Local Picked Pumpkin

Brewer- Susquehanna Brewing Company

Beer- Pumpkin Ale

Style- Pumpkin Ale

ABV- 4.80%


Description – Susquehanna Brewing Company’s Pumpkin Ale pours orange amber color with frothy off white head that dissipates quickly and leaves behind a very faint lacing on the glass.  The aroma is full of pumpkin spice goodness with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger backed by hints of sweet crystal malts. The taste follows the nose with pumpkin spice notes up front that give way to a smooth sweet malt taste and feel leaving behind hints of caramel and candied sugar.  This truly is a beer that can tout itself as pumpkin pie in a glass, but it is more on the light side of the mouthfeel which keeps it from being too overly sweet as some pumpkin ales can become. The moderate carbonation and light to medium mouthfeel give this beer a smooth easy drinking characteristic which makes for a pumpkin ale that can be enjoyed in large quantities.  SBC has certainly brewed a beer that has earned its place in your fridge this fall season.

Food Pairing – Pumpkin Ales are specifically a fall seasonal beer, especially those which include fresh pumpkins in the recipe. The fall season is the time when things start to cool off as we get ready for winter and as we do we celebrate both Halloween and Thanksgiving in between.  It is also a time when warm and hearty foods begin to make appearances on our plates and push aside the lighter summer fare. This makes pumpkin ales a great pairing for these foods. Try pairing this beer with a rich hearty beef stew, but not one that is overly spiced as the lighter qualities of this beer will get lost in the mix.  This pumpkin ale is also great to stock up on and save for Thanksgiving as a perfect match for turkey and cranberries can be found with this beer, you can of course have this pairing any time you want! The sessionable qualities of this beer also make it ideal with popular fall desserts such as cider donuts, pumpkin pies, apple crisps, campfire s’mores, or even a decadent piece of carrot cake. Whatever you choose this is a beer that will impart an extra layer of flavor to your dish and help make this fall even more special.

The Final Word – Susquehanna Brewing Company has quickly gained a loyal following since opening their doors in 2012 and with delicious and sessionable beers such as this it is easy to see why. While some pumpkin beers can become veritable spice bombs, SBC’s Pumpkin Ale is delicately spiced with just the right balance to impart great aroma and taste without any residual cloying flavors. The 4.8 percent ABV is also a welcome sight when many pumpkin ales tend to lean towards 9 percent ABV, thus making most of them a one and done type beer. Instead this pumpkin ale can be enjoyed long into the evening around a warm campfire to really help celebrate the impending fall season. If you are a fan of pumpkin ales this is a must try and with it being brewed right here in NEPA, it is not a beer that will require too much hunting to find.

Where can I get it? – Currently available in 12 oz. bottles at: Backyard Ale House- Scranton, PA; Wegman’s- Dickson City, PA and Wilkes Barre, PA; Cooper’s Seafood- Scranton, PA Krugel’s Georgetown Deli- Wilkes Barre, PA; and What’s Brewin’ 6-Pack Ale Shoppe- Old Forge, PA

Bouncing with Flavor

Beer: Bouncy House

Brewer: Smuttynose Brewing Company

Style: American IPA

ABV: 4.30%

Description: Bouncy House pours a delightful pale gold color with white rocky head that leaves behind a very thin layer of lacing. The aroma is full of hops with notes of pine, herbs, grass, pears, tangerine, and biscuit malt in the background. The taste follows the nose with hops up front, again bringing notes of pine and herbs with a variety of fruit as well tangerines, pear, and hints of grapefruit followed by sweet biscuit and bread malts before a crisp dry finish takes over. The balance in this beer tips a bit towards the hops, but it still is a very enjoyable session beer. The light body and moderate carbonation aid in giving this beer it’s very crisp mouthfeel and dry finish. The session IPA is not an easy balancing act to pull off, but Smuttynose has created an easy-drinking and highly sessionable IPA with Bouncy House.

