Victory Winter Cheers

Perhaps the most versatile style of seasonal beer is the winter beer. On the shelves right now you will find many different styles including but not limited to: IPAs, porters, stouts and Belgian spiced ales. And each and every single one of those beers has a winter or holiday theme on the label. But how do you know which one to pick? Well hopefully I can help you out with that. The holiday beer I'll be looking at  this week is Winter Cheers from Victory Brewing.

Boasting a 6.7% ABV, this self described 'celebratory wheat ale' pours a slightly hazy straw yellow with a white head. The head lingered providing a beautiful lacing on the glass. The aroma is light but spicy, with hints of banana and clove. Unfortunately the flavor was light as well. There is an initial pleasant malt sweetness. This gives way to the light flavor of banana, pepper and clove before a light grassy hop finish that lingers on the palate. While that might sound like there is a lot going on in the flavor, there is not. This is a straight by the numbers wheat ale, that truly lacks any imagination. Which is unfortunate because Victory does make some terrific beers. Winter beers for better or worse are usually bursting with flavor, this one unfortunately plays it safe. For example, this winter beer feels like a safe beer you give your craft beer-phobic Heineken or Budweiser drinking family member around the holidays. At the same time, this is not a beer you'll impress your craft beer-enthusiast friends who are still chasing down Bourbon County Stout.

Overall I would rate Winter Cheers a 2/5. A boring, safe winter beer from a solid brewery. On that note, if you can still find their Harvest Ale, try it you won't be disappointed. But I digress, while winter beers usually have a lot going on, this one does not.


Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

He Said Belgian Tripel & He Said Baltic Porter

Pumpkin beer seems to be everywhere and with the season fading fast, I wanted to review at least one before they left stores and made way for the beers of winter. As luck would have it the 21^st Amendment Brewery and Elysian Brewing collaborated on brewing 2 different styles of pumpkin beer and packaged them together(talk about a 2 for 1). He Said Belgian Tripel and He Said Baltic Porter offer 2 unique takes on the pumpkin beer. As excited as I am to try these beers, my expectations are tempered because I find that pumpkin beer is commonly hit or miss. Some of the time you will find a beer that captures the unique flavor of pumpkin and complements to the fall season wonderfully. Other times you will find a mediocre beer that is heavily spiced to a point you can taste little else. Needless to say I was curious to see which side of the coin the He Said Porter and He Said Tripel would land on.

He Said Tripel pours a clear golden yellow with a white head. The aroma is filled with clove, coriander, pepper and pumpkin. The flavor however does not seem as complex. The initial flavor is pumpkin but it is very light and it is followed by a strong candy sweetness, then a spicy finish from the yeast. The is a slight burn from the alcohol(8.2% ABV)hat grew the further I got into the glass. While that did not bother me, the growing flavor of the Belgian spice did. It got to a point where I could no longer taste the pumpkin and felt like I was drinking nothing more then an average tripel ale. By the time the glass was empty I felt it was more of a below-average tripel and I was happy this beer drinking experience was over. I then hoped I would have more luck with the He Said Baltic Porter.

He Said Baltic Porter pours a rich black with red highlights and a khaki colored head. In the aroma I detected roasted malt, chocolate, pumpkin and nutmeg. The flavor was fairly on point with the aroma. The initial flavor is roasted malt, pumpkin, with light chocolate sweetness that finishes dry with nutmeg and ginger. And while that might sound fairly interesting, it seemed more middle of the road to me. There is really little here that you can't find in other beers. With that being said if you ordered this beer hoping try something new that fits the season then you wouldn't be disappointed.

As a whole I felt underwhelmed by the He Said 2-pack. To me, neither beer stood out and I feel like I can safely say I won't be purchasing either one again. In my opinion there are a lot better-tasting and more economical pumpkin beers on the market. But if you insist on finding a pumpkin beer with a higher ABV and more flavor I'd recommend Southern Tier Warlock.

Overall I'd rate He Said Tripel a 1.5/5 and He Said Baltic Porter a 2.5/5. I honestly can't see why either brewery would be proud of these beers. I'd expect something this boring to come from one of the mass produced American beer giants then two reliable microbreweries.



Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Guinness Blonde American Lager

While enjoying a Guinness, how many times have you thought to yourself: I really wish they made a lager? I'd wager the answer to that is zero. But on the slim chance you have had that thought you would find out they made Harp Lager and never think about it again. So when I first saw Guinness Blonde American Lager in stores my first thought was 'why?' instead of 'I've got to try it.' But in the spirit of this blog and the goodwill I have towards Guinness Draught, I felt picking up a single bottle was necessary.

Brewed in Latrobe, PA, Guinness Blonde American Lager pours a beautifully crystal clear golden amber with a fluffy white head. Unfortunately, that was the only positive thing about this lager. The aroma was almost non-existent. I had to bury my nose in the glass for a couple minutes to detect the aroma of a bready malt and some grassy hops. Sadly, much like the aroma the flavor was almost non-existent. There is some initial bready malt sweetness and a light peppery hop finish, but it took almost half a glass to figure that out. 　Frankly, it tasted like someone dumped out ¾ of a bottle of Rolling Rock, filled it back up with water, capped it, slapped a Guinness label on it and charged 10 dollars a 6 pack for it. 　Clearly, Guinness was trying to cash in more on their name value here then providing a quality product.

