Have a Beer with Me #2

Another (greatly delayed) installment of my beer notes for our newsletter:

Discussions of beer & wine can sometimes be confusing and needlessly opulent. We have veered away from describers like delicious, refreshing, and gross towards words like piney, tannic, and earthy. Not saying the latter words are not helpful, but for someone whose interest is just beginning these words are hard to swallow (pun intended).

Let’s take a step back and remember that beer tasting is a totally subjective experience. What I claim is good or bad might not be to the next person, meaning no one should be afraid to respond honestly to the question, “What beer/wine/any product would you recommend?” We are not experts by any means, but sometimes guidance is requested. Don’t be afraid to share your recommendations.

The idea, then, is to come to some sort of agreement on what to expect from beer. Beer is a fermented beverage brewed with barley, wheat, corn. Many times the fundamental flavoring agent is hops, which can also function as a preservative. For example, India Pale Ales (IPA) are usually very hoppy (read: bitter). When someone says, “I like hoppy beers,” an easy recommendation to make is with an IPA (specifically – Bells Two Hearted, New Holland Mad Hatter, or any beer labeled IPA). Conversely, when you hear, “I don’t like bitter beers,” avoidance of IPAs is important with a push toward beers with less (or no) hops. For example, Simpler Times lager is all malt, meaning it is very smooth with very little bitterness. Additionally, Bells Amber, Trader Joe’s Vienna, and Gila Monster are all good examples of beers with very little bitterness.

Still uncomfortable? Try some beers.  Buy a bottle of 2 or 3 different kinds and take notes on what you taste, smell, see, etc.  Look the beers up online at http://beeradvocate.com and compare notes.

Until next time, keep on drinking.

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.

All things Beer

As part of my mentor group at Trader Joe’s, I have chosen to learn more about the beer section (and the wine section – that’ll come later). A comprehensive list of styles and descriptions can be found at Beer Advocate and at Beertown.

Over at Beertown.org, the principles of matching are outlined. 7 main points are highlighted:

1. Match strength with strength
2. Find harmonies
3. Consider sweetness, bitterness, carbonation, heat (spice), and richness
4. Look to classic cuisines
5. Practice makes perfect
6. Consider seasonality
7. Contrast and complement

A more direct listing of parings of beer with food and cheese can be found here.

Some health benefits of beer (taken from http://beertown.org/education/facts.html):

1. Lower rates of heart disease. Consuming alcohol in moderation (defined by the U.S. government as no more than two drinks per day for men or one drink per day for women) may lower coronary heart disease risk for some people by 30 to 60 percent, even those at high risk because of diabetes, hypertension or a previous heart attack.
2. Aid in bone formation. Beer contains silicon, a mineral that helps build bone mass. Dietary silicon has been shown in one study to improve bone density in the hips of men and premenopausal women.
3. Prevent cell damage that can lead to cancer and heart disease. Hops and malt used to make beer are rich sources of disease-fighting antioxidants. Beer also contains polyphenols, the same antioxidants found in wine, fruits, vegetables, and green and black tea. Ales and lagers generally contain more antioxidants than light and nonalcoholic beers.
4. Lower rates of diabetes. In one 12-year study, regular light to moderate alcohol intake was associated with a 36-percent lower risk of diabetes. Moderate consumption has been associated with reduced insulin resistance and reduced diabetes (conversely, heavy drinking and alcohol dependence is associated with increased insulin resistance and increased diabetes).
5. Protect against ischemic stroke (responsible for 80 percent of all strokes), Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Moderate consumption has been linked to improved cognition and memory.
6. To drink moderately is to drink within the limits set by your health, the society in which you live and your obligations towards your family and friends.
7. Moderate consumption of alcoholic drinks can be good for your heart. Numerous studies throughout the world have shown that there is strong evidence that people who are moderate drinkers of beers, wines and spirits have a substantially reduced risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, when compared to teetotalers and heavy drinkers.
8. Per drink (of equivalent alcohol content), beer contains more than twice as many antioxidants as white wine, although only half the amount of red wine. However, many of the antioxidants in red wine are large molecules and may be less readily absorbed by the body than smaller molecules found in beer.
9. Beer does not contain fat or cholesterol and is low in free sugars. The calories in beer come largely from the alcohol content.

Since this is for Trader Joe’s, it seems that a listing of the beers we carry would be pertinent. An exhaustive listing will be added later this week.