Beer

Hotter Than Helles Lager

Cigar City Brewing’s “hotter Than Helles Lager” is part of their year round beer selection. I had been interested in trying it for a while now and decided to pick some up last week. I wasn’t sure what to expect out of it since lagers tend to be rather uneventful and quite honestly, boring. What I found was a beer that was neither of these things.

While the word “hell” is a German adjective meaning “light”, “blonde”, “pale”, etc., the word “helles” is a noun meaning “bright” or “a light one”. Given the color of the beer this is a very apt name for it. The color is very light, I would describe it as pale blonde. There is a lighter than normal carbonation to this beer which makes it even easier to drink leaving almost no head after pouring. The lower carbonation does inhibit foam though so expect no real lacing on the glass.

Cigar City Brewing describes the smell as grain, hay and honey, however, in addition, I also notice elements of fresh cut grass and a fair amount of sour lemon.

The flavor is fresh and light. The lower carbonation comes into play again creating a very light mouthfeel to the beer. Quoting Cigar City again they describe the taste as having a malty backbone with hay and honey. I did find that there is a good amount of bready malt flavors but they were offset by a decent amount of hops giving it quite a bit of bitter citrus flavor with a clean enjoyable finish.

With all the boring lagers out there it was nice to have one that at least had some complexity to it. I’m not saying this is going to replace any full-bodied beers you enjoy drinking but for a lager it’s a good. If you’re looking for something to drink on a hot day or something light and refreshing while mowing the lawn (cheers for that Ryan) this is your beer.

Brewer: Cigar City Brewing

ABV: 5%

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 pints.

Summer Time Travel

It’s summer time! And while the past summers as of late, I’ve spent in a college classroom, for the majority of both young and old, summer is undoubtably a time for travel. Not just any travel, summer vacations mean exotic trips to the ruins and cities of Europe or the paradises of the tropics. So break open your Google Maps and pina coladas. As someone who has traveled extensively here are some of my top picks for summer travel and, in distinguished ruffian style, their complementary beverage choices.

1. The Greek Islands. Santorini is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. On my visit I was able to swim in hot springs, hike a volcano, take a boat in the sea, and relax on their seaside city. (Much of the coastline city has been carved out of the side of the sea rock) Recommended drink is Ouzo, its the traditional alcoholic beverage of the region. It is an anise flavored aperitif that is clear in color and strong in flavor, and a little water to it and it will turn cloudy white and also help reduce the potency if its flavor.

2. The New England Coast. Growing up I spent the majority of my summers on the sands if George’s Beach and fishing off of Block Island. New England states, such as Connecticut and Rhode Island may be small, but they are everything summer is meant to be! The weather is perfect which makes the array of activities feel endless and the people are great (although I’ll admit that last point is biased considering my long list of relatives who live there, whom I’m quite fond of). Newport, Narragansett and Block Island are my favorites for summer variety and seafood. For a drink try a beer from Shipyard Brewing Company in, Portland Maine, which is just north of my choice cites. They have a wide variety of beers that will go nicely with whatever you happen to do that day.

3. Canada. While I have yet to explore the majority of Canada, I can personally say that Quebec and British Columbia make great summer spots. Quebec feels like its own little country. It’s just lovely really. For those Ruffians out there looking to take your lady for a unique romantic trip without going abroad Quebec is perfect. Theres lots of history, quaint cobblestone streets, and old town appeal. On the west coast British Columbia is a thriving city with a lot of pride. The tourist area is very fun although a few blocks away there appeared to be a lot less pride, loads of trash and lots of homeless that approach you quickly. I wouldn’t make British Columbia my destination for a weeks long vacation, but it makes a great day trip. Caribou is the drink of Quebec. If you enjoy the flavor of wine, a little whiskey and the sweetness of maple syrup then it’s for you.

Photo credit Destination360 Victoria

http://www.destination360.com/north-america/canada/british-columbia/victoria

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4. The Amalfi Coast. Portofino, Capri , And Sorrento are a few of the many areas on and around the Amalfi Coast in Italy. It’s no wonder that celebrities vacation there, it’s aesthetically beautiful and all around peaceful! It’s one of my favorite vacation spots. In the summer it can be a little crowded with tourists so stick to the outskirts during this time. There’s plenty of activities along the coast. You can hire a boat for the day or take the ferries from Ravello to Positano and see what the small towns have to offer. Drink of choice undoubtedly is Limoncello

5. Alaska (The Inside Passage). Even in summer it can be a bit brisk, cold, and at times rainy, but it’s Worth it! I’ve been to 75% of the states in the U.S.A. and Alaska is one of my favorites. I love the way nature and man cohabit ate in this amazing place. If you’re a big city lover, Alaska is not for you. But, if you appreciate the great outdoors, Alaska is wilderness untouched. In Alaska the wilderness is everywhere and it’s breath taking. While I’ve read that the signature drink of Alaska is a smoked salmon bloody mary, I think that sounds bloody disgusting. I’d stick with one of the beers from Alaska’s long list of great breweries. My husband and I personally enjoyed the beers from Skagway Brewing Company.

6. Jamaica. I live in Florida so tropical places like the Bahamas and the Caribbean aren’t too extraordinary for me, but for those who do want somewhere tropical to visit this summer, try Jamaica. Once you get past the rows of Bob Marley beach towel sellers and “mon ja -macan me crazy” t-shirts, it’s a pretty place. the people are indeed quite relaxed, and theres a great mix of natural beauty like waterfalls and water sport activities which are necessary in the summer because it is HOT, VERY HOT! Drinking a rum punch or a red stripe will help cool you off and both are delicious.

New Belgium / Snapshot

Snapshot is the newish wheat beer from New Belgium. I had been putting off trying it since I am not a big fan of wheat beers but a few days ago I gave in. I waited until I had finished the whole six-pack before writing this. I limited my self to two bottles a day to ensure that I wasn’t swayed in a positive or negative way by drinking too much at one time and what I found was a new style of wheat beer that I really enjoyed.

First the appearance, when first poured out of the bottle there was a nice head of about 2 fingers thick that slowly reduced to a small layer of fluff on top. Since this is an unfiltered drink the color shows a nice hazy gold when held to light. As I finish the drink it leaves nice thick lacing on the glass.

On the nose it has a lovely aroma of grass, citrus, yeast, and wheat. Smells you would want to have with a good wheat beer.

Finally the fun part, the flavor and palate. It is light with the flavor of coriander and a fair amount of citrus that leads to a tart/sour and dry finish. According to New Belgium the special process to achieve this flavor is to “Add Lacto (souring bacteria) to a portion of the overall wort, which produces lactic acid that gives a characteristic sourness and mouthfeel. That acidic portion is then added to other portion of the wort that was fermented with the Ale yeast. So two worts – a sour and a regular – are blended together to make Snapshot.” The mouthfeel is thin but creamy and pleasant on the palate. If it had a heavier mouth feel it wouldn’t be as refreshing and enjoyable.

For someone that normally doesn’t normally drink wheat beers I found this to be a very delicious beer. Overall this is a great light summer or spring beer. It is incredibly enjoyable while sitting outside in the sun or in the evening while talking with friends. Because of it’s light and tart flavor my cigar pairing recommendation would be a Liga T-52 or Undercrown. The lightness of the beer will pair well with the heavier cigar.

Brewer: New Belgium

ABV: 5.0%

Yeast: Hybrid ale yeast

Hops: Cascade

Malts: Pale, Wheat

Rating: 4 out of 5 pints. Go get some and enjoy.