Beer is My Poison » north carolina

Kashmir IPA by Highland Brewing Company

Steve Jamesson — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:48:07 +0000

Kashmir IPA

Yet another IPA for the record, Highland’s Kashmir IPA contends with the best of them. It pours with a decent head and a clear, golden-brown color. The aroma is thin but with an abundance of fresh hops.

This IPA goes down pretty smoothly, surprisingly, as I’m not too big on IPAs. In my opinion they’re best reserved for warm summer days in the shade. The aftertaste lingers for a good bit of time, where the potent hops conquer the sinuses and throat. This beer’s pretty dry, which I think lends to it being more drinkable than most IPAs.

I recommend this IPA for the hardcore as well as the fair-weathered IPA fan.

Gaelic Ale by Highland Brewing Company

Steve Jamesson — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:19:45 +0000

Highland's Gaelic Ale

One of my favorites, Highland’s Gaelic Ale is an Asheville staple in the world of beer. You can never go wrong with a Gaelic Ale!

This beer pours nicely, with a good medium head. A friendly and bold aroma of malt and hops lends to the well-balanced flavor of this favorite beer. Its color is a deep amber to copper.

When sipped a sharp bite cuts in with a nice malty flavor, almost sweet. The hops join the party in the aftertaste, creating a nice balance of maltiness and hoppiness, without being overpowering.

This is a highly recommended beer, and no Asheville tourist should go without at least having a Gaelic Ale.

Tasting of my Second Home Brew: Smoked Porter

Steve Jamesson — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:39:21 +0000

2nd Home Brew: Smoked Porter

So I finally got a chance to taste my second batch of homebrew! It’s a Smoked Porter, a recipe from Alex Buerckholtz, owner of Hops and Vines, a brew supply shop in West Asheville, North Carolina.

This recipe is based on Alex’s recipe that he brought to the Highland Pro Am. He won (first was his Smoked Porter, second was an American Pilsner), so Highland Brewing will be brewing and releasing something close to this beer this fall (2009).

The color of this beer is a nice, deep blackish brown, with a rich dark aroma of smokey flavor, chocolate, and malt. It goes down very, very smoothly, with a flavorful and kind aftertaste. The aftertaste lingers for a moment while more smoky flavor is released.

This is a winning beer, the best home brew I’ve tasted yet (well yeah, it’s only the second one I’ve brewed!).

Heinzelmännchen First Friday Beer & Food Pairing

Steve Jamesson — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:57:47 +0000

The Heinz is having a food & beer pairing on Friday, May 1, 2009. Join Dieter Kuhn and the rest of the Heinz Brew Team at the Brewery (google map) for a pairing of samples of Heinz beers and Chef Ross Lorenz’s cuisine from Restaurant 533 in Sylva.

When: Friday, May 1, 2009, 5pm to 8pm
Where: Heinzelmännchen Brewery (google map)
Cost: FREE!