Beer Review: Guinness Foreign Extra Stout

This beer review was made possible by the generosity of a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. We salute you, anonymous beer donor; without your selfless gifting of beer, this review of a great beer may never have occurred. Your contribution to beer advocacy will forever be enshrined on the inter-webs via this blog. Now, on to the review.

The beer is poured from an 11.2oz Euro style bottle; a departure from the normal stuff we get here in the US from Guinness. A little over an inch of mocha-colored head caps this jet black beer. Totally impenetrable by light.

Lots of roasted malts and some espresso bean smell fill the nose. Simple, strong scent is quite different from regular Guinness extra stout offerings.

As soon as this delicious black liquid hits your taste buds, you are hit with big roasted malts which give way to a surprisingly potent hop presence. The hop bitterness transitions into a dark chocolate taste on the back end of the sip which leaves you with a bittersweet taste in your mouth. There's a slight warming sensation, probably due to the alcohol but without any alcoholic bite. Rich and creamy throughout, this beer definitely hits the spot. I'm very impressed with the flavor.

This beer is so smooth! There's not a whole lot of carbonation (but certainly not flat) but rather, the creamy smoothness mentioned above is present.

I definitely wanted more of the beer; the 7.5% abv is not noticeable other than a warming touch at the end and the heavy flavors seem refreshing rather than imposing. Enjoy this one slow; you'll notice all the flavors and the body makes you drink it slow anyway.

This is a beer that I would have had no problem hating; I don't particularly care for Guinness' other offerings, but I must say that they definitely got this one right. This bottle was a gift, but you can buy a 4-pack of Guinness FES for $9.99 +tax most anywhere. That's expensive for me but worth it; this beer had surprisingly bold flavor that justifies the severe price hike from their normal extra stout.

Score: A-  4.0/5

Beer Review: Duvel

This beer pours a dark gold color; very similar to a Belgian Saison or Tripel, with a big fluffy head. As you can see by the picture, I have the Duvel tulip glass that is just about perfect for an 11.2oz bottle of Duvel. The head dissipates rather quickly but leaves a filamentous and creamy layer on top of the beer. Bubbles can be seen streaming from the bottom of the glass for the duration of the drink.

Smells of citrus fruits, yeast, and some faint spiciness. Not a very complex scent but very strong.

Tastes a bit like lemon-lime soda at first; then the yeasty, bready flavors kick in followed closely by a barrage of lemon taste. Cloves a lot less present than other belgian styles making this a very sweet beer. Hugely refreshing and a hint of alcohol at the end to let you know that this is not a soda but a 8.5% abv strong ale.

Pretty heavy carbonation from the get go until the end. Very smooth and almost too light on the palate in spite of all the flavors just mentioned.

Goes down like a beer of much less alcohol content; the 8.5% abv mentioned above is not invisible but superbly blended into the core of the beer. One could probably drink a bunch of these but the alcohol will catch up to you and it's a very expensive beer to put away a 4 pack in one night with.

Bought the holiday gift pack for $14.99 + tax which included 4 bottles and the tulip glass pictured above. The beer was delicious and I love the glass, but I simply cannot stomach shelling out $15+ for 4 beers on a regular basis. As such I can't recommend this as a go-to beer, but would certainly recommend giving this a try if you can find a single bottle or if you don't mind the high price.

Score: B  3.75/5

Beer as Art Part II: Success!

A couple week ago I posted about a little art project I started using labels from the beer bottles that I've drank over the course of the last year or so. Yesterday, that venture came to a conclusion with the pasting of the last few labels onto the foam board. The poster now sits on the wall overlooking my bed and I must say, it is a very artistic addition to my room. As of now I have not used any adhesive to seal the labels onto the board; they simply sit, glued to the board. I am considering getting some spray on adhesive to ensure that the labels do not peel off. Another way to do this that I found online is to cut a bunch of glue with water to make a solution and paint it on top of all the labels but I'm a little weary of doing this because I found that watery glue makes the labels more prone to ripping.

If anyone has any questions about how to do this, on any scale (even small posters look great) let me know and I can answer any questions. Also refer to my previous post for instructions on removing labels from the bottles and pasting them onto the board. A quick note about gluing and the effect of paste on a foam board; when you glue the labels on the front of the board, the adhesive grips the board and pulls the edges towards the middle. The result is a foam board that is concave and very difficult to mount to a wall with any sort of poster-hanging material. An easy way to counteract this is to take any sort of paper and basically do the exact same thing you did to the front; glue those sheets of paper to the back. This will create the same curling effect in the opposite direction; compensating for the concavity that formed. Good luck to anyone trying this out and keep drinking good beer!

