Harrisburg, PA Beer Adventure

Me and my father took a relatively spontaneous trip down to the state Capitol that, in my book, has a fighting chance to be Pennsylvania's beer capitol.

Calm down, Philly... I'm just joking.











Feeling a little hungry, we decided that the Appalachian Brewing Company would be a great place to start with some lunch and brew. We enjoyed a pint of Jolly Scot Scottish Ale while the busy brewpub worked on retrieving the necessary resources to construct us a sampler tray. We got some awesomely crafted meals from and then got our sampler. It included the Purist Pale Ale, Mountain Lager, Water Gap Wheat, Jolly Scot Scottish Ale [It tasted familiar...], Pennypacker Porter [in lieu of a Susquehanna Stout shortage], Grinnin' Grizzly Spiced Ale, Trail Blaze Organic Brown Ale, and Hoppy Trails IPA. All in all, we walked out with a couple of glasses per guy and a vanished appetite for a very reasonable price.

A stone's throw away, we made the minute-long treck to Tröegs Brewing Company. It was the first time I've been there since they've remodeled their modest giftshop into a massive bar. They've also included the convenience of shopping for 22 ounce bombers, 6 packs, and 12 pack varieties into their already growler, case, and keg sales. Not to mention the fact that they are not able to serve pints and sampler trays for very fair prices.





I got a 6 beer sampler tray of their flagship brews and the Scratch #10- a beautiful Belgian-style Triple.



They have displayed their abundance of fan-submited bottlecap artwork for conversation pieces as well as some windows that show the brewery in action. During my visit, they were currently brewing the Dreamweaver Wheat Ale.

I wholeheartedly recommend a trip to the area and I look forward to sharing my beer adventures to other worthy beer communities.

B-Rad's Blog Gets Playlist

Check it out down to the right.

It'll have all of your new favorite bands playing on it. I'll update it periodically to keep things fresh.

I dig a lot of really different shit, as you'll see. For this generation of the player, I have everything from Indie Rock to Hip Hop to Metal. All very enjoyable.

More beer columns coming soon...

Tröegs' Mad Elf

Hands down, Tröegs' Mad Elf is my favorite seasonal beer-- let alone my favorite Winter brew. Harnessing such a controlled collision of toasty chocolate malts, fresh sour cherries and honey, a subtle kiss of hop balance, and an exotic, spicy yeast, it is truly a unique holiday brew to share with any and all who can appreciate quality flavor and culinary experimentation.

With an initial sensation of spicy yeast, this brew's main character of tactful fruit, honey and roast chocolate barley will leave a lasting impression on your palate.

Clocking in at 11% ABV, this deep, ruby red ale will warm the spirit of even the coldest Ebenezer Scrooge. Mad Elf has been gaining popularity and demand in its native commonwealth of Pennsylvania; provoking brewers and brothers Trogner, Chris and John, to increase production of the jolly nectar over the last two years as well as create the 3 liter special edition bottles of the phenomenon that debuted for the 2006 holiday season.

As well as creating a unique experience for craft beer enthusiasts, I would credit Mad Elf to inspire those faint of hops to explore the vast world of beer variety.

Procrastinators beware: Mad Elf being a seasonal beer. I wouldn't expect to see it around much after the early weeks of January. Moreover, the month of December has proved in the past to be one very scarce of the Elf; especially in time of need.

My suggestion? Stock up! Buy a case (at least) and even if you don't utilize all of them by the holiday's end, these are beautiful beers to cellar and enjoy all year round. And at 11% ABV, they're not going anywhere but up.

Happy Holidays,
Brad Beneski

Early Christmas Gift

After a Christmas gift hint that went from my girlfriend, Danielle, to my mother, and then to my grandmother— I've been given an early gift for Christmas.
I have been meaning to start fooling around with a guitar for when I'm feeling a little musically bored and can't go and slam on my drums.
I didn't just receive any guitar— I was given my late grandfather's 6-string acoustic that I would always play when I went to visit him and even now after he has passed.
Memories of seeing him right across the room where I would pick up the guitar and talk with him are now mine to keep on a more physically tangible level. He would always love to play this guitar for his children and grandchildren and even the kids who attended my grandparent's daycare.

Early in my music career, my grandfather was always supportive and helpful to me and my dreams. He would joke about gimmick bands that I should start including an idea dubbed "The Flaming Defecators" where we would be clad in crimson red underpants for easy accessibility to light our fecal matter on fire for extra stage presence.

And in honor of my friend and grandfather, I will do my best to learn "In Heaven There Is No Beer", even though I hope the song is less than factual.

Thanks for the guitar Poppy,
Brad

Beer Myths: "Dude, this beer is skunked!"

By: Brad Beneski, Penn State University

It’s happened to everybody at one point or another. Good times are being had by all and like a gunshot, the anticipated first sip of a beer brings even the happy-go-luckiest of beer drinkers to their knees as they exclaim a seven-letter word that is worth a four-letter word in its own right: “Skunked!”

However, the proclamation is currently in an abusive relationship with those who don’t know any better. For instance, did you know that cans of beer cannot ever possibly become skunked? Also, did you know that beer going from chilled to warm to chilled also has nothing to do with skunked beer? That is more a matter of oxidation that can also lend unpleasant flavors. For example, beer left in the trunk of a car in the blistering sun of a record-setting July day is certainly a great way to add wet cardboard flavors caused by oxidation. However, that is certainly not how beer becomes skunked.

Firstly, I feel it imperative to explain exactly why the condition of perished beer is called skunked beer. Skunked beer is scientifically known as light-struck beer. Hops, one of beer’s four main ingredients, is a flower that contains a molecule called “isohumulones”. These molecules, when broken down, are susceptible to merge with sulfur components in the beer to help accentuate that smells that reminds you of a skunk’s spray. In fact, the makeup of this final result is pretty similar to the exact liquid that comes out of the skunk’s ass. Cheers!

