Category: Brews

It has been sometime since Karen and I have brewed beer, but we are planning on brewing two batches over the Thanksgiving break.

We have already picked up some beer to drink during the homebrewing session. (This first is critical to the success.) Now, I just need to order the homebrewing supplies.

We are going to use pig kegs instead of Cornelius or Firestone kegs. Karen want to be able to transport the beer easily.

Karen and I have thrown our support behind the Alabamians for Specialty Beer. The organization goes by Free The Hops. The group “is a grassroots, citizen-driven movement solely committed to lifting the 6% alcohol by volume and 1 pint container limits for beer brewed or sold in Alabama.”

There are many beers sold that are not allowed in the state of Alabama due to these restrictions.

Karen and I had good selection of Paulaner beer at Redstone MWR's Oktoberfest this year. This year selection was limited to Coors, Becks and Paulaner. Karen and I only sampled the Paulaner beers.

The Paulaner selection included Hefeweizen, Oktoberfest (so course), Salvator, and Premium Pils.

The Premium Pils was a full body pilsner.

The Hefe-Weizen was a cross between a Germany Pilsner and Hefeweizen. It was not too fruity and more lingering in the back of the mouth like a lager. Heavier than a typical Hefeweizen.

The Oktoberfest was malty with very little hop tones. Sweet aroma the prepares the mouth for the sweet maltiness. Similar to the a honey brown, but lighter sweetness and malt.

The Salvator was very malty as a dopple bock should be. It was not dark. Its taste clings to the palate.

Karen and I stopped Il Vicino for beer and dinner tonight.  The staff was great.  Karen had the amber and was given a free oatmeal stout for us helping clear the outside table because the raining coming down on their condiments.

Karen enjoyed both beers.  She thinks the stout was a well-balanced beer with coffee over tones that didn’t overwhelm the style of the beer.  I had the IPA, which was not as hopped as most IPAs in the Colorado Springs area, but hopped well for IPA.  (Colorado Springs breweries over hop most beers.)

By the way, the pizza was great, too.

Karen and I started our evening out at the The WareHouse. It is one of the best restaurants in Colorado Springs. It is a converted warehouse. The owner actually lives on the third floor, the restaurant and art gallery are on the first floor, and the brewery is in the basement.

Karen and I both had the General Palmer’s Amber Lager. It should be first noted that this is not an ale. They describe the beer as “a Bavarian-style bock beer, deep amber in color and slightly higher in alcohol. Lagered for quite some time.” It is truly a dark amber with a heavy malt taste. The staff can fool you by calling it an amber, which would lead you think it is an amber ale. The key word is “bock”. If we had known that it was a bock, I think that we would have enjoyed the beer for what it was.

Karen followed the General Palmer’s Amber Lager with the SP Belgian Ale. She truely enjoyed this beer. The server behind the bar had to have new. Normally, the SP Belgian Ale is served in smaller brandy style glass, but he provided a full pint. Karen didn’t mind.

For my second beer, I had the Trolley Car, which is Northern English Brown Ale in style. We both enjoyed this beer as we walked through the gallery. The flavor was well rounded and very satisfying.

By the way, we had the Battered English Pub Chips without the topping. They were very good. I would suggest that you ask for the chipotle mayonnaise as dipping sause. You will thank me.

To end our evening, Karen and I headed over to Phantom Canyon Brewing Co to try an ale or two.

First, Phantom Canyon Brewing Co is situated in the center of downtown across the street from the Antlers. The building is the historic Cheyenne Building which had housed the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad in 1901.

Karen had the Hefeweizen while I had their Ginger Ale Beer. Karen's beer was very little in body and taste. My beer had little hint of ginger compared to what I had expected. The Ginger Ale beer is seasonal so get while you can.

Karen and I have headed into Judge Baldwin's to try some more of their brews.

Karen had the Champion Wheat and Belgian Biere de Garde. Karen thinks the Champion Wheat was very good. She said it would be a good summer beer with dinner. It was not over powering. Karen enjoyed the Belgian, too. She indicated it is similar to many other types of red ale.

I had the Cascade Amber Lager and Flanders Oud Bruin. The Cascade had a very good hop finish. It would please most anyone. The Flanders Oud Bruin is wild with flavors. It starts off with a malty fruit flavor, but transitions into an oak flavor similar to a fine whiskey's oak barrel taste.

I am sitting in Judge Baldwin's drinking their Baby Buddha Dopplebock. I have already finished a Raspberry Wheat.

Judge Baldwin's serves every beer with a straw holding a pretzel. I enjoy this, but you may not.

The Raspberry Wheat has a nice fruity raspberry bouquet and a light taste of raspberry in the finish. The beer is served with a slice of lime which can be added or not. I like it both ways.

Side Bar: Judge Baldwin's presently has a great happy hour special which has all of their brews and appetizers at two bucks. You can't beat that can you!

On to the next beer:
The Baby Buddha Dopplebock is a little sweet with light mouth feel. The beer was licorice high lights. I don't think I have ever found a bad dopplebock.

Time to settle up and head over to Jack Quinn's to listen to John Wise's group Tribe.

Il Vicino was a new brew. The Mexicito is brewed new the style of a Mexician lager with agave juice.

The beer has fruity after tones with mellow malty flavors. It has light body and is servered with a slice of lime. I think a orange slice would have gone well with the fruitiness. It would go well with fish, but Il Vicino doesn't serve fish. Bummer!

While at Il Vicino, I had the Brown ale which is hoppy for a brown ale. But, I will have to say that most Colorado Springs beer are over hopped for their style. I always enjoy this style of beer in Colorado Springs. Il Vicino's Brown has more haze than most.