Let it Snow. I've Got Reading Material and Beer

This weekend I talked about those who hibernate during snowy conditions and people who venture out into the middle of the action. For Smowmageddon 2 I decided to to take the more passive approach and stick close to home. Since it was an official day off work and my only responsibility was to keep the driveway clear, no small task, I broke out some recently received beer related reading material.

Nearly a week ago I opened the pages of my first copy of All About Beer. I owe my new subscription to Alan McLeod over at A Good Beer Blog. He judged one of my beer pictures as prize worthy for this year's photo contest. What's great is this is just the start of a year of great beer reading. Thanks Alan.

The end of last week also brought a box to my door from Barnes and Noble. The wonderful Kelleigh gave me a $20 gift card for Christmas and I've used it wisely. You can see the three books I am currently working my way through. He Said Beer She Said Wine, Tasting Beer and Christmas Beer. I've dedicated most of the day to Randy Mosher's Tasting Beer in preparation for the Michael Jackson Tasting in March. So far it's a great read and goes quite well with a bottle of Yard's Tavern Porter. I've also read a few pages of Christmas Beer. Talk about a book that puts you in the mood for a good beer. The only problem is I don't have a single beer mentioned in Mr. Sixpack's pages. Bad planning on my part. On a day like today any of them would be fitting.

What I do have is a bottle of Dogfish Head Chateau Jiahu that I'm sharing with Kelleigh as the storm slowly rolls to a close. It's sweet and herbal with hints of toffee and honey. Grapes come out in the aroma but are more dominate in the taste. The aftertaste even reminds me of a Riesling. Chateau Jiahu will definitely open the eyes of many wine fans.

It's appropriate that Kelleigh, Ms. Wine Fanatic, loves this beer along with, He Said Beer She Said Wine. She's already claimed Sam and Marnie's book so I won't see it for awhile. No problem. At least I have the beer and Mr. Mosher's book to get me through this wintry blast.

Back to reading.

A Rock Star Cometh

If beer enthusiasts were trying to vote someone to the position of craft beer rock star Sam Calagione's name would surely be on the ballot. Sam is the founder and owner of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and has been creating innovative beers since 1995. Sam's rock star status not only comes from his imaginative creations but from his various involvements in the beer arena. He's a successful entrepreneur and author of books dealing with the business of beer, homebrewing and the benefits of pairing beer, instead of wine, with food. His Dogfish Head Brewings and Eats in Rehoboth Beach Delaware also houses a microdistlery that produces specialty vodka, gin and rum. There are now two Dogfish Head Alehouse restaurants. Sam can also label himself an inventor with the creation of Randall the Enamel Animal; a 3 foot high cylinder packed with whole hops and hooked into a draft line. Beer flowing from the tap is infused with the hops in the cylinder and thus creates a true fresh hop experience. He's been on national television promoting the virtues of beer. Oh, don't forget that Sam is also part of the funk/hip hop/rap duo the Pain Relievaz. All of that and the guy brews beer. It's no wonder why he is considered a star in the beer world.

When all is said and done it does come back to the beer. Some of his most inventive and historic have been the recreations he has worked on with senior research scientist Dr. Patrick McGovern at the University of Pennsylvania. The two have already created Midas Touch; a honey-grape-saffron beer based on traces of a drink found in the tomb of King Midas. A beverage from the preserved pottery jars of a Neolithic village in China was the basis for the rice-honey-fruit beer Chateau Jiahu. The latest Dogfish recreation, Theobroma, was released this month in bottles and is based on an ancient alcoholic chocolate drink from Honduras.

On Tuesday Sam Calagione travels to Philadelphia to spread the word about his ancient brews and some of his other creations. He will conduct his class, Off Centered Ales and Ancient Brews, at Tria's Fermentation School from 6:30-8PM. Unfortunately this one is already sold-out. The good news is that Sam is appearing earlier at Tria's Washington Square location to pour Theobroma and other Dogfish Head beers. The meet and greet runs from 5-6PM and is Pay-as-you-go.