Sept. 21, 2000

The proper temperature is essential for beer enjoyment. A beer served too cold will withhold most of its flavor. But while serving beer at room temperature brings out the flavors and aromas and is appropriate when judging beer, most drinkers prefer something cooler. Some general guidelines:

- Serve fruit beers at 40-50° F.
- Serve wheat beers and pale lagers at 45-50° F.
- Serve pale ales and amber or dark lagers at 50-55° F.
- Serve strong ales, such as barley wines and Belgian ales, at 50-55° F.
- Serve dark ales, including porters and stouts, at 55-60° F.

In "Ultimate Beer," Michael Jackson suggests a serving temperatures for each of the 450 beers covered in the book. Here are a few of those suggestions:

- Anchor Old Foghorn: serve at 55° F.
- Anderson Valley High Rollers Wheat Beer: serve at 50° F.
- Ayinger Oktober Fest-Marzen: serve at 48° F.
- BridgePort India Pale Ale: serve at 50-55° F.
- Celis White: serve at 48-50° F.
- Chimay Cinq Cents: store around 57° F, serve at 50° F.
- Framboise Boon: Store at 50-55° F, lightly refrigerate for two or three hours before serving and serve at 47° F.
- Fuller's London Pride: serve at 50-55° F.
- Guinness (Foreign) Extra Stout: serve at 50-55° F.
- North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout: serve at 55-64° F.
- Pilsner Urquell: serve at 48° F.
- Poperings Hommel bier: serve at 50° F.
- Rogue Maierbock Ale: serve at 48° F.
- Schneider Weisse: serve at 48-54° F.
- Unibroue Quelcque Chose: serve at 158° F (yes, warmed).

To learn more about "Ultimate Beer" visit:

      http://www.beerhunter.com/publications.html

FLYING DOG (DOGGIE STYLE) CLASSIC PALE ALE
Brewed at Broadway Brewing, Denver, Colorado

Scott Birdwell writes:

Despite the name, I found this brew to be a deeper shade of amber than the so-called "amber" ales. The aroma is definitely floral. Yes, my friends, HOPS! The bouquet virtually dripped of floral "C" hops. That means I suspect that they're using some Cascades, Chinook, Centennial, or Crystal hops in this brew. These "C" hops almost bash you in the head with floral, perfumey aroma and flavor. Oh, yeah! Even better, the hoppiness actually carries through to the flavor. This Dog bites back! The bitterness is tempered with some maltiness which makes for a nice balance. Overall, this was one of my favorites of the evening.

You can read more about American pale and amber ales.

SCHNEIDER WEISSE
Brewed in Germany

Stephen Beaumont writes:

German wheat beers assume many forms: some are spicy and peppery; others offer healthy doses of clove; still others are quite fruity; and a select few call to mind the Bazooka Joe Bubble Gum of my youth. The oldest hefeweizen in existence, however, combines all of these elements in one magnificent, spicy-fruity-peppery flavour bomb. And somewhat amazingly, the Schneider Weisse offers all of this while still maintaining a refreshing character.