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A Bit of the Irish in Austin, TX

Posted on by sophicpursuits

While Austin may be known for its live music and Texas fare, there is a location where you find a “bit of Irish” at Fado’.   This not only means a bit of Irish pub food including: a boxty (a savory potato pancake), fish and chips, and shepherd’s pie; but also means a bit of Irish ambiance in terms of décor as well as that traditional pub feel.

And being a traditional Irish pub, one can expect a great selection of beer and whisk(e)y.  The libation menu features “mashes” from Ireland, Scotland, Kentucky, Japan, and Texas as well as “malts” local and from across the pond.  Our evening visit featured tastings of the Swift Texas Single Malt (Dripping Springs, Texas), the Yellow Rose Double Barrel (Houston, Texas), the Yellow Rose Rye (Houston), Yellow Spot (Ireland from the Midleton Whiskey Distillery, Co.) and Yamazaki (Japan).

Each of the tastings provided new adventures;  from the smokey smoothness of the Yellow Rose Double Barrel to a bit of harshness from the Yamazaki.  At this location you are likely to find a very knowledgeable host (both our waiter and the manager were knowledgeable about the various offerings and there are new ones being tried all the time at this location), as well as good conversation, recommendations, and great food.  (If you are a soccer fan, you are likely to see a game on somewhere in the pub.)

This is a wonderful location to add to your sampling list, as it provides a good selection of local as well as traditional standard offerings like Bushmills, Jameson, Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie, Johnnie Walker, and Knob Creek.  It is definitely a place to stop and try something different in Austin.

Time for a little Beer Trivia

Posted on by sophicpursuits

While out and about trying new beers and food, sometimes you need a conversation starter.  So, how about a bit of beer trivia?  Here are some little snippets to get the friendly debates going –

Who said “a wise man invented beer”?  According to popular culture, “Brainy Quotes”, and t-shirts; this phrase is generally attributed to Plato.  However, there are a number of scholars out there that indicate that this is something Plato never wrote and is not found in any of his dialogues.  The quote is either a misrepresentation of a statement that does occur in the dialogues or is mis-attributied.

What is beer?  The US Department of Commerce defines beer as an alcoholic drink produced by the fermentation of sugars derived from grains of barley, wheat, sorghum, maize or rice.  Notice there is no mention of hops or malt in the generic definition.  However, the classification system used by the US Department of Commerce does list hops and malts as raw materials used in the preparation of beer.  Most dictionaries include the malts and hops as part of the definition of beer.

Who is a craft brewer?  The definition used by the Brewers Association, a craft brewer, is small with an annual production of less than 6 million barrels, independent, and uses traditional brewing ingredients.

In 2014, which state had the most craft breweries?  According to the Brewers Association, California boasts 431 brewers, followed by Washington with 256 brewers, and then Colorado with 235 breweries.  However, if you look at it on a per capita basis, per 100,000 21 plus Adults, there is a big change.  California drops to the 20th spot with 1.6 breweries per capita, Vermont jumps from 24th (40 craft brewers) to first at 8.6 breweries per capita.  Washington loses its 2nd place and drops to 7th with 5 breweries per capita.  Oregon moves from 4th with 216 craft brewers to 2nd with 7.4 breweries per capita.  Colorado holds its 3rd with a 6.1 breweries per capita.  Of course, this information is based on 2014 numbers, and the craft brewers list is growing all the time.  No telling what will happen next year.

In 2014, what was the craft beer share of the total US market?  Again according to the Brewers Association, craft beers accounted for almost 22 million barrels in a total 197 million barrel market.  Imports were just slightly ahead of craft beers at just under 29.5 million barrels.  Thus, craft beers accounted for an 11% market share; seeing a 17.6% increase from 2013.  And, craft beers saw a 36% growth in exports, with just over 380,000 barrels being exported in 2014.  (Note: 1 barrel of beer is 31 US gallons.)

How many different types of hops are there?  This question is sure to drive a debate.  There is a growing list of hops.  The BeerAdvocate hop guide currently lists 31.

A Detour along I-25 in Santa Fe, NM

Posted on by sophicpursuits

Traveling along Interstate-25 through New Mexico?  Want to take a bit of a detour to sample some great food and brews?  Then here are some stops to make while traveling to through Santa Fe.

Our afternoon started from the south.  Our first stop was the Santa Fe Brewing Co.  You can see their brewery from the interstate (Between exits 276A and 278A). They host a variety of beers including the Santa Fe Pale Ale, the Happy Camper IPA, and the State Pen Porter.  Their brews come in bottles, cans and growlers.  On Saturdays, small batches are featured.  There is a music venue across the parking lot from the Tasting room, so you need to check out the calendar.

blue Corn pic
Lunch at the Blue Corn Cafe

We stopped for lunch at the Blue Corn Café & Brewery.  They have two locations, one near the old town and the one on Cerrillos.  Both are excellent.  (Parking is a challenge for the one in Old Town, but it is a great place to sample beers and the food of New Mexico.)  Their menu features a number of brew pub items with a New Mexico flair as well as your traditional New Mexico favorites.  You can choose either red or green sauce (or both) and won’t go wrong.  The brewery is the home of the Atomic Blonde Lager, the Road Runner IPA, the End of the Trail Brown Ale and the Gold Medal Oatmeal Stout.  We were there during the Bike and Brew Festival, and got to try their Velo IPA which featured a blend of hops.  It was a wonderful change of pace.  And, they have a nice root beer as well.