What does this mean to you? Like mentioned above, canned beer, due to it being impenetrable by ultraviolet rays cannot become light-stuck. Also, the color of the bottle isn’t only something that makes you look mature and sexy to girls. In fact, green and clear glass protects your beer just as well as it would protect your eyes; not at all. Brown bottles protect your beer the best out of all colors. But that doesn’t mean that brown bottles are invincible. You still need to protect your beer from the light. Depending on the velocity of the light, bottles of beer can become damaged in as little as a under a minute.

To protect yourself from such instances of skunkification, a term that I propose to have admitted into Merriam-Webster, here are two practices that you should make second nature:

1. Avoid buying beer that is on display in the sun’s reach.
It would be a good idea to pass up on beer cases that expose the bottles to the ultra-violet rays that will destroy it. Also, brightly lit coolers are culprits in skunking beer; reach into the back and be cautious of this.

2. Don’t drink Heineken or Corona.
Firstly, because the careless packaging into lightly-colored bottles is actually detrimental to the beer’s safety. Secondly, because they blow.

Kill O'Reilly: Best Rap Song Ever (Video's Not Too Shabby, Either)

Welcome To The World Of Craft Beer!

By: Brad Beneski, Penn State University

Admission: an open-mind. Okay, and maybe a couple extra bucks.

According to recent studies that I have completely fabricated to have the appearance of an expert analysis,100 fake people were asked what they thought of when they heard the phrase “college student," and 84 replied “cheap beer”.

Those condescending, make-believe bastards!

The truth is that college students are at least one of the following (usually both): broke and looking to get drunk. Naturally—no pun intended— this would lead the poor saps purchasing and consuming the usually suspects in bulk; Natural Light, Keystone Light, Milwaukee’s Best— most of which bear very fun nicknames and the option of an Ice version.

And you know what, who can blame you? A lot of the time, you’re buying beer for a party (i.e. Other people are drinking the booze anyhow). But what I suggest isn’t to go and buy the good brew for ragers, keggers or whatever the hell they’re being called in your time zone. I’m calling for a change in your beverage for those little urges that you refuse to call alcoholism. You know, you’re bored in your apartment and nothing’s going on. Wouldn’t it be great to have a couple of worthwhile, craft brews to savor and enjoy? Well, here are a few easy steps toward becoming what I would like to refer to as “Beer Conscious”.


Step One:
Try everything you can get your hands on.

There are hundreds of what the Beer Conscious know as Beer Styles out there. Trying out different breweries’ takes on different styles will allow you to figure out what you have a taste for. The best advice that I can give you in this aspect would be to not blow off a style of beer after only having it once or twice. You may hate Green Flash’s West Coast IPA [India Pale Ale] and love Dogfish Head’ 60 Minute IPA. Moreover, you may hate them both upon tasting them, but then grow to appreciate them and eventually the style itself after gaining an understanding of what the brewer was going for when they created the recipe.


Step Two:
After you get a grip on styles and breweries you enjoy, embrace them.

There’s nothing like knowing what you want when you belly up to one of America’s finer beer bars. The selection at some places is massive and can be intimating at times. If you know that you like Stouts or Belgian-styles, either scope out the menu for such a beverage or request that the bartender pick something for you with your preference in mind. For instance, if you’ve been rather enjoying bitter beers like IPAs or Barleywines, tell the bartender that you would like for him or her to pick out a good bitter beer for you. This will often times result in you getting what you want, not to mention forge a trust with the bartender who will take you under their wing in the world of beer, exposing you to new styles and better yet…free samples.

Step Three:
Know when and where to draw the line between craft beer and swilling.

A very complicated aspect of drinking better beer is the culture of which you automatically become a part. The Beer Conscious tend to frown upon those who indulge in the better beers in life simply to catch a buzz; however, some craft beers are like loud-mouthed, obnoxious, role-playing hookers: making you feel so good and letting you abuse them for some extra cash. They are quite efficient in alcohol content and oh-so tasty. So, becoming overly inebriated can happen unbeknownst to you— and this is fine. My whole theory is that when I can’t feel girl’s slapping my face anymore, I know its time for me to go to another bar more appreciative of my candor and likelihood to display my latest meal. From here on out, I’ll maintain my man muscles with a couple two-three pints of PBR or some Jack & Cokes. This way, I am able to appreciate craft brewing for a good while and then pack up the trouble I’m sure to cause and take it somewhere else. After all, most of your better beer bars are hardly ideal to find a good one-night stand— take that to the dives.


Step Four:
Promote your discoveries to your friends and family.

After you drop your proverbial testicles in the craft beer scene, it’s time you find yourself a protégé or two. I would say that my favorite thing about craft beer is being able to enjoy it with others and educate them just as you had been introduced in the past. It is important not to be what is known as a Beer Snob. These individuals stick their noses up and attempt to humiliate those who are less inclined in craft beer. Snobs can be demeaning to both those who are completely ignorant to craft and admitted novices alike; which is anything but helpful to the beer world at whole. My best advice would be to explain to others the same reasons that hooked you into craft beer and offer samples and experiences with them. A good way to introduce a friend would be a local beer festival or tasting— this will help them develop an understanding of styles that they like. Hey! That’s what you did, too!

I hope this helped you in any beer-related endeavors that you have submitted curiosity toward. And remember, one of the most important things to remember in the craft beer world is to patronize your local better beer producers and establishments!

Have a beer question? Brad can absolutely answer it.
Email questions, comments, etc. to Brad at Bmb238@psu.edu

*Originally ran in Boosh Magazine [and at www.BooshMagazine.com]