Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com Slashfood http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.slashfood.com/media/feedlogo.gif Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Island Creek Oyster Stout - Beer of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/11/harpoon-100-barrel-series-island-creek-oyster-stout-beer-of-th/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/11/harpoon-100-barrel-series-island-creek-oyster-stout-beer-of-th/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/11/harpoon-100-barrel-series-island-creek-oyster-stout-beer-of-th/#commentsFiled under:

Photo: YouTube

At 5:30 p.m. on a weekday, there are few places more madcap than New York's Grand Central Station. Packs of commuters skitter up and down the stairs trying to catch trains home. But amid all the hubbub, one room remains a model of serenity: the glamorous Grand Central Oyster Bar, where I arrive last Thursday to drink a beer made with a bivalve.

Tonight, Harpoon Brewery is unveiling the second iteration of its 100 Barrel Series Island Creek Oyster Stout, an elixir bursting with the briny goodness of freshly shucked oysters. Don't blanch. While slippery, salinic oysters and a roasty stout may seem as incompatible as toothpaste and orange juice, these these luxuries are ideal mates. For eons, barflies have known that Guinness goes grandly with bivalves. What Harpoon and breweries such as Flying Fish and Porterhouse have done is ramp up the inherent pairing by tossing oysters and their juice into the brew kettle.

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]]>harpoon breweryoyster stoutJoshua M. BernsteinMon, 11 Apr 2011 13:00:00 ESTHopworks Organic Survival "7-Grain" Stout - Beer of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/04/hopworks-organic-survial-7-grain-stout-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/04/hopworks-organic-survial-7-grain-stout-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/04/hopworks-organic-survial-7-grain-stout-beer-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under:

Hopworks Urban BreweryPhoto: illupino, Flickr


Pop by my Brooklyn apartment, and chances are you'll only find two things to drink: coffee and beer. Those two liquids fuel my mornings and my evenings, and not always in the order that you'd expect.

Yet lately, the line separating java and beer has grown as blurry as my eyes at last call. Brewers have begun blending the a.m. and p.m. quaffs into a deliciously eye-opening hybrid. Don't consider the blend to be Four Loko's successor. Inky porters and chewy stouts naturally possess notes of chocolate and coffee. Adding ground java, either during the brewing process or steeped like tea post-brewing, plays up beer's existing coffee flavors.

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]]>caffeine beercoffee beerFour lokoSurvival 7-Grain StoutJoshua M. BernsteinMon, 04 Apr 2011 16:00:00 ESTClown Shoes Clementine -- Beer of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/29/clown-shoes-clementine-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/29/clown-shoes-clementine-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/29/clown-shoes-clementine-beer-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under:

Clown Shoes Clementine beerPhoto: Clown Shoes Beer

As a kid, I was terrified by the horror flick "Killer Klowns From Outer Space." In it, evil extraterrestrial clowns attack a sleepy California town, cocooning residents in a cotton candy-like substance that turns them into slurpable goo. The film was nightmare fuel, and in some ways contributed to a lifelong dislike of clowns.

Thus, you'll understand my apprehension when word wound my way about new Massachusetts' Clown Shoes Beer. "It's kind of a long story," founder Gregg Berman says of the moniker. Well? Basically, Berman explains, several years ago website Beer Advocate ran a contest to name its collaborative brew crafted with Dogfish Head. For the brown ale, which was made with pecan wood-smoked malt, Berman and Co. suggested Clown Shoes. They lost. Wrath of Pecant won.

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]]>Clown Shoes ClementineJoshua M. BernsteinTue, 29 Mar 2011 16:00:00 ESTAvery Joe's Premium American Pilsner - Beer of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/22/avery-joes-premium-american-pilsner-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/22/avery-joes-premium-american-pilsner-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/22/avery-joes-premium-american-pilsner-beer-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under:

Avery Brewing Joe's Premium PilsnerPhoto: Avery Brewing


For years, the words "premium American pilsner" have been oxymoronic, the kind of marketing dribble used to describe Miller Lite and its cohorts of low-cost, low-flavor beer. So color me surprised when I spied a black can of Boulder, Colorado-based Avery Brewing's newest year-round release: Joe's Premium American Pilsner.

