I was once a great beer connoisseur. Or is that too big a word, beer lover. Then one I stepped off that road into the world of wine. I would certainly never turn down a chance to taste some new beers. But I did not actively pursue the world of beers. A few weeks ago a friend changed that.
At a party he hosted he served up over a dozen fine Micro brews. Ales from all over the world. I was primed for the occasion after a pub crawl in Stoudsburg.
I am amazed at how much the world of beer has changed over the last decade. I feel like a guy coming out of prison after a 20 year terms learning that the world has changed dramatically.
For those who don't know, and to be honest I just learned recently....
Beer is the world's most widely consumed and probably the oldest of alcoholic beverages; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. There are two basic varieties of beer, Ale and Lager and 1000's of variations thereof.
The vast majority of beer is sadly produced by the big guys. Inbev, that owns brands like Anheuser-Busch; then there is Scottish & Newcastle, Heineken, & Asahi amont the majors. There are are some middle players, and hundreds of small producers called micro-breweries. Over 20 in New Jersey.
There are certain food beer combinations that are a natural. Mexican and Mexican beer like Sol, Tecate or Dos Equis. Chinese and Tsing Tao, Thai and Singha, Italian and Moretti. But they are all pretty standard brews.
For a dinner at Southern Belle I decide to try something new and picked up these three beauties at Angelbeck's which has a nice selection of micro-brews, Brooklyn Brewery Local 2, New Jersey Flying Fish Brewery Exit 16 made with wild rice, and Sierra Nevada 30. It was a fabulous pairing.
A recent trip to Minneapolis opened up my eyes, nose and tounge to the big world of craft beers out there Twin Cities Craft Beer Guide: Minnesota Beer History. And last night I discovered the great beer selection at nearby Gastropub Salt. They have a great selection of beers and fabulous food.
Amanti Vino in Montclair excels in their beer, ale and lager, offerings. Check their website for upcoming events.
Looking for beer, check out Ratebeer.com or Beer Advocate
