spacer
August 10, 2011

Hoist The Sails!

By The Brews

spacer

I’ve had a small hiatus – called my first child – so it has been difficult to focus on writing my blog. But one thing I’ve been able to do is drink beer and it has been way too long since I’ve been able to write so I am forcing myself to get something out there.

This is the second time that the Full Sail Brewery has been featured on the blog. This beer stoodout for one specific reason: it was cheap. Most double IPAs are $9 or more; this IPA cost me $5, and it is actually good!

The beer pours a nice amber with a light head that dissipates quickly. The beer has a nice hop aroma but it isn’t significant like most double or imperial IPAs; the bitterness of the beer also doesn’t have the characteristics of an double or imperial, but I can see how that would be attractive to pale ale drinkers. It has a nice tropical fruit taste to go along with a medium-body feel.

This is a drinkable, maybe gateway beer, for the pale ale/ipa drinker who is looking to get into stronger brews.

It only get a B from the BeerAdvocate community, but it is because they are judging it as an imperial. It is 7.5 ABV.

Rate this:

Leave a comment | posted in Brew of the Week


July 14, 2011

Five Reason Why I Hate This Corona Commercial

By The Brews

I generally enjoy Corona commercials. I actually enjoy the commercials more than I enjoy the beer. Something about the commercials conjure up feelings of relaxation and drinking during the day. It makes me want to make a batch of pina coladas or pick up a sixer of Dos Equis. However, there is something about the most recent commercial, “Flight”,  just irks me and I think I figured out why.

1. Beverage cart on the sand – First of all, have you ever seen a flight attendant move a beverage cart so easily? There is no way she can push that cart on the sand with such ease. I’ve tried wheeling a 60 quart cooler on a beach once and had to take three breaks.spacer

2. Fastest. Service. EVER! – Why is the flight attendant already asking if the passenger is doing ok? He can’t be more than three sips into the lager yet there she is, making sure that he’s doing alright. Either this is the best airline ever or he’s been nursing that $12 beer for the last two hours.

spacer

Fastest. Service. Ever!

3. Glass bottles – I can’t even remember the last time they used glass bottles on flights. Do you know what glass bottles on flights are these days? Glass shanks waiting-to-happen. And glass bottles on the beach? No thanks. I’ve had enough shards of glass in my heel today, thank you!

spacer

Take up more space, guy!

4. Aisle etiquette – I’m not the tallest guy in the world, but I’m wide enough that sitting in an aisle seat is a guarantee that my shoulder and elbow will be bumped the whole flight. So when I saw this guy dangling his Corona off the seat like Michael Jackson dangling his baby out the window I just had to point it out. Apparently he rather risk getting his beer knocked out of his hands than rather take his seat tray out of its locked position.

5. Coach – I know this is a bit of a stretch, but the last time I was that comfortable in coach class I had just taken prescription medication. It is completely plausible that is the case in this commercial, but they won’t admit it.

Devil’s Advocate - Just to be fair – and to beat you to the punch – I’ve decide to point out two things I’ll probably get flack for. First being that the commercial is about “Finding your beach”, which means that anywhere you drink a Corona you will be whisked awayspacer to an island paradise. Fine. But the last time I drank a Corona and felt like I was in the Caribbean was when I was actually IN the Caribbean. Secondly, Corona in a glass bottle is a lot sexier than Corona in a can or plastic cups. But I really have to call shenanigans on this because when I was on a cruise ship they literally poured the Corona from a glass bottle into plastic Corona bottles.

Rate this:

4 comments   |  tags: Beer, Commercial, Corona, The Brews | posted in Featured Editorial


June 29, 2011

Orange You Glad I Said Clementine?

By The Brews
spacer

Clown Shoes Clementine

I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge fan of hefeweizen. They are kind of funky, cloudy, and you usually need to add a lemon or orange to make them drinkable. It is also the same reason why I don’t like Corona; I shouldn’t have to add fruit to make the beer more enjoyable – or in their case, mask the bad flavor. But in The Brews true fashion, I will not deny any beer; I can’t morally write this blog if I don’t include everything. No matter what my beer preference is.

So I swallowed my pride and picked up one of the first Belgium/German style wheat beers in a longtime. I focused on finding a “wit” beer that would stand out from the rest. What caught my eye was something a little different that what the common wheat beer offers: clementine. Not orange. Not lemon. But Clementine, Clown Shoe’s answer to the season wheat beer (Mercury Brewing Co.).

