October 4th, 2011
What do you brew?
As a brewer, many of the same questions come up quite frequently. One of the most seemingly straightforward questions often causes me the most difficulty is: “What kind of beers do you brew?”
Why, you may ask, is this such a difficult question? Surely you can just say “Belgian-style” or “Super Hoppy” or “Double Barrel Aged Imperial Nonsense Beers”, right? The real answer for me is probably the most honest, and least informative, answer that I can give, “I brew the beers that I enjoy, the beers that my community and friends enjoy.” Much like a band that might not fit into the mold of rock, pop, jazz, rap or whatever I feel like some of the most interesting beers that I have sampled defy simple categorization, and it does not do these beers justice to try and cram them into a certain “style” box.
So, in the manner that you might gain more insight into a band by listing its musical influences, I present a top 5 list of beer influences! (This list is in no particular order, and does not denote any sort of recommendation, endorsement or seal of approval. Taste them yourself!)
1. “Unknown Pilsner” The first beer that I really drank, and enjoyed, was a 50 cent glass of pilsner at a smoky underground club called “The Bunker” in Prague, circa 1993. For those of you doing the math, I was well underage at the time but there didn’t seem to be any particular rules in Eastern Europe. The club had two choices of beer, light and dark. I stuck with the light, and I will never forget the musty, spicy aroma and the round full taste of this beer. It was refreshing, and enjoyed in the remarkable atmosphere of a newly post-communist country, seemed perfect at the time. This was my starting point for beer, which meant when I returned to the US I didn’t find much to interest me for quite a while.
2. “Fuller’s London Pride” on CASK. I was familiar with the bottled version, but drinking this from the cask was an entirely new experience. The beer was alive! Rich and nuanced, with just enough carbonation to keep it lively, the lower alcohol content certainly did not detract from the taste. This experience fueled a trip to England just to explore the variety and tradition of cask ale. London’s pubs provide an excellent laboratory for the study of these beers, as well as demonstrating what can make a pub the gathering place for a community.
3. “Sierra Nevada Celebration” This is sort of an odd inclusion. The first time I drank this beer, both my drinking partner and I poured it down the drain. We declared it “undrinkable!” It was bitter, piney and resinous, and to us at the time, disgusting. Many years later I have a love for hops in general and this beer particularly. I like to keep this in mind to show how tastes can change, and to remind myself that the exploration of beer is really a journey. Next time somebody says they don’t like “hoppy” beers, cut them some slack.
4. “Cantillon Geuze” The first time I tried this beer, I’m pretty sure that my face imploded. Sour, tart, funky and strange were the thoughts that ran through my head. I couldn’t understand how anyone could make a beer like this. This experience led me delve into the art of lambic production, blending and the world of spontaneous and mixed fermentation. Through this process I gained a much greater interest in these beers, and came to appreciate both the taste and the historical production methods used to produce them. If ever there was a beer that was unique to a single time and location, it is this.
5. “Hoptimus Pryme” This was a rye IPA that I brewed for my wedding. It was deliciously hoppy and well-balanced, and deceptively strong. The reason for it’s inclusion is fairly simple, this is one of the beers that had all of our guests talking and it was one of the beers that helped to start me on the journey to opening a brewery. It’s good to remember ones friends and family all enjoying a cold mug under a tent on a summer’s day.
-Steve Sanderson
Riverwalk Brewing Co.