A while back we were all yapping about beer cocktails, meaning putting not-beer in beer to make something that allegedly improved beer. I was not moved. I called them signs of the end times. Today, hunting out a story I think I came across the shadow of the valley of death of beer cocktails:
When Kevin Lawrence at Avon Liquor recommended I try Dogfish Head’s Punkin Ale with a dollop of whipped cream on top, I searched his face for a smirk, sure he was kidding. I mean who drinks beer with whipped cream? Well, I did. And turns out, it’s pretty darn good.Yikes. And here is another similar thing referenced in the New York Magazine's Bar Buzz column recently - a Punkin Ale Shake. There must be some nefarious power behind such an idea, I thought. So I hunted out Lord Goog and there is it was - a Rachel Ray recipe from November 2006. Yet it is not mere whipped cream she proposes, not just a shake. The ingredients include heavy cream, cinnamon, vanilla ice cream and gingersnaps. Pure villainy. Someone else will have to try this one out for me as I have no DFH PA and, if I did, I would not put gingersnaps in it.
All is not lost for me and cocktails, however. Now that the autumn is here I may try out that port and imperial stout suggestion from Stephen Beaumont. Suddenly it looks entirely reasonable.
Comments
Jason Tucker - October 2, 2007 8:49 PM
Whipped cream and Punkin Ale? That sounds like something I might have to have my wife try out for me. She'll drink about anything with whipped cream on it.
I never heard the port and imperial stout thing before, interesting....
Stephen Beaumont - October 3, 2007 12:14 PM
Ah, Alan, if you <i>really</I> want to see the extremes of beer cocktail making, check out what Jamie Boudreau is doing here:
http://spiritsandcocktails.wordpress.com/2007/09/07/beer-liqueur-yes-beer-liqueur/
and here:
http://spiritsandcocktails.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/frickin-worms-everywhere/
and even here:
http://spiritsandcocktails.wordpress.com/2007/09/21/every-dogfish-has-his-day/
eje - October 6, 2007 3:17 PM
I was going to suggest you check out Mr. Boudrau's site; but, I see Stephen beat me to it.
I can't say beer with whipped cream is particularly appealing; but, I was pleasantly surprised by an old-fashioned Ale Flip. Quite the warming beverage.
Alan - October 14, 2007 11:09 AM
In the interests of science, I also made a float from achingly stark Cantillon Fou' Foune and chocolate mint ice cream, the only ice cream in the house. It was good and brought out the peach by cutting down the acid but I would go with straight chocolate or maybe a good coconut one the next time.