Beering on a Diet

Warning - Beer - Not a low calorie beverage.

As well it shouldn't be.

As a man that is dieting but also loves his beer, I have made a decision.   The decision is that I will sacrifice my calories from food so that I can enjoy a good quality brew on most days.  Coors Light and the ever popular Bud Light (which kind of blows my mind) are only good if your goal is to get loaded pretty heavily, but no self respecting beer drinker should be caught dead drinking them at your Neighborhood Applebee's with dinner.

96% of your "light" beers not only cut the calories from their nectar, but cuts the flavor.  If you do not believe me, do a side by side comparison for yourself.  You can do this with any beer that has a light counterpart.  You will have trouble, though, finding a light beer from your favorite craft brewery, because they know as well as I do.  Beer was made to be enjoyed.  Beer was not made to be worried about.  It is to be loved and cherished.  Avoid light beer as much as you can.  Until Wednesday Drink On Beer Drinker.  Drink On!!

Taste of Smell

I know. I know...

I said I was going to do a double review last weekend and I didn't.  Granted.  On Wednesday of last week I didn't realize I was going to get attacked by a wicked cold.  Not Winning.  So a week has passed and I can now taste again and so I wanted to share with you a new brew (to me) introduced to me by my co-wort Josh Follweiler.  From the Great Lakes Brewery the "Elliot Ness" Amber Lager drinks very much like an amber ale, but has a surprise when you delve further into it.

Pouring it you you get super nice coloring with the head an inviting cream color and a clear deep amber, almost brown, brew. Appearance is definitely the best category at a 4 out of 5.

The nose of the beer is faint.  Since it is a lager, Josh and I had the brew chilled.  The malts shared little of their aroma and the Noble hops smelled a bit floral.  No yeast came through.  However when the beer got a chance to warm a bit in the glass, the malt's biscuity and toasty character began to come to the forefront of the nose.  Aroma 8 out of 15.

The taste of the beer is a bit misleading.  With the roasty character of the malts, I expected a subtle sweetness with some big roasty notes, but unfortunately it was not to be.  The front of the taste was weaker than expected  The Noble hops did their job giving a crisp bitterness on the backside of the taste.  The alcohol added to the flavor nicely, but the damage had been done.  Again, as the beer warmed more of the nutty notes came through. The taste score is the downfall of the brew - 17 out of 25

The feel of the lager was nice.  Somewhat creamy with slight round carbonation lent itself to a nice medium bodied feel.  The finish was not as clean as I would have expected with the advertisement of the Noble hops.  3 out of 5.

The beer looked and tasted like an amber ale, but the beer as a lager left me needing more.  Total score 32 out of 50.



As we go forward, I am going to pick up some nice spring seasonals to review so you know what to pick up and what to avoid as the mercury starts to climb.  In the mean time check out past reviews to get your fix.  Thanks to Mr. Follweiller for his recommendation.  And for now, Drink on Beer Drinker.  Drink ON!!!

Beer on a Budget

First my soapbox and then to the goodies:  I am an educator.  I am a 2nd Year Educator.  That means I am low man on the totem pole, but my lack of experience by no means reflects a lack of quality (above quality to tell you the truth) teaching.  And because I am a young teacher, I am first to go when budget cuts start to pull teachers jobs.  Scary!!  We are also under paid, and in Anna's efforts to find ways to save money, I said I would give up my TV as long as she let me have my beer.  And that got me thinking, how well will I do with living on a beer budget. 

I am going to try to keep it to a six pack every two weeks.  And my thoughts when I made this decision was, "What the HELL AM I THINKING?"  And like Charlie Sheen, I had to convince myself that I am "bi-winning."  In my first effort to save money, I tried to maximize my beer tastings while keeping to my "six-pack" limit.  At my local Harris Teeter (closest and best beer selection) I checked prices first.  I then compared equally priced beers, and then checked my preference list and found my oasis. 