The first of their new Discovery Series line, Guinness Blonde American Lager disappoints on almost every level. And while I admire their attempt to try to do something new to compete with the expanding American craft beer marketplace, if this is a sign of things to come, I do not expect the Discovery Series to be a success. This is dull, flavorless beer and it’s an insult to the Guinness name. If you find yourself looking for a lager to pair with Guinness, I’d recommend sticking with Harp or looking anywhere else.

Overall I’d rate Guinness Blonde American Lager a .5/5. Overpriced and flavorless, I do not expect to see this beer on shelves for very long.


Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest

Like many other beer enthusiasts, I am a huge fan of oak aged beer. It’s gotten to a point that nothing will make me pick a beer quicker than seeing barrel aged on the label. I am also a huge fan of fall seasonal beers. The malt and hop profile to these beers seem to compliment the season beautifully. So you could imagine my excitement when I saw Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest. And later my disappointment when I found out that Oak was not used for any part of making this beer. 　In fact according to Firestone Walker's website Oaktoberfest gets its name for the brewery's hometown of Paso Robles or “Pass of the Oaks.” Regardless of whether this beer was oak aged or not, it is still from one of the more reliable craft breweries in the US and I could not wait to try it.

I poured Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest into a glass and immediately noticed its beautifully clear golden amber color and finger thick white head. The aroma was very reminiscent of a German pilsner. It was grainy, bready but there was also a hint of caramel. The aroma of the beer seemed to match the flavor. The bready malt practically mimics the traditional German Pilsner style. But unlike the traditional German Oktoberfest beers, there is only a hint of caramel sweetness in the flavor before a grassy hop finish that washes away clean providing a very light, smooth and easy drinking experience.

Normally at this point, I would begin to write a fairly positive conclusion for this safe but enjoyable beer. Unfortunately I just can’t do it. To me, the point of an Oktoberfest or any style fall beer is to provide a full flavor, slightly boozy, heavier alternative to the light bodied beers of summer. Oaktoberfest does not do that, in fact it is light enough that it seems more like a sessionable summer beer then it does a fuller bodied fall beer. 　But if this was a summer beer I would still feel that it is worth mentioning Oaktoberfest’s 12 dollars a 6 pack price, which is a few dollars higher than many superior alternatives from both summer and fall. Basically what I am trying to say is this is not a bad beer; it just does not work as a fall seasonal beer. And with its high price tag there is very little reason here for a repeat purchase.

　

Overall I’d rate Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest a 2.75/5. It’s a perfectly acceptable beer, just not a perfectly acceptable fall beer.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

The Muddy Imperial Stout by Goose Island

I have to admit pretty much anytime I visit the grocery store I feel I have to check the beer aisle. Most of the time I walk out of the aisle with nothing. Nevertheless I feel I have to check because of that exciting moment every beer enthusiast loves, finding something new and exciting. I did just that on a recent visit when I came across The Muddy Imperial Stout by The Goose Island Beer Company. Now if the Bourbon County Series has taught us one thing, The Goose Island Beer Company knows how to make an incredible stout. I didn't think for an instant this was going to be in the same ball park as Bourbon County but I thought there was a chance it was the equivalent of tailgating outside of said ball park. Please pardon the bad sports metaphor but I was very excited about that. Add in the fact that this imperial stout according to the bottle featured “amplified sweetness with licorice notes” I probably could not have gotten it in the cart fast enough. The only question I was left with was, is this beer going to be as exciting as I think it's going to be?

The Muddy poured a thick black color with a dark tan head that went away almost immediately. The aroma was slightly sweet, full of roasted malt with chocolate and a hint of coffee. The aroma was also slightly boozy but with an ABV of 9% that is not completely unexpected. And while The Muddy is a fun name for a stout, unfortunately it accurately described the flavor. The roasted malt was easily detectable initially in the flavor but shortly after that the outrageous candy sweetness dominated my palate. It was so overpowering that any of the subtle flavors that I was doing my best to detect were pretty much “muddied” by this sweetness. The worst part to me was the fact that the licorice was practically nonexistent. As I made my way through the glass I kept hoping the next sip was going to be the one where I tasted the licorice, sadly this never happened.

When I was finished with The Muddy all I was left with was an empty glass and a whole lot of disappointment for this completely missed opportunity by Goose Island to create something new and creative. And it is also a reminder that unfortunately not every new beer we spot is as good as we hope it would be. But it is beers like The Muddy that make us appreciate when we find that good beer that much more.

Overall I give The Muddy Imperial Stout a 1.5/5. While it is not completely undrinkable it reminded me more of an extremely sweet cheap liqueur then it did an imperial stout.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Allagash Saison, Tripel and White Ale

Like the season premiere of your favorite show, I'm back with a new round of beer reviews. It's been far too long since I sat behind this keyboard talking about whether a particular beer happens to be good or not. So to make up for lost time I'm going to start my “new season” of beer reviews off with a bang. In this review I'll be looking at 3 Belgian-Style beers that just hit the western New York area and all of them are from the Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine.

Typically I have little to no interest in seeking out Belgian-Style ales. For as long as I have been drinking beer, I have found the spiciness of them to be overpowering and completely unbearable. But due to the overwhelmingly positive reputation of the Allagash Brewing Company and my never ending curiosity to all things beer I felt it was time to put my feelings aside, keep an open mind and try some new beer.

The first beer I tried was the Allagash Saison. This beer poured a clear light yellow with a thin white head. The aroma was a little grassy with lemon and spice. Upon tasting I was hit with the taste of herbal lemon that gave way to the clove flavor of the Belgian spice before finishing with a hint of pepper. And while that may sound intriguing I assure you it is not. To me it is a boring by the numbers saison. That being said, it is by no means terrible but nothing about it truly stands out. If you are looking for anything groundbreaking, here you won't find it. Overall I'd rate Allagash Saison a 2.5/5.