Food pairing: This is a great beer to have on hand for summer cookouts and goes well with a variety of meats, but is absolutely perfect with pork. Try pairing with a pulled pork sandwich, roasted pork, and also ribs, and do not be afraid to slather on the BBQ sauce. Bouncy House will pick up on all those wonderful spices sprinkled throughout the sauce and the crisp carbonation will cleanse the palate every time! The other great pairing for this beer is fish, specifically mahi mahi. The best way to prepare it is to give the fish a spicy-sweet combination for the beer to really showcase itself and sink its teeth into. Try preparing Maple Cajun mahi mahi, as the sweet maple syrup is complimented by Cajun spices and the beer brings everything together harmoniously. If you are looking for something a little lighter, try pairing with a Waldorf goat cheese salad. If you want an exquisite dessert experience with your beer, try preparing a peach and goat cheese tartine, as either of these pairings will make you truly feel like its summer any time of the year.

The final word: The session IPA has become something of a goal for many American craft brewers. The explosion of craft beer has made many drinkers realize that after one or two - especially when compared with non-craft beer drinking friends - the night typically comes to an end early. This issue has led craft brewers to try long and hard to find the right balance of malt and hops to deliver a full-flavored IPA, but with less ABV. Smuttynose did several test batches of this beer and asked craft beer lovers for feedback to find the perfect balance, and it has finally dialed it in with this recipe. The hops are present enough for many hopheads to still enjoy their favorite beer style, and actually weighs in at an impressive 86 IBUs, but the ABV is perfect for a beer to enjoy for a long night out with friends. It also makes a perfect summer beer to enjoy by the poolside!

Rating:

Where can I get it? Currently available in 12-ounce bottles at Backyard Ale House- Scranton, PA and Krugel’s Georgetown Deli- Wilkes-Barre, PA. Currently available on tap at Cooper’s Seafood- Scranton, PA; Beer Boys- Wilkes-Barre, PA; and Tiffany’s Tap & Grill- Eynon, PA.

All American Ales

In recent decades, America has gone from a sad beer landscape with only a handful of similar bland-tasting beers to a vibrant and thriving beer scene. The ingenuity and forward thinking of America’s brewers have created a beer scene that the rest of the world now looks upon not with disdain, but with envy.

In this current landscape, nothing truly says “America” more than an American craft beer, and you can also enjoy your apple pie and hot dogs with any number of these great beers! This year, while celebrating the Fourth of July at backyard barbeques, the pool, or amidst firework displays, enjoy some of these fantastic craft beers that are truly American through and through!

Anchor Brewing Company, Anchor Liberty Ale: This is a beer rich with history and also one that many argue changed the American beer landscape. Liberty Ale was first brewed in 1975 to celebrate the bicentennial of Paul Revere’s historic ride. As the first modern American IPA brewed after prohibition and the first modern American single-hop ale and dry-hopped ale, Anchor’s Liberty Ale is the original craft brewed ale and the historic beer that started a revolution. It is also a beer that has stood the test of time and is still just as enjoyable today!

Yards Brewing Co., Thomas Jefferson’s Tavern Ale: This is history in a glass and is based upon our founding father and avid homebrewer Thomas Jefferson’s original recipe! This strong golden ale tips the scales at 8 percent ABV as well. Not only is this beer highly drinkable, it also shows the foresight that Jefferson had even in good beer – truly a drink to toast to the past and future of America!

21st Amendment Brewery, Brew Free! Or Die IPA: The artwork alone for this beer will spark a patriotic movement within you; Abraham Lincoln is pictured breaking free from Mount Rushmore! However, the true movement is the delicious and balanced IPA within the can – yes, can – that will leave you inspired to enjoy another one. The fact that that this fantastic IPA comes in a can makes it seem even more American in spirit and should motivate you to bring a few along to any outdoor summer activities!

Avery Brewing Company, Ale to the Chief: This Imperial Pale Ale, or rather Presidential Pale Ale, as Avery calls it, is unique in that it is brewed every four years to commemorate the President’s inauguration. A beer that celebrates our democracy is certainly one worth drinking, and as with all of Avery’s beers, this is no exception – very balanced, but best enjoyed fresh. Thankfully, we don’t have too long to go until the next batch is brewed up!

Cigar City Brewing, Homefront IPA: Another wonderful and balanced beer from a fantastic brewery, or in this case, breweries. This is a collaboration beer between several breweries that is released every Memorial Day, with a large amount of proceeds going to charity. This beer is unique in that it was actually aged with wooden baseball bats – now that is American! Also, in 2014, a minimum of $150,000 from the sale of this beer will be donated to Operation Homefront, an organization providing emergency financial and other assistance to our service members and wounded warriors, making it even more American!