Beer Review: Founders Red's Rye Pale Ale

The beer pours a dark amber color; almost red (I'm assuming this color can be attributed to the rye character of the beer. Minimal head and the little bit that does exist disappears quickly.

Smells of hops and more hops. A tinge of sweetness does enter the nose if you really hold it up to your nose.

The taste is an extremely interesting medley of flavors; first, big hop flavor assaults your taste buds. The beer is a lot like an IPA in that sense but then one notices a surprising sweetness; it's more of a candy sweetness than a fruity sweetness sometimes found in pale ales. The combination makes for a very enjoyable and full flavored drinking experience.

The beer has a decent body though it is more on the “refreshing” side. While not thin, the beer lacks the substantial backbone of the some of the meatier ales out there.

Echoing the sentiment above, the beer is very refreshing and easy to drink. At 6.6% it's not light by any means but easy to put back a couple because of the body and great taste.

A 6-pack of Red's Rye ran me $10.99 +tax so it's not a cheap beer but I'd say it's worth it. I was really impressed with it's unique taste!

Score: B+ 4.0/5

Beer Review: Weihenstaphener Hefeweissbier Dunkel

This is a beer called a dunkelweizen which roughly translates (I don't really speak german) into “dark wheat beer.”

This beer pours a cloudy, amber/brown color with a huge fluffy head. The head lasts forever and really makes this a great looking beer.

Smells of banana, cloves, a faint detergent smell and some citrusy notes. Pretty typical for a weizen beer; if I hadn't looked at this before smelling it, I would have thought it was a normal hefeweizen.

Big banana taste upfront followed by a medley of spices and a little bit of lemon. The difference in the hefeweizen and dunkelweizen really shows through here. While the smell was almost identical, the dunkelweizen has a much heavier malt taste. Personally I think that the almost roasted flavor somewhat detracts from the other superb flavors present (and as such I prefer the normal weihenstaphener hefeweizen) but it is still a very flavorful beer.

Mouthfeel is silky and light. A yeasty richness gives way to a crisp finish that is very refreshing; definitely one of the best qualities of this beer.

Drinkability is high, as with most wheat beers. At 5.3% abv it is quite easy to drink many of these without noticing any alcoholic effect and the light palate experience simply exacerbates this.

I purchased a .5L (16.9oz) bottle for $3.29 +tax and I thought I got my money's worth. Weihenstaphener has a variety of german styles so I opted for this bottle format so I could try a couple. It's a very tasty beer despite the slight contradiction in wheat and toasted malt flavors and a great example of the style.

Score: B+  4.0/5

Beer Review: Brooklyn Lager

This is an amber lager from Brooklyn brewing company.

An aggressive pour produces less than an inch of head but the nice clear amber color makes up for the lack of head. Lots of bubbles produce a steady layer of (minimal) head that persists.

Smells of creamy malts and lots of hops for an amber lager. Lots of floral notes in the nose.

First sip tastes sort of watery but the flavor is there; following the smell, there's some sweet malt taste upfront followed by a substantial bitterness on the back end. Kind of one dimensional hop flavor towards the back but pleasing nonetheless. The aftertaste is somewhat bitter, certainly lasting and makes it seem a bit fuller than it is.

As stated before, it seems watery at first but this feeling did not last and by the end of the glass I was of the opinion that this was a much bolder beer than I first thought. Crisp and smooth on the palate and moderate carbonation make this a great mouthfeel.

Very high drinkability typical of the style. Refreshing and flavorful at the same time; definitely a good combination.

Bought a 6-pack of this for $8.99 +tax which is a good deal for a refreshing, quality beer. At 5.2% abv, its a good beer to have while hang out with friends and kicking back a few.

Score: B  3.5/5

Beer Review: Lagunitas Hop Stoopid

This is a Double or Imperial India Pale Ale which basically means prepare for a bitter, hoppy delight.

The beer pours an orange/amber color with about an inch of head. Lots of bubbles rising to the top of the glass. The head persists for a while and when its just about done there's a nice creamy thin layer on top of the beer just holding in all that hop aroma.

Speaking of hop aroma... WOW this is a pungent beer! The floral, intense citrus flavors show through in a big way; a foreshadowing of what is to come in the ensuing sips.

