A Beer Drinker’s Guide to the MLB Postseason: Twins at Yankees

Previously on A Beer Drinker’s Guide to the MLB Postseason, I featured Texas’s 512 Brewing for the Rangers and Tampa’s Cigar City Brewing for the Rays.

Now, with the Twins heading to Yankee Stadium in search of staving off a sweep into elimination from the postseason, I turn my focus to beers from Minnesota and New York.  Since the Twins need all the help they can get, let’s start with them, shall we?

Minnesota Twins – Summit Brewery (St Paul, MN)

A couple years ago I was on a business trip to Minneapolis. In the spirit of the not-yet-born Beer Tour, I decided to try a local beer from Summit Brewery while at dinner with a client. It was so good that, when faced with three hours to kill in the MSP airport on the way home, it was my obvious choice for company.

Summit EPA

As you know, I’m a fan of the pale ale. And what could be more enticing then an Extra Pale Ale, not to mention “Summit’s first-born child and flagship beer”?

Great Brewers discusses great food pairings with EPA:

This American pale ale’s fragrant bouquet and spicy flavor lend to this beer’s ideal match with generously spiced foods such as Southern barbeque, wasabi crusted Japanese dishes, and curry based Indian dishes. This beer is also the perfect complement to grilled meats, particularly burgers, and pizza.

The tap reveals a copper amber brew with a frothy creamy head. A handsome brew. The aroma offers a slightly toasted malt mixed with bitter hops. The mouth feel is light and nimble. The malt upfront leads into a splendent bitter end. The palate is left dry, inviting another taste. This beer is not overly complex, but it is nicely balanced and very drinkable. B+

Brooklyn is one of my favorite breweries and I honestly have never had a beer of theirs I don’t like. Like the Yankees, they just keep on winning in my book. From their core beers like Brooklyn Lager and East India Pale Ale to the seasonal summer ale and Post Road Pumpkin Ale, Brooklyn hits the spot every time. So in the spirit of tradition that evokes the Yankees, of postseason baseball that defines October, and, of course, the biggest celebration of beer in the world, what else could I choose but Brooklyn’s Oktoberfest offering?

Brooklyn Brewery’s Oktoberfest pours a wonderful caramel hue. The head fades quickly, but there is carbonation a plenty in this beer. The aroma is a grassy, vegetal aroma with a hint of freshly kneaded doe. The taste is much more full than the accompanying smell. You get a touch of the grassiness, but the bready malts come through much more pronounced. There is also a little touch of caramel sweetness which is uncharacteristic of the style. However, it is sufficiently muted as to not detract, but compliment this marzen lager. All in all, this is a very nice example of a traditional Oktoberfest Marzen that would fill any Masskrug nicely.

Clear dark amber with a small, but creamy, off-white head. Modest aroma of toasted caramel and bread, black tea, and slight earthy hop spice. Rich German malt flavor…raisin sweetness and earthy, spicy hops. Pretty tasty and satisfying, if a little rough around the edges. Medium bodied, bitter, and dry. Solid Märzen…I got a single this time, but I wouldn’t mind grabbing a 6-pack while it’s in season. B.

- wedge

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a copper color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is dominated by malts.Taste is good, lots of malts, some hops are present, just a touch of caramel. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and is very drinkable. Overall this is a good quality beer. B.

- tone77