The craft beer movement occurring right now in America is something worth celebrating, and while enjoying craft beers is certainly an American way to celebrate, so is celebrating safely! So grab yourself some great American craft beer and toast to those who have made this country the wonderful place that it is today. Cheers!

Tried and Truly Hoppy

Beer: Stone IPA

Brewer: Stone Brewing Co.

Style: American IPA

ABV: 6.90%

Description: Stone IPA pours a light clear golden color with a frothy white head that hangs around, leaving behind a wonderful lacing on the glass. The aroma is everything hopheads dream of smelling in IPAs, with strong notes of citrus, grapefruit, pine, and a very subtle earthy/floral hop background mixed in with light sweet malts. The taste follows the nose and is dominated by hops, with citrus again being the most dominant with grapefruit, mango, orange, and some lemon dancing across the palate along with a bit of pine before the malts wash over and scrub the palate clean for an unbelievably clean and dry finish. The medium body and moderate carbonation give this IPA its signature smooth mouthfeel and is a real testament to just how well Stone Brewing Co. brews a perfect IPA.

Food pairing: While Stone IPA is great to drink year-round, it is truly a refreshing summer beer and goes well with a wide variety of barbecue dishes. It’s a dream when paired with spicier foods. Try pairing it with Mexican dishes such as tostadas, chimichangas, or huevos rancheros; the bitterness will cut through the cheese, quell the heat from the chillies on your palate, and leave behind the hops to play joyfully with the spices before a clean and dry finish. If you are in the mood for something heftier, try pairing with chicken tikka masala, a creamy and spicy Indian dish; the creamier sauce melts into the malt bill to create a heftier feeling beer on the palate, while the hops and spices mingle with one another and, again, the beer keeps any spiciness from getting out of control and still manages to have a clean, dry finish. Since it is summer, try pairing this beer with your favorite burger, hot dog, steak, pork, or any other dish you can cook on a grill and slather in BBQ sauce and spices!

The final word: Stone Brewing Co. first released this world-class IPA in 1997. While most breweries constantly adjust recipes before and after a beer’s release until they feel it is perfect, Stone has used the original recipe since the initial release. Not only does this showcase the great brewing skills possessed by those at Stone, but also the forward-thinking and “try to catch us if you can” attitude that is also prevalent throughout the brewery. IPAs are certainly all the rage right now, and Stone’s IPA is still leading the pack in that department, but the fact that they had this style dialed in 17 years ago is just amazing. Many IPAs have come and gone since the initial release, yet Stone IPA is still standing. If you are an IPA fan, Stone IPA should be a constant go-to for you. If you are new to the style, reach for one of the IPAs that started this trend!

Rating:

Where can I get it? Currently available in 12-ounce bottles at: Arena Bar and Grill- Wilkes-Barre, PA; Backyard Ale House- Scranton, PA; Exit 190 Beer Deli- Dickson City, PA; Krugel’s Georgetown Deli & Beer,- Wilkes-Barre, PA; and Wegmans- Dickson City, PA and Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Currently available on draft at Exit 190 Beer Deli- Dickson City, PA.


Looking for it in your area?  Check here

A Very Special Brew

 

Beer: Our Special Ale (2013)

Brewer: Anchor Brewing Company

Style: Winter Warmer

ABV: 5.50%

What’s so special about it? Anchor Brewing Company is widely considered an influential craft brewery and has long been at the forefront for a variety of beer styles, including this rich holiday classic. The first Our Special Ale bottles were released in 1975, the first true Christmas beer since Prohibition, and have been released yearly since. What makes them so special is that every year features a new label and recipe; not only is it unique, but it’s very collectible as well. The recipe is a closely guarded secret with no part of it being discussed openly by anyone at the brewery.

Description: Our Special Ale pours a deep russet brown with a creamy light coffee-colored head that leaves a thick lacing on the glass. The aroma hints at notes of caramel, roasted malts, molasses, cinnamon, and piney hops. The taste is a nice balance between roasted caramel malts and sweet holiday spicing, with just a touch of hops in the background for a secondary touch of spice: not overly complicated but extremely enjoyable. The medium body and moderate carbonation allow this beer to have a surprisingly dry finish despite the heavy appearance of the spicing. Every year this beer is different, but every year is absolutely fantastic. The 2013 recipe is no different – this beer creates a great amount of holiday cheer all by itself!

