Lloyd
I am 24 years old, from Colorado Springs Colorado. I graduated with a degree in History from Loyola University New Orleans. And I am currently living in Fort Collins, Colorado and attending Colorado State University.
Homepage: http://hoppingaround.com
Posts by Lloyd
Lager Means Storage
Oct 19th
In a conversation last week it was requested by Hoppingaround followers that I’d write more information on the different styles enabling a better conversations about the beer they are consuming. This week I thought I’d start with probably my favorite style of beer the Lager. Lagers use yeast that ferment at colder temperatures. One of the unique features of the yeast used in the fermentation is that they sink to the bottom of the fermentation vessel where ale’s yeast floats to the top. During the fermentation and bottling and conditioning the beer is kept cold. For this reason, lagers were only made in colder regions where they could be stored in caves specifically near a water source. The spreading of lagers world -wide did not occur until the advent of affordable refrigeration in the mid-nineteenth century. The spread was inevitably furthered with the invention of the refrigerated railroad car. More >
Firestone Walker Brewing Company: Oaktoberfest
Oct 10th
In my pursuits of trying new beer concoctions, I am pleased to say I have found a winner. Those who know me are aware of my love of lagers a German Märzen bier. This type of beer originates from Bavaria, Germany. The name ‘lager’ is a reference to how they would make the beer as they would store the beer in the hillsides to keep the brewing cold in the olden days around the 16th century. Oaktoberfest is a seasonal beer from Firestone Walker Brewing out of Paso Roble, California founded in 1996 originally SLO Brewing Company. I had never heard of this brewery and assume they are still a relatively small operation. The beer itself was not a high ABV and was relatively mild. A good balance of malts and hops with a beautiful amber coloring. A wonderful oak aroma and sweetness in the after taste almost like apricot.
Fort Collins Brewery: Red Hot Chili Porter
Oct 3rd
Living in Old Town, Fort Collins I am very fortunate. I live within walking distance seven breweries. Fort Collins Brewery is not one of my favorites. I do appreciate that they try new things and not become consumed by producing beer that fits traditional standards. The thing with trying new beer is not all of them are going to be winners. Sometimes you just take a suggestion from the bar tender and hope for the best. This time it tore apart my stomach. More >
Pub Crawl
Sep 26th
A pub crawl consists of one or more people touring, hopping, and drinking at two or more bars. The phrase, according to the Oxford dictionary, originated in the nineteenth century. The largest pub crawl on record actually occurred last December in Chicago, Illinois called the ‘Twelve Bars of Christmas’ containing 10,000 crawlers. Generally these tours mark a special day, holiday, engagement, birthday or promotion. Crawlers also wear some sort of marker that signifies their membership to the crawl such as a shirt, hat, button, or sash. The reason I felt inclined to define this event was when describing my weekend to my mother I had to explain what the event entailed and I believe she is not the only one.
Mountain Sun Pub and Brewery
Sep 19th
I got to tell you, never hearing of this brewery and going there on a whim, I really loved Mountain Sun Brewery. First off, the employees were incredibly helpful. I said to the bar tender what do you like and he without question pours me one of everything on tap. I am not going to say that I enjoyed all of them, but they were not all bad. In fact I drank three of their Irish Nitro Stout. Incredible beer with a hint of sweetness from a little cocoa and toasted taste, no coffee made an incredible Irish stout. Second, the atmosphere was awesome, wish I would have caught them before the kitchen closed because the food looked and smelled incredible.
Tour de Fat
Sep 13th
Today was something weird and wonderful put on by New Belgium Brewery. This is the first wild festival I have been to since Mardi Gras. Tour de Fat is an opportunity to be weird, push boundaries and have wonderful beers. Young and old woke up today, some earlier than others, to begin dressing for the day. While most of the country today got on their college apparel and headed for their team’s game, Fort Collins, Colorado people put on wigs, makeup, sparkles, costumes, and crazy hats. The Tour began with a couple mile long bike parade, then a beer garden with all New Belgium products, live acts, and tons of people watching.
Why Not a Beer With Sushi?
