Epic Portions

Tag: Hoegaarden

  • Beer Madness, Final Four and Championship!

    We have arrived at the end.  After three weeks of intense competition, lobbying by beer lovers from across the globe (I don’t care if you are mad at me China, Tsingtao still sucks), and what my doctor described as “a liver Mickey Mantle would be proud of”…WE HAVE A CHAMPION!  First, the final four results.

     

    Final Four:

    (5) Hoegaarden over (3) Budweiser American Ale

    I know I said upsets were possible, but did anyone really think Bud American Ale could defeat Hoegaarden?  Having said that, American Ale is a pretty solid brew.  AB/InBev needs begin to promote this beer as their “flagship.”  They can be proud of it, and it would help to elevate their status in the beer world.  Until then, most people will associate Budweiser products with swill.  Considering the quality of American Ale that is a shame.  If you haven’t tried it, we are only talking about anywhere from $7-$8 for a six pack.  Give it a shot…

    (3) Anchor Steam over (4) Negra Modelo

    My new found love of Modelo Dark plus lime cannot defeat the smooth, hoppy flavor of Anchor Steam.  While it may have been unexpected to see Anchor Steam survive the American Microbrew (aka the group of death) bracket, it isn’t implausible.  Anchor is a fine beer and a credit to its San Francisco brewers.

    Setting up the glorious championship, which was fought last night while watching Butler defeat Michigan State.

    Championship:

     

    (5) Hoegaarden over (3) Anchor Steam

    Our regular readers knew of my love for Hoegaarden from previous posts, but I honestly thought it would run into trouble late in the European bracket, especially considering the strength of competition.  The true Belgian White, Hoegaarden combines the classic combination of orange peel and coriander to create a magical concoction.  They even recommend a special hexagon glass to drink it out of, which I keep under lock and key in a refrigerated hexagonal beer glass cabinet. 

    Behold…the hexagonal glass!

    Anchor Steam was a worthy runner-up, a true American Microbrew that is a pleasure to drink year round, but the flavor of Hoegaarden was too much for Anchor to overcome.

    Final Notes:

    Obviously, this was a highly subjective competition.  How do you compare a Belgian White to a Pale Ale?  Brown Ale vs. Pilsner?  The honest answer it that you just have to trust whatever tastes best at that moment.  I could run this bracket again in six months and have different results.  The main objective was to enjoy the beer and perhaps learn a few things in the process.  In that sense, mission accomplished.

    A special thank you goes out to John for helping decide a decisive Mexican battle, J & K from Ypsi for an enjoyable night of drinking and their honest feedback (Bell’s Amber vs. Anchor was tough but fun), and my wife for helping on championship night.

    My guess is that next spring I will pursue a different challenge.  Breakfast cereals, salty snacks, who knows.  I need to recover from this one before I start to worry about next year.  I sincerely hoped that EP readers enjoyed this year’s beer tourney.  Happy drinking and, please Butler…BEAT DUKE!

  • Beer Madness, Final Four

    At long last, we have reached the final four.  This is becoming a grueling test of endurance for yours truly.  I’m like Adam Richman from Man v. Food, he hits the food wall, I’ve hit the beer wall.  Someday I’ll look back at this and be amused, but right now I feel like I’m trapped in a giant swimming pool of beer and must drink my way out.  At least we are near the end and down to the champions of each bracket.  I’m sure by the time the real Final Four hits I’ll be ready to get back in action.  As long as Duke loses, I’ll be a happy guy.

    American Macrobrew:

    (3) Budweiser American Ale over (1) Blue Moon

    I wish I could travel back in time and see how the powers that be at Anheuser Busch decided to brew American Ale.  I like to think one of the brewers (if you can call the people who make Busch Light “brewers”) hit their head at work one day and had a vision from the Pawtucket Patriot telling them that they were pathetic because they had all this great brewing equipment and have Bud Light to show for it.  They then set about creating a real beer, an amber ale that they could be proud of and tell their grandkids about.

    Blue Moon is what I would best describe as a “gateway beer.”  If it can get you away from macro-junk and into the world of craft beer, then mission accomplished.  I will drink it when I go out and the only choices on tap are Miller Lite, Budweiser, Labatt, and Blue Moon.  It is decent; nothing special but a nice alternative when faced with only bleak choices.

    In conclusion, the faux Belgian White, when analyzed is a pretty mediocre knockoff.  Points go to Anheuser Busch/InBev for creating something worthwhile and trying to bolster the product line with a legitimate attempt at a craft beer.

    European:

     

    (5) Hoegaarden over (2) Pilsner Urquell

    I would like to begin by saying on a summer day, when I’m finished mowing the lawn, Pilsner Urquell is almost as good as it gets.  It is refreshing and smooth.  But in the end it is a pilsner and can’t compete with the complex flavor profile of Hoegaarden.  I know my Prague peeps won’t be happy, but Belgium carries the day.

