Have you ever thought to yourself, “If Nick Punto was a beer, what beer would he be?” Probably not because it’s a pretty odd thing to think about. However, it’s crossed my mind.
I like to look at a baseball lineup like a beer menu. You need those easy-drinking, consistent beers just like you need your lead-off men and two-hole hitters. It’s also nice to have some of those higher-quality beers that pack a little more punch like your RBI men down in the middle of the order. Then there is guy who may mostly strike out, run the bases like he’s knee-deep in mud and throw like your grandmother. But, when he hits, he hits big.
The Minnesota Twins just picked up a guy who’s been doing that in big leagues since 1989, Jim Thome. In honor of that addition, let’s take a look at the big hitters in the beer world.
For the sake of this column, I decided to classify any beer over 8 percent alcohol by volume as a big beer and search around for a few slugger brews. Luckily for me, Monk’s House of Ale Repute was celebrating St. Brigid’s Feast Day — who turned her bathwater into beer for a thirsty traveler — on Feb. 1 and tapping a keg of a specially made big beer for the occasion.
Elisha Page, a member of a local home brewing group the Big Sioux Brewing Society, won a contest and had his recipe brewed by Brau Brothers Brewing Company. His recipe, Elisha’s Olde Ale, was a big, dark ale with English undertones. There was no definite ABV, but I heard it was in the realm of 9 percent.
“It’s exciting” he said, “Recognition is always good.”
So how did the beer turn out? “It’s almost there.” he said, comparing the Brau Brothers brew to his original recipe. “With the one change, it’s the same.” Page originally used an English strain of yeast for his beer while Brau Brothers used a more common, American yeast.
Fellow brewer Rich Goodwin threw in his scouting report of Elisha’s Olde Ale as well, “It’s kind of a malty with dark chocolate and oak. It’s a dry finish. I like it.”
In my scorebook, Elisha’s Olde Ale slides into second with a strong double. I can’t help but wonder what his original tasted like; I have an affinity for the English ingredients.
In search of more brews with slugger power, I threw the question out to my friends. Here are some of the replies:
“My clone of Pliny the Elder. A huge double IPA with 9 percent and over 100 IBUS. Or the original is pretty good too,” said Jason Currie Olson, who came in second to Page in the brewing contest.
“Trois Pistoles. Nine percent. Hard to describe … dark and yummy,” said Mark Thole. I agree. When you can find this affordable gem from the Canadian brewery, Unibroue it’s always a pleasure.
Derek Aman, one of the friendly bartenders at Monk’s House of Ale Repute, went with Nogne-O Russian Imperial Stout, a big-swinging stout that steps up to the plate at 9 percent ABV.
My personal selection in this category shouldn’t take anyone by surprise. My all-time favorite beer, Gulden Draak is a 10.5 ABV bad boy that is dark, smooth and delicious.
Just like the Jim Thome’s of the baseball world, your beer lineup shouldn’t entirely consist of these bruisers. They’re great sipping beers to kick back with while you chat with an old friend or meet new ones.
Do you have a favorite big-hitting beer? Post your comment and let us know. What is it? What’s the ABV? And most importantly, what does it taste like? I’d love to hear some new ones.
Until next time, keep your eye on the ball and your hand on a pint.
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Big-hitting beers to plump up your lineup by Tyler Omoth http://bit.ly/aesu8g http://bit.ly/aM48FP
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Now we have to decide which beer Orlando will be! Can’t wait for drinks outside with baseball.
I wonder what beer Nick Punto is almost every day. Puzzling.
I think Nick is like a light beer you keep stocked in the fridge for those “just in case” days. It’s not your favorite or even your second choice, but it’s affordable and it can fill in when you run out of the good stuff. High Life?