Bearded. Brewing. Blogging.

When I started blogging I knew little about it. I got into great beer and homebrewing long before I got into blogging but it is because of homebrewing that I discovered it. My homebrewing website, Luther Public House is based on the life and works of Martin Luther. My interest in Luther goes back a long ways but that’s a story for another day. It is because of this interest that I took notice to a BeerAdvocate user whose avatar is a picture of Luther. A glance at his profile led me to his website, Singing Boys Brewing. Jim, the guy behind Singing Boys is a homebrewer in the suburbs of Chicago. Low and behold his website led me back to Minneapolis and the brewing blog of The Bearded Brewer. It seems Eric from Bearded got Jim from Singing involved in brewing organically and that’s how the connection was made. This series of events got the ball rolling and before long I was blogging. Many of you are familiar with the Bearded Brewing blog as it seems we all follow each other’s blogs to a certain extent. And it's a fun little community to be a part of.

A while back Eric and I connected by email and between his two young children and my two jobs we found it very hard to find a date that worked. Finally, after months of trying, he and I were able to meet face to face and talk beer while enjoying great beer. We met up at Buster’s on 28th and in addition to great conversation we also exchanged a few bottles of homebrew. He blogged a while back about his Gringo Imperial Mexican Lager made with agave nectar. This beer was later reviewed by yet another blogger I follow, Stu, from Friday Night Beer. I decided after reading about it that I needed to try this beer.

And last weekend at Buster's I finally got my hands on some!

Last night, after a couple hours of lecture on yeast health, propagation and yeast washing, I decided I was thirsty. Not a surprise. This is usually a daily occurrence while studying beer and brewing, I find myself craving a well crafted beer. After just one whiff followed by a sufficient swig, I knew I was holding a well crafted beer. I opened the bottle carefully and got the gush of carbonation I was warned about. After it settled down I poured it into my Vegas* glass and had a look. It was a murky straw color with a huge sudsy head. I determined the murkiness was due to some chunky yeast matter. These were probably creating many tiny nucleation points which encouraged all the vigorous foaming. I have to admit that I was hoping for the crystal clear version as seen HERE on Eric’s review but appearance has very little to do with the overall enjoyment of a beer. What makes a beer are great flavor and a great aroma and this beer had both. Escaping ever so delicately through the massive dense head was a divine citrusy and floral hop aroma complimented nicely by a clover-like honey sweetness, probably the agave. In addition I also got a mild graininess and just a hint of alcoholic heat. The flavor was just as enjoyable.

I got more of that floral hoppy yumminess and just a slight amount of malt probably from the specialty malts. I also got what I could only explain as pineapple, but I liked it. The hop bitterness was low but the hop flavor and aroma were emphasized and fantastic. The other thing that amazed me about this beer was how clean it was, a very straightforward flavor profile that was so easy to drink. It started out sweet but finished dry which made it so refreshing. The mouthfeel was pleasant as well. Low to medium-low body and very effervescent. No astringency and due to the intense carbonation, no real creaminess to speak of. To be honest it really reminded me of

Rogue’s Imperial Pilsner which I absolutely loved! Very nice beer Eric, I will be attempting this at home if I may have your blessing.

Please stay tuned as I review the “El Muerto” manana… I mean tomorrow.

*My Vegas glass is one of a pair that my wife and I acquired from Ellis Island Casino and Brewery. We went in one afternoon for a couple of their great hefeweizens and we were served in these nice glasses. We didn't want to stay so we took them to go and the glasses ended up back in Minnesota some how.