Ales From the Hood is my own evolving stock of personally hand-crafted, small-batch unfiltered ales that totally rock.
I believe in the home-brewer’s adage, “brew what you like to drink.” Which means that I’ll mostly concentrate on improving a small line of full-bodied, high ABV, mostly European-style ales.
On tap now:
“Whiter Shade of Pale”
This awesomely refreshing, hot-country-friendly India Pale Ale (IPA) is a perfect relief-zone teamhouse brew. Not too bitter, not to hoppy, and plenty of body mean that ‘Whiter Shade of Pale’ is great for both chugging (not so much the night before a big deadline) and for sipping (with a Cuban cigar from ‘Big Star’ market, or a hookah full of ‘double-apple’).
7.5% ABV. Drink plenty of water and pace yourself…
- “… if music be the food of love, then laughter be its’ queen…”
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“Sinner’s Swing”
This hefeweizen is by a considerable margin the best beer I’ve managed to brew to-date. Everything I’ve shown here has been flat-out delicious. But ‘Sinner’s Swing’ (named for one of the best Van Halen songs ever recorded) is the best so far. Hallertauer hops (you thought Artemis’ last name came out of nowhere?) and Wyeast #3068 “Weihenstephan” account for the dominant flavor and aroma characteristics. The photograph hardly does it justice: this one is plain delicious. Sinfully delicious.
And at only 6.5% ABV it’s practically water. Might as well have five or six…
- “c’mon on all you sinners… SWING!!!”
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“Feels Like the First Time” (redux)
- Feels like the first time… only better
The latest iteration in a long series of tweaks meant to improve this distinctive strong Belgian-style ale. A simplified grain bill, plenty of Belgian candy sugar, and Wyeast 1214 “Belgian Abbey” gets this one tasting so close to Chimay red that it’s almost painful (a lot like - you know - the first time… hence the name).
At 8.8% ABV, this is a true relief workers’ ale (community development, DRR, ICT4D, and advocacy peeps: please enjoy responsibly).
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“Yankee Rose”
- Yankee Rose: “are you ready for the new sensation?”
This is an American-style amber-to-just-this-side-of-pale ale, the recipe for which was dreamt up while drinking Russian vodka with a Lebanese colleague in the Philippines. Go figure. “Yankee Rose” is a deceptively light tasting brew, with Chinook hops and a hint of lemon as the dominant characteristics: Perfect for summer, but since I only brewed 5 US. gallons, I’m not likely to have any left when summer arrives. 6.8% ABV.
Watch this space… more coming soon!
