We are in the Dead of winter, my friends, but that’s no reason to despair.  The best way to battle burrrrrr is with great craft beerrrrrr!  And Winter Beers are some of the best of the year…so I figured it’d be a great time to get together with some Gay Beer Club (GBC) samplers to check out what is available at your local, hopefully well stocked, Beer Emporium.

Winter Beers, just like good friends and family, come in vast array of colors and flavors.  As we were lining up our sample glasses, this foray into frosty brews reminded me of the many colors in my family’s fire pit on Christmas Eve. The beers had many shades of red, orange, burnt caramel and dark brown. So make some time to huddle up with friends and get into any or all of these amazing beers with a roaring flame…and hell, if you’re missing the flame, drop me a line!  What?  I like to get out, what’s wrong with that???  Cabin fever is fo’ real.

So with no further adieu, here is a rundown of some great Winter Beers:

Celebration

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. , California: 6.8% ABV

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale is the perfect addition to any gathering this winter. It is an American Style IPA which makes it more flavorful then a traditional IPA. Celebration is orange in color with a slight haze and a floral hoppy nose. Sierra Nevada Celebration has a warmth to it that leaves you very satisfied and take the bite out of the bitter cold.  We highly recommend this beer to all beer enthusiasts…and in the immortal words of Kool and the Gang, “Celebration Ale, Come On!”  Da-na-na-na-na-na-na-na…Ya-Hoo!

For my fellow Beer Bears out there who prefer maltier beers, these next few are for you and all brewed right here in New England:

Beer Bears

Winter Oatmeal Stout, Mayflower Brewing Company, Massachusetts: 6.0% ABV

May Flower Oatmeal Stout has quickly become a permanent resident of my fridge after this tasting. It is a full bodied beer with a delicious nose with hints of bakers chocolate and smokey roasted oats. Most beers on the darker side don’t have a nose as appealing as this. Each chocolaty sip of Mayflower’s Oatmeal Stout invites the next with a smooth malty deliciousness perfect for cold.

Ipswich Winter Ale, Mercury Brewing Company, Massachusetts: 6.2% ABV

We were all pleasantly surprised by Ipswich Winter Ale at first taste because none of us knew what to expect from an Old Ale.  Its murky reddish-brown color looks unfiltered and fits perfect with the Old Ale motif.  With a slightly sweet nose and lingering notes of carmel and toffee, this may be the best candy bar you’ve ever had without an overbearing sweet finish. Tasters also reported black cherry and other dark fruits from this crowd pleaser.  Ipswich Winter Ale is another amazing offering from the reliably remarkable Ipswich brewers.

Hibernator,  Long Trail Brewing Company, Vermont: 5.6% ABV

Long Trail Hibernator has been in my personal rotation since Thanksgiving. It’s a Scotch Ale which means delicious maltiness from a hefty grain bill and extended brewing process.  It’s hazy and amber with a surprising hoppiness in the nose, but after that it’s all smooth malty goodness.  Nothing tart-an about this sweet beer and a couple of peeks under this Scotch Ale’s kilt will have you off-kilter.  It even has a Bear sitting in front of a fireplace on the label…if that isn’t screaming “Calling Beer Bears” I don’t know what is.

For our Beer Twinks who are just starting on the road to becoming more ex-beerienced, don’t worry these next couple are for you:

Beer Twinks

Wachusett Winter Ale, Westminster, Mass  6.1% ABV

Wachusett Winter Ale is also a Scotch ale but with a completely different flavor and appearance. Wachusett Winter Ale is bright and orange, no haze at all. It has a sweet cherry candy nose that gives it a sweet cherry taste.   Think Luden’s cough drops but, obviously, better and perfect for the winter cold season.  Wachusett Winter Ale has a smooth sweet maltiness that is lighter than its Long Trail counterpart.  A perfect winter beer and another distinct Wachusett ale that deserves all the love we often give it.

