Sunday, May 30, 2021

Sunday Night Suds - Samuel Adams Beach Session IPA

 


This week's Sunday Night Suds looks at Samuel Adams Beach Session IPA.

The Beach Session IPA is one of new beers in the Samuel Adams Sips of Summer mixed box. The pack includes three bottles of each style, which also includes the Porch Rocker (reviewed here https://kosherbeers.blogspot.com/2013/06/sunday-night-suds-samuel-adams-porch.html); long time favorite Summer Ale (reviewed here http://kosherbeers.blogspot.com/2008/07/sunday-night-suds-sam-adams-summer-ale.html) and the other new offering - Lawn Chair Lager.

The Beach Session IPA is an unflavored IPA, but with plenty of floral hints. According to the Sam Adams site, the beer's tropical flavors come from Mosaic hops, which after Citra, are my favorite variety of hops. The beer has almost no alcohol flavor which is not surprising as it is only 4.7% abv. But even without the alcohol flavor, this beer has a solid profile. This beer would go well with spicy Chinese dishes and other savory dishes with a kick. If you pick up, feel free to post your pairings in the comments below.

The Beach Session IPA is under the Kosher Supervision of the Star-K and has a Star-K certification mark on the label. To see what the experts on Beer Advocate think about this brew, please follow this link - beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/35/542016.

As always, please remember to drink responsibly and to never waste good beer unless there is no designated driver.

If you've tried this beer or any others which have been reviewed on the kosher beers site, please feel free to post your comments (anonymous comments are acceptable).

Lastly, if you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Beha'alosecha

The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts on the parsha that R' Frand spoke about in his shiur tonight. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.

R' Frand began the vort by noting that the Medrash Rabbah links the lighting of the menorah by the Kohain Gadol with the pasuk in Tehillim 34:10 -  יְר֣אוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה קְדֹשָׁ֑יו כִּ֘י אֵ֥ין מַ֜חְס֗וֹר לִֽירֵאָֽיו - fear Hashem His holy ones, there is nothing missing for those who fear Him.

But what is the connection between this pasuk and the menorah?

R' Frand quoted the Alexander Rav who cited to the Gemara in Shabbos about the process of lighting the menorah. The western candle would be used to light all the other candles twice a day. However the western candle itself would burn for 24 hours, even though it had the same amount of oil as the other candles which only burned 12 hours. Why? Because Hashem has the power to change the teva as He sees fit.

R' Frand linked this to the concept of Hishtadlus. A person knows that he needs to make an effort for his parnasah. But how many hours a day should he work? Will he benefit from putting in more hours...and what about his absence from the home and not being involved in his children's lives? R' Frand said that we learn from the menorah that Hashem will provide us what He decides we need and all of the "additional work" which we think we need to do, will not change the equation.

R' Frand then connected this with a Zohar discussing the manna in which the Torah states in Bamidbar 11:8- שָׁ֩טוּ֩ הָעָ֨ם וְלָֽקְט֜וּ וְטָֽחֲנ֣וּ בָֽרֵחַ֗יִם א֤וֹ דָכוּ֙ בַּמְּדֹכָ֔ה וּבִשְּׁלוּ֙ בַּפָּר֔וּר וְעָשׂ֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ עֻג֑וֹת וְהָיָ֣ה טַעְמ֔וֹ כְּטַ֖עַם לְשַׁ֥ד הַשָּֽׁמֶן - the first word of the pasuk is commonly translated as they walked around. However the Zohar teaches the word as meaning they were foolish. They thought that in order to enjoy the manna, they needed to grind it, or pound it, and cook it and make into cakes. However this only made the manna taste like oil cakes. Had they done absolutely nothing and just ate it in the form that it came, the Zohar says that it would have had the taste of Gan Eden.

Rabbi Frand said that this again shows that extra Hishtadlus will not yield a better result.

R' Frand also said a second vort on the Jews travels in the desert. He quoted R' Hirsh who notes that the travelling and the assembling and disassembling of the Mishkan was based on the movements of the Annanei HaKavod. The Torah does not tell us how long they stayed in one place and when they moved. And this was before the decree that they were to wander for 40 years. Sometimes they stayed in one place for weeks and sometimes they would move for a day and then set up the Mishkan, only to have disassemble and move again the next day. 

