Category Archives: Brew

Drink this! Terrapin Rye Pale Ale

Posted on by

1

Have you guys heard the good news?

The Bake & Brew is moving to St. Louis!

Things have been happening lately. Lots of great and amazing things. One of these is that I was fortunate enough (after a lot of hard work and dedication) to find a fantastic new job that I am so stoked about, which is taking me to St. Louis for the next year. I cannot express how incredibly excited I am.

I want to get back to the beer for a little bit here on the blog, partly because I miss writing here a lot and partly because I am anticipating all the amazing beer I’m going to try in St. Louis over the next year. So if you, or anyone you know is in the city, get at me. (@thebakeandbrew on Twitter) I’m incredibly thrilled about meeting new people and drinking new beer.

Let’s get to it!

Terrapin Rye Pale Ale

Terrapin Rye Pale Ale
Terrapin Beer Company
Athens, Georgia
American Pale Ale
5.3% ABV

All in all…
Pleasant. Today is the FIRST HOCKEY GAME SINCE FOREVER that I’ve been able to watch (I’m looking at you Gary Bettman), and I wanted a laid-back, pleasant beer. I didn’t want anything heavy or dark, or too hoppy on the other hand. I was bracing myself for something that was far too hoppy, but I was pleasantly surprised. This pale ale has just enough hops to give it a slightly biting flavor, but not too many that it’s overpowering. Well done fellows. This is a good balanced pale ale. And it smells delightful.

Recommend to a friend?
Yes, I really would.

Lightweight safe?
At 5.3% ABV it’s lightweight safe.

Plus one?
Mos def. You bet I’ll be having a second one in the next period of this Blackhawks game.

Six pack?
Yes, this one would be great to have in your refrigerator as a six pack. I don’t think I would get tired of this having it several nights in a row.

Hops & Heels: Allies Win the War

Posted on by

3

Remember me? I’m still here I promise. The last month has been a whirlwind of trying to ride my bike every day, starting classes, studying for the GRE, and trying to squeeze in as much summer fun as possible before autumn arrives. I just haven’t been able to wrap my head around working on posts here, but I miss you all like woah. Really and truly.

Lately I’ve also been in a real rut concerning beer. I’d like to write a separate post about it this week other than trying to fit it in here, so be on the lookout this week, mkay?

The Hops

I’m a sucker for anything WWII history related, so this Allies Win the War! had everything going for it…except for the dates. I kept seeing this beer pop up in beer blogs, and this packaging just reinforces one of the reasons I love cans – look how much design they can fit on that! I’ll be frank that this beer wasn’t for me, but I’m still glad I tried it. I’ve enjoyed all the other 21st Amendment beers I’ve tried in the past, and can we just take a look at that great (albeit blurry in this picture) beer can again?!

21st Amendment – San Francisco, CA
English style strong ale brewed with dates
8.5% ABV

Since this one isn’t for me, I’d recommend hearing these other folks out:
Beer Geek Nation (video)
the New School
Lyrics Libations and Life

The Heels
UO Suede Pump
Urban Outfitters (2011)
$39.00
P.S. I found this skirt through ASOS, and I’m completely obsessed. It’s like a perfect candy cane striped, high-waisted A-line, and I just knew I had to use it for this beer.

What should I drink? (Dogfish Head Festina Pèche)

Posted on by

3

Have you noticed that anytime anyone mentions a “fruit,” beer people around you fall all over themselves to be the first one to say “Ugh, I really do not like fruit beers. It’s just not what beer is supposed to taste like.” Like it’s an embarrassing thing to enjoy, and they need to make sure it’s clear they don’t approve.

How is it that we decide an entire style is bad based on one sub-par, syrupy beer we tried? Where is the line of what beer is “supposed” to taste like? Since when is liking fruit beer a bad thing?

My challenge for you, that if this is still your opinion and you’ve only tried one or two fruit beers, keep trying. Fruit beer is really hard to get right, but when it’s done well, heaven help you.