Harpoon Winter Warmer, Harpoon Brewery, Massachusetts 5.5% ABV

We wouldn’t be a Boston-based beer club without a Harpoon on our list. And you can’t talk Winter Beers without Harpoon Winter Warmer, a Boston institution.  Bright and  burnt orange in color, this medium-bodied beer infused with winter spices like cinnamon and nutmeg is a treat we look forward to all year.  Harpoon Winter Warmer is festive and dessert-ish but it can quickly morph into a session beer.  If these beers are your winter wardrobe, Harpoon Winter Warmer is your favorite sweater.

In Summation:  A wonderful beer tasting experience.  The GBC would love your input on whatever winter beers you’ve been enjoying. And drop us a note if you’re interested in taking part in future GBC tasting panels. Until then, enjoy your own winter beer sampling and we look forward to seeing you Sunday nights at Cambridge Brewing Company for GBC at the CBC.

As Always, Beer Proud!

Fur & Gold…where should I start?  So, a few months back, as part of my GBC development project, I went out and did some Boston gay counter-culture research.  I wanted to know what, if anything, was going on under the gay surface of it all, you know, other than the usual haunts.  I was determined to imbed myself in whatever young hip gay thing might be happening.

Long story short, I found it and I’m proud to report:  Boston has a vibrant and thriving underground gay scene!  That’s something to Beer Proud of!  I encourage you all to seek it out, make your own memories and share them here.  But do it quickly because I lost a lot of my research to hideous hangovers.  Every once in a while I’ll have a feverish flashback…Lezzies and Trannies and Bears, Oh My!  I’m sure my mind remains clouded for my own protection.  But the best of what I uncovered is definitely Fur & Gold (www.furgold.com).

Fur & Gold is a celebration of men being men!  It takes place the second Friday of every month at The Alley (www.thealleybar.com)  near Government Center.  And you can’t celebrate manhood without some tight pants, chest hair and an ice cold beer. Fur & Gold is the brain child of my fellow Ocean Stater, Sean Johnson. Sean recently returned from a year art fellowship abroad in Germany. I thoroughly enjoyed flipping through his online portfolio and definitely recommend you do the same: www.seanmjohnson.com.  Sean is living proof that Sexy Men don’t only come in the stereotypical adonis-shaped box.  Although, for any of you who do come in that stereotypical adonis-shaped box, GBC meets every Sunday night at Cambridge Brewing Company!

In my past two visits to Fur & Gold I managed to take some beer notes. Now, I usually have very discriminating taste when it comes to brews.  But sometimes, in a crowded bar, when the indie pop and post-punk is pumping, you may want something light and forgettable.  Side note:  the Alley’s convenient store-esque beer coolers fit the scene perfectly. Stocked in these fluorescent monsters you’ll find the flowing bottles:

Amstel Light, Amstel Brouwerij B.V., Netherlands 3.50% ABV

Rolling Rock Latrobe Brewing Co., Missouri 4.60% ABV

Buckler Heineken Nederland B.V.  NA

Miller High Life Miller Brewing Co, Wisconsin 4.50% ABV

Corona Light Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V. 4.10% ABV

Like I said, light and forgettable, qualities I find more attractive in men than beer, so I turned to the draft beer selection. My first visit to Fur & Gold coincided with GBC’s Oktoberfest blog so I was very excited to find their Samuel Adams Seasonal tap was Oktoberfest. I promptly ordered two pints and snapped this picture. Don’t stare, just saying.

Bring the Gold to Fur & Gold

Of the three sets of taps, only two worked.  But the selection was definitely superior to the bottles and I commend The Alley for providing a respectable selection.  They had the following beers on tap:

Harpoon UFO, Harpoon Brewery, Massachusetts 5.10% ABV

Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn Brewery, New York 5.20% ABV

Blue Moon Coors Brewing Company, Colorado 5.40% ABV

Sam Seasonal (Oktoberfest)

Stella Artois Belgium 5.90% ABV

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Chico, California 5.6% ABV

Coors Light Coors Brewing Company, Colorado 4.20% ABV

After confusing the barkeep with my abundance of questions about the taps, we  headed upstairs to the more agoraphobic-style, err cozy cave. Music always helps to set the tone and Sean does an amazing job in picking his DJ’s for each Fur & Gold.