R' Frand remarked that this is a lesson in Bitachon - Hashem knows what's best for us and if its time to move then its time to move. He again quoted R' Hirsh who connects this to the constant moving around in Galus. There are times that we need to move, even if we don't understand why. R' Frand noted that Dovid HaMelech called our relationship with Hashem as being a shepherd with sheep. The sheep does not understand why when he got to water the shepherd immediately moved him away - because the sheep does not see the wolf lurking nearby.

R' Frand closed the vort by quoting R' Melech Biderman who observes that sometime people wait years to find their spouse or to have a child. If you were to tell them that they would be getting married in x months or having a child in x years, they would accept it. But the waiting without knowing is hard. The lesson of the camping in the midbar is that Hashem has our best interests in mind.

If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!

Sunday, May 23, 2021

Sunday Night Suds - Samuel Adams Wicked Easy Lager


This week's Sunday Night Suds looks at Samuel Adams Wicked Easy Lager.

No, this is not a resurrection of Pete's Wicked which has been gone for more than a decade, but the Boston Beer folks are now using the word "wicked" in connection with multiple beers, including the Wicked Easy Lager, Wicked Hazy IPA and Wicked Double NEIPA.

This beer claims to be a lager, but the flavor profile is much more robust than your average lager. There was some fruit and hops, which although not as strong as an IPA, was still quite refreshing. The beer poured a pale yellow like a normal lager, but with a scent of fruit and cloudiness in the glass. There was some lacing on the glass, also typical for a lager.

At 4.7% abv the beer was average for a lager, but the alcohol taste was not present and if I had more than one I don't know that I would have felt it.

The Wicked Easy Lager is under the Kosher Supervision of the Star-K and has a Star-K certification mark on the can. To see what the experts on Beer Advocate think about this brew, please follow this link - beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/35/317014.

As always, please remember to drink responsibly and to never waste good beer unless there is no designated driver.

If you've tried this beer or any others which have been reviewed on the kosher beers site, please feel free to post your comments (anonymous comments are acceptable).

Lastly, if you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Nasso

The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts on the parsha that R' Frand spoke about in his shiur tonight. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.

Rabbi Frand began the vort by noting that the parsha contains the Birkas Kohanim which is located between the mitzva of Nazir and the Karbanos of the Nesi'im.

R' Frand then quoted a machlokes between Rashi and the Ramban as to whether this was the first time that the Birkas Kohanim (in the form that we classically recognize it) was mentioned in the Torah. 

The Ramban explains that Birkas Kohanim had been mentioned in Parshas Shemini, but this was a one time event, drawn from the completion of the Mishkan. Whereas here, Aharon was commanded to bless the Jewish people in this form on an ongoing basis. In contrast, Rashi states that the language of Birkas Kohanim in Parshas Nasso was actually utilized by Aharon in Parshas Shemini. 

Rabbi Frand then asked a series of questions on both commentators. The first question was on Rashi, since if the actual language of the Birkas Kohanim was in Shemini, why is it only mentioned in Nasso.

The second question which was addressed to the Ramban is why specifically was Birkas Kohanim mentioned in Nasso, when it would be more appropriate to have mentioned it in Sefer Vayikra which contains all the other instructions to the Kohanim.

Finally, the third question was - why was the specific location of Birkas Kohanim in Parshas Nasso after the laws of the Nazir and before the sacrifices of the Nesi'im?

Rabbi Frand answered all three questions by referring to a vort from the Sefer Chikrei Lev by R' Leibel Heiman. He noted that although the Jews had been counted previously there was a fundamental difference between the counting in Sefer Bamidbar and the counting in Sefer Shemos. In Sefer Shemos, the Jews were counted in total numbers, based on the giving of the half shekel. However, the counting in Sefer Bamidbar was based on their tribes and beis av.

Rabbi Frand quoted Rashi who explains that when the Jews were counted in Sefer Bamidbar, each person came individually before Moshe and Aharon and gave his name and his family yichus. R' Frand quipped that we just completed the census and there was no identification of any person by name.

Rabbi Frand also observed that the counting in Sefer Bamidbar differentiated the tribe of Levi from the rest of the tribes as Levi was counted from one month old and the other tribes had their members counted from the age of twenty.

Rabbi Frand said that when there is a difference in the method of counting, there is a greater possibility of dissension...and this followed shortly on the heels of the designation of the tribes by degalim and there could easily have been arguments as to which tribe should march first.

