Monday, August 11, 2008
About
The Beer Guru is Jacob McKean, a man dedicated to spreading the good word about good beer. A regular beer drinker for years, McKean's understanding of the beer universe was shattered by a bottle of Belgian beer called Tripel Karmeliet. Stupefied by the complexity, intensity, and aroma of the frothy golden liquid, McKean set about consuming every available Belgian beer he could get his hands on. His interest soon turned to the outrageously flavorful craft beers of the United States and the unprecedented variety offered by America's small brewers. Not content to solely consume beer, McKean began making it himself, experimenting with the brewing process and learning about every aspect of how beer is made. It was at this stage in his voyage that McKean attained an astral level of beer consciousness and was transformed into The Beer Guru, a swami of suds intent on bringing good beer to the lips of the world's drinkers. He humbly offers his services to the world as part of his mission.
Clients
The Beer Guru recently created a beer menu for Traxx restaurant and bar in Los Angeles. Weighing custmomer demand, sales data, food pairings, and a desire to offer outstanding craft beer, The Beer Guru created this menu and wrote the following descriptions:
Taps:
Dale’s Pale Ale, 6.5% ABV
Oskar Blues Brewery, Lyons, Colorado
A full-flavored American Pale Ale with plenty of hops, a solid malt backbone, and a wonderfully grassy aroma.
Nautical Nut Brown, 5.0% ABV
AleSmith Brewing Company, San Diego, California
A dark brown ale brewed in the British tradition, this nutty, malty beer is complex, chewy, and delicious.
Stella Artois, 5.2% ABV
Stella Artois, Leuven, Belgium
A light, easy-drinking European pale lager that is sweet and clean throughout.
Miller Lite, 4.17% ABV
Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The classic American light lager.
Bottles:
Victory Prima Pils, 5.3% ABV, 12 oz.
Victory Brewing Company, Downington, Pennsylvania
Perhaps the finest pilsner brewed in the United States, Prima Pils is a great all purpose beer that can be enjoyed alongside almost any meal. Plenty of hops allow it to stand up to strong favors, but a light, sparkling body makes it a superb thirst quencher.
Meantime India Pale Ale, 7.5% ABV, 750ml
Meantime Brewing Company Limited, London, England
This beautiful, hazy orange brew fills the nose with citrus, flowers, and fresh cut grass. Bursting with hop flavors, it is nonetheless well balanced and eminently drinkable. Matches up beautifully with spicy dishes.
Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen, 5.4% ABV, 16.9 oz.
Brauerei Weihenstephan, Freising, Germany
This crisp, light wheat beer is brewed at the oldest functioning brewery in the world. Notes of lemon and banana give way to a refreshingly dry finish that goes well with lighter fare such as salads, tofu, and seafood.
Schneider Aventinus Weizenbock, 8% ABV, 500ml
Private Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn, Kelheim, Germany
A dark and delicious German beer, Aventinus has notes of caramel, ripe fruit, and spicy clove. Its full body and malty flavors make it an excellent pairing for meats and chocolate desserts.
St. Bernardus Abt 12, 10.5% ABV, 750ml
Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV, Watou, Belgium
This dark Belgian Quadrupel is considered one of the finest and most complex beers in the world. Rich with flavors of dark fruit, clove, and brown sugar, it is the perfect compliment to grilled meat or dessert, or as a digestif.
Blanche de Chambly, 5.0% ABV
Unibroue, Quebec, Canada
A Belgian-style wheat beer with a light, fluffy body and crisp, dry taste. Belgian yeast adds a fruity, spicy aroma.
Drake’s Amber Ale, 5.9% ABV
Drake’s Brewing Company, San Leandro, California
Bready, earthy malts are balanced by floral and citrus hops in this excellent medium-bodied amber. Notes of caramel, ripe fruits, and toffee.
Storm King, 9.1% ABV
Victory Brewing Company, Downington, Pennsylvania
Russian Imperial Stouts were originally brewed by the British for the Czar’s court. An outstanding example of the style, this pitch-black beer is loaded with flavor: coffee, chocolate, roasted malts, and strong, spicy hops all come through in the creamy body.
Stone India Pale Ale, 6.9% ABV
Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, California
The standard bearer for West Coast IPAs, this beer boasts a wonderfully complex hop aroma and flavor balanced by a full, rich body. Fragrant and quaffable.
Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen, 5.4% ABV
Brauerei Weihenstephan, Freising, Germany
A crisp, light wheat beer brewed at the oldest functioning brewery in the world. Notes of lemon and banana give way to a refreshing, dry finish. Great on a hot day.
Black Butte Porter, 5.5% ABV
Deschutes Brewery Inc., Bend, Oregon
A lush, medium-bodied ale with flavors of roasted coffee, biscuits, and hops. An aftertaste of burnt sugar and warming alcohol makes this a tasty, highly drinkable porter.
Mirror Pond Pale Ale, 5.5% ABV
Deschutes Brewery Inc., Bend, Oregon
A slightly sweet aroma of grapefruit and flowers makes this one inviting pale ale. The taste is well balanced by citrusy, piney hops and crisp pale malts. A classic in its style.
Duvel, 8.5% ABV
Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV, Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium
This juicy, delicious pale golden ale has lively carbonation, a clean, sweet taste and a dry, spicy finish. An excellent Belgian beer.
Sam Adams, 4.75% ABV
Boston Beer Company, Boston, Massachusetts
A well-crafted Vienna-style lager with a good balance of hops and malt from a pioneering American craft brewery.
Corona, 4.6% ABV
Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V., Mexico City, Mexico
You can’t skip stones on a turquoise ocean from a bar stool in Union Station, but you can have a Corona.
Budwesier, 5.0% ABV
Anhueser-Busch, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri
The ubiquitous, classic German-American lager.
Taps:
Dale’s Pale Ale, 6.5% ABV
Oskar Blues Brewery, Lyons, Colorado
A full-flavored American Pale Ale with plenty of hops, a solid malt backbone, and a wonderfully grassy aroma.
Nautical Nut Brown, 5.0% ABV
AleSmith Brewing Company, San Diego, California
A dark brown ale brewed in the British tradition, this nutty, malty beer is complex, chewy, and delicious.
Stella Artois, 5.2% ABV
Stella Artois, Leuven, Belgium
A light, easy-drinking European pale lager that is sweet and clean throughout.
Miller Lite, 4.17% ABV
Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The classic American light lager.
Bottles:
Victory Prima Pils, 5.3% ABV, 12 oz.
Victory Brewing Company, Downington, Pennsylvania
Perhaps the finest pilsner brewed in the United States, Prima Pils is a great all purpose beer that can be enjoyed alongside almost any meal. Plenty of hops allow it to stand up to strong favors, but a light, sparkling body makes it a superb thirst quencher.
Meantime India Pale Ale, 7.5% ABV, 750ml
Meantime Brewing Company Limited, London, England
This beautiful, hazy orange brew fills the nose with citrus, flowers, and fresh cut grass. Bursting with hop flavors, it is nonetheless well balanced and eminently drinkable. Matches up beautifully with spicy dishes.
Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen, 5.4% ABV, 16.9 oz.
Brauerei Weihenstephan, Freising, Germany
This crisp, light wheat beer is brewed at the oldest functioning brewery in the world. Notes of lemon and banana give way to a refreshingly dry finish that goes well with lighter fare such as salads, tofu, and seafood.
Schneider Aventinus Weizenbock, 8% ABV, 500ml
Private Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn, Kelheim, Germany
A dark and delicious German beer, Aventinus has notes of caramel, ripe fruit, and spicy clove. Its full body and malty flavors make it an excellent pairing for meats and chocolate desserts.
St. Bernardus Abt 12, 10.5% ABV, 750ml
Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV, Watou, Belgium
This dark Belgian Quadrupel is considered one of the finest and most complex beers in the world. Rich with flavors of dark fruit, clove, and brown sugar, it is the perfect compliment to grilled meat or dessert, or as a digestif.
Blanche de Chambly, 5.0% ABV
Unibroue, Quebec, Canada
A Belgian-style wheat beer with a light, fluffy body and crisp, dry taste. Belgian yeast adds a fruity, spicy aroma.
Drake’s Amber Ale, 5.9% ABV
Drake’s Brewing Company, San Leandro, California
Bready, earthy malts are balanced by floral and citrus hops in this excellent medium-bodied amber. Notes of caramel, ripe fruits, and toffee.