Next up is the Allagash Tripel Ale and it poured a hazy golden yellow with a slightly off-white head. The aroma was bready, sweet, and fruity with a hint of spice. Upon tasting I knew immediately I had found something special. The flavor of bready malt, banana and pear immediately stood out before finishing with a hint of hops and spice. The flavor of the hops pleasantly lingered until I took my next sip. And believe me when I say I was looking forward to every single one. There is almost no trace of the powerful 9% ABV hidden behind the beautiful flavor of this beer which makes it a bit deceptive. My advice is to drink it slowly. Overall I'd rate Allagash Tripel an 4.25/5.

At this point I was pleasantly surprised to find one Belgian-Style ale I truly enjoyed. I felt I was playing with “house money” when I tried the Allagash White ale. I felt there was no way it was going to be better then the Tripel ale and I can't tell you how pleased I am to say I was wrong. Allagash White ale pours a cloudy straw color with a thin white head. The aroma is spicy with a hint of banana and citrus. The flavor was incredibly complex. With each sip I seemed to detect something different than the previous one. The flavor of coriander, pepper, clove and light bready malt are prominent before a crisp, peppery finish that remained on my palette between sips. Bottom line, this is an exceptional beer. It's extremely sessionable and the best white ale I've had. Overall I'd rate Allagash White Ale a 4.75/5.

Bottom line, I'm extremely impressed with the first beers I have tried from the Allagash Brewing Company. They have taken styles of beer I don't typically seek out and given me a whole new appreciation for them. While there are other beers from Allagash I look forward to trying, the White Ale is going to have a regular place in my fridge for the foreseeable future.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Hipster Ale by Evil Twin Brewing

It seemed out of nowhere Pabst Blue Ribbon became the “hipster beer”. Now I am not a hipster, but I do enjoy a PBR tallboy from time to time. Before I go on, I feel a need to justify the previous statement. I dig a PBR once in awhile because sometimes I want to enjoy a beer on a budget. And sometimes it's nice to drink a beer with 170 years of history behind it(I often wonder if my great Grandfather enjoyed one back in his day.) Still, I have never dug the thought of drinking a beer because it's trendy. If I did that I would not be writing a beer blog and on top of that I'd probably have a fridge full of Blue Moon, oranges and Bud Light Lime. Still, I've always wondered why hipsters took to PBR. Was it Dennis Hopper's famous “Heineken? F—k that sh-t. Pabst Blue Ribbon!” line from David Lynch's Blue Velvet? Is it because it's cheap? Or is it because according to the can, the “choicest products provide its' prized flavor?” Perhaps it is none of the above or perhaps it is a combination of all three. Either way I guess we'll never know the real answer and maybe there isn't one. Sometimes things just become popular with little to no reason. But it seems Stratford, Connecticut's Evil Twin Brewing has decided to force the issue and try make their Hipster Ale the next trendy choice. So my mission with this review is to find out whether or not it has a shot at doing just that.

Evil Twin Brewing's Hipster Ale pours hazy gold with with a lingering white head. The aroma was pretty standard for a pale ale. A bready malt matched with the grapefruit and citrus aromas from the hops. The hops seemed to stand out a bit more in the aroma and they did the same in the flavor. Unfortunately, aside from being a hop forward pale ale, there is really nothing else good to say about the flavor. The dirty, peppery, citrus flavor of the hops were all I could taste. My first sip I could barely taste the malt. Towards the end of the glass I could start to pick up some of the malt sweetness but that was only because my palate had been desensitized by the strong, lingering, unpleasant aftertaste of the hops. To put this in perspective, there are beers that wash away clean, beers that leave a pleasant lingering flavor that almost beg you to take another sip and then there is the flavor of dirty garbage which this beer left behind. I wanted to put the rest of beer down the sink but in the name of integrity I carried on, determined to finish it in the hope there was at least something positive I could say about it. Unfortunately, by the time I finished the beer the only positive thing I could come up with was the can looked pretty cool.

To put it simply, this is a bad beer. And it's one that I would recommend staying very far away from. Usually, I will retry a beer a few years down the line to see if I may have been wrong about it upon first tasting. I don't think that will be the case here. And unless it becomes cool to drink really bad expensive beer out of an a fun looking can, I think it's safe to say this beer has no shot at becoming trendy.

Overall I give Hipster Ale a 0.75/5. I want to make it clear that half point is for the cool can, not the beer.


Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Saranac Wild Hop Pils Lager

Saranac beer made by Matt Brewing Company in Utica, NY has never been shy about taking chances. Over the years they have brewed a Chocolate Amber Lager, a Ginger Pale Ale and a Pomegranate Wheat Ale just to name a few. And while many of their beers sound very interesting, they are more miss then hit when it comes to taste. Back when their winter mix packs contained 12 different beers, I would buy it on sight. About halfway through the mix pack, after realizing I had not found a single beer I actually liked, I would promise myself I would not buy the mix pack the following year. But when winter would arrive a year later and I would read the contents of the new mix pack, I would not be able to resist trying their new red ale or giving their unbearably sweet Caramel Porter another shot. But after doing this year in, year out I felt it was time to break the cycle. Because of this I stayed away from Saranac for awhile. When someone suggested I try their White IPA I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. Since then it is the only Saranac beer I actually seek out. But on a recent trip to the store my curiosity was peaked when I noticed their new summer seasonal beer Wild Hop Pils. The bottle said it is the first beer to use the Belma hop that was found growing in the Yakima Valley in the state of Washington. So because of all the good will the White IPA bought, the Wild Hop Pils sounded intriguing enough to me to merit a purchase and become the subject of this review.

