A Thought On High ABV Beers

One thing I often tend to notice is that there are a good amount of people that prefer to drink higher
ABV beers as we approach the colder months, beers like the Imperial stouts and barley wines start showing up and people start to enjoy them, especially at some of the fall and winter beer festivals. I, myself, tend to enjoy all types of beers year-round, even the larger ABV ones so I often find this interesting. Are people doing this because they just like these beers in colder months as they can add warmth or is it just because they have become trained to expect and drink these often at this time of year because this is when many of the breweries release them?

Having a space where I can store some of these bigger beers allows me to build a collection that I can enjoy year-round, but it has never been a seasonal thing for me. Now I am not saying I will crack a 15% ABV in the middle of a hot summer day, but sitting out on a summer night having a nice stout and stogie is a pleasant experience as well. At least, I think so. Beer shouldn't be just dictated by seasons, it should be more about the feel of enjoying it and being able to do so when the mood or setting is right. 

I guess all of this just came to mind as I am writing this during much of the initial Oktoberfest week here in the states which happens right before the turn for many into looking for some of these bigger beers, after pumpkin beers of course. Although pumpkin beers are a whole other thing as many now start releasing them in July which also goes to my point, people start scooping them up that look forward to those as well. There was a time when this used to be more in October but now that timeline has shifted, so if it can be for pumpkin beers then why not the high ABV ones?

We are pretty much two months out before the release of probably the most heralded imperial stout which is the Goose Island Bourbon County Stout and its suite of variants. Maybe, this is why many look forward to really November being stout season as it is often referred to. We will see other breweries also release theirs like Epic Brewing and their Big Bad Baptist beers as well, and many others but beer is bigger than just one season. And if you have ever thought about starting a beer cellar then this is one of the best times of the year to do so because of the inventory that will be produced and available.

One of my favorite higher ABV beers to also enjoy year-round is New Holland Brewing and their Dragon's Milk series. Each year they often have some wonderful variants and their base version is also offered year-round as well, showing these beers do not have to just be enjoyed in one or two seasons. If you have not tried their beers then I definitely recommend them, and if you are a person that enjoys high ABV beers usually in the fall or winter then maybe keep some back as well. Pulling one of these out on a spring or summer evening when relaxing may just surprise you with how good it may be at that time as well. Just remember to drink responsibly as they can still sneak up on you if not careful, but free yourself of thinking these are just for a certain time of the year. They are for any time that you deem them so, Cheers!

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Guinness Open Gate Brewery Visit

This past weekend, I finally had the chance to make the long overdue trip down to the Guinness Open Gate Brewery here in the Baltimore area. And I must tell you, it was definitely worth visiting and checking out. From the great feel of the exterior to the nice warm feeling of the interior to the well-designed space, the brewery itself definitely created its own tone to make it distinctive.

So I and my old friend Keith decided to connect up here to grab lunch and catch up now that we are both in Baltimore. You see, Keith is one of my longest-living friends that I still connect with as we go back to when we met many years ago when I was in 7th grade and he was in 5th, and we were pretty much neighbors growing up. There are many stories I could share of the fun we had back in the day as we reminisced but that's maybe for another time, but since moving back to the east this was a great time for us to catch up again and neither of us had a chance to check out the Guinness spot so it made a perfect choice.

So as we met and headed into the parking lot, it was easy to just be amazed at the look and the design of the brewery to which I alluded earlier. This huge entrance sits at the top of the steps and just beckons you to step inside. A large courtyard outside with a huge space that it would be easy for football or in America a soccer game to break out if it wasn't for the chairs and tables occupying it. Had it not been for the rain showers that we were underway on this afternoon, we could have easily enjoyed some of the spots outside as well.

This being said, we entered the brewery, and just as nice as it was on the outside, the inside did not disappoint. Funny thing on the way in, I was asked for identification. Lol. that hasn't happened for many years, it must have been the shave from the new razor, lol. But, walking in, Keith already had a good corner spot at the bar and so we were ready to rock and roll.

