Category: 2012 - HopHeadSaid

Congratulations Heavy Seas!

2/11/2013

HopHeads did a great job of predicting the outcome of games all season long but you really shined in the post season. We were 7 and 3 through the playoffs and we correctly predicted the winner of the BIG game! Way to go everyone.

I am putting this season of HopHeadHuddle to rest but it will be reborn in August. See you then!
Cheers!

Big Game Prediction: Ravens Win!

2/2/2013

Leading up to the Big Game we are 7 and 3; and the regular season record was 93-72-1

The Big Game!

1/22/2013

It is time to start planning your "Big Game" (AKA Super Bowl) beer and food pairings. Below you will find two fantastic beer pairings and links to other themed beer pairings that are sure to make your party epic!

I will be adding a few more as the week goes on so be sure to stop back and to see what has been added. I will also be posting reader suggestions below so if you have a suggestion let all of us know about 'em.

May the best pairing win!

Heavy Seas has a huge portfolio that boasts 7 year 'round beers, 20 specialty beers and that doesn't even take into consideration their cask program!

Click here for some more Heavy Seas beer pairings.

One of the "craft beer in a can" (that's right, cans.) pioneers, 21st Amendment Brewery has 9 canned beers in their portfolio. Their three core brands would be enough to keep any beer geek happy but keep your eyes open for their seasonal (Fireside Chat)or any of their collaboration beers.

Click here for Sully's 21A beer pairing suggestions.

Photo and recipe from allrecipes.com

Beer Pairing Suggestion: Crab cakes & Pale Ale

This pairing works because the toasty, nutty malt flavors in the pale ale resonate with the cracker crumb mix. If you use an English Pale Ale, the earthy hop flavors will resonate with seasoning. If you use an American Pale Ale, the citrus hop flavors will contrast against the crab meat. Either way, their light body, hop bitterness and carbonation all help to cleanse the palate of the savory crabmeat.

Beer Pairing Suggestion: Ghirardelli & Imperial Stout

This is a chocolate lovers dream beer-pairing! All you have to do is unwrap the chocolate and eat it, but I would suggest you make double chocolate brownies with Ghirardelli chunks. The bitter chocolate and coffee-like flavors in the beer will resonate with the brownie while the warming alcohol and light carbonation will cleanse and refresh your palate so you are ready for another chocolate explosion.

Photo and recipe from my recipes.com

Beer Pairing Suggestion: Soft shell crab and pilsners

This pairing is sure to be a hit with craft beer enthusiasts and the "Budmiloors" drinkers. Craft beer enthusiasts will appreciate how the delicate malt flavors in the pilsner resonate with the toasted fried batter. They will also appreciate how the spicy herbal hop flavors resonate with the seasoning, mustard and red onions. Both groups of beer drinkers will enjoy the light body and crisp dry finish that cleanses the palate after every drink.

Beer Pairing Suggestion: Mussels with Witbiers

The yeast-derived spices and saline flavors of the mussels create a complex, resonating base layer. The mild wheat malt and subtle spices (coriander and bitter orange peal) will add a contrasting layer of complexity to this dish. To deepen this complexity, try steaming the mussels in the same beer. The beer’s flavors won’t overpower the mussels, although, the elevated carbonation and dry finish will cleanse the palate. My favorite 805 pairing suggestion for this dish is Telegraph Brewing Co.’s White Ale.

Photo and recipe from americastestkitchenfeed.com

Beer Pairing Suggestion: Baltimore Pit Beef Sandwich and rye beer

This pairing will work with either rye lagers or rye ales. The dry, spicy rye flavors will resonate with the raw onions and the horseradish sauce. The crisp dryness of either rye beer will accentuate the horseradish sauce momentarily before it cleanses the palate. That crisp, dry, spiciness will also cleanse the palate of all the savory beef flavors and mouthfeel.

