Blue Moon Spring Blonde Wheat Ale

Hey all,

     So this weekend I went out with a couple of friends and I picked up a six pack of
Blue Moon Spring Blonde Wheat Ale. This beer is brewed and bottled in Colorado by the Coors Brewing Co. I am a big fan of regular Blue Moon so when I saw the Blonde Wheat Ale I just to try it.
     After getting to our destination I finally was able to taste the beer, and the flavor was average. It honestly tasted like the regular Blue Moon when you add an orange to it, and the reason is because it is brewed with orange and lemon peels.
     Nothing about this beer exceeded the average mark. It had an average head and you couldn't really taste the hops or barley. Just as I think Blue Moon is an average beer, the Blonde Wheat definitely falls into the same category for me. If you enjoy regular Blue Moon I would recommend this brew to you, but if you're not a fan I suggest you stay away from it because it will only bring disappointment.

Cheers!!
John Mancini

Food pairings part 1

When most people think of pairing a beverage with food they think of wine: a chardonnay or merlot goes well with chicken, and a cabernet sauvignon can compliment beef dishes. This principle can be applied to beer as well. A good rule of thumb to start with for pairing beer with food is to pair heavy food with heavy beer and light food with a lighter beer. Think of ales as red wine and lagers as white wine if that helps. If you do cook with beer, just like wine, I would serve the same beer as used in the recipe, but it isn't uncommon to choose a beer with a significant contrast so that you appreciate the taste of the one used in the dish. This will be the first installment of an ongoing series focusing on different types of beer and what is a good food pairing.

Today I will briefly discuss wheat beers. Wheats get their name because they are  brewed with a large proportion of wheat. Wheat beers often also contain a significant proportion of malted barley.  The flavor of wheat beers varies considerably, depending upon the specific style. The main varieties are weissbier, witbier, and sour. One of the most well known wheats in America is a  witbier in called Blue Moon, which sadly is distributed by the Coors brewing company. With these beers, it is best to stick with lighter more subtle fare like salad or fish. These can also go well with dessert. A  Belgian white with an orange dessert is a great idea because citrus style desserts bring out the  spice from these beers. That’s all for now; Check back later for more updates on food pairings.

e

Try This Brew! Magic Hat Brewing Co.

     Magic Hat Brewing Company is a really cool brew that has been creating a lot of buzz lately. It was recently voted in the Top 10 Biggest U.S. Craft Breweries by MSNBC.com, along with some names like Sierra Nevada, Samuel Adams, and Harpoon Brewery. Magic Hat has some really interesting beers that I think everyone should check out.
     The first brew is their most popular, called "#9". Plain and simple, it's just a really good beer. It's a nice, crisp pale ale that can be enjoyed by everyone. Definitely check this out! "Circus Boy" is another brew by Magic Hat that is brewed year round. It is considered an American Hefeweizen brewed with Apollo hops.
     There are some really good seasonal brews that are made by the Vermont brewery that are only available for a limited time. Since spring has come upon us very early this year (70 degrees today?!) let's talk about the spring brew, "Spring Vinyl". This is a really cool amber lager that is a little darker than a pale ale but still delicious nonetheless. This lager is only available from January 15th to March 31st so get out there and pick this up before the month is over!
     Beer has always been a stigma when it comes to the ladies. I always felt that with women, you either love beer or you hate it. The summer ale by Magic Hat can be enjoyed by everyone because of its great taste. It's called "Wacko" and it is delicious. It has a crisp but sweet taste that definitely quenches thirst whether you're at the beach or the bar. You can pick this brew up between April 1st and July 31st. Personally, I can't wait to pick up a bottle of "Wacko" and relax on the beach when classes are done!
     Magic Hat also makes really cool variety packs that have a little something for every type of beer lover. There's a "Spring Fever" pack, a "Summer Scene" pack, and my personal favorite, the "Night of the Living Dead" case. This case comes with four different beers- "#9", "Hex", "HI.P.A.", and "Humble Patience." All of the variety packs come in a really cool box.
     There are a few bars on Long Island where you can taste some of these brews including The Nutty Irishman in Bay Shore, The South Beach Saloon in Smithtown, The Roadhouse in Bohemia, and the Village Idiot Pub in Patchogue. If you're ever in any of these bars, definitely try out a Magic Hat beer and for more info, visit www.magichat.net. Enjoy!

