Of course, I love my family. That’s a given. And most everyone who knows me, knows that tied for a distant second are wine and ice hockey, since every weekend I am either attending a trade tasting or a hockey game at either the youth or professional level. But what many folks are surprised to learn is that beer comes in at a very close third in my personal passion lineup.
I really like beer. As a matter of fact, I use to brew my own beer for several years. However, when Cindy — my spouse — became pregnant with our first son, the smell of the wort (the boiling liquid containing hops, grains and malt) would make her so nauseous that she’d have to vacate the premises for several hours until the smell dissipated. While I made great beer, the beer did not make for pre-natal bliss, so I eventually traded in my brewing equipment for a wine cellar and a much more peaceful marital relationship.
But I do know my beer. And with three boys playing youth hockey as well as being a long time season ticket holder to the Washington Capitals, I know my way around the ice rink as well. There are two things that are great about beer. First, there is nothing better at cleansing ones palate in between flights at a wine tasting than a cold, crisp beer, and, second, there is nothing better to drink while watching hockey. Nothing.
Now that the NHL playoffs are in full swing, I can be found most evenings surfing the channels, looking for a division playoff game in one conference or another. And lately, I have been doing most of my surfing with one of the many fine offerings from Samuel “Sam” Adams, a domestic brewery that seems to know that quality beer and playoff hockey go together like foie gras and sauternes. Maybe it’s because Boston is home to both the Boston Beer Company — that produces Samuel Adams beer — and Caps rivals, the Boston Bruins. Or maybe it’s because that Sam Adams’ founder and brewer, Jim Koch, started off brewing his now-famous beer in his kitchen (using his great-great grandfather’s recipe), just like me.
Here are a few of my favorite beers from the ever-expanding lineup of specialty beers (currently 21 different styles) from Jim’s “hockey town” brewery. Most offerings cost $8 to $10 per six-pack.
The original Samuel Adams Boston Lager was first brewed by Jim in his kitchen in 1984 and uses only four classic ingredients; hops, barley, water and yeast. One of the lighter-styled brews, this easy-drinking standard has a smooth body that supports a slightly malty/sweet body with notes of barley and citrus on the finish with a just-right bite of bitter at the end.
My business partner, Keith, is a light beer aficionado, and the Samuel Adams Light is his “go to” beer of choice. It has a very smooth feel in the mouth with a roasted malt body and citrus notes on the crisp finish with no bitter after-taste. The refreshing finish is reminiscent of a crisp riesling, where the high acidity keeps the palate clean and ready for the next sip.
The Samuel Adams Boston Ale is brewed, fermented and aged in the stock ale tradition. The amber color and aromas of citrus and hops are intriguing. The flavor profile ranges from earthy and hoppy on the front of the palate to floral and herbal on the finish. This is a beer in search of fish and chips.
I am a big fan of pale ales, and the Samuel Adams Latitude 48 hits the bulls-eye. Brewed in the IPA (Indian Pale Ale) style, it gets its name from the fact that the lend of hops used are all from growing regions in Germany, England and America that are located along the 48th latitude. These hops create a distinctive, hoppy, base that is filled in nicely with citrus notes and a slightly sweet finish, thanks to the honey malt used in the brewing process.
As a California native, I have to give a shout out for the Samuel Adams Coastal Wheat brew. It’s a twist on the German Hefeweizen style that uses Eureka and Lisbon varieties of lemon from California in the brewing process. The citrus plays off of the character of the wheat malt resulting in a crisp, refreshing beer with lemon and hops on the front of the palate and a touch of sweetness on the finish.
If you’re a Caps fan, then “Rock the Red” with the Samuel Adams Irish Red Ale. Earthy, hoppy notes on the palate nicely balance this malty, slightly sweet brew. Pale and caramel malts give the beer its rich, deep red color and noticeable caramel flavor. The hops add just the right amount of bitterness on the smooth, clean finish.