The hop flavors hit you right off the bat with some pretty intense bitterness. Tastes a little like grapefruit and citrus rinds going down with a pretty significant malt taste in there too. Extremely flavorful, very bitter and so satisfying.

Quite an interesting mouthfeel; starts off crisp and refreshing until all the flavors assault your palate which gives the impression of a much heavier beer. The significant amount of hop oil definitely gives this beer a unique consistency.

Not highly drinkable, but at 8% abv I wouldn't expect it to be (although the alcohol is nowhere to be found). Pretty refreshing for a “big” beer and it certainly goes down easily.

The beer is only available in 22oz bottles and I bought it for $4.49 + tax. It's a great deal considering the taste, but I love bitter beers; others might not consider this such a tasty beer. In the end I wouldn't recommend this to everyone, especially those who are new to craft beer, but if you're adventurous and/or love bitter beers, this one comes highly recommended.

Score: A-  4.0/5

Beer as Art aka "What to do with your collection of beer bottles"

I told myself that this year I would not put my collected beer bottles on the shelves of my room but it seemed like a waste of effort to simply throw all those gorgeous bottles in the recycle bin. I decided that a poster with all the labels on it would look a heck of a lot more classy and put those labels to good use. I started taking the labels off the bottle about a week ago and was met with a few stubborn bottles, namely the Great Lakes beers and Flying Dog Raging Bitch. 

Unfortunately those labels do not currently reside on my poster, which is a shame (particularly for Raging Bitch) because the artwork is pretty cool. What I did to take the labels off is fill a trash bin with hot water and let the bottles soak anywhere from 10 minutes to 10 hours; the water loosens the glue on the bottle and makes it pretty easy to just peel off the label. There exists a difference in time needed to soak because different companies use different glue strengths (for instance almost all euro imports were extremely easy to get off and required the least amount of soakage time).Once all the labels were off I pressed them between textbooks and let them dry before getting them prepped to go on the poster board. When they were all flat and ready to go I got some white glue and cut it a bit (3 parts glue to 1 part water) and painted the mixture onto the back of the labels with a paintbrush. 

 

After sticking all of the labels on the board I found that I had a bit of white space to fill so the project is currently on hold (as you can see in the picture) but I anticipate completion within the next 2 weeks. Just a note on gluing things to foam boards; apparently if you glue around the edges as I started out doing at first the sides of the board will curl inward. To combat this, I would first make sure the glue dries for a little while, then flip the board over onto a table and put some heavy objects on top of it to keep it straight and flat. I've had to keep it weighed down constantly in hopes that it flattens out. 

Stay tuned for more photos and feel free to post any questions about doing this yourself.

Beer Review: New Belgium Abbey Belgian Style Ale

This beer is a Belgian dubbel which means it uses a double fermentation process for the yeast. My 2^nd beer from New Belgium, a company from Colorado that, as you can guess, specializes in Belgian style ales.

Pours a dark amber color with a head varying in size (I've found) depending on how cold the beer is. My 2^nd beer I let sit for a while and warm up and the result was a substantial head that is a dark cream color. The cloudy mahogany liquid looks very inviting.

Smells of grapes, malt and general sweetness. Not terribly complex in the nose but, like the color, very pleasing.

Lots of fruity taste upfront; mostly grape and raisin flavors. The strong malt presence in this beer shows through in every sip and there is some discernible hop character on the back end of the sip but no bitterness to speak of. Furthermore, even as the beer warms, there is no sign of the alcohol. Love the taste of this one.

Has the rich Belgian yeast feeling on your palate; perfect balance between flavorful boldness and refreshing lightness in my opinion.

Had a couple of 12oz bottles on this occasion and they both went down delectably. The 7% abv is nowhere to be found though you will feel it if you drink more than a couple.

At $8.99 + tax for a 6-pack, I think this is an incredible value. The fact that it is wonderfully flavorful and has a near-perfect body make this a beer I'm definitely going to buy again.

Score: A  4.5/5

Beer Review: Unibroue La Fin du Monde

This is a Belgian Tripel which means that it employs a triple yeast fermentation process.

The beer pours a golden yellow; a bit darker than a wheat beer but very similar in character. Belgian beers are supposed to be poured into a tulip glass or goblet but I have neither so my wiezen glass filled in. There is a substantial creamy white head that dissipates slowly. A very easy beer to look at.

There is a pleasant spicy scent that is immediately noticeable. Lots of cloves and citrus fruits. Not too complex in the nose, but very pleasing.