I purchased a sixer of Natty Greene's Buckshot, replacing two of the bottles with Highland Brewery Gaelic Ale.  I know, "But Randy, you aren't supporting Highland by purchasing the triad brew :("  I am calling shenanigans!!!  If I review the two beers, you good people are going to out and buy the beer (if it is worth a damn) and thus more support for both small breweries.  Don't give me that moral brow beating.  Life is about beer drinking.  They will get their dollar.

In an effort to repay my debt, this weekend will be a double review.  Both these breweries will get their just rewards and you will get the quality feed back you have come to appreciate from this blog.  Also I am beginning to acquire the equipment to begin my home brewing excursion.  If you know anyone with hand-me-down home brewing equipment, have them shoot me an email or comment on this blog.  Check back on Saturday afternoon to get a boss-review of the Highland Gaelic Ale and on Sunday a fresh review will be posted of the Buckshot from here in G-Boro.

In the mean time, WHAT DO YOU DRINK ON A BUDGET?  And as always, Drink On, Beer Drinker.  Drink On.

Spoils of Vacation

Boone was amazing this weekend, though a bit chilly.  It was nice to get out of the house with the wife and the dogs and really feel like I was home.  Even though I was on a bit of a vacation.  And, lucky me, I got to raid Harris Teeter's supply of the Boone Brewing Co. Blowing Rock High Country Ale.  Let's get to the review of this local brewery's flagship brew.

Being touted as a craft brewed ale with a roasty malt base, the High Country Ale truly lives up to it's name.  The amber ale was cooled to about 40 degrees and poured into a brandy snifter.  The beer is filtered and clear and nice honey color.  The head of the brew lasts for a bit and is nice and creamy with some lacing when drinking the beer.  Appearance score 4 out of 5.  Good things to come.

The nose of the brew is  quite malty with toasty notes of caramel.  Hops come through just a bit with a sweet floral scent.  Not much odor from the yeast, but the alcohol seems to come through just a bit.  The aroma could be categorized as noticeable.  Not a huge scent.  8 out of 15

Tasting the beer is almost a mirror image of the nose.  The malts are the key player showing through with some bitter notes overplaying notes of caramel and nuttiness.  A clean lack of yeast flavor works well with a light floral taste of yeast.  Again, the alcohol tiptoes into the picture as well, but doesn't take a leading role.  A strong showing for this malt-mastered ale - 19 out of 25.

The mouth-feel of the beer is lacking for me.  It has a crisp consistency, almost like a lager.  The carbonation within the beer is a bit creamy or round.  The medium body leads way to an "average"/ wet finish.  Nothing spectacular 3 out of 5. 

This malty ale is not a bad brew, but could fair well with a revamp in recipe to add a bit more hops to help balance this brew out.  I recommend checking out the beer if you live in the North Carolina area, but I have to give the beer an over all score of 34 out 50.  Support this great local gem. 

Coming up, I am going to begin giving great beer recipes and reviews of area pubs and bars.  Let me know what you want to see.  Also, I am in the process of gathering equipment to be making my own home brew and I will most definitely keep you updated on that.  In the mean time, check out past reviews and let me know the BEST BEER YOU EVER HAD and what made it so awesome.   For now, I am going to finish off this six pack, so:  Drink on Beer Drinker.  Drink on!

Returning to the Motherland

This weekend I get to make a surprise trip back to the roots of my beer-ginings; Boone, NC.  This town shaped who I am today, both professionally and as an avid beer enthusiast.  Many nights were wasted, or spent wasted, in this valley town and I get to go back this weekend for the first time in many months.  *Stoked*

While in Boone, I am going to pick up a couple six packs of the Boone Brewing Company's Blowing Rock Ale.  I was initially turned on to this by my college job boss Charlie Watson (cool kid.  find him on Facebook).  This beer comes straight from the mountains so look for a review in the coming week.  Also...shout out to my friend Shelby Price Lear for turning me onto Highland Gaelic.  Going to be talking about their product in the near future so look out for that.  Also, in the mean time check out her blog, Shear Lear.  For sure not a disappointment.