This Festina Pèche is my Summer 2012 beer, and definitively in my top 5 favorite beers now. It’s the closest thing I can get to a juicy, tart, and ripe Georgia peach without making a road trip to go pick one, and since we can’t get Dogfish Head in Indiana anymore (insert sad face), you can bet I’m willing to make the trip to Ohio for these.


Dogfish Head Festina Pèche

Dogfish Head – Maryland
Berliner Weisse (I still can’t help but think of this as a fruit beer…let’s not get into the style debate, it’s Friday, just enjoy the weekend and go try this beer)
4.5% ABV YES YES YES
Happy Times Liquor, Decatur, Georgia (yep, that’s the package store name)

Good Reads

Posted on by

3

GiustoGusto
You know when a dish looks so delectable that you almost start tearing up? Say hello to my newest blog crush and Muzzi in Caruzzi. On top of insanely delicious food, he features a Booze of the Month and he homebrews. Is this real life?

The Forest Feast
My buddy Christopher introduced me to the Forest Feast, and I’m in total blog love. I’m also completely envious over her (1) location: right next to tall, beautiful trees in California (2) her simple and savory recipes (3) her originality in combining the directions with her photographs in her handwriting and fonts. This blog is in the “everything they do is wonderful” stage, for sure.

Stouts and Stilettos
These ladies are awesome, and I love seeing a new post pop up in my Reader, because of the range of subjects related to beer they write about. That’s one of the best way to engage, and keep your readers coming back in my opinion. For example, you can find anything from “The Quest for the Holy Grail of Beer,” a recommendation on a beer and cake pairing, to a re-blog like “Some Thoughts on Beer Glasses.”

The Beeroness
This lady has it going on. If you Google search “baking with beer,” you are most likely going to come across a lot of chocolate stout cupcakes and cakes. Well this lady has my utmost admiration right now, because she keeps coming out with fantastic recipes using beer that are well beyond that traditional use. For example, Strawberry Beer Sorbet and IPA Marinated Citrus Porch Chops with Peach Poblano Salsa.

How Sweet It Is
I’ve been “starring” every single post from the last several weeks she has published, and I’ve re-read her Triple Berry Kale Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette at least seven times since yesterday. At the very least.

I hope you get to check some of these out soon, as they’re all staples in my morning routine these days. Spend some time with them, get inspired, get smitten.

25 Dishes Before 25

Posted on by

3

The word “and” as well as ampersands mean a lot to me. I’ve never been able to identify myself as just one thing or from just one place: I’m a reader, a writer, a baker, a golfer, a beer-lover, so on and so forth. I’m from Muncie, Georgia, Italy, and Paris. I’m composed of pieces from each place I’ve lived, different identities…I’m quite a few long sentences filled with lists. This leaves me open to a lot of different experiences in life, and I’m constantly looking around the corner for something new to learn. Right now I’m extremely happy to call myself a baker, but recently I’ve closed myself off to the possibility of being better at cooking, and I want to change that. I want to keep learning and growing in as many directions as possible.

My friend Ashley created a list of 25 things to do in her 25th year, which inspired this idea. My goal is to make 25 different dishes using ingredients I have never cooked or baked with, before I turn 25 (next May). I have started this small list (some are simple and inexpensive, some are pricier), I may remove or add ingredients/dishes, and I’d really love your ideas on what to make with these! My plan is to list the next ingredient with each of these posts so I can get some input and recommendations on how to use them.

I can’t wait to share this with you. And for my friends who live in the area – let’s do some of these together, yeah?

Chocolate Covered Strawberries Infused With Founders Cerise

Posted on by

1

How is your sumer to-do list coming? Have you played in a sprinkler yet? Made popsicles? Had a summer fling? Have you found any beer infused recipes to tackle? Was that even on your list? Well it should be.

My weekend was spent crossing things off that list, and we’re going to consider Thursday night as the beginning of the weekend. Thursday I went bowling for the first time since high school, and sang karaoke for the very first time (TLC “No Scrubs,” in case you were wondering). Then Sunday I spent the day with great people out at our local reservoir, playing in the water, laying under the sun, jumping off docks. There were sunny times had by all. And then there was chocolate covered fruit.

