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Wednesday, March 28, 2007

SBP and STAG get another plug

Don Cazentre, who covers the beer beat for the Syracuse Post-Standard (covers it well, too), picked up the Session Beer beat for his latest piece, and gives the blog a real nice plug:

Session beers: Not bland, not too bold

A few tastes:

"...whatever happened to high-quality, full-flavor beers that aren't extreme and taste like, well, beer?They're still around, but they get lost in all the buzz about bigger, bolder brews. Yet there are beers out there that you can enjoy, and even have a few of, without feeling like an anvil fell on your head."

and...

"For Middle Ages brewer Marc Rubenstein, all this makes sense. Session beers are what he likes to drink. "I enjoy beers that I can have a couple of while watching a game," he said. "Beers that are not in your face but still have lots of flavor." "

SBP rolls on...

6 comments:

Steven said...

You know, I never would have pegged it, but Urquell is only 4.4% ABV eh? Nice - more Saaz for everyone!

Anyone remember the low-alcohol Urquell being served at the Pilsen steel works that Jackson talked about in the Beer Hunter series? Love to try that.

Lew Bryson said...

More Czech genius, eh?

We tried getting the 10P Budvar when we over in 2005, but I'll tell you, you really have to look for it. Too bad.

Anonymous said...

Lew, I will be looking for 10P Budvar when we tour the brewery during our Victory trip in two weeks. Hell yeah!!

Lew Bryson said...

Ouch, ouch, a touch, I must confess! Do yourself a favor, Richard, and be sure to get plenty of the Budvar Dark. That stuff is the very balls. Have a great time...as if you won't!

Steven said...

I saw the original announcement on that tour - I hope it's so successful that they continue the trip annualy for years to come...or at least until I've saved up enough money to join in!

Lew, can you describe the Budvar Dark? I've heard nothing but good stuff about it -- is it a Dunkel style, or more of a Schwarzbier in a true "dark Pils" definition?

Lew Bryson said...

I don't think it slots too well. Definitely not a "dark Pils," it doesn't have the hop character. It straddles the dunkel/schwarzbier line. It's in the high 4% range, maybe 4.7, 4.8% ABV, it's got some roasted character, and it's darker than most of the dunkels I've seen. It is as drinkable as a helles, but with a somewhat more complex malt character. It was one of my favorite beers in the Republic...but the brewmaster at Budvar was of the opinion that it would not travel well, and he didn't seem to think much of it. He's absolutely in the thrall of Budvar 12, and to tell the truth, I can't blame him: fresh, on tap, it's a damned nice beer. They both are. Can you tell that I'd really like a glass of each, right now?