Beer VS Coffee

Yes... this is happening, your brain on BEER vs COFFEE. Over the last year and a bit I made the huge switch to NO alcohol and in the process because even more of a coffee snob and addict.

I think the connection between alcohol and creativity is valid, but not necessary. I have been massively creatively blocked for months, but it seems that love, exercise and patience made have cut through the block.

Without further ado... straight from my new favourite coffee blog I Love Coffee

Bacon Fest - you have been warned...

 

Great write up by capetownmagazine.com here

 

Tickets here

One year on

Sharona and I have something to celebrate today. A year ago we took possession of the flat and what an adventure it has been.

A year ago... to now.

Anyway, needless to say it looks like a real home now.

We celebrated our year together by going out to Paarl for lunch at Spice Route.
I will leave Sharona to write review in the near future.

Alright, fine, here is our lunch. It was amazing!

Here's to more adventures of Sharona and the Squire.

Cape Town Festival of Beer

Reblogged from http://capetownfestivalofbeer.co.za/

CAPE TOWN FESTIVAL OF BEER RETURNS FOR IT’S FOURTH YEAR
Cape Town Festival of Beer, the largest festival of beer in the Southern Hemisphere, is around the corner again! The Festival is set for the 22rd, 23th and 24th of November at Hamilton’s Rugby Club in Green Point, Cape Town (next to the V & A Waterfront). This year’s event is bringing even more beer to the table than ever before.

Cape Town Festival of Beer is a celebration of brewing heritage and craft both locally and from around the world. Featuring over 200 beers; this is the premier celebration of all things beer and will prove to be the biggest yet.

The Festival is South Africa’s largest annual gathering of beer enthusiasts, connoisseurs and those just wanting to learn more about beer. The weekend promises great entertainment including a variety of brewers, food stalls, music, live rugby and is a highlight on the Cape Town social calendar.

Expect over 60 breweries - both international and local - with limited edition beers brewed just for the Festival. Also, learn more about the appreciation of artisanal beer and perfect food choices to pair with each brew.

This year the Cape Town Festival of Beer will be bringing you guided beer tours with experts to ensure you get the most out of your experience. Let your guide take you around while you meet the brewers and sample a variety of beers, watch home brewing demonstrations and participate in blind tastings. And if that’s not enough there will also be a beer judging competition, beer merchandise for sale, lucky draws, raffles and the worlds biggest game of Beer Pong.

Rugby fans, don’t miss out on any action and watch the rugby live on the Saturday on big screens at the Festival! Tables can be booked at info@capetownfestivalofbeer.co.za

The Wide World Of Beer

As we approached our second Paine Kids Hosted Beer tasting... we're starting to wonder about the "Beer Family Tree" - both the Squire and I have been made far more aware of beer - the huge variety and our preferences.

 

I realise that I still haven't done the promised "feedback" from our tasting in June! I swear you'll get feedback from both by mid October!

 

Have a look at the infograph below and read my post on Ale vs Lager.

 

 

ALE vs LAGER

Did you even know that there was a "Dummies" website? I've lifted this word for word from their site.

The Differences between Ales and Lagers

By Marty Nachel and Steve Ettlinger from Beer For Dummies, 2nd Edition

All beers are made as ales or lagers; ale and lager are the two main branches (classifications) of the beer family tree and are closely related branches at that. Ales are the older, distinguished, traditional brews of the world, predating lagers by thousands of years, whereas lagers are a relatively modern creation, less than 200 years old.

Yeast makes the beer

The branch of the beer family tree — ale or lager — corresponds to the type of yeast used to ferment the beer. You have ale yeast and lager yeast, and these types of yeast, in turn, typically dictate the temperature at which the beer is fermented. Ales are traditionally fermented at warmer temperatures (55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, 12 to 21 degrees Celsius), while lagers are typically fermented at cooler temperatures (38 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, 3 to 10 degrees Celsius).
The cooler fermentation and aging temperatures used with lager yeast slow down the yeast activity and require a longer maturation time. The cold environment inhibits the production of fruity aromas (called esters) and other fermentation byproducts common in ales. This process creates the lager’s cleaner taste. Long aging (or lagering) also acts to mellow the beer.

You can taste the difference, sometimes

Every beer beginner wants to know how ales taste different from lagers. If only it were that easy! This question is sort of like asking how red wines taste different from white wines.

Ironically, you can find beer styles called red beer and white beer, but that’s another story altogether, and you can be sure that it doesn’t involve grape skins.

Ales share many common characteristics, and so do lagers, but the two groups overlap so much that any absolutes about either class are usually wrong. This overlap creates some confusion and the need for experts to explain the different characteristics, but it also creates the need for beer exploration.

You can say that ales generally

• Include more robust-tasting beers
• Tend to be fruity and aromatic
• Include more bitter beers
• Have a pronounced, complex taste and aroma
• Are enjoyed warmer (45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, 7 to 12 degrees Celsius)

And you can say that lagers generally

• Include lighter-tasting beers
• Tend to be highly carbonated or crisp
• Tend to be smooth and mellow
• Have a subtle, clean, balanced taste and aroma
• Are served fairly cool (38 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit, 3 to 7 degrees Celsius)

If someone says, “I don’t like ales,” or “lagers give me headaches,” respond by saying that simply too much variety exists for that kind of distinction to hold water (or beer, for that matter). Beer exploration is called for!

Monday beers

Wonderful day out with Sharona today.
Had two good beers.

First was CBC Amber Weiss. Good clean and full of flavour. They do Cape Town proud with this beer.

The second was the Paulana Weiß Bier. One of my favorites, a classic German import. The hops are not overwhelming and leaves it full of flavour.

My verdict on the two: CBC wins for a cleaner taste (plus it's local). Here is to the craft!

Considering beers

Beer is an acquired taste. I acquired the taste for beer just over 3 years ago.

In the past year I have refined this taste to craft beer. I have my friend Marco to thank for that.

My favorites? Well I have a few;

IPA: Imperial Tequila Ale, which is sold in 660ml bottles and has been matured in barrels used to age tequila. It has a light ale flavour and distinct tequila aftertaste.

Kings Blockhouse: A local IPA, easy on the taste buds with a mildly fruity aftertaste.  I would rate this as a good "every day" beer and like to take it to social events. Sold in 500ml bottles. Available on tap at Van Hunks on Kloof street.

Paulaner  Wießbier Kristallklar: One of the best Wießbier I have ever had. Clean and strong with medium hops. I keeper indeed.

Keizer Karel Charles Quint: A blonde beer. Wonderful taste and very easy drinking. Not easy to find, I think the bottle I sampled was ordered especially for the beer tasting Sharona and I held.

So, I like beer. In moderation of course, otherwise you won't enjoy it.

New Blog.... and it smells amazing

Mmmm, the smell of a new blog…. And this one smells like beer and moustache wax….

Every new blog is created for a reason and {The Paine Kids} has been born out of a need to chronicle the amazing Beer Tasting hosted by The Kids last Saturday.

I, Sharona have my own blog, which focusses on health and very personal matters…. Devoting about twenty posts just to beer just seemed, well, wrong. Wine yes, but not beer! Good gracious me ;)

We managed to taste 37 different beers and ciders – mostly imports and craft. I think we had about 24 people crammed into our lounge… it was epic to say the least. I’ve decided to group the beers/ciders by brewery or similarity… so expect quite a few posts over the next couple of days, or weeks (I might get over keen and write a novel on each one…)

Till then,

Adieu