Monday Rant: Loose Speech

A few weeks ago I received a text from my girlfriend (whom is quite beer illiterate and admits this) that asked "what does the word imperial mean when referring to a beer?"

I've never claimed to be any form of a beer expert, but I actually had to consult my Oxford Companion to Beer for the answer to this due to seeing the word "Imperial" thrown onto just about every other beer name out there. Otherwise, you'd think it would come to you a lot quicker since you've drank plenty of beers coined as "Imperial."

After finding the entry in my Oxford Companion, I simply replied that it means that a beer named as such is intended to be set apart and bolder than others of the same type.

That night I went on thinking about (over a few beers, of course) how that enables anyone, even homebrewers that name their beers, to tell others that their brew is an "Imperial." I thought more of this subject yesterday after coming across something referring to an Imperial Pilsner. Something I've never heard of.

When i used to think of an Imperial, the first thinks to my head were darker brews such as stouts and porters. Some darker pumpkin beers could also be included. Now, it seems as if it's just a loose terms casually thrown around as a marketing ploy. Though, I could be wrong.

If an Imperial beer means that it's just bolder and set apart from its brethren then the circle of anything by said name is limitless. Is it not?

 

Brew Links: Week of 10/25

If you follow my Twitter feed you've possibly come across this link already, but I came across an interesting piece about pairing candy apples with different types of brews via CraftBeer.com. I never thought of even considering to pair a beer with a candy apple.

I hate to admit it, but there are other applications out there other than Untappd. I'm a junkie for checking into which beers I'm drinking. here's an article on a few more beer-related apps for craft beer folk.

I recently received the Oxford Companion to Beer as a birthday gift from my girlfriend. I was surprised to come across a link that said the companion had numerous errors in it! Head over to Zythofile for more on that mystery.

Pumpkin beer season in in closure and winter warmers are not hitting the market. I'm still in the mood for pumpkin and love the pumpkin pie essence in many of the brews. Serious Eats has a nice piece on pumpkin beers that don't remind you of pie at all.

Benjamin Franklin's Booze

Photo via Wikipedia

Since I posted my review of Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce, it's only fitting (since I'm a history geek) that I delve into a little bit of history gallivanting concerning Poor Richard himself, Benjamin Franklin.

Good God, was there something that he did that wasn't productive for the future of this country and the way we live our lives. He was among the many of our Founding Fathers in bringing on the American Revolution, he was the very first Postmaster General, invented bifocals and had a massive influence in the development of meteorology.

Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce is supposedly based on a recipe for spruce ale that belonged to Franklin. After checking under Franklin's entry in the Oxford Companion to Beer I learned two things. Franklin's first published book (as he did make good use of a printing press) had sections in it about three barley types: two row, six row and winter. Also, while he was ambassador to France he once returned to the colonies with a recipe on how to make spruce ale. Possibly the very one that Yards Brewing Company used in the brewing of Tavern Spruce, or at least close to the original.

Franklin was a fan of beer, this is true. Unfortunately, for most of you that like to sport a certain quoted t-shirt he liked wine more. Yes, that famous quote of Franklin's about how beer exists to make us happy possibly wasn't even said by him. in fact, it's taken from a letter to one of his personal friends in which he said something about wine. For more on that, head on over to Beervana. Aside from all that, he was a beer drinker as well. he also knew the importance of beer in our society.