Good beer in cans for the old man
Like a lot of families, mine is planning an outdoor event for Father's Day. My wife asked if I was okay with a "pot luck" Father's Day gathering with other families at the neighborhood pool. I said I was up for it as long as the food was pot luck, not the fathers. It is a little late in the game, I said, for families to switch dads.
The only drawback to holding a Father's Day event at a swimming pool is that you cannot bring Dad his favorite liquids in glass bottles. The no-glass rule applies to other outdoor venues as well.
Fortunately the folks at Oskar Blues Brewery in Lyons, Colo., have taken the lead in putting good beer in cans. They have four quality brews -- Dale's Pale Ale, Old Chub, Gordon and Ten Fidy -- packaged in cans and sold in the Baltimore area. (The distributor in Maryland is Legends Ltd. at 410-325-6611.)
My favorite is the Dale's Pale Ale, 6.5 percent alcohol by volume, which the brewery describes accurately as an "everyday beer for hopheads." The Old Chub, at 8 percent ABV likened to a "lightly smoked single malt Scotch," and the Gordon, a 7.8 percent-ABV strong ale, seem to me more cold weather brews.
But the other day I tasted my first Ten Fidy, a whopping 10 percent ABV Imperial Stout, thick with flavors of chocolate malt and coffee. This was so rich and big that I felt like I was drinking a winter warmer at Christmas. As I sipped I stared into our fireplace for a long time. I did not, however, fire it up in the summer, as did one of our former presidents, Richard Nixon, who, by the way, also was a dad.
Other cans for the old man: Brooklyn Beer puts its lager in cans, as do a slew of imports, including Pilsner Urquell (Maryland distributor for Pilsner Urquell, is Bond Distributing, 410-945-5600).
What is your favorite canned beer?
I admit that when I drink Dale's Pale Ale. and all the Oskar Blues brews, I pour them into a paper cup.
Comments
It's been years since I drank beer from a can, but a couple of weeks ago on a hot Saturday, someone offered me an ice cold can of Bud - and I was suprised at how good it tasted. It had also been a while since I had tasted Budweiser. Maybe it was a combination of the hot weather and the cold brew, but it was absolutely refreshing.
When I was a mere tyke, I can remember my dad drinking cans of Falls City beer. Do they even make that stuff anymore?
Posted by: john | June 11, 2008 1:35 PM
Bass Ale comes in tall 16 oz. cans, and believe it or not, I actually prefer them to the bottled version. Guiness Pub Draught in the tall cans is also a favorite.
And in the summer months, I always prefer canned beer in general because it always seem to get colder in a cooler of ice than the bottles. of course that's probably pscylogical on my part.
Posted by: Donny B | June 11, 2008 4:08 PM
I think Sly Fox does an amazing job with their canned brews. I had their canned Pils and Weizen and was initially skeptical, but they were fantastic. I hope they expand their distribution into the Maryland market - they only do PA, NY and NJ right now.
Posted by: Volker | June 12, 2008 12:03 PM
For a summer day on the bay, there is nothing better than Dale's. I love 10-Fidy, but it packs a whollap. This same topic came up on beeradvocate...
http://beeradvocate.com/forum/read/1402371
Posted by: Mike | June 12, 2008 12:06 PM
The Oskar's beers I've had (Dales Pale Ale and Gordon) are excellent, especially Gordon. I really want to try Ten Fidy, but can't bring myself to drink an Imperial Stout when it's this hot out. Maybe I should just crank up the AC.
Posted by: ken | June 12, 2008 12:39 PM
For outdoor drinking I really don't mind macrobrews. Well, Natty boh, anyway.
Those aluminum pint bottles of Bud can also do the trick on a hot day.
Otherwise, Brooklyn Lager in a can is fine. Yuengling, too.
Posted by: Grant | June 13, 2008 4:12 PM
Yesterday I bought a fresh growler from Ellicott Mills Brewing, brought it home and poured some beer in a thermos. I then brought the thermos with me to the pool. ;)
Posted by: Bolt | June 16, 2008 11:35 AM
I agree that the aluminum bud bottles are really good - no off flavors at all. Other than that - I try to avoid canned beer. Maybe it's that it sits for too long but it always ends up with a little bit of off flavors.If I had to choose I would stick with Natty Boh in cans as a point of local pride.
Posted by: bryaninTimonium | June 16, 2008 5:15 PM
I think of Oskar Blues when it comes to cans, but a good call by Volker with the Sly Fox. I was able to be at a tasting that had their Odyssey Imperial IPA, which was a phenominal. most of their other brews are good too.
Posted by: Jason | June 16, 2008 6:59 PM
I bought a six-pack of Dales Pale Ale the other day at a gourmet cheese and wine shop in Virginia. It was $9.50 but was the least expensive beer in the shop. It was the first time in ages I've bought canned beer. Very good but quite hoppy! A few Summers ago I was served beer in a plastic bottle at an outdoor block party. It was one of the major brands, probably Miller or Bud.
Posted by: Duane | June 21, 2008 2:28 PM