Storm King, 9.1% ABV
Victory Brewing Company, Downington, Pennsylvania
Russian Imperial Stouts were originally brewed by the British for the Czar’s court. An outstanding example of the style, this pitch-black beer is loaded with flavor: coffee, chocolate, roasted malts, and strong, spicy hops all come through in the creamy body.
Stone India Pale Ale, 6.9% ABV
Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, California
The standard bearer for West Coast IPAs, this beer boasts a wonderfully complex hop aroma and flavor balanced by a full, rich body. Fragrant and quaffable.
Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen, 5.4% ABV
Brauerei Weihenstephan, Freising, Germany
A crisp, light wheat beer brewed at the oldest functioning brewery in the world. Notes of lemon and banana give way to a refreshing, dry finish. Great on a hot day.
Black Butte Porter, 5.5% ABV
Deschutes Brewery Inc., Bend, Oregon
A lush, medium-bodied ale with flavors of roasted coffee, biscuits, and hops. An aftertaste of burnt sugar and warming alcohol makes this a tasty, highly drinkable porter.
Mirror Pond Pale Ale, 5.5% ABV
Deschutes Brewery Inc., Bend, Oregon
A slightly sweet aroma of grapefruit and flowers makes this one inviting pale ale. The taste is well balanced by citrusy, piney hops and crisp pale malts. A classic in its style.
Duvel, 8.5% ABV
Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV, Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium
This juicy, delicious pale golden ale has lively carbonation, a clean, sweet taste and a dry, spicy finish. An excellent Belgian beer.
Sam Adams, 4.75% ABV
Boston Beer Company, Boston, Massachusetts
A well-crafted Vienna-style lager with a good balance of hops and malt from a pioneering American craft brewery.
Corona, 4.6% ABV
Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V., Mexico City, Mexico
You can’t skip stones on a turquoise ocean from a bar stool in Union Station, but you can have a Corona.
Budwesier, 5.0% ABV
Anhueser-Busch, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri
The ubiquitous, classic German-American lager.
Services
The Beer Guru offers comprehensive consulting for beer programs at restaurants, bars, and special events. Whether you're interested in building a beer menu, increasing sales, or just getting the right glassware, The Beer Guru can help.
Menu Consulting
The Beer Guru can design and implement a beer program for your restaurant or bar. Whether you have an existing beer menu or are starting from scratch, The Beer Guru can handle selection, procurement, and serving from start to finish. He can pick the right beers for your clientele, deal with the alphabet soup of shady distributors and flaky brewery reps, manage storage and temperature control issues, select appropriate glassware, and create effective sales and publicity material.
Staff Training
Just as important as the beer itself is the way it's served, the way it's sold, and the way your customers feel about the service. The Beer Guru can train your staff to handle and serve beer properly, make informed suggestions to customers, and provide helpful, satisfying service.
Tasting Events
Beer tastings are a great way to experience some of the world's most outstanding beers. A fun, engaging way to learn about beer styles, history, and brewing, tasting events are popular with beer lovers and newcomers alike.
Sales Strategy
Already have a beer program? Looking for a way to get more out of it? Let The Beer Guru help you with publicity, sales, and events that can make your establishment a beer destination.
Food Pairing
The Beer Guru can match beers to your restaurant or bar menu. From pubs to fine dining establishments, every food service establishment can benefit from appropriate beer pairings.
Menu Consulting
The Beer Guru can design and implement a beer program for your restaurant or bar. Whether you have an existing beer menu or are starting from scratch, The Beer Guru can handle selection, procurement, and serving from start to finish. He can pick the right beers for your clientele, deal with the alphabet soup of shady distributors and flaky brewery reps, manage storage and temperature control issues, select appropriate glassware, and create effective sales and publicity material.
Staff Training
Just as important as the beer itself is the way it's served, the way it's sold, and the way your customers feel about the service. The Beer Guru can train your staff to handle and serve beer properly, make informed suggestions to customers, and provide helpful, satisfying service.
Tasting Events
Beer tastings are a great way to experience some of the world's most outstanding beers. A fun, engaging way to learn about beer styles, history, and brewing, tasting events are popular with beer lovers and newcomers alike.
Sales Strategy
Already have a beer program? Looking for a way to get more out of it? Let The Beer Guru help you with publicity, sales, and events that can make your establishment a beer destination.
Food Pairing
The Beer Guru can match beers to your restaurant or bar menu. From pubs to fine dining establishments, every food service establishment can benefit from appropriate beer pairings.
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