Wild Hop Pils pours a visibly carbonated clear golden yellow with a thin white head. The aroma has all the familiar traits of a pilsner lager. But here the familiar grainy, grassy aroma is complemented by a noticeable floral citrus from the Belma hops. While it appeared promising that Wild Hop Pils could put a new spin on the pilsner lager, unfortunately just about everything about Wild Hop Pils tasted familiar. The most notable difference was the hops that add a mild spicy citrus to the flavor. A more subtle difference is that the malt is slightly sweeter than your typical American pilsner. The finish is crisp, clean but forgettable.

While Saranac Wild Hop Pils might not be as interesting as I hoped it would be, it’s not a bad beer either. It’s smooth, easy to drink and would offer a slightly spicy alternative to a fan of domestic pilsners. So this could work as a gateway to better beer for your Labatt Blue and Budweiser drinking friends. And while it didn’t blow me away, I can safely say this beer is good enough for me to give another new Saranac brew a shot down the line even if there is little here to make me a repeat customer of Wild Hop Pils.

Overall I give Saranac Wild Hop Pils a 2.5/5. I am glad I tried the first beer made with Belma hops but I’ll probably forget about this beer as soon as the six pack is out of my fridge.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Dogfish Head Sixty-One

I want to start this blog by saying I’m a huge Pearl Jam fan. To a point, I wonder if the previous statement does my fanhood justice. I am one of their many devoted fans that have traveled to various cities across the US and Canada to witness their epic shows live. I’m not ashamed to admit that Pearl Jam Concert T-Shirts take up a large chunk of my wardrobe. And my walls also feature a slew of concert posters and a Yield sign. With my iPod on shuffle it is rare to go more than 5 songs without hearing something Pearl Jam-related. While I am sure you are very impressed with my Pearl Jam obsession you are probably wondering, “what does this have to do with beer?” And I’m just about to get to that.

In 2011, Pearl Jam reached their 20th Anniversary and to celebrate this momentous occasion they released a movie, a book and had a spectacular festival in East Troy, Wisconsin. On top of that, the extremely creative Dogfish Head Craft Brewery released Pearl Jam Twenty Faithfull Ale. Words could not express how excited I was to try this beer. Every few days I would call my local beer specialty stores to see if they had it in stock. When I finally found a 13 dollar bottle I raced home, grabbed my favorite glass and poured the beer I was certain I was going to love. How could I not? It felt like the stars had aligned. It was Pearl Jam inspired craft beer. Everything was going great, until I tried it. What I got was a bland, boring and uninspired beer from a brewery that prides itself on being anything but. Unfortunately what I did not mention earlier was this was not the only 13 dollar bottle I bought, it was one of several. To this day I still have 2 unopened bottles in my closet. Part of me wants to think not opening the bottles makes them more of a collectable, but the truth is I could not stand to drink another bottle of that astonishingly disappointing beer. Since this happened I have not had much of a desire to seek out Dogfish Head products. It’s taken almost 3 years but after enjoying their Palo Santo Marron and Namaste I finally feel like I can put the nightmare of Pearl Jam Faithfull Ale behind me and give this brewery a fair shake.

For this week’s beer I picked up Dogfish Head’s Sixty One. It is an IPA brewed with Syrah Grape Must(freshly pressed grapes). In case you were wondering skins, seeds, stems and juice all make up grape must. I found the addition of this to beer particularly intriguing because if Dogfish Head does one thing right it is IPAs. The 60, 90 and 120 minute IPAs are all each their own unique experience. Before my Faithfull Ale falling out with Dogfish Head, I would recommend their 60 minute IPA to anyone looking to break out of their domestic light beer comfort zone. I felt it is a solid gateway into craft beer because it is a smooth, clean, easy beer drinking experience.

For Sixty One, Dogfish Head attempted to add another dimension to their IPA. And while I admire the attempt, unfortunately the only place this is truly noticeable is in the color. Dogfish Head Sixty One pours a light purple with a white fizzy head. The appearance reminded me of sparkling wine. The aroma is full of the bitter citrus you would expect from an IPA, with a faint hint of grape. Upon tasting, the very subtle flavor of grape could be noticed before the bitter citrus of the IPA dominated the flavor. The light grape flavor reappears in the finish but I truly had to look for it to notice it.

I think the power of suggestion played a big role in me finding the grape must. The grape flavor is so subtle I could have easily missed it if I wasn’t looking for it. Honestly if I was blindfolded, I might have just thought this was just an IPA. The label and the color of the beer played a big role in me finding the grape must in the flavor. With that being said this is still a decent IPA, albeit a forgettable one. And while it may not be anything special, I did not feel I wasted my time and money like I did with Faithfull Ale. This is an easy IPA drinking experience, one that looks really cool in a glass. Unfortunately it just does not come across as clever as the label suggests it does.

Overall I give Dogfish Head Sixty One a 2.75/5. This is a decent albeit forgettable beer. I’d recommend trying almost any Dogfish Head brew before this one. Just not the Pearl Jam Faithful Ale.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

It’s evolution baby!

