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Monday, April 26, 2010

Beer Heaven



My beer of choice is Schell's Schmatz's Alt. It used to be available year round, then became a seasonal. Now oak barrel aged! Oh my God, I take back all those things I said about God and his religion. I have died and gone to beer heaven.

I just got this from my nephew, Chris "Beer Boy" Anderson.






"Jace Marti dropped me a line this morning to share a little information about Schell’s new Stag Series. As you may know, Schell’s has aged a portion of this year’s Schmaltz’s Alt in pinot barrels. They bottled this beer last week and it should start arriving on shelves sometime next week in select locations throughout MN. This beer is available in 22oz bottles only for the first release, 2600 bottles total.
Coming off the success of our 150th Anniversary Draft Series, we are proud to introduce the Schell’s Stag Series. Drawing upon our 150 years of brewing knowledge, we are combining our experience, creativity, and curiosity with these new brews. The Stag Series is a collection of innovative and experimental, limited-edition beers to be released periodically throughout the year.
For the Stag Series first release, we took our Schmaltz’s Alt and aged it for six months in French-oak, Pinot Noir wine barrels. This beer is dark, ruby-brown in color with a creamy tan head.  It smells of dark cherries, vanilla and chocolate. The taste has an initial, slightly tart, dark cherry flavor which gives way to sweet malty chocolate body with a nice mellow vanilla oak flavor in the background. This first release will only be available in 22oz bottles. Look for the Stag Series to arrive on shelves beginning in May is select stores throughout Minnesota.
STATS
• Original Gravity: 1.056/13.8o Plato
• 5.1% Alcohol By Volume
• 28 International Bitterness Units
• 40 SRM
BATCH SIZE
• 17 US Barrels
• 2600 22oz Bottle

25 comments:

Silk Hope said...

here is my slice of heaven.

http://www.geneseecreamale.com/AmericanOriginal/

Gunnar Berg said...

I'm certain that it's very good.

Another fine thing about Schell's is the same family has been making the beer for 150 years. That's a long time in our quick buck society.

Mimbres Man said...

Sounds like a real treat Gunnar!

This is my favorite when in the USA. Hard to find in NM, except sometimes in Albuquerque.
http://www.oskarblues.com/the-brews/dales-pale-ale
First time I drank one at a friend's place in ABQ. He was still at work, he'd picked me up at the airport and told me to make myself at home and relax. He had these cans of beer in the fridge, and I though, "what the heck..." I opened one and I couldn't believe it! Amazing! Never had a beer quite like it! Had a second after that one. Excellent!

Anonymous said...

The description makes the beer sound very tasty.

I'm a fan of hoppier beers, myself (IBU 50 and up), but will definitely try one of these if I ever see one. Sadly, the government run alcohol retail and distribution network in Ontario pretty much guarantees that I am only rarely able to buy any of the many fine U.S. micro brews.

Believe it or not, most folks up here think that Canadian lagers are the be-all and end-all of beer and equate U.S. beer with low-alcohol lagers like coors and Budwiser.

I love smaking people's taste buds with their first Dogfish Head 60-minute IPA and watch their reaction as they learn that it is only one of hundreds of really great U.S. beers.

Somebody stop me, I could go on and on about this.

Allan

Anonymous said...

Woops, sorry I forgot to sign the last with my full name:
Allan Pollock

CHEERS!

Gunnar Berg said...

Surprisingly, the third largest selling beer in Minnesota is Summit EPA.

My wife drinks Moosehead. Her choice.

Gunnar Berg said...

Allan,

Can you get Bell's Two Hearted Ale? An IPA from Michigan. Should be within their distribution network, or does the liquor board not work that way? Prolly not. I've been drinking some lately. And liking it.

Silk Hope said...

Chimay all the way. The beer of Flemish cyclists.

I have varied tastes.

Skol!

JG

Anonymous said...