    American Microbrew:

     

    (3) Anchor Steam over (9) Red Hook Long Hammer IPA

    First I would like to correct an inaccuracy in my last post.  Long Hammer is brewed in Portsmouth, NH and not in Seattle.  Epic Portions’ corporate lawyers didn’t want me to outright apologize due to legal implications, but I say lawyers be damned.  (Except John’s Dad and my Father-in-law, Sister-in-law, and best man at my wedding.  They are all a credit to the profession.  All other lawyers can take a rocket ship to hell.  Except those who read EP.  Ya’ll are cool.)  In that spirit, I apologize for and regret my error.

    So, Anchor vs. Long Hammer wasn’t a West Coast battle, or some weird medieval blood sport.  No NWA vs. Tupac, more like NWA vs. Portsmouth native (and Travel Channel’s own) Samantha Brown, the most famous living Portsmouthian I could find.  And so goes the defeat for Long Hammer.

    Anchor Steam is a credible winner in this group.  It has a wonderful hoppy flavor with a smooth finish that has the tinge of bitterness that you want without losing any of its drinkability.  Anchor will be tough to beat in the next round.

    International Macrobrew:

    (4) Negra Modelo over (6) Dos Equis

    First off, many thanks to John for joining me at Los Amigos for a delicious meal and a battle of beers.  Since it was Mexico vs. Mexico, limes were allowed, something I normally wouldn’t consent to but I felt the playing field would be even here.  Besides, I drank plenty of both sans lime and was ready for a new twist in the battle.

    Let me say right away that the lime made Modelo Dark come alive.  A nice dark lager with a layer of complexity became more than the sum of its parts.  Sadly, limes will not be allowed in the next round, and that may hurt Negra Modelo, but let it be said right here that this beer is elevated by the lime and will be enjoyed that way by me in the future.

    Final Four:

    (3) Budweiser American Ale vs. (5) Hoegaarden

    (3) Anchor Steam vs. (4) Negra Modelo

    Analysis:

    Before everyone declares a winner in the first battle, remember that Northern Iowa beat Kansas and that Butler is in the Final Four.  I know our European readers prefer football, so I’ll bring up the 1950 World Cup USA over England win or 2002’s Senegal over France.  The point is that upsets happen.

    As for Anchor and Negra Modelo, you have to wonder if another upset is possible.  But one thing I have to say is that when you blind test these beers strange things happen.  Many of the battles that took place to get us here had surprising results.  Tune in this weekend to see who makes the championship match.

  • Moroccan Chickpea Soup

    Winter is upon us with a vengeance, and what better night to enjoy soup than a frigid Michigan winter evening.   In that spirit, epic soup consumption has become a Friday ritual for us.  My lovely and talented wife comes home from work early and plays with the kids while I get to cook. With the magic of Pandora radio and Hoegaarden (the greatest beer in the universe) I look forward to my Friday soup adventures all week.

    This week I made one of our favorites, my take on Moroccan Chickpea.

    Start by melting a tablespoon of butter in a large pot. Actually let me start over. Set your iPod on Pandora and select whatever artist suits you that particular day. Then, open up one of these:

    Then melt one tablespoon of butter in a large pot. Add roughly one cup of mirepoix, which is fancy French talk for celery, carrots, and onion. But believe me, it is much more fun to say mirepoix. Add a pinch of kosher salt and allow the aforementioned mirepoix to saute in the pot with the butter for about five minutes. Enjoy the smell and sip/guzzle your beer, depending on how you feel that day.

    After five minutes are up, add 32 oz. of low-sodium chicken broth (personal preference, I’d rather add salt if it needs it) and 8 oz. vegetable stock and bring to a boil.

    Once you have achieved a rapid boil, add one cup of elbow pasta. Allow pasta to boil for 5-6 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add the following:

    1/2 teaspoon turmeric
    1/2 teaspoon black pepper
    One 16 oz. can of chickpeas, drained
    One cup tomato puree

    To this add a pinch of parsley, no problem using the dehydrated version. Use your best judgement, if you are into precise measurements, soup isn’t your thing. Try baking. Please. I hate baking and am happy to let my wife be the baker.

    Back to the soup. Allow this wondrous concoction to simmer for about 10-15 minutes while stirring and smelling frequently.   Then, add the crucial ingredient:

    Fresh chopped cilantro

    Add fresh chopped cilantro and let simmer for five more minutes. Save a little for garnish.

    The final result:

    Serve with pita bread for dipping.

    If you are in the mood for a delicious, healthy, and hearty winter soup, this should hit the spot.

    And if you don’t like, just drink a couple more of these: