greetings everyone. Sorry i haven't written in a while but things have been a little hectic lately. But enough with that> Lets talk about BEER!!!!! A lot of people have been coming into the Epicurean to talk to me about beer as of late. That is soooo cool. People come to me to ask about beer. They come in and ask me to put together a six pack of beers that i recommend. I first ask them what they are in the mood for, what they like as far as hops or malt, whether they instead to enjoy it with food or just hangin out on the deck trying to stay cool. whatever they tell me i put together a nice little package to enjoy for whatever reason. Remember beer isn't just a beverage to drink cause it will make you drunk, beer has sooo much more importance then that. for example; did you know that out of all the brews out there Budwieser is the best beer to use when making beer batter? Its true. for some reason Bud makes a beer batter unlike no other. To drink it is like drinking, ohhh i don't know, Pond scum!! Sorry just my opinion. really though Bud makes the best beer batter. I've tried others and Guiness is ok, Yuengling is ok too but Bud is good for one thing and one thing only. Making batter for fish, onion rings, veggies, tempura, etc. Try it the next time you make a beer batter. ok onward to some summer brews i've tried. Sam Adams has there summer ale out now. its ok. nothing spectacular but good none the less. if its offered at a get together don't refuse it. It goes down pretty smooth and doesn't sit with you to long. Another is Peak Organics Summer Session Ale. As with all the other brews i've tried of there's it's pretty darn good. Nice and smooth, lite, pleasant summer flavor that's not to heavy but not to light either. It still has the distinctive characteristics of what Peak does best. Make good tasting beer. Naturally!!! I say stay away from Brooklyn Brewing. So far everything they put out I just cant get a taste for. There beer isn't all that good. It's just average tasting beer. Now for a unique find. Dogfish Head, Victory, and Stone Brewing have collaborated on a beer that pretty much blew me away. Its called Saison du Buff. It's brewed with (get this) Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. Yes it looks like the old Simon and Garfunkel song has made its way into the Beer world. believe it or not it's a pretty good beer. It's got a lot of flavor though so it make the beer a one or two beers at the most. You can't drink a lot of it cause the flavor is just two much for drinking any more then two but don't let that discourage you, after you enjoy that one simply go on to something a little lighter. like say Dogfish Head 60 min IPA or Stone's Sublimely Self Righteous Ale or even a lite pilsner like Jever Pilsner. either way you go the flavors blends well with these when going from one brew to the next. keep in mind though the alcohol content. Most of the beers i try and recommend have a higher alcohol content. so please be careful and responsible. As i always say. i would rather have people try the beers i recommend week after week after week. if you get popped for dui or wreck your car you really cant enjoy the beer now can you? sorry that was meant to be a little humorous but seriously people be careful. It's also hotter then its been they last few summers and that makes it even more important to be careful when drinking. Ok enough about being responsible. Heres a list of beers to try when it's really hot outside.
1. Jever Pilsner
2. Dogfish Head Aprihop - Apricot IPA
3. Ithaca Apricot Wheat. (it's pretty good. nice and lite with a lot of flavor)
4. Flying Fish Farmhouse Ale ( one of my summer fav's)
5. Ithaca Ground Break
6. Boddington's Pub Ale
7. And the most important beverage in the summer......... WATER!!!!
 
if your gonna drink in the summer drink sum water in between your beers. Alcohol dehydrates you so you need to replenish your water. I know that beer is made of water but seriously beer dehydrates you especially the higher alcohol leveled brews. So don't forget the water this summer. ok that's all for now next post will hopefully be about my visit to Spring House Brewing. I hope to get out there and interview the people that brew the beer but we will have to see how my schedule goes at work. After all a chef in a restaurant doesn't have a, what you would call a "normal schedule". So till next time, Cheers.

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