Bell's Oberon Ale

When you are a fan of seasonal beer, you can find yourself looking for them on a schedule. Fall beers usually arrive in stores in mid August, winter beers in late October, spring beers in January and summer beers somewhere between the end of March and early April. While I usually start purchasing most seasonal beers as soon as I can, I have a tendency to stay away from summer beer until the end of May. It seems like a cruel joke to sip a beer with an image of a sun or a surfboard on the label when a winter coat is still my go-to jacket and there is still potential for ice on the ground. While the end of May might seem a bit late to have ice on the ground, I do live in Upstate NY and weather here changes quickly. With that being said, cold weather seems to finally be out, summer beers are finally in and it's time to start reviewing my first of the season.

From the Bell's Brewery in Comstock, Michigan, Bell's Oberon Ale is an American Wheat Ale that pours a cloudy light orange with a thin white head. The refreshing scent of coriander and citrus stand out in the aroma. Upon tasting the delicious flavor of wheat, orange and lemon were immediately noticeable before a clean spicy finish with a hint of candy sweetness.

Bell's Oberon Ale works well because it manages to be light bodied and full of flavor. It does a much better job at creating citrus flavors through its ingredients than some of the other summer ales and shandies that hide their mediocre beer behind overpowering fruit flavoring. On top of that, Oberon Ale has an almost undetectable 5.8% ABV which is a bit stronger then the usual summer ale. What is noticeable and in my opinion could be the main drawback of this beer is the sweetness. While enjoyable, over time I could easily see the sweetness becoming a bit overbearing. Other than that I can safely say this is one of the better summer beers I've had and it was well worth the wait.

Overall I give Bell's Oberon Ale an 4/5. It's light, refreshing and very easy to drink. I could easily see this beer in my refrigerator throughout the summer months.


Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Ashland Amber Ale

Have you ever seen a movie that starts strong, then seems to take a turn for the worst to a point it becomes a chore to finish? In my opinion Insidious is a prime example of this. I mean, how bad was that final act? It came out back in 2010 and it still bothers me to this day. I thought it was a fantastic horror movie up until the whole “Further” explanation and then I struggled not to walk out of the theater before the credits rolled. The ending was even more ridiculous but then again this is a beer review blog, not a movie review blog, so let’s get back on track. Brewed out of Caldera Brewing Company in Oregon, Ashland Amber Ale is a beer that reminded me of every movie I have ever seen that started strong, but somewhere along the line went off the rails and became a chore to finish.

Ashland Amber Ale pours a clear amber with a cream colored head. The presence of the caramel malt seems to dominate the aroma. There is also a hint of hop spice that in retrospect teased the beer’s downfall. The first sip of Ashland Amber is full of caramel malt. it’s very sweet and almost creamy in texture. The initial taste reminded me of an Oktoberfest Ale, which is one of my favorite seasonal beers. As you can imagine I thought I found a winner. However, the deeper I got into the glass, the malt seemed to take a backseat to the herbal citrus flavor of the hops.

Normally I don't have a problem with an amber ale being a little hoppy. Sometimes it is a nice way to balance out the bold sweetness of the malt. The problem with this particular one is that the hop blend does not compliment the beer; it takes over and it takes over in a negative way. Sip after sip the lingering flavor of the hops overwhelmed my palate to a point the beer tasted nothing like the sweet almost Autumn seasonal beer it did when I started. It tasted bland and bitter with a hint of sweetness. Basically, it tasted far worse. By the time my glass was empty I felt relief instead of wanting another.

Overall I give Ashland Amber Ale a 2/5. It starts strong but fades in the last act. Look elsewhere for a good Amber Ale.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Hop Nosh IPA

The great thing about sampling a lot of different beers is once in awhile you happen to stumble upon one that is truly exceptional. When this happens, every bad beer you have tried up until that point seems worth it. And every good beer you have had seems like it built your palate to appreciate this very moment. This was the feeling I had when I first tasted Hop Nosh IPA(formerly Hop Notch) from Uinta Brewing Company.

Brewed in Salt Lake City, Utah, Hop Nosh IPA pours a slightly hazy golden amber with a finger thick white head. The strong citrus aroma with a hint of malt sweetness seemed to jump right out of the glass promising a bold flavor. Upon tasting this medium-bodied IPA, I was immediately hit with the bitterness of grapefruit and the sweetness of pineapple. That sweetness fades abruptly into a dry, bitter finish that lingers until the next sip. And I found myself looking forward to the next sip until my foam-laced glass was empty.

Some beer drinkers do not like IPAs because they feel they are too bitter. And while this is a bitter beer, it still feels properly balanced. The pineapple sweetness, although brief seems to go a long way into balancing the bitterness of the hops. That being said I would’ve liked to have seen that pineapple flavor stick around a little longer into the finish, but that’s a very small gripe when enjoying a beer this well-crafted.

Hop Nosh IPA has an ABV of 7.3%. While it is slightly present in the dry finish, it is mostly hidden in the bold flavor which makes this beer deceptively delicious, and seem lighter than it really is. It might not be as light as a session IPA but it does feel lighter than other IPAs. Basically it’s a great beer to compliment the warm weather, but if you are going to enjoy a few be careful when you get up out of the lawn chair.

Overall I give Hop Nosh IPA a 4/5. This is a fantastic beer and a great example of an IPA.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Kelpie Seaweed Ale

Once in awhile I come across a beer I just have to try. In most cases it is a new offering from one of my favorite breweries, or if I'm in a different city I usually seek out something from a local microbrewery. But in the case of this week's beer I was intrigued by the idea of a Seaweed Ale, it just took a me a little time to build up the courage to try it.

