White Chocolate boom

A new location for Girls Night Out resulted in a big time score.  We switched it up from our normal 3-4 rotating spots and went to BoomBozz Taphouse in Gilbert Town Square.  I read an article about this place almost a year ago before it opened and have been meaning to go check it out but it slipped off my radar.  The Husband went one night while I was out of town with the kids and didn't give me many details -- I think he didn't want me to get jealous that he was out without the kids.  Or he wanted to keep it a secret.  Jerk.

White Chocolate Ale (4.7% ABV)
Sonoran Brewing Company
Scottsdale, Arizona

Aside from our brand-new waitress (who was in training and accompanied by a more experienced waitress), I have glowing things to say about this place.  The overly doughy Boston's Restaurant won't be missed - BoomBozz is definitely a welcome addition to the east valley suburbs.

Most importantly: the beer selection, both on tap and bombers/bottles, is awesome.  But don't worry...if you're the kind of person who is overwhelmed by craft beers with funky tap handles and bizarre names, they still have your standard watery domestics available as well.  Second, all the appetizers were good (for what it's worth, I highly recommend the goat cheese marinara dish) and reasonably priced.  And finally, there is a fantastic patio (with heaters) and tons of big screens inside to watch any/all the games.

I sampled a few different beers, but the most interesting beer of the evening was the White Chocolate Ale (which, according to their website is actually a wheat) from Sonoran Brewing Company.  When the waitress delivered my beer, I was surprised to see it wasn't dark.  Chocolate = dark in my mind. I didn't expect a light beer.  Ahhh the powers of marketing.  I tasted the beer and didn't get an overwhelming chocolate.  I drank some water and ate some plain fries.  I sipped it again.  Still a very subtle hint of chocolate.  I sniffed it -- AHHHHHHH HA!  After smelling it, the taste suddenly became very obvious to me.  It wasn't the same chocolate flavor as a candy bar or chocolate chip cookies.  It is an earthier and more natural version of chocolate.  It was perfect.


Recommendations : smell this beer before you taste it.  The smell is amazing.  It is obviously chocolate-related but the smell is so familiar and yet so unique that I was failing miserable to describe it without using the word chocolate (which seems like cheating).


Score : 5 out of 5 pint glasses on the unofficial Suburban Suds pint glass rating system. 

Homebrew 2: Poore Pumpkin Amber

If you are a regular blog reader (seriously, do I have any readers?), you'll know that I am a sucker for pumpkin beers.  I clean off the shelves in the store in early September when they begin to arrive and then hoard them in the guest room with hopes that I can make them last as long as possible.

This year I decided to solve that problem myself.  I made my own.  Unfortunately, I started my brew a bit later than I should have and then life happened and it sat in the fermenting bucket longer than I hoped so we are just now getting around to drinking it.

So I started with a standard recipe for an amber ale and then threw in a can of condensed pumpkin.  Yup, just tossed it right in there.  But after that I was a bit miffed on how to proceed.  I knew I needed the standard assortment of spices that accompany pumpkin, but how much?  And what ratio?!?  If I over-spice this, it will be gross ... like liquid potpourri.  If I under-spice this brew, it will just be lame.  As I stood there in my kitchen over the boiling mash drinking a beer of some sort (pumpkin, no doubt), I spotted a pie dish.  My brain thought of pumpkin pie.  Ironically, I am not a fan of pumpkin pie for the most part (it's the consistency -- not the flavor).  But as a kid, I would've died for a slice of pumpkin pie...especially my Gramma Poore's pumpkin pie.  So I dove into my recipe book and found her recipe for pumpkin pie.  I reviewed the ingredients and decided to spice my beer based on how Gramma spiced her pies.

After I tossed in the spices, the house smelled amazingly like pumpkin pie.  I crossed my fingers and sealed the lid on the fermenting bucket.  Nearly a month later, we bottled.  9 days later, we tasted...

Poore Pumpkin Amber (~6% ABV)
Suburban Suds Brewery
Chandler, Arizona

HOLY AWESOMENESS.  Is this really possible?  It's thin and clean.  Smooth and spicy.  It's pumpkin, but not in your face pumpkin like some brews.  It's spicy but, in my opinion, not over-spiced.  It needs a few more days in the bottles to add some additional carbonation, but wow, I am excited to have more.

It seems like only a few years ago she was sitting at the table in our house in Virginia stirring her world famous fudge with a wooden spoon.  I recently found an old stuffed animal (dog) that she gave me ... the one that if you wind it up, he wags his tail and plays "How much is that doggie in the window".  I remember when she used to come stay with us at our house in Maryland, I would come into her room in the morning with the dog all wound up and let it go right in her face so that the tail would tickle her nose.  She always laughed at me.  Now that I'm an adult, I am surprised she never grabbed it from me and threw it at me -- I know I would have.


Cheers to you Gramma Poore!!! You are a beautiful and amazing woman and I want to thank you (again) for everything you have taught me over the years.  I love you so much.  


Recommendations: pour into a glass and take a few sips.  After a few minutes when the beer has warmed, take a few more.  Let me know what you think. 

Score: 4.5 out of 5 pint glasses on the unofficial Suburban Suds pint glass rating system, but I may be biased.

If I was near you today, I'd give you a big hug ... just like this.

Seven years ago you helped me make my first ever Christmas turkey when you came to Arizona for Christmas.
My boyfriend brought a dozen red roses to dinner to win you over. 
I guess he did since I ended up marrying him three years later.

Thank you for always loving and supporting me.