It is for this reason that the bracha of Shalom is mentioned here and specifically after the laws of the Nazir who himself is treated specially, almost akin to the Kohain Gadol in his proscription against Tumah. For this reason, the specific language of Birkas Kohanim is found here as it is the greatest vessel for peace for the Jewish people.

R' Frand closed his remarks by stating that he cannot give reasons for why the tragedy in Meron occurred three weeks ago, but that "greater Rabbis than he" have observed that there is much machlokes within the Jewish people and certainly in Israel. He quoted a Meshech Chachma which cited a Yerushalmi to explain why the generation of King David lost a battle while the generation of King Achav did not. The Yerushalmi explains that the people of King David's generation were all righteous but were steeped in machlokes, whereas the people of Achav's generation were idol worshippers but did not fight with one another. 

R' Frand closed with wishes that we work towards eliminating machlokes and being worthy of the kli machzik bracha - Shalom.

If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Bamidbar

The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts on the parsha that R' Frand spoke about in his shiur tonight. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.

Rabbi Frand noted that Sefer Bamidbar is also called Chumash HaPikidum which easily explains why in English it is referred to as the Book of Numbers. 

The first time that Moshe is told to count the Jews in the Parsha, he is told in Bamidbar (1:2) - שְׂא֗וּ אֶת־רֹאשׁ֙ כָּל־עֲדַ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמ֔וֹת כָּל־זָכָ֖ר לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָֽם - that he must take a head count.

R' Frand quoted the Rama M'Pano who interpreted לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָֽם as referring to the concept of Gilgul Neshamos - that Moshe was able to see how many gilgulim a person had lived and how many more his neshama would have to endure.

[R' Frand remarked that undoubtedly everyone in the room where he was giving the shiur in Baltimore had lived multiple gilgulim].

R' Frand then quoted the Chofetz Chaim who used a mashal to explain the pasuk in Tehillim (19:10)  מִשְׁפְּטֵֽי־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱמֶ֑ת צָֽדְק֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו. His parable involved the neshama of a wealthy man who was arrogant and treated people terribly. After his death, his neshama made its way to Shamayim, but was instructed that it would have to return to Earth to repent for the horrible treatment of others. 

The neshama did not want to leave its closeness to the Heavenly Throne and protested bitterly, but there was no appeal. So the neshama begged to come back as a poor man so that he would not be arrogant again. After much begging, the request was granted and the neshama came back in a poor man and everything he touched "turned to mud." Everyone who observed what occurred to the man could not believe his misfortune. But the Chofetz Chaim explained that this is the meaning of  צָֽדְק֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו - that in combining the two lives of the neshama could atone.

R' Frand then quoted the Rama M'Pano in discussing the famous story in the Gemara in Gittin about the children of R' Yishmael Kohain Gadol who had been taken captive and sold as slaves. Their respective owners saw each as beautiful and wanted them to breed, not knowing they were brother and sister. They were placed in a dark room and each stayed in their own corner and did not approach the other. In the morning they realized who they were and they embraced and cried until they both died.

The Rama M'Pano explained that the two siblings were the gilgulim of Amnon and Tamar and the events which took place in that room were their atonement for their prior lives.

R' Frand closed the vort by stating that sometimes events take place which seem tragic to us, but they could be an atonement for the person as a gilgul from a prior lifetime.

If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!

Sunday, May 9, 2021

Sunday Night Suds - New Belgium Wild Ride Amber IPA


This week's Sunday Night Suds looks at New Belgium's Wild Ride Amber IPA.

As frequent readers of this blog may recall, New Belgium has been rolling out new beers under the Voodoo Ranger line at a rate of one per quarter. But other than the Voodoo Ranger IPAs, New Belgium has not been producing very many new beers. So I was a bit surprised when I saw the Wild Ride in its own six packs. (I later learned that it is also available in the Variety Pack).

The good folks at New Belgium have introduced this beer to celebrate their 30th Anniversary as "special, hop-forward tribute to our beloved Fat Tire. Dry-hopped with Mosaic, Galaxy, Idaho 7 and Sabro, Wild Ride has a decidedly American-style aroma that rolls right over malty-sweet and fruity amber characteristics."

I tried this by itself as well as with Sunday Night grilled dinner and it was quite enjoyable. The beer is a slightly light IPA, but there is a fair amount of bitter in addition to the malts. The Wild Ride indicates that it is 7% abv, but there is no heavy alcohol taste.

