Where have you been Hyde-ing?

Jekyll Brewing Southern Session Blonde Ale

I suppose they could have thought of a longer name for this brew, but it's OK. I don't care what the name is, as long as it's tasty, and this is tasty! If you've read my other beer reviews (which, I know is very presumptuous of me) you know I'm a fan of the session ales. I like them because they're relatively low in alcohol, you can drink more than one (or two) without impairing your mental and physical abilities, and they're good with burgers, pizza and such. But finding a really good one is a bit a of struggle. I've had some great ones (Tailgate's Blacktop Blonde) and I've had some horrid ones (Straight To Ale's 6 Alberts). 

Well, this is a good one. It's brewed in Alpharetta, Georgia and their slogan is "Beer Like It Oughtta Be!" And for this particular Jekyll offering, I would agree. 

If you're one of those beer-drinkers that only enjoys a dark stout or a hopped up IPA, you may consider the Jekyll Blonde too citrusy or lightweight. I enjoy all types of beers – the richest, darkest dark to the hip-hop hoppiest of IPA's but (for me) those beers are to enjoy as a "standalone" refreshment and to only have one (or two at most). The Jekyll Blonde is a brew you can split a six pack with a friend or two over a burger and enjoy the rest of the day or evening without feeling like you need to go take a nap. The best part is, this is one delicious, refreshing brew– standalone or otherwise.

I must admit, I haven't poured one into a glass to check the head and color, but just for fun, using instinct guided by experience, I'm going to guess what it would be like. I'll bet it is a light orangey yellow, a little cloudy, and a bubbly, short-lasting head. I would go check to see if I'm right, but I drank all of them already. So now I have an excuse to go buy some more... which I'm going to do. Right now.

Groovy

Citradellic Tangerine IPA

There's a new store in our neighborhood. It's called Sprouts. If you're not familiar with Sprouts, it's sits somewhere in between Whole Foods and Trader Joe's in the marketplace. There have been so many people begging Trader Joe's to put a store here for years, but TJ's has refused to do it. I've heard that our average household income isn't high enough... I can attest to the fact that is definitely true in this household.

Anyway, it's a very nice store. Lots of the kind of thing you'd expect - big bins of granola, gluten-free this, gluten-free that, lots of things in brown or green packaging, weird looking fruits and vegetables, and about 50 kinds of trail mix. But if you're reading this, you know what I was interested in: What kind of beers do they sell?

Their beer section was tucked into the corner, behind the wine section. I almost didn't see it. I headed back there, making my way through the kale, free-range chickens and spelt flour. The selection wasn't huge, but it was OK for a store that size. I began to scan the shelves. I saw a few interesting choices, but the Citradellic Tangerine IPA especially caught my eye. Perhaps because I have fond memories of my hippie days, or maybe because I thought "tangerine" and "IPA" was an unusual combo. I saw that it was from New Belgium, a brand that I seem to lean toward often despite my dislike for their flagship Fat Tire ale.

So I get home and pour a glass. You can see in the photo that it's a very nice color and has frothy head. I took a sniff of it before I tasted it, and there is a nice, subtle aroma of tangerine.  I took a drink. It was a very interesting flavor - and I mean that in a good way. Something about the hoppiness and the citrusness worked in perfect harmony. The illustration on the label visually describes the taste pretty well. It's hops sliced open to reveal a tangerine within. Understand that the tangerine flavor is very, very subtle. There's more of a tangerine smell than there is a taste. It's not like a "fruit beer" at all. It is quite delicious. 

I welcome Sprouts to my neighborhood, and I welcome Citradellic Tangerine IPA to my refrigerator (and my belly).

I’m Down with Downtime

Sam Adams Downtime Pilsner

I found myself in one of the most horrific and dire situations known to humanity: I was out of beer. I don’t know how it happened. It’s just one of those things that maybe once or twice in your adult life sneaks up on you when you’re not looking. It was dinner time, and we were having burgers. There are two foods that I particularly love pairing with beer - pizza and burgers. Not that I don’t like pairing beer with almost any food, but burgers and pizza are made to have beer with. I open the fridge to grab a brew and … there was no beer in sight. What? How? When? 

“Are you sure?” I asked myself. 

I looked again, “Nope. No beer.” 

OK. No need to panic. Fortunately, I live within a 5 minute walk of two places that sell beer. I knew my choices would be extremely limited, however. One place is a convenience store. I’ve been there before, and have seen their beer selection. I knew it would be a last resort. The other place is one of those “beer and tobacco” strip mall type places that sells lottery tickets, beer and cigarettes. I had never been there before, so I bravely strike out to give it a try. I walk in and suddenly realize how old and out of touch I am. I walk past the assorted “pipes” and other paraphernalia that aids in your “smoking pleasure”. I’ve been around the block a few times… I had an “interesting” youth, but I couldn’t even figure out what some of that stuff could be used for. And don’t get me started on the vape-wear and accessories.

