News & Reference

Scrimshaw, You Can’t Ride In It But You Sure Can Drink It

Tastings & Food Pairings

The B'Oracle   |   Wednesday, February 15 2012

North Coast's Scrimshaw Pilsner :  The beer looks like you just poured gold in a glass and topped it with a jewel of white opal.

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The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics dictates that the arrow of time only moves in one direction, forward. Hence all matter is moving from order to disorder. The more organized an object is, the higher its entropy. A sandcastle's entropy is much higher than a pile of sand. In other words, the castle will decay into the pile of sand. This also applies to intelligence. That’s right! Kim Kardashian's entropy is very, very, low. Because she has very low order, she’s likely to remain in her current state for a long time, thus subjecting humanity to years of stupidity. In all my years of living on this sphere, I’ve witnessed this force in action. Entropy is an unstoppable force that tends to affect objects of higher order and beauty with more precision than most. That is my concern with Scrimshaw Pilsner.

I bumped into this beer in one of those 100 tap beer houses that have hundreds of patrons sitting on stools drinking beer. Ignoring the beauty sitting in front of them, they were focused, instead, on a more hideous creature sitting beside them. Unlike the beer, this thing talks and gestures like some marionette, pouring more beer down its gullet, sending the force of entropy on its ever familiar journey to the land of Lindsey Lohan, you know, that weathered, hung out to dry look. Anyway, my years of pacing through time have taught me that you are often rewarded more for looking away from loud chaotic systems and instead focusing on the point of calm and serenity. That’s not hard to do with Scrimshaw. The guys at North Coast Brewing Company have been brewing Craft Brews since 1988, basically the beginning of the movement. These cats have won bushels of medals for just about any style imaginable. It would have to be a group like this to take on the task of brewing a Pilsner. Lagers are a difficult bunch, but with patience and an understanding of tradition, you can brew gold.

Literally, the beer looks like you just poured gold in a glass and topped it with a jewel of white opal. I felt wealthy just looking at the glass. But a challenge has been issued: can you enjoy destroying perfection? But you know, beer is about the moment; the moment the tap opens, the can pops and the beauty pours fourth and that evil force “entropy” begins. Your duty as a consumer and a Lover of this beautiful thing called beer is to savor and appreciate this moment. A moment when time stops, entropy is denied and ecstasy is unleashed to cleanse the body of the dirt that life gives you. The beer is exceptionally clean, with slight bitter upfront followed by smooth malt, toasted almonds, a hint of vanilla and a little spice. This is what a Pilsner should be, a robust toasty brew with a middle to long finish that’s perfect for grilled fish. I am used to eating leftover salmon carcass during the annual run (the bears can be like Jesse James, always leaving the catch of the day for some larger endowed, more tattooed fish) but I felt a nice grilled Tasmanian Steelhead Trout with a spiced vanilla bean buerre blanc, caramelized pears and wilted Swiss chard would do the trick. The pairing is magic, the beer is the star here, adding alternating layers of bitter and malt with each bite. The malt counteracts the bitterness of the greens and the hops fight the same battle with the pears with both joining in on the fish. I felt like I was in Heaven with a pasture of Miss Boars to myself and no one to make me feel guilty. Makes you want to get cooking doesn’t it?

Mendocino County is known for vineyards such as Chateau St. Jean, hiking, and a boatload of marijuana production (Spicoli and Mr. Hand must be somewhere nearby). I suspect that’s all going to change with the guys and gals at The North Coast Brewing Company making this kind of magic. Having been there since the beginning, they are not only ahead of the curve, they’re blowing the curve out. This beer is worthy of 3-1/2 tusks, because it deserves them, I’ll let you decide why. Enjoy your beer and remember, take advantage of this moment because time only moves forward and entropy can’t be stopped - but you can adapt the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics to the 1st Law of Badass Craft Brew. All time can be slowed down with the careful consumption of high caliber beers and well-paired food, and during that time, entropy is no more.