Saturday night microbrew review...by flvegan

[flvegan]

Yes, not FIvegan, but FLvegan (I do love the attention).

For the entry this week, I've chosen a unique graphic. A graphic that depicts the heart of this beer...the Primal mountainbike jersey for


Boulder Beer's Singletrack Copper Ale

Smooth and pleasant with a nice "aftertaste" I find that this might well be the perfect beverage after a long ride (or a very, very long day at a doggie adoption event...). I have to admit, this brew caught me on the theme...singletrack...which, as a mountainbiker myself (so there aren't any mountains in Florida, shut up!) I can appreciate on a level other than an alcohol percentage, which, btw is 5.

Two of these makes me want to mount my Gary Fisher Sugar and hit the trails (most likely, after two of these, I'd be hitting those trails with my face).

flvegan rating: 9.0

[seemunkee]

1. Enjoy

gets a good review
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/130/2177

I rode 50 miles today and I'm drinking a refreshing ginger wheat while brewing 10 gallons of pumpkin ale for the fall.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. Your own ginger wheat?

Or is it a commercial brand?

That sounds yummy. :toast:

[seemunkee]

7. My own

It was the my summer special so I need to finish it off before the pumpkin is ready.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. Mmm...

I'd like to try that!

[seemunkee]

10. stop by

I'm in Olney

[flvegan]

4. I hate you.

Okay, I don't really, but then, yeah, I kinda do. I've just discovered the wonderful world of the pumpkin brews, albeit commercial.

If I brewed my beer myself, I'd be a total lush.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. Sounds interesting!

Thanks for the tip!

I'm going to the Dogfish Head pub tomorrow; and plan on trying whatever new concoction they've got... :hi:

[flvegan]

5. Dogfish makes some fine brew.

Next Saturday (or hell, tomorrow's) review should really be a Dogfish entry.

[seemunkee]

6. Gaithersburg or Rehobeth?

I've been disappointed with the food in Gaithersburg. Never the beer though.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. Rehoboth...

Even though it's going to be raining, we thought we'd putter around there for he day. :-)

I haven't been to the one in Gaithersburg yet; but I've heard the food isn't as good...

Say, I notice you're in Olney...What's the Ale House like?

[seemunkee]

11. The ale house is a nice little place

They were sold a few years ago and the place has changed. More and better beers but the food quality went down. The stew has always been good and their homemade bread is excellent. Just don't try to go there on a Friday night. No one cooks on Friday in Olney and there is always a long wait.

Have fun at the beach.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. Sounds like fun...Have you ever tried this place out?

http://www.mannequinpis.com/

I love Belgian brews...

[seemunkee]

20. Yes, it is very good

Small place so you are very close together. The food is excellent and they have a wide selection of beers. Service is good but they can be a bit pretentious. Don't try to make substitutions and don't expect them to have any vegetarian of children's options.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

21. I'd better try it out before I take my kid...

He's still in grilled-cheese phase...

I found their website about a year ago, and have been wanting to go there. Thanks for your input!

[LeftyMom]

12. Oh, that's what I forgot at the store. Damn it.

::scrounges in fridge for something decent anyhow::

[flvegan]

13. You are SO fired...

Okay, not really.

[LeftyMom]

14. Someday, somebody will create a pizza, beer, DVD and backrub service

They will deliver. I will tip them well, and they will become rich. In the meantime, I will forget to buy beer and improvise ways to drown braincells with what's on hand. :shrug:

[flvegan]

15. Uh huh...

The drowning of brain cells with what's on hand...not going to go there.

[LeftyMom]

16. Now I'm curious.

:pout:

[Susang]

17. Make sure that beer's vegan

Many microbrewerys using finings to clarify their product, particularly if you purchase a beer poured at their restaurant that is from a cask. They are not required by law to list that the isinglass or gelatin is in there, so you have to ask and pray that they tell you the truth.

Same goes for most wines, sorry to say. There are very few vegan wines. If the vineyard doesn't label it's wine free of finings and vegan friendly, than it's almost positive they are not. Especially big producers like Mondavi, Kendall Jackson, Peter Lehmann, Rosemount, etc. Vineyards use finings derived from eggs, milk and fish to clarify their wine. So look for Kosher wines, where most fining agents are not allowed, any wines labeled "unfiltered, unfined" and look for information on vineyards that use mineral finings like bentonite. Here's a resource I used to check often to help any vegan customers I had choose an appropriate wine. It's usually kept fairly up to date. I suggest downloading "The pocket guide to vegan wine" they offer for free. http://vegans.frommars.org/wine/

BTW, all of this applies to sake as well. Unfortunately, it's much harder to find out what sake makers use to fine their product. Unfiltered sake is primarily a dessert sake, so that does cause problems if you enjoy a little Junmai Daiginjo with your peanut noodles.

[flvegan]

18. Very true.

Which is why I taste no beer before it's cleared.

Especially with wine. I go with Frey and Habitat.