-John Tancredi

What you should know about L.I.'s pride and joy...Blue Point

     So I was at the bar with some friends over the week and decided to have a Long Island classic, Blue Point blueberry ale. As I was sitting in the bar enjoying my brew, I was thinking about how many Long Islanders know about a beer that is brewed right at home. There are a lot of interesting facts about the Blue Point brewing company that many beer lovers may not know. That's what The Brew Crew is here for!
     Blue Point imports a rare type of hop only grown in Oregon that give Blue Point its unique and great taste. The hop is called "Hoptical Illusion" and is featured in both the draft beers and six packs. Blue Point has both summer and winter lagers that are great tasting and have the taste of Long Island. The Blueberry ale (the drink I had to inspire this post) is one of the best kept secrets in the beer world. BP uses 132 pounds of blueberries in each batch to get that unique and sweet taste. If you're a fan of oatmeal and a sweet, dessert tasting beer, definitely check out the Oatmeal stout. It's definitely geared towards a darker beer fan, but the addition of chocolate into the recipe should make fans of lighter beer enjoy this stout.
     Next, we have Octoberfest, a seasonal favorite of mine! Octoberfest was originally started in 1810 to honor the crown prince of Balvaria. Today, we are still drinking this brew to celebrate our love of the autumn season and of course, beer! There are many popular Ovtoberfest brews such as Sam Adams, but if you haven't checked out Blue Point's version you are surely missing out. Lastly there is The "Old Howling Bastard". This beer has an alcohol content of 10% so it is not meant to drink by the case. Try drinking this brew in a wineglass to truly enjoy the carel taste. This would definitely be classified as a sipping beer.

     Now that you have all the information you need about Long Island's Blue Point, pick up a pint next time you're at the local pub. You can also check out the Blue Point brewery in eastern Long Island! Cheers! -John T.

What's In a Name?

If you are anything like me you love a good IPA. Indian pale ales are characterized by having higher alcohol and hop content than traditional pale ales. One of my favorite ipa’s is the Hoptical Illusion from Bluepoint Brewing Company. Not only is it delicious, but it is brewed locally which is a real sticking point with me. I think it’s important to support local breweries to preserve the variety of choices you can make.

There is one thing I do dislike about Hoptical Illusion though, the name. I have an utter abhorrence for comical names in beers and IPA’s are notorious offenders. Go into any beer distributor and you’ll be inundated with goofy names and labels. Names like Hoptimus Prime and In Heat Wheat are extremely common but I fail to find them funny. I find names like that take the focus off the beer itself and aim to sell the beer based on the name. 

Would you buy a car based on a funny name? 

I didn't think so.

 -E

Longboard Island Lager

Aloha!!

     Last night my friends and I went out to a local bar called Fatty Mcgee's in East Islip. When we walked through the door the first thing I did was make my way towards the taps to see what was on draft. The beer they have on tap there is the usual Budlight, Budweiser, Heineken, and Yuengling, however, there was one that I haven't seen before and it was called Longboard, Island Lager.
      Island Lager is made by the Kona Brewing Company which is located in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii's big island. This company was formed in February of 1995 with its first keg beers named Pacific Golden Ale (now called Big Wave Golden Ale) and Fire Rock Pale Ale. I haven't tried either of these so I wouldn't be able to tell you what I think of them, however, I can tell you what I thought about the Island Lager.

     After seeing the Island Lager on tap I was very excited to try it even though I had never heard anything about the beer. Finally the moment of truth, I put the glass to my lips and I tasted the Lager and was very surprised how crisp it was. This beer wasn't too heavy or too light, it was directly in the middle. The flavor was not overbearing or too dull, it had the perfect taste. Heading into the decision of ordering this beer I wasn't sure if I was going to like it because I never heard anything about it. Then after tasting the beer I didn't order anything but the Island Lager for the rest of the night.

      If I had to make a decision to recommend this beer to someone I definitely would. My experience with this Lager was a pleasant one, and I definitely enjoyed the flavor of this brew. So next time you're at a bar or the beer distributor and you see Longboard Island Lager I suggest you give it a shot.

Thank you,

John Mancini