We recently hosted a pot luck where invitees were instructed to bring a dish as well as a beer they would pair with it. If you have the chance to, I totally recommend this undertaking. It doesn't take too much planning as you can find beer score ideas on the net as well as pairing hints. We ranked aroma, mouthfeel, taste and overall impression as well as pairing. Depending on your guests you can take all or some scoring from the bjcp program.
We paired Fernie's grapefruit IPA with samosas and it worked well. The grapefruit worked well with the spice. We also paired pulled pork with Longboat chocolate stout and, well, it won.
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Best Canadian 2, 4? An exercise in coaching
I was asked recently to offer suggestions of craft beer to buy for Thanksgiving guests. I get excited about these questions.
When answering, one should be wary of immediately advising and giving suggestions. You should remember to ask questions first.
Who are they buying for and what do they normally drink? You can then start offering craft related alternatives.
What is the goal? Trying new and adventurous? Impressing guests with table beer?
You don't want to turn people off of craft when they're looking to explore. Don't tell them to buy a double west coast ipa because you like it when they drink bud light. You lost them on their first sip.
Offer a comparable.
It seems logical, but I hear people do it all the time.
Lends me to think what my personal 2-4 would look like. And how it would differ from others.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
When answering, one should be wary of immediately advising and giving suggestions. You should remember to ask questions first.
Who are they buying for and what do they normally drink? You can then start offering craft related alternatives.
What is the goal? Trying new and adventurous? Impressing guests with table beer?
You don't want to turn people off of craft when they're looking to explore. Don't tell them to buy a double west coast ipa because you like it when they drink bud light. You lost them on their first sip.
Offer a comparable.
It seems logical, but I hear people do it all the time.
Lends me to think what my personal 2-4 would look like. And how it would differ from others.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday, July 31, 2017
Crossing Canada
The quintessential Canadian road trip. A right of passage of sorts for all Canadians.
I like themes and what if beer was the theme? We did it 10 yrs ago now and thought we could but 7 kids later, 5 within the last 2 years says we need to wait.
It'd be a lot harder now. The growth in craft brewing these 10 yrs has been exponential! Hitting ON alone would be difficult. But what if?
Been working on a find beer app and mapped Canadian craft. It's here:
Canadian Craft Beer Map
That would be an endeavour
Then started thinking... what about those other great crafts? Spirits, ciders, meads and wine - the original. Also great trip reasons.
Even if you're not going coast to coast, maybe just finding local drinks when you are traveling in Canada is wanted. Really it's part of being elsewhere.
Drink local!
Maps of others follow:
Ciders: Canadian Craft Ciders
Spirits: Canadian Craft Distillers
Wine: Canadian Craft Wineries
Meads: Canadian Craft Meaderies
Enjoy local
I like themes and what if beer was the theme? We did it 10 yrs ago now and thought we could but 7 kids later, 5 within the last 2 years says we need to wait.
It'd be a lot harder now. The growth in craft brewing these 10 yrs has been exponential! Hitting ON alone would be difficult. But what if?
Been working on a find beer app and mapped Canadian craft. It's here:
Canadian Craft Beer Map
That would be an endeavour
Then started thinking... what about those other great crafts? Spirits, ciders, meads and wine - the original. Also great trip reasons.
Even if you're not going coast to coast, maybe just finding local drinks when you are traveling in Canada is wanted. Really it's part of being elsewhere.
Drink local!
Maps of others follow:
Ciders: Canadian Craft Ciders
Spirits: Canadian Craft Distillers
Wine: Canadian Craft Wineries
Meads: Canadian Craft Meaderies
Enjoy local
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Canada 150
I suppose I should have started this post a hundred plus days ago and posted a Canadian favourite a day, but as usual, didn't have the idea till too late
But my plea for now is to think through your beer of choice this Canada day weekend. If not beer then a Caesar or caribou. Prairie it up, too. If it's a vodka Caesar than use Last Mountain dill pickle vodka - great in the drink and very local. If a gin Caesar than maybe Park gin from Banff. If you're making caribou there are a lot of good Canadian ryes but use a Canadian wine please
Anyway, see the answer to what drink takes care and consideration to answer.
