TBT2 in OIB Scores Big

Just two weeks after the rousing success of OIB's first Tutored Beer Tasting in The Retreat, a second group of eager learners and beer lovers assembled at Donna Anderson's lovely home to get to know craft beer a little better. You can read the account of the first event here.

Once again, I selected five beers (and one special beer from Jersey that is no longer available as a surprise) to help introduce my neighbors to good beer. After being instructed in the ways to use all five senses when tasting beer (and being reminded of the fact that, unlike professional wine tasters, beer tasters NEVER spit out what they test), we began the sampling with Patagonia Pilsner. After a brief history lesson about the birth of the pilsner style and Plzen native Joseph Groh's involvement in it, along with a quick lesson on the differences between lagers and ales, the sampling began.

The guests then evaluated that beer and all that followed by scoring it 1-5 (5 highest) in four categories: color, aroma, feel and taste. Because we were using plastic glasses, we couldn't employ the fifth sense of hearing by toasting each other--but we managed. Donna's smart cheese selections of Smoked Gouda and Edam, accompanied by palate-cleaning crackers and pretzels added to the success of the event.

That process was continued for all the beers, which included Bell's Two Hearted Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Highland Brewing's Black Mocha Stout (served with an incredible Bleu Stilton Cheese and "my" Rich chocolate, gooey, non-caloric (yeah, right) brownies. Aviator's Devil's Tramping Ground (9.2% ABV), created to honor a famous NC site rounded out the regular tasting.

The special beer of the night was one from my private stock and one that I had carefully transported from Jersey to NC. It had been cellaring since last Christmas, and the brewery that made it has ceased operations. It was Demented Brewing's WRATH, a bourbon-barrel aged, 11% Imperial Russian Stout,

The "class" this night consisted of Donna, Sandra, Pam, Jim, Bob, Floyd and two Mikes. In typical fashion, the "students" started the night with focused interest and attention. But after the third or fourth beer, that attention, well, "wandered." But it wandered in a direction that was great fun for all, especially after Donna, our gregarious and affable host, insisted that every guest tell his or her life story. Have you ever tried that after six high-powered beers?

Regardless, so successful was the event and so friendly and warm the camaraderie, that a wonderful gal named Sandra began laying tentative plans for a huge beer-tasting/Block Party in front of her house, with neighbors cooking various foods and me pairing that food with accompanying beers. Six high-powered beers apparently CAN cause that kind of thinking.

But like last night, it could be great fun.

Now to convince the HOA of that.