McNellies Beer Blog

2008-07-10T16:42:00.001-07:00

My new travel blog:

driftyshifty

I'm Out.

2008-07-06T16:39:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving. No more bartending, no more blog. My last shift will be this Friday, July 11th. I'm sad to go, but I have some exciting adventures ahead of me. I have been hired as a tour guide with TrekAmerica, and I am leaving one week from today.

My training consists of three weeks; one in their L.A. office, and two on the road, where I will get to experience what it's like to be a passenger on the trips that I will be leading. Just for the training, I'll get to tour San Francisco, Yosemite, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Moab, Arches National Park, and Las Vegas. Yes, I'm very excited. And feeling a little overwhelmed, as this has all happened so fast.

If you still care to read my stuff, you can catch my articles in Southwest Brewing News. I'll probably start a new travel blog, which I'll post here as soon as I have it. In the meantime, come out to the pub either Wednesday or Friday to wish me farewell!

Second First Draft

2008-06-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

Time flies. Sorry to lead with such a cliche, but I can't think of a more creative way to say it. I can't believe this weekend is already July 4th. What happened to the summer? Before we know it, summer will be gone and it will be October. Which might not be such a bad thing, because you know what happens in October?

Tulsa Press Club hosts their annual fundraiser, First Draft. Last year was the first time I attended this event, and I have to slap myself on the hand for missing the previous years. If you like beer, well....I think you know where this is going.

The date is a mere 94 days away, on October 3rd. This year they've moved the day from Thursday night to a Friday night. Perhaps it's to accomodate those that work Friday morning and were tired of facing their boss hungover, with alcohol seeping out of their skin. Good for the nine-to-fivers, bad for me (and other bar employees).

How cool is First Draft? Cool enough to have a myspace. Yeah!

Mori-what-o?

2008-06-23T21:01:00.000-07:00

Over the past couple weeks, I've gone to two different restaurants and encountered a 'confusion,' shall I say, over a particular beer. The beer responsible for the misunderstandings here is Morimoto Soba Ale. I figured since this beer is capable of confusing restaurant owners and bartenders, it was worth writing about in order to add some clarification.

I suppose the name could be a bit misleading in regards to its' origin. Morimoto....sounds Japanese, yes? The beer is actually brewed by Rogue Brewery in Oregon; one in a series in which Rogue collaborated with Japanese chef, Masaharu Morimoto to create a new line of beers. Other beers in this series include Morimoto Black Obi Soba and Moriomoto Imperial Pilsner. The elegant 22 ounce bottle features Rogue's signature screenprint design, only rather than the typical portraits Rogue generally depicts, this label presents artistic Japanese lettering.

According to Rogue's website, soba, also known as buckwheat, is a fruit commonly found in Japanese cuisine. Wikipedia lists soba as a type of Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour. Not really sure which one I should deem more credible. Anyhow, it's origin is Japanese, at least that part is consistent. I assume it's for these reasons this beer is often found at Asian-themed restaurants.

For the beer itself, this is one I particularly enjoy. Yes, I must admit, part of it is because I'm a sucker for pretty packaging. The taste is very light, clean, crisp, and faintly sweet. It's one of those beers that I could drink on any occasion. I could drink it in the rain. And in the dark. And on a train. And in a car. And in a tree. It is so good, so good, you see!

So there I was, trying to order this beer at restaurant "A," let us call it. I believe I asked for the "Rogue Morimoto." I watched as our server walked behind the bar and grabbed a bottle which turned to be a Rogue Mocha Porter. Arriving at the table, he explained that this was the only Rogue beer they carried, and figured I must have been confused when I ordered my beer. When I pointed to Morimoto on their menu, he said, yes, they had it, but it wasn't Rogue. He proceeded to tell me I would like the Mocha Porter, because it was very similar to the Morimoto. Um, yeah. Fortunately for this guy, I'm not one who enjoys calling people out when they're dead wrong. I told him thanks, but, I really did prefer to drink the Morimoto. When he brought out the correct beer, I believe he noticed it was indeed, labeled as Rogue, yet seemed unwilling to admit his mistake.

Onto restaurant "B," another Asian bistro in town. Clearly demonstrated by the ornate exterior of the building and the elaborate interior, much attention to detail has gone into this place. What was overlooked, however, was their drink menu, where they have Morimoto labeled as a French beer. Not sure how they let this one slide by, a seemingly minor mistake in the scheme of things, but come on, how hard is it to see this beer is clearly not from France?

Everyone makes their share of mistakes. The moral of the story, as Confucius say: a man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it, is committing another mistake.

Oklahoma City McNellies Open!

2008-06-19T07:26:00.000-07:00

It's officially official: the new store in Oklahoma City is open! Some people have been looking for more information, so here's what I know. The address and phone number: 1100 Classen Drive, 405-601-PINT(7468). Beer selection is just as vast as the Tulsa location, with 360 varieties; the biggest selection in Oklahoma City. They're planning the same specials as the Tulsa store, such as the infamous $3 burger nights on Wednesdays and Pint Nights. They'll also be selling those pesky mugs you've seen or own hanging in the Tulsa store. So if you're one of those who is severely dissapointed you can't order one in Tulsa (we ran out of space for them) you have a chance to get your name on one for OKC. I haven't been to visit the new location yet, but the feedback has been good so far. If you're in the area, stop by and check it.

Beer University, Round II

2008-06-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

This upcoming Tuesday, June 17th!!! Last time I checked, there were still a few spots left. Same deal as last time, only we'll be drinking weiss beers in honor of the summer months. Be there or be lame. 382-PINT.

The Little Engine That Could

2008-06-13T10:32:00.000-07:00

Just over four years ago, Elliot Nelson opened his first business in downtown Tulsa. At the time of the opening, this area of town was almost desolate. Downtown had a bad rap; a place to avoid after dark, a haven for the homeless and criminals.

McNellies: if you build it, they will come. A massive load of funds and labor were put into renovating the old building at 1st and Elgin, which is now home to "probably Tulsa's best pub." In the short history of McNellies, the downtown that Tulsans know today has come to life with the addition of more businesses, nightlife, and the new BOK arena, due to open this fall. Maybe that homeless guy will still hassle you on the corner, but some things never change.

The success of McNellies has been so monumental that Elliot has duplicated his idea, opening a second location in downtown Oklahoma City. The new pub is in the Plaza Court building at 10th and Walker. The new location has two floors with a bar on each, and a mezzanine overlooking the first floor. The anticipation of this new pub has been building for over two years, having an original opening date targeted for St. Patrick's Day of 2007. Finally the location has opened their doors this week, and Oklahoma City locals can now enjoy what the Tulsans have been enjoying for the past few years.

I guess the only bad news about this story is that McNellies, a former one-of-a-kind Tulsa treasure, is now a chain. While two locations hardly gives it a commercialized feel, I guess we'll know we have to worry when the staff is required to wear a minimum of 15 pieces of flare.

Beer Belly

2008-05-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

Flipping through my Runners World magazine, I notice several advertisements implying that if you are one who enjoys an active lifestyle, Michelob Ultra is the beer for you. I started thinking about this clever marketing ploy by Anheuser-Busch, and it's pretty clear that our overtly obese population has bought into this idea of beers with 'light' labels. Often, I have customers (who half the time don't look like they enjoy an active lifestyle, but rather have a heaping plate full of sweet potato fries dripping with grease and a couple extra sides of ranch dressing in front of them) irritated because I don't have any 'light' beers on tap they are familiar with. I suggest other beers that are low in calories, but I sense their suspicion as they gaze at the tap handle and seem to think "Well it doesn't say light." Oh, my bad, you must know everything about nutrition because you saw a Miller Lite commercial.

Usually those who consume beers with the 'light' labels drink several of them in one sitting. I guess they would have to in order to get a buzz, since they're usually 3.2% domestics (one of the joys of living in Oklahoma). It really defeats the purpose of drinking a light beer if you have to consume twice as much to get the alcohol consumption you're looking for. Unless you're on weight watchers or some other strict diet, the likelihood that you're keeping track of calories is slim. So that extra 10 or 20 calories you're saving with your light beer probably isn't doing you much good in the long run.

I was going to post different calorie contents of beers for this blog, but then I decided that it really doesn't matter. I'm not going to drink a beer based on the calorie content, and I don't advocate that practice. If you're going to drink a beer, you may as well drink one you're going to enjoy.

Rumor Has It

2008-05-20T14:12:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of hype about Tulsa's new (and only) brewery, Marshall Brewing. For months and months, you've been hearing, "Coming soon...in the near future....any day now." This should be the last 'coming soon' notice, because the beer is kegged and ready for drinking.

Some of you may have had the chance to try a pint or two of Marshall's beers this past weekend at the American Craft Beer Festival. Eric Marshall had two of his beers available for sampling: Sundown Wheat, and McNellies Pub Ale. For those who haven't heard, Marshall has co-branding a beer with McNellies, which will be available not only at McNellies, but any other place that chooses to carry it, as well as in bottles for liquor stores. I've been told that we will have Marshall's beers on tap at McNellies within the next one to two weeks. I've got my fingers crossed that this information is accurate! Keep your eyes and ears open for the latest.

Beer Fest!

2008-05-15T15:31:00.000-07:00

Throughout the year, Tulsa hosts quite a few festivals. There's Mayfest, Oktoberfest, D-fest, Jazz-fest, and Scottish Fest, to name a few. Whenever these events roll around, one of big highlights is being able to attend an outdoor celebration and drink beer. When you think about it, many more people are likely to buy a beer or five at Mayfest than a piece of art. If you're one of those people guilty of attending cultural festivals for the mere pleasure of drinking beer, it's your lucky day (well, weekend, actually). In conjunction with Mayfest and the Blue Dome Arts Festival, McNellies is hosting the first annual American Craft Beer Festival.

The festival begins Saturday afternoon (12pm) and offers 30 different American craft beers. Marshall Brewing will debut their much anticipated beer at the festival this weekend. A $10 charge will gain you access to festival, a commemorative mug, and 3 beer samples. After that, fill up your mug with any of the beers for $4. The festival will last until 8pm Saturday night, then from 12-4 on Sunday. The weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend, so head on downtown and enjoy the festivals galore!

Dinner Party

2008-05-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

McNellies is hosting a Choc Brewing beer dinner this upcoming Monday, May 12th. The event will consist of a specialty four course dinner paired with an assortment of Choc beers. The menu is as follows:

First Course - Lump Crab Cakes Served on a Bed of Mixed Greens and Drizzled with a Roasted Red Pepper Coulis.
Beer Pairing - Waving Wheat

Second Course - Potato Leek Soup with Bleu Cheese Crostini.
Beer Pairing - 1919 Choc

Third Course - Pasta Carbonara Forestiere Topped with Smoky Bacon, Wild Forest Mushrooms in a Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce. Garnished with Red Pepper Flakes and Fresh Parsley. Accompanied by Garlic Toast.
Beer Pairing - Basement Batch Pale Ale

Fourth Course - Black Lager Baked Bon Bons Topped with a Chocolate Ganache
Beer Pairing - Miner's Mishap

Michael Lalli, head brewmaster of Choc Brewing, will be attending the dinner in order to offer his extensive beer knowledge, and answer any questions. I had the chance to visit with him a few weeks back when I toured the brewery, and I think anyone would enjoy meeting him and listening to him talk about beer.