Sweet nutmeg, cloves, lemon, orange and banana tastes assault your palate from the get go. Through the middle a certain light bitterness hits you; some hops are present on the back end but not much to speak of. At times I thought I detected a hint of alcohol, which wouldn't have been surprising (at 9% abv) but on the whole the alcohol taste was not present.

As with most belgian beers, the yeast makes for a rich palate experience and this is no exception. Feels like a Saison (see review for Ommegang Hennepin on this blog) but with a noticeable kick of spiciness.

Highly drinkable though I forced myself to take my time with this one. The 9% abv is pretty much invisible and the taste is clean, crisp and pleasing throughout. Great drinking experience!

As you can see from the picture, I bought this in large bottle format; a 750ml bottle. It put me back $6.99+ tax which is on the expensive side so while I enjoyed it very much, it is not something I will be buying with exceptional frequency.

Score: B+  3.75/5

Beer Review: North Coast Old Rasputin

This is a Russian Imperial Stout which is basically what it sounds like; a more intense version of a stout.

The beer pours a jet black liquid; impenetrable by light. The head is a nice coffee color, about an inch right up to the edge of my pint glass. The head retention is excellent and the lacing on the side of the glass leads down to a creamy top of the beer even when almost gone.

The aroma is a big mix of dark chocolate and malt upfront with some mild hoppy scents on the back end. Thick smell that sticks in your nostrils; very inviting.

Like the smell, there's lots of dark chocolate and roasted malt tastes that dominate here. Some hoppiness is detectable and there is a very faint kick of alcohol in the aftertaste. Overall not a bitter taste (in fact somewhat sweet) but there is some bitterness on the back end. Complex throughout; definitely tastes like a BIG beer.

Not too heavy on the palate for an Imperial Stout; consistency is less thick than oil but certainly thicker than a normal stout. Compliments the chocolate taste quite nicely.

Not highly drinkable; it too me around 15 minutes to finish a glass but those 15 minutes were delicious. At 9% alcohol, even more than one of these will affect you a little bit.

Paid $8.99 for a 4-pack so more expensive (per bottle) than many value beers but if you love bold, flavorful dark beers than this one is a must try.

Score: A-  4.0/5

Beer Review: Flying Dog Raging Bitch

This is a Belgian Style IPA.

The beer pours a dark orange shade with a smallish 1cm head. There is some nice lacing on the glass as the head recedes.

Very hoppy in the nose, some yeast notes as well. Smells very clean.

Taste is wonderfully full bodied; bready malts upfront with some hop flavors throughout. The Belgian yeast definitely shows with the nice full taste throughout. Hops are faint at the end of the sip but you get a fruity, slightly bitter aftertaste.

Substantial on the palate; definitely feels heavier than an American IPA but not as crisp.

Satisfying after 2 bottles; at 8.3% abv, more than that will give you quite a buzz. Not exactly filling but very easy to stop after 1 or 2.

Picked a 6-pack of this for $9.99 + tax. I think it's an excellent value for the great taste you get.Widely available and a great example of an under appreciated style.

Score: A-  4.25/5

Beer Review: Ommegang Hennepin

This is was my first beer of a style called a Saison.

The beer pours a light, golden color. Brighter (almost luminescent) than a macro lager. I poured conservatively because last time I had this beer the large, fluffy head overflowed  out of my 22oz glass.

There is a Floral scent. Also smells of Citrus fruits and lots of spices; very pleasant overall.

The citrus taste mirrors the smell, it has a kind of richness I believe can be attributed to the yeast. Takes a little bit to get into the taste, maybe because this is my first saison but about halfway through the beer I was like "wow." Very very tasty. Yeast, clove, a mix of fruity tastes dominate.

Seems light at first but as stated above there is a certain richness to it (typical of Belgian style beers). Excellent palate experience.

I found myself getting a little full at the end of this glass, but very satisfying. The 7.7% abv is invisible.

This is an excellent, consistent beer that always hits the spot. Serve it cold, but not too cold as all of the different flavors will not shine through if it's too cold. At $11.99 for a 4 pk it's not a steal by any means, but definitely worth a try. You won't be disappointed.

Score: B+  4.0/5  
(I think it's worth explaining that if price were not a factor at all, I would have rated this beer a 4.5/5 but the relatively high price warrants a half point subtraction.)

Beer Review: Anchor Steam Beer

Anchor is a company based in San Fransisco but they distribute all over the country so it is readily available.

The style of this beer is a California Common/Steam Beer which means it uses a different yeast strain than other lagers.

The beer pours a mild amber color with a nice 2 inch head. There's great retention on the side of the glass and the head sustains for the duration of the glass.

