The greatest season of the year

winemakers · November 05, 2007, 08:56:40 AM

White tail stands are set. Although, it has been so warm in NE Ohio that the rut isn't really fully underway yet. Soon though, the big boys will be nose to the ground searching for a little.............The new bow is sighted in and just humming in the broad heads! Those little razors are scary!

The grape juice has undergone the annual magical transformation. Several varieties underway. All came off the vine at 19 Brix or better. Total acidity less than 1.0, absolutely unheard of in eastern wineries. This may very well be the vintage of the decade. Primary fermentations underway or complete, and well into secondary/malolactic on the reds.

There simply is not a better time in the year!

mld

LilSmoker · November 05, 2007, 10:04:17 PM

I like the crisp sunny days at this time of year, and the lovely golds and browns of the leaves before they fall, and now the weather is getting cold over here, the smell of smoke whafting from the Bradley is very appetizing! ;)

Malc · November 06, 2007, 07:22:06 AM

I agree. Fall is great. Although in Ohio this year we may skip it and go directly to winter. Best seasonal beers come out in fall too. Pumpkin ales, Oktoberfests and the like.

iceman · November 06, 2007, 09:00:04 AM

Quote from: Malc on November 06, 2007, 07:22:06 AM
I agree. Fall is great. Although in Ohio this year we may skip it and go directly to winter. Best seasonal beers come out in fall too. Pumpkin ales, Oktoberfests and the like.

Kind of like us Malc, straight into winter. I love the crisp air though. The local brews are all out with the holiday ales. Man what a treat. :)

Gizmo · November 06, 2007, 09:12:53 PM

Sam Adams winter lager is out.
I am sampling some of the new son-in-laws purchase right now. I don't think it will all last before he gets back in December so I thought I'd help with keeping it from going bad by sampling it. 8)

Consiglieri · November 06, 2007, 11:39:28 PM

Our fall crush/fementation experiment seems to have worked out well too (primary and malolactic wise). We'll talk about that stuff in a year or two.

Blessings this season: turned out a fine 5 gallons of IPA, plus received a gift of not so fine red wine that will turn into nice barrel aged vinegar, or (if I'm not paying too much attention and a friend cooperates ;) ;)) a fine batch of fresh grappa.

But my favorite beer of the season is Anchor Brewery's "Our Special Brew." Any beer maker or fan who likes spiced seasonal beer ought to hunt this stuff down. It's great fresh, but with a few months age, is just phenomenal. My favorite each year (followed by their Liberty Ale, a fine hoppy ale). All from one of America's oldest, and smallest, independent breweries.

Habanero Smoker · November 07, 2007, 01:47:39 AM

Quote from: Gizmo on November 06, 2007, 09:12:53 PM
Sam Adams winter lager is out.
I am sampling some of the new son-in-laws purchase right now. I don't think it will all last before he gets back in December so I thought I'd help with keeping it from going bad by sampling it. 8)

While it is available, you need to check out their Octoberfest.

winemakers · November 07, 2007, 03:21:44 AM

Great Lakes Brewing has their Christmas Ale out. mmmmmmmmm

Malc · November 07, 2007, 05:54:51 AM

That is a good one winemakers. Also, if you can get it, Harpoon Winter Warmer is great if you like spiced holiday fare.

Consiglieri · November 07, 2007, 08:07:32 AM

I think I'm going to have to hunt down some of those beers you guys mention.

Malc · November 07, 2007, 08:56:40 AM

Quote from: Habanero Smoker on November 07, 2007, 01:47:39 AM
Quote from: Gizmo on November 06, 2007, 09:12:53 PM
Sam Adams winter lager is out.
I am sampling some of the new son-in-laws purchase right now. I don't think it will all last before he gets back in December so I thought I'd help with keeping it from going bad by sampling it. 8)
While it is available, you need to check out their Octoberfest.

Agreed. Also, if you can find the winter/holiday variety pack of Sam Addams, the Old Fezziwig is outstanding. I have never seen it anywhere except in the variety pack, though.

Duster · November 07, 2007, 01:46:24 PM

I have to agree with Hab, October fest Rocks!!!

Gizmo · November 07, 2007, 10:35:21 PM

I did have some Octoberfest in the fridge but it appears to have disappeared with the wedding crew. :)

coyote · November 07, 2007, 11:48:41 PM

The harvest of high speed beef has begun ! ;D The OBS is in the staging area...the pucks are piled..and
soon the smoke will be rollin'.......And the adult beverages ?.....They're always ready. ;D
I love this time of year !!!

Coyote

Malc · November 08, 2007, 05:25:40 AM

Since we were talking beer I figured this would be a good place to post this. Every other week I go to a bar in Youngstown, Oh called the Boxcar lounge. You can look it up on Pubcrawler.com. Anyway, they have sessions called "Beer School" where they bring in the guy from the local homebrew shop and we taste three different beers, discuss the styles. Occasionally they bring in brewers from some of the microbreweries. Penn Brewing and Sierra Nevada were there last "semester." It is a real good time. We had a beer last night from Rogue Brewing called Double B_A_S_T_A_R_D. 10% alcohol, but suprisingly not harsh at all and very tasty. Talk about a winter warmer :D. If you can get your hands on some, I would reccomend it. Kind of pricy though. One very large bottle, which probably holds about a six pack, is like $70+.

Malc