The dinner begins at 7pm and the cost is $40 per person (tax and gratuity not included). To make a reservation, call the pub at 382-PINT, or email info@mcnellies.com.

Stone Brewing

2008-05-05T20:42:00.000-07:00

I was taking a hiatus from updating this blog for a couple weeks, as I spent time on the beach in California, with my thoughts far disengaged from McNellies, dismissing any thoughts or desires of beer. Well, for the most part anyway. During my last couple days on vacation, I learned that I was in close proximity of the Stone Brewery, located in Escondido. I believe it would have been deemed a sin for me to not visit, so my friend Cera and I made the short trip to the brewery.

As soon as we walked through the front doors, I felt like I had left one paradise and entered a new one. The staff greeted us with friendly nods and welcomes while I gawked at our surroundings. The front room was full of Stone merchandise, bartering t-shirts, novelty pint glasses, cycling jerseys, belt buckles, and other branded products. As we walked through the restaurant and bar, making our way to the outdoor seating area, I noticed how much consideration had gone into every detail of the massive property. As might be expected, the walls were made of stone, with their signature gargoyle mascot etched above, gracing the room with its grandeur. Our outdoor seating area was surrounded by an ornate lush garden, and I caught a glimpse of the horticulturist, a Rastafarian looking man with a long gray beard, tending the plants.

The food menu was just as impressive as everything else I had seen so far. Many items offered were made with local and organic foods, and a handful used beer as an ingredient. I could go on and on about how great the food was, but I imagine most of you who are reading this are far from Escondido, and it would be cruel of me to make you want something you can't have. So moving on to the beer...

The beer menu listed 32 beers on tap, ten of which were made at the brewery. Another 71 beers were available in bottles, and of all the beers offered, I had only heard of a handful. Choosing only one seemed an impossible task, and I felt a genuine understanding for those that come to McNellies for the first time, overwhelmed with so many options. I ordered a sampler, which consisted of the 'core four' Stone beers: Stone Pale Ale, Stone Smoked Porter, Stone IPA, and Stone Arrogant Bastard.

The Stone brewery is known for producing high quality "big character" beers, with high alcohol percentages and a focus on the hop notes. Stone Brewing is probably best known for the Arrogant Bastard Ale, with a commercial description that reads:

"This is an aggressive beer. You probably won't like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory ---maybe something with a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it's made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beer will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think multi-million dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better. Perhaps you're mouthing your words as you read this. "

As you can tell by this description, the folks at Stone Brewing have a great sense of humor, as well as marketing tactics. According to Wikipedia, Stone Brewing is consistently rated as one of the best brewers in the U.S. and world by Ratebeer.com and BeerAdvocate.com. And after a visit, I can see why. All of the beer we tried was excellent, and the brewery tour was pretty amazing as well.

I could have stayed there for days, weeks, months. Cera pretty much had to drag me out of the door. Stone beer isn't quite as unattainable as their food, as it's available in 26 states, but unfortunately, Oklahoma isn't one of them. So, next time you're out of state, I would highly suggest you try and get your hands on some.

Choc Brewery

2008-04-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

Last week I made a trip to Krebs, Oklahoma. You may be asking yourself, "Why might one visit such a seemingly desolate place?" Although Krebs is by no means a tourist destination in itself, there is at least one good reason to go: beer.

Krebs is home to the Choc Brewery, the oldest brewery in the state of Oklahoma. The brewery was founded by Italian immigrant Pietro Piegari, who came to the mining town of Krebs in the early 1900's. After suffering an injury in a mining accident, Pietro was left without work and began brewing beer with a recipe he learned from the local Native American tribe, the Choctaw Indians. His beer became a popular offering for the local miners, and Pietro, who later changed his name to Pete Prichard, opened a restaurant serving Italian food and Choc beer.

Pete's Place is run today by Pete's grandson, Joe Prichard. The restaurant holds seating for 500, with small private dining areas spanning the majority of the restaurant. The food is served family style, with traditional Italian fare. My advice on the lamb fries: eat first then ask later. Don't make the same mistake I did and come early, cause they don't open the kitchen until 4pm unless it's Sunday. Fortunately, I was offered some good beers to hold me over.

Attached to Pete's Place is the Choc Brewery, separated by a connecting glass door. Choc currently offers four quality craft beers available to the public year round: Choc 1919, their original American unfiltered wheat ale; Basement Batch, a traditional pale ale; Waving Wheat, a Belgium style wheat beer brewed with coriander and citrus and Miner Mishap, a German-style black lager. Choc also brews a couple beers exclusively for Pete's Place: Miners Light and a Peach Beer. Plans to add two more beers to their collection are in the works, which will be called Last Laugh and Pietro Piegari.

If you want to take a road trip, the Choc Brewery is about a two hour drive from Tulsa, and it's definitely worth the visit. But you don't have to drive that far for the beer; McNellies offers Waving Wheat and Basement Batch on tap, and the other two Choc beers are available in bottles. Support your local brewery and have a few pints.

April Specials

2008-04-03T17:29:00.000-07:00

The new month has arrived and that means...new specials! So everyone (K-Brick) can stop whining about how we haven't had anything for a couple of weeks and once again save a buck or two on a good brew.

Currently we have 16-ounce bottles of Ayinger Oktoberfest on special for $3.50. This is an excellent beer special, one of the better ones we've had in a while. The Ayinger Oktoberfest is a German lager with a hearty malt character. It's an orange-amber color with a fruity sweetness and a slightly bitter aftertaste. In addition to being a tasty brew, the bottle cap (pictured) is pretty exquisite as well. Ask your bartender or server to save it for you if you're into that kind of thing. This is one of those 'while supplies last' deals, so I wouldn't be surprised if they go very quickly.

Our other special is Boulevard Dry Stout for $2.50. We just got this one back on draft, which is better than the bottled version because nitrogen is used (versus the carbonated bottle) which creates a creamier body and a beautiful pour similar to Guinness. This beer has a dry, clean body with a complex flavor. John Roux-Lough, former president of Guinness Importing Co. describes the Boulevard Stout as having an American body, but an Irish soul. This was sampled during Beer University, and the Boulevard rep suggested trying it with an aged cheddar or cheesecake.

So there you have it. We also have some new beers on draft this month, but I don't have a beer menu with me, so you'll have to come in and check out the selection yourself.

Campers with Class

2008-04-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

This weekend my boyfriend and I went on a camping trip to the Wichita Mountains. We had settled at the campgrounds and were sitting by our campfire when a camping cohort embarked upon our territory, asking to borrow a corkscrew. Although there were signs clearly posted indicating the consumption of alcohol was prohibited on the campgrounds, we did, indeed, have one to lend. "I'll trade you an ESB," the camper offered. I was quite taken aback by this statement. Perhaps I'm not giving enough credit to the typical Oklahoma camper, but I dare say that most wouldn't have known what this guy was offering. It seemed presumptuous of him to believe we knew what an ESB was. I mean that in an endearing manner.

For those that aren't familiar with an ESB, here's a description taken from beeradvocate.com:
Extra Special/Strong Bitter (ESB)
ESBs are essentially more aggressive and more balanced Bitters, both in alcohol and hop character, but nothing overpowering. Color range will be similar, though leaning towards the darker end of the scale; dark golds to copper. Low carbonation. Malts tend to be more pronounced, often toasty and fruity, with maybe some notes diacetyl. And despite "bitter" being in its name, ESBs are not really all that bitter. They key to an ESB is balance.

The beer this guy had to offer was a Sierra Nevada ESB, a newly released spring seasonal beer by the California craft brewery. It's the breweries variation of the ESB style, labeled as an Early Spring Beer. Ken Grossman, owner of Sierra Nevada brewery explains, "Our ESB blends the best of English tradition with the boldness of West Coast style. Featuring English ingredients, we added a Sierra Nevada twist by leaving the ale unfiltered, which enhances mouthfeel and hop aroma creating a slightly reddish-copper hue."

I found the beer to be very tasty, not to mention a vast improvement over the lukewarm Rolling Rock we had brought along. It was the first time I had seen this beer, and McNellies doesn't carry it quite yet. If I had to venture a guess, I would assume we will have it sometime in the near future. .

86 Specials

2008-03-28T14:31:00.000-07:00

We haven't had any beer specials for the past week, and I don't believe we're going to have any for the remaining few days of the month. Following the onslaught of St. Patrick's Day, we ran out of our special beers of the month.

For me, it's almost refreshing to not offer a special for once. It gets monotonous pouring the same beer over and over again, and changing the same keg multiple times in one night. I also think it's nice that people choose a beer that they prefer to drink, not just the cheapest one. However, many people disagree with my adoration of the lack of specials. I've had multiple people who have been flabbergasted once told there is no special. They act like I've told them a family member is terminally ill.

All will resume back to normal come April, which is only a few days away. Generally our specials cost around $3. We have quite a few beers on the menu for $4. If that extra dollar is going to break the bank, perhaps you shouldn't be in a bar anyhow, eh?

Hooray beer!

2008-03-21T23:44:00.000-07:00

Before I started this blog, I basically just drank beer without thinking too much about it. Nowadays, I feel guilty if I drink a beer with a 'devil may care' attitude. I feel like I should be taking notes, researching the brewery, observing the yeast particles, blah blah blah. But sometimes I miss the feeling of just knocking back a few and getting on with my day. Today, I decided to hell with it; it's beautiful outside, I just want to sit on my porch and drink a beer. That's all.

I opened my refrigerator and reached to the very back where I stored a few Red Stripes that had been left by a friend who stayed with me over the holidays. When she left them, I thought they would most likely sit there and waste space. With all my other options, the likelihood that I would grab a Red Stripe seemed slim. But today, it seemed like the perfect choice.

I grabbed the stocky little bottle and cracked it open. I didn't bother making one single observation or even pouring it in a glass, I just drank it. It's not a bad beer by nature, nor is it anything extraordinary. And for that, I enjoyed it immensely.

4 years and counting

2008-03-13T17:40:00.000-07:00

Tuesday night McNellies turned 4 years old, and we celebrated in style with the first Beer University. There was a great turnout, probably 50 or so people eager to learn about beer. We sampled a total of 28 different porters and stouts in a time span of two hours. At the beginning of class, everyone was very attentive, but after about the 10th beer, the room was buzzing (literally). Here's a list of the beers we sampled, in order:

Samuel Smith Taddy Porter
St. Peter's Old Style Porter
Anchor Porter
Boulevard Porter
Left Hand Black Jack Porter
Sierra Nevada Porter
Samuel Adams Honey Porter
Rogue Mocha Porter
Fuller's London Porter
Guinness Extra Stout
Murphy's Stout
O'Hara's Irish Stout
Old No. 38 Stout
Boulevard Stout
Bridgeport Black Strap Stout
Rogue Shakespeare Stout
Samuel Smith Imperial Stout
Old Rasputin Imperial Stout
Rogue XS Imperial Stout
Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout
Great Divide Yeti Oak Aged Imperial Stout
Samuel Adams Cream Stout
St. Peter's Cream Stout
Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout
Rogue Chocolate Stout
Mackeson XXX Stout
Left Hand Milk Stout
Guinness Draught Stout

Here's a comparison of my first beer notes versus my last beer notes:

My scanner didn't do the best job of making these visible; but you get the idea. After 28 beers, I have to give myself a pat on the back for even being able to pick up my pen and write anything, regardless how hard it may be to decipher. I believe a good time was had by all, and I look forward to the next "educational meeting."