Boone has some great qualities for Beer Drinkers.  1- College town = bars a plenty.  2-Craft Brewery in town to check out.  3- Peabody's.

Peabody's is a beer and wine store in Boone that has been open forever.  So you are thinking, "Randy.  My town has a beer store too.  Does that make my town awesome?"  Only if your beer store DELIVERS!!!!!  That's right compadres.  When the well runs dry, Peabody's will bring you the beer of your choice in any vessel that you may want.  Need a sixer?  Check.  Need a case?  Right-o.  Need a KEG?  Done and Done.  "Peabody's delivery service.  Contributing to great beer drinking since the beginning of time."

One great thing about going to Boone is I am going to be off the grid for a couple days so no post this weekend.  Be on the look out for Wednesday's post.  In the mean time comment and tell me The last beer you drank and how was it.  Tell your friends about the blog.  The more we have enjoying the amazing nectar of life and sharing about it, the more I will be able to do for you.  Also vote to say what type of beer you would like to see reviewed or comment on this post.  For now....Drink On, Beer Drinker.  Drink On!!!

Not So Blue Moon....

Seasonal Craft Beers are a staple of the market, and after the success of their Blue Moon Brand , Coors decided to branch out with a Blue Moon inspired Seasonal "Blue Moon: Spring Blonde Wheat Ale"  The beer touts to be brewed with Orange and Lemon peels and oils, but as you will see, it comes through little if at all. 

Served at a rather cool 38 degrees, the ale, when poured, has clear golden-copper color.  The color resembles the Blue Moon of old, but this beer has been filtered.  The diminishing, fizzy head lingers slightly and leaves no lacing on the edge of the glass.  The beer looks okay from the start.  Appearance: 3.5 out of 5

The beer has a sweet scent with little to know hint of citrus.  The hops, however, give a wonderful floral and grassy odor, and the yeast helps bring forward the floral scent.  However, the aroma is not as pungent in glass as you would hope.  Aroma score:  8 out of 10

Now to the good part....Tasting the brew.  We get the bulk of the flavor from the malts that has a somewhat caramel flavor with some bitter notes as well.  You get a hint of citrus, but not as much as you would think from the advertisement and the selling point of orange and lemon additions to the beer.  The hops bring forward the aromas from the nose of the beer.  Herbal tastes dominate and a floral or ester-y taste follow as you swig the beer.  Taste score: a lackluster 18 out of 25.

The mouth-feel of this wheat ale is little different from the "father" beers from the Coors Breweries.  The spritzy carbonation leads to a crisp and smooth finish.  The beer has an unfortunate light body.  Compared to the Blue Moon Classic, this beer is like drinking seltzer water as far as mouthfeel.  Quite an average finish.  3 out 5.

Overall -  This crisp beer is quite average in it's aroma, taste, and finish.  It is visually quite nice.  Unfortunately, when you see a seasonal from such a trusted, strong brew, you expect a solid beer.  The medium body and light grassy taste leave much to be needed.  Especially when the Witber is touted as being noticeably more citrusy than it's predecessor.  Total score 32.5 out 50. 

Swing and a foul ball from the folks at Coors.  Stick with the original and be happy.  Especially if you tried this seasonal before trying the original. 

And as always DRINK ON, BEER DRINKER!  DRINK ON!

Beer: the American Infatuatuation

I grew up with beer in my house.  It was my dad's vice.  Every weekend, when my Dad would be home from his over the road truck driving, Mom would make sure to have a case of Bud Light, Miller Light, or, if things were tight, his beloved Natural Light.  It was a staple in our refrigerator for my entire childhood and adolescence.  I knew little more of beer, than this, until my days in college. 

