A Woman's Work Is Never Done

Your man comes home from a long hard day at work, and you've been in the kitchen for hours. This isn't the stereotypical situation here though. You've been slaving in the kitchen over a hot stove, but you're not coming up with a pot roast. You've been brewing BEER! YES!

Homebrewing is so much easier than people think. Well, I take that back. It is something that, like cooking, takes a little time to learn and some practice to get right. You'll develop a deep appreciation for what master brewers can actually do. But, homebrewing is easier than you think. Its really just a little cooking and cleaning. You know...womens' work. (heave)

I'm going to start a series on homebrewing for women, focusing on smaller batches and starting out with easy partial grain recipes, but in the meantime, if you are interested, Los Angeles women can start at my friend Natalie's Homebrew Club just for Women called the ALT Society.

This month the meeting is on February 28th at 7:30pm at Culver City Home Brew Supply Co. This place is headquarters of the homebrew club that I belong to called Pacific Gravity, which luckily for me, is mostly men. But this meeting is just for the chicks, who sometimes can feel a little intimidated by all the testosterone floating around that place. There will be home-brewed beers there, of course, with munchies and lots of female support. Its a great place to go to get your questions answered and to get geared up for brewing beer at home.

Click here for directions. You can email Natalie at emtcutie959@yahoo.com if you have any questions or want additional information.

Good luck ladies! And get to BREWING! A woman's work is never done.

Are You Ready For Some Football Beers?

Want some recommendations on some great beers to celebrate the Super Bowl holiday? Wine Sommelier and Consultant (and friend and cool beer chick) Bonnie Graves interviewed me for her yahoo.com food blog called Girl Meets Grape.

Click HERE to read all about the beers.

P.S. One more year Favre! One more year.

SAVORAn American Craft Beer & Food Experience

Check this out. This looks so cool! I'm going to try and go to this. Tickets go on sale on February 4th. Click on the image and it will take you to the events official website.

Young Experimenting Perfection Seekers

I'm a YODA today! I'm the Yeppie of the Day! What the hell is that?

Well, my dear friends, yeppienation.com says, "Remember the Yuppies of the 80's? Baby boomers who where hungry for money and status, well many of their kids are now Yeppies (Young Experimenting Perfection Seekers)...These 20 and 30 somethings don't aspire to a job in finance and a BMW in the driveway. If anything they quit their jobs to go backpacking for an undetermined duration... Yeppies are life shopping...in search of ideal existence."

That's what I am...I'm a yeppie, and proud of it. However, instead of dropping a job to go backpacking, I'm left jobs to go beer drinking. I'd like to thank my parents who are so thrilled beyond words that my passion is beer. I'd like to thank the readers of this blog who have supported me in my effort to elevate beer to the level that it deserves. I'd like to thank companies like Craftsman Brewing Company, Deschutes Brewing Company, Unibroue, Telegraph Brewing Co., Artisan Ales, Wine Warehouse who have helped me in this endeavor. I'd also like to thank the Yeppie Nation, who clearly understand what's important in life. So do not try to drink good beer, DRINK good beer. Seek it, live it, love it. In the words of the original Yoda, "Do or Do Not, There Is No Try."

May the Force be with you.

Winter Warmer Beer Social "Upstairs" @ 3 on Fourth

Winter Warmers Beer Social
"Upstairs" @ 3 on Fourth

Wednesday, January 23
6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Along with Chef Daniel Snukal, I'm going to be hosting a casual tasting of Winter Warmers, a unique style of beer made with sweet malts and flavored with spices, herbs, nuts and fruits. A naturally higher alcohol content and the spicy aromas make these microbrews the perfect elixir for a chilly January night. Complimentary appetizers provided by 3 on Fourth. (See menu below.)

A special prix fixe dinner will be available after the event to beer social guests only.

$35 per person, including tax
$30 special prix fixe dinner (optional)
Space is limited for this event; call 310.395.6765 to reserve a glass.

