Back to Basics: Beer Terms Part 2

In addition to knowing the styles of beer you like, its important to know how to describe beers. While there isn’t exactly a standardization for describing the flavors and textures of beers, there are a few terms that are commonly used.

·         Aggressive: An assertive aroma and/or taste

·         Balanced : The malt and hops are in near even proportions and an equal representation of the malty sweetness and hoppy bitterness

·         Bouquet: The aroma given off by the hops

·         Clean: Leaves little or no aftertaste

·         Color: Light or dark, can be helpful when deciding on unfamiliar beers

·         Complex: It has many complimentary flavors

·         Crisp: Highly carbonated or clean

·         Finish: The lingering flavor after the beer has been swallowed

·         Floral: Full of aromas reminiscent of flowers

·         Fruity: Flavors reminiscent of various fruits

·         Head: The amount of foam on top of a poured beer

·         Heavy: If a beer has a thick consistancy

·         Hoppy: Herbal, earthy, spicy, or citric aromas and flavors of hops

·         Light: Describes the color, or used to describe a thinner consistancy

·         Malty: Grainy, caramel-like; can be sweet or dry

·         Roasty/toasty: Malt (roasted grain) flavors

·         Robust: Rich and full-bodied

·         Skunky: A sulfurous smell that comes when a beer has aged too long

Back to Basics: Beer Terms Part 1

The history of beer is extremely complex and has a history nearly as long as humans. So instead of diving right into that rich world of history, we are going to start with the basics, including the basic types of beer and what their classifications mean.

Most people have a favorite brand that they return to time and time again. But what happens if you go to a bar that doesn't have your favorite brand in house? How do you find something similar? An easy way to start is to learn the classifications and what makes one beer a Pilsner and another an IPA.

Most beers can be broken down into 2 larger categories: Lagers and Ales. After that, they are broken down even further by style.

Lagers

Lagers ferment at a colder temperature than ales and tend to be aged longer. Flavor-wise, these tend to be crisper and cleaner on the palate. Lagers should be served colder, ideally a few degrees above freezing. Some types of lagers include:

American Pilsner—A lighter beer and generally served cold, pilsners tend to be the least offensive of the beers. Their flavors are lighter, tend to lack hoppiness, and overall are easier to drink. They also have a lower alcohol content, around 3.5-5%.  Example: Miller Genuine Draft

Bock—A dark, malty lager that originated in Germany. It tends to be less hoppy, though that can depend on the style of bock, i.e., maibock, dopplebock. They tend to have a maltier flavor and are a bit heavier than a pilsner. Alcohol contents vary from 6.3-12% Example: Sam Adams Winter Lager

Stout—Is a member of the porter family, and is a heavier lager that often has a roasted flavor. It’s consistency is thick and filling. Alcohol content is usually between 7-8%. Example: Guinness

Ales

Ales are the older form of brewing, and are fermented at warmer temperatures than lagers. These tend to be more robust beers with fruity or nutty flavors. Ales are served at warmer temperatures, generally 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Some types of ales include:

Amber—Amber Ales are an American variety of ales. They tend to be a bit sweeter than your typical ale, and are served at cooler temperatures than average. The alcohol content is around 5%. Example: Alaskan Amber

Brown—Brown Ales are a nuttier type of beer and are very easily paired with food. They tend to be heavier ales. As with most ales, they are served warmer, though many prefer them cold because they pair so well with spicy foods. The alcohol content is around 5%. Example: Newcastle Brown Ale

IPA—Stands for India Pale Ale, IPAs are fairly common and tend to be hoppy-in flavor, meaning that IPAs are not for those with a sweet tooth. They tend to start smooth and have a bitter aftertaste. Example: Sierra Nevada Torpedo

Friday Night Cocktails-Rum Edition

Dr. McAlcohol always enjoys a great drink, especially on the weekends. Here are a few favorites, following this week’s rum theme.

Classic Daiquiri

When most people think of a daiquiri, they think of a frozen daiquiri. In actuality, a Classic Daiquiri is a 3 ingredient cocktail developed by an American in Cuba.

White Rum-2 shots

Lime Juice-1 shot

Simple Syrup-1/2 shot

Pour ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake about 10 seconds, and strain into a chilled martini glass.

Note: For a frozen daiquiri, double the ingredients and pour them into a blender with ice cubes. Pulse 2-3 minutes or until smooth. For a sweeter cocktail, add fresh strawberries.

