Low Country Libations Brew Club at Cooper River Brewery/Charleston, SC

This months Low Country Libation Brew Club met at the downtown Cooper River Brewery in Charleston.( See older blog for more info on this brewery) The main purpose of this organization is to teach and to learn how to brew excellent beer. I'm on the learning side most of the time. I know more than some but not as much as others. Our members bring small amounts of their beer to have it critiqued. We bring a tasting glass and we all have a sip of their offerings. Believe me, it's not always good. Sometimes it's flat and sometimes when you pop open the top, the foam flows out of the bottle like a volcano. There are some simple explanations for off flavors a lot of the time or lack of alcohol. Sometimes there are theories about how you may be able to make it better. But a lot of the time, the beer is really good. When you present the beer you brewed, you talk about how you made it. You will say whether it's an all grain recipe or you used an extract or you bought a kit. You describe the details involved in your brewing process and members ask you questions. The first time I talked about my beer, I was a nervous wreck. But they liked it and they were constructive on subsequent offerings. It keeps me coming back month after month. A select member usually gives a talk on a topic related to brewing so you learn a lot. It's also a non profit organization. We raise money for charities through raffles, dues and events so if you are in the area, let me know if you are interested in coming to a meeting as a home brewer. There are different brewing clubs all over the USA so  find one and get brewing. It's so rewarding!

I would like to give a shout out to Mark Fesche, the Head Brew Master at Cooper River Brewing. He took us on a quick tour of his fine brewery He has four, fifteen barrel fermenters  he keeps bubbling to bring you some really delicious Pale Ales, IPAs, Stouts and more. They broke out a cask while we were there featuring an Inaugural Pale Ale brewed with Simcoe and Citrus hops. Then he dry hopped it with whole leaf Chinook Hops. Stop by and try some!

Getting back to brew club, when I joined, there were no women attending meetings on a regular basis. Then in early 2015, Kristina Stoddard, a retired Naval Commander walked in with her husband Dan. This woman knows a thing or two about brewing. Like most of us, she started brewing with extracts. She made a notable fig beer at Christmastime I'd love to have the recipe for. She has brewed some really delicious and creative beers and she presents a new beer almost every time she attends the meetings. Then my friend Joy Munoz joined. She and I started playing with beer kits together. We love garage sales and we found some brewing equipment and a beer kit. We've come a long way!She recently brewed a really amazing Imperial Red IPA. It is a learning process but when you get it, it's the best feeling!

My newest" Woman Who Loves Beer" friend is a new member of our club, Sydney O'Brien who is a former Americorp volunteer who taught English at Burns Elementary. She recently brewed a saisson from an extract but loves a good hoppy IPA. She and her new husband Billy, a malty stout fan eloped in September and toasted  their nuptials by going to Funky Furbinfest at Oakroad Brewery in Summerville, SC. They figured that was a good way to celebrate.She just started brewing because she said she's always liked different beers and got her husband to start trying them. They have also made wine and then decided to try brewing.Welcome to LCL Sydney and Billy!

Let's have a Beer Tasting!

We were at Craft Cafe, 8600 Dorchester Road in North Charleston for Second Friday Beer Club. They have an appetizing selection of 15 or so craft beers on tap. You can buy a sampler of four or eight 5 oz. pours or a pint if you wish. They do growler fills as well. They also have a diverse selection in bottles and cans including ciders. For non beer drinkers, they offer wine as an option. The food is good too. There are tables outside in case you bring your dog but they aren't allowed inside. Children are welcome but be sure to bring something to entertain them.

This blog is about tasting beer. How will you know what you like if you don't sample a few? Maybe you could go to Craft Cafe, The Beer Exchange or Total Wine and select 5 to 8 beers. There is always someone there who can help you make good choices. I love to look at the labels because I enjoy the art work. I have to admit that I will buy a beer just for that reason.

 Invite a few friends over. If you have some bulbous wine glasses, use them. They will enhance the aroma and flavor of the beer. Make sure they're clean with no residue. Soap can really kill the foam and make your beer taste bitter. You don't need a special glass for each beer at this time.( I have two cupboards full of different types of glasses as well as some nice steins. It can be a habit forming collection).You can offer a pitcher of water to rinse the glass. You can offer crackers or pretzels for palate cleansing between tastings. Temperature plays a huge part in the flavor of the beer so again, ask your beer guru.

