The Hobby Drinker Blog

Suds – is a colloquial term for beer, especially in the US.  It refers to the head of the beer, which in the most popular 20th century styles is fluffy, airy, and seen as a desirable characteristic of the drink.  It was used in the somewhat infamous Budweiser commercial in 2015 to promote a chummy feeling among drinkers of that particular product versus fans of other, some would say better, styles.

Leann – is the Scottish Gaelic word for beer, also used in Irish for light colored beer or pale ale.  The origin is Old Irish linn (drink, liquid, brew), but in the plural can refer to bodily humors.

 Cerve – another Spanish nickname for beer, obviously a shortening of the longer cerveza.  The short form shows some similarity with the Welsh cwrw, which, being a Celtic word, is probably related.  Of course, some people just have to insist that absolutely everything comes from the Romans, in spite of the fact that beer was admittedly not popular among Roman people and closely associated with Barbarian tribes outside the empire, like the Germans and Celts.  Notice how even the Slavic pivo is ultimately Latin in origin.  Some people…

Birrote – another nickname for beer in Spanish, based on the borrowed word birra.  The appreciative suffix -ote is often used to indicate something bigger or better than normal, although its origin seems to be from the French diminutive suffix -ot.  In Mexican usage especially the suffix may be related to the Nahuatl -otl (according to Wiktionary, anyway).  The birrote is an especially strong or impressive beer.

Beoir – is the Irish Gaelic word for beer.  It is used for blond beers rather than dark beers, and for a beer in general such as, “We had some beers.” (Bhí cúpla gloine bheorach againn).  It shares the same etymology as English beer, German Bier, Italina birra, and more, but was taken into Old Irish from Old Norse bjórr.

It’s still regular summer temperatures, but somehow it’s worse than what it was before.  Maybe because we can’t marvel at the numbers, so we just sit and suffer as usual.  As much as I like my stouts (and there will be some more) it is a good set of conditions for lighter beers, especially ales, and pale ales at that.  Just before Cervecissimus closed up shop for their summer vacation I picked up a new one for me, (full flavored) Pale Ale from 28 Brewery.  Their little blurb on the back gives some history to the brand, saying it was already in existence in 1842, and their website says they were established “100 years ago”.  Later they say 1912 is the year they expanded from the basis of their most successful (I guess) beer, Perle 28.  Interestingly, it’s touted as a low-carb beer, which is not something craft beers have paid much attention to.  There must be a time for everything.

For such a light colored beer it has a powerful aroma. It’s plenty ale-y too, with good notes of citrus and fruit, not a lot of more traditional elements. The head doesn’t disappear completely, but it does die back pretty quick. The flavor is on the oddly sour side, with just a bit of bitter chasing it down. It’s generally clean, but there’s a touch of astringency too, trying to clean up after. There isn’t much grain or bread, and the bitterness has more of a healthy fruit sensation to it than regular old beer bitter. I’m not sure if I notice any particular lightness to it, but maybe if I focused on this line of beers I would find myself with less of a beer belly, you know, magically.

Supplier: Cervecissimus

Price: €3

Temperatures are still high, but staying at more “normal” levels these days.  Still makes you want to relax with a good wet glass of something, though.  I got a second-hand Instagram recommendation for a book on the modern British brewing industry, specifically how it wiggled out from the thumb of its own macros.  Brew Britannia, for those interested.  I’m deeply bothered by how much I don’t know culturally about our forbear.  Well, that’s what collected information is for!  Anyway, a British beer seems like a fitting choice, something to keep me in the mood for learning while being gobsmacked by unsuspected attitudes.  A hundred years behind Spain in fully accepting lagers, can you believe it?  Of course, the most available British beers are ales, and this one is premium, so high expectations here!  Its name, Bombardier, makes you think it’s going to squash your summer doldrums for sure.  Gonna fly high for me Eagle?

Certainly not a pale ale, although it has a pretty classic beer color and aroma.  It’s a little bready, not sharp or fruity.  I’m expecting more of a bitter punch, but it’s bready in taste too, although also crusty-warm feeling, like a loaf just out of the oven.  It dances between sweet and bitter, with a flavor that feels very herb-like.  The feeling is rather heavy, but it disappears immediately after swallowing, so not a difficult beer to drink.  It’s subdued, a companion beer, one that supports conversations with friends, strong-flavored dinners, not demanding the spotlight for itself.  I’m not overwhelmed, but I’m not upset about it at all.  It makes me think I should get myself a pizza and dig out some classic movies.

Supplier: Cervecissimus

Price: €3.80

Birra – a nickname for beer in Spain, as well as in several other Spanish speaking countries.  It seems to be a double loan – to Spanish from Italian, but to Italian from German Bier.  It can be seen in puns in Spanish taking the place of “vida” (life), e.g. Hay birra después de la muerte (There is beer after death) and El sentido de la birra (The meaning of beer).