally prefer something with just a bit more character.

Now, being this is St. Louis and trying to find a beer in a restaurant that isn’t AB is sometimes I challenge I’d probably say that if this is available at a restaurant with a limited beer selection, I’d probably make this one my first choices. In fact, I’d probably go so far to choose this over Schlafly Pale Ale and New Belgium’s Fat Tire as I think this beer has a bit more character than both of those.

If you haven’t had the chance to try this beer yet, you’ll have your opportunity very soon.  This beer is scheduled to be released on September 15th on draught and  September 29th in bottles.  As soon as I know where this will be available in the area, I’ll post it here.  If you’ve tried the beer, let me know your thoughts.

If you’re anything like me, you have too much glassware. Far, far too much. But what if you wanted to narrow it down to just 2 or 3 glasses, do you think you could? Dave emailed me in hopes of trying to find the perfect glassware for his new bar:

I’m currently building a home bar with an intention of having the minimum of glassware type.

I have recently narrowed down my wine glasses to buy to 2. That apparently can serve and enhance all wines. I would like to find a beer glass or 2 or fit the same purpose. At present, I find I need to have about 5 to 10 ‘different’ types of glasses for different beer. Heck, Riedel has about 200 glasses for their wine. WAY TOO MUCH. I think 10 different beer glasses is likewise too much. I presently use a pint glass but want to enjoy and enhance my beer drinking.

If I was forced down to just two glasses, a deserted-island selection, these would be my two choices:

The first would be the tulip glass from New Belgium Brewery. I find that it provides just about the most perfect beer drinking vessel for almost any style. Enough room to swirl the beer for aroma without spilling any. Enough volume to hold a full beer with a lot of head, which is perfect for your Belgian style beers. Also enough surface area to allow for easy warming if the beer is served too cold. It’s my go-to glass for beers I really want to take time to enjoy. My only issue is that I wish I could find it without a NB logo.

My second choice is just a standard Imperial Pint Glass. With having two homebrews on tap at any time, it’s nice to walk downstairs and pour off 20oz of beer whenever I like. It also makes drinking things like Pale Ales and Stouts just seem more authentic.

One other thing to possibly consider Dave, since you’re doing a bar with wine as well look at getting some large Champagne flutes. They’re just about the same shape as a pilsner glass and would allow you to do double duty. I’d be curious what everyone else thinks about possible glass choices.

You may remember me mentioning talking about La Fleur Misseur a while back, but it looks like the day has finally arrived and La Fleur Misseur is available in St. Louis. This beer is part of New Beligum’s new Lips of Faith series of sour/funky beers. Each couple of months will bring about a new beer for our tasting pleasure. For instance, La Fleur will give way to a Grand Cru by early August.

The catch to these beers is that they’re limited release small batches, which means you’re going to have to seek them out. Luckily for you they’re easy to find at Bailey’s Chocolate Bar and Cicero’s.

(As a completely separate, yet related side note, during my visit to The Flying Saucer in KC this weekend I noticed that La Fleur was available so I immediately ordered up a glass. Imagine my surprise when the beer arrived and after one whiff I knew I had the wrong thing. A manager walked by and noticed a puzzled look on my face and I explained that I didn’t think that they gave me La Fleur because I didn’t smell or taste any Brett. He told me that it wasn’t a sour ale and that it was made with Wormwood. I didn’t feel like fighting it so I just drank what I was given.

This same manager told me that Schlafly had a sour ale.)

Mark Gustafson from Wisconsin (and with a name like that, you just knew he’d be from Wisconsin!) wrote in to ask:

Mike, I am hoping you can help me out in locating a decent liquor store that carries New Belgium beers on the east side of St. Louis. I am going to be in the O’Fallon area in a few weeks, and am hoping to stock up (no, not just Fat Tire, but all the other goodies that we can’t get up here in Wisconsin). I appreciate any help you can give me, as I have some friends back here in Milwaukee that I would like to treat to some beers as well.

After talking to Ryan Beach from New Belgium Brewery, he confirmed to me that Fat Tire, 1554 and Mothership Wit are now available in Southern Illinois.  But I’m not very familiar with O’Fallon, IL.  I realize he could take a short trip over to Corral Liquor in Granite City, but maybe someone knows of some place in O’Fallon?

Hope you’re all planning on having an exciting or relaxing Memorial Day Weekend. I’ve got a brewing session planned and a lot of beer I’m planning on drinking. Please be safe this weekend. Here’s the (short) Round Up:

Stuff from around the web

• Christine’s thoughts on some of the local beer dinners in St. Louis.
• Craft Beer Radio has some coverage of the Savor Beer and Food festival.
• Year of Beer reviews O’Fallon’s Goat’s Breath Bock beer.
• The blog Pfiff! talks about beer’s cousin Whiskey and talks about the incestuous marriage between them.

