An Ale

[helwen]

L and I thought we ought to try out some of the local brewers' ales before a couple friends of ours come to visit this month. So far, we have tried.... one. *sigh* We just have trouble remembering to do it, it not being a regular habit of ours (yet, anyway).

So, we have tried Berkshire Brewing Co.'s Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale, last week I think. And I have to say, it was pretty tasty. Character, not too tart for me, fizzy all the way (and I'm not a speedy drinker, so that's saying something), and no nasty after taste.

Okay, so that probably wasn't the sort of review a real expert would give, but we liked it.

Maybe tomorrow we'll remember to try the next one in the fridge.... By next Friday, with due diligence, we might even get up to four different ales -- probably all by Berkshire, but maybe we can throw in a Paper City one as well. There are other brewers here of course, but I really don't think I can handle trying a new ale (nevermind two) a day...

Comments

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I've heard extremely good things about the stuff coming out of the Opa-Opa Steakhouse and Brew Pub in Southampton.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Possibilities in the future. The question is do they sell at stores? We don't have much reason to go over to Southampton, generally speaking. Paper City has brews available here in Ashfield, so I don't have to go to Holyoke to get some to try. Still, even if not, we can keep them in mind if we're in that area, thanks.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Opa-Opa is bottling and selling its brews in area stores - here's a list of where their beer can be found in Massachusetts. They've won a slew of awards in Britain as well.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Cool!

[nq3x.livejournal.com]

Slacker!

=P

Seriously, I agree that the best way to taste a beer is through an entire bottle/pint. Flavors develop over time - as your senses adjust, as the beer warms, as the CO2 devolves, etc.

Here is a rather fabulous little series of essays on how to taste. Well, that's not entirely accurate. Better to say, "How to taste so you can categorize beyond 'yummy' and 'not yummy', and know why a beer is 'yummy' or 'not yummy'."

I'd keep that author's site bookmarked, because she has a real knack for explaining beer to the non-beer-geek.

Bob

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks!

[rtropeano.livejournal.com]

You will have to try the Sierra Grill in North Hampton, They will let you try the beers for free and they have a lot of the local brewers.

Great place, and their prices are very reasonable, esp. if you are just getting a snack with a beer tasting.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Thanks!