Beer Pairing Suggestion: Oysters/clam chowder with Stouts

The intense roasty flavors (coffee, bitter chocolate) in these stouts can briefly intensify the saline, sea tastes in the oysters while the subtle chocolate flavors and perceived bitterness cleanses the palate.

Examples: Guinness Draught, Beamish Stout, Oyster stouts are a double whammy (Rogue, Dogfish Head)

Photo and recipe from americastestkitchenfeed.com

Beer Pairing Suggestion: Smith Island Cake with porters or stouts (especially espresso stouts)

A cake like the original or any of the other varieties, needs a beer that can stand up to all the rich flavors and fudgy goodness. That is why I am suggesting you pair big roasty beers like porters or stouts with this cake.

Of all the Smith Island Cakes to choose from I would pick the double chocolate, raspberry and pair an espresso stout. The bitter chocolate flavors in the beer and cake will resonate with each other while the espresso notes add a layer of complexity and buzz to the pairing.

The roasty flavors in both beers (porter or stout) will counteract with the sweet, mouth coating, chocolate fudge and help cleanse the palate.

To see some Smith Island Baking Company specialty cakes please visit their website.

Beer Pairing Suggestion: Oysters with Stouts

The intense roasty flavors (coffee, bitter chocolate) in these stouts can briefly intensify the saline, sea tastes in the oysters while the subtle chocolate flavors and perceived bitterness cleanses the palate.

This beer pairing can and should change depending on how you prepare the oysters. If you are enjoying raw oysters then you should choose lighter more delicate beers like pilsners or blonde ales. If you are drizzling a sauce over them pair them with light and complex Belgian or Trappist style beers (wits, ambers, blondes, golden strongs) that will resonate with the sauce.

Examples: Guinness Draught, Beamish Stout, Oyster stouts are a double whammy (Rogue, Dogfish Head)

I was looking for a specific sourdough bread pairing but I couldn't decide on which dish from above to include it with so I say add sourdough bread to all of them. Use it as the bun for the sandwiches and definitely use it as dippers for the chowder or the mussel drippings.

Vote for your favorite craft brewery.

Polls are closed!

We didn't do too bad of a job prognosticating last week. Leading up to the Big Game we are 7 and 3; and the regular season record was 93-72-1

Championship Playoffs

1/14/2013

Well, our prognosticating wasn't as good this week as it was last week going 2-2. We are 5 and 3 so far in the playoffs with 3 more games to go this season.

Your beer pairing suggestion could be featured in the Super Bowl wrap up if your team makes it all the way. Leave your suggestion in comments below!

Polls will close 3PM (ET) on Saturday January, 19th.

NFC Championship

One of the "craft beer in a can" (that's right, cans.) pioneers, 21st Amendment Brewery has 9 canned beers in their portfolio. Their three core brands would be enough to keep any beer geek happy but keep your eyes open for their seasonal (Fireside Chat)or any of their collaboration beers.

Click here for Sully's 21A beer pairing suggestions.

Red Brick Brewing Company has a beer for everyone. Their core brands hit the beer style bullseye while their Brick Mason series pushes the envelope with big bold beers like a smoked vanilla porter called Vanilla Gorilla.

Click here for Red Brick beer pairing suggestions.

AFC Championship

Heavy Seas has a huge portfolio that boasts 7 year 'round beers, 20 specialty beers and that doesn't even take into consideration their cask program!

Click here for Heavy Seas beer pairings.

With 20 beers and a couple of ciders in their portfolio, Harpoon Brewery will be a force to be reckoned with. But it is Harpoon's Leviathan Series that will do the most harm. 5 beers and the lowest ABV is 9%!

Click here for Harpoon beer pairing suggestions.

Divisional Playoff Predictions

1/12/2013

HopHeads have picked their favorites so now it is time to see if we can improve our prognosticating record. Last week we went 3 and 1.

Divisional Games

1/6/2013

The wild card games are over and now it's time to see if those bye week teams are worth their weight in beer! I dare you to look at the breweries below and not salivate. There is no shortage of great beer, here. Oh and don't forget to vote for your favorite brewery in each matchup.