40 Yo'

2008-03-07T23:11:00.000-08:00

What's the absolute worst, most ridiculous, embarrassing beer you can picture yourself drinking? Although there's likely a heap of beers that fit this category, personally I can't think of anything worse than a "beer" that is commonly served in a 40-ounce bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag, sold dirt cheap, and often purchased in nickels and dimes. Yep, I'm talking about the lowest of low: malt liquors.

A malt liquor is an American beer style characterized by high alcohol content, light body and color, and very little hop character. They are brewed with high amounts of malts, heartier yeast strains, dextrose, and corn or rice. Some breweries use special enzymes that make virtually all the sugars fermentable, therefore artificially inducing a higher alcohol content. The average alcohol content of a malt liquor ranges from 6%-9%.

Malt liquors tend to have a bad reputation. Probably due to a combination of the horrible taste, and the fact they're the beverage of choice for the homeless and unemployed. The seedier the neighborhood, the more crushed cans of Steel Reserve scattered about street. A larger bottle with a high alcohol content sold at a low price = more bang for your buck.

I was inspired to write this blog after a night at Arnies, when my friend suggested I order a Mickey's. I didn't know what Mickey's was, and come to find out, it's a malt liquor. It was served in a small squatty green bottle that looked more like ginger ale than beer. The label read "fine malt liquor;" what an oxymoron. The suggestion was made not because of the quality of the beer, but because there's a riddle on the bottom of the cap. Their website is pretty flashy as well, so at least I got some entertainment from it, but the beer...not good.

For some reason, we have 40 ounce bottles of Old English stocked at the pub. I assume we carry them as a bit of a joke, kind of like the domestic tall boys. Strangely enough, some people get really excited when they see them. And when one person orders one, they tend to turn into some kind of a fad. As if one person walking about the place with a forty in hand doesn't look ridiculous enough, I suppose other people spot them and think, I too, desire to look like a tactless imbecile. I guess if you want to get a laugh from your beer choice, this is the one to order.

Beer University

2008-03-04T14:09:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, March 11 at 7pm, McNellies will host our first ever Beer University class. This is a new bi-monthly event, presented by Elliot Nelson, McNellies owner and beer maestro. The class will span a few hours covering the intricacies of Stouts and Porters, a subject inspired by the St. Patrick's Day season.

During the course, we will sample somewhere between 20 to 30 beers. You'll get to extend your enjoyment beyond the sensory pleasures of drinking beer to learning about the different beer styles, brewing techniques, history of breweries, packaging and labeling, and many other tidbits of information that you probably never thought about. If your memory is anything like mine when alcohol is involved, I'd recommend taking notes if you want to remember anything the next day.

When I was hired at McNellies, I was "required" to go through a beer class. Standard protocol. It was then that I realized that my job was pretty damn cool. If only all my college requirements could have been so fun. But nooooo, instead I was required to take courses such as statistics and micro-economics, something I've used again....uh, never. Learning about beer and drinking beer seems far more entertaining than trying to calculate the standard deviation from the square root of the variance.

So, join us one week from today to learn about something fun that you may actually deem useful. Impress your friends and make some new ones. Practice drinking good beer for St. Patrick's Day. Seating is limited, so be sure and reserve your spot as soon as possible.

Cost of a college education: $35,000
Cost of Beer University: $30
A night at the pub getting hammered and calling it educational: priceless.

The Countdown Begins

2008-03-03T13:41:00.000-08:00

St Patrick's Day is coming soon, and unless you live under a rock, you already know that it's a pretty big day for McNellies. You may have noticed regular ads in the Urban Tulsa throughout the year reminding you to “get your liver ready” for the big day. You only have two weeks left to prepare, so don't let yourself down.

To celebrate the holiday, McNellies will have the streets will be blocked off (nothing really unusual for downtown these days), a huge inflatable Guinness pint will grace the front of the building, beer tents will be set up outside, and bagpipers will be marching through playing their festive tunes. Enough people to form a small army will flock to the pub in their favorite green clothing, and everyone will joyfully exclaim how proud they are to be "Irish."

The funny thing about St. Patrick's Day at McNellies is that we rarely serve any good beer. The tall boy domestics are (sadly) the biggest sellers by a long shot. Last year I recall looking at the boxes upon boxes of Anheuser-Busch products and thinking we couldn't possibly, POSSIBLY sell all that crappy beer. Yet, to my utter surprise and horror, we sold every single one, even ran out. I'm not sure which was more disturbing: the thought of having to look at a horde of green Bud Light cans for the months following St. Patrick's Day if we didn't sell them, or learning that when the masses are faced with a huge selection of good beer, they opt for Bud Light.

St. Patrick's Day at McNellies may not be the best day for people to see what the pub is really all about (read: beer), but it will be a guaranteed good time for all those who wish to paint the town green in spirit of the best holiday of the year.

Leap for Larkin

2008-02-29T10:40:00.000-08:00

Tonight our favorite Irish band, Larkin will be playing upstairs at McNellies. The Guinness will be flowing freely (not actually free, but cheap at $4 for an imperial pint) and the crowd will be full of Irish cheer. Their infectious enthusiasm for all things Irish is a great way to get geared up for St. Patrick's Day.

Larkin is a 6-member band from Tulsa who plays traditional Irish folk tunes and uses instruments such as the tin whistle and fiddle. Vocalist Chad Malone bursts with charisma as he roars out lyrics in an Irish accent. The more pints they consume, the more difficult they are to understand. It's all part of their charm.

They begin at 10pm, or "whenever they're good and ready," as their poster indicates. So come out, raise your pint, and be sure to slosh it on the floor so all my customers downstairs will complain about getting dripped on all night.

Afterall, the 29th is an extra day added to the year. Spend your bonus day getting bolloxed with the Irish.

Great Scot(ch)!

2008-02-22T14:20:00.000-08:00

McNellies is notorious for a great beer selection, but we also carry an extensive assortment of scotches. In order to encourage people to try some different varieties, we have recently added a scotch flight to our menu. The cost is $30, and you get to choose 5 out of the 7 following single malt scotches:

Talisker
Caol Ila
Glenkinchie
Oban
Lagavulin
Dalwhinnie
Cragganmore

Regretfully, my knowledge of scotch is inadequate and therefore I have no personal testimony of these. If you click on the photograph, you'll be able to read the commercial descriptions. Perhaps one of these gloomy days when I'm itching with boredom, I'll head down to the pub and try one of these flights.

Big Sky Brewery

2008-02-20T13:14:00.000-08:00

Oklahoma has recently acquired some new beers from the Montana brewery, Big Sky. The Big Sky Brewery offers four varieties year-round, all which are now available at McNellies. The Big Sky Brewery has themed their beers with Montana wildlife, and I choose the one with the most interesting name to try first: Moose Drool.

I'm not sure why the name of this beer drew me to try it. You would think with such a disgusting name and repulsive picture on the label, it would have the opposite effect. Perhaps it's the train wreck theory that led me to try it. Anyhow, as distasteful as the packaging is, I found the contents to be quite the opposite.

Moose Drool is a brown ale that poured with a small head, spare lacing, and a murky dark brown appearance. It's darker in color than other brown ales that come to mind, such as Newcastle, Avery's Ellie Brown Ale, and Tilburgs Dutch Brown Ale. It's a lightly hopped beer with a smooth taste and 5.3% alcohol content. It's brewed with pale, caramel, chocolate, and whole black malts and Kent Goldings, Liberty, and Willamette hops. I found the beer to be very well balanced, not too sweet or hoppy, with substantial flavor. It's known to be the best selling beer from the brewery, and the best selling beer brewed in Montana.

Other beers from the brewery include Scapegoat Pale Ale, Trout Slayer Ale, and Big Sky IPA, as well as two seasonals: Powder Hound Winter Ale and Summer Honey Seasonal Ale. I gave the Big Sky IPA a try last night and wasn't a huge fan. I found the aroma to be very pleasing, but the taste was all hops, too much in my opinion. I know, I know, it's an IPA and therefore that's what it's supposed to be, but I felt like I was eating one of those hop pellets again.

If you want to try some new beers, get on down to McNellies. With a name like Moose Drool, you must be curious to try one.

Drop The Bomb On Me Baby

2008-02-10T15:41:00.000-08:00

One of the most popular "shots," if you can even call it that, at McNellies are Irish Car Bombs. They are particularly favored by the staff, which should be a good indication they're something to write home about. For those who are unfamiliar with the Irish Car Bomb, allow me to explain how this shot works.

A pint glass is filled about half way full of Guinness. A a mixture of an Irish Cream and Irish whiskey, usually Baileys and Jameson, are poured into a shot glass. The shot glass is dropped into the glass of Guinness, then immediately chugged. You can't take this shot slowly or it will began to curdle, which is pretty disgusting. I don't even like the word curdle, much less the effect. But when taken properly, this shot is quite tasty and fun.

As the name may indicate, this is a rather potent concoction. It's one of those drinks that tends to sneak up on you, so drink with caution. It will definetley get the job done. Normally a rather pricey drink at $6.50, this week Irish Car Bombs are on special for $4.00! So, come on in and knock back a few. And if you have a few too many, take a cab! City cab: 582-3333 or Yellow cab:587-6611

Cerveza de Guatemala

2008-02-07T10:42:00.000-08:00

Right now my boyfriend is in Guatemala. Although coffee is their primary export (and the purpose of his visit), even good ol' Guatemala produces and exports cerveza. So I thought I'd drink a Guatemalan beer in his honor; the only one we carry at McNellies: Bahia.

Bahia is a premium imported lager brewed by Cerveceria Centro Americana, and available in select markets across the United States. It's packaged in a clear bottle with a Marlin pictured on the label. It's comparable to Corona, or "Crapona," as I've heard it called. Honestly, I didn't expect it to be great, so I can't say I was disappointed. The taste wasn't unpleasant or offensive, but there wasn't much substance to it. It has a slightly sour flavor and a bit of skunkiness. Due to the warm climate of Central American countries, brewers don't grow barley or hops, and instead have them imported. They typically make light, basic lagers intended simply as thirst-quenchers. So, for what it is, it wasn't too bad. If I ever find myself roaming the streets of Guatemala, parched with thirst, I would gladly welcome the sight of a bottle of Bahia.

Fire Sale!

2008-02-06T10:04:00.000-08:00

We need to make room for some new beers, so we are going to offer the following pints at a special "fire sale" price of $3 until we run out:

* Paulaner Hefe-Weis
* Paulaner Lager
* Boulevard Porter
* Pyramid Snowcap
* Bridgeport Ebenezer

The outgoing beers will be replaced by:

* Leinenkugel Red
* Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat
* Leinenkugel Creamy Dark
* Bridgeport Beertown Brown
* Bridgeport ESB

Also, for the month of February, pints of Harp and Abita Amber are on special for $3.

