Monday, June 11, 2012

Beer to Beat the August Heat

Time to get a couple beers in the fermenter for the brutal August I'm expecting.  I'm thinking of some new (but not risky) takes on classic summery ales.

What about a Blonde Ale (go here, click "6B" on page 2), brewed with apricots?

What about a Kolsch (go here, click "6C" on page 2), or maybe a Weizen, (15A, same page), brewed with honey?  Note:  the honey doesn't add sweetness; it ferments completely.  It'll add some alcohol, and some flavors of the type of honey it is (organey from orange blossoms, floral from clover, etc), as well as add a bit of body to the beer.  So the Kolsch won't be so lightly watery and the weizen will be a tad creamier.

This Blonde Ale, which is normally this sort of lighter, grainy concoction, brewed with apricots is really exciting me.  I love Dogfish Head ApriHop, what with its complex balance of hoppy IPA and nectary-sweet apricots.  Really a great beer.  But a Blonde Ale is normally so...so...boring.  I think apricots, as mildly sweet as they are, will add a really nice sweetness to this otherwise grainy doldrum without overpowering it.  Apricots aren't as strong as blueberries or raspberries or cherries.  They're really mild, so I feel like I'm not gonna be brewing "fruit juice with beer in it."

Note - some examples:  New Holland has a fine Kolsch-style ale called Full Circle.  My favorite weizen is Hacker-Pschorr Weisse.  And a passable Blonde Ale is either Fuller's Summer Ale or Saugatuck Oval Beach Blonde.

What says the crowd?

Week 3 of Crossfit training.  I train 3 days, take a day off to stretch and do yoga, 3 on 1 off, etc.  Today's Workout of the Day is called The Filthy Fifty:

  1. 50 box jumps
  2. 50 jumping pullups (start in a squat, jump into pull up, drop, land in squat)
  3. 50 kettlebell swings, 30#
  4. 50 walking lunges
  5. 50 push-press (standing shoulder/upper-chest press), 45#
  6. 50 back extensions
  7. 50 burpees
  8. 50 jump-rope reps
  9. Run 800m
Hell yeah.

6 comments:

  1. Does 11 minutes of intense angry masturbation count as a workout? If so, Rickey has quite the regimen established for himself.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 11 intense minutes?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes 11. Give or take. What of it?

    ReplyDelete
  4. If your heart rate is above 160 for 11 minutes, I believe it approaches a workout.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So a heartbeat monitor should be worn during this activity?

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think your heart rate must be elevated for 20 minutes to reach aerobic exercise. Just saying, most dudes won’t be training for a marathon with this sort of exercise regimen.

    As far as a heart rate monitor, I think it is important to consult a physician prior to engaging in any sort of exercise routine.

    ReplyDelete