Tenaya Creek Brewery Experience

For the Beer Babe, no trip to another city would be complete without getting a taste of the local brews, so when I went to Las Vegas last week I was determined to tour a local microbrewery. Lucky for me the Tenaya Creek Brewery was just a few miles outside of "the strip" and featured 10 original beers crafted by a family born and raised in Las Vegas. The Tenaya Creek Brewery, founded by Tim Etter (pictured above) in 1999, is the only one of its kind and has been family owned and operated for over a decade. Although the Tenaya Creek Brewery itself is a smaller operation, their kegs are on tap at many popular Vegas hotels such as the Bellagio and the Wynn. The goal of the brewery is to offer a wide selection of unique beers to the myriad tastes of the Las Vegas market, offering four core beers and five seasonal beers. Anthony Gibson, longtime friend of Tim Etter and Head Brewmaster at Tenaya Creek for 10 years said, "We aim to change people's perception of what beer is and what it can be." Gibson (pictured below) personally gave me an informative and interactive tour of the entire Tenaya Creek Brewery--from where the malt and barley are kept to the boiling kettles to the keg room where the finished brews are chilled. I even got to taste their hefeweizen straight from the 620 gallon fermentation tank itself! Gibson taught me a lot about the intricacies of the brewing process from the importance of sanitation to "sparging"--a term that refers to the addition of water to extract fermentable sugars from the grain. I also learned a lot more about the hop flower--one of the four key ingredients integral to brewing beer. There are nearly 50 varieties of hops, with certain species being used for flavor and others being used for aroma. Even though I am a wheat beer afficionado, Gibson was so descriptive and enthusiastic about their hops that I was inspired to try the Tenaya Creek Brewery's hoppiest beer of all.

Tenaya Creek Brewery's Monsoon Double IPA

Appearance: A clear, deep golden hue with moderate bubbly white head that left light lacing on the glass

Aroma: Great floral hop nose with hints of pine and grapefruit

Taste: Very approachable for a double IPA, well balanced start with a malty beginning, decent carbonation and a dry, citrus bite of hops at the finish

Alcohol: 7.6%

I decided to explore outside of my palate's preferred realm of white ales and go for a big IPA after hearing that the owner himself had grown the Mt. Hood and Cascade hops used in brewing the Monsoon Double IPA. I was able to sample the majority of the Tenaya Creek brews, but I chose to write my review on the Monsoon Double IPA because I felt it exemplified the TCB team's dedication, expertise and passion for beer during all stages of the brewing process. It is a tasty beer that has the complexity and balance of a double IPA with the approachability of a traditional IPA. I recommend pairing the Monsoon Double IPA with spicy foods like curry or Creole cuisine because the hops are strong enough to stand up to the fiery flavor. The Monsoon Double IPA is a well balanced brew and straddles the fine line between giving hop heads what the flavor they crave without overdoing it.

Even though the Tenaya Creek Brewery brought home a gold medal from the 2002 Great American Beer Festival, both Etter and Gibson were incredibly humble and complimentary of other breweries and stated, "We're not better, we're equal." Among a strong appreciation for quality ingredients and the brewing craft itself, the Tenaya Creek Brewery prides themselves on their passion for all things beer. Gibson says, "The fun part is the creativity. We are extremely dedicated to our craft and the reward is being able to see people enjoying what we've been working on." Both Tim Etter and Anthony Gibson were extremely gracious and erudite, so the next time you are in the Las Vegas area, I highly recommend stopping by the Tenaya Creek Brewery for some delicious beers and a tour, straight from the experts. For more information check out their website http://www.tenayacreekbrewery.com

Weihenstephaner Vitus

On Saturday, November 7th, I was lucky enough to attend the much anticipated Big 100 Gourmet Beer Tasting in downtown Burbank. There were only 100 people in attendance--all of them beer enthusiasts, all of them thirsty. The impressive roster boasted over 100 breweries from all over the world. Countries as far as Belgium, Germany and Japan were represented, along with a few local breweries right here in California. When I ask people which countries are known for brewing high quality beer, most tend to answer with Belgium or Germany. I personally am obsessed with Belgian beers, so I would say Belgium before the question was over. I knew Germany is another huge name in beer--with their Oktoberfest and the German Beer Purity Law--but I had never experienced a German beer that delighted my palate in the same way select Belgian brews had. That is, until Weihenstephaner's Vitus.