Food pairing: Our Special Ale is right at home with virtually any beef dish, whether it’s grilled, stewed, or roasted. Braised short ribs are breathtaking and always a nice match. However, with the cold winter now enveloping us, try pairing this with a hearty beef stew. The heartier the better; the subtle spicing and sweet malt bill will pair very well with it and combine to create an almost entirely new dish once all the flavors fuse together and wash over the palate. This is also a wonderful beer to have with your holiday desserts, whether they are decadent Christmas cakes, cookies, or a simple bowl of ice cream.

The final word: Anchor’s Our Special Ale has a rich tradition within the craft beer world, and for many, it has become the go-to holiday beer, and with good reason; it is absolutely fantastic. The fact that the recipe changes yearly also creates quite the buzz. It’s a highly collectible beer and a great one to age. Many people have kept bottles going back nearly 20 years and will have huge parties when cracking them all open to do side-by-side tastings and comparisons. All of this celebration around one beer makes it a great pick to have around during the holidays to enjoy with your friends and family.

Rating:

Where can I get it? Our Special Ale is released every year in several ways: 12-ounce bottles, draft, and 1.5 liter Magnum bottles. Magnum bottles are typically available at any retailer selling 12-ounce bottles, but there is a limited quantity available. Our Special Ale is currently available in 12-ounce bottles at: Krugel’s Georgetown Deli & Beer- Wilkes-Barre, PA; Jack’s Draft House- Scranton, PA; J & H Beer- Wilkes-Barre, PA; and Exit 190 Beer Deli- Dickson City, PA.

Available on draft at: Arena Bar and Grill- Wilkes-Barre, PA and Hops & Barleys- Luzerne. PA.

A Smoky Treat

 

Beer: Stone Smoked Porter with Vanilla Bean

Brewer: Stone Brewing Co.

Style: American porter

ABV: 5.90%

Description: Stone Smoked Porter with Vanilla Bean pours a deep brown with a thick beige head that lingers long and leaves a very nice lacing on the glass. The aroma is dominated by vanilla bean and notes of smoke sneaking through and combining with the rich roasted malts emanating the smell of chocolate and coffee, all blending together to create a breathtaking bouquet. The vanilla hits the palate up front and is soon followed by rich cocoa, coffee, and a slight biscuit note before the vanilla returns and then leaves a wonderfully clean and smooth finish. The medium body and moderate carbonation make this one incredibly smooth porter. The smoke flavor is certainly present, but it does not dominate the flavor profile, as is typical with most smoked beers, and instead imparts a subtle sweetness to the beer. Overall, Stone absolutely nailed this one and has given the masses yet another wonderful and aggressively flavored beer to enjoy in large quantities!

Food pairing: Smoked beers can be a bit overwhelming when pairing with foods but tend to go very well with meats, especially those of the BBQ variety. However, the copious amount of vanilla in this beer tends to make this smoked porter more of a dessert beer, which certainly makes for very interesting flavor combinations. During the holiday season, we are inundated with baked goods, and Stone Smoked Porter can be paired with just about all of them, whether they be chocolate chips, sugar cookies, Russian tea cakes, or Hershey’s Kisses cookies; this beer will highlight and add chocolate flavorings as well as a deep vanilla characteristic, all while highlighting the sweetness in the cookie and the beer. If you are feeling rather adventurous, then head over to Stone Brewing Co.’s website and check out the recipe they uploaded for Stone Smoked Porter with Vanilla Bean Beer Nog: an absolutely fantastic way to ring in the New Year!

The final word: Stone Smoked Porter has been available for some time, and many of us have tried it in the past. While a smoked beer of any kind may be too much for the casual beer drinker, Stone Smoked Porter with Vanilla Bean really takes the edge off the smoke with the abundant vanilla flavor. It must also be noted that the vanilla flavor is in fact from vanilla bean and not from vanilla extract; this commitment to using fresh ingredients is what makes Stone Brewing Co. the great brewery that they are today. Porters are of course great beers to enjoy on these cold winter evenings, the heartier the better, and Stone Smoked Porter with Vanilla Bean is definitely hearty and an absolute must-try if you are a fan of porters or smoked beers. So get it while you can or you will be left out in the cold!