My initial pour is the typical Belgium wheat beer with a short head, high carbonation, and a cloudy, golden liquid. Citrus is a key note in the aroma and I pick up the same aromas I get with a lot of Belgium beers. The taste is light-bodied, but full of flavor. The citrus-zest is flavorful off the first sip and you can taste spices  such as sweet orange peel and Coriander in the finish. This is definitely a beer I wouldn’t dumb down with a squeeze of orange or lemon; this should be enjoyed as is since it is a great wheat beer. It is an easy drinking 5.9% and is made with Summit hops; it will help you forget any bad day you had.

Beer Ratings: BeerAdvocate Overall – A-, The Bros: B. RateBeer: 86 Overall, 95 Style.

Rate this:

Leave a comment | posted in Brew of the Week, Brews Tested


June 26, 2011

10 Types of Beer Drinkers

By The Brews

spacer

In addition to my weekly features (Regional Highlight, Brew of the Week, Community Submission and other failed ideas) I am also going to write one or two “feature editorial” a month about beer and the beer lifestyle.

For my inaugural editorial I wanted to focus on something that I’ve noticed throughout the years: different type of beer drinkers. There are way too many types of booze drinkers; there is the martini girl, the wine plonk guy, and the obscure cocktail dude (“I’ll have a One-Balled Dictator, please”.).  With the hundreds of different alcohols out there and the thousands of brands and varietals I could write a 10,000 word blog post about each type of drinker. But instead, today I will solely focus on beer.  And trust me, it was hard to try to keep this list at only ten.

1. Beer Snobs – Beer snobs, like wine snobs, are the elitist of the beer drinking community.  They scoff at your offering of Miller Lite and Dos Equis, “How dare you offer (free) beer that is produced at such a large quantity and with such little taste?” They consider drinking Samuel Adams products as “slumming it” and a last resort. You can often see them scrutinizing bartenders over their lack of cask beer selection and for pouring their IPA in a pint glass instead of a snifter.

2. College Students / Young Adults – These brand of drinkers fund their beer supplies by finding change in the sofa cushions and using their parent’s “emergency credit card” at liquor stores disguised as supermarkets.  Quantity is more important than quality; their philosophy: why buy a twelve pack of Coors Light when they can buy a 30 pack of Keystone Light?  They also use catchy nicknames for the beer they buy like 30 Rack of Stones and Milwaukee’s Beast. They are less concerned about what types of hops were used and how easy it is to play Beirut with.

3. Beer Dorks – Beer Dorks are walking encyclopedias of beer knowledge; they are not to be confused with Beer Snobs.  They are a nonthreatening breed that will drink just about any style or brand of beer, but then will talk about what they are drinking for the next fifteen minutes. They treat a pint of IPA like a 1982 French Bordeaux. Beer dorks will use words like tannins, aroma, and mouth-feel; all things you never thought related to beer.  They are often seen milling around craft beer stores for hours and their wallets have more beer-club membership cards than credit cards.  A typical conversation with a beer dork may go as follows: youtu.be/hZbE8ebQdwE

4. Home Brewers – I like to consider home brewers as the “bees of beer”, without them a lot of the amazing beer in the market wouldn’t exist without them – you know, because beers pollinate flowers that grow fruit and vegetables that turn into food (ok, bad analogy, I know).  Ok, better analogy: home brewers are the do-it-yourselfers of the beer drinking community.  They don’t sit around and pout if they can’t get Fat Tire in their state; they brew it themselves. They have books, equipment, and their house always smells like grains. And what is the one thing they like more than brewing and drinking their own beer?  Sharing their own beer! You ask them to bring some beer over for the big game and they bring 64 ounces of their homemade brew, barely enough for three people.  And they stare at you while you choke down every ounce of that skanky beer, waiting patiently for praise of their suds, giving them hope that one day they can quit their job and open up a microbrewery of their own.  (Huh, this sounds familiar)

5. Clueless – Clueless beer drinkers are the type that you just want to pat on the head and comfort them because they have seriously no clue as to what they are doing or talking about. They are generally out of their element when it comes to beer drinking and could use a little push in the right direction. One of the easiest ways to spot one is if they are drinking a Guinness before it has completely settled (how to drink a Guinness). Common situations may involve the clueless consumer ordering a “fun sounding beer” like Arrogant Bastard to only realize that it is a very aggressive beer that might only be enjoyed by a small sample size. Instead of being ridiculed this harmless group needs to be nurtured and learned about the ways of the brew.  Or at least stay close to them because free beer might be had.

spacer

Not ready!

