Philly Food Pairing!

CraftBeer.com is featuring a slew of fantastic food-beer pairings.  My favorite of them all?  Duh.  Philly Cheesesteak and Pale Ale!  Here is a selection from the article.  To see all of the delectable combinations, click HERE.  Slainte!

Philly Cheesesteak and Pale Ale

You may visit The Liberty Bell and attempt to sprint up the famous Rocky steps, but if you really want a taste of the City of Brotherly Love, you’ll be indulging in a Philly cheesesteak. The soft, chewy bread is filled with grilled rib-eye beef, either sliced or chopped, depending on who you ask. The sandwich is classically finished off “wit” onions and cheese including provolone or more commonly, bright orange Cheese Whiz.

Although flavorful, a cheesesteak has a mild taste that pairs perfectly with a pale ale. The slight hoppiness stands up to the onions and hearty meat, and the cleaner finish is refreshing after the salty beef and cheese. It’s satisfying but not overpowering, just like the sandwich.

Suggested Pairings

• Yards Brewing Company | Philadelphia, PA | Philadelphia Pale Ale
• Weyerbacher Brewing Company | Easton, PA | Verboten, Belgian pale ale
• All Saints Brewing Company | Greensburg, PA | Laurel Highlands Pale Ale 
• Breaker Brewing Company | Wilkes-Barre, PA | Lunch Pail Ale
• Appalachian Brewing Company | Harrisburg, PA | Purist Pale Ale 
• Copper Crow Beer | Lafayette Hill, PA | Copper Crow Pale Ale 

San Francisco / San Jose: A Brew Review

As I sit hoping my body adjusts to the change in time zones and recovers from the red eye flight, I pleasantly reflect upon my trip to California.  My other half was there for work so, naturally, I decided that it was a good time to take a vacation.  We stayed in the Silicon Valley - perfectly placed to explore San Francisco and San Jose.  I had never been to either city before so I was very excited to see a new part of the West Coast, especially from the perspective of a few pints.

Our first night in town we were ravenous for a hearty and easy meal.  Thankfully, Tied House Brewery & Cafe was close by.  They had a fresh menu of pub grub with a decent all-ale selection.  I decided to focus on the special - the New World Wheat.  Brewed in the typical style of an American Wheat, it was light, crisp, and clear.  Not too heavy, hoppy, or cloudy.  Heck, they even insert the label of your beer with your check (see below)!  A perfect way to end a long day of travel.  Due to my lack of sleep, the time change, and the overall hustle of traveling, I feel asleep at the 7 o'clock that night.  Learn more about Tied House by visiting their website or their Twitter.

Fast forward a few days later to the ever-so-flat San Jose.  As my slightly sore quads took a turn about San Pedro Square and the surrounding streets, I landed at Los Gatos Brewing Company.  What a beautiful restaurant.  It is reminiscent of a Victory or an Iron Hill. I ordered the Pale Ale.  A glass of filled with deep amber/orange-tinted color with the tastes of the hops and bitterness.  I loved their place mats as well - a map navigating the guest through their brewing process.  Learn more about LGBC at their website or on their Facebook fan page.

As you can guess, I had a great time eating and drinking my way through the cities by the bay.  But as much fun as I had scaling the slopes of San Fran and promenading the developing San Jose, the East Coast will always be my home and have my heart. Slainte!

(Photos provided by author)

For Auld Lang Syne, My Dear

Can you believe that 2013 is here?  As you prepare your numerous apps and dips, you can't forget about the beverages!  I do not really love the traditional cocktail.  Why?  High alcohol content and harsh flavors.  I have been researching and trying different beer cocktail (bocktail, maybe?) recipes for about 6 months and found a few that I would like to share.

Sunburnt Arnold Palmer is a cocktail I wrote about over the summer.

• 1 can of Arnold Palmer Iced Tea/Lemonade
• 1/4 cup of Rascal Wild Red raspberry beer
• Garnish with thin slice of lemon

Fruit Punch Beer is the name my other half uses to describe anything with Framboise. This is a flashback our welcome of 2012.

