Cape Cod escapade. Beer in the USA.

 

Sandra with her favorite American brewer of
German-style Weissbier, Cape Cod Brewery’s
Todd Marcus.

Visiting with the Cape Cod Lager and Ale Makers (CCLAMS) Homebrewers Club at the Cape Cod Brewery this past weekend, uncovered a few beer gems.  
        I’ve always respected any brewery that is able to make a well balanced German-style Bavarian wheat beer.  While I’m not a fan of hefeweizens or Weissbier as they are called in Germany, I appreciate how difficult it is to make an authentic tasting wheat beer.  My wife, Sandra loves them – but only if they have the perfect balance of malt, hops, banana ester and clove like character.  These are all attributes common in most attempts to make this style.  But to get them in balance and with the medium body foundation of malt that is indicative of every award winning German Weissbier I’ve ever had the privilege to taste – is not an easy accomplishment.
       Cape Cod Brewery, Hyannis, Massachusetts is one of America’s independent family owned breweries.  They don’t make a tremendous assortment of beer, but the ones they make, IPA, Summer Wheat and Red Ale are quality brews on tap at the community restaurants supporting them throughout the Cape.  If you love wheat beers, their Summer Wheat is world class and certainly worth seeking.  It’s a real taste of what only the German usually are able to accomplish.
        I’m also recovering from being astounded at CCLAM homebrewer
Carl Laman’s homebrewed knock off of a Rodenbach Grand Cru.  It took him a nearly a year to ferment this complex yeast and bacteria infused fermentation.  Aged with oak and carefully refermented in the bottle.  Wow.  I wouldn’t be able to recognize the difference between the real thing and his homebrewed accomplishment.  Refreshingly sour, fruity, hints of oak and vanilla, caramel, malt and hop balance.  A real gem.  

Above photo: Carl Laman, CCLAM brewer of homebrewed knockoff of Rodenbach Grand Cru.