Before Beer, says Bamforth, Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Brewing Science at the University of California, we just followed our goats around. Then, we saw through a glass, darkly, and realized that grain can be converted into a liquid that makes happy, and we stayed put while the grain grew and beer was brewed. And thus, civilization started. To quote Bamforth "He who drinks beer sleeps well. He who sleeps well cannot sin. He who does not sin goes to heaven. The logic is impeccable." [SciAm May 1, 2007]
Selected samplings of the brew that started civilization below.
Wikipedia tells us that the Aztecs acquired the vanilla discovery from the Totonac people. The Aztecs drank their chocolatl with a dash of vanilla, and Europeans, once they got used to the stuff (one appalled Spaniard described chocolate as “a drink for pigs”), followed suit.
Very nice tingle that hits the back of your throat. Nice malty flavour but not overly so. Picking up some of the chili spice and some of the chocolate. Liked it - but I think i liked the original more! This one does not have as much of the mouth watering milky-ness nor the cheek widening liquorice-ness as other stouts. It's a bit sharp without enough of the spicy and a bit flat in a steely sort-a way. However, since we've just bought the fourth four-pack, I guess we do kinda like it enough - it is not boring and different enough.
Do you like Chocolate Orange? Is that the thing you were hoping to get in your stocking, feeling for the square shape when it was your turn? Then this is YOUR beer. Pour it into your glass and just ... breathe in the fragrance. There's a liquid Christmas morning for you!
Gold winner at the Annual Canadian Brewing Awards in the 2019 category "herb and spice" and back with a strong showing for 2022!
Absolute Mother Goose classic for the season.
Pumpkineater Pumpkin Ale from the Howe Sound Brewing Company "Imperial ale brewed with pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger & cloves. 8.0% ABV"
On the first sip, it seems you're drinking a soy wax candle. But in a good way and it doesn't burn your tongue.
I picked this beer because, I mean, how can anyone go wrong with a 'PastryArchy Banana Bread Pudding hefeweizen' beer?
Two new finds at our awesome local liquor store "The Gull" at Park & Tilford:
**Update Nov 23, 2021** The Gull has a new variant on this!
