What's the classic accompaniment to a sandwich? Sure, you might get some potato chips or french fries, but above all, you will get a pickle! Pickles are cucumbers that have been allowed to ferment / have been preserved by either a bath of brine, vinegar, or another pickling solution. They come in a plethora of different types -- bread & butter, dill, half sour, sour, and sweet to name a few of the options. Cucumbers are not the only veggie that gets pickled, but they are the classic choice. Low in calories and fat, they are crisp and delish, a nice counterpart to a sandwich or whatever you desire. So I thought why not make this classic sidekick this week's marriage Mondays star? What sort of cheeses could you imagine pairing with a pickle? Contestant Number # 1: Fol Epi - Meaning "wild wheat stalk" in French, this pressed cooked cow's milk cheese from the Loire Valley is brushed with toasted wheat flour during its aging process. Shaped somewhat like a loaf of bread with those classic Swiss cheese holes; this first contestant is loosely modeled on the recipe for Emmental, however Fol Epi is creamier and smoother. Somewhat nutty with a nice wheaty, milky, fruity finish, it sure is a versatile cheese! But will it have what it takes to stand up on its own to our pickles? Contestant Number # 2: Rogue River Creamery's Smokey Blue - Rogue takes their Oregon Blue, the first blue cheese produced in the Pacific Northwest and makes it the first American blue cheese that has ever been smoked -- cold smoked over local hazelnut shells for sixteen hours. Creamy, luscious, piquant, spicy, with a wonderful nutty smokeyness to it! Does this pioneer of a cheese have what it takes this week? Contestant Number # 3: Edwin's Munster - Our final contestant is not one of the orange rind Munsters you find in the supermarket nor does it hail from the classically regarded best region for the cheese, Alsace; this guy comes to you from a small village in western Austria. Crafted lovingly with raw cow's milk into eight ounce washed rind rounds, this semi soft cheese has the best type of barnyardy, farmy stink with a fabulous melt in your mouth quality. Full of gooey mushroomy notes, hints of caramelized onions, and that fantastic washed rind tangy oomph! Is it up to the task of pairing with pickles? Image courtesy of http://www.murrayscheese.com/
... with the word "Tusker" moulded into the glass.
Anchor Brewing Company has a new IPA in the works, Anchor IPA.
Our first beer from Tusker, and our first beer from Kenya and from Africa as well—it’s “Kenya’s Heritage since 1922.” Made by East African Breweries Limited in Nairobi, Kenya, the brewery also supports Tusker F.C., a professional soccer team. Awesome. Tusker pours a crystal clear straw with a creamy white head. And the crystal clear part is something of an understatement. Dag. You could burn ants with the light that cuts through this beer. Sorry, ants. The nose is a soft malt with a bit of creamed corn, and in this beer flavors follow aroma—flavors open with a soft corny sweetness before moving into a bit of dry creaminess in the middle, and finishing with a touch of bitterness and that classic imported foreign lager flavor—slightly skunky and a bit international. The mouthfeel is soft and lightly creamy, matching the medium body, and the carbonation is medium to light with a bit of crispness. A classic international lager, although we do miss the old school label with the nature preserve collection of animals—it was a bit cooler than the current label, although the elephant is a nice touch. Word. From the bottle: “Tusker Lager has been brewed in East Africa since 1922. Named after the elephant that killed George Hurst, one of the brewery’s founders, Tusker claims that special heritage of being one of the first beers in East Africa. Over the years, this unique lager has become a part of East Africa’s rich tradition. Tusker is brewed with high quality malt, made from equatorial barley grown at the base of Mt. Kenya, choicest hops and water that springs from the renowned Aberdare mountain ranges. Tusker’s famous crisp, refreshing taste and finest quality has continuously earned Gold Medals in the prestigious International Monde Selection Awards.” From the East Africa Breweries website: “100% African ingredients.Tusker is brewed from 100% African ingredients that are all locally sourced. The barley is from the Savannah and the Maasai Mara. The spring water is from the Aberdare Mountains. All the yeast is developed locally. The cornstarch is sourced from a local Kenyan company. Every grain of sugar is delivered from West Kenya. This means that you feel closely connected to the origins and roots of Tusker. 100% African inspiration. The taste of African spirit can inspire you going forwards, by re-connecting you with your roots. As the old proverb goes, ‘to know where you are going, you must first know where you have come from.’ Tusker drinkers see the traditions, beliefs and cultures of their roots as the springboard for inspiration. They are full of optimism; focused on looking forwards, not backwards. Today’s triumphs are born out of and inspired by where we have come from – Tusker. Refresh Your Roots.” ABV: 4.2% (7/8/2010)
I love good stories, like Harry Potter’s conquest of the evil Lord Voldemort or Frodo Baggins’ battles against the, um, evil Sauron.
Today's works of art is by a young Thai artist named Kitti Narod. He was commissioned by Chang Beer, the best-selling beer in Thailand, to paint an "interpretation" of their label. He came up with Rivers of Amber. Here's a description of the work: In Bangkok artist Kitti Narod's commissioned interpretation of the Thai favourite
Stuart Forster heads to the Hotel Elephant in Weimar, Germany, and reviews the luxury hotel that has hosted the likes of Goethe, Hitler and Thomas Mann.
Can't remember the brewery. Saw it on BA the other day. Black can with a different black lettering all over the can. Was pretty sick! Will look for it.
(San Francisco, CA) - Anchor Brewing Company announces the release of Anchor IPA in cans; a new package for the adventurous brew in Anchor’s core lineup of distinctive, hand-crafted beers.
Anchor Brewing is releasing their newest beer, and it should surprise no one seeing the trends in hoppy beers that the new release is Anchor IPA. While Anchor Liberty is brewed with just Cascade hops, the new Anchor IPA is… Continue Reading →