Classic Mai Tai

A Mai Tai can seem like an overwhelming cocktail, but it is a quintessential rum drink. And because it requires so many different types of alcohol that the average home bar may not have, Dr. McAlcohol recommends finding the specialized single serve bottles.

Spiced rum-½ shot
White rum-½ shot
Creme de almond- ½ shot
Triple sec-½ shot
Orange juice-3 shots
Pineapple juice-3 shots
Lime juice-Splash

Pour ingredients into shaker with ice, shake about 10 seconds, and strain into chilled wine glass.

Wassail

Wassail is a classic winter drink that makes a great hot punch for a holiday party. It also gives you a chance to sing “Here We Go a Wassailing”.

Apple Cider (not juice)-1 Gallon

Cranberry Juice-1/2 Gallon

Oranges-1 sliced

Cinnamon sticks-6

Allspice-1 tbsp

Cloves-1 tbsp

Spiced Rum-3 cups

Add all ingredients except rum to a slow cooker.  Cook on low for 3 hours. Add rum. Cook 1 hour. Serve in mugs.

Note: Wrapping allspice and cloves in cheesecloth before adding will prevent straining later.

Back to Basics: Rum Part 2

When it comes to stocking a home bar, Dr. McAlcohol recommends that you have a spiced rum and a white rum on hand. To add some fun to your selection, add some flavored rums as well.

Spiced Rums: If you have a limited budget for your alcoholic endeavors, spiced rum is the way to go. Spiced rums have traditionally been consumed neat or on the rocks, but they actually mix quite nicely. In this humble doctor’s opinion, they mix even better than the white variety due to the complexity of the spices and the caramel that is usually added to these rums for color. A good rule to remember when purchasing spiced rum is to always pick one that’s named for sea men, and the lower the rank, the better the taste.

Brands to try: Sailor Jerry, Captain Morgan

Brands to avoid: Admiral Nelson, Ron Diaz

White Rums: White or clear rums traditionally have been used for mixing, mostly with sodas and fruit juices. The main reason for this is that white rums tend to have an overwhelmingly sharp or alcohol smell and flavor, which makes them rather unpleasant to drink straight. White rum is usually used in the most popular rum drinks, including Rum and Cokes and Daiquiris.

Brands to try: Bacardi Silver

Brands to avoid: Mr. Boston Imported Rum

Flavored Rums: Flavored rums have only recently come into huge popularity. While some brands have had coconut rum for quite some time, a whole new world has been opened up, including mango, raspberry, peach, apple and lemon. These flavors come from infusing white rum with these fruity flavors to enhance the flavor, and create the option for mixing or sipping.

Brands to try: Malibu Coconut Rum

Brands to avoid: Bacardi Razz

Back to Basics: Rum Part 1

Where is comes from: First recorded in Brazil in 1620s, though it’s believed that it started earlier in Barbados.

What it’s made of: Sugarcane, Molassas

Where the name comes from: Theories include:

·         British slang term for “the best”.

·         The last syllable of the Latin word for sugar, saccharum.

What are the types:  In the United States, we have mostly Puerto Rican style rums, which include:

·         Light rums, also referred to as silver or white rums

·         Gold rums, also called amber rums

·         Dark rums, also known by their color, such as brown, black, or red

·         Spiced rums obtain their flavors through the addition of spices and, sometimes, caramel

·         Flavored rums are infused with flavors of fruits, such as banana, mango, orange, citrus, coconut, starfruit or lime

·         Overproof rums are much higher than the standard; as high as 75% [150 proof] to 80% [160 proof] available.

Basic Rum Recipe:  Cuba Libre (aka Rum and Coke)

The common recipe for the Cuba Libre is:

·         1 Part Light Rum

·         2 Parts Cola

·         Splash of lime juice

Dr. McAlcohol recommends substituting Spiced Rum for Light Rum and omitting the lime juice, resulting in a sweeter by more complex tasting drink.

Spice it up!

Rum and Cherry/Vanilla Coke: add a shot each of vanilla and cherry schnapps

Hot Cuba Libre: Add a splash of hot sauce

Welcome!

Welcome to Dr. McAlcohol’s Guide to Alcohol Enthusiasm! You have made an important first step in your journey towards becoming a more educated alcohol aficionado.  Here, you will find information about your favorite alcoholic beverages from Amaretto to Zinfandel.