This week DJ Brent Covington was spinning and he had me at “Peek-A-Boo” by Siouxsie and the Banshees. I also really enjoyed “Keep Control” Sono and some of that nolstalgic 80’s synth-pop like Flock of Seagulls’ “I Ran” and “Turning Japanese” The Vapors.

As I chatted with my fellow GBCers, I asked the members that have never been to the Alley their thoughts. Everyone felt it was a very welcoming alternative to the usual gay scene.  Sometimes these things can intimidating to go to for the first time, as if only people who have been, can go.  Not Fur & Gold!  GBC was instantly at home!  Now whose shiny pants pockets do I have to stuff to get a porter or a brown ale around here?  Regardless, the fun, fashion and frivolity will keep me coming back.

Gay Beer Club at Fur and Gold

So, in closing, I leave you with a funny anecdote.  Zarko, my favorite Serbian GBC member, in the midst of Fur & Gold glory said “It reminds me of a neighborhood bar.”  I looked around at the aluminum walls, some spray painted, the flashing lights and sound, the smell of warm men wafting in the air and thought, “Serbia, huh?  I wonder what the travel rates are like right now?”

As Always, Beer Proud!

Andy

Don’t let its little red facade fool you, Bukowski Tavern is a Back Bay institution for local beer lovers.  Bukowski’s boasts one of the best beer menus in Boston and a dead authors mug club the membership to which most assuredly requires a tough skin, the bartenders there have alluring attitude, and might require a second liver.  Needless to say, I wasn’t surprised to find only one barstool open when I entered on a Thursday night.

To some, a beer menu of over 20 choice taps and too many bottles and cans to count can be intimidating, but keeping your options open can be a good thing.  When in doubt, my instinct is to order the best Porter on the menu because, as many of you should know, I’m a Porter (shameless previous blog plug).  Well apparently, I had this thought out loud because the gentleman to my left chimed in with,”They have Mayflower on tap.”  To which I replied, “Oh cool, I like their Porter!”

It turns out this suggestion was a sales pitch, and a welcomed and effective one, from my new friend, Ian, the Mayflower Brewing Company sales rep. Ian served me a plastic cup shooter of Mayflower Porter, delicious as always, and then suggested another Mayflower offering:

Mayflower Thanksgiving Ale, Mayflower Brewing Company, Plymouth, MA: 8% ABV
The Mayflower Thanksgiving Ale is a bountiful oak barrel-aged American strong ale.  Visually, this beer is a dark crimson/brown suspending a beautiful beige foamy head.  Dark fruit sweetness saturates the nose and the first sip of this robust beer greets you with vanilla, caramel, and toffee maltiness.  As your palate adjusts, the sweetness mellows, instantly transporting you to Thanksgiving dinners past and future where a generous slice of homemade caramel apple pie finishes the feast.  A full-bodied banquet of a beer, Mayflower’s Thanksgiving Ale is yet another reason to be thankful this season.

Thanksgiving is my favorite meal to prepare and I will definitely be picking up a sixer of this delicious brew to imbibe while basting.  Being the amazing salesman he is, Ian even hooked me up with a Mayflower pint glass so that I can “Taste the History” in style at home.  Of course, as the spirits began to dissolve my inhibitions, I became more interested in his story than in his beer’s history.  But I kept it cool.

I did go with a Porter for my second beer.  Fuller’s London Porter, a great beer in itself.

For those of you who’ve forgotten October 29th, perhaps some climatory context will refresh your memory…it was F’N SNOWING OUT!  Could you believe it?  What better place to find shelter than a nice warm brewery with tons of great beers on?

Cambridge Brewing Company (CBC), home to Gay Beer Club’s weekly GBC @ the CBC event, had their 4th annual Great Pumpkin Festival and the place was a sight.  This hybrid Halloween/Pumpkin party is part costume ball, part beerfest and all exclusive as the place was at capacity 45 minutes after they opened at 1pm.

CBC boasted 9 pumpkin beers of their own, 6 sensational non-pumpkin offerings and topped it off with 32 guest pumpkin beers from some of the best breweries around the globe.  No wonder, even with my connections, the line at 9pm was almost to the street.

