Dualism Optimism

Over the last couple of years, I've taken to submitting a few of my homebrewed beer to various AHA / BJCP-sanctioned competitions. I haven't done this with the intent to win anything, per se, but I thought it would be a good venue for getting an objective opinion about my beers and maybe some helpful tips for improvement.

I suffer - as I imagine many homebrewers do - from a little bit of tunnel vision when it comes to my own beer. I suppose I'm too close to it, having brewed it myself, but it's more difficult for me to evaluate my own beer accurately than another person's.

Anyway, I've received some very valuable feedback on everything I've entered thus far. I highly recommend homebrewers who are just getting in to the rhythm of brewing their own beer to seek out as many objective opinions as possible. It will only improve your brewing skills over time. Particularly, "official" homebrew comeptitions provide a reliable source for valuable feedback that is really hard to come by otherwise.

Occasionally, too, it's nice to have your efforts rewarded/reinforced when you happen to place with one of your brews! I recently sent my 'Dualism' - a particularly strong (9.8% ABV) Baltic Porter - to the 2nd Annual Strong Beer Competition in Georgia. Much to my genuine surprise, it took 1st place in its category (specialty beer). Then, to my complete amazement, it took an over all 3rd place in the Best of Show round. You can see the comeplete competition results here.

Because this particular beer was oaked in Chambourcin-infused American oak, and it is a really high alcohol beer, I didn't enter it in its own classification. I debated this one, because Dualism is a style-buster of sorts, but it appears I made a good choice in retrospect. Bottom line, even though the beer itself performed far better than I'd have imagined it would, I still received very good advice from the judges that means more to me that a couple of ribbons.

Don't get me wrong, though ... the ribbons are nice too!

Holiday Beer Dinner - Kindling Spirits

This has already been announced on various social networking sites, but I thought it might be wise to offer a head's up here as well. Kindling Spirits, along with beerphilosopher.com, will be hosting a special Holiday beer dinner on the evening of November 16th, 2009.

The dinner will consist of a multitude of holiday-inspired dishes (TBD) accompanied by a selection of five special seasonal beers that are sure to get your holiday spirit in high gear.

Additional hard-to-find and seasonal beers will, of course, be available for purchase at Kindling that night.

Here's our tentative beer lineup for the night of the 16th:

Sand Creek Cranberry Special Ale (ale brewed w. cranberries) 5.2% ABV

Anderson Valley Winter Solstice (spiced winter warmer) 6% ABV

August Schell Snowstorm (Baltic porter) 6% ABV

Avery Old Jubilation (Winter Warmer) 8% ABV (Updated!)

Brasserie A'Chouffe N'Ice Chouffe (spiced Belgian dark strong ale) 10% ABV

This dinner is RSVP-only, and you can reserve your spot(s) by stopping in at 1420 Main St. Carterville or by calling (618) 985-2226. Tickets are $30 per individual and the dinner will begin shortly after 6:30 PM. There will also be live music to help set the mood, compliments of The Swamp Tigers.

Our beer dinners at Kindling routinely sell out, so be sure to RSVP right away if you're interested in attending. Tell 'em the Beer Philosopher sent ya!

Cheers!

She Found Good Ale

Marika Josephson - a beer enthusiast and transplant from NY - paid a visit to Kindling Monday night for our weekly beer tasting madness. If her latest post on She Brews Good Ale is any indication, she had a good time! I'm always excited to hear about people in Southern Illinois who are excited about beer. Marika takes her passion a couple of steps further by blogging about it on the afore-mentioned blog and as the new Beer Examiner for the Carbondale area on examiner.com. She's even begun homebrewing of late.

Please be sure and drop her a line and support her efforts. The more interest and enthusiasm this region has, the better the beer will be. Granted, we're not a metro market down here, but getting out from under the shadow of the ABInBev giant sure feels pretty good to me.