TOPIC:

&amp;quot;Adeptus&amp;quot;:2zoqiy9g wrote: Hmmm, it looks kinda empty. But yeah, a full frontal raid on the cold room by some ICBers should distract staff and give you enough time to check <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->[/quote:2zoqiy9g]

Sorry boy's, i got this as a sample early last year and kept the bottle for display purposes. It's hard to get from the suppliers, and somebody has already enquired. <!-- s:( --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_sad.gif" alt="" title="Sad" /><!-- s:( -->

We've been rumbled! Leg it!

Tonight it's Pinkus Jubilate. This is nice. Subtle, gentle, but tasty. Sorry I didn't take a photo this time, but it's a deep copper red, with a slightly tan dense head. Tastes like soft caramel on lightly buttered toast with a medium body (no, this is the first beer this evening). It's softness belies the 5.5%, and it's definitely one you'd want more of. Well, I do anyway!

And I still need to empty about ten bottles to have enough for bottling my lastest IPA on Friday... That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.

[size=75:2ffctkma]Maybe I should start a blog... ;o)[/size:2ffctkma]

<edit>Although the head on this is still there, the carbonation is actually pretty low, and there's not a long finish on it. What finish there is is malty and slightly sweet, as it has a fairly low bitterness. If you're a malt head, you'd probably enjoy this. <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

Seeing as we're on a German theme, I'm having a Rauchbier for the first time tonight. Shlenkerla to be precise. I didn't expect to like this as the idea of a smoked beer didn't appeal to me. The almost bacon fries like aroma is there but the smokiness is more restrained in the flavour, it's actually quite pleasant. Not a session beer by any means but nice to sip.

Good man! <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

I tried Schlenkerla a couple of years ago for the first time, when a mate in Getrmany had been to Bamberg and brought a crate back to my wifes home town. I wasn't too sure about the smell at first, as it was really like smoked ham, but it was an interesting experience. On the palate the smoke was a bit more restrained, but i found it built up after a couple of bottles. I brought a few bottles back to Ireland that time, and Kieron and another friend got to try some. K didn't like it at all, but the other chap loved it. I'd love to try it again actually, so must keep an eye out.

I bought some smoked malt last week so intend making a smoked porter, but maybe if I get temp control under... ehhh... control! I might try making a smoked Maerzen some time.

I did something I've never done before last Friday night. No, nothing risque; I ordered beer online. I had been trying to find some supplier of US or UK or anything other than German beers, when I stumbled accross, well, a site selling German beer of course. But not just any German beer, Bamberger Bier. bigears has already mentioned the famous Schlenkerla Rauchbier, but I hadn't realised just how special Bamber is considered, being a bit of a bastion of artisanal brewing in Germany, at least according to the late Michael Jackson. And I believe him!

The site I found was Biershop Bamberg[/url:10ljbvcu], appropriately enough, and I ordered a mixed crate of 24 different Bamberger Biers for the princely sum of €26.80, plus a six-pack of the Wagner Dunkel for €7.29 (well, it was top seret). This is the list, from left to right <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->

[img:10ljbvcu]http://lh6.ggpht.com/barry.masterson/SJCx5riHwBI/AAAAAAAABNo/f9REFjQft5U/s400/DSC04580.JPG[/img:10ljbvcu][/url:10ljbvcu]

Kaiserdom Alt-Bamberg Dunkel
Kaiserdom Pilsner
Herren Pils
Reesmann Sternla Lager
Kaiserdom Weizenland Weissbier Dunkel
Spezial Rauchbier Märzen
Spezial Rauchbier Lager
Mahr's Bräu Pilsner
Mahr's Bräu Hell
Mahr's Bräu Ungespundet Hefetrüb[/url:10ljbvcu]
Brauerei & Gaststätte Greifenklau Lager
Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen (probably the most famous Bamberger Beer)
Privatbrauerei Fässla Bamberg GOld Pils
Privatbrauerei Fässla Bamberg Zwergla (meaning dwarf!)
Privatbrauerei Fässla Bamberg Lagerbier
Merkendorfer Hummel-Bräu Kellerbier
Merkendorfer Hummel-Bräu Weissbier Dunkel
Merkendorfer Hummel-Bräu Märzen
Merkendorfer Hummel-Bräu Pils
Brauerei Wagner Pils (Merkendorf)
Brauerei Wagner Märzen
Brauerei Wagner Dunkel
Brauerei Wagner Lagerbier Ungespundet (literally "unbunged" during maturation)

Gonna take a while...