In the cellar, thinking about America
I've never been to America. Fortunately, American hops have come to me. St Peter's Brewery have produced a golden ale using Amarillo hops for Sainsbury's beer competition. Two bottles came my way from the CEO, Colin Cordy, via Dave at The Jerusalem Tavern. Their arrival in my grubby, beer-stained hands also coincides with the USA's Independence Day.
Friday is always mad busy here in the pub (I'd be worried if it wasn't). Nonetheless I've just found time to grab a breather in the cellar - the most tranquil place in the building - and crack open a beautiful, flask-shaped bottle of the latest effort from St Peter's Hall. The gloriously fresh aroma is packed with citrus fruit. It's pale, clear as a bell, and crowned with a coarse head that subsides disappointingly. The carbonation's great, sparkling on the tongue. It's fermented with champagne yeast, which might explain the very clean taste. There's a creamy body that reminds me of a first-class pilsner. The hops do bite upfront, but the aftertaste is long, gentle and fruity. This is excellent.
I need to go back upstairs. Madam will be frantic.
10 comments:
Hey! I am having a St. Pete's Golden ale this evening to bridge the US to Canada to British issues that pop up today. But I also had a sweet mint julep with a rather good bourbon. And a pizza. It gets a little fuzzy these days.
What a twat. Can't drive, never been to America, but knows everything there is to know. Ponce.
anon - who gives a sh*t? He never said he knows everything, it's just good stuff to read. Re St Peter's ales I wish they were easier to get round here, and them bottles are real purdy..
Someone has a chip on their shoulder, eh?
It is a little strange that I've never been to America - I blame my fixation with Italy.
As for not driving: I'm rather proud of that.
Hey Stonch,
You really should visit America soon, exchange rate is great just now and it is one heck of a country. There is more to life than Clerkenwell!
Pete.
All my experience with champagne yeast is it is anything but clean , it tends to give a rather phenolic Belgian character to beer.
And for the record I cant drive nor have I been to the States.
Dude, I can't believe you've never been to the States. It's so cheap. We drink a lot of crap beer, but there's a lot of good stuff to be found.
Getting sentimental over PBRs and Old Styles right now.
Anon, what's up? People ignoring your erudite writing in favour of other, less-travelled whippersnappers'?
The first time I had Amarillo hops was in the Crouch Vale Amarillo, which I mistakenly thought was named after the Texan town. They were spicy and estery and I couldn't get enough of it. I will have to try the St. Peter's version.
There is amazing beer in America-- if you do go I lobby for the Pacific Northwest, where the beer is spectacular and the people are friendly and the weather is just like England.
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