Aug 29th
I did not plan on drinking Asahi tonight. Never had I heard of it for one, and two it is a school night. My physics lab group are the worst at peer pressuring. I caved in, not only on the beer, but I tried ten different rolls and Saki too, with tea. Stuffed to the max I understand now why the Japanese drink Asahi with their sushi.
Asahi claims that they are ‘The Beer for all Seasons’. Sorta true, but just as true, juice or tea or water can be consumed all year. It is so mild you forget you are drinking a beer. Sweet and kinda dry, they say super dry, but whatever. It’s not a bad beer, just nothing spectacular. Sushi itself is not exactly extremely potent flavors either. Living in Colorado generally it can be assumed that everything is mild and or bland. That being said a mild beer that does not take away from the subtle bliss of sushi is not a bad beer with dinner. I am not going to seek this one out on any other occasion though and if I were to drink Japanese beer I would stick to Sapporo.
Rating:
‘Brewed with Aloha’
Aug 22nd
Though quite skeptical, I tried this Hawaiian creation. Now, before I even begin to describe this beer, I want to tell you about this can. It was caked with information; virtually everything in this post is information I read on this 16 oz can. I guess they assumed most people are not going to make it to the brewery to ask questions .
The can listed information such as: the reasons to drink their beer, why they canned, the reasons for their choices of ingredients, etc. For example, Maui Brewing Company certifies that their beer is made on the island of Maui on their can (which I couldn’t care less about); the more important information they provide is little tidbits like the fact that their brew was the World Beer Cup Gold Winner 2006 for Herb and Spices category.
They coin the trend to can beer instead of bottling the ‘Micro-canning Revolution.’ They do have a point that cans do eliminate the risks of light damage and oxidation that can occur in bottles; I’ll give them that even New Belgium is starting to can their brews. Cans are lighter, get cold much more quickly, and are generally accepted at venues more than bottles because they are safe from shattering. The company also claims they are being more ‘green’ by using aluminum, as it is the most recycled material on the planet. I think they forgot the fact that they have to ship their product thousands of miles making every product from Hawaii have a rather large carbon footprint.
Trinity Brewery’s Soul, a Horkey Ale
Aug 17th
On the eve of my MCAT, I want to relax and what better way than beer and a good friend. Tonight I was fortunate enough to book my very successful friend Brittany and venture to a Colorado Springs local brewery. The last few times I have not enjoyed what I selected at this brewery but was excited non the less.
After carefully selecting from their classic beers I picked a delightful amber ale, Trinity Brewery’s Soul Horkey Ale. Poured with a good head, I am told this is important for a session beer, this beer smells sweet and has a good amber color. This beer at first was sweet. Hints of banana and malt and slight caramel and possibly chocolate taste lingers in your mouth not to distant from New Belgium’s Abbey Ale but definitely not as full bodied taste.
By the end of the glass I no longer tasted the banana, maybe I lost focus due to the conversation. Really enjoyed the ale. I am relaxed, calm and collected for my exam so I must thank my friend and Trinity for the delightful evening.
Rating:
Mountainbeering: Mountain Brewing Company
Aug 14th
The brewery itself is in a gorgeous part of Colorado Springs, off of Inter-quest Parkway in what ten years ago was prairie. It is more of a restaurant that just so happens to make beer. Similar to a Rock Bottom Brewery. This seems to be more and more a common trend for new brewers. Not exactly large scale, only available beer in store. It has been my experience that the restaurant breweries are also very experimental in what the brew. For example, they had a vanilla strawberry cream beer which I was certain was going to make me hurl. The brewery is in its first year and is expanding. They are opening their second location by December off of US-24 towards Manitou in an old gallery. Inside the brewery is a very chic restaurant with a surprisingly small bar with viewing windows to their brewing room. When I go to breweries, especially if they are small, I like to go and talk to the brew-master and take a tour. I was saddened and dismayed to find out that they only do tours Saturdays from 1-3. This I found odd and too much work especially if the beer is not exceptional. They have a huge wraparound, glass walled in patio area where they had live music on a Thursday night. The music was not exactly my cup of tea nor was the older non enthusiastic crowd. No one was dancing.