Duel brewing is a bit different.  It features Belgian-style beers in a bit of a different atmosphere.  There are a number of different waffle offerings on the menu – from the waffle Cristo to waffle desserts.  The beers are definitely in the Belgian style, from a Witbier to the Imperial Porter.  The Stille of the Nite is one to try.  It is a non-carbonated sour dark ale.  Our take was that it was more of a port or dark sherry rather than a beer.  Challenges what we normally think a beer should be.

Our day ended with a stop at the Second Street Brewery.  (There are two locations in Santa Fe and the location where we stopped was the one on Second Street.)  Their normal tap offerings include a Kolsch, an IPA, the Tres Equis Lager, a Brown Ale and a Cream Stout.  As we were there during Bike and Brew, they were featuring a Boneshaker Ale.

It would be hard to go wrong with any of these selections. So, whether you are planning on staying in Santa Fe, or just passing through.  Be sure to stop and enjoy the hospitality!

Santa Fe Detour
The Detour Map – Addresses and Approximate Locations of Breweries

 

It is about the Mash

Posted on by sophicpursuits

For those who enjoy bourbon, whiskey (or the alternate spelling whisky) or rye (or even scotch), it is all about understanding the regulations, the mash, and how it is aged.  These are types of distilled beverages derived from a grain mash.  The grain mash is made from milling a combination of grains (malted or unmalted) such as corn, rye, wheat, and barley. The combination of the grains used for the mash is called the grain or mash bill.  The milled grains are combined with water, heated, and allowed to ferment to produce the alcohol.  The mash, and ultimately the beverage, is a product of the exact grain bill; how the mash is “cooked”; and how the ultimate liquor is aged.

Scotch and bourbon are unique types.  These are regulated by law and the use of the name is regulated much like that of an appellation for wine or cheese.  Scotch whisky and bourbon are both derived from mashes and must meet specific criteria as to the ingredients used, how the mash is made, and how it is aged (in what types of barrels and how the barrels are prepared).  By law, a bourbon (contrary to what some Kentuckians believe) must be produced in the United States, made from a grain mix of at least 51% corn, distilled at less than 160 proof (80% ABV), have no additives (except water to reduce the alcohol content), and is aged for a minimum of 2 years in new, charred white oak barrels.  Thus, bourbon is a well-defined whiskey.

While bourbon comes from a mash that is 51% corn; to be a rye, it most come from a mash that is 51% rye.  The mash bill becomes the first step in naming and labeling the distilled product.  Then, there is the location – you can have “Canadian Whiskey”, “Tennessee Bourbon”, “Kentucky Bourbon”, and the list goes on.  You can’t call a bourbon a Kentucky Bourbon unless it was distilled in Kentucky.  Finally, there is the style – you can have a Pennsylvania style or Virginia style.  This comes from both the mash bill as well as how the mash is fermented, and the liquor aged.  All of these go into making a distinctly flavored alcoholic beverage that can be described using a host of adjectives.

It takes a while to learn (some say a couple of lifetimes or you may never get a handle on it all); the various subtleties between the styles.  To begin your tasting adventure, I would recommend finding a colleague or establishment that has a variety to sample.  The more knowledgeable they are about the mash bill and the source of the “sample” the more educated your pallet becomes.  But, remember everyone has different likes and dislikes of flavors, and many of these “grow” on you as you try a variety.

Tasting at the Argyll Whisky Beer
Tasting at the Argyll Whisky Beer

One place to start (I will be highlighting others in future blogs), if you are lucky enough to be in the Denver, CO area; I would recommend starting at Argyll Whisky Beer (http://argylldenver.com/).  They have over two hundred different items to taste.  The staff is extremely knowledgeable about the mash bills, styles, and the typical descriptors for the varieties.  (The food and atmosphere is also a plus!)  It is more fun to go with a couple of friends (then you can all have a sip or two of something different).

Welcome! And I hope you enjoy the adventure!

Posted on by sophicpursuits

As a lifelong traveler, I have always been enjoyed taking the road less traveled, the backroads, and those that provide a unique experience.  Because my background had me traveling across the United States before I was out of first grade (I went to 13 different schools between Kindergarten and 12th Grade), I have had my share of interesting encounters, adventure stories, and have made stops at places most people pass by.

My family taught reading via historical markers, and my children have learned that way as well.  We have seen the geographic center of the United States, the 50 States, and North America.  We have tried hot chocolate in France and Spain.  We have made the detour to see the world’s largest ball of twine; as well as Fred Smith’s Concrete Park.  As part of these adventures, I have been on the hunt for unique wines, craft beers, and now the new craft distilled products.

2014-05-15 14.11.13
Photo from Fred Smith’s Concrete Park while looking for Craft Beers.

Back in the 80’s there were some niche’ locations, Napa, New Mexico, some in Pennsylvania, and some in Virginia.  Craft beers were very limited (and if you go to the National Brewery Museum in Potosi, WI you will find that there was a drop and now a steady resurgence of the local Brewer.)  And, even your distilled products such as bourbon, and whiskey had limited sourcing.

Today, you can go to many locations and learn the history of the specific industry, for example, there are Arkansas Vintners that have been in business prior to Prohibition (they made sacramental wine to get them through).  Some locations are new such as Oklahoma.  Similar trends can be found with beers and now the custom distillers are beginning to appear in some unusual locations – Moore, OK, and Wyoming.

So, join me in exploring the wide variety of spirits that can be found across the United States as well as learning about some wonderful places to visit when you are on that adventure!