3 on Fourth
1432A Fourth St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Winter Warmers Menu

Beer
Telegraph Winter Ale - Telegraph Brewing Company, Santa Barbara, CA
Honesty Ale - Craftsman Brewing Company, Pasadena, CA
Holiday Spruce - Craftsman Brewing Company, Pasadena, CA
Quelque Chose - Unibroue, Chambly, Quebec
...and more!

Appetizers
Warm Roblochon with Orange Marmalade
Goat Cheese, Beet and Balsamic Crostini
Brillat Savarin with Strawberry Arugula and Fried Bread
Chocolate-dipped Cherries

Are You Experienced?or The Best Name For A Beer Ever

So I'm lucky enough to have several close relatives that live in Wisconsin. My father is from Wisconsin. This is especially lucky because New Glarus Brewing Company, one of the best breweries in the midwest in my humble opinion, is only available in - you guessed it - Wisconsin. Dammit!

I've had their Wisconsin Belgian Red, which is a hell of a beer. They describe the style as a "Wisconsin Cherry Ale," who knew? Its a wonderful fruit beer that truly tastes like fresh summer cherries. Tart and sweet, tannic and dry, this ale is not the cloyingly sweet Kool-Aid that we are sometimes used to getting with fruit beer here in the states. They call it "a marriage of wine and beer." This beer is brewed with whole Door County (where I used to swim in the summertime) Montmorency Cherries, Wisconsin Farmed Wheat and Belgian Roasted Barleys. This beer is then cold cellared in oak tanks for one full year. If you have a chance to try this beer, do so.

Now then, on to the topic of this blog which is the Best Name For A Beer Ever. A few times a year, NGBC will cut their brewmaster and co-owner Daniel Carey loose to brew whatever he chooses, crazy, unfettered and free. Always handcrafted, these beers are very limited editions with no promises of ever being brewed again. Right now, one of those beers is one named Smoke on the Porter. Yes! Isn't that awesome? Can't you just hear Deep Purple now?

Here's what the brewery says about this beer. "Smoke on the Porter began with our neighbors at Hoesly's Meats. Their smoke house aromas waft through our door creating a special kind of decadence that must be shared. Wisconsin barleys were generously cold smoked with apple wood by the Hoesly family. Brewmaster Dan then harnessed dark malts smoked in Bamberg to create a team that steps out as a creamy smooth black brew that will forever linger in your mind as Smoke on the Porter."

This beer is creamy and smooth. Beer Advocate magazine says, "...the malt really shines with a soft cake-like sweetness within. Suggestions of dark roasted coffee and bitter dark chocolate come to mind.... No doubt, the balance of this smoked porter is unsurpassed."

So toast life with beer from the land of Wisconsin.

Did I mention that The New Glarus Brewing Company is located in and named after the quaint town of New Glarus, Wisconsin? New Glarus is known as "America's Little Switzerland," a fact that is evident the minute you drive into town. You feel like you stepped back in time a hundred years to a small town in Switzerland. The Brewery is just one of many unique businesses in New Glarus. There are also antique stores, meat markets, two museums, an authentic Swiss bakery and a fine array of restaurants with authentic Swiss cuisine. In fact, my family and I used to make the treck from Madison, WI for schnitzel and noodles! For more information on New Glarus and its local business, visit the New Glarus Chamber of Commerce at www.swisstown.com.

Also, I thought that this would be a good time to announce that my fantasy football team, Testeverdes Settatesties, is in the Superbowl. (I'm playing the person who introduced me to New Glarus Brewing Co. - But I will still beat him down.)

And also, Go Packers!

The Session: Winter Beers

So I finally have it together enough to participate in this month's "The Session," which has been deemed as "a monthly virtual beer tasting. Hosted by a different blogger each month, and each month has a different theme chosen by the host." I've kept my eye on it over the last few months and have really enjoyed the exchange and some of the brilliant beers. This month is about Winter Beers, and since I had just written about them, I thought that I would include The Session in this post.

So my fellow chicks, I should tell you, if you haven't found out by now, that there are certain beers which are only brewed for the Winter season. These beers run the gamut in flavor, but a lot of them are spicy, malty, piney and a little higher in the alcohol content department: all things that you know this beer chick likes. So, without too much more ado, here are some of my favorite holiday seasonal beers or beers that are great as special holiday treats and gifts!

