#8 of 1001 Dale's Pale Ale

Another in the Series based off of 1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die (1001 (Universe))

Oskar Blues Makes Canned Goodness

Dale's Pale Ale by Oskar Blues is quite possibly one of my most favorite beers.  When Beer Bitch took me to Colorado, she had me guess where we were going.  My answer- "Let's go see Dale and drink his Pale Ale."  Oskar Blues is a true pioneer in craft brewing.  Why? They CAN, stupid, and they were the first to can craft beer.  Oskar Blues was the pioneer in the can movement and backs that up with a superb line of beer.  Dale's Pale Ale won the World Beer Cup 2010 Gold along with a host of other awards.  I only regret they do not distribute here in Illinois.  (Hey Mr. Katechis Chicago is a big juicy sales market.)  However, a six pack made it back in my suitcase. I now only open a can with the greatest reverence as I do not want to let one go.




Tasting Notes:  Copper in color with a foam head, and very decent lacing.  You can definitely smell the citrus and bready notes.  The beer tastes like nectar of the gods.  Ok, Ok, maybe I have a man crush on this beer.  Seriously it is almost fruit juice in quality, with a bitterness you feel in your cheeks.  A dryer finish that leaves you craving more.


If this beer is available in your market go buy it.

Beer Review: Sigda's Green Chili by Cooper Smith's of Fort Collins

Wednesdays are for beer reviews and I know I have been telling you all about the 1001 beers.  However, I had one of those beers that change perspective last weekend.

Sigda's Green Chili was light and crisp with a fiery chili side.  I found it not to be obnoxious like Cold Creek Chili Beer or even Rogue's which are so in your face its not worth drinking.  (I am sure some Rogue fans would disagree.)  It was an excellent example of what a brewer can do when a brewer puts his mind to it.  He could of just as easily just dumped a bunch of crap in a kettle and called it beer, however he did not.  The attention to detail resulted in a well balanced beer where the spiciness was an element and not the killer flavor.  I am assuming this drinkability (thanks for coining the phrase AB) comes from the use of Anaheim and Serrano chilies instead of chipotle like Rogue.  Although Cave Creek uses serrano so I have no idea.  I will caution you it is spicy, but if you like spice give this one a shot at least as part of your sampler.

Look for my full review of Cooper Smith's within a week.  Trust me it is good news I don't buy glassware from just anyone.

EPIC 2010 LOOMS

Ok, so for those of you who do not know Beer Bitch has planned some sort of Epic BeerCation.  I am calling it Epic 2010.  She claims to have produced a book of 140 pages in length to serve as a guide.  I am notorious about researching breweries prior to my arrival.  When I went to Kona last spring I knew off the top of my head which beer to order, to pair with which dish to eat and which souvenir glass to buy.

So first off, follow my trip: https://twitter.com/verysmallbeer

On this trip I know nothing.  She has not divulged very many details.
Here is what we know:

1. Everyone knows but me.  
2. The trip will be 3 days
3. 140 pages of material
4. Several beers in the 1001 series
5. Beer Bitch just bought a luggage scale.
6. Cans
7. Sustainability

Originally, I thought it was Madison.  However, she bought a luggage scale.  We do not travel by air often so that implied to me checked bags.  The next airfare I have is November and she just doesn't think that far ahead.  She kept saying it was gonna blow my mind.  So my prediction is I will be a short driving distance to the two largest brewers in the US, but only one of the ten biggest craft brewers.  Where do you think I am going?

Hint

Note: Regardless of where we end up I promise to be grateful.

Why Everyman Needs A Beer Bitch

So my girlfriend is my Beer Bitch.  Yes my Masters degree, Top 25 school, uber-professional girlfriend decided one day she wanted to be called Beer Bitch.  This is why thats awesome.

How did she get the name?  She offered to be called Beer Bitch and fetch beer on a trip with my parents.

Why does she deserve the name?  Actually I think this might of been the perfect name for her at birth. She knows as much about beer as I do. Miraculously, she doesn't drink it.  She can pair beer and food, tell you what aromas and flavors to expect.  Yeah thats right she knows it all, but never touches my beer. She allows me to have a beer cabinet, she has bought about half my glass collection for me.  Goes on business trips and brings back beer.  She knows which beers I have not had and which I have (the number I have had is in the several hundreds).

Even better she DDs like no one else.  She makes sure I get on a couple serious bar crawls in each yeah.  In fact next week she is taking me on a three day unspecified journey that she describes as "Epic."  Why is this Epic?  Honestly I do not know.  However, she has leaked the fact that she has prepared a 50 page guidebook to breweries and their beers to be covered throughout the tour, and that at least 20 beers I have never seen before will be on it.  She also claims I will have some serious material to write about when we get back.

So yes she wears the name Beer Bitch with pride, and yes she is my Beer Bitch.  She has made a point to learn about a hobby that is important to me, and make it something we share.  I thank her for her support of my beer adventures and for shamelessly promoting the crap out of this blog to everyone she knows.  I hope you too find yourself a Beer Bitch.