The Latest Tapped: Christmas Beer Edition

Yes, it is that time of the year again!  For restaurants not located on a lake or in a summer tourist spot, this time of the year is one of the busiest.  Christmas is one of my favorite days of the year, but a close second might be the day that we tap our first Christmas beer at work.  Christmas beers are usually released in early November, and are typically strong and spiced with a variety of different ingredients.

I would not be surprised if Christmas beer is a master brewers’ favorite beer to brew either, as most of them have a distinct different flavor and come with their own creativity.

We just recently tapped our first few Christmas beers at O’Connor’s… Here is my input on them:

Great Lakes Christmas Ale

Great Lakes Brewery is a pretty well-known brewery out of Cleveland, Ohio.  You might have heard of their Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald beer before, which is by far their staple.  The brewery was established in 1986 and didn't gain popularity until the 2000's, when they grew exponentially… Slow and steady might win the race when it comes to beer.  I must say, they do an exceptional job brewing.  

Taken by: Scott Swartz

On to the fun stuff about this great craft.  Coming in at 7.5% ABV and 30 IBU (International Bitter Units), this is a medium-bodied very drinkable slightly bitter beer.  It starts with a lot of spice and honey, and finished with a hint of ginger.  This beer will definitely sneak up on you fast… its almost TOO smooth.  Well done Great Lakes Brewing!

New Belgium Accumulation

As stated in earlier recent blog posts, New Belgium brewery is very well-known for its beer by the name of "Fat Tire."  I'd have to say this is probably my favorite beer that New Belgium Brews.  

Taken by: Scott Swartz

As a white lighter IPA coming in at 6.2% ABV, this beer is another one of those "creepers"…   Drink with caution.  This beer is very lemony and citrusy, it is a sucker for your taste buds.  It gives an aroma of grapefruit as well… very drinkable.  

 Frankenmuth Christmas Town Ale

Known as Michigan's Original Craft Brewery, Frankenmuth is dedicated to brewing exactly what the consumer wants: quality American craft beer.  Established in 1862, they are one of the oldest breweries in Michigan.  

Taken by: Scott Swartz

Coming in at a 6% and 28 IBU's, the flavor of this Christmas beer is unlike any other: sweet, hoppy, and fruity.  With notes of caramel, toffee, cinnamon and nutmeg, this beer is very complex.  Although it is very popular, it is not too exciting for me… there is almost too much going on in your mouth.  Definitely not one I would go out of my way for a second of.  Don't let my personal judgment steer you away, its just not my style.  

Now that you know a little something about Christmas beer, its time to go try for yourself!  

Enjoy.

   

Disclosure: I am not being compensated for any information I post to this blog.

The Importance of Draft Line Cleaning

Have you ever woken up with a splitting headache the morning after you think you had too much to drink the night before?  Aside from the fact that you might have actually had too much to drink, if you were drinking draft beer there is a good chance that the restaurant/bar you went to doesn’t clean their draft beer lines; or, maybe they just don’t do it often enough.

Many restaurant managers/owners underestimate the importance of getting their draft beer lines cleaned regularly.  Depending on the length of the lines, they should be cleaned every 2-3 weeks. Not only can dirty beer lines deter the quality of draft beer, it also has a major effect on the taste as well.  Bacteria in beer is very common and easy-happening… Although it is not necessarily a significant hazard to human health, its effect is very noticeable. 

Below is a picture example of a dirty beer line:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/126100858293097067/

Often times yeast, mold, and beer stone will build up in the lines, as you can see in the picture above.  Beer stone basically is calcium-oxalate deposits and is a by-product of brewing beer.  As stated above, if the lines aren't cleaned regularly, this beer stone will build up and eventually prevent steady flow of beer, or even end up in your guests beer glass.

Below is a picture of a well-maintained beer line that is cleaned every 2 weeks:

Photo Taken by: Scott Swartz

There are many different methods to cleaning beer lines, all of which should be done professionally by a beer line cleaning company.  One way that company's do it is pressurized cleaning-that of which a chemical is forced through the lines using CO2.  

The most popular style of cleaning is re-circulating line cleaning.  In this style of cleaning, a motorized pump is used to push water with chemicals through the beer lines.  It is then flushed with water without any chemicals in it.  If you are looking for a company, Micromatic is a good one to use-they are very well-known in the industry.  

Serving great-tasting clean beer will keep your customers coming back for more!





Disclosure: I am not being compensated for any information I post to this blog.