I looked past all this and saw a cooler wall straight ahead. I know what that is used for! I get in front of it and start scanning… Bud, Bud Light, Coors, Coors Lite, Miller, Miller Lite…. panic was creeping in. “Have they no beer?” I silently scream in my head. “My burger is getting cold!”

Then I look to my right. Another cooler! Scanning… Angry Orchard, Mike’s Hard Cider… A ray of hope! I see Sierra Nevada! I had tried all of those before… scanning… I see some Blue Moon (OK, but I’m over it), then I see this Downtime Pilsner from Sam Adams… hmm, I hadn’t see that one, so I grab it and get in line behind some tattoos with people under them (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I check out and manage to get back home while my burger is still warm. Whew!

OK, it’s another brew from Sam Adams. Yes, most beer snobs don’t consider them to be a “craft” brewery, but (as I’ve said before) I credit Sam Adams for nudging the craft brew “movement” to the wonderful heights it has become. Plus, they make good beer and Downtime Pilsner is one of them. 

I poured it into my favorite beer glass. It didn’t hold much of head, but it was a nice color, a little cloudy.  It’s a refreshing, spot-on summer brew. It’s low alcohol (5%) and tasty. A combination that, as I’ve experienced on several occasions, is not easy to attain. It has a hint of citrus, a nice malty flavor and finished clean. I don’t know how they do it, but some of these beers I’ve “tested” manage to finish in such a way that it programs your mouth for another mouthful. This is one of those. So, if you’re looking for a great beer to have at a cookout or with a burger, I think Downtime  Pilsner is a solid choice.

Straight Outta Rocket City

6 Alberts

I picked up this beer for all the wrong reasons: I liked the art on the can, I thought the name of the brewery was kinda fun, and they were running a promotion at my favorite beer store where you could win a "Straight To Ale" bicycle. In addition to that, it was a brewery just down the road and over the state line in Huntsville, Alabama (Rocket City). Hence, the monkey in a spacesuit (I guess).

Well, without much hesitation, I would tell you to avoid this brew. It's not very flavorful and it finishes very bitter. I don't have a problem with beers that have a bitter finish, but there is good bitter, and bad bitter. This is definitely bad bitter. I know it must be difficult to brew a session IPA that has a rich flavor and isn't overly bitter. But it can be done. I've had several.

I poured it into a chilled glass to see how it looked and smelled. It looked nice. Yellow color with just a little cloudiness. The head was about two fingers and seemed to last a decent amount of time. It smelled very nice, which is why I was disappointed with the taste. It starts with a nice faintly sweet citrus flavor but quickly deteriorates to something that tastes like nothing, then that dark bitterness creeps in and will not go away.

I am not deterred from trying other brews from Straight To Ale. They must be doing something right. They're expanding in order to increase production. They're on the road to becoming Alabama's largest brewery. So I'll definitely give them another chance... especially if I win that bike. I won't be getting 6 Alberts again, but I look forward to trying one of their other brews.

"Ring, ring..."

"Hello, you've reached The Beer Store."

"Do you have 6 Alberts in a can?"

"Yes, we do."

"Well, you should not let them out!"

Thank you. I'll be here all week. Tip your waitresses.

Let's Meet Up for a Nooner

Sierra Nevada's Nooner Pilsner

Sierra Nevada has been around a long time and has produced many beers. This is definitely one of them. I love all the summer session beers that are popping up. One of my favorite past-times is searching for that delicious, low-alcohol, drink-more-than-one-or-two without the typical "side effects" of an alcoholic beverage.

This one is a noble effort by our California friends, but it misses the mark. Not by a lot. It is an easy drinking German style pilsner. It's a lovely shade of yellow. It has a fairly nice aroma. All good stuff.

I was disappointed that there was basically no head. I poured it pretty much straight down the middle of my chilled (not frozen!) glass. Before I could position my camera, what little head was there had dissipated. 

The label describes Nooner as having "...floral and spicy hop flavor balanced by a crisp and dry finish." Well that sold me. Unfortunately, although a good, solid pilsner, I didn't detect much of a spicy hop flavor, nor a dry finish. Maybe a hint of the floral, and a touch of crisp, but I think their description was stretching it a bit.

I'm not recommending you try this beer, but I'm also not NOT recommending it. It's an "on the fence" beer for me. I definitely wouldn't turn one down if it was offered to me, and I'm not totally ruling out buying it again if the circumstances required it. It is FAR superior to those mainstream "beers".

Would I buy this beer again? See above

Ding Dong Bell's

 

Wow. March already. Daffodils are blooming and trees are budding. Soon the summer ales will be hitting the shelves again. Ahhh... One more reason to love summertime.