Rating:

Where can I get it? Currently available in 22 oz. bottles at: Exit 190 Beer Deli- Dickson City, PA; Backyard Ale House- Scranton, PA; Krugel’s Georgetown Deli & Beer- Wilkes-Barre, PA

Make Some Merry

 

Beer: Merry Maker (also known as Merry Mischief)

Brewer: Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams)

Style: Milk/Sweet Stout

ABV: 9.00%

What’s with the names? Merry Maker is in its second year of production, but last year the beer was produced using the name Merry Mischief. The name has changed, but the recipe has remained the same. The bottle I reviewed was from last year’s batch and I can attest that if you find bottles of Merry Mischief around, they are still just as enjoyable.

Description: Merry Maker pours a deep midnight black with a light, coffee-colored head that explodes into a huge froth, but quickly rescinds and leaves a spotty lacing the glass. The aroma is dominated by the spices with cinnamon coming through up front followed by nutmeg, clove, and ginger; the roasted malt serves as subtle background notes. The taste follows the nose exactly with the aforementioned spices, attacking the palate long and hard while the roasted malts wash over the palate to cut through the spices; it’s very reminiscent of a gingerbread cookie in a glass. The body is medium-to-full with very light carbonation that creates a smooth and easy-drinking beer. It’s the perfect sipper to have when you want to relax and recover from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

Food pairing: While stouts can certainly hold their own with many dinner dishes – and I have no doubt that Merry Maker could as well – I cannot imagine this beer not being served with desserts, of which there are a plethora this time of year. The sweetness in the beer mixed with the malts and spice make Merry Maker perfect to pair with rich desserts like carrot cake, or something creamy and decadent such as cheesecake and cannoli. However, after having one sip of Merry Maker, it is painfully obvious that this is a beer that is a match made in heaven with ice cream, so be sure to make yourself one more holiday treat in the form of a beer float with Merry Maker and your favorite ice cream.

The final word: Despite the sheer size of Sam Adams and the dominance it has within the craft beer world, it is still a true craft brewery that loves to experiment, with delicious results. Sam Adams already produces a holiday staple in Old Fezziwig, but you now need to also make room this holiday season and every one here after for another holiday staple with Merry Maker. While it’s true winter is stout season, which is reason enough alone to crack a bottle of this open, Merry Maker truly is the holiday season in a glass and belongs under every craft beer lover’s tree.

Rating:

Where can I get it? Currently available in bottles at: Exit 190 Beer Deli- Dickson City, PA; Wegmans- Dickson City, PA and Wilkes-Barre, PA; and Goldstein’s Deli- Kingston, PA

Currently available on tap at: Krugel’s Georgetown Deli & Beer- Wilkes-Barre, PA and Backyard Ale House- Scranton, PA

2X the Holiday Cheer!

Brewery- Southern Tier Brewing Co.

Beer- 2XMAS

Style- Herbed/Spiced Beer

ABV- 8.0%                                     

Brief Sidenote-  Southern Tier actually based the recipe for 2XMAS on a traditional Swedish Glögg recipe. Swedish Glögg is a spiced red wine served traditionally during winter, especially around the holidays.  So, 2XMAS is very much a great meeting point for wine and beer lovers alike.  

Description- Southern Tier 2XMAS pours a clear ruby red color showing  a slight golden hue with a mild beige head that quickly dissipates.  The aroma of figs, cinnamon, raisins, gingerbread, and slight hints of clove and orange will be evident upon your first smell of the beer.  Immediately upon your first sip the cinnamon and ginger spices will make an immediate appearance on your taste buds and the taste will linger long on your palate after swallowing.  The aftertaste has slight hints of caramel, along with the aforementioned spices, with a mild amount of heat from the alcohol, but not enough to detract from the experience.  2XMAS is a very malt forward beer with very little evidence of hops, mainly due to the spicing involved.  The carbonation in 2XMAS is very mild, but enough to rinse the palate after each sip.  This is a true holiday treat and no holiday celebration would be complete this year without this beer on the table.

