By the Beer Professor JW Faulkner @EngProfJW
Like a clingy ex-girlfriend this winter does not seem to want to go away! And when I was searching for a beer to drink for this weekend I found a brown ale that is “a hearty, comforting companion for long, mind-bending winters,” which is a perfect description for this winter and the beer! In hopes of shaking this winter and drinking to the arrival of spring, this weekend New Holland Brewing Company’s Cabin Fever is What’s on Tap.
Opened in 1996, New Holland Brewing Company produces some of Michigan’s most consistent beers; their Oak-aged Bourbon Barrel Stout, Dragon’s Milk, is as awesome as the name implies!
Cabin Fever is one of my go to Brown Ales; it is definitely a full body brown that has a great smell and taste. At first you smell the chocolate-malt-coffee combination that blends together well. Cabin Fever’s taste is full of flavor, chocolate, earthy and malty, some sweetness toffee/caramel, and a hint of rye make this brew incredibly drinkable regardless of season. If you are not a fan of hops and bitterness Cabin Fever is a brew for you because it’s low in both.
I am pairing Cabin Fever with roasted pork tenderloin. Because of its low bitterness I do not want a food that is overly spicy but I want full flavor of both the beer and dish to show through and not offset. With the tenderloin I am making asparagus and mashed potatoes; yes I know this is a winter meal but I am hoping it is the last winter meal I have until December! Here is to the end of winter, the arrival of spring, and an awesome beer from New Holland!
Cheers!
Beer Stats:
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 6.5 %
Degrees Plato: 16
IBUs: 25
Color: Deep Dark Brown
Grains: 2 Row, Wheat, Rye, Munich, Chocolate
Hops: Brewers’ Gold and Nugget
