Capt Keith's Beer Blog

This holiday season, we have a special glass for you. A little Yule Fuel to kick start the holiday spirit. So, bring your gang – and get to your favorite Saucer early because this glass is a good one & will surely go quick. Check it out……..

Now for the really good part. Greg Koch from Stone turned loose of some of his vintage Imperial Russian Stout for every Saucer (Little Rock and KC excluded – sorry dudes).

You will have the rare opportunity to try this 2007 vintage IRS.  Get off work early and run, don’t walk to the Saucer to get this glass and this beer! I hope to see you there.

Today, I had the chance to taste the new Ranger IPA from New Belgium Brewing Company, before it’s release to the public. The team of “beer rangers” that I know from NBBC are solid guys with a passion for good beer. Not just their beer, but all beer. The story behind this IPA is that the Rangers on the street wanted a hopped up beer to sell. They wanted an IPA that could compete with the best in the market.

The hops used are Simcoe, Chinook and Cascade. The IBU’s (International Bittering Units) are around 60 which is up there. The color is a pale golden-amber with a solid white head that last awhile. It has a strong floral aroma and maybe some grapefruit. (I had four people taste it with me and one says grapefruit and it sticks.) I say some type of interesting flower that I cannot put my finger on and another agrees that it has something unique. It is bitter for sure but has enough malts to make it subtle and not really a hop slam like some IPAs. (Don’t get me wrong – I like the occasional hop slam in my beer too.) The mid-section of this brew has a creamy tinge of something sweet, but I could not place it. Maybe its the yeast. The hop bitterness lingers and it has a dryness at the end, but also that ever-so-mild sweet something right in the middle.

I like it and I would drink it again. In fact, put me in Wholefoods or Central Market in hunt for an IPA and I’ll snag a sixer or two. It quite possibly is my new favorite NBBC brew. Well, maybe after La Folie. If you dig NBBC and you dig hoppy IPA’s, I really think you will like this beer. Find it in your local market and at the Flying Saucer in mid Frebruary.

Last night I tried the Saint Arnold Christmas Ale – which had a deep copper color. It was slightly  murky – not clear. The head was tight and lasting and tan in color. I detected some holiday spice in the aroma along with some fruity sweetness. The style is a winter warmer but the alcohol is not noticeable to me. The flavor has caramel notes, toffee, sweet fruits and mild hops. This is a great brew for the general population – easy to drink with pleasant mouthfeel. You can find it at most markets that care about the beers they offer.

As a beer buyer, it is my job to know about all styles and take note when I taste them. It is important to know what is in the market or what will be in the market even before it arrives. This time of year is always good for beer guys like me and YOU.

Last night I had a Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale – It looked like the Celebration I’ve always known. I have enjoyed this beer so much that I have tried to knock it off while home brewing a few times. I’ve come close but never as good as the real thing. This beer seems a little thinner than I remember, but very fresh with snappy hops.

Sierra uses Two-row pale as the base and then English Caramel malts for color and flavor. The hop bill is Cascade (nothing new) and Centennial, which I like. The alcohol is almost 7% so it can really take the edge off a long work day.

Check it out at Sierra Nevada’s site.

I am going to try to work my way through more beers and post them as I taste them.