When I was a kid I had a wild imagination and a love of horror movies. The movie Creepshow 2 did no favors for me whenever I went swimming in a lake. In Creepshow 2, a group of teenagers were attacked and eaten by a mysterious blob after swimming in a lake they clearly shouldn't have. As a child, I would think of this anytime I swam and got stuck in seaweed. Each time I thought the seaweed I was stuck in was the blob about to eat me. So because of that I am not usually excited about anything seaweed-related, but I thought what better way to get over it than try it in my favorite beverage, beer.

Kelpie Seaweed Ale is brewed in Scotland by the Williams Brothers Brewing Company. It pours a clear brown with a light khaki colored head. The aroma is strong, full of roasted malt, a hint of salt and bitter chocolate. Upon tasting the roasted malt flavor overwhelmed my palette. Bitter chocolate and molasses are strong in the malt and finishes with a light salty finish. There is little to no hop presence. Just the flavor of roasted malt, that lingers unpleasantly until the next sip.

The most noticeable thing about Kelpie Seaweed Ale is the fact that there is nothing special going on here. It tastes like your run of the mill average brown ale and that is what makes this beer truly disappointing. Nothing about this beer stands out even though it is brewed with a truly unique ingredient. If you are in the market for a good dark beer, this is a good way to play it safe but I think it is best to look elsewhere.

Overall I'd give Kelpie Seaweed Ale a 2/5. I may not have forgotten the nightmares of being caught in seaweed as a child, but I'll forget this beer as soon as this blog is finished.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Ommegang Game of Thrones Fire & Blood Red Ale

With the latest season of Game of Thrones now underway, I thought it was the perfect time to review the latest Game of Thrones-inspired beer from the Ommegang Brewery. Fire and Blood Red Ale pays tribute to the “Mother of Dragons” Daenerys Targaryen and her three dragons. There are three different bottle designs for Fire and Blood Ale, each of which features a different dragon. As far as great label designs go this is one of the coolest. I just hoped the beer was more then great packaging.

Fire and Blood Ale pours a cloudy reddish amber with a thick fluffy tan head. The aroma is fruity with a hint of Belgian spice. Upon tasting, I felt my palate begin a long journey much like Darnerys Targaryen is currently on in the show. I was immediately hit with the taste of fruit, rye and caramel sweetness. The sweetness lingered and then gave way to a light Belgian spice before it finished with the unique but great flavor of ancho chiles. The spice from the ancho chile was not overpowering, but it does linger briefly before it fades away long enough for you to forget it's coming back upon the next sip. The sweetness however, sticks around the entire time and flirts with being overpowering but never quite gets there.

All in all I found Fire and Blood Ale very drinkable but I could easily see how someone may not enjoy the spice of the chile pepper finish. I know it won't be for everyone and it is a bit different but in the case of a beer inspired by dragons it does seem very fitting. This is not a beer however I could see someone drinking regularly and perhaps that's why its a fitting one off. I do recommend giving it a try and as long as you know what you are in for and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Overall I give Ommegang Game of Thrones Fire and Blood Ale a 3.75/5. A fitting beer to enjoy while watching fire breathing dragons run wild.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Goose Island Ten Hills Pale Ale

I was walking through my local grocery store and was surprised to see that some of the summer seasonal beers are already on the shelves. It almost seems like a cruel joke considering there is still snow on the ground but it is a sign that good weather, barbeques and outdoor concerts are on the way. That being said I realized I have yet to review any of the spring seasonal beers. So before it's too late I decided to take a look at Goose Island Ten Hills Pale Ale.

I have always been a fan of the Goose Island Brewery. From Bourbon County Stout to Honkers Ale to the easy drinking Mild Winter Ale, Goose Island has become a brewery that I do not hesitate to try a new beer from. That being said, not everything that comes out of there is fantastic beer. And that unfortunately is the case with this week's beer.

Goose Island Ten Hills Pale Ale pours a clear golden brown with a finger thick white head. The aroma is very light, flowery with citrus notes. The flavor is balanced but nothing spectacular. The malt is bready and slightly sweet, and the very light citrus flavor of the hops comes through in the finish before it washes away clean.

But once Ten Hills Pale Ale washes away, it's almost easy to forget what it tasted like. In fact it was difficult to write this blog because there was almost nothing to say about it. The flavor is so safe and comes and goes so quickly, I felt like I spent the entire bottle trying to remember what the last sip tasted like. That being said, the beer is very easy to drink and contains a 6.2% ABV which is hidden nicely in its almost invisible flavor.

Overall I give Goose Island Ten Hills Pale Ale a 2/5. This is a forgettable entry from a solid brewery. I would be surprised to see on shelves next spring.



Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Founder's Red Rye IPA

Spring is usually the time of the year I like to put down the heavy beers of winter and lighten up a bit with Irish ales, pale ales and IPAs. But with winter seemingly never coming to an end in the Northeast, I’ve found it a bit difficult to let go of the full bodied beers that always seem more enjoyable in cold temperatures. Because of this, I thought Founder’s Red Rye IPA is a fantastic way to split the difference between Winter and Spring.

Founder’s Red Rye IPA pours a beautifully dark amber color with a khaki colored head. The caramel and rye malts are very prevalent in the aroma, as is a bit of citrus. Upon tasting a rich earthy rye malt immediately flooded my palette. This was complimented nicely by a light grapefruit like finish from the hops.

