Day #24- Spaten Premium

The Nasty Bits. A great title for a book, one that my favorite author/chef has already decided was a great title. In any case, I must talk about mine and my girlfriend's lunch today. We went to Peter's Sushi, the greatest sushi place in Nashville/Greater Nashville area. We went all out. Got the snake roll. Wanted some hot sake. Got it. Got the octopus sashimi. Then I wanted to try the craziest thing they could throw at us (they were out of monk fish liver) and the waited said, "Uni". "Uni"? I inquired. "Sea Urchin." We immediately nodded as the raw innards of that spikey deep-sea beast were so beautifully placed on top of a roll of rice. "One bite," the sushi craftsman (Tom) yelled at us as we slowly brought it up to our face. "Makes you strong!", Tom exclaimed, raising his arms and flexing his less than impressive biceps.

We ate all of it. And it was wonderful. We left with the shots of hot sake still lurching about in our brains, almost urging us to ignore our responsibilities and go back inside for round two. The deep sea taste still in our mouths as we longed for the beach, any respite from this early summer humidity.

In any case, I left and went to work. Grateful for a great break and meal.

The nasty bits. So often ignored. So often misunderstood. So often unexplored. I wonder what would have happened if no one was ever brave enough to try what everyone else thought was "nasty". We probably wouldn't have beer.

Hops. A nasty plant. At least to eat or use for anything? Right? No. Barley a little more understandable, but hops? Crazy.

In the early 1500s Germany passed a law about making beer. You must only use Hops, Barley, Water, Yeast to make beer. Anything other than that is not beer. Thank you Germany. Although this law has been repealed (sadly) it is still used for marketing purposes for those "die-hard German beer fans".

But Spaten. It could have originated in the 15th century (although heavily debated). In any case, Spaten Premium is a good beer. But it isn't the best German beer I have had. But God, do I appreciate the Germans. A wonderfully well crafted beer for one of my favorite styles of all time. Committed to only the nasty bits.

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I give Spaten Premium a respected 86.




Look: Clear Light Gold
Smell: Lightly Skunked
Taste: Crisp, Slightly Sweet, medium bodied


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Brett's ratings are out of 100.

*Please understand that ratings on this scale have been influenced by my scholastic history of grading. A grade below 75 is not good, it is less than average. A beer below 60 is bad. Beers in the 90s are in the upper-echelon of beers on this earth, and above 95- divinely inspired.*

As with all connoisseurs, personal taste affects all ratings. The best ratings tend to lean towards his two different biases; 1) Well-crafted heavy Stouts and 2) Lagers made with a simple perfection.

Please understand that just because Brett gives a beer a high rating doesn't mean you may think it is good. Only understand that if he gives it a high rating it is because most people who have a good taste in beer would do the same.