| I’m the only girl I know who doesn’t drink beer. Sure, I drank Grolsch in Holland because it was cheaper than pop and I have been known to munch the occasional beer-battered onion ring, but that hardly means I’ve given beer a chance. But with so many varieties, how can one tell which beer to drink based on its merits and not just its loud-suit-with-a-dog packaging?
After watching countless beer ads during the Stanley Cup playoffs, I decided to search for inspiration across the border at samadams.com. The Web site offers a good start in Beer 101 with a breakdown in flavors – spicy, herbal note, dry, crisp finish due to wheat malt, fruity ester profile, very fruity(?). There are also hints for beer pairings – garlic bread means pilsner – and recipes for pale-ale poached pears. Before leaving check out the limited-edition Utopias brew, the strongest beer ever brewed – it’s illegal in Florida.
If you’re looking to support a Canadian brewery with class, try Quebec’s Unibroue at unibroue.com. With a slogan like "drink less, drink better!" you know you’re not dealing with your average Canadian beer company. In addition to explaining the usual beer products and tastes, you’ll find an excellent guide to serving temperatures, glassware ("no drinking from the bottle!") and how to pour the perfect head. Impress your friends by studying the beer glossary so you can drop terms like "Kriek," "Gueuze" and "Lambic" at your next barbeque.
No word yet on what beer works best with Honeycombs the next morning. |
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