Food pairing- Southern Tier 2XMAS is a perfect desert beer that is a dream for any chocoholic.  A true treat is to have some dark chocolate slowly melt in your mouth and just before it is all gone, take a nice sip of 2XMAS and let the beer linger in your mouth briefly, once you swallow you will be grinning from ear to ear.  Did Santa Claus leave some gingerbread cookies behind?  Well grab some 2XMAS and finish them off for him.  The spices in the beer and the gingerbread are a beautiful match and if Santa had some 2XMAS with his cookies, he may not leave any behind! 

The Final Word – Southern Tier has built up quite the reputation for award winning beers and every year they continue to release new beers that continue to amaze.  2XMAS was added to the beer lineup in 2012 and it has successfully made it into the seasonal rotation and with good reason!  This is a very unique take on the traditional higher ABV style and is also a great beer to serve to those friends who prefer wine; you just might win them over with this great beer!    2XMAS is a must to have every holiday season, so grab yourself some bottles and start a new holiday tradition!

Rating-

 

Where can I get it?-  Currently available in bottles at:  J and H Beer- Wilkes-Barre,  Wegman’s- Both Dickson City and Wilkes-Barre,  Georgetown Beer and Deli- Wilkes-Barre, and Backyard Alehouse- Scranton.

Sierra Nevada and Russin River Teaming Up Again!

This article was posted on Sierra Nevada's blog today, I personally have loved the collaborations they have done in the past and am looking forward to trying this one as well!

 

 

Brewing with Russian River

When Vinnie Cilurzo brings you growlers, you rejoice. Vinnie, co-owner and brewmaster of Russian River Brewing Company, visited us recently with a few hundred ounces of an experimental Beer Camp Across America brew in hand.
Vinnie’s a proactive fellow. After our teams talked about a recipe, we proposed a late-September brew date for the first batch. He had the itch, though: Vinnie jumped on his 20-gallon MoreBeer homebrewing kit and churned out round one. Along with that special liquid, he also brought several rock star folks from breweries abroad: Hedwig Neven, brewmaster of Duvel Moortgat, and Jean-Marie Rock, longtime brewmaster at the Orval Brewery. Jean-Marie is renowned for his handle on Brettanomyces, a wild yeast prone to funky, nuanced flavors and is embarking on a new adventure. Vinnie learned a thing or two from Jean-Marie and today receives plenty of acclaim for using “Brett” in his barrel-aged beers.





Gathered in our tasting room, Vinnie, Hedwig, Jean-Marie and our founder, Ken Grossman, all sampled Vinnie’s Beer Camp Across America handiwork. It doesn’t contain Brettanomyces, but Belgian yeast imparts its own unique characteristics. From the growler flowed a straw-colored blonde ale, its head modest but brilliance high.
“It’s going old school on the hops,” Vinnie said. “Brewers Gold for the bittering and Celia, a type of Styrian Golding hop, which I believe Hedwig here from Duvel uses a lot of.”
Celia hops also went toward dry hopping.
“It’s very dry,” Ken noted with a smile after his first sip. “I think it’s pretty well balanced…”
For round two we’ll scale the beer up to our 10-barrel pilot brewery here in Chico, California. How soon? Vinnie walked through our doors this morning.

http://www.sierranevada.com/blog/beer-camp-across-america/brewing-with-russian-river

Pumpkin Spiced Beer Bread

 

For this recipe I used pecans, but I would also recommend walnuts, sliced almonds or even pistachios. For pumpkin ale use any brand you prefer.

3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 12 oz bottle of Pumpkin Ale

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9”x5” loaf pan.

In a large bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and all the spices. Stir together until well combined. Stir in the nuts as well. Make a well in the center of the bowl and pour in the beer. The beer will foam up –this is good. Carefully fold the dry ingredients into the center of the well to incorporate. Mix only until just combined – do not over mix or it will destroy the bubbles and the bread will be dense.