Beer Releases and News

• Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines informs me to some new beers he has in his stock:
  • Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale
  • Sierra Nevada Summer Fest Lager
  • Victory Prima Pilsner
  • Schlafly Summer Kolsch
  • Two Brothers Monarch White
  • Mahr’s Unfiltered Lager
  • Coniston Bluebird Bitter
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock at the Clayton and Rock Hill locations:
  • Brauerei Heller Bamberg Hells Lagerbier
  • New Belgium La Folie
  • Maredsous 8
  • Maredsous 10
  • Ommegang Witte
• Mike Cherre, Beer Consultant at Lukas Liquor posts on their blog some of the new selections they have in stock:
  • Jolly Pumpkin La Roja Artisan Amber Ale
  • Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza Artisan Golden Ale
  • Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere Farmhouse Ale
  • Jolly Pumpkin E.S. Bam Hoppy Farmhouse Ale
  • Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca Artisan White Ale
  • New Belgium La Folie

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• May 29 - Starr’s May Beer Dinner
• June - St. Louis Microfest

When Mike Leahy from the Rock Hill Wine and Cheese Place sent me an email saying, “We just got a very allocated case of 08 La Folie from New Belgium!” I about fell out of my chair. La Folie is normally a winter release and it’s May. So after a few phones calls I’ve been told this is indeed a small smattering of the 2008 release of La Folie.

I’ve been told that only 8 cases came to St. Louis, so you can probably find them at all of the usual suspects. I don’t know if this will be the year’s only release of this beer (I’d like to think not) but better be safe than sorry if you’re a fan of this beer.

I heard about this a few weeks ago and it looks like it’s finally coming to fruition. New Belgium Brewery is going to be doing a new sour beer program where select restaurants will be receiving a few kegs of each beer as it’s seasonally released.  The first of these beers is New Belgium’s La Fleur Misseur.  I’ll let New Belgium Beer Ranger Ryan Beech describe it:

La Fleur was originally concocted for New Belgium’s 15th Birthday Party. But lucky all of us there was such a buzz about the beer by people that drank it at the brewery, we were forced to make more.

La Fleur is an ale with a deep hazy gold color. It opens with flavors of pineapple, clove and honey. Dry-Hopping gives it a nice flower-leaf aroma supported by tones of fresh bread and honey.

Because these are very special beers it means that they’re very limited in their release.  Bailey’s Chocolate Bar and Cicero’s are going to be the nly two locations in St. Louis will be receiving kegs of this beer (and it will be draught beer only).  I’ll make sure to let everyone know when this beer is available in a few weeks.

Stephanie Kessler, the General Manager of Newstead Tower Public House, sent me over the menu for the New Belgium beer dinner they’re doing on Wednesday, April 9th at 7PM. Reservations are required and the cost is $40. You can make reservations by calling 314-535-7771.

Are you a homebrewer? Have you entered the Happy Holiday Homebrew Competition yet? If you haven’t you still have a sliver of time to enter. It’s really simple, you just register your beer here, print out the confirmation, and then drop off the beer, entry fee and confirmation at either The Tap Room, St. Louis Wine and Beermaking or Worm’s Way. Who knows, you could come away a winner? Here’s this week’s Round Up:

Stuff from around the web

• The Brew Site did a review of O’Fallon’s Pumpkin Ale
• Anheuser-Busch tells us that the beer market is strong, but then warns about beer prices going up.
• Bill let’s us know about a new brewery/restaurant in Granite City Creve Couer (thanks Bill), with an unusual way of making beer
• St. Louis native Neal Stewart lets us know what his fantasy beer dinner would entail.
• AB moves into the vodka biz.