• 1 cup of sparkling grape juice
• 1/8-1/4 cup of Lindemans Framboise
• Garnish with berries

The Cure is an easy and cheap way to brighten up your evening (original recipe on Epicurious)

• 2 tablespoons of ginger ale
• ~1/2 bottle of a light lager (Miller/Bud Light)
• 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
• Garnish with 3-4 matchsticks of ginger

In addition to these recipes, a fun and easy way to keep your drinks cold without diluting the flavors is to freeze grapes until rock hard and drop them in your glasses!  These concoctions are based on the size of a pint glass.  If you are going to use flutes or even wine glasses, you will need to severely cut down the proportions.  You could even adjust the recipes for guests to self serve like a punch.  If you try the bocktail (I'm trying to make it a thing) this coming New Year's celebration, please share your successes and photos in comments or tweets!  As always, please enjoy responsibly and do not drink and drive.  Slainte and Happy New Year!

Bottle Up Your Holiday Cheer!

I love this time of year.  The colors, the sounds, the smells, and, of course, the festive decorations.  I know that I have done a terrible job keeping up with my blog over the fall/winter months but I found a fantastic and fun addition to your holiday trimmings while paging through Pinterest.  Whether you are home brewing or planning holiday soirees, these Ellinee labels will really jazz up your bottles and truly make your days merry and bright.  All you need is a stack of Avery labels, stock #5265, and a color printer.  To read more and print the PDF, visit HERE.  Happy holidays!

Taste the Rainbow?

I found this amazing picture on Ellen Degeneres's Facebook fan page.  Her caption read, "That's my kinda rainbow."  See more of her amazing photos and funny comments at her show's fan page!

Obama Shares His Secrets

Okay, maybe not the kind of secrets that you see in InTouch  or The National Enquirer but it's still a long-awaited secret that has finally been revealed. In a previous post, I shared that President Obama enjoyed a true home brew - straight from the White House itself!  Mark McDermott recently posted a piece for the Examiner with the recipes for the White House Honey Ale and the White House Honey Porter.  Below is the recipe for the Honey Ale, as I have a slight preference for this style of beer.

White House Honey Ale

Ingredients

• 2 (3.3 lb) cans light malt extract
• 1 lb light dried malt extract
• 12 oz crushed amber crystal malt
• 8 oz Bisquit Malt
• 1 lb White House Honey
• 1 1/2 oz Kent Goldings Hop Pellets
• 1 1/2 oz Fuggles Hop pellets
• 2 tsp gypsum
• 1 pkg Windsor dry ale yeast
• 3/4 cup corn sugar for priming

Directions

1. In an 12 qt pot, steep the grains in a hop bag in 1 1/2 gallons of sterile water at 155 degrees F for half an hour. Remove the grains.
2. Add the 2 cans of the malt extract and the dried extract and bring to a boil.
3. For the first flavoring, add the 1 1/2 oz Kent Goldings and 2 tsp of gypsum. Boil for 45 minutes.
4. For the second flavoring, add the 1/2 oz Fuggles hop pellets at the last minute of the boil.
5. Add the honey and boil for 5 more minutes.
6. Add 2 gallons chilled sterile water into the primary fermenter and add the hot wort into it. Top with more water to total 5 gallons. There is no need to strain.
7. Pitch yeast when wort temperature is between 70-80˚F. Fill airlock halfway with water.
8. Ferment at 68-72˚F for about seven days.
9. Rack to a secondary fermenter after five days and ferment for 14 more days.
10. To bottle, dissolve the corn sugar into 2 pints of boiling water for 15 minutes. Pour the mixture into an empty bottling bucket. Siphon the beer from the fermenter over it. Distribute priming sugar evenly. Siphon into bottles and cap. Let sit for 2 to 3 weeks at 75˚F.

Sneak Peak at Victory's New Facility!

I am incredibly proud to know that Downingtown, a small place where I have spent many of my years, is the home of Victory Brewing Company.  In fact, VBC first exposed me to quality craft beer and was a huge inspiration for my first entry. With their amazing success and contributions to the Chester County community (and beyond), they are needing to open a second facility in Parkesburg, PA.  Below is a short YouTube video of the project's progress.  You can read more about the new facility on their website also.  Slainte!