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I have been drinking beer for just about 40 years now. It all started with a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon back in 1976 behind my garage with a few of my friends. Yes, we were underage and that is why we drank it behind the garage. From there I broadened my beer horizons over the years to include beers from all over the world.
I could not tell you the names of every beer that I drank throughout my lifetime, but I can tell you some were outstanding and others, not so good. I have also been a home brewer for the past several years and have produced some darn good beers. The best being an Oktoberfest back in the fall of 2012.
Good memories.
So, am I an expert? Who know? What I can tell you comes from a regular Joe’s point of view on beer. I can also tell you that I am going to write this column to tempt you to broaden your beer horizons. I will not talk about the standard beers such as Miller, Coors and Budweiser unless they come up with something very special. What I will talk about are the multitudes of microbrews, domestic and foreign beers that you have looked at in the store but wondered how they tasted before you spent $40 to $50 for a case. That’s a big hit to the old pocketbook if you crack one open and don’t like it. When tasting a beer, I will let you know about three factors — sight, aroma and taste. The SAT’s of beer.
Now that my introduction is out of the way, let’s get started. Most people are in hibernation, waiting for the warmer weather so they can get back to drinking beer on their decks, patios, cookouts and clambakes. I find that this time of year may be gloomy and cold, but it is a great time for beer especially Stouts. As the weather gets colder I find myself looking for Stouts especially from the many micro breweries across the country. One of my favorite micro-breweries is Southern Tier from Lakewood, New York. They produce a winter beer called Crème Brulee from their Blackwater Series.
Sight: When you first open a bottle of Crème Brulee, you will smell the sweet aroma of actual Vanilla Crème Brulee. Who doesn’t like a warm Crème Brulee after a nice steak dinner? As you pour your beer, you will see the pitch black color along with a thick light brown head. If you hold your glass up to a light, you will barely be able to see through the beer. If you normally don’t like thick beers, don’t be alarmed. This stout is not as thick as most. It does however coat your glass with a thin layer of liquid.
Aroma: Once poured, that initial Vanilla aroma mixes with the smell of caramel. It is not an overpowering aroma, but strong enough to overcome the actual normal beer smell. In the background, you will also smell a slight aroma of Butterscotch. In general, this beer smells like a heavenly candy bar or a slice of vanilla bean cheesecake with a caramel drizzle.
Taste: Now to the most important part, the taste. At first sip, the Southern Tier Crème Brulee bursts with the flavor a vanilla. You will also notice back notes or caramel as you savor the flavor of this winter stout. Again, you will notice that this stout is not as thick as a traditional stout. In fact it has a great initial flavor that is easy to swallow. If there is one downfall, it is the after taste. It is somewhat bitter right at the end which is normal for a full bodied beer especially those brewed by Southern Tier. After several sips, your taste buds will get used to this bitterness making this beer even better. If you think that this stout will be too sweet, don’t worry. It is a perfect blend of flavors that are just right for your palate.
Overall, the Southern Tier Crème Brulee is a very good winter beer. I would recommend a glass or snifter with scoop of vanilla ice cream, a slice of French Vanilla Cheesecake or just by itself with a warm fire. There are several places you can find this tasty beer including The Tipsy Turtle and Wegmans. If you like Crème Brulee, this is a must try.
