Drink Your Beer: An Introduction

I love beer. There I said it.  Some folks are afraid to admit it and others are scared of beer altogether.  Beer can be a scary thing.  Remember back when you first turned 21 (no one drinks before that, of course) and your “cool” cousin offered you a can of Old Milwaukee’s Best Light.  You cracked open the can, moved the aluminum to your lips, and took a huge swig.  If you were anything like me, you forced the rest of the can down – forever wondering why ANYONE would willingly drink “The Beast” or any other beer for that matter.  Memories like these can dissuade us from trying new beers or making recommendations when others ask.  Occasionally, there’ll be a bad beer, but with a little know-how we can find the perfect beer for almost anyone (sorry, celiacs).  In the coming weeks, beers will be reviewed, questions will be answered, and pairings will be made.  

Here’s a quick introduction to pairing.  Trader Jose’s Premium Lager is nearly identical to Corona, Tecate, Pacifico, or any other Mexican style lager.  Therefore, the flavor profile of Trader Jose’s matches those of its predecessors, which is to say there is a strong corn and citrus profile.  Therefore, Trader Jose’s is an ideal beer to drink very cold with a wedge of lime served along side our Marinated fish tacos and refried beans. A quick breakdown of the pairing:  the corn & citrus from beer complement the corn tortilla and citrus used in the salsa and fish in the tacos. If there are any beer questions you want answered in this column, shoot me an e-mail at montageman@gmail.com and I’ll answer them next time.

IPA Thoughts

As I enjoy a Stone IPA, I have to wonder why drinking this beer is a pleasurable experience for me?  After all, it is not what most palates would describe as delicious.  Quite bitter – the flavor is reminiscent of lemon rind and pine.  Additionally, there is a hefty floral component as well.  Of course, this is expected when an IPA is opened – these are the flavors imparted by the hops. Stone uses hops very well and without any fear.  I pick Stone to stand up next to other assertive flavors – pizza, salami, spaghetti and meatballs.  Assertive beers mix well with assertive dishes.  The hoppiness holds up well against the acidity and saltiness.  The bitterness is a welcome addition.  I crave big hops.  Sometimes I need Stone IPA or Bells Two Hearted to make sure my taste buds are still working.