Fuller's Vintage Ale

2008-01-29T13:50:00.000-08:00

The year was 1997 when Fuller's brewery of England released the first edition of their Vintage Ale. Every subsequent year in November, Fuller's has released a new edition of the award-winning brew. There are many characteristics about this beer which make it so exceptionally outstanding.

The packaging is the first thing that catches your eye. The single bottle comes in a ornate deep crimson colored box, giving the indication of a high class product. Open the box and you'll pull out a 16.9 ounce brown bottle of the Fullers Vintage Ale, with a issue number marked on the front of the label. Included in the box is a small card with a guide to the previous Vintage Ales that form the classic range. Essentially, the beer is the same each year with slight variations.

Only one batch of the beer is made each year, and it's much sought after by beer aficionados. My bottle was numbered 86,998 out of 100,000, so although it is a limited edition, it's not that hard to get your hands on a bottle. The price tag may be off-putting to some; it goes for $14 a bottle at McNellies. If you're willing to splurge a little, it's well worth it.

The Fuller's Vintage Ale is one of the most complex and flavorful beers I've had the pleasure of drinking. It's a beautiful deep velvet color, and features a full-bodied, smooth and creamy texture. Slightly sweet with hints of fruitiness and citrus fused with caramel and spicy notes are some of the taste words that came to mind as I drank the bottle. The alcohol content is rather high at 8.5%, which creates a nice warming effect. A pleasant lingering aftertaste followed each swill of the liquid.

The Vintage Ale is bottle conditioned, reaching it's peak condition in three to four years. The only way I'll be able to properly enjoy this ale is if I happen to come across an edition from 2004. I know myself well enough to know that I can't hold onto a beer of this caliber for four years without giving into the temptation of cracking it open. I'm weak, what can I say?

Frosted Glass

2008-01-17T11:22:00.000-08:00

Last night I overheard some guy asking for a frosted glass with his beer. When he was told we don't have frosted glasses, he seemed astonished. "But you're a beer bar!" he exclaimed. He was drinking Heineken Light, by the way.

I was tempted to approach the fellow and explain to him we don't have frosted glasses for a reason. The reason being that BECAUSE we are a beer bar. Drinking a beer that's overly chilled has multiple negative side affects. It numbs your palate, masks the flavor, interferes with the aromas, and alters the serving temperature. Pouring your brew into a frosted glass causes water condensation on the inside of the glass, diluting your beer. Condensation on the outside of the glass also occurs, leaving your beer lying in a soppy puddle.

Not everyone will understand or care that drinking beer from a frosted glass is improper. But even if we did want to suit those people, we don't have the space to chill our glasses. In addition to the 60 draft beers McNellies carries, we have another 297 in bottles. Storing 357 beers is no easy feat. Also, keep in mind, for each bottled variety, we stock at the very least 8. If you do the math, that's 2,376 cold bottles of beer we are storing in our coolers, plus 60 kegs, as well as back-up kegs. So, yeah, our coolers are pretty much full.

Ephemere

2008-01-16T13:57:00.000-08:00

It doesn't happen very often where I drink a beer I've never had before and say, "Euerka! This is my new favorite!" Well, this happened recently, or at least I thought so at the time. And, to be honest, I didn't actually say eureka.

Late one night after we closed the bar, a co-worker and I decided to split one of the newer beers we have at McNellies. We picked out a large bottle of Ephemere by the Canadian brewery, Unibroue. Unibroue has a reputation for producing an exotic collection of outstanding ales. The Ephemere is one in their series of fruit-based beers, this one being apple. Although I highly enjoy other beers by Unibroue, I didn't expect I would like this fruity flavored brew. We cracked it open and I must say, I was floored. I absolutely loved it. I raved about it to anyone who would listen, and went to the liquor store the following day and bought every bottle on the shelf (which, for the record, was three). I couldn't wait to share the tasty beverage with my friends and family.

The Ephemere is packaged in a 25.4 ounce pressurized bottle with a cork. The enchanting label features golden foil lettering and a female pixie perched upon colorful vines with mountains in the background. The beer is brewed with apple juice, coriander, and curacao. The heavy aroma of green apples can be detected from a few feet away. It pours a straw yellow color with a full frothy head, which diminishes fairly quickly. There seemed to be a high amount of carbonation, with lots of bubbles in the glass, having a spritzy quality. The apple flavor was very dominant, but it wasn't as sweet or offensive as I would have expected. I found it to taste more like a beer than many of the other fruit beers, which often demonstrate a sticky syrup quality.

I don't know the actual translation of the word Ephemere, but ephemera is listed in the dictionary as "things that exist or enjoyed for only a short time; something transitory; lasting a day." This seemed to prove true when I drank the beer for the second time. I'm not sure what happened, but I didn't get the same thrill I had the first time. Perhaps it was because I had low expectations the first time I tried it, whereas the second time I had high expectations. Whatever the case, I find the name of the beer to be very suiting.

Breck beer

2008-01-11T08:06:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I picked up a flier for an art reception taking place this weekend. I was told the artist who had dropped them off was "real cool," kind of in a sarcastic manner. He said he was from "Breck." As in Breckenridge. I've never been to Breckenridge myself, so I'm not familiar with the lingo, but I am familiar with the beer. At least one of them, anyway: the Breckenridge Avalanche.

The Breckenridge Brewery was opened in February of 1990 by Richard Squire, who had a vision to ski all day and drink great beer every night. Over the past 17 years, his dream has turned into a reality, growing his business from a small brewpub to one of the most thriving craft beer breweries in the nation. The Breckenridge Brewery produces five brews year-round, and three seasonal varieties. Although most people probably associate the word 'avalanche' with winter and therefore would think it to be a seasonal brew, that's not the case. The Avalanche is available all year, and is the number one selling beer from the brewery.

The Avalanche is an amber style ale. The web site states an aroma of pale grains, but I thought it smelled more like socks. There was minimal carbonation in the brownish amber colored beer, and a head that diminished very quickly. A nice mixture of sweet malts and bittering hops made for a very smooth, well balanced beer. It had a taste of prunes and caramel with a clean, dry finish. Overall, I thought it had a pretty good flavor, although it was hard to get past that foul aroma that was hitting my nose. It did, however slightly diminish as the beer had time to air out. Although it wasn't one of my favorite beers, I'd be willing to drink it again.

If you want to give this one a shot, you don't have to travel to "Breck" to get one; it's available at McNellies. I might suggest holding your nose.

Sam Adams Utopias

2008-01-06T17:09:00.000-08:00

Often customers peruse through the beer list at McNellies and are shocked to find a beer priced at $125. When I point to the colossal 3 liter (101.4 ounce) bottle of Chimay Jeroboam placed atop the beer cooler, people understand the price is based on quantity. So I can imagine the astonishment people would experience if we carried the strongest and most expensive beer in the world, Samuel Adams Utopias. Last week, thanks to an avid beer enthusiast, I had the pleasure of drinking this exclusive brew.

When I first heard about the Sam Adams Utopias, I thought it to be pretty unbelievable: a beer with 27% alcohol and a suggested retail price of $120-$140. How is this even possible? Once I started to research this beer, I learned of the intricate details which went into crafting such an elite beer. It's the most unique and complex in a series of brews by Sam Adams, known as "extreme beer." The mission of creating extreme beers was to challenge the definition of what beer is, and "to go where no beer has gone before." I think it's safe to say, mission accomplished.

Nothing about this 2007 release of Utopias resembles traditional ideas of what people think of as beer. The 24 ounce handcrafted bottle is a collectible brew kettle with a beautiful copper finish and two sliding doors that open to reveal Sam Adams. A limited release of only 12,000 bottles were released worldwide, each bottle listing the production number on the bottom. Included with the purchase of the bottle is a custom designed Riedel crystal snifter glass to further enhance the essential characteristics of the Utopias. The specialty bottle and glass alone account for a substantial portion of the costly price of this exquisite beer.

Samuel Adams Utopias is definitely a beer to be savored. The recommended serving size is 2 ounces at room temperature, ideal for an after-dinner drink. The beer is composed of a blend of brews using an extended aging process, some aged 13 years in a variety of casks, which add to the unique and complex flavor. The finest all-natural ingredients are used, including a selection of Bavarian Noble hops, hand selected by Sam Adams brewmaster, Jim Koch.

If I had been given this beverage without being aware of what I was drinking, I probably wouldn't have guessed it was a beer. The Utopias pours a beautifully rich, deep amber color and no head whatsoever. The beer is uncarbonated and the aroma has an alcoholic sweet smell. It has a warm, sweet flavor, tasting similar to a sherry or cognac. The beer is brewed using maple syrup, which distinctively stands out. It has a delicious flavor that immediately hits the front of the tongue and has a pleasant long-lasting aftertaste. If the alcohol content wasn't so high, I would have desired to drink much more than the recommended 2 ounces.

You won't be able to find this beer at any retail liquor store nationwide, but if you must try this beer, the going rate on Ebay is $250. Perhaps they call it Utopias because in a perfect world, everyone would be able to afford to drink this beer.

New Beers Resolution

2008-01-03T15:01:00.000-08:00

"Someone" gave me a bunch of crap for my last title, "Hoppy New Year," which I thought to be very clever and funny, but this person seemed to believe it was cheesy and predictable. So, in order to further amuse/spite this person, I felt the need to use another "clever" title for my entry. That being said, I'll move on to the point: McNellies resolves to have new beer specials for the month of January.

Currently we have Warsteiner Dunkel on draft for a special price of $3.00. It's a traditional dark German lager that has a rich, refreshing quality. There is a roasted malty flavor, with subtle traces of hops. The texture is not too thick or heavy, and the color is a dark coffee-like brown. The alcohol content is 4.9%, features little carbonation and a nice, clean finish. Overall, a pretty tasty beer.

Beginning on Monday, Jan 7th, McNellies will have a new Russian beer on special each week. The first beer will be 16.9 ounce bottles of Bogemia, a pale lager with a rather high alcohol content, at 8.4%. I've never tried this beer, but according to reviews on ratebeer.com, I'm led to believe it's not the tastiest beer out there.

Following the Bogemia, one of the Red East beers will be on special; unfortunatley, I didn't catch if it was the Classic or Extra. If you want to read up on the Classic, you can view my previous blog entry on that one.

For the final week, Snow Cougar will be on special. The Snow Cougar is another pale lager, with a slightly dry and bitter quality. It's been a while since I've tasted this one, but from what I recall, I thought it was okay. The name stands out more than the beer.

Make your new years resolution to drink new beer. And hoppy, er, happy new year.

Hoppy New Year!

2007-12-31T21:16:00.000-08:00

This year for Christmas I received a gift to supplement my beer drinking hobby: a beer tasting and hop appreciation kit. Just as the gift is intended to do, I started to consider what hops are and how they contribute to creating a beer. Beers are often described as hoppy, but for those who don't know what a hop is, this can be difficult to understand.

As you may already know, beer is comprised of four main ingredients: hops, malt, yeast and water. Hops, or Humulus Lupulus if you want to be technical, are small leafy cones of flowering plants used for flavoring and stabilizing beer during the brewing process. The bitterness of hops are used to counteract the sweetness from the malt, creating a well balanced brew. The bitterness, flavor, and aroma of beer are all greatly affected by the hops. There are several different hop varieties used for brewing beer, and there are several methods of adding the hops, which all affect the complexity of the beer.

The point at which the hops are introduced to the beer creates a varying impact on the final product. Hops added at the beginning of the process create a bittering affect, hops added 15-20 minutes prior to the end of the wort boil contribute to the overall finish of the hop flavor, hops added at the end of the boil are used for aroma, and a process known as 'dry hopping' is used when hops are left in the beer for days while it ferments, providing another layer of complexity that adds additional flavor and aroma to beer.

The beer kit contains 13 jars of processed small pellets of common hop varieties. They are labeled by name, region, common styles of beer in which they are used, and include detailed descriptions such as "a mild and pleasant bite with a delicate floral aroma that is almost musty and leaves a clean bitterness." Smelling the hops while tasting a beer helps your mind and taste buds distinguish the ingredients in the beer.

The moment I received the gift, I cracked open one of the jars, inhaled deeply, then proceeded to eat one of the pellets. It was immensely bitter and dry and absorbed all the saliva from my mouth. The more I chewed, the worse it got. I had a strong inclination to spit the thing out, but seeing as how I had already committed, I forced myself to see it to the end, despite the awfulness. I immediately realized that eating the hops was NOT the intended purpose of the kit. They should really include a warning about that. Nevertheless, it was a good learning experience. So, here's to a new year and my new tools for learning more about beer.

VaVoom: A Night of Art and Music

2007-12-20T14:20:00.000-08:00

Most of you who read this are already familiar with McNellies. But what about that curious blue building next door, The Continental? Another downtown Tulsa hot spot, the Continental is an upscale venue that provides a relaxing atmosphere for a night on the town. On Wednesday, December 26th, The Continental is hosting VaVoom, a feast for your eyes and ears. A collection of original artwork by one of Tulsa's most creative and unique artists, Vanna McAllister, will be on display for one night only. Musical guests Valerie Eskridge and Steve Liddell, two of Tulsa's jewels, will be performing an acoustic music set for the show. The energetic passion these artists bring to the table will satisfy your artistic appetite and leave you hungry for more.

Vanna's colorful eye-popping artwork is genuinely one of a kind. The main focus of her work is generally a female figure, with much of the emphasis on the face. She incorporates words, phrases, or song lyrics in her prints that add to the complexity of her work. She describes her art as a visual diary. Her illustrations are inspired by certain events that have affected her life, and her emotional responses to these incidents. Her heart felt sketches stimulate a reaction and leave the viewer searching for the story behind the art.

While you're perusing Vanna's art, you'll experience the pleasure of hearing the melodious vocals of the exceptionally talented Valerie Eskridge, followed by Steve Liddell. The captivating presence of these musicians will have you perk up and draw your attention to the stage with interest. Their funky vibes will light up the Continental for a transcendent experience you won't want to miss.

The Continental is known for attracting an eclectic mix of local talent, and VaVoom is no exception. The brilliant art presented by Vanna, Valerie and Steve is a treasure that you must experience for yourself. If you can't wait for VaVoom to check out the art, you can get a preview of Vanna's work at www.vannamcallister.com. The opening reception begins at 8pm and lasts throughout the night. It's the perfect chance to wind down after the Christmas holiday and have a relaxing evening with friends, art and music.

Beer Specials for Disaster Relief

2007-12-18T12:47:00.000-08:00

Thousands of Oklahomans have gone without power over the past week, but McNellies was lucky enough to make it through the ice storm unaffected. Many people camped out at the pub enjoying the food, lights, warm heat and cold beer. When a natural disaster strikes and people turn to the pub as their save haven, one concern to be had is walking away with a hefty bar tab. Luckily, McNellies has had (and still has) some pretty decent specials to choose from this month.

Shiner Black, a Bohemian black lager is on special for a mere $2.00. It's a rich deep dark black/brown color, light to medium body and has a slight chocolaty malted flavor. It's not highly complex and seems rather flat, but for two bucks it's not bad.

Flying Dog Old Scratch is our other special, available on draft for $3.75. This Colorado brewed lager features a ruby amber color, medium body and a decent amount of alcohol, at 5.3%. It has a very smooth drinkability, fermented at a medium temperature to give this brew both ale and lager characteristics. There's a slight carmel trait which is particularly appealing. I find this beer to be very easy and enjoyable to drink.

The specials are likely to change before the month is over, so I'll do my best to keep a current update. I would have liked to have gone in more detail or perhaps posted a picture, but I'm one of the unfortunate ones still without power, writing from a computer at the library, and my session is about to expire.

'Tis The Season To Drink Beer

2007-12-08T13:29:00.000-08:00

Many breweries produce a special holiday brew in spirit of the season. The Rogue brewery of Newport, Oregon, creates Santa's Private Reserve to commemorate the Christmas season. This brown bottle features a festive red, white, and black label with a cartoon Santa raising a glass as if to say “cheers.” Or maybe that's “ho ho ho.”

Santa's Private Reserve is an American amber ale with brewmaster John Maier's trademark top-fermented Pacman yeast. An abundance of Chinook and Centennial hops are used, which give this brew a pronounced aroma and added bitterness. There's also a mystery hop added, which Maier calls the 'Rudolph' hop. The brew pours a deep reddish translucent color and features a thick off-white foamy head that leaves considerable traces around the glass. The flavor hints of herbal, smoky tones with a touch of citrus and molasses. The beer leaves a hoppy pine taste lingering on the back of the mouth. It has a heavy body which is very complex, with 6% alcohol. Rouge prides themselves in producing brews that have no chemicals, additives or preservatives, creating a nice clean taste.

The Rogue Santa's Private Reserve Ale is available in limited edition silk screened 12-ounce and 22-ounce bottles during the winter months. If eggnog doesn't float your boat but you want to feel festive with your booze, you can raise a glass of this Rogue beer, just like Santa.

My Goodness, Where's My Guinness?

2007-12-03T21:52:00.000-08:00

A few days ago a lone bandit robbed the Guinness brewery in Dublin, making out with 450 kegs of Guinness, Budweiser, and Carlsberg. Apparently the suspect drove into the brewery at St. James Gate, hitched his truck to a fully loaded trailer and drove away. This heist is the largest in the 248 year history of the brewery.

I wonder where might one hide this lofty loot? Ireland isn't a large country, about the size of Indiana, plus it's an island. This must be one pretty shrewd thief to conceal such a huge shipment of beer barrels. This guy is getting away with bloody murder! Someone send out the lions!

Green's Tripel Quest

2007-12-02T23:11:00.000-08:00

A slew of new and interesting beers have recently arrived at McNellies, and one that caught my attention was the new line by Green's from Belgium. There are three varieties of the brand: Tripel Quest, Endeavor Dubbel, and Discovery Amber. Green's boasts all natural, gluten free, organic products. They are marketed towards those with gluten (wheat) intolerance, and suitable for vegetarians and vegans. I don't fall into any of these categories, but the idea of an organic beer was appealing nonetheless. I contemplated which style I would drink, and since they were all the same price I decided on the one with the most alcohol, which was the Tripel Quest, at 8.5%. My mama didn't raise no fool.

I found the description on the label to be intriguing. A tag was attached to the top of the bottle that read, "No barley. No Wheat. All Natural." Green's makes their product with millet, rice, buckwheat, and sorghum. The backside of the label states that Green's beers DO NOT contain: crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soya beans, milk, lactose, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame seeds, sulphur dioxide and sulfites. I read this and thought it to be rather puzzling. No crustaceans? Really? I could have sworn that all beers were made with crustaceans. Foolish, foolish me. I'm not sure why they felt the need to overly state what the beer did not contain, and deduced the list was for the allergy prone drinker with paranoia.

The Green's Tripel Quest had a taste unlike any beer I could compare it to. It reminded me of a highly carbonated port wine more so than beer. The taste was very clean, effervescent, sour and tangy, with a sweet aftertaste. I thought it to be very tasty and full of flavor, with a long solid finish. I don't know how I would feel about drinking it on a regular basis, but I suppose if I fell into the category of the target market and my options were limited, I would consider it satisfactory.

Fullers ESB

2007-11-28T09:09:00.000-08:00

Last night I went the the 'other' Irish pub in Tulsa. They have a decent enough beer selection with 15 brews on tap. There was nothing I hadn't tried before, so I had the pleasure of drinking one I already know and love; Fullers ESB.

The Fuller's ESB (Extra Special Bitter) is an English ale with a robust malt and hop character. It pours a deep amber bronze and features a medium to full body. The taste has soothing and mellow toffee flavor with traces of fruitiness. Ironically, the ESB isn't particularly bitter, as the name would have you believe. The sweetness of the malt is balanced with the bitterness of the hop, creating a well balanced beer that has consistently won this brew numerous awards including "World Champion Bitter" and "Best Strong Ale" from the US Beverage Tasting Institute and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), respectively.

Fullers is brewed at Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, a district in West London. Griffin brewery is England's oldest independent brewery and is known for creating an excellent range of exceptional products, including the Fuller's London Pride, their flagship beer, Fuller's London Porter, Fuller's Vintage Ale, and Fuller's 1845, all (usually) available at McNellies.

Thanksgiving Day Fun

2007-11-25T11:35:00.000-08:00

I'm not known for my superb cooking skills, so when it came time for Thanksgiving dinner with my family, I didn't have much to offer. Most people brought over something: turkey, pumpkin pie, broccoli casserole...the typical traditional dishes. I decided my contribution for Thanksgiving would be to bring beer. I picked out six different varieties from my refrigerator and brought them along to have a beer tasting with the family. My grandfather warned everyone to be careful, or we could end up like that one lady who recently ran over five people. I assured him that six beers split between seven people was hardly going to cause anyone to unknowingly plow over five people, much less hit a curb.

We started out with Pilsner Urquell. This beer was created in 1842 and holds historical significance because it is the world's first golden colored lager. Up until this point all beers were dark and cloudy. The brewery was founded in Pilsen, Bohemia, currently the Czech Republic. This style of beer is the basis of all the pilsner style beers, but it is the true original. There's a lot to be said about Pilsner Urquell, but for the sake of a shorter blog, I'll stop with that. The website is worth checking out if you're interested in learning more. The beer had a lot of fizz, almost like a champagne. It went down very smooth, but left a bitter aftertaste that most people found unpleasant. Generally I like this beer, but it tastes better on tap than in a bottle.

Next we tried Klaster Winter Lager, another one from the Czech Republic. The label on this bottle contains different shades of sky and baby blue which I found aesthetically pleasing. It had a light golden yellow color, moderate carbonation, and a medium body. The flavor was clean and malty, a bit sweet with a hint of honey. At 5.8% alcohol, it was pretty hearty for a lager. Most everyone liked this beer, and agreed that we would enjoy drinking it again.

