Food News: Grand Teton Brewing Company releases blonde, brunette beers

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

By Sam Petri

Feel free to thank Charlie Otto by sucking down something sweet from Grand Teton Brewery. In 1988, he was the first person in Wyoming to obtain a license to brew beer.

Back then Otto brewed under the name Otto Brothers Brewing, and had a 210-square-foot homemade facility in his backyard in Wilson, Wyo. He served up classics like Teton Ale, Moose Juice Stout and Old Faithful Ale in growlers and 22-ounce bottles that you could bring back and refill – a recycling technique that resonated with the environmentally conscious neighborhood.

Business grew, and eventually Otto moved his operation to Victor, Idaho. Although he changed the name to Grand Teton Brewing Company, the direction of the company remains identical: staying green by using biodiesel and feeding local farmers’ cattle with spent grain from the brew kettle.

With a larger staff and facility, GTBC keeps pumping out the quality treats. This past week, they sent us the Au Naturale Organic Blonde Ale and Oud Bruin Belgian Style Ale.

Oud Bruin Belgian Style Ale
This Brown Ale is simultaneously sweet and sour. Because it is bottle conditioned, it has natural carbonation that dances on your tongue, releasing a refreshing, complex, caramel flavor with sour after notes. If you’ve had Belgian style beer before, this will taste familiar, however it’s unlike anything you’ve ever tried.

Part of GTBC’s “Cellar Reserve” program, this limited edition beer can only be found on tap or in 1-liter flip-top bottles. The bottle conditioning means active yeast is feeding off sugars in the bottle, and with time, this process will smooth out the flavors. As GTBC brewer Todd Crowell puts it, “In two years, this great beer will turn into a phenomenal beer.” Enjoy it now, or store it in a dark, cool place, either vertical or horizontal for no longer than three years.

Au Naturale Organic Blonde Ale
Wow, everything is organic these days: veggies, steak, even beer, and with this delicious Blonde Ale, your next BBQ will be USDA certified. I’m not apt to grab the organic brews off the shelf at the store – the price rarely justifies the flavor.

But this Blonde Ale releases a blooming, citrus flavor, ending with a crisp, clean taste that makes it a back porch brew for a summer afternoon. Enjoy it with a well thought out meal – perhaps freshly caught trout – with intimate friends, as this flavor is not to be abused.
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Food News: Grand Teton Brewing Company releases blonde, brunette beers | Planet JH News Article: Restaurants And Dining

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