It's also time to plan those half time parties and I need your help. Let us know what local beer/food pairing we should try that represents your city/team. Click the links under each brewery to see what other people are pairing with their favorite beers. Stop back often or follow @HopHeadSaid on twitter for the latest food pairing updates.

Game polls close at 7PM (ET) on Friday Jan, 11th..

Saturday Games

Heavy Seas has a huge portfolio that boasts 7 year 'round beers, 20 specialty beers and that doesn't even take into consideration their cask program!

Click here for Heavy Seas beer pairings.

As their website states, Great Divide Brewing really does have a beer for everyone. GD has 24 beers in their portfolio and range from the session-like (5.5%) DPA(Denver Pale Ale) to the big and bold Yeti (my personal favorite(any variety)) that comes in at 9.5%

Click here for Great Divide beer pairing suggestions.

Hinterland has quite the portfolio with beers ranging from a "very malty and velvet smooth" Oktoberfest to the "spicy and complex" Grand Cru. Oh and they have also been a big supporter of my weekly polls!-)

Click here for Hinterland beer pairing suggestions.

One of the "craft beer in a can" (that's right, cans.) pioneers, 21st Amendment Brewery has 9 canned beers in their portfolio. Their three core brands would be enough to keep any beer geek happy but keep your eyes open for their seasonal (Fireside Chat)or any of their collaboration beers.

Click here for Sully's 21A beer pairing suggestions.

Sunday Games

With 50+ beers in their portfolio they may be going all the way. I have always been a fan of Elysian but I had no idea they brewed so much!

Click here for Elysian Brewing Company beer pairing suggestions.

Red Brick Brewing Company has a beer for everyone. Their core brands hit the beer style bullseye while their Brick Mason series pushes the envelope with big bold beers like a smoked vanilla porter called Vanilla Gorilla.

Click here for Red Brick beer pairing suggestions.

Karbach Brewing Company is another brewery putting their beer in cans. Yes, that's right cans! They have four styles available and two of them are IPA's.

Click here for Karbach beer pairing suggestions.

With 20 beers and a couple of ciders in their portfolio, Harpoon Brewery will be a force to be reckoned with. But it is Harpoon's Leviathan Series that will do the most harm. 5 beers and the lowest ABV is 9%!

Click here for Harpoon beer pairing suggestions.

Wild Card Games

12/31/2012

The regular season is over and now it is time for the playoffs! Time to plan those half time parties and I need your help. Let us know what local beer/food pairing we should try that represents your city/team.

Stop back often or follow @HopHeadSaid on twitter for the latest food pairing updates.

Saturday game polls will close at 4:30 ET on 1/5/13
Sunday game polls will close at 4:40 ET on 1/6/13

Wild Card Games

You have got to take a look at Rivertown Brewing Company's beer line up. They brew everything from a Helles to a Geuze!

Karbach Brewing Company is another brewery putting their beer in cans. Yes, that's right cans! They have four styles available and two of them are IPA's.

Click here for Karbach beer pairings.

Surly Brewing Company is another brewery putting their best in cans. Not just any cans, either, but tall boys. Oh yeah! 16oz of 85IBU Furious for me please!

Hinterland has quite the portfolio with beers ranging from a "very malty and velvet smooth" Oktoberfest to the "spicy and complex" Grand Cru. Oh and they have also been a big supporter of my weekly polls!-)

Click here for Hinterland beer pairings.

Brugge Brasserie has a short but impressive Belgian inspired beer portfolio. How about a black belgian that "reminds the drinker of chocolate" or a Belgian IPA that is "clearly Belgian on the nose but with the noticeable soft hop bitterness of summit and amarillo"

Heavy Seas has a huge portfolio that boasts 7 year 'round beers, 20 specialty beers and that doesn't even take into consideration their cask program!

Click here for Heavy Seas beer pairings.

With 50+ beers in their portfolio they may be going all the way. I have always been a fan of Elysian but I had no idea they brewed so much!

