This entry is going to be a bit more personal ( as a warning).
I’ve not been immune to the self-reflection on what’s “truly” important during this SARS CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic. With that, you think about those things in life that bring you true joy. For me, it’s painting the “desert island” scenario in your head. If you had to take just a few things with you to your desert island, what would you bring? ( I’ve even recently installed an app called ‘desert island’ on my phone, which really limits the visual enticement of your smartphone apps; making your home screen just script, rather than images, and limits it to only 7 important apps that you choose… try it.. I guarantee you’ll open other apps, and be distracted less.)
Craft beer drinkers and homebrewers LOVE to play the desert island game.
- “Which beers would be your dream 6-pack?”
- ” If you could only bring one beer on your desert island, what would it be?”
There are so many wonderful beers out there, that it’s hard to choose.
- You could go the ” this is the best beer I’ve ever tasted” route to bring along… OR…
- you could go the “this beer makes me think of the best memories” option.
When choosing the recipe for this homebrew, I went with the latter.
NAME:
Most of my homebrews have been named after a musician I admire, that personifies the beer style. With this beer, I married two “firsts” for me.
While in college, I worked at a liquor store. A fun job, that most undergrads would love. Like most college students, I was used to drinking terrible, cheap beer. Then someone gave me my first Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I wish I could remember who it was, but those days are a mosaic of memories that don’t always connect. I do remember this: It blew my mind. When reading brewing publications and journals, I’ve noticed that Sierra Nevada Pale Ale was the first to open the world to other brewers; professional to home. There’s a reverence for this beer that’s unmatched.
40 years ago, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale was born. Utilizing a new hop grown in Oregon, called “Cascade.” This hop, and beer started a beer revolution, known as the American Pale Ale. Nearly every hoppy beer in the 4 decades since, owes it’s success to the O.G.
I still love Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. It’s light, mildly sweet, and noticeably hoppy. It’s easy drinking, and brings back a lot of great memories. It showed me what beer could be, and was the first one I really loved.
Pearl Jam’s debut album “Ten”
Back in 1991, I at least had some sense of what good music was. I was 9 and 10 years old, and was lucky enough to have older sisters that played music I probably shouldn’t have been exposed to. Meaning, I was aware of “Thriller” like everyone else alive, but knew of “Appetite for Destruction” and that it was aggressive, dangerous, and fantastic. The early 90’s brought the massive landscape shift of the “Seattle Sound” and “Grunge.” The bands that came from that area/era get lumped together ( Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, and Alice in Chains). I never understood that. They really don’t sound like one another AT ALL. I could write a short book on that subject alone, but as usual… I digress.
I remember hearing “Even Flow” off of Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten . It wasn’t the hair metal that was desperately trying to hold on to relevancy. It wasn’t the dirty and heavy “Beatles” sound of Nirvana. It was straight ahead heavy Rock with Blues tinges. Sure, I wouldn’t know what those styles meant at that point in my life, but I “got it.” A cassette tape of Ten was given to me by my Uncle. Pearl Jam became the first band I loved on my own. Since, I’ve spent more time with their music than any other artist or group. If I had to choose one group’s or artist’s music to bring on my desert island, it would have to be them ( though not being able to bring the Beatles with me would break my heart into a million pieces).
Honestly, I would love to go into heavy details about both Sierra Nevada Pale Ale AND Pearl Jam.. Painstakingly discussing their history, craft, and brilliance, but you’d probably get bored ( if you’re not already), and I don’t have time to write that book. All of this.. Just to say… they both mean a great deal to me, and I designed and named this beer with them both in mind.
PROCESS:
When brewing, cleaning and sanitation are extremely important. Let me say again.. It’s extremely important. Getting flavors and consistency while brewing is dependent on this one thing. I’ve always been careful, but I took the cleaning/sanitation to a different level this time. It was one of the longer brew days I’ve put in, and not the easiest either. I didn’t want to leave anything to chance. When making a beer that you’re really hoping to love, you don’t half-ass it.
I made sure the pH of the mash was the exact same as the pH of the sparge water; using lactic acid, then baking soda to get it exact. All of the measures of grain, hops, and yeast were precise.
It’s a simple recipe. Pale malt, Crystal 60, Cascade hops, and American Ale yeast. It’s the same combination that makes up Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. The only thing I changed, was to not recirculate as I was collecting wort; creating a “thicker” beer with a bit more body and a slightly darker color.
I did a side-by-side comparison with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale & “PJ”, and I got the result I was after. I’ll also admit, this is one of the best beers I’ve made. The carbonation, mouthfeel, and overall result was pretty much what I was after. Also, my wife, whose palate has developed a sharpness to it, really enjoyed it, and asked to drink it over some great store/brewery bought options in the fridge. I’ll take that endorsement any day.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
It’s easy to get swept up in trends and groupthink. Far easier than any of us would like to admit. We all chase things that are empty pleasures, that don’t add joy to our souls in any way.
What hits you? What do you really love..because YOU really love it? If you had to make a choice on what to take, what are you bringing? Do these things remind you of the best MOMENTS with the best PEOPLE in your life?
I hope so.
Andrew L Hamilton 