Determined to get in, and not getting return texts from my inside guy, I stood there in line with my Burberry cane umbrella hooked over my forearm in the freezing rain.  Luckily, CBC erected some rectangular umbrellas to cover me and my fellow anxious party-goers. I heard that the line extended well past these shelters and around the corner for most of the day even with the inclement weather.

Finally inside, I felt something I rarely ever feel…underdressed.  I went conservative in fear I would get sick from exposure but many other patrons didn’t feel that same way, they weren’t gonna let a little thing like Diptheria damper their time. I saw some short shorts from Reno 911, Buzz Light-year and Safari tour guides, I think? The Girls all brought it home with Sexy versions of (Fill in the Blank) come rain or shine. And the Ferverts were even representing.

Here is a great picture of the Plushy Team that was keeping warm outside during the event.

Putting the Lush in Plush

By the time I got in, there were plenty of pumpkin pints to be had.  Of course, my desire to show up fashionably late did cost me a chance to taste a few brews.  But I did make it in time for the tapping of the GREAT PUMPKIN, CBC’s Great Pumpkin Ale tapped from the belly of monsterous pumpkin escorted to its final serving place by pumpkin masked monks.  A truly unique beer drinking experience, I recommend it highly.

Pumpkin Ale Straight from the Pumpkin

Now to the Beer…. like I said, CBC rolls out 9 of their best pumpkin inspired beers and imports 32 additional Pumpkin beers from all over the US and Europe. Here are some highlights:

1.Wilson, CBC, Cambridge, MA: 6.5% ABV

Wilson is a whiskey-barrel aged spiced pumpkin porter…you get all that?  It’s one of my favorites because of it distinct robust nose and flavor. Anybody who knows me knows I’m “a Porter” so Wilson goes right to the top of my list. While I’m not a pumpkin beer freak, the malt and whiskey carried this beer in a way that made a pumpkin beer-liever outta me!

2. IMPERIAL Pumpkin Ale, Weyerbacher Brewing Company, Eaton, PA: 8.0% ABV

The IMPERIAL Pumpkin Ale was just what I needed when I arrived in the icy Beer Garden. The mass of humanity inside encouraged me to check out what the back beer tent had to offer…I was glad I did.  “Give me something Great!” was my command to Derek, the Plushy Pink Bunny, I recognized from my regular CBC visits.  His response, Weyerbacher’s Imperial Pumpkin. Its malty pumpkin/caramel/alcohol warmth was the right cure for my frost bitten fingers, which in turn kept my beer cold. It boasted an 8.0% ABV that kept my warm on the inside.

These FUCKERS kept me from the bar

3.FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, CBC, Cambridge, MA: 8.0% ABV

Finally, a Friend With Benefits with none of the headache, unless you drink too many of them.  Murky blonde, fruity, yet not overly sweet, chardonnay barrel-aged, vibrated to the frequency of OM and blended with CBC’s Great Pumpkin Ale, this amazing beer made the lines well worth while!  It’s this kind of creativity that makes CBC the innovator it is known to be in the brewing world.  It’s also the kind of beer that makes you forget exactly where you put your Burberry cane umbrella because you became very zen with the idea of letting go of possessions that are not this beer.

4.THE GREAT PUMPKIN ALE, CBC, Cambridge, MA: 4.4% ABV

To me, the perfect session pumpkin pint.  Its bright pumpkin hue precedes a delicious autumn-spiced Pumpkin Ale.  Made with all organic Massachusetts sugar pumpkins, it is the first pumpkin beer since the Pilgrims and it is the standard by which all other Pumpkin Ales should be judged.  Best enjoyed on Sunday nights at the GBC @ the CBC!

5. EL MARIACHI, CBC, Cambridge, MA: 4.0% ABV

DIOS MIO! This cask-conditioned Irish stout with peppers and pumpkin was amazing.  On cask it is hand-pumped, naturally carbonated and served at a cellar temperature of mid-50s rather than mid-30s so all you get is the flavor of the actual beer.  Spicy beer served warm on a freezing cold night?  The beer Gods must’ve willed it so!

All in all, a great night of beer drinking that can only be had on once a year.  There is no place else in the world one can sample as many Pumpkin Beers as you can at CBC’s Great Pumpkin Festival.  And if you’re lucky, when you call back the next day you’ll find out your Burberry cane umbrella was found exactly where you left it, by the commemorative glass you also left completely empty.