6. Hipsters – The only thing less mainstream than the clothes they wear and the music they listen to is the beer that Hipsters drink.  85% of the time you will probably see a Pabst Blue Ribbon in the hands of a hipster, most likely at a music venue you’ve never been to, listening to a band you’ve never heard of. The other 15% of the beer they drink are made from breweries that are completely organic and value their carbon footprint over the taste profiles of their own product (editors note: The Brews support green, organic living; just within reason).

7. Farvas – “Open bar, dude!” 95% of the beer drinking public like open bars; the other 5% LIVE for open bars. Named after the zany character in the movie, Super Troopers, Farvas don’t see weddings as an invitation to celebrate the love of two people, they see it as an invitation to drink their face off! For FREE! It doesn’t matter what kind of beer is behind the bar as long as that beverage hits their lips without taking a hit to their wallets. At beer tastings, they don’t care if the IPA was doubled hopped; all they care about is getting a double sample.

8. Rednecks – “You know, before this, I always drank out of a can. I never knew beer was yellow.” Lucky, King of the Hill (voiced by rocker Tom Petty). I know it would be pretty ignorant of me to say that all rednecks are like that, but someone prove me wrong! I do know that the one thing rednecks love more than America and beer is American beer. And there is only one way to drink beer as a redneck, in tallboys surrounded by NASCAR beer koozies.

9. Yeah-Dudes! (aka Brahs!) – The only thing they want to crush more than girls is crushing Coors Lights with their bros! Bud Light isn’t a sign of a good time, it is the brick and mortar of guy’s night out. When they go over to their buddy’s place to watch the game there is only one thing on their mind: Drinkability. These guys often travel and drink in groups; they’ll jump on a grenade for a buddy and take a Silver Bullet for another.  Once the clock hits 5:00 PM it is Miller Time.

10. Yuppies – I can’t point out Hipsters if I am not going to point their arch nemesis, The Yuppie. They are still young spacer enough to have people for “pre-game”, but instead of hosting case races they having people over for craft beer and cheese parties. They are often spotted at high-end taverns drinking Stella Artois out of their signature glass.

Rate this:

Leave a comment   |  tags: 10 Types of Beer Drinkers, Article, Editorial, Feature | posted in Featured Editorial


June 23, 2011

The Brews > New Look!

By The Brews

We’ve updated the website to have an official logo and a cleaner look; since the site is for you guys we want to hear what you think!

Rate this:

Leave a comment | posted in Poll


June 23, 2011

Funky Little Monkey

By The Brews
spacer

Golden Monkey

My wife and I are known by our friends to enjoy cocktails, fine wine, and craft beer. We can usually be found occupying a space at the restaurant bar or making homemade cocktails at home. So it became obvious to friends that Jackie was pregnant when she stopped ordering wine at dinner. The exciting news of our first child not only brought joy to our family and friends, but it also meant that Jackie wouldn’t be able to enjoy her favorite drinks on a regular basis (the OB recommended having a half a glass of wine toward the end of the pregnancy).

But now that Ava has graced us with her presence Jackie is off the wagon and reacquainting herself with some of her favorite libations. One beer Jackie has missed in the past nine months has been Golden Monkey by Victory Brewing Company in Pennsylvania. This is a Belgian-style ale made with German malts and Belgian yeast and “European whole flowers”. I poured a 12 oz. bottle in a pint glass after refrigerating it for a few hours. My pour resulted in a light, finger-width head, but it didn’t last long enough to get a sip of it. There is a lot of carbonation and it helps distribute a floral aroma straight to my nose. Although the beer is light in body it is a very herby, floral, and fruity; it also packs a punch at ABV 9.5%!

Golden Monkey is a great first beer to celebrate our little monkey and it is one I would recommend for those who like Belgium style ales and want to try a light-bodied beer that packs a big punch.

Ratings: BeerAdvocate Community: B, The Bros: B-;  RateBeer: 97 Overall, 97 Style

Rate this:

Leave a comment   |  tags: Brew of the Week, Golden Monkey, Victory | posted in Brew of the Week, Brews Tested


June 18, 2011

Dark as Dumb – Botched Brew Jobs

By The Brews

spacer

I am killing time in my hospital room on one of the worst pullout beds ever made while our daughter is getting one of her final physicals before we take her home. After exhausting all options of entertainment on the internet (i.e. Facebook and Fantasy Baseball) I’ve decided to check out my blog stats and notice a big uptick in viewership yesterday and today. Thank you!

