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Monthly Archives: June 2012
Good: Free Beer! Bad: It’s Miller Lite
From marketwatch.com:
Legal-drinking-age consumers with the first, middle or last name Miller will receive a gift card equivalent to the cost of a case of Miller Lite so they can enjoy a little Miller Time with their friends.
This is a big promotion Miller is running across the country. Personally, free is about the only way I would drink Miller Lite. You know, the company that wants you to “man-up” with a light adjunct lager.
Posted in Beer News
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French Broad 13 Rebels ESB
French Broad 13 Rebels ESB
Another native North Carolina beer, and the first ESB I have reviewed, here is French Broad 13 Rebels.
Pours a hazy burnt orange with a sticky beige head. Smells of butterscotch and toasted bread. Toasted malt dominates the palate with hints of orange and butterscotch. Citrusy hops are noticeable, but not overpowering, in the finish, which is long, dry, and a tad bitter, but pleasantly so. It’s a little oily and slick in the mouth, but that dry finish is a nice contrast.
Overall, it’s a very solid beer. Plenty of flavor, good balance, nothing overpowering. Fun lacing, too.
Grade: B
Homebrew: Moby Dick Belgian White
I decided it was time for a new homebrew. And as I give all my beers Led Zeppelin song names, I figured Moby Dick would be perfect for a Belgian White. The recipe will follow, but as this was my first time using wheat malt and the first time brewing anything like this style, I was a bit apprehensive. But I’m rather pleased how it turned out. It might need a bit more depth, but I think it’s a solid B. The color is more orange than I had anticipated, but it is indeed hazy with a decent fluffy white head. Aroma is mostly orange with coriander in the background. Flavor is mostly wheat malt, orange, and coriander. Not much in the way of hops (as intended), just a dry, grassy finish. Approximate ABV of 4.6% and 15 IBUs.
Overall, it’s quite good. Orange may dominate a little much and the wheat isn’t coming through as much as expected, but I’m happy with it. Here’s what I did: 
Steep
1/2 lb torrified wheat
1/2 lb flaked oats
150° for 30 minutes
Boil
6 pounds wheat malt extract
1 ounce Hallertau hops
at 50 minutes into the boil I added a muslin bag with:
1/2 ounce Czech Saaz hops
1 tsp bitter orange peel
1 tsp sweet orange peel
1/2 tsp coriander seed, crushed
Removed the bag with the final flavor and hops at the end of the boil. Added the Belgian yeast when the wort reached the appropriate temp
If you have any suggestions, feel free to let me know!
And for your listening pleasure, dig on some John Henry Bonham
Foothills People’s Porter
Foothills People's Porter
The string of North Carolinian beers continues with Foothills People’s Porter. Pours more dark brown rather than full on black with a creamy beige head. Smells of toffee, chocolate, and hard English water. Smooth and velvety texture. The flavor is loaded with charred oak, bitter chocolate, maybe even some roasted marshmallow. Hops really only show up in the aftertaste. More of an English take on the style and very tasty. The mineral/hard water flavor comes through a bit more as it warms. The finish becomes more bitter, as well.
I like this quite a bit.
Grade: B