Thanks again and I hope to see you all on Sunday nights at the GBC @ the CBC!

-Andy “Beer Proud”

“what was I going to wear?”

Having never been there before, I knew little about the Philippines, except that the former dictator’s wife, Imelda Marcos, once owned 2700 pairs of shoes…bitch…they had no fashion week, of course because I’d never been there, and it was WAY OFF THE GRID. My father gave me two pieces of advice: “Pack light and dress light.”  Check and check…but first I had to establish a theme. Based on what he was telling me, I envisioned sweat bands, short shorts and tanks… It had to be:

“80′s Athletic!”

Roughing it in the Philippino wilderness meant I had to be practical and get good use of my wears.  So, I found an amazing deal on Marc Jacobs nylon swim trunks and bought three pairs. What?  I knew I could bang them against a rock in some river and they would dry before you even could say, “Are leeches poisonous?!” So armed with these shorts and the spoils of my mini conquest of American Apparel for tanks, I packed my two bags:  A vintage army back pack and matching mini cross body.  Let’s just say I was camo-tivated to look good and be comfortable.

Once we got to destination nowhere AKA Tarlac, Philippines, reality set in as to just how OFF THE GRID this place was…my body cried out for a beer, the research of which I had, inadvertantly, left to embedded discovery.

Red Horse Extra Strong Beer

We got to my family’s village and, luckily, my dad had previously bought the local store their refrigerator.  Karma ensured it would be stocked with cold beers. Ah, my first Philippino friend, this small magical box introduced me to my first Philippino lover, Red Horse Beer: Extra Strong. They only stocked the 1000ml Giant, but I wasn’t intimidated by its size. For those of you keeping score at home, that’s a liter of beer at 8% ABV.

Red Horse is a deep red hued lager with an overriding sweetness and faint hop character. I’m normally pickier than macro-red beers  but with the hot sun beaming down on me my retreats to the local store became more frequent and thus my love affair with Red Horse blossomed. The locals were surprised and impressed by how many I could drink, my father wasn’t.

Marc Jacobs meets Fillipino Fowl

Here’s a picture of me and my Red Horse, taken during a pig roast the village threw for us. I had a little platoon moment with some ducks and my trusty Red Horse. Thank You, Red Horse for being there for me. I look forward to seeing you next time I am in Town;-P

Before modern cooling systems, it was just too hot to brew past late spring.  So, brewers took the summer off and once the weather cooled in the fall, it was back to work.  Most Oktoberfests are brewed in Märzen (aka March). The brews were then ’cold-stored’ (aka ‘lagered’) over the summer months in cool underground cellars and emerged from their hibernation ready to warm up those brisk fall nights.

Needing to empty all those full vessels and make room for new brews, they decided to throw a big party and called it Oktoberfest!  Until this research, we were more excited about the sausages and shortie-shorts…Is that a bratwurst in your lederhoson, or are you just happy to see me?  Over time, the beers became synonymous with the party (although, nowadays, a lighter version is more widely served under the tents in Munich).

Oktoberfest beers are typically dark copper in color, medium to full-bodied, with a sweet, toasty, fruity, caramel-y maltiness and a medium to high alcohol content. Oktoberfests are traditionally lagers but a few of the American offerings we sampled are ales…such rebels!

Here are the reviews after our GBC tasting session.  Our goal, as always, is to learn about these beers as much as to inform.  We’re no experts, our hope is to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of these great beers and catch a nice buzz with good friends while doing it!

Before we go any further, it’s only fair to say the Germans have had a head start of hundreds of years that gave them a big leg up in this competition.  That being said, we learned our American brewing brothers are not far behind their European counterparts.

Spaten

1. Spaten Oktoberfest (Munich, Germany) 5.9% ALC/VOL
Spaten is like an old friend we haven’t seen in a year (though it’s available all year…we only drink it in the fall). It is bronze in color and very effervescent.  A truly beautiful beer to behold and as you take your first sip you are greeted by a welcoming fruity nose.  It has a medium body and complex malt flavors. Spaten Oktoberfest boasted the highest alcohol content in our test group but we couldn’t tell from the taste.  Spaten Oktoberfest is truly an exceptional beer and perfect example of the style.