Nope it doesn't work that way. There is a government owned and operated agency which does all of the purchasing, warehousing transport and retail. They cater to the average drinker and generally focus on selling whatever product will generate highest profit....standard monopoly practice. a few times per year, they put on temporary sales where they'll bring in something a bit different that the average drinker might like to try, depending on the season (ie: wheat beers in the summer, etc..)

Selection is determined in whole by some committee that works in a black box. Impoters (not consumers) can make requests to the committee, but my understanding is that this is not a transparent process at all.

Regular selection is quite weak and doesn't vary from location to location, so every location has about 10 different pilsners from the check republic, but basically no U.S. micro brews. Thankfully they consistently carry a few of the very good Canadian micros, but otherwise, it's pils, pils, inbev, and a few of the basic british ales.

Allan

Gunnar Berg said...

You poor man (sigh).

Taste is personal and subjective; wheat beers suck. Summer,winter, spring - if I wanted wheat I'd eat bread. And please, don't defend and suggest wonderful wheat beers - they ALL suck. And anyone who likes them has the tastebuds of a goat.

Thank you.

Silk Hope said...

Allan:

WHO IS JOHN GALT!

Jack

Gunnar Berg said...

I know.

Politics anyone.

I've already had the discussion that may ensue this morning at breakfast, when I suggested to my table mate, a local large "small" business man, that he should be paying more taxes.

Gentlemen, you may fire when ready.

Silk Hope said...

Gunnar:

Is that door so wide open I could drive a truck thru it, or am I dreaming.

Jack

Anonymous said...

I agree with you on the wheatbeers. there are a couple of german wheats that I'll endure on the hottest of days, but otherwise I'm with you, 100%.
Allan

Gunnar Berg said...

18-wheel reefer full of draft beer.

Anonymous said...

Please, give me a break, Jack! I believe that there is a clear role for government, but selling goods is not one of them. Regulating, definitely. Taxing, ok in many cases...but actively restricting access to markets and claiming a monopoly? I just can't think of how the government can provide more benefit to consumers than (well-regulated) private individuals can in the sale of ....well, just about anything.
Allan

Silk Hope said...

Beer is good. Taxes are bad.

here endth the lesson.

JG

Anonymous said...

righto, sorry I misunderstood... I thought you were disagreeing with me on the usefulness of monopolies.

Allan

Silk Hope said...

Or shall we Budweiser is bad (too big to fail) and just for Gunnars sake Schell's Schmatz's Alt is good (small and entrepreneurial)

Allan: I think you and I are on the same hymnal, we just need to get Gunnar to buy in. Altought to get this done it will be a "tough rug to cut".

Jack

Gunnar Berg said...

I grew up in a house where the Republican governor was a dinner guest. My father was a friend of Senator David Durenberger. The first person I voted for was Barry Goldwater. It has been rough and rocky traveling, but eventually I saw the light. Over time I became a Democratic Socialist. A journey is not always taken on the easy path. I know I am right for me, but you will have to find your own way.

Silk Hope said...

Damn...oh well let's have a beer and talk about McLeans. And I have good news the Pinot express (McLean) will arrive in Laguna Beach this Thur!

J

Gunnar Berg said...

I'm going to be looking forward to the build. This thing would seem to be asking for internal gearing, or at least a neat indexing set up. Of course I don't know the rider.

Anonymous said...

Beer good,
Distortionary Taxes Bad
Beer Good
Redistribution Good
Beer Good
Government operated business Bad

I think that we can all agree on at least half of the above.

Allan

PS: would love to see some pics of this pinot express maclean. I seem to recall seeing photos of a bike with a rack purpose-built for carrying two bottles of wine... is that the one?

Gunnar Berg said...

I'll try to answer for JG:

Beer Good.
Redistribution Bad.
Beer Good.
Government operated liquor store Very Bad.

McLean Pinot Express (respray of faulty paint job). A very cool bike with a series of delays.

-Gunnar Mouthpiece Berg

Silk Hope said...

I bow to greatness.

I love youuu maaan.

JG