It's fun to print out a beer tasting chart for each guest. You can search the web or go to:

http://www.brewersfriend.com/beer-tasting-sheet-party-printout/ 

The first time I filled out a tasting chart, I had to look at everybody elses to see what they were writing. I kept hoping I wouldn't be called on to give my opinion. Every taster may have a totally different opinion on the beer. I frequently passed my beer on to somebody who seemed to be enjoying it more than me. Especially the IPAs which I'm now learning to like. So no pressure. Just enjoy!

The web is also a good place to figure out how a type of beer should look or taste. There is a ton of information out there!

When you pour your beer, pour it at an angle down the side of your glass to keep the beer from foaming up too much and then you can gradually straighten your glass so you have some foam (the Head) on top. Don't fill the glass. An inch or so in the glass is enough and no more than half is a perfect fill for your tasting. Some beers don't have much foam so don't worry. Some beers have too much foam so they will need to settle for a bit.

Hold the glass up to the light and notice the color. Is it clear or cloudy? Is it golden or amber or caramel colored? What color should this style of beer be? How carbonated is the beer? If you are drinking a beer that is carbonated in the bottle, you might have some residue in the bottom of the bottle. Try not to pour it in your glass but if you do, it won't hurt you. This has happened with some home brews I've made.

When you've made note of the color, swirl the beer in your glass. This will release the scent of the beer. Take a good sniff. Take several.  As with wine tasting, this is called The Nose. Simply put, it's the smell of your drink. Does it smell fruity or spicy? Maybe you can pick up aromas of caramel or chocolate. Biscuits? Hmmm. Don't feel stupid.There is no wrong answer. It is your thoughts on your beer.

Now taste the beer. Let the beer flow around on your tongue. Let a little air into your mouth and really taste it. Is it dry? Is it malty? Can you taste banana, orange, grapefruit, chocolate, coffee...? Is it smooth, rich, creamy, acidic, sour, bitter...? Depending on the kind of beer you are drinking, you will note specific traits for that style. And finally swallow the beer. Is the finish  long and lingering on your palate or does it have a short finish and what is the aftertaste? The point of all of this is to really enjoy the beer. I remember doing a tasting with my sister and we laughed at ourselves and each other as we attempted to figure each beer out. And a last note. We all have different tastes. That is why there are so many different beers being brewed. You are not wrong if you dislike a beer that has a lot of hoppy flavor. You are not wrong if you enjoy a wheat beer. One thing I know is by consistently tasting new beer, I have found myself more adventurous in my choices. So try it! You may be surprised.

The 33rd Annual Lowcountry Oysterfest at Boone Hall in Mount Pleasant

Wow, what a great festival!  And you don't really have to like Oysters. I love them but I still can't bring myself to swallow 50 oysters from a plastic cup for the Oyster Eating Contest. As soon as I would see someone gag, the contest would be over for me.
We did have some really great alternative offerings from noteworthy local restaurants like my sister April's favorite, Red's Ice House on Shem Creek with their Bacon Wrapped Scallops and Fried Oysters; my nephew Nick's favorite Sticky Fingers, a fantastic local BBQ joint where he can enjoy several sauces on his ribs and pulled pork, the best wings you have ever tasted in his opinion and noteworthy mac and cheese. Bay Street Biergarten, a favorite of mine has multiple table taps as well as a great variety of beers along the walls for sampling. You purchase so much on a beer card and then you can roam the restaurant tasting beer per ounce. Plus, the food is delicious! Win! Win!

Anita enjoys a light pilsner. Patty also is more of a pilsner drinker. She does not like IPA's.

Paula and Eileen love the food!

 Most importantly, the Oyster  Festival is a huge charity event  that has raised over a million dollars for MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, Shriners Hospitals for Children, The Art Institute of Charleston and other educational and extremely worthy causes. I bought discount tickets on line so I saved about five bucks each. If you don't buy tickets ahead of time, you're looking at a long wait to get in. We brought oyster knives and towels but you can purchase them there too. Oysters are $12. a bucket for Chesapeake Bay Singles. They also had Local Otter Roasters for $14 bucks a bucket. Bring a chair!

Cheers all y'all!

No Natz inventors (a natural bug repellent sold in Ace Hardwares) were enjoying the festival. Kay, raise your glass to no more bugs!!!! www.nonatz.com

Joy loves a good IPA and she just brewed an awesomely delicious Imperial Red IPA which she will enter in the Colonial Cup Competition this spring. Good luck lady!

Serving up Barleywine. Cheers!

Loving life!

One of the sponsors was Blue Point Brewing Company from Long Island. I met two women beer lovers; Grace who loves heffeweizens which are wheat beers and Amanda who enjoys a good West Coast IPA style brew.