I was unaware of 3 Stars Brewing Company until this year. If you haven't discovered this brewery yet you need to! Their portfolio contains at least 12 beers but it is their 3 rye beers that I am most interested in!

Click here for 3 Stars beer pairings.

Brewery Match-ups: Week 17

12/28/2012

This is the last week or the regular season and these polls have been a lot of fun for me. I really appreciate all of the support from the breweries and fans! So far this season, HopHeads have correctly predicted 93 of 164 games.

The fun isn't over at the end of this week, though. I will be continuing the polls through the playoffs and the big game. But there will be an important feature added to each poll ... food pairings. So keep coming back after each week to find out what foods and beers you should be serving for your half time parties.

*Remember* You are voting for a brewery based on the quality of their beer. We don't have enough time in the day to pick spreads or base this on any representative athletic ability. We are only picking the best brewery/beer lineup in each match-up and if that predicts the outcome of the game, then so be
it!-)

If you have any food pairing suggestions for any of these games let us know about them in the comment section below.

Game polls will close at 1:00 PM (ET) on 12/30

Tampa Bay Brewing Co.
v
Red Brick

Brooklyn Brewery
v
Flying Bison Brewing Co.

Heavy Seas
v
Rivertown Brewing Co.

Deep Ellum Brewing Co.
v
3 Stars Brewing Co.

Goos Island Beer Company
v
Motor City Brewing Works

Intuition Ale Works
v
Fat Bottom Brewing Co.

Karboach Brewing Co.
v
Brugge Brasserie

Hinterland Brewery
v
Surly Brewing Co.

The Abbey Brewing Co.
v
Harpoon Brewery

Kind Beers
v
Crescent City Brewhouse

Philadelphia Brewing Co.
v
Brooklyn Brewery

Great Lakes Brewing Co.
v
East End Brewing Co.

Pacific Coast Brewing Co.
v
Green Flash Brewing Co.

The Phoenix Ale Brewery
v
21st Amendment Brewery

Schlafly Beer
v
Elysian Brewing Co.

Boulevard Brewing Co.
v
Great Divide Brewing Co.

Brewery Match-ups: Week 16

12/18/2012

*Remember* You are voting for a brewery based on the quality of their beer. We don't have enough time in the day to pick spreads or base this on any representative athletic ability. We are only picking the best brewery/beer lineup in each match-up and if that predicts the outcome of the game, then so be
it!-)

If you have any food pairing suggestions for any of these games let us know about them in the comment section below!

Game 1 poll will close at 8:00 PM (ET) on 12/22
Games 2-16 polls will close at 12:30 PM (ET) on 12/23

I am all out of bad beer and football puns for this season so I am only posting the the brewery names for SEO reasons.

Red Brick Beer v. Motor City Brewing Works

Crescent City Brewhouse v Deep Ellum Brewing Co.

Fat Bottom Brewing Co. v. Hinterland Brewery

Brugge Brasserie v. Boulevard Brewing Co.

Flying Bison Brewing Co. v. The Abbey Brewing Co.

Schlafly Beer v. Tampa Bay Brewing Co.

Pacific Coast Brewing Co. v. Kind Beers

Harpoon Brewery v. Intuition Ale Works

Brooklyn Brewery v. Heavy Seas

Surly Brewing Co. v. Karbach Brewing Co.

3 Stars Brewing Co. v. Philadelphia Brewing Co.

Rivertown Brewing Co. v. East End Brewing Co.

Great Lakes Brewing Co. v. Great Divide Brewing Co.

21st Amendment Brewery v Elysian Brewing co.

Goose Island Beer Co. v. The Phoenix Ale Brewery

Green Flash Brewing Co. v. Brooklyn Brewery.

Week 15 predictions/results

12/18/2012

This week was a wash with 8 correct predictions and 8 not-so-correct predictions. With two weeks to go HopHeads have correctly picked 83 games this season. Season record is 83-65-1.