As I progressed through Red Rye IPA, I became quite impressed with how balanced it was. The aggressiveness of the malt if left to its own devices would have easily made this a chore to drink halfway through the bottle. And if this was a regular IPA the light hop profile would have made this a rather forgettable entry from the Founder’s Brewery. Instead, both the malt and the hops shine in their own way. In fact one of my biggest complaints from a few of the beers I’ve reviewed is that they have left behind an unpleasant lingering aftertaste that over time gradually overwhelmed my palate. Red Rye IPA does leave an aftertaste but in this particular case it was not a bad thing. The lingering citrus flavor of the hops allowed for the more subtle peppery flavor of the malt to come through thus adding another layer of depth to the flavor.

All and all this is a solid beer that is definitely worth a try if you are an IPA fan. Its wonderful balance ensures a great beer drinking experience. And the 6.6% ABV is masked but not undetectable as it, along with the hops, provides a warm finish perfect for these absurdly cold spring nights.

　

Overall I give Founder’s Red Rye IPA an 4/5. If you are looking to give a Rye IPA a try, this is a great place to start.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Leinenkugel's Hoppin Helles

If you asked me one word to describe the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company it would be average. Every beer I have sampled from them has been just that, not terrible, not mind blowing, just average. But for some strange reason I keep trying their beer hoping to find one that is anything but middle of the road. Perhaps the reason I do it is to make all the time I've put in and the money I've spent mean something, or perhaps I'm just not that bright. Nevertheless, for this week's beer I decided to try again with Leinenkugel's Hoppin Helles.

Originating in Munich, Germany, a Helles Lager is typically a pale golden style lager. Leinenkugel's Hoppin' Helles keeps to that tradition as it pours a beautifully clear light golden color with a nice white head. The aroma of Hoppin' Helles however is not as pleasant as it's appearance. The aroma reminded me of my college days when cheap beer got stuck into the carpet for too long. Even worse, the hops promised by the title of the beer were barely evident in the aroma, just a cheap stale grassiness and not much else.

Upon tasting, I was greeted with a light malt sweetness with only a touch of hops. This led to a slightly spicy but mostly forgettable finish. Like other Leinenkugel's products(Honey Weiss for example) the beer does not wash away cleanly. Instead an unpleasant aftertaste continued to build until I was happy the glass was finally empty.

And with that I had found my first truly bad beer from Leinenkugel's. This particular one was disappointing because Hoppin' Helles failed on its' promise to add an uncharacteristic hoppiness to the helles style lager. Instead it's a forgettable beer that I strongly encourage you to stay away from. If this review doesn't discourage you to stay away, hopefully its' 9 dollar a six pack price does.

Overall I'd give Leinenkugel's Hoppin Helles a 1.5/5. Aside from appearance, there is really nothing pleasant about it. Hoppin' Helles tastes cheap and belongs on the shelf next to the likes of Busch, Milwaukee's Best and Keystone.



Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Paulaner Salvator

“Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy” is a common quote(or misquote) tied to Benjamin Franklin. Whether Mr. Franklin said this or not is unimportant but some beers actually do have religious ties, and this week's beer is among them. Originally brewed by the Friars at the Paulaner Monastery, Paulaner Salvator(Latin word for savior) is the world's original doppelbock. Brewed in Munich, Germany, Paulaner Salvator is commonly referred to as “liquid bread” and was typically consumed by the friars while fasting during lent.

The term doppelbock or double bock refers to a fuller bodied, more alcoholic version of a traditional bock. Paulaner Salvator lives up to that very description in flavor and its 7.9% ABV(Alcohol by volume). Bottom line, if you are looking for a beer that is light and refreshing you are in the wrong place.

After pouring Salvator, one immediately notices its' cloudy deep reddish brown color. It may have been just my imagination but I thought I could feel the density and weight of the beer just by holding the glass. The strong malty aroma was almost immediately noticeable. I also believe the aroma contained a hint of fruitiness.

Upon tasting, the hearty, almost chewy malt immediately flooded my palate with its' sweetness and then it hit me with a musty, earthy finish. What was surprising was that the high alcohol content almost goes unnoticed because of how well it was hidden by the sweet, powerful flavor of the malt. The aftertaste was mostly dominated by the strong malt flavor and this continued to build the further into the beer I got. There is little to no hop profile to this beer and I feel that is unfortunate because it could have provided a little more balance to the flavor.

With that being said, this is a good beer. There is almost no way to argue against that point when considering the well over 200 years of history and tradition that comes with each bottle. But in my opinion it's not a great beer. This could be due to the fact that this is the original blueprint for a doppelbock, and as with any original design there's always room for improvement.

Overall, I give Paulaner Salvator a 3.5/5. It's worth a try, especially for malt lovers. But unlike the Friars of the Paulanar Monastery, try to drink it on a full stomach.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!




Reference:
"Paulaner Salvator, the original doppelbock" http://us.paulaner.com/our-beer/salvator-double-bock

 

Rhinelander Chocolate Bunny Stout

I’ve never understood the appeal of the Chocolate Bunny. I think they are boring, bland and as easy to chew as a piece of concrete. However this does not stop someone from getting me one as a gift every Easter. And every year I do the same thing. I eat a piece, remember how much I don’t like it, put it somewhere for someone else to eat and then throw it in the garbage a week or two later. It’s my Easter tradition.
 

And while I am not a fan of the Chocolate Bunny, I am a fan of the chocolate stout. If it is done right, the chocolate stout can be an very enjoyable beer drinking experience. With its’ chocolate sweetness and coffee bite, it might be the closest beer gets to being a dessert. So, my curiosity was peaked when I came across Rhinelander’s Chocolate Bunny Stout. The title alone gave me a reason to hope I might have found a new Easter tradition.

