1001 BEERS. #39: ANCHOR PORTER

 

# 39: ANCHOR PORTER

Anchor Brewing Company - USA (Est.1896)

5,6% ABV - Porter
IBU's - 40

Ingredients:

Malts: 2-Row Pale, Caramel, Black & Chocolate
Hops: Northern Brewer

Tasting Notes

E: Dark rich black with a soapy beige head.

N: On the nose there is a lovely burned cereal and a slight woody hop aroma.  There is also a hint of sweet malty aromas on the nose.

P: A gentle bitter hoppy bite is balanced by a sweetness of caramel, toffee and rich chocolate.

M: Creamy, smooth with a well balanced finish

Other comments: 
The Anchor history can be traced back as far as 1871, when Gottlieb Brekle bought a billiard hall and bar and turned it into a brewery, that 20 years later would be named Anchor Brewery. In 1896 a German brewer called Ernst F. Baruth purchased the brewery and named it Anchor.  A number of unfortunate incidents over the next 10 years that consisted of the death to Ernst and then his son-in-law being run over, meant the brewery changed hands and was rescued by two further German brewers.  Prohibition and further fires meant the brewery went through another 50 years of turmoil, until Fritz Maytag purchased the brewery in 1965 and a new era was born.  The 1970's bought a wave of new brews including Anchor Porter, a beer that uses 100% malted barley and whole fresh hops that give it a bold flavour, and a wonderfully rich mouthfeel.

Food Pairings: 
With it's rich sweetness this Porter would pair beautifully with a rich dessert, such as chocolate cake or a rich Pecan Pie.  The hop bitterness would be neutralised and balanced, whilst the creamy texture of the beer will act almost as a condiment, working like a sauce, cleansing the palate of any dense fats.

SCORE: 3.75/5

Page: 620

1001 BEERS: #39. INNIS & GUNN OAK AGED BEER

 

# 38: INNIS & GUNN OAK AGED BEER

Innis & Gunn Brewing Co. - Scotland (Est.2003)

6.6% ABV - Speciality Ale
IBU's - 18

Ingredients:

Malts: Innis & Gunn Ale Malt, Crystal, Raw Wheat
Hops: Super Styrian
Other: Bourbon Casks

Tasting Notes

E: Golden, honey colour with a head that dissipates quickly.

N: On the nose plenty of caramel and roasted malts, slight woody aroma from the Oak.

P: Lots of vanilla sweetness enhanced by a firm amount of toffee and butterscotch, a hint of fruity hop spice.

M: Creamy, smooth with a sweet vanilla oaky warming finish.

Other comments: 
A beer that was discovered by accident.  Brewed as an experiment to assist a whisky distiller, it was a custom made recipe created to be stored in oak barrels to season the whisky casks with the sweet, malty flavour of beer.  Thirty days later the beer was replaced by the whisky and seemingly forgotten.  It wasn't until months later when someone at the distillery tried the beer and the basis of Innis & Gunn Original was born.  Today it is matured for 77 days in Bourbon casks and over Bourbon-infused heartwood in the breweries "Oakerators" (much like a percolator) creating the intense and satisfying aromas in the beer.

Food Pairings: 
Lots of flavours to work with here when pairing with food.  Grilled seafood would be a good pairing, where you can match sweetness with sweetness. The woody aromas of the beer need something to contrast against, so look no further than a juicy steak with its caramelised fats to help cut through the Oaky flavours, whilst complementing the caramel, biscuity malts.  Aged cheese would be a great suggestion, something with a washed-rind that has a slight sourness and mild caramel sweetness to contrast and compare against the butterscotch finish.

SCORE: 3.0/5

Page: 894

1001 BEERS: #38. BLUE MOON

 

# 38: BLUE MOON

Blue Moon Brewing Co. - USA (Est.1995)

5.4% ABV - Belgian Wit
IBU's - 10

Ingredients:


Malts: Pale, White Wheat, Oats
Hops: Imported European (Unspecified)
Other: Coriander, Valencia Orange

Tasting Notes

E: Hazy orange with a natural cloudy appearance with a thick foamy head.

N: Orange citrus, with a spicy, peppery tone from the coriander.  There is also a fruity freshness

P: Sweet orangey flavours and a marmalade-like soft bitterness with a generous amount of spiciness.

M: Creamy mouthfeel is replaced by a spritzy carbonation and a mild spice.