We’re going to soak almost ripe strawberries in Founders Cerise, a beer brewed with cherries, and dip them in melted semi-sweet chocolate. The beer is going to take your still-crisp strawberries, deepen and fill out a full, rich flavor. That richness is also then going to balance out the semi-sweet chocolate so that you have the perfect semi-sweet strawberry. And then we’re going to eat them all.

Before the recipe, though, I have to tip my hat to the Beeroness, whose Beer Soaked Chocolate Covered Cherries inspired this experiment. This girl knows her stuff.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries infused with Founders Cerise

1 pint fresh strawberries, just barely ripe
1 bottle Founders Cerise*
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate

1. Use a fork to poke holes two – three times in each strawberry.

2. Layer the strawberries in a small bundt pan and cover with Cerise. I used a bundt pan because the strawberries fit perfectly in the roundness of the pan. *If you have to use another pan that is more level, you’ll need another bottle of Cerise to cover the fruit.

3. Let soak for twenty minutes, rotate the strawberries, then soak for another twenty minutes.

4. Drain the beer, and pat dry on paper towels. Let air dry for one hour, or until the strawberries are just a little sticky to the touch. You may need to pat dry every so often to help the process along.

5. Melt and preferably temper your chocolate over a double boiler, dip strawberries and place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. If you have not tempered the chocolate, store in the refrigerator for up to one day.

If you can manage, share these with others…you’ll get a lot of smiles.

mood swings…er, beer swings?

Posted on by

8

Do you go through phases of preferring one style beer over others? I’ve been wanting hefeweizens and lagers recently, and this became very evident when I cracked open a Chaka the other night. I was extremely excited to try it as an Oskar Blues/Sun King Collaboration, but it just was not what I wanted at the moment.

Are there any styles of beer that you’re never in the mood for? Always in the mood for? I’m always in the mood for an IPA or pale ale, yet I’ve never found myself in the mood for a cream ale. I very sparingly really want a stout or porter, but I did go through a phase last November of wanting to try a lot of winter warmers.

Then there are times when you just want to try some bourbon instead.

Hops & (no) Heels: 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon

Posted on by

4


Hell or High Watermelon has been on my wish list forever (meaning since March), and thanks to Happy Times Package in Decatur, Georgia, I finally get to try it! And yes, that’s the real name. One of the guys working gave me a high five on my way into the store, too – vacation store win! Package store win!

All in all…
I try not to read other reviews before I write anything about a beer, so I apologize in advance if this is what everyone else has said…Hell or High Watermelon = jolly ranchers. Great, delicious, juicy jolly ranchers. This beer is exactly what you expect from 21st’s description: it really is a straightforward wheat beer with a touch of watermelon flavor and aroma. It isn’t overflowing with watermelon, but is just like watermelon itself: refreshing and subtle. A perfect vacation beer!

Recommend to a friend?
I don’t know that everyone will like this one only because not everyone likes watermelon. I even have to be in the mood for watermelon, but boy does this satisfy a craving that may come along.

Lightweight-safe?
Sure thing

Plus one?
Yes, please!

Get a six pack?
Why yes I did. And I’m taking the other five back to Indiana with me!

The Hops
21st Amendment Brewery – San Francisco, CA
“Wheat Beer”
4.9% ABV
Happy Times Package, Decatur, Georgia

The Heels
Obviously nonexistent. You didn’t think I’d bring heels with me on vacation, did you?

Drink this! (New Belgium Tart Lychee)

Posted on by

5

Today was an excellent day. Today still is an excellent day.

Despite burning my tongue on scalding hot Krispy Kreme coffee this morning, despite realizing I left my bike at my relatives’ house thirty minutes outside of Atlanta (yep), despite spilling aforementioned coffee all over a new shirt after that realization, it’s been a fantastic day.

