US Airways - July 2013 - (Page 26)

Wine & Dine inherently good nor bad; rather they are just one of many components of a fine brew. The emphasis on hops today reminds me of the way many California winemakers played with oak in the IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE’VE SEEN DOUBLE IPAS, TRIPLE IPAS, AND EVERY OTHER RIFF ON HOPPY BEER STYLES. —JT Thompson Smuttynose Brewery 1980s and ’90s. Oak aging of wine, like hops in beer, when used judiciously, can enhance the final product. But when used in excess to mask inferior wine, or inferior beer, you wind up with thin, watery, oaky wine, or thin, watery, hoppy beer. Neither is what I want to drink. Because hops are the trend du jour, every brewer is climbing on the bandwagon, and not all their efforts are successful. The secret here is balance. What I look for in a beer is that wonderful fresh, citrusy, almost floral aroma that hops bring, and just enough bitterness to complement a foundation of rich, nutty malt. But then there are hopheads, like Julia Herz. “A lot of beer lovers proudly call themselves hopheads, me being one of them,” she says. “I don’t demand ultimate balance. Sometimes I am truly pleased when I get something that’s aggressively bitter but still has the essence of malt in the background. I don’t have to have it fully in harmony.” Nick Passmore is a contributing editor. His website is nickonwine.com. WHAT ARE HOPS, AND WHY? 26 JULY 2013 usairwaysmag.com a refreshing balance to the sweetness of the malt. From that point on, most beer contained some hops. Fastforward to the 18th century, when Britain was expanding its presence in India. The thirsty Brits were disappointed to find that their beloved pale ale arriving from home had spoiled during the long sea voyage. So brewers in England responded by crafting beers with more hops to help preserve the brew — hence the birth of the hoppier India Pale Ale. Despite some heavy-handed brewing trends, I find a number of these hoppy beers quite satisfying. Here are a few. Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Lager Round and malty with subtle notes of chocolate and hazelnuts. Full Sail Original Amber Ale Rich and dry with a lingering tang on the long finish. Breckenridge Brewery Lucky U IPA Bright and fresh on the front palate with the floral hoppiness nicely balanced by the sweet, round malt. Lagunitas Censored Rich Copper Ale “Rich” is an apt descriptor for this creamy, fullflavored, deeply satisfying ale. Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA A decadent caramel richness is followed by an impossibly long, hop-filled finish. Brooklyn Brewery East India Pale Ale A mellow blend of rich malt and a lingering, punchy hoppiness. Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA The hop torpedo is a dry-hopping device that controls how much hop aroma is imparted into beer without adding bitterness. Sounds strange, but the finished product is super. Great Divide Brewing Co. Hercules Double IPA An appropriate name for this huge, and hugely powerful, muscular brew. Tröegs Perpetual IPA Light, fresh, and singing with a fruity effervescence. HOPS PHOTO BY GROS, PETR/STOCKFOOD MUNICH The hop plant is a floral vine closely related to cannabis — hence the 1950s term hophead. The meaning has evolved, and now hophead refers not to a smoker of weed, but to an aficionado of aggressively hopped beer. From the early days of agriculture until around 800 AD, hopless beer was a sweet, syrupy concoction prone to spoilage. Then an enterprising brewer discovered that hops added during the brewing process not only acted as a preservative, but also provided Hoppy but Happy http://www.nickonwine.com http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - July 2013

US Airways - July 2013
Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Hot Spots: Family-Friendly Vacations
Wine & Dine: The Other Portland
Great Tastes: Benjamin Steakhouse
Wine & Dine: A Crafty Measure
Diversions: Fresh as You Please
Great Tastes: Savor
Great Escapes: Now Resorts & Spas
Adventure: Climbing Mt. Rainier
Travel Feature: Grand Cayman, the Epicure's Island
US Airways: Top Dogs
Special Section: Northwest Arkansas
Golf: Primland, a Course Apart
Special Section: North Carolina High Country
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - July 2013

https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_december2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_november2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_october2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_september2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_august2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_july2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_june2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_la_cultureguide
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_may2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_april2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_march2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_february2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_january2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_december2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_november2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_october2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_september2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_august2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_july2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_june2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_may2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_april2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_march2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_february2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_january2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_december2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_november2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_october2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_september2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_august2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_july2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_june2012
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com