Following the Klaster, we sampled Choc, the handcrafted Oklahoma original. Named after the Choctaw Nation, this brewery has been open in Krebs since 1925. Choc is brewed in small batches using "beer-perfect Krebs water," Liberty and Cascade hops, malted barley and wheat. It's an unfiltered American wheat, with a cloudy pale yellow appearance. It had an overly fizzy taste on the tongue and it didn't have a strong wheat flavor. Overall, we found it to be "not bad."

Next came the Sam Adams Cherry Wheat. This was one of the beers we had on special at McNellies this month "while supplies last." Supplies were not abundant, and we've run out. No big disappointment in my opinion. I thought this one to be pretty rancid. It tastes like cough syrup, and brought back terrible childhood memories. My sister, who has been sick, thought it was nice and claimed "it was a good beer for sick people," whatever that means (she was probably on medication). My dad countered, "It's a good beer for people who want to get sick." The aroma wasn't bad, but the taste was sour and pretty awful. Most of us decided we didn't like it.

I thought the Cherry Wheat was going to be the worst beer until we cracked open the Christian Moerlein Hefeweizen. This is a German style beer brewed in Cincinatti, Ohio. Before I had a chance to take a sip of mine, I heard the words "Bad" "Tart" "Yucky" "Eww" and "Gross," all from different participants. It was definitely the worst beer we tried. It had a strange flavor; very yeasty, to the point where someone said it tasted like cake. Three week old moldy cake. Although it was dreadful, I wouldn't write it off completely because I have a feeling the bottle was expired.

Lastly, we tasted the Pete's Wicked Ale. This is a reddish brown brew from Utica, New York. It had a smooth and luscious character with a good balance of malts and hops. It was very drinkable, with a hint of roasted caramel. There was no bitterness or strange aftertaste like some of the other ones we tried. I was glad to have this taste in my mouth for our final beer. Collectively, we rated this one as our favorite.

In the spirit of the holiday, I would like to give thanks to my attentive tasting crew.

Pub Run Pics

2007-11-20T09:35:00.000-08:00

Is Ice Nice?

2007-11-16T23:26:00.000-08:00

In last weeks issue of the Urban Tulsa, several of "the most tasteful beers, wines, spirits available locally" were reviewed. The 12 person tasting crew sampled over 30 beers and gave each beer a score based on appearance, aroma, palate and flavor. They used a point system, with 20 points possible for a perfect beer. The highest score they gave was 16.5 to Sam Adams Winter Lager and Lemp Standard Lager, which tied for number one. The review that I found the most shocking was their number six choice, Molson Ice, with a score of 14.85.

We've carried Molson Ice at McNellies for a long time, and it doesn't exactly fly off the shelf. Far from it. After reading the review I thought I'd give this beer another shot. I've had a poor opinion of the beer for a couple reasons. One is the fact that it's an 'Ice' beer, which reminds me of crappy domestic beers such as Miller's Icehouse, Bud Ice or Smirnoff Ice. Another reason I've been disinterested in the brew is because of the unimpressive label and green bottle. Green bottled beers always seem to have a skunky aroma, and I find it hard to get past this and enjoy the beer. I found an explanation for this green bottled phenomenon on a blog called Premium Bitter; see #5 if you're interested in reading about it.

So, what exactly is an 'ice' beer? The creation of an ice beer involves lowering the temperature of a batch of the final product to 32 degrees, then filtering out the ice crystals that form. This reduces the amount of water in the beer, and results in a higher alcohol content. The Molson Ice has an alcohol content of 5.6%.

I reached down to the bottom of the cooler, wiped the dust of one of the bottles and cracked it open. As I anticipated, the aroma was terrible. It smelled like my dirty running socks, but it slightly lessened after a few minutes. I poured it in a glass and observed the color had a clear pale golden shade, unlike the Urban Tulsa's description of 'amber.' There was a slight foamy head which quickly faded, and there was moderate carbonation. The taste was nothing too spectacular, pretty crisp and plain.

I would say it's Canada's equivalent to our basic domestic Bud Light. It wasn't as horrible as I anticipated, but it wasn't overly stimulating either. I'll agree with one reviewer's statement I read online," "I would drink it again. As long as I didn't have to pay for it."

All About The Hops

2007-11-13T22:37:00.000-08:00

Fall is my favorite season. I love the bright and colorful trees and the feel of the crisp fresh air. I delight in stepping on the fallen leaves and hearing them crunch beneath my shoes. In addition to enjoying the great outdoors this time of year, I have also been enjoying a new brew that came with the season: Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale.

I had high expectations for this beer, as it came highly recommended by multiple fellow beer enthusiasts. I was a bit hesitant because as you've figured out, I don't particularly enjoy the hoppy beers. This ale is one of the exceptions; I'm highly impressed.

The Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale is unique because it is brewed with fresh picked wet hops. Conventionally, hops are brewed in a dry form after undergoing a kilning process and dried so they can be stored throughout the year. With this brew, freshly harvested Cascade and Centennial hops are hand picked from Yakima, Washington and shipped to the Sierra Nevada brewery in Chico, California the same day to be brewed without undergoing any processing. Freshly harvested hops are abounding in aromatic oils and resins, which yields hop elements that are unparalleled. Due to the difficulty of the brewing process, it comes in a limited supply. The Sierra Nevada Harvest is available in kegs or 24 ounce bottles.

The first thing I noticed about the Harvest Ale was the incredible aroma. The smell was so invigorating I wanted to stick my nose in the glass and inhale the beer. But that would have hurt. The appearance is also appealing; it's the perfect color for a fall beer. It has a vibrant copper hue with amber highlights, resembling one of the trees outside my door. It pours with a thick foamy head and has a full body. It possess a piney flavor that penetrated by taste buds until they were almost tingling. I found the hops flavor to be completely and surprisingly enjoyable. I found it so pleasing, I've since drank four or five more just to make sure I really liked it. And I did.

Overall, the Sierra Nevada is a spectacular seasonal brew. Drinking it makes me feel like I'm rolling around in a pile of freshly fallen autumn leaves. The only complaint I have about this beer is that it's not available year round.

Beer Tasting

2007-11-06T11:28:00.000-08:00

Monday night Elliot (the owner of the pub) hosted a beer tasting for some of the new beers McNellies recently added to the menu. We sampled 18 beers in 45 minutes, some of them with alcohol content as high as 9.5%. I was diligently trying to take notes, which started out very detailed, but after the first few my notes became less and less informative. I tried to record other people's reactions, as well as my own, and I gave most of them some kind of star rating. As incomplete and fragmented my notes may be, I though they were at least worth sharing:

1. Queleque Chose: a Belgian style beer, brewed in Quebec. 8% alcohol. Cherry flavor. Not much carbonation; tastes flat. Resembles cough syrup or a watered down Lindeman's Kriek. 1.5 stars.

2. Bridgeport Ebenezer: brewed in Portland, Oregon. Seasonal Christmas beer. Looks darker and tastes somewhat better than last year's brew. Tastes like charcoal or a fireplace. Strange bitter aftertaste. Not well balanced; needs more malt. 2 stars.

3. Taj Mahal: Indian Lager. 4.5% alcohol. Nothing too extreme. Was a big seller when we carried it in the past. 1.5 stars

4. Sneider Organic Edelweisse: A certified organic weisse beer. Doesn't taste like any of the organic beers I've had. Tastes like Chinese food. 6.2% alcohol. 2.5 stars

5. Choc Waving Wheat: I didn't think this would be a good one, based on the other beers from this brewery. It's better than regular Choc. Belgian style wheat beer. Not much substance, better than expected. Three stars.

6. Beirdegarde: Another beer from the Choc brewery. Seems weird an Oklahoma beer would have this name; it's like they're trying to hide the fact that it's a Choc beer. There's a hops flavor, but not too strong. Reminds me of same style as Chimay, but not nearly as good. Three stars.

7. Petrus Dubbel Bruin: Belgian Abbey style beer. Abbey beers are similar to Trappist beers, but not brewed by monks. Dark beer, pruny taste. Not sure if I like it or not.

8. Reverand Quad Avery: high in alcohol content, pretty flavorful. Three stars.

9. Avery Barley Wine Hog Heaven. 9.2% alcohol. 100 IBUs. Bitter, hoppy, floral. Extreme. Yuck, I don't like it. Half a star.

10. Avery's Ellie Brown Ale: Good, easy to drink on any occasion. Medium body, nice finish. Comparable to Newcastle, but a lot better. Slightly nutty. 3.5 stars.

11. Avery's White Rascal: Belgian style wheat ale. Like a Blue Moon. Brewed with spices, has peppery taste. Good. 3.5 stars.

12. Breckenridge Christmas: mixed reviews. some people said it was horrible, some really liked it. It's sour, not terribly offensive. Tastes like a brown ale.

13. Sam Adams Honey Porter: We dubbed this one the "bee shit" beer, because it's dark and tastes like honey

14. Sam Adams Brown Ale: ? (I didn't write anything on this one - either because it was not worthy or because we were going too fast. Probably a combination of both.)

15. Great Divide Wild Raspberry: 5.6% alcohol. Not good. Tastes like a crappy wine cooler

16. Great Divide Titan IPA: 6.8% alcohol. Ugh. Gross.

17. Great Divide DPA: Denver Pale Ale. Bitter, not so good.

18. Great Divide Samari: Rice flavor grain and malted beer. Tastes like a wheaty beer. Good. 3.5 stars.

After sampling so many beers, they tend to start to run together. I wouldn't really take much of this to heart, considering we went through them so quickly, and only drank an ounce or so of each brew. I'll probably try most of them again on another occasion and give them a more thorough evaluation.

New Specials

2007-11-05T22:21:00.000-08:00

Specials for the month of November include:

Flying Dog Woody Creek: brewed in Colorado, a traditional Beligan-style wit ale. A pale yellow color with orange peel and coriander, citrus flavor. Comparable to a Blue Moon or Hoegaarden.

Sam Adams Cherry Wheat: brewed in Boston, brewing ingredients include cherries, honey, and malted wheat.

Choc Lefty 363 (Nov 1-11): brewed locally in Krebs, Oklahoma. Seasonal brew.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (Nov 12-30): brewed in California, full bodied pale ale. Deep amber color, liberal amounts of hops. One of the best selling craft beers in the United States.

All specials are on draft, priced at $3.00

Lost in Translation

2007-10-31T12:18:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, I know very little about Russia. When I think about Russia, the few things that come to mind are vodka, Communism, and that movie with Val Kilmer. Not so much beer though. But we carry four Russian beers at the pub, so I was curious. I tried the Red East Classic, made by some brewery that I can't type because my keyboard did not come complete with the Russian alphabet.

I poured the contents of the bottle into a glass to experience my first Russian brew. A long train of tiny bubbles rose to the top of the glass like a champagne. There was a hint of a skunky, grassy aroma. The flavor was crisp and bland, with a rather displeasing flowery perfume aftertaste. The Red East Classic is a pale lager, but it lacked that thirst quenching, refreshing quality many lagers exhibit. I had a hard time getting it down, but it wasn't so terrible that it couldn't be done.

