Day 8 - Allagash White

Another long, hard day of shoveling snow and helping push cars that got stuck means I definitely deserve to relax and enjoy the Super Bowl, though the planned party at our friends the Prochnows isn't going to fly (mainly because I can't and my car won't make it out the neighborhood....)

Tonight's beer is an American effort at a belgian wheat. Yes, ok, I know, a spiced wheat beer isn't real macho, but sometimes, you just have to expand your horizons, and this one actually works on a cold night. It has the classic "sunlight streaming through flour dust hanging in the air" color, and good flavor without overpoweringly complex flavors, which is all I want from a wheat beer. I probably couldn't sit and drink a six pack, but then, I might keep one on hand for good friends who I know really like this style, while I switch to something else for a second or third during the game.....


Name: Allagash White

Brewer: Allagash Brewing Company

Location: Portland, Maine



Overall, a good beer, especially if you prefer this genre.

Ok, enough, the Super Bowl has started!

Day 7 - Small Craft Warning

Given the amount of heavy snow lifting I did today, I let myself start a bit early... ;>)

Tonight I went with one of the new additions, a US pilsner. For me, the colder it is outside, the more taste I want in my beer, and lagers tend to be more on the refreshment and ease of drinkability side, rather than heavy flavor (IMHO). This beer starts with a promising hops hit, but it kind of finishes weak, leaving my taste buds pouting. Interestingly, I keep taking another drink, like I think maybe this time it will be really good, but it isn't, but then I take another sip anyway, and now it is gone. Hum, perhaps that is the intent, make them drink more.....tricksy brewer!


So, if this is there to drink, and you are on the water and thus in the spirit of the name, then by all means drink it. It has a clear, burnt yellow color (remembered to pour a little into a clear glass first to check...), but then, it comes in a brown bottle, and probably isn't poured into a glass often, so it just doesn't matter. The ladies out there may appreciate the artsy label...

The Specs:

Full Name: Heavy Seas - Small Craft Warning

Brewed by: Clipper City Brewing Company

From: Baltimore MD

Rating: One bottle (worth trying it, and some may really like it, as in the end, it is easy to drink).

Day 6 - Smithwick's Irish Ale

Given the snow is falling heavily, and we're having beef fajitas for dinner, I went with an ale over the remaining two lagers in the mix (to be consumed/named later...).

A long pull on this ale, and your mouth gets a good dose of earthy, roasted malt, though not near what you get in a stout or porter. So, if you tend to shy away from that "used motor oil" look and taste, but still want to appear manly, this might be your beer. The brand is even owned by Guinness, so the optics support that as well.

Admittedly, this isn't my favorite stye of brew, but I do like the occasional on the proper night such as this, thus for now, I'll rate it between a single and a 6 pack, at least until I have more to compare it to. I think there are more than one option from this brewery, so may try another down the road.

The specs are:

Name: Smithwick's Irish Ale

Brewed by: E. Smithwick's and Sons (owned by Guiness)

From: St Francis Abbey, Kilkenny, Ireland

Abbey has been brewing since 1710

A quick note: I did return to the store this afternoon to add some more to my pipeline, and I had failed to notice the other day a whole different isle full of American singles, to balance the imports. Oh man, this is great!!!! They're chilling now, and I am set for more than a week if I'm stuck at home. Hum, not sure what I'd do if the power goes out, have to walk to Starbuck's to do my blog I guess.....

Day 5 - Singha Lager

One of the great things about this is that I make the rules! I have been drinking Singha for almost 20 years, but always only at the local Thai restaurant. I can walk into the place to pick up a carry out order, and the bar guy knows to put one of these in front of me while I wait (and I never order ahead of time.... ;>) ). So, seeing it as a single at the store was too much to resist. Here are the specs:

Name: Singha Lager

Bewed By: Singha Corporation

Locale: Bangkok, Thailand

Brewed Since: 1933

Needless to say, I really like this beer, and when I close my eyes while drinking it, the sounds and smells of the restaurant tickle my inner self. It's just a clean, crisp lager, sure to satisfy many tastebuds. I'm not quite at the place where if I could only pick one beer to have on a desert island, it would be this one, but it would make the short list. I'd definitely buy a case, if I didn't enjoy the ritual of getting them at Thai Luang.

We are expecting a major snowfall starting tomorrow (up to 2 feet). I have maybe 5 different types of beer left in the fridge, so am not concerned......

Cheers!

Day 4: Noel des Geants

This one was a last minute pick, as it was on the sale rack as I was heading to check out, and the label caught my eye.




Name: Noel des Geants
Brewed by: Brasserie des Legendes
Location: Medieval Castle of Irchonwelz, Ath, Belgium



A somewhat typical belgian ale, cloudy yellow, the sweetness of the malt dominating, imparting a subtle clove-esque taste, with no trace of hops. It's pretty decent if you like that style, but is a bit fu-fu for my general taste. If you have a fire in the fireplace and snacking on brie while wearing a bulky wool sweater, this ale would not be gauche......

Buy a bottle if you like belgian ale, but I'm not going beyond that.


That said, I didn't have a problem making it to the bottom of the bottle. ;>)

Day 3 - Lion Lager

In full disclosure, I have had this beer before, only twice, and recently... it doesn't count as a repeat, since I make the rules!




Name: Lion Lager

Brewed by: Lion Brewery, Biyagama, Sri Lanka

Brewed since : 1881 (they definitely got it right!)


It is a really tasty lager, full of flavor without overpowering, so even the most squeamish beer drinkers who usually stick to mainstream stuff might actually like it. I could drink it anytime, anywhere, and would almost consider a trip to the brewery just to sample the non-export stuff.

At less than $2 a bottle, it isn't cheap, but then, isn't the most expensive either. I'd buy a case, but would be tempted to only share it with those I know appreciate good beer.

Sniff, sniff - my bottle is empty....



until tomorrow!

Day 2 - Hobgoblin Dark English Ale

Day 2 finds me sampling :

Hobgoblin Dark English Ale

By Wychwood Brewery, Oxfordshire England

A very smooth dark ale, easy on the palate with just the right (in my opinion)amount of that dark roasted barley taste. No aftertaste to speak, and to be honest, I don't get any fruit or wood overtones here, which is good, since it is beer and not some pinky-in-the-air wine.....

It was suggested that I rate each beer, so I came up with the following scale:

Pffft - Not worth the glass it is bottled in

Cheap - Only buy it because it is cheap, but only give to "friends"

Single - Worth the try to say you have

6 pack - Worth buying a six pack for yourself and good friends

Case - Worth buying a case for yourself and good friends

TDF - To die for, buying the brewery

Last night was probably a single, I'd put this one between a 6 pack and a case.

This is fun... ;>)