But this isn’t about praise. This is about my horrible and nonsensical title for my Session Black Lager feature, Dark as Day, Light as Night. Seriously, what does that mean? I should have just stuck with Light as Day, Dark as Night! That makes so much sense. (Read the post to get the meaning behind the title)

Why not change it now? Meh. I rather point out my mistake than try to cover it up. I’ll do my best to improve the content on this site; I’ll also do my best to point out my bonehead ideas.

Nice job, dumb ass.

Rate this:

Leave a comment | posted in Botched Brew Jobs


June 17, 2011

Little Lady Lambic

By The Brews
spacer

Lindemans Framboise Lambic

I am very pleased to announce the birth of my very first child, Ava. Before we knew if we were having a boy or a girl I decided to brew two styles of beer for the arrival of our first child: blueberry wheat beer for a boy and a cherry lambic if we were blessed with a girl (blue and pink, kind of). Well, clearly I can’t blog about my own lambic for two specific reasons: 1) You’ll probably never taste it, and b) our child came a little early and the lambic isn’t ready yet. So, in honor of my first born I wanted to highlight something my wife and I used to enjoy on warm summer nights: Framboise Lambic by Lindemans.

Quick lessons about lambics: Lambics are actually a type of beer that is top-fermented by wild yeast strains; these yeast provide a sourness to the beer that gives it the distinctive flavor. Lindemans will then transfer the lambic to second fermenting vessels for two summer of maturation where a second, slower fermentation is held. There are different types of lambics such as Framboise (raspberries), Kriek (cherries), and Pomme (Apples), just to name a few.

I am focusing on Lindeman’s Framboise because it is regularly available and decently brewed lambic. It will have a “magnificent” aroma, with a delicate palate of raspberries and undertones of fruity acidity with an elegant, sparkling clean taste. I highly recommend this lambic for celebratory events as a substitute to champaign or just for sipping on the deck on a warm evening.

Quick notes: ABV 4.0%; IBU 12.; enjoy in a flute-shaped glass. BeerAdvocate: BA B+, Bros B.

Rate this:

Leave a comment   |  tags: Baby Girl, First Child, Framboise, Honorable Mention, Lambic, Lindeman, Raspberry | posted in Brews Tested, Honorable Mention


June 16, 2011

Dark as Day, Light as Night

By The Brews
spacer

Session Black Lager

I generally like to go to the craft beer store on days I write my Brew of the Week posts. These little trips help me learn about new brews from the staff, but I can also pick up something to drink while I write these blogs. However, when there are days that are just too busy to get to the store I need to take a trip to ye old noggin. After about a two or three hour visit – sometimes I get lost on the way – I find something that has made an impression on my mind and my taste buds.

Today I want to feature Session Black (lager) by Full Sail Brewing Company in Hood River, Oregon. I have been focusing on a lot of easy-drinking beers for the spring and summer, but I have also looked for unique offerings like unique brewing styles or fun packaging – and of course, Black is bottled in stubby, 11 oz. bottles (think Redstripe). The good thing about the cute bottles is that they contain unique, award winning beer.

Full Sail prides on brewing this dark lager that features roasty-chocolate and coffee characters. You would expect that a beer with these characteristics would be a lot heavier like a stout, but they brewed this beer as an easy drinking lager that can be enjoyed at BBQs or lazy days on the porch (or both). The beer is dark like a porter and pours a small head; the carbonation is a little surprising since it is designed to be more like a lager than a porter or stout. As mentioned before you’ll taste dark beer characteristics like roasty notes and coffee, but the mouth feel will be light and easy. You’ll get a better drinking experience if you pour it in a glass, but enjoy this out of the bottle as well.

Final notes: ABV 5.4%, IBU 18; Ratings – BeerAdvocate Community: B, RateBeer: 84 Overall, 91 Style.

Rate this:

2 comments   |  tags: Black Lager, Brew of the Week, Session, Session Black Lager | posted in Brew of the Week, Brews Tested


June 8, 2011

gipoco.com is neither affiliated with the authors of this page nor responsible for its contents. This is a safe-cache copy of the original web site.