The New Belgium Wild Ride Amber IPA is under kosher supervision by the Scroll-K/Va'ad of Denver, and their symbol is on the bottom of the six pack can box as well as the twelve pack mix box. However, not every brew produced by New Belgium is under kosher supervision, so look for the Scroll K on the six pack holder or box when considering purchasing any NBB product.

To see what the experts on Beer Advocate think about New Belgium Wild Ride Amber IPA, click here https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/192/534861/.

As always, please remember to drink responsibly and to never waste good beer unless there is no designated driver.

If you've tried this beer or any others which have been reviewed on the kosher beers site, please feel free to post your comments (anonymous comments are acceptable).

If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up! 

Saturday, May 8, 2021

Motzei Shabbos Thoughts on the Parsha - Parshios Behar -Bechukosai

The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts on the parsha that R' Frand spoke about in his shiur on Thursday Night, but due to a family simcha I had on Thursday Night I did not have an opportunity to hear the shiur until right before Shabbos and I am blogging it tonight. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.

Rabbi Frand quoted the Chinuch to explain the concept of avadim going free with the blowing of the Shofar in Yovel. The Chinuch says that the Shofar is blown so that everyone sees that they are all in the same boat - all the avadim are going free and this gives strength to everyone. He then uses the expression "tzaras rabim chatzi nechama" - when everyone is suffering, the person feels some nechama.

R' Frand then quoted the Rambam in Moreh Nevuchim who asks why does the rotzeach go free with the death of the Kohain Gadol? He answers that the Kohain Gadol - the chief spiritual officer of the Jewish people is loved by all. So when the Go'el HaDam feels bad when he sees that the rotzeach is going free he realizes that everyone is crying and he does not feel as bad.

R' Frand said that the Imrei Emes was troubled by this concept of "tzaras rabim chatzi nechama." He opines that it does not reflect well on human nature  that we feel better when we see others are suffering.

R' Frand suggested that this would be a good Shabbos table topic, but he also suggested a way of understanding which my daughter Y came up with at our Shabbos table.

When a person has something happen to him, he can feel why did this happen to me? Whether its a personal issue or financial or health, he can ask why me? But when it happens to others, he realizes that its not just me. Hashem has decided that this is occurring and it is not specific to him.

If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!

Sunday, May 2, 2021

Sunday Night Suds - Saranac Irish Coffee Cream


This week's Sunday Night Suds looks at the last of the new beers in the 2021 Saranac Irish Roots box - Saranac Brewery's Irish Coffee Cream.

This spring's Irish Roots mix box includes old standard Irish Red (reviewed here - https://kosherbeers.blogspot.com/2009/02/sunday-night-suds-saranac-irish-red.html), the Always Hazy Peach IPA (reviewed here -https://kosherbeers.blogspot.com/2021/02/sunday-night-suds-saranac-always-hazy.html) as well as Irish Golden Pils (reviewed here - http://kosherbeers.blogspot.com/2021/04/sunday-night-suds-saranac-irish-golden.html) and the Irish Coffee Cream.

The good folks at Saranac tout this beer as a combination of a Cream Stout with cold brew coffee and Irish Cream. While I seriously doubt that there is any Bailey's in this beer (especially since Bailey's is not kosher), this beer was a delicious combination of flavors. The initial pour yielded a light brown beer with nice foam and strong coffee aroma. However, this was not a stout by any means and you would not confuse this with a Guinness, despite the claimed 5.8% abv. As there are three bottles of this in the mix box, I tried this cold, slightly cold and room temperature. Unlike most beers, this was actually more enjoyable at room temperature and the Cream Stout aspect of the beer became more prominent. I would recommend having this beer after dinner (the newest KB did not enjoy this with his Shabbos meal) as its meant to be sipped.

The Irish Coffee Cream is under the Kosher Supervision of the Va'ad of Detroit as is every other beer produced at the Matt Brewery plant in Utica, NY. Keep in mind, Saranac brews some varieties off site, so check the cans/bottles for kosher certification from the Va'ad of Detroit.

To see what the experts on Beer Advocate think about the brew, click you can search on  https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/99/529285/

As always, please remember to drink responsibly and to never waste good beer unless there is no designated driver.

If you've tried this beer or any others which have been reviewed on the kosher beers site, please feel free to post your comments (anonymous comments are acceptable).

Lastly, if you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!