This morning I continued our family tradition of getting a hot Krispy Kreme donut right before leaving town for a few relaxing days in Jekyll Island – a beautiful island off the coast of South Georgia with tons of bike paths and overhanging, ancient trees. I got to Krispy Kreme just in time for a donut right off the line (win!), and had a beautiful five hour drive to the coast. I listened to Iron & Wine all the way through two lane highways lined with pine trees, and rolled down the windows to smell the ocean and damp spanish moss. After checking in to the hotel, I took my bike right out (I drove back to get it) and went for a ride around the island, through the historic district, and got caught in two separate thunderstorms. It was a great ride, but I had to stow away my room key and iPhone in my sports bra because of the torrential downpour. (Perks of being a girl) I got back to the room sopping wet, tired, and so happy. And now I get to have this Tart Lychee. Since I didn’t think ahead and bring a glass with me, it’s in a hotel plastic cup, but nevertheless, it’s still great.

Like I said, excellent day.

Now, I don’t think I’m in any position to make specific observations about a beer because of the Krispy Kreme coffee situation, but I do hope you get to try this someone. Because even with limited taste buds, it’s delightful.

As a parting note, I have a guest post up over at The Midwestern Man about being a gentleman, and I hope you’ll check it out. I’m really excited about it: (1) because The Midwestern Man is a great blog in general, so I was super stoked when they asked for a guest post (2) it’s the first time I’ve written a post about something specifically other than beer or baking and (3) gentlemen are just plain awesome.

Hops & Heels: 5 A.M. Saint (redux)

Posted on by

1

Over and over you’ll hear from food bloggers that part of the great thing about baking or cooking is that when life is going haywire, when your friends fail, when your romantic life is a little clumsy, and when work is stressful you can reliably put together some delicious baked good or meal. No matter what, butter and sugar is a winning combination. Always and forever. And from the cooler, I can grab a 5 A.M. Saint and be wowed.

Aside from the amazing taste, I’m so pleased with how dependable yet surprising beer can be. I immensely admire many brewers’ insistence on exceeding our expectations, and not only exceeding those expectations, but presenting us with entirely new standards. It’s not enough for some of them to have a “decent” product, because they know we’re smart, have good taste, and we don’t want to settle anymore. Well, frankly, they’re also smart, have good taste, and they don’t want to settle anymore.

So much in life (relationships, personal growth, friends, etc.) is about standards. Standards for yourself and for others. Wouldn’t it be so disappointing if no one expected anything from you, or if they just expected mediocrity? Wouldn’t it be boring if you just expected others to be okay, or good enough? If you didn’t expect someone to be a great friend, a great boyfriend, a great brother, or a great parent? What if we didn’t expect the beer we order to taste great? What if the brewers tasted their finished product and said “That’s alright I guess. Let’s roll with it.” I have high expectations, not because I want people to do things for me, but because I want others to expect more from and for themselves. The tragedy is not when we fail those expectations or fall short. The tragedy is when we stop expecting anything or when we just expect “good enough.”

As long as we settle for good enough, we’ll never have great.

I’ve been all over the place in the last three paragraphs…let’s get on to the Brewdog.

All in all…
Last time I wrote about the 5 A.M. Saint I was very wide-eyed and blown away by the hops, mainly because I just wasn’t expecting that from an amber ale. This time around they’re still a pleasant surprise, and the beer is still great. It does what an “iconoclastic” ale should – it destroys what you think an amber ale should be. Each time I have this, no joke, I think “This doesn’t really taste like an amber ale…what is an amber ale supposed to taste like, anyways? Should it be this hoppy? Should other amber ales taste more like this instead?” You think twice. And just look at that red color! What an amazing shade…I can never get over their color palette choices.

Recommend to a friend?
If your definition of an amber is milder like, say Bell’s Amber, and you aren’t looking for anything different, I might not recommend this today. However, you do need to try this at one point or another.

Lightweight safe?
5.0% Yesss

Plus one?
For sure. Go on and grab another. This has a lot of flavor I love for a lightweight safe beer.

Get a six pack?
Yes, I think so

The Hops
Brewdog – Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire (Scotland)
Amber Ale…ahem, Iconoclastic Amber Ale
5.0% ABV
Friendly Package Liquors, Muncie

The Heels
Pollie Strappy Espadrille
Target (2012)
$29.99