I tried a brew from Bell's a while back and reviewed it here. Two Hearted Ale. It is one fine beer. So I thought if that one was so good, maybe I should try another one from Bell's. They have an entire end cap of all the Bell's brews at my favorite beer store. I stood there and deliberated over which one to try next. After much reading and studying (and wondering if the employees were beginning to get suspicious of me lingering there so long) I finally just reached out and grabbed one at random. It was the Midwestern Pale Ale. Like the Two Hearted Ale, I wasn't a fan of the label design (the curse of being a professional artist for 30 years is that you let your design sense overpower rational thinking sometimes).

– Just a side note about the label art on the Midwestern Pale Ale bottle: It's a painting of a red barn. I don't necessarily have anything against paintings of red barns, but this particular painting looks like something your semi-talented Aunt Betty would paint after she's been taking painting classes at Viv's Art Nook on Wednesday nights for a month. Not the quality of something you'd expect to see on the label of a nationally distributed beer. Plus, all of Bell's labels look like they were designed as high school graphic design projects. The look doesn't reflect the quality contained inside the bottle.

But with the tired old saying of "don't judge a book by its cover" playing in my head, and the fact that I didn't like the Two Hearted Ale label art either, I took it to check out.

The next day I popped open my first Midwestern P.A. to have with dinner. We were having cheeseburgers and sweet potato fries. What better dinner to have a beer with? I took a nice long sip.
Initially, I thought it was OK. Then immediately an overwhelming twang of bitter weirdness, followed by an unpleasant aftertaste of a whole other level of bitter weirdness. I almost hate to say it, but it tasted very close to a mainstream beer like Bud or Coors. It's been a while since I've tasted one of those, but that was the taste this beer recalled. I thought I must be drinking it wrong. So I took a bite of my burger and another healthy sip of M.P.A. ...Same thing. So I blamed the sweet potato fries.

A couple of days later, I thought I'd give it a second chance, except this time I would have it without eating anything. I cracked open number two to have while I was preparing dinner. Big sip. Same taste. I had to declare the sweet potato fries innocent.

I thought I'd give it one more chance a few days later. I had been at band practice. I was hot and sweaty after a three hour rehearsal and loading and unloading my drum kit. I ask you - what better time to have a beer than after that? BIG gulp gulp gulp... Ahhhh! I was very thirsty. Let's just say it DID quench my thirst, but it tasted the same. Three strikes and you're out. I have three left if anyone wants to give it a try to see if I'm wrong.

Would I buy this beer again? I'm checking the "No" box.

Take Your Pilz

Trader Joe's Josephsbrau Plznr

We don't have a Trader Joe's market in my town, so when I go to a town that has one, I try to stop by and stock up on all kinds of goodies that aren't available at my local Kroger, Publix, Walmart, Target, etc.

It had been a while since I'd visited a TJ, and I noticed they have jumped on the craft beer bandwagon. One thing that's nice about TJ's is that you can get quality products for low or reasonable prices. Unlike Whole Foods, where I walk out with at tiny sack of groceries in my recycled organic hemp shopping bag with $150 less in my wallet.

They had a handful of different "store brand" brews, and they were cheap. About $3 - 4 less than what I was used to paying in my favorite beer store for a fine brew. So I grabbed a six pack of the "PLZNR" Czech Style Lager for $6.99. 

The next evening I popped one open, got my favorite beer glass out of the fridge (not the freezer - but that's another topic of discussion) and poured it. It made a pretty nice head. It began to dissipate rather quickly. As you can see in the photo, it had gone down considerably before I could line up the shot. It has a nice color. I raised it to my mouth... and that was when I got my first whiff of doubt that this was going to be a good brew. The smell was... shall we say... not good? But I wasn't going to let that stop me. I took a nice big sip, another nice big sip. Pause. Another nice big sip. 

Hmmm. How shall I say this? Was it awful? No. Was it great? Absolutely not. How about good? Was it good? Mmmm... no. Was it OK? Mmmm... yes. Light carbonation, bitter, a hint of citrus.

I guess the best conclusion I can come to is that it is drinkable. That's not saying a lot, but in all honesty, of the six I bought, there are only three left in the fridge too weeks later, so somebody's drinking them. And since I'm the only beer drinker in the house... Plus I could not, in good consciousness, offer a friend or family member one of these.

I would say if you want to try a very good pilsner, get a Lagunitas PILS or Blue Paddle by New Belgium. You can't go wrong there. I would avoid the Josephsbrau PLZNR. I love Trader Joe's, and I'll try some of their other store brand beer offerings, but I won't be buying this one again.

Would I buy this beer again? Not to be redundant, but no.

Three's Company

OMG have I had some great beer lately!

It's been a while since my last post, and even though each one of these beers should have their own individual post, I'm going to lump them all together, because I love them all three almost equally, and they are all three IPA's.