As we discussed the brewery, Keith like myself had been a Guinness drinker for a number of years. So talking with each other and knowing the parts of the Guinness history that I did, I shared some of that as we spoke, and Keith was intrigued as he himself had also been a Guinness fan to which I wasn't aware. 

Now the cool thing about going to a brewery and why I also recommend people to do so from time to time is that the brewery experience can be that much more for fans of beer. The tap list offered many offerings that you would not see in a store or even a bar, you have to go there and the collection of beers on tap they had was across a nice beer diverse spectrum. Also in talking about diversity., this also transcended into the staff as well which was great to see and all were welcoming.

So, getting into the beers, my buddy Keith pretty much kept it on the Guinness IPA which he was enjoying. I, myself, well, of course, had to mix it up. So as I almost always do, I decided to start with two flights that they were offering with one being more of a hop flight and the other being a mix of ales that included an amber, porter, brown, and stout. All of the flight beers were part of their experimental beers as also was my capper of the Old Fashioned-Inspired Ale which I went full size on. Although. full size on an 11.5% ABV meant 1/2 size of a large snifter, lol. It worked though.

We both went with the burgers for lunch although the English breakfast was almost the selection to go with which may be the choice the next time I go. For that, you must order between 11am and 2pm, but it looks to be a little loaded mini-feast. The burger though was done well though, came out medium as ordered and was juicy as can be. Coupled with their Guinness-style chips which were like french fries done in chip form and were perfect for dipping into their homemade ketchup, along with a good size pickle too.

Overall no real complaints about the food or the beer, although the one thing I will say about the pricing is that I do feel the beers were more costly than some of the other breweries that you may be accustomed to visiting. Maybe, this is just part of the Guinness experience but at $15.50 for one flight and $18.50 for another, they were the most expensive that I have ever paid anywhere on the flight level. The Old Fashioned-Inspired Ale wasn't bad at $11.25 considering and the burger at $18 was a little higher than average but not really too crazy. Overall, it was a great experience, and definitely would recommend a visit if you are in the Baltimore area and want a brewery to check out. Keep in mind, that it is the only Guinness brewery in the states so that alone makes it that much more attractive for a visit in my book.

Cheers! 🍻

New Resource Helps Consumers Find Ohio-Grown Beers

Fresh Hop Ohio Campaign Helps Consumers Drink Beer Grown Here COLUMBUS, Ohio – For craft beer lovers – especially the "hop heads" – this is the best time of year. Harvest season gives Ohio breweries an opportunity to showcase one-of-a-kind beers made with locally grown and freshly picked hops. To help consumers find these once-a-year beers at breweries across the state, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association and the Ohio Hop Growers Guild have launched Fresh Hop Ohio, a guide to the first beers brewed with the 2022 hop crop. Most of the beer consumed around the world is made with hops that are kiln dried and pelletized for longer shelf life and ease of storage. The beers featured in the Fresh Hop Ohio campaign are all brewed with fresh, unprocessed hops grown by Ohio farmers. Fresh hop beers offer uniquely robust aromas and flavors, and are only available during the fall harvest season. "As Ohio's craft brewing industry has grown to more than 400 independently owned breweries, Ohio's hop growers have also increased in number, acreage and available varieties," said Ohio Craft Brewers Association executive director Mary MacDonald. "Brewing beer with locally sourced hops, barley and other ingredients is a great way for our industry to further our commitments to supporting the local economy and practicing environmental stewardship." The beer list at the Fresh Hop Ohio page continues to grow as farmers around the state complete their harvesting and brewers schedule their brew days to use the hops at the peak of freshness. Consumers can see the name and location of the brewery, the name and style of beer, the name of the hop grower and varieties used in the beer, as well as an estimate of when the beer will be available at the brewery taproom. Additions are made to the list as new information comes in from the breweries. See the beer list at https://ohiocraftbeer.org/freshhopohio Founded in 2007, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association is a nonprofit guild that exists to promote, preserve, diversify and unify Ohio’s craft brewing industry. We aspire to be recognized as the industry leader at both state and national levels for preserving the art of making high-quality, unique craft beer; to serve as the unified voice for craft brewers across the state; to advocate on behalf of the Ohio craft beer industry; to contribute to systemic, local community development by driving economic and job growth, while creating experiences that bring people together; to promote safe, responsible enjoyment of Ohio craft beer; and to serve as a beacon for local production and manufacturing through craft beer, resulting in diverse choices for consumers.