The Canadian beer you drink will depend on the availability in your area. For us it used to be that we'd buy a couple of favourites from all the AB breweries but that's become a large endeavour. Heck I remember one year way back 10 years where we had On, MB, SK and BC represented too.
If you try this, and are fortunate to live in Alberta, you can still do well
I haven't seen Quiddi Vidi in AB in a long time so Nfld may be tough and you used to find Propeller from NS and Gahan from PEI at Sobeys, but again, been a bit. You can still find Pumphouse and Moosehead from NB so that's a start.
Quebec's Unibroue has a great presence (I'll let you determine their fit based on parent company) but my go to is McAuslan's St Ambroise stout. Delicious!
ON comes and goes like those others with AB out of province tax, but I see Flying Monkey, Steamwhistle around still and Collective Arts from Hamilton a lot and they're good. Mill Street's got nice beers too but similar parental patterns as Unibroue
Manitoba has become tough. Half Pints would be nice to see a lot of again. Good luck it's worth the search
SK's most prevalent may be Great Western's Brewhouse but I see Black Bridge still around from speedy creek, too.
Alberta's rep in your cooler will be the toughest choice. I'll leave it in your capable hands. I'm leaning toward a Wild Rose / Big Rock staple cooler, but if I was bringing a bbq host gift I like Banded Peak or Hell's Basement. Dandy for that beery friend. All good as are the ones not listed.
BC still brings a lot here and if you haven't had a Fuggles and Warlock get one, otherwise Nelson, Tin Whistle, Howe Sound, Red Truck and more are all great picks
You can't loose
As long as you read the label and keep it Canadian this weekend (and the weekends to come)
But my plea for now is to think through your beer of choice this Canada day weekend. If not beer then a Caesar or caribou. Prairie it up, too. If it's a vodka Caesar than use Last Mountain dill pickle vodka - great in the drink and very local. If a gin Caesar than maybe Park gin from Banff. If you're making caribou there are a lot of good Canadian ryes but use a Canadian wine please
Anyway, see the answer to what drink takes care and consideration to answer.
The Canadian beer you drink will depend on the availability in your area. For us it used to be that we'd buy a couple of favourites from all the AB breweries but that's become a large endeavour. Heck I remember one year way back 10 years where we had On, MB, SK and BC represented too.
If you try this, and are fortunate to live in Alberta, you can still do well
I haven't seen Quiddi Vidi in AB in a long time so Nfld may be tough and you used to find Propeller from NS and Gahan from PEI at Sobeys, but again, been a bit. You can still find Pumphouse and Moosehead from NB so that's a start.
Quebec's Unibroue has a great presence (I'll let you determine their fit based on parent company) but my go to is McAuslan's St Ambroise stout. Delicious!
ON comes and goes like those others with AB out of province tax, but I see Flying Monkey, Steamwhistle around still and Collective Arts from Hamilton a lot and they're good. Mill Street's got nice beers too but similar parental patterns as Unibroue
Manitoba has become tough. Half Pints would be nice to see a lot of again. Good luck it's worth the search
SK's most prevalent may be Great Western's Brewhouse but I see Black Bridge still around from speedy creek, too.
Alberta's rep in your cooler will be the toughest choice. I'll leave it in your capable hands. I'm leaning toward a Wild Rose / Big Rock staple cooler, but if I was bringing a bbq host gift I like Banded Peak or Hell's Basement. Dandy for that beery friend. All good as are the ones not listed.
BC still brings a lot here and if you haven't had a Fuggles and Warlock get one, otherwise Nelson, Tin Whistle, Howe Sound, Red Truck and more are all great picks
You can't loose
As long as you read the label and keep it Canadian this weekend (and the weekends to come)
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