Other comments: 
A beer that split and divided the brewing industry in the USA.  Despite stating on the label brewed at the Blue Moon Brewing Co. it is actually owned by Molson Coors, something that has left the discerning beer fanatic in a quandry.  First brewed at the SandLot Brewery at the Coors Field Baseball stadium in Colorado.  It was pumped into the bars and served during games.  However, demand outweighed supply and that is when Coors pounced.  Originally names the Bellyslider it wasn't until when someone acknowledged that a beer this good came around "once in a Blue Moon", that the name was given.  A beer that follows the recipe of the Belgian Wit Beer Style, Keith Villa Master brewer has put his twist on it using rolled oats and Valencia Orange.  Served with an orange slice to enhance the flavours, Blue Moon is a well rounded full bodied wit beer that ticks all the boxes.

Food Pairings: 
Blue Moon works perfectly with fish and grilled shrimp, where the citrus / acidity can cut through the sweetness  of the fish allowing the fish to prevail and balancing the flavours. Fried calamari is a good pairing as the beer can act as a condiment to the calamari, then through the carbonation help to cleanse the palate of any residual fats and oils.  Use the coriander in the beer to pair with Thai food comparing similar flavours, whilst contrasting sweet and spicy.  To finish allow the creamy texture of the beer complement the smoothness of chocolate, a lovely fondue with an orange reduction would be perfect, or try reducing Blue Moon and create a syrup to pour over.

SCORE: 3.5/5

Page: 566

1001 BEERS: #37. DRAGON STOUT

 

# 37: DRAGON STOUT

Desnoes & Geddes - Jamaica (Est.1918)

7.5% ABV - Dark
IBU's - 11

Ingredients:


Malts: Black and Caramel
Hops: Hop Extract
Other: Corn Syrup, Priming Sugar

Tasting Notes

E: Dark brown, slight reddish hue, thin beige head

N: A bold sweetness of treacle and molasses gives way to slight chocolate aromas.

P: On the palate its all about sweetness with a dark chocolate, caramel flavour and a hint of molasses.

M: A little creamy, with a touch of dryness and a lingering sweetness

Other comments: 
When Eugene Peter Desnoes and Thomas Hargreaves Geddes met each other in a West Indies Mineral and Table Water Company, little did they know they would spend the next 50 years working together.  In 1918 they set up a soft drinks plant producing soft drinks and importing liquour.  A decade later the Surrey Brewery started producing beer.  They wanted to create a Jamaican beer that was at the heart of the community and Red Stripe was born.  During the boom years of the 1950's Dragon Stout reared its head and it's sweet appeal that was in trend at the time led to its growth around the colony.  By 1993 it has sold 51% holding stake to Guinness which has led to the beers further growth and cult following

Food Pairings: 
A unique beer to pair food with, no hop bitterness and no fruit aromas means you have to work with the sweetness.  So pair with desserts, think of Dragon Stout as a dessert wine.  A nice creamy ice cream with a pecan pie, complementing toffee and caramel flavours.  Beautiful

SCORE: 2.75/5

Page: 670

1001 BEERS: #36. HOEGAARDEN

 

# 36: HOEGAARDEN

Brouwerij Van Hoegaarden - Belgium (Est.1967)

4.9% ABV - Wit (Belgian) 
IBU's - 13

Ingredients:


Malts: Pale, Wheat, Oats (5%) 
Hops: Saaz (Unspecified)
Other: Curacao Orange Peel, Coriander

Tasting Notes

E: Pale yellow, with a cloudy haze, big foamy white head

N: Lots of pear drops, with a subtle aromas of banana esters.  Citrus / orange aromas are present with a hint of peppery spiciness.

P: The initial flavour is citrus with orange zesty tones, followed by a sprinkling of coriander.

M: Very insipid, almost watery, with a drying lingering aftertaste of coriander and cloves.

Other comments: First brewed in the 1960's by Pierre Celis (Celis White fame).  He wanted to reignite the Belgian Wheat (Wit) beer style that has existed since as early as the 15th century (hence the 1445 date on the label).  The town of Hoegaarden was to be the birth place of this re-birth, using all the classic flavours and ingredients such as orange peel and coriander which were once imported by Dutch seafarers in the early days. Hoegaarden follows those traditions with a 60/40 barley malt and unmalted wheat split in the brew, with spicy citrus aromas.

Food Pairings: Hoegaarden has lots of adjuncts to work with, as well as enough bitterness and acidity that it will cut through oily fish such as sardines.  Alternatively, utilise the spice and orange and complement a blood orange salad with a mild goats cheese, or simply enjoy as an aperitif!

SCORE: 3.1/5

Page: 583

1001 BEERS: #35. GOOSE ISLAND INDIA PALE ALE

 

# 35: GOOSE ISLAND INDIA PALE ALE

Goose Island Beer Co. - USA (Est.1988)

5.9% ABV - Blond (Ale) 
IBU's - 55

Ingredients:

Malts: Pale Ale 
Hops: Styrian Golding, Fuggle, Cascade, Centennial (Dry hopped)

Tasting Notes

E: Bright amber, fantastic clarity with a soapy head and tight small bubbles.