Beer Diversity And The Need To Be Better On Both Sides

So one of the things that I have recently decided to do was to look at writing again and to provide a little something different than the video content that I often share. I mean, I do have a journalism degree so it kind of makes sense. I do hope you enjoy the writings which of course will still be focused mainly on beer, and my take on the various subjects that I look to share. These will be looking to be weekly and most will probably be short but some may be longer depending on the topic, but I will try to keep them all entertaining for sure. This being said, let's go ahead and dive in.

So what from beer has caught my attention recently? One thing has been still that I see is a lack of diversity still in beer, not just from the brewery side of things but also on the consumer side as well. Recently, Pittsburgh just held its Barrel and Flow Fest which, unfortunately, I was not able to attend as the date conflicted with previous family obligations. However, it looked to be another rousing success from what I saw read from the event. This is awesome in that it keeps pushing forward and each time since its creation has been growing, even as we faced a pandemic.

But seeing and knowing this and from what I know from my marketing background as well as advertising education which I gained under that journalism degree that I mentioned, I am still kind of but not totally surprised by missed opportunities to not just black people but all people of color that can benefit the brewing industry. There is a fondness for craft beer in Black, Latino, Asian, Native American, and anyone else that I may have missed communities. And if I missed your community then I do apologize as I was looking here at the major ones as a whole. But, as I sat in a brewery this past week for the longest time I was the only Black person there, staff or patron, and the thought just pondered my mind. 

The funny thing is that while there, the music being played was either hip-hop or r&b and I was like, well, this is interesting. Now music can be loved by anyone of any group and as a former radio DJ I will easily attest to this, but it just was one of those things that made me go hmmm. After a little time, I did see another Black male arrive as well as a Black female, they were with separate friends but in the time our numbers tripled, lol, so we were on a roll.

Now I will tell you that I never have had an issue being the only Black person anywhere, I think my early years in Catholic school probably laid the foundation for this. But still, it is funny more so maybe with craft beer than in other industry areas because there are so many touches of things that reflect on the Black community with everything from the ambiance at a brewery to the names of the beers and the culture kind of being taken for granted I feel in many cases. I feel this also happens a little with the Latino community as well with beers being called Mexican lagers, which there is not even a BJCP style as far as I know, and no one really has a definition for it. Tasting them, they are most often just the same as an adjunct lager made here in the states so what's the difference, adding a lime wedge?

But I digress and going back to my main point that drove these thoughts, how does diversity increase more? If we are having our cultures tapped into then we should also have some representation as well across the bar to which we can relate. Anything else can be seen as stealing and exploiting in some type of fashion. This doesn't mean that this is the goal of the brewery but merely, the perception that may be received. Maybe it's also on us to show up at these places that we enjoy and also ask these questions as patrons and consumers. I would like to see more people of color behind the bar, one because I used to be one back in the 90s, and is great for social skills building. And two, having other people will bring other views and other opportunities that can even help brewing grow more. Beer is a great unifier and what better place to build unity and have great conversations than a brewery? The Black Is Beautiful initiative started by Weathered Souls has been a great start for awareness, hopefully, we keep building on top of that and keep moving things forward to even higher success.

Special Edition Podcast with Linda Cooley CEO Of Mad River Brewing

This episode is a replay of our Tuesday night Brewsday event from July 20th, 2022 where we spoke with Linda Cooley who is the CEO Of Mad River Brewing located in Northern California. We took some time to discuss the great things they are doing out there and tapped into conversations on diversity and inclusion among many other things. Take a listen and enjoy, and if you ever make it out to The Golden State then definitely try to make a visit, I know I will! Cheers!

Brewsday With Linda Cooley 

Shipping Beer The Right Way

 

How to Ship Beer: What You Need to Know

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