New Beginnings

I feel it's time for this blog to evolve.  It started with me as a bum (unemployed) drinking a lot of meh beer.  Over the past few months, I have upgraded significantly. 
I have some feelings that might be polarizing (I no longer drink anything made by AB-Inbev) but I also understand beer much more.  I'm starting to delve into the process (4 homebrew batches and counting) and the business (volunteering some time with a local microbrewery).  All in all I've stepped it up many notches.  So it's time for a new beginning.  I can't guarantee I'll keep up with this (I've proven to be a pretty piss-poor blogger so far), but I want to.  I have a journal of sorts with 35 new mini-reviews and I go out of my way to try new beers.  I'm probably averaging 5 or so a week.  I'm doing what I can to slide into the ranks of real brewers and beer fanatics.  We'll see what happens.

As an official kick off, here's a mini review of the second non-homebrew I've had a hand in producing.  Unfortunately it wasn't this batch, as it is delightful, but hopefully the next one will be equally as tasty.  It's a rye pale ale called Stimulator from a little micro-brewery called Pateros Creek (www.pateroscreekbrewing.com).  I got a growler as a thank you for some volunteer work and I've decided to knock it out tonight.  It's dry hopped with about 3 lbs/10 barrels and it shows, it's got a lovely, albeit understated hoppiness.  The rye is definitely there, but it's not overwhelming.  My particular growler waited 5 days before being reopened, and has therefore lost a bit of carbonation, but that's not a bad thing.  The light carbonation allows the flavors to come through crisper.  Slight citrus notes, light malts, slightly opaque and golden straw-like colors, wonderful aroma.  All in all a very well rounded beer.  This is the first PCBC beer I ever had (at a great beer dinner at Matador Grill) and it's still my favorite.  They make a great brown porter as well, and it's a close second, but my hop-kick is definitely leaning me towards Stimulator.

If you want to try this beer, you can get some at Matador and the Old Town Old Chicago (and perhaps some others, I can't remember at the moment).  I highly recommend it.  And with that, let's start anew and get this bastard rolling again!