Out Of Key Brewing

Last night was the Chicago Beer Societies First Thursday meeting for February.  I brought my doppelbock, Low Brass, Lost in the Woods Tripel, and the Dr. Jekyll Mild.  After my last tasting with The Mosher, my confidence was shaken, however I brought the Doppelbock over for him to taste.  He gave it a big thumbs up.  Saying that it was very clean, and while sweet, it was very well attenuated.  He gave some history on the style and talked about how historically it was never very highly attenuated, typically in the 50% range.  Amazing stuff.

Next up I pulled out the three year old Lost in the Woods Tripel) (The recipe link is broken but I can look it up if anyone is interested ).  A bulk of these beers never carbed up however, I came across a handful of fliptops that had carbed up perfectly.  This beer has actually turned out to be something pretty special.  It has become very fruity with a persistent rocky head.  All in all a pretty good beer.  Everyone really liked it, the biggest comment on it was that it was very fruity.

Next I pulled out the Low Brass Lager, which I would describe as a big Dortmunder export (A little too big if you ask me, but that’s another post).  I have to say that this is probably a highlight of the evening for me.  I pull out the bottle and start pouring for my group and over comes Randy and he says:

“I need to get some of this, this guy has had great beer all night“

Speechless.

I should just stop now.  No more.  Can’t top.  The man who wrote the book on tasting beer actually searching out my beer.  Not worthy.  Now that being said, it is possible that his glass may just have been empty and he needed a beer.  But it was my beer that he wanted.

On a side note, the Dr. Jekyll Mild won the CBS competition for the chance to enter my beer in the AHA’s club only competition.  Judging by Ray Daniels (author of Designing Great Beers), Keith Lemke, and John Laffler.  Who knows how it will do at the national level but I feel honored to just have placed against some of the competition I was up against.