N: Citrus, grapefruit hop aromas at the start leading to a spicy resinous, floral aroma, with a slight zesty orange sweetness.

P: Sweet malts build to a spicy bitter flavour that matures and lingers.

M: Spicy hop finish with a lovely sweet malty underlying mouthfeel.

Other comments: A brewery out of Chicago, Illinois that has been at the forefront of the American Craft Beer revival since it's origin in 1988 as a brewpub.  Thankfully John Hall had found out Chicagoans palates had evolved and the demand for distinctive, full-bodied, diverse beers led the Goose Island Brewery on its road to success.  In 1995 the brewpub was deemed to small to meet the demands across the US, so a new larger brewery was built.  Today, they brew a slection of over 50 craft beers, and is seen as one of the most popular US craft breweries imported into the UK.  IPA embodies that hard working industrial heritage of both Chicago and it's inspiration the English IPA.

Food Pairings: Bold hops and underlying malty flavours in Goose Island IPA mean that this is a great beer to accompany food.  The fruity hop bitterness will cut through the spices of a curry, whilst the carbonation will lift any residual spice cleansing the palate, leaving the malty sweetness to prevail.  Pair with a bold cheese, so go with a fantastic aged Gouda.  The hops will cut through the fats whilst the fruity aromas will work with the nutty flavours in the the cheese, allowing the sweetness of both the malts and the cheese to complement each other.  The carbonation will cleanse the mouth of any residual fats.

SCORE: 3.8/5

Page: 382

1001 BEERS: #34. FULLER'S LONDON PRIDE

 

# 34: FULLER'S LONDON PRIDE

Fuller, Smith & Turner - England (Est.1845)

4.7% ABV - Amber (Ale) 
IBU's - 33

Ingredients:


Malts: Pale Ale and Crystal
Hops: Target, Challenger, Northdown


Tasting Notes

E: Golden amber with a creamy white head.

N: On the nose it demonstrates a well rounded malty biscuity aroma backed up with a firm punch of fruit hops.

P: The malty, biscuity aromas are replicated on the palate with a pleasant amount of treacle/caramel toffee flavours.  Balanced nicely by a herbal, fruity hop bitterness that lingers. 

M: The bitterness lasts on the mouth providing a refreshing balance at the end.

Other comments: First launched on St.George's Day 1959.  London Pride has become one of Britain's premium ales.  The initial recipe dates back to the 19th century and was first brewed under the name Special Pale Ale.  London Pride is Fuller's most popular beer brewed using just two-malts and 3 hops.  The simplicity of the recipe contrasts to the well balanced flavours of the beer, which results in a fantastic ale that complements English food.

Food Pairings: A brilliant accompaniment to good old English pub grub!  Match strength with strength here, so stay clear of chicken and fish, but move towards hearty pies, scotch eggs, sausage rolls and a good hearty stew.  Those toffee caramel flavours will contrast against any spices in a Lincolnshire sausage, or against the peppery flavours in a peppered steak.  The herbal hop aromas will help lift the aromas of a hearty stew and complement them perfectly.

SCORE: 3.65/5

Page: 132

1001 BEERS: #33. GUINNESS FOREIGN EXTRA

 

# 33: GUINNESS FOREIGN EXTRA

St. James Gate Brewery - Ireland (Est.1759)

7.5% ABV - Dark (Stout) 
IBU's - 40

Ingredients:

Malts: Pale Ale Malt, Roasted Barley
Hops: European with high Alpha Acidity ratios


Tasting Notes

E: Dark tan colour with a light airy brown head.

N: On the nose it demonstrates a big hoppy aroma with underlying tones of malty flavours such as coffee and liquorice.  There is also a subtle hint of banana.

P: On the palate bitter chocolate with a sourness that envelops the mouth.  

M: There is a lingering drying bitterness and a feeling of bitter chocolate left over.

Other comments: Foreign Extra Stout is the best selling beer worldwide in the Guinness family.  Brewed not only in Dublin, but in Asia, Africa and America this "grown-up" equivalent of the mainstream UK pint is full in flavour and rich in intensity.  When made in Dublin it is stored in Vat's for 100 days where it develops an intense lactic flavour.  This is then blended with a fresh batch to create a totally different experience.  The foreign brews are made using a concentrated hopped wort that is unfermented and shipped to the breweries worldwide where they are fermented and conditioned locally, before being distributed.

Food Pairings: Stout's = Oysters.  This would be wonderful in a Steak and Guinness pie, a lot more chocolate bitterness would add a lovely creamy nature to the sauce and contrast brilliantly against the caramelised fats of the steak

SCORE: 3.6/5

Page: 702