I'll start with the Sorta IPA from Tailgate Brewery. Tailgate is a Nashville brewery and I've reviewed one of their beers before (Blacktop Blonde). I was at a local restaurant and saw that they had Sorta on tap. I asked the bartender about it, and she offered me a sample. I took one sip and I knew before I'd finished the tiny glass she'd given me that I liked it - a lot. I ordered a tall 20-ouncer. Delicious. The perfect beer to have with wings, burgers, fried pickles, just about anything. It's a low-alcohol IPA, only 5%. All the better. I can have more! It's a mellow tasting IPA that's not bitter, has a bit of a citrus flavor and doesn't hit you upside of the head with hoppiness. Go get some now. Yes, it comes in a can, but don't let that deter you. I got over the "I must have my beer in bottles or from the tap syndrome" quite a while ago. 

The second is Bell's Brewery's Two Hearted Ale. Recommended by my pal, Sir Richard Hunter, who got me the Newport Storm Brews that I have raved about previously. I thought if he liked it, it must be good. Oh yeah. Was he ever right. I think they should re-name it "Magic Ale", because they must be using some kind of magic to brew this fine ale. It's got it all going on in just the right measure. The perfect balance of hops, malt, and pixie dust. I don't know if it's the water up there in Michigan where it's brewed, or what. But whatever it is, it works and I will be buying many more Two Hearted Ales.

The third is Lagunitas Maximus. This is another one of those happy accidents that occur sometimes. My lovely wife (who is not a beer drinker) mentioned she was going to stop by my favorite beer store (to pick up a bottle of wine) and asked if I wanted her to pick up some beer (by the way, the answer to that question is always "yes"– even if I have beer in the fridge). I had tried a Lagunitas Chzec Style Pils that I really liked, so I asked her to pick up a six pack of that. I spelled "Lagunitas" for her, and "Pils". I told her it has "PILS" huge in all caps on the carton. Then I made the mistake. I told her it has a little dog's face on the label and the carton. Well, when she went in the store, she was looking for the beer with the little dog's face. Of course, Lagunitas puts the little dog's face on all of their brews (of which there are many), so... she grabs the first one she sees with the dog's face and brings it home.  It was Maximus Ale. I read the label and it sounded like something I wouldn't like. She offered to take it back the next time she was out, but I thought I'll give it a chance. If nothing else I could take with me to the next holiday get-together I attended and leave it in their fridge. 

I finally cracked one open a few days later and "ding ding ding ding ding" we have a winner! I was expecting an overpowering, smelly, bitter ale and it was none of those. There are hints of pine and hops, and they have kept it all reigned in and made one fine brew. It's got a rather high alcohol content (8.75%), so it should be enjoyed in moderation, but it's one tasty brew.

There's no way I'm going to be able to pick a favorite of the three. It's like choosing your favorite child or your favorite Beatles song. It's just not possible. I would say definitely try all three. If you're not an IPA fan, or you're on the fence about IPA, maybe go with Sorta IPA first. If you like that one, you'll LOVE the other two.

Would I buy this beer again? Big YES on all three

All three score BIG on...

Not Just Any (New)Port in a Storm

I can't seem to let go of summer. I never want it to end. Therefore, as a way to hang onto it a little longer, here's a review of a Summer Hefeweizen in mid-October when most beer drinkers are well into the fall beers.

I'll start off right away by saying this is a fine Summer Hefeweizen from Newport Storm. Brewed by Coastal Extreme Brewing Company in Newport, Rhode Island. When I say "fine" I don't mean "fine" like your teenage daughter says "fine" when you tell her to turn off her cell phone and do her homework. I mean "fine" like it's used when you describe certain automobiles, old-world craftsmanship or Corinthian leather.

I have a "special place in my heart" for Hefeweizen. It was the first type of craft beer I'd ever tried. It's because of Hefeweizen that I became aware of all the great craft brews out there. It was my "gateway beer".
I've sampled several "Hefe's" since then, and I have to say this one is way up there on the Chart of Deliciousness. I poured it into the glass. A nice chunk of sediment drifted down to the bottom.  I recommend you always pour Hefe's into a glass as opposed to drinking it out of the bottle if you can. That way you're sure your getting all the sediment that adds to the special taste. I immediately noticed the darkish yellow color. Not a "bright" yellow/orange like some Hefe's. The fluffy, white head dissipated quickly. It was half gone by the time I got my camera on and trained into position. But no matter. I could smell the citrus aroma from a foot away. It has a very rich, smooth taste. And no, I didn't drink it with an orange slice or lemon slice. I'm OK with people that do that, but it's not for me. Why sprinkle a spoonful of sugar onto a slice of cake? The cake is better without it!

This is one delightfully tasty Hefeweizen. I gotta hand it to the guys up there in that little bitty state. They know how to make a tasty Hefe.

