In Search of the Perfect Brew

So I’ve taken to beer drinking. I have always loved beer, but tend to safely sway toward wine, because I know about wine (or so I like to think).

I also cringe at the carbs and calories that come with beer, so like my friend Katy Watts from Sheltered Girl Meets World I pay beer tax in order to enjoy it. Beer tax is simply time at the gym in order to drink the beer I want. I also love low carb beers like Sleemans Clear which was introduced to me by a good friend this past year. Clear is a light and refreshing, easy to drink (this is a must for me), citrus on the mouth brew.

But when I’m on the patio I prefer pale, wheat beers, Belgian style in particular. I have always loved Hoegaarden, but most recently discovered Shock Top, a pale again, citrus brew that is going to be perfect for the summer.

Now the beer purist may think, “she has no idea what she is talking about” and hey, they may be right, but this is a new journey for me and as friend in the industry always says, “drink what you like”. So, I drink what I like.

I suggest trying this lovely brew, or better yet come for a visit and we’ll sit on my patio and drink it, cause I’ve always got some. And I’m open to suggestions, throw me a few ideas on what I should try this summer.

***Shock Top fact sheet here.

Cheers.

Pubs and Patios

One thing about living in Ottawa, there are enough pubs and patios to accommodate the universe, and well I love patios and people watching, I am bit exhausted by pub grub.

Yesterday I sat with a visiting friend at the Aulde Dubliner/Pour House in the Byward Market. What I like about this pub is the wait staff, they are fabulous and their service is outstanding, always and the selection of beer is good, really good.

Whats with pub apps? Wings, nachos (soaked in salsa), poutine, chicken fingers, bruschetta-please people can we get more creative? As much as I love pubs, patios and people watching, I’m bored by the menus and frankly so are most people I know.  It doesn’t seem to matter however, the patios are still packed, the beer is still poured and the nacho platters overflowing (yeah did I mention portion size?), everyone looks forward to patio season. One thing the Aulde Dubliner does have is a decent sandwich menu (particularly the Irish Smoked Salmon) and some old Irish standards.

Despite my beef about pub apps, I do enjoy this place, and send folks there all the time. Its located at a pedestrian entrance (and exit for that matter) to the market, ripe for people watching and a nice break from shopping.

http://www.auldedubliner.com/dubliner.aspx

Its All About The Beer-Guinness Cupcakes

I have heard about Guinness Cupcakes-but never tried until just recently. They were fabulous and did not last long! The Guinness just adds to the depth of the chocolate. Remember to use good cocoa (I recommend Cocoa Camino). I slather on my buttercream icing to make it look like a frothy draft…..

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa, plus more for dusting finished cupcakes

2 cups sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch fine salt

1 bottle stout beer (recommended: Guinness)

1 stick butter, melted

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

3 large eggs

3/4 cup sour cream

Mix all the dry then all the wet, add dry gradually to the wet ingredients and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Makes 2 dozen.

Find the buttercream recipe here in the archives (dust a bit of cocoa on top). Enjoy!

tg