Samichlaus Bier - originally brewed by Hurlimann Brewery
Rheinfelden, Switzerland
Want a little warming up on a cold winter night? Only want to have one seasonal ale? This one is it. Samichlaus ("Santa Claus" in Swiss-German dialect) is brewed every year on December 6th, St. Nicholas' Day. The delicious lager is then matured an entire year before being released the following December. At 14% alcohol by volume, this beer was once the world's strongest lager and has been listed in The Guinness Book of Records. But don't shy away. Samichlaus has a smooth creaminess with brandy, cherry flavors and spice. Yum.
Pairs With: Rich and roasted foods, duck, pork and cured meats.
Try it with German chocolate cake or rum tart.
Glassware: Specialty Samichlaus Glass or Small Tulip or Snifter

Craftsman Holiday Spruce - Pasadena, CA
This Winter warmer has an unbeatable balance...but its a big balance, the aroma is a mix of fruit and sweet spice. One detects cinnamon, allspice, and really delicious orange and orange peel notes in the flavor. Then the maltiness hits you with distinct fruitiness. I get apples and old world fruit like raisins and figs. Then the beer rounds out with nice spiciness and dryness provided by the FRESH SPRUCE TIPS that Craftsman uses in the brewing of this beer. Does anything say Winter more?
Pairs With: I served this beer last night at a beer dinner and it paired amazingly well with a bite of marinated beets and goat cheese with a rosemary pesto. Forget about it.
Glassware: Teardrop

Anchor Christmas - San Francisco, California
Famous for its Steam Beer, Anchor Brewing's Christmas Ale or "Our Special Ale" has been a west coast tradition since it was first brewed in 1975. Available only from Thanksgiving to New Years, this ale's recipe is different every single year and it is kept top secret. Since ancient times trees have symbolized the winter solstice. So every year this beer bottle label features a different tree. Because of the special limited ale inside and the special label, Anchor Christmas is very collectable. There are people who claim to have a bottle from every year. This is a great beer to drink at a holiday party or to bring as a gift. Besides regular 12 oz. bottles, this beer is sold in magnums: a big unique one of a kind present.
Pair with: This beer is different every year. The style will determine what it pairs with.
Glassware: American Shaker Pint Glass

Deus Brut de Flandres - Brouwerij Bosteels - Buggenhout, Belgium
This beer isn't necessarily a winter ale, but if you want to bring a fabulous gift that nobody other than a beer aficionado would know, or you want something special to lift for that holiday toast, the Deus Brut des Flandres is the way to go. This divine drink combines the best of two production methods. Using techniques developed over centuries of brewing, first the beer is brewed in Belgium, then the ale is matured and refined in the champagne region of France, using ancestral Champagne making techniques. This beer makes me want to celebrate.
Pair with: Deus makes an excellent aperitif (before food) or digestive (after food). Its also great with desserts.
Glassware: Flute

Deschutes Jubelale & Cindercone Red Ale - Bend, Oregon
Hailing from the Northwest US brewing mecca, Jubelale calls itself an "apres ski brew." Perfect for a gathering of family and friends, Jubelale is a strong festive ale characterized by a large malty body balanced with hop bitterness. Jubelale is available around the first of October. Cindercone Red Ale is another great seasonal ale from Deschutes. This beer is great for the new year as it is available January through April.
Pair with: Jubelale - Big intense dishes, roasted beef, lamb or game.
Cindercone Red Ale - Chicken, seafood, burgers; great with spicy food.
Glassware: Pint Glass

Unibroue Quelque Chose - Chambly, Quebec
This is really cool. Quelque Chose is strong cherry ale that is to be consumed hot! It's amazing sitting by the fire, winding up the evening, a perfect after dinner drink. This beer tastes like a warm sweet and tart cherry cider. "Quelque Chose" is a popular French-Canadian expression that is used like "That's something!"
Pair with: Strong cheeses and chocolate desserts.
Glassware: Stemmed Large Tulip Glass