He’Brew backs up the shtick with taste

People always ask Shmaltz Brewing Co. founder Jeremy Cowan the same thing about He'Brew Genesis Ale: "Is this for real?”

It is.

The next most frequently asked question — “Is it any good?” — was answered at the most recent First Friday beer tasting.

It is.

So good in fact that the Avocadoville faithful rated He’Brew Genesis Ale their favorite beer of December 2008.

The crisp and smooth ale falls somewhere between pale and amber, with a malty sweetness and a hop finish.

The beer label reads like a Catskills comedian’s monologue:
* Exile Never Tasted So Good
* Don't Pass Out, Passover
* A microbrew with the chutzpah to call itself The Chosen Beer
* Dedicated to crafting delicious beer and delicious shtick

Even the Crow Bar in San Francisco has gotten in on the act, serving a Sammy Davis Jr. — a black-and-tan made with Guinness and He’Brew.

"They'll pick it up because it's funny and they'll take it home and realize I'm really serious about making good, quality beer," said Cowan, who envisions He’Brew as a hip Manischewitz.

Founded in 1996, the microbrew moved its production from the Anderson Valley Brewing Company in Boonville, California to the Mendocino Brewing Company in Saratoga Springs, New York in 2003.

He’Brew makes five other beers besides Genesis Ale:
> Messiah Bold (a dark nut brown ale)
> Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A. (an IPA tribute to comedian Lenny Bruce)
> Origin Pomegranate Ale (which sounds disgusting but just might be good)
> Rejewvenator (a seasonal holiday brew sold around Hanukah)
> Jewbelation 12 (in celebration of Shmaltz’ 12th anniversary)

Most He’Brew beers are available at Whole Foods, Beverages & More, Total Wine and Cost Plus.

The reviews are in from the “second” First Friday

Thanks to everyone who came out for the second "First Friday."

For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (Jan. 2 @ 7:45 p.m.).

The most-talked about December 2008 beers included:

He'Brew (Shmaltz Brewing)
Probably the most popular beer of the night.
> Smooth, satisfying, not bitter. I generally don’t like beer and I like this. — Tia
> Smooth and robust
> Smooth with a touch of bitter
> A little bite at the end
> Mmm Mm

Avocadoville home brew
A close runner-up despite the flatness.
> Smooth and tasty despite being a tad bit flat. Good stuff.
> I second that. — Iris
> Organic — Nahoko
> I found one that was not that flat. A great brew.

Lost Coast Great White
Lots of different tastes in this one.
> The first sip tastes like Alka-Seltzer, but after that it’s OK. — Al
> This is really weird, but is has a coconut flavor. — Nahoko
> To me it had an herb flavor. — Iris
> Herbaceous. Maybe influenced by my Cheech & Chong discussion.

Kirin Ichiban
Went head-to-head with Urquell in the regional showdown.
> The beer of MY people — Nahoko

Pilsner Urquell
See above.
> The beer of MY people. — Anna
> Moc dobry! Na Zdravy!

Sierra Nevada Celebration
Kind of a toss-up.
> Fruity good, but I’m not sure I could drink more than one bottle.
> Too much carbonation with a chemical aftertaste. — Brady

Trader Jose
Way down on most people’s list.
> It’s too bland. It needs Tabasco or something. — Al
> A bad version of a boring Mexican beer — Brady

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
Easily the least favorite beer of the night.
> It’s like drinking a fruitcake.
> Tastes like Jagermeister! Blech!

The 10 best beers of Christmas

From the St. Petersburg Times

The Christmas-themed category of beers has exploded in recent years and making sense of them can be difficult because there is no standard style. A Christmas-themed beer can be any style, from a spiced brown ale to an India Pale Ale. Through trial and error, I have identified 10 standouts, and I present them to you as my 10 Best Beers of Christmas.

Photos: First Friday (December 2008)