Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse Dunkel Joins Delicious Ribs and Queso con Chorizo in My Belly

I'm stoked for so many reasons I can't even tell you.

Ha! Really? This is my blog, of course I'm going to blabber about it. My taller little brother Warren was in town this weekend from New York. Saturday we went to the beach and I returned to make ribs for the first time. Usually cooking is David's department, but he's away in Chicago so I stepped to be the Emeril. BAM! While the ribs were slow roasting for two hours, Warren helped me make chile con queso with chorizo, which Melissa B, Brad G, Jessica W, Warren D, Nic R, and AJ came, saw, and obliterated. And when the ribbies were finished, I was ready with excellent beer.

Fact: Fat Friars Love Pork Ribs. Go Figure

The Franziskaner Dunkel Hefe-Weisse is the moodier, darker brother of the beer I drank Thursday but retains the hefe-weisse's sweetness (btw in German hefe = yeast, weisse = wheat). The dark caramel malts and spices mix together nicely. As far as pairing goes, the pork ribs were already sweet from the Goode & Co. bbq sauce and a more complimentary beer choice would've been a dark ale without the hefe-weisse sweetness, like a Bock. But whatever, I love sweets and the bier was great. The ribs were freaking great. Who's got two thumbs and makes awesome ribs? THIS GUY.

This fella was a well balanced bier and the combination proved a nice change of pace from the normal hefe's and dark beers I've imbibed lately. THE ROCK rating.

Mischief, Salty's and ribs

Today we drank Mischief by The Bruery. It was very delicious. Lighter and smoother than other similiar Belgian strong ales, medium hops notes, and barely any fruit/sweetness. Character comes mostly from the generous carbonation, crispness, and subtle alcohol (but at 8.5% it was hard to miss). Thank you Bruery for continuing to make good stuff. I will get this again and recommend it to Duvel fans.

The real highlight of the day was successfully recreating the clam chowder from Salty's and sharing it with Walker, Lockness and Blake. Salty's is a seafood spot in Seattle/Redondo Beach and they make the best chowder I've ever had AND NOW I HAVE IT. Also made a couple racks of ribs. Party. Not quite sure that my human-pairing fits the beer exactly, but I've got to go with Kevin Spacey. He can be strong, crisp, and subtle. Maybe it's fit better if this beer had a darker character, but I need to give him credit for the sentiment that carried the day - "[Salty's Restaurant Clow Chowder recipe]. The [recipe] I've always wanted and now I have it. I rule!"