Pour the dough into loaf pan gently smooth out the top with a spatula (I actually don’t do this step, but if you want a prettier loaf you can choose to do it.) Bake in the oven for 50 – 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the dough comes out clean.

http://acozykitchen.com/pumpkin-spice-beer-bread/

Pumpkin Ale Cinnamon Roll Recipe

Serving: 8 rolls

Ingredients:

For the dough:

1/2 ounce active dry yeast

1/4 cup pumpkin ale

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree

1/4 cup whole milk

1/4 cup plus 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

For the filling

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

4 tablespoons brown sugar

1/3 cup canned pumpkin puree

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small cubes

For the frosting

1 cup cream cheese, at room temperature

3 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted

1/4 cup butterscotch Schnapps

Directions: 

1. Heat the ale in a saucepan to about 110 degrees. Pour the ale into a bowl with the yeast and sugar, and whisk. Let it sit for about 10 minutes or until foamy. 
2. Once ready, add in the rest of the ingredients and combine with a mixer on low speed. Once all the ingredients are in, continue mixer on high speed until the dough pulls away from the bowl and is smooth. 
3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough double in size in a warm area for about 45 minutes to an hour.
4. Once ready, pinch out the gas bubbles and roll out the dough to a length of 14 inches. 
5. Dust the dough with flour and gently roll until its 8 inches by 14 inches. Lightly brush the melted butter onto surface.
6. For the filling, mix the ingredients in a bowl until it’s a thick, spreadable paste and the chunks of butter are the size of peas. Spread on the dough, leaving a ¼ inch gap on the edge of the border.
7. Preheat the oven to 375. Roll the dough lengthwise, so that the finished log is about 14 inches long. Cut off the ends and cut the log into 8 even portions. Place the rolls on a buttered pan, spiral side up, side by side. Bake for 20 minutes.
8. To make the frosting, mix the cream cheese on medium-high speed until smooth and lump-free. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add in the sugar. Once the sugar and cream cheese are mixed thoroughly, slowly add in the schnapps the same way as the sugar. 

   9. Spread on the rolls while they are still hot.

 

 

http://www.foodrepublic.com/2012/11/03/pumpkin-ale-cinnamon-roll-recipe
 

Profile of Anchor Brewing Company

Anchor Brewing Company has long been on the radar for craft beer drinkers, mainly because they were one of the first true craft breweries of this new revival. In 1965, Fritz Maytag, scion of the washing-machine company, purchased the fledgling Anchor Brewery for what he later described as “less than the price of a used car.” He came to know the company through the fantastic steam beer they were brewing at the time; the only problem was that not many other people were enjoying this beer and the company was going out of business - until Maytag stepped in and saved it.

The first step Fritz took was reevaluating the recipe for Anchor Steam Beer and changing it to all-barley malt instead of the cheaper corn syrup it was using at the time. Reviving this old style that was popular during the gold rush in California was not an easy task, but Maytag was up for it, and the venture proved to be very successful. He soon moved on to reviving other styles of beer with an equal amount of gusto and success.

In 1974, Anchor bottled its first porter. The porter style comes from England, but in 1974 no English breweries were even making such a style of beer. Soon Anchor’s porter caught on, as did the style, and, with good reason, Anchor’s porter is a standard for the style. However, Fritz Maytag did not simply rest on his laurels.

Soon the brewery was beginning to revive and invent other styles of beer, such as the American IPA. In 1975, Maytag set out to create a uniquely American beer to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride to warn against the impending British attack. The resulting beer was the groundbreaking Anchor Liberty Ale. The beer used the newly developed cascade hop in abundance and became so popular that in 1983 it entered into permanent rotation for the brewery.

Also, in 1975, Anchor debuted its first Anchor Christmas Ale, a delicious brown ale whose magnum bottles have become a yearly collecting tradition for many fans ever since. As if that was not enough, in 1975 the brewery began selling Old Foghorn, the first barley wine-style ale to be brewed in America in modern times. Not too bad for a brewery that was on the verge of complete collapse just a decade earlier.

The brewery has continued to grow in popularity over the years and many modern breweries credit Anchor Brewing Company with the inspiration to enter the craft beer market. Many brewers’ first introduction to craft beer were beers being brewed by Anchor.

With the pedigree of beers that Anchor has created over time, it could simply create the same delicious beers and not produce any new ones. However, thankfully for us, Anchor has not done this, and over the past few years, the brewery has actually released several new, and delicious, beers.

In 2010, they released Humming Ale, an American pale ale that featured the recently discovered Nelson Sauvin hop that gives the beer a dry citrus, almost white wine-like quality. In 2011, they released Brekle’s Brown, an absolutely stunning American brown ale. This year alone, they created another two fantastic beers: Anchor California Lager, a crisp smooth easy drinking lager, and BigLeaf Maple Autumn Amber, a delectable red ale.