See, since 1993 Avery has built its name on bold, uncompromising ales that give your palate the ol' one-two punch. There's the Czar, a souped-up Russian imperial stout; the massively hopped Maharajah imperial IPA; and the burly Beast, a deeply nuanced, rum-esque elixir that can age for more than 10 years. Then there's humble Joe.

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]]>avery beerjoes pilsnerJoshua M. BernsteinTue, 22 Mar 2011 17:00:00 ESTKona Brewing Koko Brown - Beer of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/14/kona-brewing-koko-brown-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/14/kona-brewing-koko-brown-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/14/kona-brewing-koko-brown-beer-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under:

Kona Brewing's Koko BrownPhoto: Kona Brewing

When I was a kid, I had a very curious sweet tooth. Sure, I adored a cold Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, but I mainly took my sugary pleasure from offbeat, second-tier candy bars such as the nut-stuffed Mr. Goodbar, crunchy Krackel and those twin coconut treats, Mounds and Almond Joy.

Yet my sweet tooth has waned over the years, replaced by a yen for scrumptious suds. These days, I get my kicks from inky stouts and bitter IPAs, leaving candy bars to kids -- and my girlfriend. But last week, one sip of Hawaii-based Kona Brewing's Koko Brown took me back to eating an Almond Joy in third grade. The brown ale's roasty, biscuit-like flavors were complemented by a tidal wave of nutty toasted coconut. Instead of overwhelming the tongue, Koko drank featherlight. What a delight.

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]]>Joshua M. BernsteinMon, 14 Mar 2011 17:00:00 ESTMan Can't Live on Beer Alone -- Or Can He?http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/10/man-cant-live-on-beer-alone-or-can-he/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/10/man-cant-live-on-beer-alone-or-can-he/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/10/man-cant-live-on-beer-alone-or-can-he/#comments

pouring beer for LentPhoto: Getty Images


Ash Wednesday marked the start of Lent, during which pious Christians abstain from eating something they savor till Easter Sunday. During that 46-day stretch, some swear off soda pop. Others may nix chocolate. Prescott, Iowa's J. Wilson has gone one drastic step further: During Lent, the journalist has decided to not to ingest any grub. Instead, he'll just sip water and beer.

"Right now, the plan is to drink four 12-ounce beers a day...and lots of water in between," he told The Des Moines Register. "Getting drunk is the last thing on my to-do list at this time."

Hold your giggles. You may assume that this is a high-falutin' excuse to stay schnookered for a month and a half, but that's not the case. We think. Wilson calls this a "historical study," an attempt to live like a seventeenth-century monk. To sustain themselves during Lent, monks subsisted on a high-calorie, carbohydrate-crammed beer dubbed a doppelbock.

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]]>beer fastLentJoshua M. BernsteinThu, 10 Mar 2011 15:00:00 ESTBison Brewing Organic Chocolate Stout: Beer of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/08/bison-brewing-organic-chocolate-stout-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/08/bison-brewing-organic-chocolate-stout-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/08/bison-brewing-organic-chocolate-stout-beer-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under:

Bison Brewing Organic Chocolate StoutPhoto: john holzer, Flickr


Each year, right around Valentine's Day, my friends Emily and Matt host an aphrodisiac dinner party. I know what you're thinking. Heck, I did too. However, instead of beneath-the-table hanky-panky, the dinner focuses squarely on sensual foods such as avocados, bananas and chocolate.

Thus, my contribution to this year's feast was a no-brainer: a couple bottles of chocolate stout, courtesy of California's circa-1989 Bison Brewing. Since going organic in the early 2000s, Berkeley-based Bison has turned out some of the nation's tastiest all-natural brews. The brewery's hits include the Honey Basil Ale (a tasty mate for Thai curries); the nutmeg- and cinnamon-spiked Gingerbread porter; and the charged-up Imperial Brown Ale.

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]]>Bison Chocolate Stoutfeaturedstout beersJoshua M. BernsteinTue, 08 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST'Cycle Pub' is a Bicycle Built for Beerhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/04/cycle-pub-is-a-bicycle-built-for-beer/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/04/cycle-pub-is-a-bicycle-built-for-beer/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/04/cycle-pub-is-a-bicycle-built-for-beer/#comments

Cycle PubPhoto: Cycle Pub


Historically, biking and drinking beer is a bad idea. But imbibing brews and pedaling while someone else steers? That's a stroke of two-wheeled brilliance. Actually, make that four wheels.

