Good Thing You Don't Need Electricity to Drink Beer...

As the above title indicates, electrical power's been a bit sketchy in these parts for the last couple of days.  High winds dropping trees on power lines has kept most of the Kenai Peninsula guessing as to whether the lights will be on from one minute to the next.  The good news is that though you need power to brew beer, it drinks just fine in the dark...

Cheers!

The Beer Tasting at Mykel's Restaurant on Saturday evening was a great success.  The food was outstanding as always and Joe Gilman from Kenai River did a fine job of walking us through several of their brews, culminating in a glass of Chocolate Pecan Crunch that had been cellared for almost a year.  I've had it fresh and I think the aging process has done a nice job in toning down the sweetness and giving in a much more mellow and rounded flavor.  My only complaint (and I heard this from many other folks) was that the musician was just too darn loud.  He was pretty good, but no matter how good you are, I hate having to shout to be heard when I'm trying to talk to my dinner companions.  Music at a beer tasting should be strictly background; we were there for the beer, the food, and the company, not to hear someone belt out lyrics...

To the victor go the spoils...

Speaking of Kenai River, based on his Facebook posts, Doug Hogue is having a great time Outside, both at CANFEST in Reno, NV and at the various breweries he's hit before and since.  Things started off with a bang: Skilak Scottish took the silver in the Scottish/Red/Brown Ales category, right behind Oskar Blue's G'Knight Imperial Red Ale.  Good job, Doug!  However, I'm still trying to figure out how Coors Light won gold in the Lagers Category, beating out Oskar Blue's Mama's Little Yellow Pils. Coors Light?  Really?

In spite of being located in  part of the Peninsula which seems to always lose power whenever the wind blows stronger than a stiff breeze, Kassik's Brewery continues to soldier on.  Indeed, even when they had no power, they were still filling growlers; that's dedication.  By the way, folks, they're closed on Mondays in the winter.  That means it's really bad form to show up on Mondays and expect them to sell you beer.  They're open six days a weeks as it is, so show a little respect, OK?

Anyway, there's a new brew on tap as of today, Penny Porter.  I believe I had last year's version of this maple porter and really liked it, so I hope to get out there soon to pick some up.  It's for a great cause, so if you like porter or dog mushing, be sure to pick some up. Their excellent Double Wood Imperial IPA is also on tap, along with several other choices.

If you're interested in possibly winning a free trip for two to Seattle, Henry Weinhard's is running a contest.  Ten finalists will be selected in March to fly to Seattle in May (along with a companion) to catch fish at the famous Pike's Place Market.  If you can catch all six fish tossed you, you will win a year's supply of their beer.  The contest opened on 1 November and you can enter once a day through February 29th, either by texting "CATCH" to 90464 or entering through Henry Weinhard's Facebook page.  I'm not much of a fish tosser, but I wouldn't mind a free trip for two to Seattle...

Over at St. Elias Brewing Company, Zach Henry has another new beer on, Birdseed Blonde Ale.  I stopped in last Friday and had a glass.  It was a pretty gold in the glass with a fairly small head.  The aroma was crisp and clean, with some hop aroma from the Goldings and Sterling hops used.  Zach told me he used seven different grains in the malt bill, including two different types of wheat malt.  On the palate it was fairly light, with enough hop bitterness to balance the malt, but not so as to push the beer out of the mainstream.  To me, this beer is a nice, straight-ahead blonde ale.  It won't really challenge the experienced craft beer drinker, but it won't scare off the novice either.  I predict it will sell like hotcakes, as it will go great with pizza.


Finally, I managed to snag a bottle of Midnight Sun's Mammoth Extra Stout at Country Liquors in Kenai this weekend. Back on 4/14/2011, I mentioned that it was being released and that I was looking forward to getting some to review.  It's taken me seven months, but better late than never.  Here are its stats: 7.8% ABV, 50 IBUs.  Malts used: Pale Two-row, Special B, Biscuit, Black, & Roasted Barley.  It's hopped with Magnum and Fuggles.

The beer poured completely opaque with a nice tan head, just like a good extra stout should.  The aroma was primarily roasty malt, but with some slight sweet chocolate notes.  The head left nice lacing on the side of the glass.  On the palate the mouthfeel was medium, not as thick and chewy as some heavy stouts. Malt flavors forward, both roasty and some sweetness, balanced with some citrus notes from the hops.  Toward the end the hops get a bit more earthy (the Fuggles, I'd think) and the beer finishes nicely.  Quite drinkable for its strength and style, I could see myself enjoying several of these in a row.  I'm glad I finally got to give this one a try.

Well, that's about it for this week.  Not sure if I'll get a blog out next week, what with Thanksgiving and all.  Hope you get to spend Thanksgiving with family and drink plenty of good craft beer with your turkey feast.

Until Next Time, Cheers!