On
Saturday I attended Brew-UICA 2002. It was the urban institute for contemporary
arts' attempt to provide southwest Michigan with a beer tasting event. Thanks
to a good friend of mine I got in free. Except for one brewer all the beer was
in bottles. That states a lot if you ask me. This was a bunch of contemporary
art people's attempt at a beer fest. Frankly, contemporary art people suck. My
apologies to all those contemporary art people visiting my site. You may go to
uica.org now, come back when you know what a mash tun is. Ok so enough with
dissing people of culture. About the beer. There were seventeen tables with no
less than four styles of beer per table. Not bad indeed. My favorite was an
import, Flag Porter. Flag Porter is brewed from a traditional 19th century
British recipe, fermented with original 1825 yeast salvaged from a sunken
vessel in the English Channel. Good stuff very English, it had the sour thing
going on. Try it if you ever get the chance.
Kalamazoo
Brewing Co was there. Their Stout was terrible. I will give them the benefit of
the doubt maybe it was just that bottle. Founder's had a nice Porter, very
hoppy, good stuff. Roffey Brewing Co. knows how to make good beer. Their Lake
Effect Stout rocks the boat. Their Forecaster Pale Ale is also an excellent
pale ale. Motor City brought their Amber Wheat. It tasted like crap. Sorry
Motor City maybe you should take up contemporary art or something.
Butte
Creek from Chico, CA came with their Organic Porter. It was good but it tasted
pretty organic if you ask me. Could we please give up on Organic Beer! Who's
idea was it anyhow? Organic granola bars; great idea. Organic beer??? Don't we
have anything better to do folks? Why not experiment with organic contemporary
art or something.