Day 110 - Haywards 5000

Some things you just can't plan. For instance, my closing comment last night on how the use of "premium" on the label usually means the beer is not really from a taste perspective, and yet, here I am drinking another beer, that just so happens to fall in that category, totally unplanned, and yes, it fits that profile.....



Specs:

Full name: Haywards 5000 Indian Premium Beer
Brewed by: Skol Breweries
From: India
ABv: 7%

So this one is definitely in the classic Indian style. Light in color, a very faint malt flavor that is gone within moments of being swallowed, and clearly meant to stay out of the way of any food you are eating at the time (not that anything can overpower the taste/heat of some Indian dishes...). This one is definitely akin to it's brethren, Kingfisher and Taj Mahal, though has somewhat less taste, and I think less ABV that Taj Mahal. You could drink a lot of this beer quickly, if you were so inclined.

This one is dedicated to my very good friend Dave Prochnow, who unfortunately is struggling with a health issue at the moment. I have shared many beer drinking occasions with Dave over many years, and while he tends to have a more narrow scope of beers that he will drink, he would get through this one ok I think. Here's hoping he gets well soon, so we can continue that great tradition.

Day 109 - Game Day Ice

I picked this one up at the 7-11 the night of the ill-fated rasberry-flavored Four Loko malt beverage. At least one is drinkable....

So, pours with high carbonation, yellow like dried-grass, tastes like a cheap, mass-produced beer, must be American. Yep. Clearly, this one sells itself based on it being 24 oz, thus saving the trips to the fridge.

Specs:

Full Name: Game Day Ice

Brewed By: Game Day Brewing Co

From: La Crosse WI

ABV: 5.5%

Two last comments.

First, it seems that this one is brewed solely for 7-11 (as they are the 3rd largest beer retailer in the US...)

Second, I'm finding that any beer that uses the word "premium" on the label, really isn't....

Day 108 - Eggenberg

The bad news is, this is in the typical European export style. The good news is, it doesn't go over the top on the bitterness, so in the end, is a passable drink that finishes clean. Plus it kind of has a cool pull top, so props for that.

This one looks like pale morning sunlight, and its crispness reminds me of a cool spring morning in the mountains. I wouldn't go so far as to use it to replace the milk on my cereal, but it would be easy to have a second one.


Specs:

Full Name: Schloss Eggenberg Hopfen Konig
Brewed by: Castle Brewery
From: Vorchdorf Austria
ABV: 5.1%


I am beginning to see an interesting pattern of beers that come in less than 12oz. While in some cases that is a good thing, and some should go for even less, I have to wonder if this is a cost cutting trend, or some conspiracy to try and have people drink less.....

The favs remain the same: Singha, Lion Lager, Hazed and Infused

Day 107 - Good Juju

Monday, the start of a new week, and day to experiment with beer. Hum, wasn't there a song about hating mondays back in the early 80's.....

Ok ginger beer might rate up there near the top of flavored beers, as this one overall is rather bland and benign. In this case, the ginger does not overpower the beer as it might, and I am left sitting here drinking a strange beer, but not hating it.

Specs:

Full Name: Good Juju
Brewed By: Left Hand Brewing Co
From: Longmont CO
ABV: 4.2%


Yes, yes, I know, I get no sympathy drinking this one, as I am the one that chose to do so. I ask you though, did I really have a choice, or has this become bigger than I am, and assumed it's own control....

You know, upon reflection (and almost completion of consumption), I might actually see this beer going well with a dish heavy on the ginger, as it would provide a good supporting drink to that. Shoot, it may even enhance the food. Maybe someone out there is brave enough to try that out and let us know.

Day 106 - River Horse

Ah, a relaxing day of fixing cars and rearranging furniture in prep for Cullen to get home from school, deserves a decent beer. This one doesn't quite get there.... A dark butterscotch color precedes a malty base with a somewhat dry finish. I'd like to get a bit more malt out of it, as it doesn't quite last long enough or wow the taste buds for me.


Specs:


Full Name: River Horse Special Ale
Brewed By: River Horse Brewing Co
From: Lambertville NJ
ABV: 4.5%


So, this one is an ESB, and is on the low end of ABV. Hum, definitely not going to crack my favorites today. Good news is, I can cross NJ off the list of states, but soon will have to go back and make a list of which ones I need beers from.

Day 105 - Otter Summer Ale

I drank the beer, but ran out of time/steam last night to write it up, after driving 9 hours from MA, to arrive just in time to watch Liz and friends posing for prom pictures (yikes...but she and friends made it home at 4 something, so that bridge is crossed...), then going out to dinner with the Procs to crashing and burning.

Of course, now I have to remember something about it. Hum, it has a rather calm, pleasant label....

Specs:

Full Name: 'Otter Summer Ale
Brewed By: Otter Creek Brewing
From: Middlebury VT
ABV: Unknown, probably 5-6% I'm guessing

So, this is a very light wheat ale, easy to drink without much distraction. A good beer to have out on a summer evening while watching the sunset. This brewery makes a palie that is 11% ABV, so may have to track it down.

Hopefully I will be back on track tonight again, with 260 more to go... ;>)

Day 104 Hite

So, what day is this....friday I think for at least another 40 minutes. Now we're back in Natick MA and back to Herndon tomorrow, hopefully at a reasonable hour. The good news is, I have a very promising beer that my brother Rick gave me that he brought back from CA to have when I can stay in one place for a few hours.

So, this one claims to be "clean, crisp and fresh". Hum, I would put it in the category of a drink this only if your other options are mass domestic, anything fruit flavored or a belgian style. You could probably drink a whole lot of this, if that was your main goal.

Specs:

Full Name: Hite Beer
Brewed By: Hite Brewery
From: Seoul Korea
ABV: 4.8%

No pic tonight, too tired to deal with it. What is crazy, is that I didn't have time to stop and find some New England mirco-brews for my pipeline. It seems I may have to go back to Maine in a few weeks to actually do some repairs, so hopefully I'll be able to do that then.

Cheers!