While America may be relatively new to the beer world when compared to world history, we have certainly brought some amazing styles and flavors to the market, with a lot of thanks going to Anchor Brewing Company and Fritz Maytag. Certainly, within the craft beer world, and hopefully within the general world of beer, Anchor will always be remembered as a brewery that pushed boundaries and made better beer for all of us to enjoy.

http://www.theweekender.com/news/WK_Food/819354/Steam-powered-booze

Pumpkin Beer: An Exposé

 

As many of you may have noticed, pumpkin beers have begun invading store shelves even earlier this year. Many breweries have made negative statements about this fact, stating that some breweries are using last year’s pumpkin crop or canned pumpkins in their beers to meet the early release date. I have no opinion on that matter; I am a huge fan of many pumpkin beer offerings and, of course, some are better than others, but putting all that aside, what is a pumpkin beer?

Pumpkins are in the squash family of vegetables, a family of vegetables not really known for their huge flavor. So why are pumpkin beers so damn flavorful? Well, the answer is that what many of us refer to as “pumpkin beers” are in fact spiced beers and many of these pumpkin beers do not even contain pumpkin – gasp! Now, of course, many breweries still use pumpkins as well, and there is ongoing dispute whether pumpkins truly add flavor to the beer or not. However, the main spices that are used in pumpkin beers are cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and ginger, with variations of these and others added for unique experiences.

Pumpkin beers have been brewed in the United States for hundreds of years, dating back to the original settlers. The main reason that pumpkins were used was not due to the unbelievable flavor, but because of the vast availability of the gourds. One of the main ingredients required to make beer is malt, and the settlers did not have as much good malt available as they did pumpkins, so a natural substitute was found, as pumpkins have naturally fermentable sugars needed to make beer. Trust me, though; their pumpkin beer was not one that we would enjoy drinking in large quantities today!

So how did we end up with the heavily spiced pumpkin beers that we know and love today? Well, pumpkin beers remained popular in the U.S., and over time, the idea of having a “pumpkin in a glass” developed into “pumpkin pie in a glass.” There is no one real sticking point to hang this change on, though. However, there is one brewery that is credited with reviving this style of beer, and that is Buffalo Bill’s Brewery. Buffalo Bill’s have been brewing their pumpkin ale since the mid-‘80s and have attracted a very loyal fan base for the beer using a recipe based upon one by an avid homebrewer named George Washington; he was also president at one time as well.

The style has continued to grow in popularity year after year, hence the earlier and earlier release dates. We now have great pumpkin offerings from breweries such as Dogfish Head, Smuttynose, Long Trail, and Elysian Brewing Company, with many more breweries releasing pumpkin beers every year. Pumpkin beers are also branching out from simple ales into porters, stouts, and imperial versions.

The term “pumpkin beer” can be very divisive among beer aficionados, with many not wanting to recognize the style or writing it off more as a marketing gimmick than a beer. I am certainly not in that camp, and I believe that pumpkin beers are a fantastic way to bring in the fall season, even if it is still summer.

Living in Northeastern Pennsylvania also gives many of us opportunities to have fantastic pumpkin beers brewed right in our backyard. Whether it is 3 Guys and a Beer’d with their Soul Patch Pumpkin Ale, Breaker Brewing Company’s Potbelly Pumpkin Ale, Stegmaier’s Pumpkin Ale, or Nimble Hill’s Jack Be Nimble Pumpkin Ale – all of these beers are fantastic and brewed right here in NEPA. Not to mention other great pumpkin beers brewed in Pa., such as Weyerbacher’s Imperial Pumpkin, a personal favorite, or the ever-so-popular Pumking by Southern Tier, brewed right over the border in N.Y. We are certainly living in the perfect area to drink amazing pumpkin beers.

While it may be a bit too early in the season for some of us to dive into pumpkin beers, there is never a season to not have good beers. So take advantage of the area’s overabundance of great pumpkin beers and try them all while you still can because, after all, they are seasonal, and before you know it, the winter frost will be upon us and all of the pumpkin beers will disappear with Linus and the Great Pumpkin.


Article originally published: http://www.theweekender.com/news/WK_Food/785541/Pumpkin-beer:-an-expos