Peterbilt Shandy

Sometimes beertography doesn't need a lot of words.  Today is one of those days.

Summer Shandy (4.2% ABV)
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Special thanks to Steven B Schwisow Construction for helping me with this one...

Trippy Trippel

Taught my first 30 minute core class and 60 minute spin class back-to-back today at the gym where I have been working since late January.  Wooooooot wooooooooot!  I've been teaching spin classes since March 2012 but adding in the the core class was new to me.  I was overly prepared and exceptionally nervous (mainly because there was a huge wall of mirrors directly behind my ass) but things went fine.  Thankfully most of the people who showed up for class were faces I had seen before.  And I heard multiple grunts and groans throughout the class, so that means that at the very least, I prepped a good workout yesterday while sitting outside by the pool drinking one of my favorite styles of beer...

Cheers.

Trippel Belgian-Style Ale (7.8% ABV)
New Belgium Brewing Company
Fort Collins, Colorado

I feel like I've been giving New Belgium a lot of attention - but please know that it is only because I bought the Folly Pack last weekend and it's what I happen to be drinking this week...

Homebrew 5: Terrible Twos IPA

I am not a big fan of IPAs.  Sometimes they're tolerable but most of the time there's just too much going on for me to enjoy them like I would other varieties of beer.  But, The Husband loves them.  So since he's been so supportive of me in my various endeavors over the past few years (changing careers, brewing, etc.), I thought it would be nice to brew something for him.  And then I thought it would be appropriate to try to time it for tapping at my daughter's 2nd birthday party because, lets face it, no one really wants to go to a two year old birthday party.  But if you tell them that there will be beer provided, suddenly going to the park with a bunch of young kids all hopped up on sugar running around the park or up and down the playgroud equipment repeatedly screaming "mommy mommy mommy look at meeeee" seems much more bearable.

Unfortunately, my timing was a little off.   This batch took a bit longer than expected during the bottle-conditioning phase.  Afterall, this is only my 5th batch of homebrew so I'm still learning the ropes.  The Husband and I tested it the night before the party and it was VERY heavy on the malt flavor and still a bit flat.  So we scrapped that idea and went with a giant case of very very cold Coors Light instead.

Yes, I realize that I write a beer blog and I just uttered the words Coors Light.  But truth be told, if I'm going to drink a watery domestic on a hot day in the park, I prefer Coors Light in a can.  Argue if you wish, but that's the way we roll around here.  If you no likey, then feel free to bring me something better to drink.

We let the beer sit another week and tested again -- VOILA!  The overwhelming malt flavor had dissipated and the hop flavor was loud and clear without being too loud.  The carbonation was just right and once again, I was proud of my brew.  Turns out Mr. Bear liked it too.  And he has a very discerning palate.

Terrible Twos IPA (~7% ABV)
Suburban Suds Brewery
Chandler, Arizona

Recommendations:  as the mother of a now two year old, I am glad this one turned out to be a slightly heavier hitter than the others.  I suspect that until we have cleared the 2 and 3 year old phase, I will need to have a stockpile of beers with higher alcohol content to enjoy each night after the kid goes to bed.

Lawnmower Springboard

New Belgium has had a number of spring/summer seasonal beers since 2004.  I start with 2004 because I was solidly 21 by then and able to buy my own beer ... except that I didn't have a real job yet.  Working as a part time cashier at Staples while going to school didn't leave much money for GOOD beer.  So late-2004 delineates the point in my life when I got my first job and moved west where I was introduced to the wide world of real beer rather than hopping from apartment party to apartment party drinking free Milwaukee's Best - Light.  Barf.

If you ask me (which I realize you didn't, but you are reading my blog, so you kind of did), New Belgium has decided to mass produce the wrong ones.  Loft was born as a seasonal brew in 2002 and although I don't recall how long it was out, but I do know that it was out when I met The Husband in early 2005.  We both loved it.  Skinny Dip and Mothership Wit were released in 2006.  Mighty Arrow Pale Ale came out in 2007.  Springboard came out as a seasonal in 2008.  Then Somersault in 2011 and Dig Pale Ale in 2012, both of which I thought were not as good as Loft, Mothership Wit or Springboard.

New Belgium has brought back Springboard, but only in the Folly Packs.  The return of Springboard means that it will replace Dig in the Folly Pack.  Dig will still be available for purchase in 6-packs.

Springboard is a delicious summer beer - a "Lawnmower Beer" if you will - crisp and clean and refreshing with what tastes like a bit of sour fruit (to me, it tastes a bit like lemon).  

Springboard Belgian Pale Ale (6.2% ABV)
New Belgium Brewery
Fort Collins, Colorado 

Recommendations:  if you liked Springboard when it came out in 2008, you'll like it again.  But you better buy it soon because according to the New Belgium website, Springboard will only be available in the Folly Packs during February, March and April 2013.  Toss a few in the beer fridge in the garage and then go mow the lawn.  Grab a cold one, pop the top, kick your feet up and sit back and watch your grass grow.

*All bottle logos above copied from www.fermentedlychallenged.com