Strong Beer

So you thought your 6% proof beer was strong, well what about 41% proof beer?

BBC News reports on the world’s strongest beer.

A controversial Scottish brewery has said it has reclaimed the title of the world’s strongest beer from German rivals – with Sink the Bismarck at 41%.

At £40 per bottle I think I won’t be trying it out…

Innis & Gunn

Innis & Gunn

I really enjoyed this beer. A smooth Scottish beer with hints of toffee, vanilla and oak. Personally it tasted of beer to me! It’s quite a strong beer with a different distinctive flavour (perhaps that’s where the toffee and vanilla come in to it).

They use oak barrels in the brewing process which adds some different flavours to your usual beers.

As I said I enjoyed it and would buy it again.

Fresher Beer?

Old beer

Beer will be last longer on shelves if brewers take advantage of new technologies to increase shelf life.

A material that could lead to beer with significantly longer shelf life has been designed by researchers.

The approach works by removing riboflavin, or vitamin B2, which causes changes to beer’s flavour when exposed to light passing through the bottle.

Read more.

Does this mean fresher beer?  No just means less stale beer!

Picture source.

Newquay Steam Beer

Talking of steam beers yesterday I was reminded of a wonderful beer, Newquay Steam Beer.

Wondering if it was still available I did a Google search and alas found that it was no more.

Well ‘Newquay Steam Beer’ was a victim of its own success. It outsold the major beer seller in the southwest by miles. The competitor had to produce something better or lose out.

Their money men suggested that they should buy the rights to the name, the recipes and the artwork and sell it as their own. They were missing the secret ingredient and the flair to drive the brand forward and so after quite a short period of time ‘Steam Beer’ sank without a trace.

That’s a pity, if my memory serves me correctly it was a very nice beer.




Anchor Steam Beer

This is my favourite American beer of all time, Anchor Steam Beer from San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing. Thoug I get mine from Tesco or Sainsbury!

Anchor Steam Beer

If you thought American beer was just like Budweiser then you need to try Anchor Steam Beer.

San Francisco’s famous Anchor Steam®, the classic of American brewing tradition since 1896, is virtually handmade, with an exceptional respect for the ancient art of brewing. The deep amber color, thick creamy head, and rich flavor all testify to our traditional brewing methods. Anchor Steam is unique, for our brewing process has evolved over many decades and is like no other in the world.

So why is it called Anchor Steam? Good question.

Anchor Steam derives its unusual name from the 19th century when “steam” seems to have been a nickname for beer brewed on the West Coast of America under primitive conditions and without ice. The brewing methods of those days are a mystery and, although there are many theories, no one can say with certainty why the word “steam” came to be associated with beer. For many decades Anchor alone has used this quaint name for its unique beer. In modern times, “Steam” has become a trademark of Anchor Brewing.

It has to be one of my favourite beers of all time as well. A rich flavour and a wonderful taste.

Adnams East Green

Adnams East GreenReally enjoyed my beer this evening, an Adnams East Green carbon neutral beer.

Sitting on East Green in the coastal town of Southwold Suffolk, stands the UK’s newest, and we believe, most energy efficient brewery.

Years of brewing expertise, combined with state-of-the-art equipment, a lightweight bottle and ingredients locally sourced from the East of England means we can create this special light golden beer.

Enjoy subtle citrus and grassy hop aromas for a dry and refreshing beer with a well balanced bitterness.

St Peter’s Organic Ale

St Peter’s Organic AleLast night I had a very enjoyable bottle of St Peter’s Organic Ale. I really enjoyed the beer.

Water is extracted from our own 300’ deep borehole and combined with Soil Association accredited light malted barley from Norfolk. Organic hops provide the distinctive palate. The yeast used is St. Peter’s own single strand variety. The result is a delicate, clean, crisp, lightly carbonated, traditional English Ale with a full ‘citrus hop’ aftertaste. This lovely beer won the Soil Association’s top prize in 2002 and a silver medal in 2006.

It also comes in a very unique bottle as well.

You can’t sell Polish beer in litres…

Polish Beer

BBC reports on the restaurant which is breaking the law by selling Polish beer in litres.

A restaurant owner has described laws which ban him from serving beer by the litre as “barmy” after he was threatened with court action.

Nic Davison was served an infringement notice by trading standards officers for selling beer illegally.

Mr Davison, who owns the Kuchnia Polska restaurant in Doncaster, was told to change his glasses within 28 days or face a court hearing and a £2,000 fine.

The 1988 Weights and Measures Act says draught beer must be sold in pints.

Photo source.

Simple Beer Batter

Sometimes simple is best.

Tonight I cooked some pork balls to go with the chinese meal I was cooking.

I created a simple batter, of self-raising flour and some beer. Mixed to a consistency which would coat a spoon, not too thick and not too thin.

Cut your pork into cubes about 1cm thick, tall and wide.

Hot oil and a few cubes at a time until golden brown.

They should be crisp and more importantly retain their crispness.

Beer Battered Fish

Another excellent recipe from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in today’s Guardian, beer battered fish.

Generally I like to use beer in my batter, but I found it interesting that Hugh said to use proper beer and avoid lager. I am sure I recall from another chef that lager was best for batter.

Ah well, the next time I make batter I will use a decent proper beer and see how that works.