beer

In Cerevisiae Veritas

Celebrate the weekend with a few world class brews

Posted by Rob on Nov 30, 2007 - 02:03 pm

If you’re a fan of good beer, then you need to make your way over to City Beverage on Burke Street ASAP. Little known fact: in addition to having the best selection in the area, City Beverage also has a nice little bar in the back of the store that pours some truly incredible brews.

Here’s the current draft lineup:

1) Bells’ Expedition Stout: This dark, strong and delicious beer may very well change your life. Last year, it was ranked #10 in the world on Ratebeer.com. Bells only shipped four kegs of this incredible stout to North Carolina. Get serious and give it a try. Warning: this monster is 10.5% alcohol… nearly three times stronger than your average frat “beer.” Good thing City Bev just threw in some new leather couches - you might need a nap after a pint of this powerful nectar.

The sexiest post that you will ever read

Posted by Rob on Jan 28, 2008 - 08:11 pm

This is a big week for Winston-Salem. Foothills Brewing Company, the Dash’s very own brewpub, is getting ready to release its Sexual Chocolate Imperial Stout. The first keg of this year’s batch is going to be tapped on Wednesday afternoon. Last year, the beer was ranked the 14th best beer in the US and the 26th best beer in the world on Ratebeer.com (Users contributed over 1.4 million beer reviews to the site last year, so you know it’s legit as a motha). Did I mention that the beer is 10% alcohol? Now I did.

Enough stats. In case you’ve never had an Imperial Stout before, just know that it’s like a Guinness on steroids. In fact, St. Patrick’s Day was originally created to honor the day that Ol’ Pat smelled a pint of Imperial Stout and then singlehandedly tossed the Brits out of Ireland. Sexual Chocolate has - you guessed it - some delicious chocolate notes. It’s the libation that the gods drink whenever they get bored of sipping nectar.

In addition, this Saturday marks the first time that Foothills has made their beer available to the public in bottled form. In other words, it is a historic occassion. More information on this big, surly brew and the bottle release after you click on the “Read More...” link. Do it.

Inaugural Beer of the Week

Posted by Rob on Feb 11, 2008 - 09:23 am

Rogue’s HazelNut Brown Nectar. That’s right. They said “Nectar.”

This weekend, a few friends and I headed over to Mellow Mushroom for some brews, pretzels, and general merriment. (If you haven’t had the pretzels, get there and grab some ASAP (the Parmesan version, with marinara dipping sauce)). Anyway, when we arrived, I demanded that they all try a pint of the this week’s selection. After a few sips, all four announced that the Nectar was one of the best beers they’d ever had. We’re talking Top 5.

“So,” you’re thinking, “what’s so great about this brew?” The name says it all. This sweet, smooth brown ale has a delicious roasted hazelnut taste and just the right amount of bitterness. The flavors hide the alcohol very well, considering that it’s 6.2 %. All in all it’s an extremely well balanced, easily drinkable beer. Most importantly, this is the first time that I’ve seen this beer on tap at the ‘Shroom, so make your way down there and grab a pint before it runs out. In case you’ve never been, it’s also worth noting that most beers at Mellow Mushroom are $3.50/pint—a great deal for their incredible selection, which happens to be the best in town.

If you’re looking for another libation to try at the ‘Shroom after you’ve depleted your nutty ambrosia, check out Highland’s Black Mocha Stout, Fuller’s London Porter, or Dogfish Head’s 90-Minute IPA. I’ll warn you—the 90-Minute is a bit strong (9% alcohol). You might want to ask the bartender for a sample before you delve into a full 16-oz’er. Then again, if you’re a fan of hoppier, more bitter beers like Pale Ale’s and IPA’s, then you’ll absolutely love it.

P.S. The Mellow Mushroom, at least the Winston location, serves beer in frosty pint glasses. One little problem: the colder a beer is, the more it numbs your taste buds. There’s a reason why beers from macro breweries like Bud and Miller are poured near absolute zero. Don’t be afraid to ask the bartender for an unfrosted glass: it’ll make sure you get the most out of every last drop. Slainte!

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In Cerevisiae Veritas

Beer of the Week 2.0

Posted by Rob on Mar 26, 2008 - 11:15 am

Relax, friends. I know you think that I’ve been slacking off for the last two weeks but I’ve actually been doing countless hours of difficult research. As you know, I tried to start a “Beer of the Week” feature back in February. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find anything worth branding “Rob-Approved” after that first post. Yet Mellow Mushroom has done it again, bringing in one of the best beers that you can get in the Triad and serving pints of it for only $3.50. Since I’m an honest guy, I will say that I have recommended this beer on here before in an earlier post. However, that was when City Beverage was charging over $5 for a pint of the stuff, which is a bit steep for us cash-poor students.

Bells’ Two Hearted Ale is probably my favorite beer. It’s an absolutely delicious India Pale Ale (IPA). For those of you who are unfamiliar with the style, it’s a stronger, hoppier Pale Ale that was developed by brewers in the eighteenth century to keep beer fresh on the long journey from England to India. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not a huge fan of colonization, but I am a huge fan of these beers.

Lesser American IPA’s tend to be overly hoppy (bitter), but Bells has produced a perfectly balanced, supremely drinkable brew. Two Hearted’s fresh, piney hop taste rides atop a smooth and sweet caramel malt backbone. It’s strong - 7% ABV - but the alcohol is very well hidden. Rumor has it that when Jesus turned water into “wine,” he actually brewed up a massive batch of this fine ale. Rejoice, for it is remarkably good.

I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating. When you order a beer at the ‘Shroom, be sure to ask for an unfrozen glass. That way, the beer will warm up and you’ll really get a chance to experience it in all of its glory. Also, if you like the Two Hearted, Mellow Mushroom also has another solid IPA on tap—Avery Brewing Company’s. You’ll also probably like Foothills’ hoppier beers: Hoppyum IPA, Pilot Mountain Pale Ale (also on tap in Shorty’s), and the phenomenal Seeing Double IPA. Six-packs of Two Hearted can be scooped up at the Lowes on Reynolda and at City Beverage. In fact, Lowes often sells sick party kegs of the stuff for only $20.

Remember: always drink responsibly. Be sure to comment to let me know what you think of the beer. Cheers!

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