Mendocino Imperial IPA is a robust holiday ale: Crack One Open

by Scott Stephens

Tuesday December 30, 2008, 2:27 PM

CRACK ONE OPEN

Pick hit: Mendocino Imperial IPA.

Pedigree: Winter seasonal released Nov. 25 from the pioneering Northern California microbrewery, whose beer is now available in 35 states. Most of what we get is actually brewed in the company's new facility in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., which is designed to handle the East Coast demand.

Why hoist one: Not all winter seasonals are dark, sweet holiday ales. This is a robust, super-hopped India pale ale with a big flavor and nice balance. The hops will make your tongue curl, but the 7.5 percent alcohol level will take the edge off the winter winds.

Find it: Good beverage stores. We found ours at Rozi's Wine & Liquor House, 14900 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. You'll pay: About $8 for a six-pack.

Crack One Open spotlights a brew from anywhere around the world that's worth trying. Availability will vary; so will price.

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Nicely balanced Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale is standard-bearer: Crack One Open

by Scott Stephens/Plain Dealer Reporter

Tuesday November 18, 2008, 7:42 PM

Plain Dealer file

Pick hit: Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale.

Pedigree: Not counting what the Pilgrims brewed, this is America's original pumpkin ale and it comes from one of the nation's oldest microbreweries. Pumpkin ales have become a beverage success story, with six-packs jumping off the shelves between Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Why hoist one: To me, pumpkin ale is the perfect brew for the Thanksgiving table, and there are an unusual number of choices. Some are heavy on the pumpkin and some are heavy on the pumpkin-pie spices, such as cloves and cinnamon. Buffalo Bill's is a nice balance -- just enough pumpkin to make is distinctive, but not enough to make it taste like liquid pie.

Find it: Most any supermarket or beverage store, as long as it lasts. We found ours at the Ross Deli, 15524 Detroit Ave., Lakewood.

You'll pay: About $8 for a six-pack.

On alternate weeks, Scott Stephens spotlights a brew from anywhere around the world that's worth trying. Availability will vary; so will price.

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A sweet and tart pilsener with great retro label in Buckeye Beer: Crack One Open

by Scott Stephens/Plain Dealer Reporter

Tuesday November 04, 2008, 1:54 PM

Pick hit: Buckeye Beer

Pedigree: By 1950, Buckeye Brewing was the only brewery left in Toledo. The brewery's name was changed to Meister Brau in 1966, after the business was purchased. It closed for good in 1972, after being purchased again, this time by Miller. This Buckeye Beer is a new recipe, compliments of the excellent Maumee Brewing Co., a downtown brewpub.

Why hoist one: The great retro label, which features a dashing waiter delivering bottles of brew on a tray held high, should be reason enough. But this Czech-style pilsener, which has a touch of honeylike sweetness and a tart finish, won't disappoint, either.

Find it: Heinen's stores stock Buckeye in eye-catching boxes of 12.

You'll pay: About $12 for a 12-pack.

On alternate weeks, Scott Stephens spotlights a brew from anywhere around the world that's worth trying. Availability and price vary.

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Crack One Open: Beck's Premier Light.

by Scott Stephens

Wednesday September 03, 2008, 7:40 PM

Pick Hit: Beck's Premier Light.

Pedigree: Low- calorie pale lager from the German import king

Why Hoist One: At 64 calories, this would seem to be the brewing equivalent of celery. If you like Beck's and are trying to lose weight, enjoy. Otherwise, it's hard to see the point.

Find It: Generally, anywhere Beck's is sold, which is just about anywhere.

You'll Pay: About $7 for a six-pack.

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Crack One Open: Tsingtao Lager, Yinpu Rice Beer

by Scott Stephens

Wednesday August 06, 2008, 7:43 PM

Pick Hit: Tsingtao Lager, Yinpu Rice Beer

Pedigree: It might surprise you that China is the world's largest beer producer, making more suds than Germany and recently passing the United States. China has at least one brewery in every large city, about 500 in all. You've never heard of most of them because few distribute beyond city limits. But the passion for beer is a relatively new thing in one of the world's oldest cultures. Modern brewing techniques didn't come to China until the beginning of the 20th century when Germans were given a colonial trading post in Shantung, a cut-rate version of what the British were doing in Hong Kong. The Germans planted hops and built a resort town in Tsingtao.