Recently, Bend, Oregon, featured the debut of the Cycle Pub, a trolley car-shaped traveling bar that blends the city's twin passions: cycling and craft beer. (The innovation is an American riff on Holland's lush-friendly Bier Bike.) Up to 12 beer lovers belly up to the glossy wooden bar and pump their legs, while an additional three non-pedalers can plop down on a plush bench and sip brewskis served by a pal doubling as a bartender. (Cycle Pub employees are unable to dole out drinks.)

To cut down on the risk of crashes -- and spilling your precious carbonated nectar -- "we provide the driver, so riders can legally enjoy a local fine-crafted beer, glass of wine or cup of coffee en route," founder James Watts told The Bulletin.

But forget caffeine. This a bicycle built for brews. Thanks to Cycle Pub, gaining -- and losing -- a beer belly has never been so much fun.

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]]>barsCycle pubJoshua M. BernsteinFri, 04 Mar 2011 15:30:00 ESTNarragansett Porter - Beer of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/28/narragansett-porter-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/28/narragansett-porter-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/28/narragansett-porter-beer-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under:

Narragansett porter canPhoto: stevegarfield, Flickr

In this day and age retro beer brands are all the rage, with drinkers sucking down Schlitz and PBR like they're going out of style -- again. But nostalgia is not enough for me to overlook one glaring fact: These beers don't taste all that great.

So you can understand my trepidation when, last summer in Connecticut, I stumbled across a six-pack of lager tall boys from Narragansett. I was attracted to the can's classic look and $6.99 price tag. Instead of a cheap, watery lager, I was rewarded by a rich, crisp flavor. What was Narragansett, and why was it so good?

New England's Narragansett was born in 1890, and within 25 years it became the region's largest lager brewery. Over the decades, Narragansett became the de facto beverage for New Englanders, even serving as the Boston Red Sox's official beer. In the seventies, though, the company was sold. The Rhode Island brewery was later shuttered, and production shifted to Indiana. Quality suffered. By 2005, the brand seemed destined for death. Then along came Mark Hellendrung, the former president of Nantucket Nectars. He and investors bought the brand and, over the last five years, have set about restoring Narragansett to its lofty perch.

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]]>featuredNarragansettNarragansett beerJoshua M. BernsteinMon, 28 Feb 2011 17:00:00 ESTHeater Allen Coastal -- Beer of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/22/heater-allen-coastal-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/22/heater-allen-coastal-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/22/heater-allen-coastal-beer-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under:

Heater Allen BrewingPhoto: Heater Allen Brewing

When it comes to craft beer, "lager" might as well be a four-letter word. Rebelling against Coors and their watery kind, microbrew drinkers gravitate toward bold, super-bitter IPAs and potent imperial stouts aged in bourbon barrels. In turn, the crisp, elegant lager has been discarded like dishwater.

I also fell into that camp. Why sip a simple lager when a battalion of crazily flavored craft beer awaited my mouth? Give me hops, or give me death! On my recent trip to Portland, Oregon, plenty of hoppy brews tickled my taste buds. But I also found a lager that made me appreciate the unfairly maligned style.

The swoon-worthy beer was crafted by McMinnville, Oregon's Heater Allen Brewing, the hop-crazed state's only all-lager brewery. "If there hadn't been this huge hole in Oregon, I wouldn't have tried to launch the brewery," owner and brewer Rick Allen told me when I was researching my beer book. I heard rave reviews about his lagers, including the dark, slightly smoky Scwarz; crisp, golden Pils; and the malty Dunkel. But hadn't tried any Heater beers till last week, when I cracked the bottle of Coastal I'd brought back to Brooklyn.

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]]>beerfeaturedHeater Allen BrewingOregon beerJoshua M. BernsteinTue, 22 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST"Kiss Me Kate" Brew a Tribute to Kate Middletonhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/18/kiss-me-kate-brew-a-tribute-to-kate-middleton/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/18/kiss-me-kate-brew-a-tribute-to-kate-middleton/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/18/kiss-me-kate-brew-a-tribute-to-kate-middleton/#commentsFiled under: ,

Kate Middleton Royal Wedding beerPhoto: Castle Rock Brewery

Planning a wedding is enough to drive any normal couple to drink, much less the successors to the royal throne.

