Four Weeks of Wheat Beer

Before we have an official season change, from summer to fall, I better take the time to write about some of the summer ales I've enjoyed this year. I know I have made notes about three different wheat beers and I'm sure I can find a fourth to feature in; Four Weeks of Wheat Beer.

This week’s lucky subject is Satsuma Harvest Wit from Abita Brewery, Abita Springs, La. I purchased this one at Bruisin' Ales over in Asheville, N.C. and need to slow down long enough to search for it in the Knoxville beer market. I bet it is available at Bearden Beer Market, while supplies last.

This cloudy brew has a strong smell of citrus dominated by fresh lemon and the first sip is like carbonated lemonade. The light wheat malts offer a hoppy presence rather than the typical liquid weight of a barley malt. It's like a light beer from South of the Border but with more lemon like hop flavors.

The flavors and carbonation remain strong until the last sip. I suggest pairing this drink with fish, chicken or Alfredo pasta dishes. This is a great, fresh summer ale and I wanna go buy a case or twelve pack of Satsuma Harvest Wit.

I give Abita's Satsuma Harvest Wit a 4.75 out of 5 pints. (Cause they all can't be perfect.)

The 18th of the month is a good day for me

Or, in this case, the 16th of the month is a good time for me to throw some teases on the ol blog. Here's a random idea I've been thinking of using as a soapbox; three things symbolic of the decline of civilization as we know it, flip flops, lounge pants and wife-beater under shirts. Wearing any combination of these pieces of apparel indicates no intention to go to work or accomplish any task that might be considered labor.

I was thinking of this while driving to work today because these are very popular clothing items in E. Tennessee. While thinking and driving I passed by another icon of E. Tn. culture the discount beer and tobacco store. The tobacco must be cheap at those places because they always advertise brands with which I am unfamiliar, like Pyramid or Tahoe. I have occasionally visited one of these shops to get a six pack and a lottery ticket and their beer prices are higher than the price at the grocery store. This confuses me since the shops are called “Discount Beer and Tobacco.” So, I’m gonna ask them. I’ll look at the grocery store price and go to the discount shop, while buying my Miller Lite or Pabst Blue Ribbon I’ll ask the clerk about the discount. Then I’ll take a photo of the shop and share our Southern Culture with all.

On a more positive note, all the way around, I have three summer beers to write about and hope to start these posts next Monday.

Monday morning affirmation: Who needs Jack Handey?

I love my wife because; she doesn’t complain when I leave the garden shears in the kitchen over night.

52 Beers in 52 weeks project postponed.

It's been an exciting couple of weeks for me, I exercised my rights as a free agent and I'll now be pitching in the starting line-up for the Pittsburg Pirates. Ah, yeah, I did exercise my rights as a free agent but I'm still not making big league money... we have to live the dream. I've had a busy June and had a stretch earlier this month when I worked nineteen days in a row. I can now say that it was worth every minute. But, during my climb to the next rung of the 9 to 5 ladder my weekly beer reviews fell into obscurity if not shame and near destruction.

I do hope to jump start the Fanatical Recycling Times and type the notes for a few beers I've had and not shared with my loving audience. Keep the faith and I'll attempt to keep you all posted.

Old Hickory Brewery: Brown Mountain Light

So, it ain't Monday and I skipped last week, it's sad that my job prevents me from keeping a regular blog post schedule. Of course that's another story, anyone hiring in the beer industry?



I enjoyed this brew on tap at my favorite local pub Union Jacks. Brown Mnt. came out of the tap with a solid, foamy head. The barkeep stopped the pour to let the head settle down before she filled the glass. There are definitely some vanilla and buttery flavors in here. The color is a light gold, it is at least as light as an Anheusere Bush product and lighter and more transparent than Corona. Without a Budweiser for comparison, this is the lightest beer I have ever seen. I keep starring at the pint glass and determine that the appearance of this brew reminds of of a cider.

Just when I think that the vanilla may be a sensory mirage from the restaurant next door, I taste vanilla again in my next sip. Brown Mnt. Light is a great example of what a craft brewery can do with the American Pilsner style and remains reminiscent of the beers for Milwaukee and St. Louis. It remains refreshing to the last sip and ends with a bit more buttery taste.

I have to give Brown Mnt. a 4 out of 5 pints because it's just so darn light.

Finally, T-shirt Thursday & Deep Thoughts!

Two more Tees in an attempt to begin to ol' shirt count again. These are the only two comic book related shirts in my collection. I read Marvel comics nearly exclusively as an adolescent. Lately, I've been catching up on the backlog of DC comics which I never read in my youth but I'm not gonna run out and buy a DC related shirt. (It's not the best photo ever...)



32 shirts presented and 333 more to count.

More Deep Thoughts;

"If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let 'em go, because, man, they're gone." -- Jack Handey

I assume he is speaking of metal keys rather than figurative keys (ideas.) I never realized that J. H. used so many contractions?

Sierra Nevada Summerfest

This week I have to take a break from writing about our regional craft beers. I had intended to feature Highland Brewing Co's Cold Mnt. Winter Ale but I often enjoy a beer and fail to take notes while drinking it. Cold Mnt. Ale is a very complex plot of a beer and I wouldn't want to write about it based on my memory alone so I'll have some Sierra Nevada Summerfest and write while I drink.

I'm certain that the beverages of the Sierra Nevada Brewery need no introduction. I actually heard a fizzy release of gases when I opened this bottle of Summerfest. It pours with a tiny bit of white head which quickly vanishes. The beer in the bottle had a distinct pilsner aroma which I don't detect from the beer in the glass. On the tongue I detect more body than is found from mass market Am. Style Pilsners and more hops as well. I even detect a hint of wheat beer flavoring which doesn't surprise me.

Craft breweries have a talent for making very mellow light beers reminiscent of the Canadian Lager style. I can only describe these taste impressions as "fresh." That taste of freshness is the reason that Sierra Nevada Summerfest is another seasonal beer I'd like to have available all year.

This one is very difficult to grade, I don't wanna give all the beers an A+. But, I've been reviewing some of my favorite drinks; 5 out of 5 Summerfest pints!