I have to acknowledge Richard Hunter (aka "Sir Richard) for the unbelievable effort he underwent to get this beer to me. It's only available in summer in certain parts of the northeast. He saved it and packed it with his other luggage when migrating back south from his summer vacation home in Rhode Island. I live in middle Tennessee and he lives in south Alabama on the Gulf Coast. We have a mutual friend in south Alabama who I visited last month. Sir Richard met us in Mobile, AL to make the hand-off. Not only did the package contain this particular beer, but three others from Newport Storm, all of which I plan to review (an Amber Ale, a Pilsener and an IPA). Super duper huge thank you to Sir Richard!

Would I buy this beer again? If only I could

Hoppy To See You Rating: 4.5 | 5
Highest possible rating: 5

Summer Lovin'

Photo: Victory Brewing Company

Summer is over. There's no denying it. The temperature and leaves are dropping and the fall beers are falling onto the shelves. But I grabbed one more summer ale to try before they (and summer) went away– Summer Love Ale from Victory Brewers in Pennsylvania.

For some reason I had high expectations for this beer. Maybe it was the design of the label, maybe the name, I don't know what it was exactly that drew me to this beer in the store, and why I thought it would be good. I wouldn't call it a bad beer by any stretch of the imagination, but I wouldn't call it a great beer by any stretch of the imagination, either. It stays right there in the middle of the road.

When I poured it from the bottle, I found it to have a bright yellow/gold color, and somewhat bubbly head. It has a slight hint of lemon which didn't really do much for me. It does go down easy and is somewhat refreshing. I found it to be just a little bitter, but not distractingly so.

Maybe it was because I had such high expectations for it that I was a little disappointed. I certainly didn't have any trouble drinking any of the six I bought! But I found myself reaching for one of the other beers in the fridge, and often passing on the Summer Love. For the longest time there was one still left after going through two or three other brands of beers that were sharing the fridge. 

Victory brews dozens of other beers and I'm sure I'll be trying many of them. But this one will probably not find it's way into the fridge again. There are just too many great and unknown beers out there to try.

Would I buy this beer again? Not Likely

Hoppy To See You Rating: 2.5 | 5
Highest possible rating: 5

Vienna Lager from Devil's Backbone

Photo: Devil's Backbone Brewing Company

Once again, I was in my favorite local beer store to choose a couple of new beers I hadn't tried. Fortunately, it's not difficult to find a beer I haven't tried. Also fortunately, there are so many to choose from.

I had finally made my choice of one beer, and decided I was going to pick up a six-pack of one of my favorites - Tailgate's Blacktop Blonde. I was searching the shelves when one of the employees could tell I needed help finding something. I asked him where the Blacktop Blonde was and he took me to an aisle I thought I had already searched thoroughly. Sure enough, there was a hole where the Blacktop Blonde was supposed to be. I guess I'm not the only one that likes it. 

Sitting next to the hole was Vienna Lager from Devil's Backbone Brewing Company in Virginia. The beer store guy said they had just gotten it in and it was a "solid" lager. I wasn't sure how much of a compliment that was, but it was time to go, so Vienna Lager it was. 

When I poured it, I wasn't expecting such a beautiful amber/chestnut color. It had a nice head and looked delicious. Anticipation built as I raised to to my lips. I took a rather large sip. I took another rather large sip. I guess I was expecting a little more richness form such a "pretty" beer. I don't want to use the word "light" but I don't know what other word to use. When I say it was light, I don't mean that as a criticism, it was just that I wasn't expecting it. Just like the guy at the beer store said. It was a "solid" lager. Very little bitterness, goes down easy, good color, nice head, and tastes good. The very definition of "solid". If you associate lager with those mainstream beers, you should give Vienna Lager a try. See what a good (solid) lager should taste like.

Would I buy this beer again? Mmm... probably

Hoppy To See You Rating: 3.25 | 5
Highest possible rating: 5

Blue Paddle

Photo: New Belgium Brewery

Yet another beer from New Belgium. A pilsener. Yes. A pilsener. 

OK, I'll admit I bought this beer by accident. I was in my favorite beer store, overwhelmed with all the choices as usual. It was the Friday before a holiday weekend and the place was very busy. Normally when I go, there's hardly anyone there (an advantage of being self-employed and able to run errands in the daytime during the week). But for some reason (OK, the lovely wife was out of wine and couldn't face the holiday weekend without the grapes) I found myself dodging and weaving around folks in the rather narrow aisles. I saw the Blue Paddle and it had a nice, friendly look about the package. It sparked memories of playing ping-pong when I was a young lad... even though I always seemed to lose. I found out later that it got its name from the instrument that was used to lovingly remind a New Belgium employee to behave when he was a child. 

I kept looking, dodging, weaving. 

The lovely comes up behind me, wine in hand, ready to go. I happened to be standing by the Blue Paddle again, so I grabbed it and we headed to check out.