Thus, we won't fault Prince William and princess-to-be Kate Middleton if they need to sand away their stress with a cool pint of beer -- or four. If that's the case, the couple should order a keg of the aptly named Kiss Me Kate, a commemorative brew crafted by Nottingham, England's Castle Rock Brewery.

"Kiss Me Kate will be elegant, tasteful and British to the core," head brewer Adrian Redgrove said of the pale ale, which will be released about a month before the April 29 wedding.

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]]>BeerfeaturedKate MiddletonKiss Me KateRoyal Weddingroyal wedding beerroyal wedding detailsJoshua M. BernsteinFri, 18 Feb 2011 14:00:00 ESTDigestif Liqueurs: Digestion Is in Sessionhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/16/digestif-liqueurs-digestion-is-in-session/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/16/digestif-liqueurs-digestion-is-in-session/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/16/digestif-liqueurs-digestion-is-in-session/#commentsFiled under: ,

Bitter Truth E**X**R digestive liqueurPhoto: The Bitter Truth

Every day, I'm pummeled with press releases touting "innovative," "thrilling" beverages that promise to change the way I get drunk. Largely, I hit delete. Yet every blue moon, my curiosity is piqued. Case in point -- a recent missive touting the creatively punctuated E**X**R, "a digestive liqueur that blurs the lines of conventional wisdom."

Oh, really? But I put a sock in my cynicism once I saw the elixir's pedigree. It's crafted by the Bitter Truth, makers of a marvelous line of cocktail bitters, including a killer celery creation that has a home in my bar. (Seriously, it is the goodness, especially in a gin and tonic.) E**X**R, the release continued, is "at once velvety smooth and clean, aromatic and herbaceous." It could tart up a pre-dinner Manhattan (not my cup o' tea) or be savored "neat after a rich meal to aid digestion." Sold! Since I like to eat till my belly resembles a bowling ball, I requested a sample.

In my lifetime of overeating, I've become intimately acquainted with digestifs. To move food along, I'll often tip back a taste of Fernet Branca, Italian Averna or maybe even Jägermeister -- yes, that black nectar began as a wind-me-down, not a pick-me-up.

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]]>Bitter TruthdigestifsFeaturedJoshua M. BernsteinWed, 16 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST21st Amendment Bitter American - Beer of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/14/21st-amendment-bitter-american-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/14/21st-amendment-bitter-american-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/14/21st-amendment-bitter-american-beer-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under:

21st Amendment Brewery's Bitter AmericanPhoto: walknboston, Flickr

It was one of those nights when I drank too much, too quickly, too early. "Maybe you should get a glass of water?" my girlfriend suggested, as I deposited myself at the kitchen table.

Hers was a smart suggestion, but I'd long abandoned common sense. I wanted a nightcap beer, but what to drink? My fridge was stuffed with 22-ouncers of imperial stouts, double IPAs and other strong beers that, in a pinch, could double as rocket fuel. One of those, and I'd be spun like a top into tomorrow's hangover.

But hidden in back I found an aluminum can adorned with an ape astronaut: Bitter American, the seasonal pale ale from San Francisco's 21st Amendment. Through fuzzy eyes I read that Bitter American boasted a respectable 42 IBUs and just 4.4 percent ABV -- session-beer country.

I cracked the tab and was met with a floral bouquet of citrus and subdued caramel (it's dry-hopped with Centennial and Simcoe hops). BA smelled like an IPA but drank far crisper, with a nice biscuity body and enough bitterness to appease my inner hop head. I finished the beer on the double, then fell asleep even faster.

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]]>21st century bitter americanBeer of the WeekIndia Pale AleJoshua M. BernsteinMon, 14 Feb 2011 16:00:00 ESTHair of the Dog Adam - Beer of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/07/hair-of-the-dog-adam-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/07/hair-of-the-dog-adam-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/07/hair-of-the-dog-adam-beer-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under:

Hair of the Dog Brewing's Adam beerPhoto: Bernt Rostad, Flickr

Though it pains me to admit it, I've reached my beer limit. That was the result of spending five days in Portland, Oregon, gallivanting from brewpub to brewery to bar with schoolboy glee and a thirst that was, till now, unquenchable.

For the foreseeable future (well, until Wednesday, at least), my liquid diet will be limited to coffee and water. Beer? That can wait. And that's a very good thing.