Weihenstephaner Vitus

Weihenstephaner is the oldest brewery in the world and was founded in 1040. That means the brewers have had nearly 900 years to hone and perfect their beer making process. I have tried five of the Weihenstephaner brews, and all of them are amazing. The Vitus embodies the apex of their talents and is truly a spectacular example of the pride Germans take in their brews.

Tim Lynch, the witty and knowledgeable representative for the brewery, aptly described the Vitus as a "hefeweizen on steroids." It has all the characteristics of a classic hefeweizen, except everything has been amped up--more flavor and higher alcohol percentage.

Appearance: Similar to a classic hefeweizen, it is honey colored, cloudy and unfiltered with healthy amounts of thick, white head

Aroma: Strong banana nose with spices like cloves and just a hint of yeast and biscuits

Taste: True to the nose with a fantastic banana flavor at the start, a citrus/lemon bite in the middle and a very mellow finish. It has decent carbonation and is smooth and sweet.

Alcohol: 7.7%

I highly recommend this beer to anyone who wants to taste the type of beer that put Germany at the center of the beer brewing universe. It is a phenomenal brew from a well respected brewery whose legacy spans over nine centuries, yet it's very affordable. A pint costs only $3 and can be found at most liquor stores with a decent beer selection. I think it would pair well with light fare like a salad, but it could easily be enjoyed by itself. Cheers to you Germany, or should I say, Anfeuerungen, for introducing me to this delicious Hercules of hefeweizens.

...Because Every Beer Has a Story: The Elusive Allagash Fluxus 2008

I dedicate this entry to Nate Nelson, for inspiring me to chase down the fluxus in the first place.

It all started when Nate (who I consider a true master of all things beer) told me about a delicious limited release beer called the Allagash Fluxus that they had on tap at Father's Office. Unfortunately, I did not make it down there before all the other appreciators of tasty brews did, and missed it. I then went on a quest, searching at all BevMo's and grocery stores in the area--even the Allagash website--and couldn't get ahold of it. I had almost come to terms with the idea that the universe just did not want me to experience this fluxus when out of nowhere, life gave me a green light. I was getting my car fixed and had to kill an hour (ugh), so I wandered around and found a liquor store (*The anonymity of the store must be maintained for now, due to the fact that it is an awesome hidden mecca of limited quantities of amazing rare beers*) Not only was this not your average liquor store, I was delighted to discover that they had an inventory of hundreds of beers from all over the world. I was scouring the shelves for names I recognized, and lo and behold, picturesque in slow motion and glimmering spotlight, was the Allagash Fluxus 2008.

Allagash Fluxus 2008

Appearance: Honey colored and unfiltered, with visible sediment and glorious white bubbly head that lightly laced the glass

Aroma: Very inviting spicy aroma with hints of nutmeg, coriander and if you inhale deeply, you can smell hints of white pepper

Taste: Incredible flavors of coriander and even grapefruit at the beginning, with hints of banana and fig rounding out the middle and a smooth, clove/spicy finish, with excellent carbonation

Alcohol: 8.6%

I feel as though I am taunting the audience by putting up a flattering review for a beer that is basically extinct, but it was so well done that I had to immortalize it here. What makes this beer so unique and desirable for me is the limited quantity the Allagash Brewery produces and the fact that the fluxus recipe changes, or fluctuates every year. The Allagash Fluxus is on the pricier end of the spectrum, with a 750 mL bottle costing about $17.00, but it was so delicious I would pay it again in a millisecond, given the chance. The Allagash Fluxus 2008 will always hold a special spot on my palate because it became more than just a beer, it became an experience. It gave me a taste of what it is like to dream about a brew, chase it down and then revel in the adventure.