By dinner time I was anxious to try the new beer I had gotten. It was sufficiently chilled and dinner was almost ready. I got one out, got out my favorite glass and was looking at the label. What? It was a pilsener! New Belgium makes a pilsener? Why, yes. Yes they do.

I thought about it and came to the conclusion that if New Belgium made a pilsener, surely it wouldn't taste like "those" pilseners... would it?

I poured it into my glass. Yes, it was that light yellow color that we're all familiar with. I didn't get much of a head. Kinda wimpy and almost disappeared before I could get a photo of it. I sort of blamed myself for that. I could have poured it better. So I let that go.

I took a robust sip, fearing the worst. 

Hey! Not bad! Not bad at all! It's much richer than what I'd braced myself for. It has a slight, very slight bitterness but a twinge of sweetness to take the edge off of the bitterness. I don't mean to sound like it's bitter, because it's not. No more bitter than you'd expect from a good pilsener, I suppose. Alcohol content is below 5%, so you're good for more than one if you so desire. Which, by the way, I do. 

I must say that if you associate pilsner with "those" beers, you should be pleasantly surprised by Blue Paddle. This one is a great choice if you're considering trying something other than "those" beers but have been hesitant to take the leap. It could be a good "gateway beer" to all the wonderful choices that are out there... Blue Paddle among them.

Would I buy this beer again? Signs Point to Yes

Hoppy To See You Rating: 3.5 | 5
Highest possible rating: 5

Foster's Premium Ale is Dinky-di

I suppose just about anybody that has enjoyed beer for a portion of their adult life has, at one time or another, run across Foster's beer in the giant can. I've tried it out of curiosity (what's the deal with the big can? Australian beer – wonder what that's like?, etc). After trying it, I have to say I wasn't impressed. Basically just your typical lager, just in a giant can.

Anyway, I met this fellow from New Zealand. His name was Chris, but everybody called him Kiwi. He happened to be selling me a car at the time, and the subject of beer came up. I think the conversation was something like this:

Me - "How much more will the payments be if the interest rate is 'X'?"

Chris/Kiwi - "About $40 a month."

Me - "Well, I guess I could do with less groceries every month for the next four years."

My Wife - "You could buy less beer."

Me and Kiwi in unison - "Ohhhh noooo! You can do without groceries, but you can't do without beer!"

Well, we started talking about beer. My wife rolled her eyes and sat back in her chair. She knew that working out the details on this car deal were going to be on hold for a while. Long story short, he asked me if I was familiar with Foster's. Of course, I was. I had to be honest with him and admit I wasn't impressed. He told me not to drink the stuff in the blue can, that I wanted the Foster's Premium Ale in the green and gold can. I had to say I'd never noticed the Foster's in the green can. I told him I would stop and get some on the way home in my new car if we could ever get back to ironing out the deal.

True to my word, I stopped and got two cans of Foster's Premium on my way home in my new (used) car. When I got home, I poured it into a glass, and I immediately knew, just from looking, it wasn't the Foster's I was familiar with. It had a nice amber color, and a rich, thick head. I took a rather large sip, followed by another rather large sip, and one more rather large sip (I was thirsty - buying a car is hard work).

It's a ripper of a tinnie! That's Australian for "It's a very good can of beer."

I enjoyed it very much. I drank the entire giant can. I recommend this as a great "pizza and/or burgers beer" (or a great "shrimp on the barbie" beer). It has a great malty taste that goes down easy. A rich taste that doesn't seem heavy. Another good, all-around beer.

Would I buy this beer again? Struth (Aussie for verification)

Hoppy To See You Rating: 3.75 | 5
Highest possible rating: 5

Sawtooth Ale

As I navigate these delightful waters of beer discovery, I realize that there are so many good brews out there, that I have a difficult time drawing fine distinctions among them. They're certainly all different in their own ways. They're as individual as people. And, as with people, I find I like most of the brews I've tasted on this exploration. Certainly there are some bad apples, but most of them have some redeeming qualities.

That brings us to Sawtooth Ale. The flagship brew from Colorado's Left Hand Brewing. It is one fine brew. If you're new to this "Anything Other Than Mainstream Beer" movement. It would be a great one to start your journey of discovery with. It's an amber ale with a delightful balance of malt and hops. As you take a sip (by the way, I use the word "sip" because I find that it sounds better than "gulp" or "drink" or "chug", but I rarely "sip" on a beer) the first flavor you notice is the malt, as it exits your mouth and heads down the throat, the flavor of mild hops springs to life. After it's all gone, there's a bit of dryness that lets you know it's time for another "sip". 

Sawtooth is another one of those session ales. Low-ish in alcohol (5.3%) so you could have more than one at the picnic. Although not a seasonal brew, it's a great summer beer. Like one of my other favorite "every day" beers SweetWater Blue, it's a fine beer that's has complexity without being pretentious.

