the session

Bathtub Brewery has announced the topic for Session #20 (meaning that in November it becomes “legal”):

Is there a beer that reminds you of a specific memory?

If you’re thinking, “Huh?” then you might want to craft your response along the lines of “Whenever I drink [insert brew here] it reminds me of that day …” Or perhaps it’s the reverse. Oooooh.

A great topic, but an interesting challenge here. We’ll be in the village of Neuhaus, Germany, because Oct. 3 is the one day of the year all of the Zoigl brewers they serve beer. Perhaps I’ll blog about that, perhaps something else and perhaps I won’t be online at all.

If you’ve got a blog and want to participate it is easy. After you post your contribution drop a line to Bathtub Brewery.

This post is my contribution to Session #19, Deutsches Bier, so head there for the roundup, and check out Bathtub Brewery for details about the 20th gathering of beer bloggers. My entry was written Sept. 4 with no clear idea when I might be able to post it.

Three days and four Bavarian weiss beers into the European leg of our grand adventure and I can see a problem. Each of the four was noticeably different than the others.

Different is good. You don’t end up with a situation like Lew Bryson describes, where drinkers can’t tell the difference various stouts. Different is a pain in the butt if you are writing a book about wheat beers and are expected to single out beers that “define the style.”

The picture above was taken at Barfüsser die Hausbrauerie in Ulm, Germany, Albert Einsten’s home town. The brewpub makes a weiss that would likely do well in a scored competition because it is bold on the banana and clove fronts. (The pub also brews weiss light, a growing trend; geez, I’m really going to enjoy writing about that.)

So if you’ve got a checklist (in your head or otherwise) of weiss beer essentials you can mark off banana and clove for this beer. But what about other fruit character, notably apples? Or mouthfeel? Or appearance? (Oops, forgot to ask, do you like your weiss beers turbid or party cloudy?)

These are peripheral questions when drinking beer in Germany, particularly in smaller towns than Ulm (we traveled the Romantische Strasse much of the way from Frankfurt south). Lots of beer, lots of choices (though not usually in one spot), lots of people having a good time and not giving a damn about if their beer “defines the style” or hits 99.8 on the WOW scale.

There may be multiple variations on weiss but usually from the same brewery. In some cases a bigger producer — plenty of Erdinger and Tucher in Rothenberg — but often a smaller one.

After we walked the town of Dinkelbühl earlier today we stopped in a cafe that seemed to specialize in wine but that also gives beer a page on its drinks menu. The lineup includes four weiss beers (one the ubiquitous leicht) from nearby Konig Ludwig, well known in the States. However, we chose the cafe because they serve beer from Houf’s, a Dinkelbühl brewery that’s been around more than 100 years. I had Houf’s Hefe-Weiss, took a couple of quick notes, then resumed enjoying Germany.

How bad do I feel I’ve missed the last two rounds of The Session?

Jim has announced the theme for #19 is Deutsches Bier, and we’re going to Germany to be in place Sept. 5.

OK, to be honest, we’ll be at Legoland in Ulm. The short version of a long story: As part of our family adventure entering Week 12 everybody got to pick 10 places in Europe to visit. Sierra chose Legoland (and saved up to pay the admission price for all three of us).

But I bet I can find a beer to write about.

The Internet connection to post from? Another challenge altogether.

Ray has posted the roundup for The Session #18: “Happy Anniversary.”

Nice turnout, although I must confess I was absent. We hiked up Mount Cadillac in Acadia National Park that day, saw nothing more than about 20 feet in front of us because of fog, got totally soaked (four days later and my boots are still drying) and had an absolutely terrific time.

I certainly would have liked to have participated. This is a wonderful year for beer anniversaries. Goose Island, Deschutes, Wynkoop, Great Lakes and Vermont Pub and Brewery are just a few marking two decades for brewing. Takes your breath away, doesn’t it?

I can tell you just where I was when I first (as well as second and third) had Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. Where I was when I tasted Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold, who I was talking to when I discovered Deschutes Black Butte Porter.

Rob has posted the roundup for The Session #17, organizing the 28 posts into three categories: “those who thought the question was bollocks, those who thought the question was bollocks but figured cracking open a stout would appease the Session gods, and those who humored me by admitting a certain fondness for the unorthodox beer out of season.”

Not long until The Session #18, and Ray has picked “Happy Anniversary” as the topic.

Use this as an excuse to celebrate. Open a limited release anniversary beer from your favorite brewer. Enjoy that special beer you normally only open on your wedding anniversary or birthday. Either way, tell us about it. Why is it a beer you may only drink once a year? Why is that brewery’s annual release the one you selected?

All bloggers are welcome to join us. It’s easy. Post to the theme Aug. 1, then send Ray a note.