I logged onto the Red East Classic website which was in Russian (no big surprise). I clicked on the option to translate the page and what I got was equally incomprehensible:

Sound c tvuyte dear friends! Have you tried beer "East is Red"? Do not imagine this otkazyvayte pleasure, feel the flavor of life along with beer "East is Red" - beer made on the conscience! For your age tradition in 1867 and modern technology one of the largest refineries in Europe.

Come again? The orange and red label on the bottle reads, "The Tradition Beer of Russia." Did they mean "traditional? Was that another error in translation? I gave up deciphering the language, and asked my Russian friend for some input. I was told that the beer is indeed drank by Russians, but not particularly a favorite. Some of the more prevalent beers in Russia are made by Baltika and Yarpivo. Although I've never had them, I would have to assume they are better than the Red East.

If I were in Russia, I think I'd stick to vodka.

Will Run For Beer

2007-10-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

This past weekend over 8000 people, myself included, participated in the Tulsa Run. What surprised me the first time I did this race three years ago was that beer was served at the finish line. This struck me as odd because for one, I was only expecting water or gatorade, two, it was so early in the morning, and three, athletes and alcohol aren't something I would have paired together. But I guess it does make sense when you think about it. Beer replenishes the body with carbohydrates, as well as numbs the body of pain. As I began participating in more athletic events, I noticed that beer at the finish line was somewhat standard. It's nice to know that there's a nice cold beer waiting for me at the end of a race. It gives me something to look forward to.

What I'm really looking forward to is the next race I'll be doing, the McNellies Pub Run. The best thing about this race is you don't have to wait until finish line to drink beer; you drink it while you run. For this event, runners guzzle down three pints during the race; one at each water stop and one before crossing the finish line. And it's no sissy Michelob Ultra either; it's three pints of Guinness. This four mile run begins in front of McNellies and loops through the Brady and Blue Dome Districts. The race ends at the pub, where, you guessed it, more beer will be served. This run is THE most fun race I've ever done. I would encourage anyone to participate, regardless of running abilities. The event is two weeks away, Saturday November 10th. Starting time is 3pm, perfect for us night owls who generally spend our Friday nights, well, drinking.

Say It Ain't Beau

2007-10-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

The rumors are true. Beau is back at McNellies, slinging drinks behind the bar and playing his guitar. Chances are, if you've been to McNellies on a few occasions, you've met Beau. Although he's a pretty small guy, he's hard to miss. He's somewhat of a mascot to McNellies, known to some as "the pub leprechaun." We thought we might have lost him when he left for Austin to pursue a musical career, but lucky for us, he has returned. You can catch him behind the bar, or listen to him play on Tuesday nights.

The Fox and Hen

2007-10-23T20:32:00.000-07:00

Some beers spark my interest because they have a pretty label. Some have a cool tap handle. Some I'm drawn to because I like the name. Perhaps it's my background in advertising that explains my attraction to these things. Perhaps it's because I'm a girl. In any case, I drank a beer called Old Speckled Hen solely based on the name. I get a lot of questions about this one. Old Speckled Hen, people muse. What does that taste like?

The name 'Old Speckled Hen' doesn't exactly make my mouth water. What would I think it would taste like? Probably not very good. But, they say you can't judge a book by it's cover, so I gave it a try. This English ale is a pale golden orange color and pours with a thick foamy head. It has a dry and crisp taste with a lot of bitterness to it, as many English ales do. It's a bit of a floral beer as well. I didn't especially like it; I found it a bit too bitter for my tastes. I finished it anyway. Some input I got from a friend who tried it said it tasted like soda water, and it sucks. Maybe you can judge a book by it's cover.

So, what about the name Old Speckled Hen? The term "owld speckled un" was used to describe an old MG, a British sports car. The British locals came up with this name because the car was covered by specks of orange paint. The vintage MG cars were manufactured in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, the same location where the beer is brewed, at Moreland brewery. Old Speckled Hen was produced as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the MG.

I logged onto the beer's website and was surprised to see a plethora of foxes featured as a mascot. I don't get it. I would think that they would have chosen, oh, I don't know, maybe a HEN. Maybe they figured, "Who doesn't like a friendly cartoon fox?" Maybe foxes were easier to personalize than hens. Or maybe they were drunk on Old Speckled Hen when they came up with that idea. Who knows.

Tulsa's Oktoberfest

2007-10-20T16:49:00.000-07:00

Thursday night I went out to Oktoberfest. I had access to the VIP tent where they were serving free beer. Score! Or so I thought. There was a small beer stand set up with two unmarked tap handles. I walked up to get a beer and the guy working the stand asked if I wanted light or dark. Light or dark? At first I took this as an insult because I figured he assumed I must not know anything about beer, so he just skipped the formalities of telling me the names so I wouldn't be confused. When I asked what the beer was I realized I was wrong in my assumption; he didn't know. "I would have to get out my glasses and look at the keg," he said. Oh, okay, that sounds like a lot of work. I guess I'll take the dark beer. I wish I could say I'm such an expert I could recognize a beer by the taste, but I'm not. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say it was probably Shinerbock. It was flat and unimpressive. The only redeeming quality was that it was free.

I definitely didn't go to Oktoberfest to drink lousy beer, so I moved onto the 'good' beer tent and got a pitcher of Spaten Oktoberfest. The lady working the beer stand here asked if I needed a fresh cup. Thinking I would be environmentally friendly, I declined. She gave me a look and asked what was in that cup. I don't know. Good point, I'll take a new cup. We wouldn't want to mix them. She obviously had a different outlook on beer than the visually impaired guy at the VIP tent, who figured beer was beer. The Spaten was a big improvement over the first mystery beer.

After the pitcher was empty, I had a Sam Adams Oktoberfest. I felt slightly guilty drinking an American beer at a German festival, but since it was an Oktoberfest style beer, I figured it was justifiable. The Sam Adams was a bit sweet, with a hint of a toffee nut flavor. The alcohol content was somewhat lower than the Spaten, which was probably a good thing since I already consumed a considerable amount of beer. It was very smooth and flavorful, but I preferred the Spaten over Sam Adams.

Oktoberfest is a great festival to experience German traditions. There was lots of lederhoisen, chicken hats, chanting, dancing, bratwurst, and yodeling. It was all fun to observe, but honestly, I was just there for the beer.

Duchesse De Bourgogne

2007-10-19T10:31:00.000-07:00

I drank a beer the other night which was completely unfamiliar to me: Duchesse De Bourgogne. I've never heard any customer input about this beer as it's rarely ordered, and I didn't know what style of beer it was, so I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was it's from Belgium, and I like a lot of Belgium beers. When I asked for the beer, the bartender got a look on his face that said, "Are you sure you want to do that?" Or the look could have said, "Could you possibly have botched the pronunciation of that any worse?" Yes and perhaps.

The beer is served in a bottle that looks more like wine or champagne than beer. It's a 25.4 ounce dark green corked bottle with a label that tells a story. A sovereign lady is pictured with a falcon perched upon her hand. This lady is Mary of Burgundy, who became the Duchess of Burgundy. She ruled the people of Flanders in the 15th century, until a tragic accident at the age of 25 when she fell off her horse while hunting a falcon and died. Who would have thought a beer label would contain so much history?

Now that you know a bit about the bottle, time to move on to the beer. The Duchesse De Bourgogne is a Flemish red ale brewed by Verhaeghe Brewery in Vichte, West Flanders. Once the beer is brewed, it is aged at least a year in oak liquor casks which helps form the distinctive flavor of the beer. The final product is actually a blend of different vintages of the same ale.

The beer has a deep burgundy appearance with a curious aroma of wooden oak and plum, which is accentuated by the goblet glass. The taste is very unique, perhaps more of a wine drinkers beer. It has a very rich flavor with a sugary aftertaste. My first sip reminded me of a mix between grape and apple juice. It has a sour taste with a balance of sweetness. The alcohol content is 6%, which is lower than I would have expected for a Belgium ale. It's unlike any beer I've tried in the past. It's not a beer that I could drink every day, but it's nice if I'm looking for something out of the ordinary.

The Duchesse is a very distinct and interesting beer in all respects. It's not a beer that everyone will love, but it's worth trying at least once. As for the pronunciation, you're on your own.

Pint Night

2007-10-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

Every Monday night McNellies features a different beer you can drink and keep the glass. Pint night begins promptly at 5pm, and there is a limited supply of glassware, so the glasses usually go quickly. I've collected quite a few unique beer glasses over the years, and I added one more to my collection last night.

The beer of the night was Spaten Oktoberfest, which is my favorite pint night all year. It's a great beer and an awesome glass. Pint Night is a bit misleading for this one; Liter Night would be more accurate. Yep, this German stein holds a whole liter of beer. It's rather impractical to use for drinking purposes, as it's so huge and heavy I had to use both hands to lift it. I might have broken some kind of record for taking the longest amount of time to finish the beer; it took me two whole hours. You might think with all my practice I would be a bit faster, but a beer this strong (5.9% alcohol) and flavorful deserves to be savored. It was time well spent.

Spaten Oktoberfest is a seasonal beer, available primarily between August and October. It was created in 1872, making it the worlds first Oktoberfest beer. It has a dark amber color, medium body and pours with a foamy white head. The flavor encompasses carmel roasted malts with a nice balance of hops. I'm not a big fan of overly hoppy beers, so this one is perfect for me. It's very smooth and delicious, with no bitterness or sour aftertaste. McNellies will have Spaten Oktoberfest on tap for a few more weeks, so you should try one before the kegs run dry. All Oktoberfest beers on draft will be on special for $2.50 the last week of this month.

Next week's pint night is Franziskaner. Come down and get a glass. What else are you going to do on a Monday?

First Draft

2007-10-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

Thursday night I attended a fundraiser for the Tulsa Press Club. It was the third annual First Draft, a cleverly named beer tasting event that featured different beers from around the world. It was a beer drinkers paradise. Out of the 45 different beers offered, I sampled 14. The things I go through for the sake of charity.

The event was meant to educate about the art of beer brewing, but many people working the tables were volunteers from the Press Club and had minimal knowledge about the beers. One exception was Eric Marshall, Brewmaster of Marshall Brewing Company, Tulsa's first production craft microbrewery. Eric has a strong background in the art of craft brewing, having studied at the World Brewing Academy in Munich and served as an apprentice and brewer in multiple craft breweries. Eric offered three beers from his brewery: Atlas IPA, Marshall Wheat, and an ESB. I tried the Atlas IPA and found it to be one of the most enjoyable beers of the night. Marshall Brewing Company is scheduled to have beer available to the public in November. Look for it at McNellies.

After tasting beer after beer, my taste buds (and overall state of mind) were a bit confused, but there were a few beers that stood out. Wittekerke Rose was one of them. It neither looked or tasted like what you would think of as beer. It was served in a Red Bull sized pink can featuring a neon green female figure. I couldn't decide if this packaging was stylish and posh or a gaudy embarrassment to beer. It looks like a great beer to drink at a dance club, or if you were to be sneaky, you could drink this beer while driving and law enforcement would be none the wiser. Obviously targeted to women, this Belgium wheat beer is brewed with pure raspberry fruit. Unlike the Lindemans Framboise, another Belgium raspberry beer which is cloyingly sweet, the Wittekerke Rose was the perfect balance. I gave it a five star rating.