Hacker-Pschorr

2. Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest (Munich, Germany) 5.8% ALC/VOL

Hacker-Pschorr is dark copper to honey amber in color…nearly identical to the Spaten.  Unfortunately, this beer has almost no nose. Medium-bodied, the warmth of alcohol jumps out at you as the malt character then develops. It has a drier, thinner taste than the Spaten, but as it warmed and settled, the flavors became more pronounced and the experience improved.  Another fantastic beer!

Now here come the Americans:

3. Otter Creek Oktoberfest Autumn Ale (Middlebury, VT) 4.8% ALC/VOL

At first glance, the cloudiness of this ale distinguishes it from the field.  All the others were very ‘bright’ (aka ‘clear’), while the Otter Creek was murky.  We thought maybe this was a bad omen, but, as in life, looks are often deceiving.  Otter Creek Oktoberfest is an outstanding beer.  Its nose has spicy malty characteristics with a slight hint of fruit and nut. The hoppy, dry finish invites another sip.  The deliciousness of Otter Creek Oktoberfest Autumn Ale tempts you to indulge until your mind is as cloudy as the brew!

4. Wachusett Octoberfest Ale (Westminster, MA) 5.2% ALC/VOL

The thing about Wachusett Octoberfest Ale is it stood out for being the fruitiest in the group. It was less murky then the Otter Creek, but not as bright as the Germans, with a strong fruity nose. We could smell apples and maybe pears with a hint of caramel malt. These characteristics give the beer a fuller sweeter body. GBC recommends Wachusett Octoberfest Ale for anyone that is not afraid of stepping out of the box and we applaud them for creating such a unique beer!

5. Harpoon Octoberfest Beer (Boston, MA) 5.5% ALC/VOL

Harpoon had the most complex and flavorful malt character of the the American beers with a German hop taste and a spicy nose. Another beautiful beer, this Octoberfest is garnet red rather than amber, with well balanced flavors. Harpoon Octoberfest is a home town favorite…rightfully so!

6. Brooklyn Oktoberfest Lager (Uttica, NY) 5.5% ALC/VOL

Brooklyn’s offering fell short of our expectations. It has a slight haze that seems unintentional, light sweet nose with slight caramel flavoring but an unfortunate lingering butter aftertaste. Part of the disappointment comes from the great Brooklyn beers we’ve had in the past…maybe this style is not their strength.  Brooklyn Oktoberfest Lager left us speechless, in that we didn’t want to talk about it anymore!

In Summary:  A wonderful beer tasting experience of one of our favorite styles.  GBC would love your input on Oktoberfest and other beers. Drop us a note if you’re interested in taking part in future GBC tasting panels. Until then, enjoy your Oktoberfest and we look forward to seeing you Sunday nights at Cambridge Brewing Company for GBC at the CBC.

Prost!

Deep and dark, full-bodied and robust…
These are the few words used to describe the Charles River Porter, my favorite of the house brews at Cambridge Brewing Company.

With underlying notes of fruitiness, caramel and toffee…
I definitely know I have underlying notes of fruitiness, even though I don’t exactly fit the normal gay stereotypes.

Then who am I?

USF Cheer Photo 1996-1997.

Well, I haven’t been a “Twink” in years. But after looking at my college cheer photo I don’t know if I ever was.

I have yet to be able to grow a decent beard or enough hair on my chest to be considered a “Bear.”

I would say I could be “Deep and Dark”.

I don’t fit into my size 48 shorts Dolce & Gabbana shorts right now, so I am “Full-Bodied”.

I am sure many would call me “Robust”…. because I can never seem to shut up.

Andy in Chanel RTW Hoodie Cruise 10 and Pin Chanel Pre-Fall London-Paris 08.

And let’s face it, at any given moment in the day I am carrying a piece of Chanel, so there’s the “Fruitiness”.

“Caramel” is my skin color and I love “Toffee”!

As I welcome everyone to the GayBeerClub, I say to you all,
I am a “Porter”.

Who are YOU??