There's some general bitterness in the nose that comes together as a distinct hop note as you drink it. Some faint sweetness detected in the smell as well.

The taste is rich for a lager; some malt flavor upfront with a nice dosage of earthy hops on the back end. Ever so slight citrus taste through the middle as well. Overall a very “clean” taste but definitely more bold than your average lager.

Not a whole lot of carbonation in this one. Doesn't feel heavy on the palate but more substantial than expected.

I drank this a lot faster than I drink most 12oz beers; the bold feeling experienced does not in any way make you slow down and savor it. The 4.9% abv wont put you down if you have a bunch of these.

Overall I was very impressed with this beer. I've seen it around for $9.99 + tax for a 6-pack so it's a good value but the higher price prevents it from being a great one.

Score: B+   4/5

Water, Malt, Yeast and Hops: Moving Beyond the Corny Macros

One of the arguments I see a lot when people say they don't drink craft beer is that "craft beer doesn't taste good." This is a disturbing accusation considering the fact that my argument for craft beer has been predicated heavily on the fact that it tastes so much better than generic light lagers. First of all, for a generation that gulps hard alcohol on the regular it's hard to believe that people can mistake a flavorful beer for disgusting. That being said, I will admit, many styles of beer are an acquired taste. The key is being willing and open to trying new things that could open up a new world of sensational taste for your palate. Now, breaking down this anti-craft beer sentiment reveals a familiar source of animosity; the status quo beer culture. Annheiser-Busch and MillerCoors have so taken over the brewing scape that to the uninformed consumer, their beers (those of AB and MillerCoors) are what beer should taste like. This is not only quite far from the truth, but it is a manipulation that runs to the core of our very society. For years people have bought macro lagers such as Bud and Coors because of the shrewd marketing tactics and the ability of these companies to flood the market with their product; after a while, it becomes the psychological norm for beer. That sweet, grainy water that comes out of a cold activated can is what people have come to accept as the standard for beer. This explains why many have such an aversion to the bold tastes of craft beer; they believe there's something wrong with the beer because its not the comforting metallic taste caressing their tongue. In 1516 in Germany (long before the birth of the American Adjunct Lager), the most famous beer regulation in history was passed; the "Reinheitsgebot." This law promised German consumers that only water, malted barley, malted wheat and hops would be used to make their beer thus ensuring that their beer was held to the highest taste and quality standards (credit http://www.brewery.org/library/ReinHeit.html). Many of the most renowned brewers also adhered to this including the world famous Trappist monks in Belgium; brewers of some of the worlds finest ales. This, my dear readers is what beer was supposed to taste like. Unfortunately, the American Adjunct Lager adds lower quality grains like corn to the brewing process making the beer taste sweet, but in the process diluting the amount of quality barley and hops put into the beer. If you feel so inclined to now visit one of the fine craft offerings at your local store or bar, try to appreciate the quality ingredients put into it and the resulting flavors. It is entirely possible that you will not enjoy this beer the first time you drink it but I hope its unique taste will inspire you to look beyond what society tells you beer should be and find one that excites your taste buds in a way that macro lagers cannot.

Choosing Your Beer: Don't be a Slave to Prices

Its pretty easy to see that the primary reason people buy macro lagers (Bud, miller, Coors) is the price; they tend to be quite a bit cheaper than microbrews. This mentality is one akin to buying fast food; we as Americans have been condition to believe that "getting more for your dollar" means getting the most product you possibly can. The fatal flaw with this reasoning is that quantity comes at the expense of quality in any product and, at least in my opinion, quality factors just as much (or more) into value as quantity. Beer is no different. It is true that college students in particular are very budget conscious so maybe they can't afford a $10 bottle of beer every few days but my message applies very much to them as well. In choosing macromanufactured beer you are ignoring a key aspect of the food and beverage consumption process; enjoyment. I recognize that perhaps you are reading this and thinking "but I only drink beer to get drunk" and I'll just say that I'm not out to change college culture but why can't you have a great drinking experience in the process? In the end, the key is making the choice to drink something that it brewed with quality ingredients and will make for a delicious glass of beer over something that's $2 cheaper. At its core, it is a quality of life question. You want to live in a nice apartment or home in a safe, convenient area and you want to have a reliable computer that performs well so why lower your standards for the beer you drink?