Things started out very well when Chocolate Bunny Stout poured a wonderfully dense black with a thick tan head that resembled chocolate milk. There was almost nothing else to detect in the aroma but chocolate and more chocolate. At this point I thought I was in for quite a treat.

Unfortunately upon tasting, I was hit immediately with the unpleasant flavor of artificial chocolate, followed by a hint of roasted malt. Things then went from bad to worse when the beer finished with the strong flavor of old burnt coffee. To better put it into perspective, think Nesquik meets vending machine coffee. It was at this point I realized it was time to stop looking for a new Easter tradition and start looking for any reason to finish the bottle.

Overall I give Rhinelander’s Chocolate Bunny Stout a 1/5. There are many variations of the chocolate stout, try any one but this one.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at

@ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Genesee Bock Beer

Two things that I generally frown upon but I am sometimes guilty of are buying cheap beer and hoarding. But sometimes you are on a budget and sometimes you can't part with an ugly polyester bowling shirt that you haven't worn in years because at any moment an occasion might call for it. Nevertheless both of those things become common place in Upstate New York every late winter/early spring when the Genesee Brewery releases their Bock Beer.

Genesee Bock Beer to some is a well kept secret. A surprisingly good beer released by a brewery that produces a Cream Ale commonly referred to as a “Screamer” for its effects on the digestive systems of its drinkers. To others it's an afterthought because of the reputation of the product I just mentioned. And while you will never see me touch a Genesee Cream Ale, I along with beer drinkers from all over Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas flock to the grocery store every January in search of Bock Beer.

Over the past few years, Genesee Bock Beer has attained a cult-like status among beer drinkers who have affectionately nicknamed it “The Goat” after the logo on it's bright green can. In fact, the beer is so beloved that some will actually buy enough of it in January to last the rest of the year. I commonly wonder if this beer was available year round, would Bock Beer have the same loyal following? Or would it be lost in the fold like so many other beers?

Bock Beer does distance itself from other cheap beers with its' beautifully dark red color and thick tan head. The aroma is full of caramel sweetness with a hint of honey. Upon tasting, the caramel malt dominates the flavor before it finishes with a hint brown sugar and a mild hop bitterness to balance the sweetness. Bock Beer then washes away clean to cap off a pleasant beer drinking experience.

And while it may be a pleasant beer drinking experience, it's not an exceptional one. Perhaps the biggest con of Bock Beer might just be the fact that it plays it perfectly safe. It tries to walk the line between causal beer drinkers and experienced beer drinkers. And while this is perfectly fine, this might explain its seasonal appeal. Beer drinkers try it, like it and then forget about it. By the time it is re-released the cycle begins all over again.

Overall I'd give it a 3/5. It looks good, it tastes good and it's inexpensive. You really can't go wrong with trying it. Just don't expect anything groundbreaking.


Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

A Crafty Look at Miller Fortune

For a lot of people shopping for beer can be just like trying to find something to watch on Netflix. You go in looking for something new and exciting but after 10 minutes of looking you choose something that's safe, familiar or nothing at all. The purpose of this blog will be to help inform you what is out there and if it is worth your consideration. That being said you may not always agree with the opinions in this blog but if they lead you into finding something you like, then I feel I've done my job.

Since this is a brand new blog, I've decided to start it off with a brand new beer whose advertising display is currently taking up plenty of space in my local beer isles. That beer is Miller Fortune. Now starting a beer blog off with a famous brewery like Miller is not exactly the adventurous start one might expect. But my interest was peaked by a major brewery trying to market a Bourbon style Golden Lager and I can't imagine I am the only one.

For the past few years beer giants like Budweiser, Miller and Coors have tried to keep up with the public's growing interest in Microbreweries and with mixed results they have tried to diversify their lineup by brewing beers that cater to the microbrew crowd. And for every success story like Coors' Blue Moon, there is a failure like Budweiser American Ale. As I stared at the giant display I wondered which side of the coin Miller Fortune would fall on. After tasting it, I unfortunately think it's going to be the latter. Although, that is not to say that Miller Fortune is a horrible beer.

After pouring from a cool-looking 12 oz bottle, Miller Fortune displays a clear amber color with a thin white head. The aroma is sweet with a hint of corn and for a brief moment actually reminded me of bourbon. But unfortunately upon tasting there is no bourbon in the flavor, just the familiar cheap Miller flavor we have all come to expect over the years. But before I could completely write this beer off something surprising happened and the beer finished with a very nice caramel sweetness that tries its hardest to momentarily to make you forget you're drinking something that's average at best.

On the plus side, what Miller Fortune may lack in overall flavor it makes up for in drinkability. The beer is surprisingly smooth and boasts a rather strong 6.9% ABV which it's pleasant aftertaste hides quite well. Basically what I am saying is if someone handed it to you at a party you'd enjoy it but forget about it the moment the bottle was empty. And with that being said, at 7 dollars a six pack your money is better spent else where.

Overall: I'd rate this beer 4.5 out of 10. It's basically Miller Genuine Draft with a higher alcohol content and a better aftertaste.




To discuss this column or all things beer follow me on Twitter at @ACraftyLook.

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

About me

You might be thinking, "Why should I trust his opinion?" Well the answer is I am a beer enthusiast who over the past 10 years has sampled a broad range of beers from domestic, international and microbreweries. I appreciate all different kinds of beer. I do not have a particular favorite beer or a favorite style of beer. I always want to try something new and I rarely buy the same beer two times in a row. Also, when time allows I brew my own beer. All in all I enjoy beer and if you're reading this blog then I bet you do too. So I'll leave it up to you to decide. Cheers and enjoy!