I got my first tastes on my passifier as an infant and the occasion sips from my dad.  When I went to college, at the Appalachian State University, I learned little about to goodness that beer could be.  All I cared about was the fact that I had fifteen dollars for the week and how much beer could I get for that.  I would drink the same stuff that I saw my father down in my youth back home.  Nothing wrong with the stuff.....nothing great about it either. 

American made lagers have been produced to appease the masses.  Like the McDonald's Cheeseburger, your 3 mainstream light lagers, have been broken down from their original rise to greatness to the watered down, homogeneous refreshment that it is today.  The struggle to reach more of the mass market has blinded the Big 3.

Until I finally turned 21 and could purchase my own beer, I drank what I knew.  Then I had the opportunity to delve further into new beers and I found what I was missing.  My first "Real Beer" was a Blue Moon Original.  And it was eye opening.  Now I know what I was missing and I will be sharing it with you.  To pay homage to Blue Moon and what it did for me, I will be reviewing their new Spring Blonde Wheat Ale in the coming days.  I will also continue to share my beer experience as we continue.  Until then...Drink on, beer drinker.  Drink On.

I have been to the mountain top. I have ridden the storm.

I didn't expect my first review to be so strong.  However I must admit, Sam Calgaione and his team in Milton, DE have out done themselves with the 2011 Squall IPA.  The bottle, chilled at a balmy 52 Degrees Fahrenheit, is the first tell.  Beer that makes you drink it comes in the 750 mL Champagne bottles.  Once you pop the top, their is no stopping finishing the bottle for the sheer fact that you just can't let this golden nectar go to waste.  (Or flat for that matter.)  So it was a treasure opening the bottle.  It won't happen again for at least another year. 

Pouring the beer into the snifter, I expected an amber shade (the grain making it truly American), but the deep golden pour was a pleasant surprise.  The haze of this IPA sings of it's unfiltered nature and forebodes of a slight yeasty quality.  The head is a bit rocky but primarily creamy.  Lingering for the majority of the experience, the head laces the glass as it is swirled to truly appreciate the aroma that is nothing short of balanced.  Appearance score - 4.5 out of 5.

Hints of citrus float through the remainder of the ride on Squall, and the aroma gives these citrus notes a tale of the continuous hopping of this 90 minute IPA.  Earthy notes also come to the nose.  Yeast didn't play as big a part in the nose as previously expected.  The fruity notes of the yeast pair well with the sweet tones from the specialty malts used.  The only lacking area with this IPA is a lack of strength or intensity in the scent.  With this IPA be dry hopped after leaving the Mash Tun, I expected something more intense.  The clean and balanced nose of Squall rings the same throughout the tasting.  Aroma score - 12 out of 15

Now to the best and most important part.  Tasting the storm that is Squall.  The nose of this beer is it's tell.  Sweet and toast notes pair the citrus and floral hints into a balance on the palate that most east coast IPAs rarely have reached.  The cleanliness of the yeast leave little to be desired in the taste category.  At 9% ABV, the taste of this beer is quite nice.  Taste score - 23 out of 25

Finishing with mouth feel, Squall went down an unexpected avenue.  With it's light color, I half expected a crisp beer.  I got a creamy, almost viscous, full bodied IPA that has a lasting finish that leaves you wanting more.  Mouth feel score - 4 out 5.

Overall, Squall IPA 2011 from Dogfish Head Brewery is a well balanced citrusy IPA that is not only pleasing to drink, but also an experience that all beer lovers must enjoy.  With score of 43.5 out of 50, this beer leaves little to be desired for the beer enthusiast.  I say to Sam and his team to keep up the great work.  Drink on, beer drinker.  Drink on.

Adventure Time

Last night I bought the last two bottles of Dogfish Head's Squall IPA in the triad of North Carolina.  GO ME!  This weekend I am going to delve into my first Squall experience.  To familiarize yourself with Squall IPA check out the Dogfish Head website. http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/occassional-rarities/squall-ipa.htm More to come soon.  Happy Drinking.