Why Hoist One: When in Shantung, do as the Shantungese. The classic Chinese beer, of course, is Tsingtao. It's a quality pilsener - crisp, clean and refreshing and a nice complement to spicy cuisines. Yinpu is completely different. It's made with black rice, has a malty taste and a deep, dark caramel color. I think it goes best with blander fare, but you might disagree. Asian alternatives: Here are several options, crossing borders (and bodies of water): Japan offers two excellent brews, Sapporo and Kirin. The latter is a well-made lager with good hop character. A personal favorite: the hard-to-find 33 Export, a Vietnamese beer many vets remember from the war. It's highly carbonated and goes well with hot dishes. Another choice: Hue, a Vietnamese pilsener brewed in the city by the same name. From Thailand, try Singha, a Thai lager that is labeled as a malt liquor in many states because of its high alcohol content.

Find It: Both Tsingtao and Yinpu are widely available in groceries, beverage stores and Chinese restaurants. Other Asian imports can usually be found in Asian restaurants (and some high-volume beverage stores). Call ahead to check availability and prices.

You'll Pay: Tsingtao matches the price of most mainstream European imports such as Beck's and Heineken - expect to pay about $8 for a 6-pack. Yinpu is more of an acquired taste, and the price reflects it. It can be had for as little as $3 or $4 for a 6-pack.

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Crack One Open: Imperial Dortmunder

by Scott Stephens

Wednesday July 30, 2008, 7:48 PM

Pick Hit: Imperial Dortmunder

Pedigree: Special 20th-anniversary brew from Great Lakes Brewing Co. Kind of like a regular Dortmunder on steroids.

Why Hoist One: The regular Dortmunder, Great Lakes' flagship brew, appeals to so many people because it's a perfect balance of malt sweetness and just enough hops to grab the tongue. This is the same combination with more intense malt sweetness and more intense hops bitterness. It's also got a 7.5 percent alcohol content, so don't drink it as you would the regular stuff!

Find It: Will return to the tap at Great Lakes when the anniversary nears. Until then, it's available in bottles, through September, at most grocery and beverage stores in town. Also available at the brewery's Market Avenue gift store.

You'll Pay: About $10 for a four-pack.

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Crack One Open: Kennebunkport IPA

by Scott Stephens

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 7:51 PM

Pick Hit: Kennebunkport IPA

Pedigree: India pale ale brewed for Trader Joe's, the San Jose, Calif.-based grocery chain. Brewed at Pugsley Brewing Co. in Portland, Maine, which is part of an operation that includes the Sea Dog and Shipyard breweries.

Why Hoist One: Hop heads will like tongue-curling hop presence in a reasonably well-balanced brew. The rest of us will like the affordable price.

Find It: At Trader Joe's. Two stores locally: Eton Chagrin Boulevard, Woodmere; Crocker Park, Westlake.

You'll Pay: About $6 or $7 for a six-pack.

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Crack One Open: Southern Tier Hop Sun

by Scott Stephens

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 8:09 PM

Pick Hit: Southern Tier Hop Sun

Pedigree: Seasonal summer wheat beer from Lakewood, N.Y.-based Southern Tier Brewing Co., which was founded in 2004 and now distributes in New York, Ohio, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

Why Hoist One: As good as most of the summer wheat beers flooding the market, and better than many. Pour a wonderful golden color with lots of carbonation. Hoppy taste with lemon and floral notes, which say summer about as well as anything. One of the better brews for back porch sipping.

Find It: Good beverage stores and a few big supermarket chains. We found ours at Minotti's Wine and Liquor, 26840 Brookpark Road Extension, North Olmsted.

You'll Pay: About $8 for a six-pack.

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