Would I buy this beer again? Affirmative

Hoppy To See You Rating: 4 | 5
Highest possible rating: 5

1554 Must've Been A Good Year

Photo: New Belgium Brewery, Fort Collins, CO

As I mentioned in the last post, I was not anxious to try anything from New Belgium after drinking their Fat Tire ale, but this is THE beer that broke down the barrier between me and New Belgium.

I was a cold winter night when I was introduced to 1554 Black Lager at a friend's house. I didn't expect to stay very long, so before I left home, I just grabbed whatever was left in the fridge (probably a few SweetWater 420's) to take with me. After arriving, I put the beer in my friend's fridge (after taking one for myself) and went in to join the party. A little while later, I went back to get another, and they had mysteriously disappeared. Well, not mysteriously. A couple of "beerless" folks had asked if they could have one, and of course I said yes.

A late arrival to the festivities had brought 1554 with him. I had never met this guy, but we struck up a conversation about beer. He (like me) was a fan of beer and we both made jokes about being "beer snobs". Anyway, I said I'd never tried 1554 and asked if I could try one. He insisted I try one, and have more than one if I wanted.

I didn't read the label before I took a sip. Very nice. An unexpected smoothness. A rich, malty taste without being too "heavy". Then (to my surprise) followed by a hint of chocolate. I've had some "chocolate beers" before, but didn't find them to my liking. This one keeps the chocolate taste at bay on the initial sip, lets you enjoy the good beer flavor, then the chocolate taste peeks it's head in the door and says a nice, quiet "hello" as it leaves your mouth. Yes. I became a fan of 1554, and the wall between me and New Belgium came crumbling down. I don't mean to suggest that 1554 is a "chocolate beer", but it does have chocolate as part of it's flavors.

When poured, it's very pretty to look at. A clear brown/black color with a thick, creamy, ivory colored head. This is a good after dinner brew, or to have with friends around the fire on a cold evening. The only problem I have with this beer is remembering it's name. I am terrible at remembering numbers, so I have a hard time remembering "1554". I always say "that black lager beer with the date as it's name". But even though I can't remember the name, I don't have any trouble finding it.

Would I buy this beer again? Have and will

Hoppy To See You Rating: 4.00 | 5
Highest possible rating: 5

Goin' Skinny Dippin'

Photo: New Belgium Brewery, Fort Collins, CO

One more of those summer beers. Very appropriate since I'm writing this on the 4th of July. This one is a lager from the folks at New Belgium Brewery. My first experience with a New Belgium brew was their Fat Tire ale. I was hesitant to sample any of New Belgium's offerings after tasting that beer. I found it to be unpleasant. But that's for a future review, maybe.

Skinny Dip is another low alcohol brew with a refreshing taste that's perfect for summertime get-togethers. At the outset, it has a somewhat fruity/sweet/peachy flavor that I find to be tasty and delightful. It finishes with a slightly bitter taste, but it's a "good" bitter. It's just right to get your palette primed for the next mouthful of beer goodness.

When poured, it has a rather bubbly head that doesn't last very long, but that's forgivable. It's got the pale yellow/orange color you would expect from a lager. They've managed to pack a lot of flavor and (dare I say it) complexity into a low alcohol seasonal brew.

A quick thought about these summer beers. For me, summer beer drinking is somewhat different than cold weather beer drinking. Usually (but certainly not always) in the summer, I drink a beer because I'm hot and thirsty. So when I take a drink of one of these summer brews, it's such a refreshing hit to the inside of my mouth that (almost) any beer would be good at that first taste. So my first sampling of many of the summer beers I've been trying are going to make a good first impression. They're cold and wet - just what my body wants at that time. I try not to let that sway me. In the interest of proper research, I form my opinions after more than one, or two, or three or more over time (not all in one sitting). I had eight Skinny Dips before writing this review. Over a period of weeks... c'mon people!

Would I buy this beer again? Oh, yes

Hoppy To See You Rating: 3.75 | 5
Highest possible rating: 5

Brooklyn 1/2 Ale

1/2 Ale from Brooklyn Brewery is appropriately named. It begs to have jokes made about it: They must've spent half the time it requires to make a good beer, you can't drink but half of one, I suppose I could drink one if I half to, and of course the obligatory half-a-- beer.

This was another one of my random selections at the store. I have a friend that lives in Brooklyn, right down the street from the brewery, and I was intrigued by the name "1/2", so that was my "reasoning" for choosing this beer. I don't want to say this is a bad beer, but if I had a time machine and could go to the moment I chose it, I would put it back on the shelf and walk away.

I'm sure Brooklyn Brewery makes some great beers, but this isn't one of them. This is one of their seasonal session beers. Low alcohol content (3.4%), but also low on flavor. On second thought, not low on flavor. It's high on flavor - it's just bad flavor.