Beer Commercials: forshadowing a spiral into stupidity

I don't know about anyone else, but I think beer ads on tv are pretty ridiculous and while I'm able to laugh at some of them, the vast majority I find to be an insult to men and Americans in general. One in particular stands out as exceptionally base and impudent:

Let me just say that if my girlfriend left a trail of rose petals to the bedroom, I know what the hell is up right away and my pants are off before I get through the kitchen. I get the whole joke about men loving their beer more than their women and that it's supposed to be funny but beer companies are simply taking advantage of American love of humor by inundating you with comedic crap that distracts from the fact that their beer doesn't taste like beer should. I've always thought that advertising by focusing on something inconsequential to to the product itself (like cold activation windows here or feeling cool, like you see in countless commercials these days) was cowardly. It's shrewd, but mostly cowardly. Why can't the just talk about the taste of the beer? Even Miller Lite makes more of an effort by touting their "triple hops brewing process" (ask me why that's a scam)! In the end I guess they have no choice because there really isn't much to say about their beer other than it's about as easy to drink as water... I think that's Bud Light's marketing strategy, isn't it?

Beer Review: Blue Moon Belgian White

I wanted to kick off this blog's reviews with a beer that would appeal to a wide variety of drinkers and one that is a great gateway to the world of craft beer. This beer is made by Blue Moon Brewing Co. which is owned by Coors. It's available in 6 and 12 bottle packages. It is a Belgian style Witbeir.

I poured this beer from a 12oz bottle with a best by date of January 24^th 2011, into a pint glass, without the orange slice garnish that blue moon recommends. There is about an inch head that completely dissipates in a matter of seconds; no lacing on the glass. The beer is a very cloudy yellow/gold.

The beer smells like orange peel, lemon and a musty smell that I can't quite put my finger on; perhaps the citrus-yeast combination makes for a funny smell.

Tastes pretty sweet; lots of citrus flavors upfront; orange and lemon mostly but a doughy taste through the middle and no real aftertaste to speak of. Yeast notes accompany all the aforementioned tastes.

The beer feels more substantial than your typical American Wheat beer; not heavy on the palate by any means but it seems the fact that it is brewed with oats makes for a slightly fuller feel. Carbonation is mild but noticeable.

I only had one on this occasion but I could have downed several; it's a very drinkable brew at 5.4% abv.

A 6-pack of this beer can be had for $7.99 plus tax most everywhere. Considering the taste and the price point, it makes a good beer for those transitioning from bud/miller/coors beers.

Score: B  3.5/5

Beer Reviews!

One of the main things I want this blog to accomplish is to give people easy recommendations on what kind of beers they can buy to start off and continue their hop filled journey with. I'll probably throw some reviews in there that you might not necessarily want to try if you are brand new to craft beer, but it will be good reading nevertheless. Reviews will be written taking into account the 5 aspects of a beer one should take note of when evaluating it (credit beeradvocate.com): Appearance, Smell, Taste, Mouthfeel and Drinkability. After commenting on each of these, you will find an overall grade for the beer, out of 5, at the end of the review. Some people might ask why I don't take value or cost into consideration when reviewing a beer and the answer is this: craft beer isn't about penny pinching to get as much beer as you can for a night of getting wasted, it's about savoring a truly unique and delicious beer. Since the purpose of this blog is to appeal to college students however, I will note the price of a 6-pack (or 4-pack or single bottle as the case may be) in the review. Hopefully one of my reviews will inspire you to pick up some of that beer yourself!
Cheers!

Mission Statement

The mission of this blog is as follows: "To inform the masses, especially college students, as to alternatives to drinking mass produced, over-advertised beer."

I hope you'll stay tuned for reviews and rants about beer. Cheers!

The Inception

Beer, one of the oldest beverages known to mankind has a rich history that unfortunately has been perverted and ultimately forgotten by American society. Our mass production culture has forced beer drinkers into a hole in which they are brainwashed to consume flavorless swill known as the American Adjunct Lager. You may know this beer better by the name Budweiser or Coors or Miller. Whatever the name, you have a right to know what these companies want to keep from you: there is better beer to be had. It's true! Lying just beyond the box of cold activated cans in your neigborhood package store is a 6 pack of a locally brewed German style lager, or an American Pale Ale or an Imperial Stout. If those terms or some of those terms mean nothing to you, check out this link to read up on the vast array of styles that are available. If you can't find something there that you absolutely love, then by all means; go back to your "vortex bottle" and be happy but if you are ready to delve into a new world filled with intriguing and complex flavors, please go out and buy a sixer of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale or Sam Adams Boston Lager and taste the difference for yourself!