Like wine, beers can age, evolve and develop complex new aromas and flavors. Time can smooth a beer's rough edges, melding and mellowing flavors. While not every beer is suitable for aging (lagers, pilsners and hop-forward brews are best fresh), burlier beers such as Belgian strong ales, imperial stouts, old ales, and barleywines can stand the test of time.

One of the country's top proponents of aging beers is Alan Sprints, the founder of Portland's Hair of the Dog Brewing. "All of our bottle-conditioned beers are meant to age," told me for my Imbibe article on cellaring beer. Thus, when I was in town, I beelined to the brewery to give his brews a spin.

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]]>BeerfeaturedHair of the Dog BrewingPortland BeerJoshua M. BernsteinMon, 07 Feb 2011 16:00:00 ESTSuper Suds for the Super Bowlhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/04/super-suds-for-the-super-bowl/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/04/super-suds-for-the-super-bowl/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/04/super-suds-for-the-super-bowl/#commentsFiled under: ,

super bowl beers from wisconsin and pennsylvaniaPhoto: robbplusjessie, Flickr; Sonnett, Flickr


With the Super Bowl but a week away, it's time to start stocking your fridge with your favorite beer. But instead of reaching for a Bud, opt for a brew hailing from the state of your favorite team.

If you're rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers, try one of these Pennsylvania-based beers:

Troëgs Hopback Amber and Nugget Nectar: If you like your beers with a fragrant hop profile, try these two amber-hued beauties from Harrisburg's best brewery. The caramel-nuanced Hopback is suitable for four quarters of sipping, while the imperial-strength Nugget Nectar (a seasonal released in February) packs a piney, earthy punch that'll hit you like a Troy Polamalu tackle.

Victory Brewing Prima Pils: As a hopeful indicator of the game's outcome, order a case of Downington-based Victory's pitch-perfect pilsner. It's plenty effervescent, with a snappy hop bite that'll keep you coming back from kickoff to the final whistle. Hopefully, Ben Roethlisberger will take a knee in the, yes, victory formation.

Yuengling Lager: If you dig the Steelers' time-honored tradition, try this traditional lager from America's oldest brewery. Since 1829, Pennsylvania's Yuengling has been pumping out this balanced, smooth-drinking amber lager that has a touch of caramel sweetness -- unlike any members of the Steelers, mind you.

Our picks for Green Bay Fans after the jump.

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]]>beergreen bay packerspittsburgh steelerssuper bowlJoshua M. BernsteinFri, 04 Feb 2011 15:00:00 ESTCoors Beer Cans Go Retrohttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/02/coors-beer-cans-go-retro/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/02/coors-beer-cans-go-retro/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/02/coors-beer-cans-go-retro/#commentsFiled under: ,

Coors Banquet golden retro cansPhoto: Coors Banquet

When you snag an icy can of Coors for Sunday's game, you might notice something different about your favorite easy-swilling banquet beer.

Right in time for the Super Bowl, brewing giant MolsonCoors has goosed its flagship beer's inconic look, rolling out a quartet of retro designs -- but not a corresponding retro flavor -- dating from 1880 to 1959. That year, Coors unveiled America's first aluminum can, and thus birthed the legend of the "yellow belly" beer vessel.

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]]>CoorsCoors beerCoors cansCoors Yellow Belly CansJoshua M. BernsteinWed, 02 Feb 2011 16:00:00 ESTPairing Beer With Your Chinese New Yearhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/02/chinese-new-years-beer/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/02/chinese-new-years-beer/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/02/chinese-new-years-beer/#commentsFiled under:

Tsingtao beer for Chinese New YearPhoto: hakaider, Flickr


With the Year of the Rabbit right around the corner, it's the perfect time to break out the chopsticks and dive into some delicious Chinese food. But which Asian beers best complement your pile of pot stickers? Here, find beers paired with some of our favorite dishes from KitchenDaily's Chinese New Year menu and other standbys -- General Tso's and wonton soup, anyone?

Black Bass with Chili Sauce and Scallions
The crispy entree's spicy-sweet heat (fans of General Tso's chicken take note!) is best matched with a prickly, thirst-slaking pilsner such as Tsingtao, which boasts a bit of lingering malt sweetness. The low, 4.8 percent ABV means you can easily kick back two or three. Tsingtao would also snuggle up nicely with a hot-and-sour soup.