When poured, the head is bubbly and fizzes away almost like a soft drink. It has a bitter, unpleasant taste that hangs in there like your relatives after Sunday dinner.

I assume by now you can tell I don't recommend this brew. I most definitely will not hold this beer against Brooklyn Brewery. They can't all be gems. I look forward to trying their other offerings.

Would I buy this beer again? No, Nope, Nein, Nyet 

Hoppy To See You Rating: 1 | 5
Highest possible rating: 5

I Met a Nashville Blonde

I rarely buy beer in cans. Admittedly, I've been a bottle or draft "snob" for a while now. But Blacktop Blonde from Tailgate Brewery in Nashville may have changed my mind about canned beer.

--As a side note, Tailgate Brewery was formerly located in California. They chose Nashville, TN as their new home. Seems they are joining a long line of companies that are relocating to our great state from California. Looks like the Golden State is losing some of their nuggets?--

Anyway, I was going to a gathering where the beer was to be shared. I wasn't sure about the availability of a bottle opener, so I thought I'd pick up some canned beer. I was in a bit of a hurry and the store was running a special on the Blacktop Blonde, so I grabbed it. It was somewhat of a random choice, although the selection of canned beers was very limited (unless you count those other "beers").

What a lucky choice! It was perfect for the event I was taking it to. Low alcohol (4.7%), and a delightful, summer beer. My original intention was to have one and share the other five, but before I had quite finished the first one, I grabbed another to make sure I got to have a second.

It has a surprising, almost sweet taste that you just want to keep in your mouth and roll around for a little while before you swallow. It finishes clean and clear. No lingering aftertaste. You're ready for the next mouthful as soon as that one's gone. I must not have been the only one that enjoyed it, as the remaining four were gone in a flash and enjoyed by a lucky few of the other guests. I say "lucky few" because the only other beer there was a Yuengling Lager. I don't necessarily have anything against Yuengling. I hope to be reviewing some of their beers in future posts. But when I left, there were a few Yuenglings still there and the Blacktop Blonde was long gone.

By the way, it turns out that there were plenty of bottle openers there.

Would I buy this beer again? Uh-HUH!

Hoppy To See You Rating: 4 | 5
Highest possible rating: 5

Rollin' Down Highway 420

Photo: SweetWater Brewery, Atlanta, GA

OK, guys. You're not fooling anybody with the highway sign. Nice try. We all know what "420" is associated with. At least with your Hop Hash Double IPA (which I hope to review soon) you're up front with your reference.
But seriously, I like this beer. For a very long time it was my "go-to" beer when in a bar or restaurant. I always knew it would go great with a pizza, burger, or just about anything. I started buying it to have at home. There was almost always a SweetWater 420 in the fridge. It's easy to see why this is one of SweetWater's most popular choices. I liked the fact that it was mild pale ale, not a strong hoppiness (not that there's anything wrong with that), but you can taste them. No strong bitterness. It has a 5.7% alcohol content, so it's not too much to have a couple of these with your evening meal if you want.
I still tend to ask for 420 in restaurants. Most restaurants that have any kind of beer selection at all have it, so it's an easy and "safe" choice.

Would I buy this beer again? Of course!

Hoppy To See You Rating: 3.5 | 5
Highest possible rating: 5

Feeling Rebellious

Once again, we enter the land of "Is It Really A Craft Beer". Whether or not Sam Adams is considered a craft brewery or not, I happen to think they make some mighty fine brews. I must give credit to the Sam Adams brewery for furthering my interest in good beers and shining the light on the fact that there are many other beers out there that are not fizzy, watery, lager/pilsners (not that there's anything wrong with those... OK, I take that back - there's plenty wrong with those). They helped me figure out that beer can be enjoyed for the flavor. That it's fun to pair with certain foods. You can actually drink beer because it tastes great, not merely because it aids in getting you to the dance floor.

I decided to pick up Sam Adams Rebel IPA when I overheard the guys at the beverage store talking about it. I figure they sample a lot of beers, and if they thought this one was particularly good, I should give it a try.

I'm glad I did. It is a very refreshing, yet substantial IPA. Not overly bitter. Easy to drink, but with just enough of that hoppy flavor to let you know this is an IPA. As you can see from the photo, it has a nice amber-honey color and a pretty nice head. The head was somewhat bubbly and was completely gone before I was even a third through drinking it, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I like a creamier head, but you're not going to always get that with every beer.

If you're on the IPA fence, you may want to give this one a try. I know a lot of people don't like IPA's. They find them too bitter or overpowering. One of my friends is fond of saying, "I don't want my beer to taste like grapefruit". That's cool. I don't want my beer to taste watery, fizzy and flavorless - which is what many "mainstream" beers taste like to me. I guess they're both an acquired taste?

Would I buy this beer again? Yes

Hoppy To See You Rating: 3.75 | 5
Highest possible rating: 5