Day 96 part deux - Four Loko

In my wildest dreams, I never thought that I would taste anything worse than the passion fruit beer, and certainly not in the near future. I couldn't have been more wrong.......

My daughter Liz talked me into buying one of these at the 7-11 when we were out getting gas for Ellie's car tonight so she didn't have to in the am (yes, I know, what a great husband....), and with a 12% ABV, I agreed. This is billed as a "premium malt beverage with artificial flavor" - being blue raspberry. Hope springing eternal, there was a part of me wishing this would wash the other beer taste away, now I wish with all my remaining tastebuds that I had it back. There are no words to describe the absolute, utter nastiness of this drink.

Specs:

Full Name: Four Loko
Brewed by: Drink Four Brewing Co
From: La Crosse WI
ABV: 12%


Not even with the allure of 12% ABV can I make myself finish this. I may have made it half way, but no more. I'll post the pic tomorrow. I apologize in advance for this graphic, but the burp afterwards tastes far better than the actual swallow...

Day 96 - Wailua

There have been a few occasions where I drank a beer and it was such an affront to my sense of rightness that I just had to go to another to write the blog. I really should have known this was going to happen, I mean, passion fruit in beer???? And have no doubt, you can taste the passion fruit, which has a very tart/bitter taste, and it does not, repeat, DOES NOT, go well with beer. There was no way I could not put this one in the blog, if only to prevent anyone who reads this from the suffering I am putting my tastebuds through now.

The label says it is a "Limited Release". Seriously, they should have just taken the next step and put air in the bottle and labeled it "No Release".....

Specs:

Full Name: Wailua Wheat Ale Brewed with Passion Fruit
Brewed by: Kona Brewing
From: Portsmouth NH (via main HQ in HI)
ABV: 5.4%


The name should have been Wailuwill, because you will definitely wail if you take a mouthful of this. Ok, there is probably someone, somewhere, who might actually like this, and my mouth must now be numb, as I am almost done and I can't taste anything anymore... ;>)

Needless to say, my favs remain unchallenged!

Day 95 - Blackened Vodoo

Sometimes, it seems that brewers put the time/effort into creating a cool name/label for their product, and then neglect the actual product..a sad thing.

One of these days I will actually start reading labels, because whenever a beer is brewed by one company for another, it seems to end up on the low end of the rating scale. Then again, you can't go rafting without bruising your butt on a few rocks, and in truth, this is more just a splash in the face.

Specs:

Full Name: Blackened Vodoo Lager
Brewed by: Joseph Huber Brewing Co for Dixie Brewing Company
From: Monroe WI for New Orleans LA
ABV: 5%


So, this tastes like a weak porter, and actually is more smoky quartz in color than black. It is relatively easy to drink, but then so is water. One of these days, I need to count up the beers that clearly are meant to be drunk by people who only want to look cool, not actually drink beer with real flavor.....Admittedly, it does get style points for the label at least.

Day 94 - Centennial IPA

Being one of "those" days, I could use a good beer, which is why I picked a palie, as my chances were better than fair there...

Ahhhhhh, this one didn't disappoint. The color was a burnished bronze, but a bit cloudy, so it was with a bit of trepidation than I downed the shot. Luckily, that dry, grapefruit flavor was there to tantilize my tastebuds, without overpowering, and drifted off to a nice finish so that I was ready for the next mouthful (I was going to put sip, but seriously, what honest beer drinker "sips" beer... ;>) )

Specs:

Full Name: Centennial IPA
Brewed by: Founders Brewing Company
From: Grand Rapids, MI
ABV: 7.2% (quite respectable!)

So, this is a nice little IPA, and definitely more drinkable than most regular beers, but in the palie world, it is kind of like the girl next door. A friend perhaps, pleasant enough for conversation, but not going to to get the "most popular" in the yearbook....

My favs remain unchanged: Singha, Lion Lager, Hazed and Infused

Alas, I have consumed my last H&I, and must restock!

Day 93 - Double White

So, the description of this one at the store talked of orange and spice, so I was confident that I could rally my righteous feelings of dislike for wheats and be safe. Some may consider it a waste to intentially drink beer that I most likely will not approve of, but where is the sport in not?

I can actually feel my tongue swelling in my mouth in disgust. True to form is the sweet base with spice-flavor better served in a good pumkin pie than in beer......


Specs:

Full Name: Southampton Publik House Double White
Brewed By: Southampton Bottling
From: La Crosse, WI
ABV: 6.8%


I must admit, it will start to get more and more tricky finding different beers from different brewers, though there are plenty left to try as long as I go the route of trying a number from the same brewer. Since I have already set the precedent, I'm ok with it, but will still strive to find new brewers. I managed for this week, and probably could a few more if I up my price range from less than $2.50 to $4 a bottle. I may even go in search of another source, as that too would be an honorable quest.....

Day 92 - Foster's Premium Ale

So, we did manage to head into the mountains of southwestern VA yearterday afternoon, and thus left the world of internet connections and cable TV for a day. We had a great time with the whole Proc family, plus Mary's sister Peggy and husband Rich. I even got in a little fishing, not just measured in time, but in length of fish (maybe as long as my pinkie mainly, but hey, it was fishing!)

Specs:

Full Name: Foster's Premium Ale
Brewed By: Oil Can Breweries
From: Albany GA or FT Worth TX
ABV: 5.5%

Since a beer blog should actually include some comment on the beer, here goes. Sadly, we got back a bit late in the afternoon, and we stopped at the grocery on the way to pick up Chinese take out for dinner (which was pretty decent...) and the options were limited, so since this one was 25.4 oz, I figured it would cover 2 days, at least in volume. Alas, it didn't cover it in real taste, and as the label says it is an ale with caramel colored added, it didn't wow there either. Sadly, I didn't read the can beforehand, and I mistakenly thought this came from Australia, but no, it is brewed in the US under the "supervision" of Fosters of Oz. Pffffft.........

So, off to Total Wine tomorrow to replenish both my stock and my faith in good beer!

Day 91 - Postponed...

Well, it had to happen..

I had the choice to either start drinking before noon, or wait until tomorrow to post this one, as we're off to the mtns of VA this afternoon and coming back tomorrow, and I'm guessing no internet...