Pork and Scallion Dumplings
These plump, juicy specimens are best served with a beer that'll cut through the rich and fatty juices. I like the Sapporo Premium Beer, a fizzy and food-friendly Japanese brew that closes light and crisp. Sapporo won't rock your world on its own, but it's a fine addition to a dinner table.

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]]>Asian beerChinese New YearHarbinHitachino Nest White AleSapporoTsingtaoJoshua M. BernsteinWed, 02 Feb 2011 12:00:00 ESTThornbridge Saint Petersburg Imperial Russian Stout - Beer of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/01/thornbridge-saint-petersburg-imperial-russian-stout-beer-of-th/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/01/thornbridge-saint-petersburg-imperial-russian-stout-beer-of-th/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/01/thornbridge-saint-petersburg-imperial-russian-stout-beer-of-th/#commentsFiled under:

Thornbridge beer tapsPhoto: Real Ale Reviews


"Is that one of those bacon beers?" my girlfriend asked, sneaking a sip of my dark-brown potion. "You know I'm a vegetarian."

"There's no meat in the beer," I said. "It's smoked malt."

"I don't like that," she said.

"Well, I do," I replied, grabbing my glass back and taking a greedy gulp.

When done poorly, you see, smoked beers -- that is, brews made with malts roasted over peat, beechwood or maybe mesquite -- can recall drinking liquified BBQ. (The German brews dubbed rauchbiers can sometimes be oppressively smoky.) But when done right, smoked beers are divine, with the campfire character complementing flavors such as chocolate.

That's why I so love the beer swirling around my glass: the Saint Petersburg Imperial Russian Stout, hailing from the U.K.'s brilliant Thornbridge Brewery. Instead of focusing on wan British milds and bitters, the brewery instead offers the sort of full-flavored, prodigiously hopped beers typically favored stateside. Thornbridge's winning lineup includes the tangy, tropical and citric Jaipur IPA; fresh-hopped Halcyon IPA; rich, malty Bracia strong ale; and, most deliciously, the Saint Petersburg.

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]]>Beer of the WeekstoutJoshua M. BernsteinTue, 01 Feb 2011 17:00:00 ESTFrench Broad 13 Rebels ESB Ale - Beer of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/24/french-broad-13-rebels-esb-ale-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/24/french-broad-13-rebels-esb-ale-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/24/french-broad-13-rebels-esb-ale-beer-of-the-week/#comments

French Broad Brewery tapsPhoto: jpc.raleigh, Flickr

My friends didn't know what to make of the French Broad.

"She's an ESB -- an extra special bitter," I said, and pointed to the bottle of 13 Rebels, hailing from Asheville, North Carolina's French Broad Brewer (named after a local river, not a lady).

Their faces remained blank as a chalkboard wiped clean. "It's a British style of beer," I said, launching into this explanation. An English bitter is a light-bodied, gently fruity, low-alcohol brew -- the kind commonly served on cask at British pubs. By comparison, an ESB is a slightly charged-up bitter with a bit more booze, hop character and malt complexity.

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]]>Joshua M. BernsteinMon, 24 Jan 2011 17:00:00 ESTSmuttynose Wheat Wine Ale - Beer of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/17/smuttynose-wheat-wine-ale-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/17/smuttynose-wheat-wine-ale-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/17/smuttynose-wheat-wine-ale-beer-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under:

Smuttynose Wheat Wine Ale beer bottlePhoto: familynight, Flickr

It was an arctic winter night and snow was tumbling down, as fluffy as freshly grated Parmesan. There was no way I was slogging to my local bar for a nightcap. I reached into my fridge. "It's time for a stomach warmer," I said to myself, retrieving a Smuttynose Wheat Wine.

Ever since I could legally order a beer, I've been savoring brews from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, brewery Smuttynose. They're an East Coast stalwart, makers of lip-smackers such as the English-influenced Shoals Pale Ale and the citrusy Finestkind IPA. But the brewers really let their hair down in the Big Beer Series, devising burly beauties like the S'Muttonator Doppelbock, Belgian-style Farmhouse Ale and Wheat Wine Ale.

When the hybrid brew -- it's like a potent barley wine with a large percentage of wheat, which adds a softer, richer mouthfeel -- was released in 2005, it was the first commerically bottled take on the style. Accolades were almost instant: Wheat Wine Ale won a gold at that year's Great American Beer Festival.

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]]>alebeerBeer of the WeekfeaturedSmuttynoseJoshua M. BernsteinMon, 17 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST