Coconut Abbey

Moving day for Rachel -- on the way out of Iowa City. I don't think I noticed any coconut in this, but it was a very pleasant step on my World Beer Tour at Old Chicago.

You Be You Imperial Stout

First of all, let me say YUM!!!  Luxurious flavors of bitter sweet chocolate fill your mouth with ooey goodness and just the instant before your tongue and teeth get sticky feeling from all the sweetness, a bit of hops let you swallow cleanly. With color and viscosity close to molasses on a November day, this Imperial Stout is definitely thick and rich enough to be a sipping beer. It slowly accompanies me through a review of my materials for teaching English as a Second Language. These old notes are bringing back memories of skills and practices that may come in handy soon.

Sheer Madness

I've enjoyed and highly respected a number of offerings from the Kalona Brewery, so it was a real treat to stop by for a visit. The brew pub has a classy look and feel, and the staff was nice and helpful. Lewbricator was the beer that made me a fan and so I tried this other wheat on their tap list. Hoppier and less caramelly than the outstanding Lewbricator, still it was for sure a hit in my book.

Sucha Much

Sucha Much is another hit in my book from the little brewing company in Kalona, Iowa. My first whiff was of very fresh hops, reminding me of fresh cut grass. Further down in the glass I go, the more complex and rich the flavors seem to get. The caramel sweetness of malted barley is reminiscent of the happy experiences I have had with Kalona’s malt forward wheat beers Lewbricator and Sheer Madness. In here that malt sweetness provides the balance to the bitterness of the Nugget, Crystal, Chinook, Cascade, Centennial, with Citra on the dry hop. The label on the can has this adroit statement, “Heavenly beers, brewed by mere mortals.”

Lewbricator

I spent much of last week in Ohio going through my Dad’s two barns, sorting things to throw, to keep and to put on the upcoming sale. Going through the tools, fishing gear and other souvenirs brought back volumes of memories for me, my mother and siblings. It’s fascinating how special objects, certain smells and familiar flavors bring back memories so vividly. 

This is my first beer from the little brewing company in Kalona, Iowa. It is extraordinary. The wheat yeast and esters give some sweet, fruity flavors that are wrapped by the caramel sweetness of the malt, heavy in this double bock style. It brought back memories of the fruit and caramel sweets we’d get from the drive up teller when I would go with Dad into town on Saturday mornings to do his banking.