Some other noteworthy beers I tried: Avery Ellie Brown Ale, Ayinger Celebrator, and Konigshoeven Quadrupel. These beers were all very distinctive and flavorful. McNellies carries a variety of beers from each of these breweries, so you can come in and try them for yourself. The worst beer I tasted, other than some home brews from the Fellowship of Oklahoma Ale Makers (FOAM), was Budweiser's fairly new seasonal beer, Beach Bum. Go figure.

Asahi Super Dry

2007-10-10T14:03:00.000-07:00

There's a scene in the movie Sideways in which the main character, Miles, a huge wine connoisseur, is teaching his friend Jack how to taste wine. He describes the delicate steps of the process: swirling the wine in the glass, smelling the wine, describing the aromas, and tasting the wine as Jack follows his lead. After they take a sip, Miles looks at Jack with disgust and says "Are you chewing gum?"

This scene came to mind the other night as I was chomping on a potent piece of Dentyne Ice Arctic Chill and took a sip of Asahi Super Dry. Not a good combination. Although this beer (or any beer, I would imagine) doesn't go well with gum, it does go well with food. Beer is not typically my preferred beverage when I'm having a meal, but every time I eat sushi, I have to order an Asahi Super Dry. It's a great thirst quencher that really compliments the spicy rolls and wasabi, without interfering with the taste of the food.

Asahi Super Dry is a Japanese rice lager. The yeast is the vital ingredient in the brewing process of this beer. Without sounding too technical or boring, basically the yeast separates the sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide, which results in a dry beer. It doesn't have much of an aroma or lingering aftertaste, and it's not very filling, which is why it pairs well with food. It has a very light, clean, fresh taste with slight carbonation and a dry finish.

This beer is available in a 22oz. bottle, which gave me ample time to rid my pallet of the minty gum flavor and enjoy the beer. In the future, I'll be sure to avoid any disgusted looks and spit out my gum before I drink a beer.

Familiarity Breeds Contempt

2007-10-08T09:48:00.001-07:00

One of the most popular beers we sell at McNellies is Boulevard Wheat. I got to thinking about this and wondered why that is. Is it because it's the best beer we have on tap? No. Is it less expensive than other beers on tap? No. Does it have some special quality that makes it especially outstanding? Not really. So, what is it then? I came up with some reasonable theories as to why it's so popular.

The most plausible explanation is the familiarity of Boulevard Wheat, due to the brewery's Midwest location in Kansas City, a mere 4 hours away. It's a fairly common beer around Tulsa, so many people have tried it at some point. In fact, name recognition is so high, 80% of the time someone orders a Boulevard Wheat, they just ask for a Boulevard. I respond with a reasonable question, "Which one?" This confuses people because they don't realize that Boulevard is a craft brewery and the Wheat is just one variety of the many they produce. In addition to Wheat, Boulevard also brews a Pale Ale, Porter, Dry Stout, and Lunar, as well as seasonal brews which include Bob's 47, Zon, Nutcracker Ale, and Irish Ale.

Boulevard Wheat may not be the best beer we have on tap, but it's pretty decent. It's similar in style to a German Hefe Weizen: a top fermented, unfiltered ale, with a considerable amount of wheat malt. I find it refreshing and mellow with a hint of citrus. Sometimes I even drink it with a lemon. What? Everyone else does it.

In addition to being recognizable and tasty, Boulevard Wheat is easy to pronounce. When faced with a menu listing beers named "Seigneuriale, Grieskirchner Weiss, Duchesse de Bourgogne, and Ayinger Jahrundert", it's not a surprise to hear someone order a Boulevard Wheat. I don't even know how to pronounce those beers.

Although these are all reasonable justifications as to why Boulevard Wheat is a best- seller, I feel that the beer has lost its novelty. It's satisfactory for an evening at Fridays, but at McNellies, there's so many other exceptional beers to consider. Franziskaner and Paulaner Hefeweizen are a couple alternatives. Explore. Point if you must.

Don't Be That Guy

2007-10-05T12:25:00.000-07:00

"Why would someone come to McNellies and order Coors?", asked a bar patron as I was restocking the cans in front of him. He continued, "I took a girl on a date here once and she ordered a Bud Light. Needless to say, it didn't work out."

Often I hear people claim to actually like Bud Light and the such, but I think they should stop kidding themselves. They just don't know any better. (Okay maybe there's the rare exception, but seriously, it's not a good beer.) To the domestic beer drinkers defense, everyone's got to start somewhere. I remember back in the day when I would stock Rolling Rock in my fridge and believe I was oh so highbrow. Nothing but the best for me. My first experience of going to a bar that didn't serve the domestics I was used to occurred years ago when I was visiting Sacramento. I was hesitant about ordering a beer I was unfamiliar with, but it was too early in the evening to start on the hard liquor, so I ordered a local brew. I remember taking my first sip and thinking, "This beer actually has flavor. I can taste something. Wow, I could get used to this."

If you're 'a fan' of Bud Light, let me offer a few suggestions. First of all, McNellies isn't the place to order a domestic beer. They are served in condescending tall boy cans, which causes people to point and laugh, or break up with you. Some of the draught beers you might enjoy instead: Kronenbourg 1664, Spaten Premium, Pilsner Urquell, or Trumer Pils. These are all pale lagers with a bit more substance, flavor and alcohol than the domestics you're used to. I would also suggest trying our specials, which change each month giving you the opportunity to try a variety of good beers at a low cost.

If you want a bucket of Milwaukee's Best or a pitcher of Busch Light, Dirty's Tavern is down the street. If you want to enjoy a really good beer, get yourself into McNellies!

Hold Onto Your Barstool

2007-10-02T19:45:00.000-07:00

The other night I had the opportunity to try a new beer: Great Divide Hercules Double India Pale Ale. A beer with a name this long should automatically clue you in: it's a highly complex and potent beer.

Perhaps I should start out with an explanation of India Pale Ales. The production of the IPA came about due to the British exporting beer to India in the 1700s. The long journey would cause the beer to flatten or go sour, so the brewers used more alcohol and more hops to prevent beer from spoiling. Henceforth the creation of the IPA.

Great Divide, a Denver brewery, is known for brewing flavorful, assertive beer and the Hercules Double IPA is no exception. The bottle is 22oz, which I found nearly impossible to drink the whole thing. Although I thought the beer to be horribly disgusting, it's not a bad beer, per se, just not my style. Describing the beer with disregard to my personal opinion, Hercules maintains a nice balance of hops and malts, which is often unaccomplished in American style IPAs. The beer has a medium body, a deep golden copper color and an aroma of pine and hops. As the name implies, a Double IPA has even MORE alcohol and hops than a standard IPA. It's a "more of a more," if you will. Hercules has an EXTREMELY hoppy, intense and bitter taste with an alcohol content of 9.1%. The Great Divide website affirms Hercules is "not for the faint of heart."

You want a beer that will knock you off your barstool, drink this one.

Stellar Margaritas and Mexican Beer

2007-09-27T23:46:00.000-07:00

This evening I had dinner and drinks at El Guapos, which is a Mexican restaurant noted for their margarita selection. Although the focus of my research is on beer, I couldn't resist ordering a couple margaritas. I started out with a Margarita Ponche de Fruta Blood Orange, which tasted like a fruity ice cream slushy. Yum yum. My next selection was the Hibiscus Margarita, described on the menu as "the beauty of a Mexican flower infused with a margarita." It was pink, sweet and delicious. Once I had my margarita fix, I decided to switch to beer.

El Guapos offers a decent beer selection, including a variety of Mexican beers. I ordered a Carta Blanca. I looked up the English translation of the phrase and apparently it means 'unlimited power.' Interesting name for a beer. Many of the Mexican beers seem to be pretty similar in style. Pale lagers with slightly more flavor than Bud Light. I found Carta Blanca to be one of the better Mexican beers I've tried. It tasted very crisp with a light and fairly carbonated body. There seemed to be a hint of fruitiness to it, but I wouldn't describe it as a sweet beer. I tried to check out their website to get some more insight on the beer, but unfortunately, no hablo espanol. I thought the beer was easy enough to drink, non offensive, but not much complexity to it.

After I finished the Carta Blanca, I went for a Pacifico, but I put a lime in the bottle and the only descriptive word I could come up with after that was 'limey,' if that's even a word. I'll have to give that one a try at some other point, without the lime.

Oktoberfest

2007-09-23T14:43:00.001-07:00

This weekend I'm visiting my friend in Dallas, who conveniently lives in an apartment complex located just a couple minutes walk away from the Oktoberfest in Addison Park, which ended today. In a historical context, Oktoberfest is a festival meant to celebrate the marriage of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig's marriage in 1810. In a more contemporary context, Oktoberfest is basically an excuse to do the chicken dance, wear stupid hats and drink beer. Good beer. Oktoberfest style beers are generally seasonal lagers, brewed especially for the occasion. Many of the Oktoberfest beers are moderately darker and stronger in taste and alcohol than other lagers, featuring a malty and complex flavor.

Upon entry into the festival, I headed straight for the beer tent. Paulaner, a brewery in Munich, Germany, was the official sponsor of the event. They offered two beers: Paulaner Oktoberfest and Paulaner Munchen, which is their original lager. The 16 oz. beers were priced at $4.00, and 20 oz. souvenir stein glasses featuring the Paulaner logo were available for $11.00 (beer included). Not a bad price for such a tasty beer. I opted for the Oktoberfest beer (naturally). The beer went down very smoothly; perhaps it was the hot and humid Texas weather that made it especially desirable, but it really hit the spot. It is a beer that's reddish-amber in color, with a faint hoppy taste. As previously mentioned, Oktoberfest beers are a bit stronger in alcohol content, this one being 6%. After my second one I was feeling slightly tipsy, and the German food became equally appealing as the beer. The skillet potatoes had been highly recommended, so we waited in line for 15 minutes to try them out. I did still have a beer in my hand, which made the line more tolerable. Well worth the wait.

On another note, what they say isn't true: not EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas. Tulsa's Oktoberfest blows Addison's out of the water. I'm very much looking forward to attending the festival in my home town, which takes place October 18-21. The Tulsa festival features more beer, more food, more people, and more fun than Addison. Beers from German breweries Spaten and Warsteiner will be available, as well as domestic beer (not recommended): Budweiser, Coors, and Miller. I'll be hanging out by Die Bierstube (German for "the beer tube") wearing a stupid hat doing the chicken dance.

In the meantime, if you're in the mood for some good Oktoberfest beers, McNellies has them in stock. From now until the end of October, a different Oktoberfest beer will be featured as the weekly special. We also have an Oktoberfest flight (for those that are unfamiliar, it's a platter of beer samples) which is a good way to go if you don't want to just choose one.

Cheers Darlin'

2007-09-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

It's my job as a bartender to know about beer. Especially working at a place like McNellies, with 60 beers on draft and another 200-ish in bottles. I've decided to expand my knowledge, and yours, by drinking more beer and blogging about it. It's important to know what I'm selling, don't you think? Hanging around in the pub for three years has given me ample opportunities to drink a lot of different beers. I've always considered it a recreational pastime, but now my focus has changed to educational purposes. From this day on, I will drink beer for the sake of research.