Beer O' Clock -- Pitt edition

Scroll down to the "Your Pitt two deeps" post and you'll find a comment from my friend Marc.

When we were at the Daily Iowan in 1990, Marc was trying to do a story on Matt Groening, the creator of "The Simpsons." I caught wind of this and bet a six pack of beer that he'd never get Groening on the phone. This was early Simpsons, before franchising. Also, I didn't take into account that Matt Groening is a pretty cool guy. Marc got the story.

But I never paid up. I was a grad student, newly married, six kids and a mortgage and a washing machine (true, false, false and false). Suffice to say, it's been a bit of a running joke.

He brought up Yuengling, a regional favorite from Pottsville, Pa.

 http://www.yuengling.com/index.htm

On his radio show Wednesday night, Kirk Ferentz voted thumbs down on Iron City Beer, a Pittsburgh staple. A Steelers fan at my fantasy football draft brings a sixer of this stuff every year. I had one a few years ago. Innocuous, not awful. Kind of like the Cubs fan version of Old Style. I'm sure I'll have one or two at the Pirates game later tonight.

I can't imagine this exists, but someone on Beeradvocate reviewed "Totally Dirt Cheap Light Beer" from Pittsburgh Brewing Co. That can't be real, can it? The guy gave it an "F" and said avoid at all costs, even if it's free. Cmon', dude. I'm from Dubuque. That's a challenge.

Last week, the beer discussion picked up greatly. I've been informed by a few readers that Old Capitol Brew Works in Iowa City (http://www.oldcapitolbrewworks.com/). Pat told me the brew master down there has a license to brew Dubuque Star. And then, Tim taunted me by saying he actually drank a Dub Star there the night before. Say no more, I'm in. I'll be down. I'll probably end up buying a T-shirt and everything.

There was also some reminiscing on the Stone City Brewery in Solon. I knew about this place but never made it there. A couple hockey buddies used to go there and drink, I believe, the Stein Bock. They called it, well, I just say "fabulous liquid knockout juice." I'm kicking myself for not getting out more.

So much beer, so little time.

This week's recommendation from my friend and former Gazette stringer Barry Pump, who's working toward his poli sci PhD at UWashington in Seattle (guy had the good sense to get out of sportswriting and move to a beautiful part of the country):

Grimbergen Dubbel

It's from Belguim, so I have no idea on the distribution. It does look like one of those "bombers" in the 22-ounce bottles, the ones that you used to find on the shelves on the far wall at Benz (still not open, end of the month maybe?). It's a Belgian dubbel, rich and malty with mild alcohol characteristics (so says Beeradvo, anyways. I admit, I'm not yet that refined).

It gets a B+ on 261 reviews at Beeradvocate, which I think is pretty good.

Here's Ftownthrowdown's review:

"Pours a ruby brown in color. Decent amount of pillowy head. Decent carbonation. I'm usually not a big fan of Dubbels, but this had more flavors that I do like. There was a definite toffee flavor, as well as a very nice dark fruit appearing as well. Which I didn't mind at all. Good beer."

Sounds appealing.

Marc, what's your address? A sixer of Upper Canadian is on the way!!!!