Beer Releases and News

• Andy from Whole Foods let’s us know about some new beers he has in his stock (and remember if you don’t see it on the shelf, be sure to ask for it):
  • St. Louis Brewery - Schlafly Pumpkin
  • Anchor Brewing - 2006 Our Special Ale Magnum
  • Anchor Brewing - 2007 Our Special Ale Magnum
• Paul at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton alerts me to some new beers he has in stock:
  • Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck - Brigand Belgian Ale
  • Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV - St. Bernadus Mixed 6 Pack
  • Shmaltz Brewing Company - He’Brew Jewbelation Eleven
  • Coors Brewing Company - Blue Moon Full Moon Winter Ale
• Paul also informed me that they’ll be tasting Blue Moon Full Moon Winter, Anchor Christmas, Harveys Christmas Ale, Delirium Noel, Sam Smiths Winter Welcome, He’Brew Jewbelation and Gouden Carolus Noel on Saturday between 11AM and 3PM.
• Chris at Randall’s Wine & Spirits in St. Louis alerts me to some new beers sets he has in stock, just in time for the holiday season:
  • Mendocino Brewing Company - Mendocino Imperial IPA Winter Seasonal
  • Arcadia Brewing Company - Arcadia Imperial Stout (4 Pack)
  • Arcadia Brewing Company - Arcadia Shipwreck Barrel Aged Porter (22oz Bomber)
  • Arcadia Brewing Company - Arcadia Cereal Killer Barleywine (220z Bomber)
  • Barons Brewing Company - Barons Extra Special Bitter
  • Barons Brewing Company - Black Wattle Superior Wattle Seed Ale
  • Tooheys Brewing - Tooheys New
  • Anheuser-Busch - Brewmasters Private Reserve 2007
  • Anheuser-Busch - Michelob Celebrate Series
• Chris is also has these beers in today at the Fairview Heights Randall’s:
  • Left Hand Brewing Company - Snowbound (6 packs)
  • Left Hand Brewing Company - Warrior IPA (Bombers)
  • August Schell Brewing Co - Snowstorm (6 Packs)
  • Boulder Beer - Never Summer Ale (6 Pack)
  • Breckenridge Brewery - Christmas Ale (6 Packs)
  • Sprecher Brewing Company - Winter Brew (4 Packs)
  • Sprecher Brewing Company - Dopple Bock (4 Packs)
  • Wychwood Brewery Company - Bah Humbug

Here’s a list of upcoming beer events:

• Dec 3 - St. Louis Brews Homebrew Club Meeting
• Dec 8 - Happy Holiday Homebrew Competition
• Dec 26 - Schlafly 16th Anniversary Party

I was originally dreading doing this post. Not because I don’t want to talk about the evening, but because I have a really hard time reviewing the pairings. I feel that I start repeating myself and I just keep talking about the same thing over and over again. Maybe as I do more of these I’ll feel a bit more comfortable, but for the time being I think I’ll just provide the sights and stories of the evening.

We arrived around 7PM, the cash bar started about 6:30 and everything was already in full swing. I want to say about 20 crowded around the bar at Duff’s drinking down their favorite New Belgium beers. In my case I was about to partake of my new favorite New Belgium Beer, Eric’s Ale.

If you’ve never had a sour beer, your first one will always be bit of a shock. They’ve got this tangy, funky interesting taste that you never would have expected from a beer. What made Eric’s Ale so special for me was that the tartness of the beer was relatively mild and completely refreshing. It provided this fruity funky aroma and an ever so slight peach finish. I really hope that New Belgium starts bottling it because it’ll be my gateway sour beer.

Around 7:30, Karen Duff sat us at the table we selected and it turned out that we were sat with Andrew from Bon Vivant Wines and his lovely girlfriend Colleen. As each dish and beer pairing arrived Eric and Lauren Salazar provided us with information about the beer and why the they made the pairing choices they did.

Here’s the part where I’m going to post all of the pictures of the dishes:

Mothership Wit
Lobster Enchilada, Mothership Manzano Chili, Avocado Relish

2 Below
Cranberry Duck, Sweet Potato Pear Bisque

Trippel Belgian Style Ale
Mirin Glazed Salmon, Braised Red Cabbage, Chinese Mustard

Fat Tire Amber Ale
Lamb Chop, Goat Cheese Moussaka

1554 Brussels Style Black Ale
Braised Beef Brisket, Potato Pancake, 1554 Pearl Onion Gravy

Abbey Belgian Style Ale
Frozen Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle With Abbey Ale Sabayon

Just a few quick notes about everything. First, hopefully one of these days I can buy a camera that will allow me to take pictures in dark places without a flash. All of the pairings were quite excellent. I really think it helps having a representative (in this case one of the best representatives you can have, a brewer) help to make the beer pairing selections. The brewer is going to know their beer better than anyone. They know all of the subtle flavors and aromas and therefore what foods will pair well with them.

The lobster enchilada was nice and crispy and much lighter than the name would let on. The squash and duck soup was Irene’s favorite dish, I mean almost everything goes better with duck. And as silly as it sounds one of my favorite things of the night was the potato pancake. In fact I turned to Irene as she’s making a stir fry and asked if we could have potato pancakes tonight. She just gave me a dirty look instead.

I also found that the portion sizes were just about perfect. By the end of the night I felt full, but not stuffed. Which is both a good and bad thing because as the dinner wound down the bar filled back up. All of us beer nerds made our way back out to the bar to talk about beer and food and anything else that struck our fancy. The next thing you know you have two glasses of Eric’s Ale in your hand and it’s getting close to 11PM. I’m glad to have someone smart enough in my life to say, “Don’t forget, you need to be up at 6:30 tomorrow.”

Damn responsibilities. Why do they always need to ruin a good time?