Bavaria and Kokanee (2 toasts each)

Bavaria from Holland:  Ever had MGD?  Yeah, it's like that.  You'd think they'd be able to make something better if they've been making beer since 1719.

Kokanee from Canada:  Ever had water?  Yeah, it's like that.  I guess that's what they meant by "Glacier Fresh Beer".


Neither of these beers are bad...they're just boring.  Honestly, I would have expected better from Canada and Holland, but I guess you can't get it right every time.

Buy something else and Cheers to good beer!

Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat (5 toasts)

Ya'll have to try this beer.  It is so unique.  It's pretty smooth and balanced but it has a really unusual flavor.  It's really lemony, but it has this floral quality to it, like sipping on roses.  It's a cloudy orange, so you can imagine that it's on the hefe side of things.

This is from a brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin that's been making beer since 1867, so you figure they've had a few years to kind of figure it out.  I actually love this beer.  It's satisfying, smooth, balanced, and something that I can enjoy no matter the weather.

This is from my mix and match pack from Lucky's for $9.  Go get it!!

Cheers!

Sierra Nevada Ruthless (2 toasts)

I am not a hops girl.  This auburn IPA is super hoppy and bitter.  It is also kind of spicy and a lot citrusy with some nice oaky fullness on the back.  That was actually the only part I liked:  the end.  I drank it all, of course; I wouldn't waste beer!  I wouldn't drink this again unless it was the only thing available.

I got this as part of a mix and match pack at Lucky's for $9.  A little expensive, but I get to have a selection so that I don't disappoint my fans.  ;)  I have to say, the selection in their mix and match section isn't that great.  But I picked up some beers that I have never tried before and I hope you enjoy the reviews.

Cheers!

Erdinger Hefeweizen (3 toasts)

I went to Zonatto's recently to do some wine tasting and I picked up a few beers on sale at the same time.  I got a couple pint bottles.  The Erdinger Hefeweizen is a bottle fermented German beer.  It's a pretty typical Hefe, although it's a little thicker and yeastier than I'm used to...probably a result of bottle fermenting.  It's pretty cloudy and orange, thick and yeasty.  It actually has a pretty good orange flavor.  It was pretty carbonated, and I really don't like a lot of carbonation, so I wasn't thrilled about that.  Basically, if you like Hefes, you'll like this.

Cheers!

Sam Adams Mighty Oak Ale (4.5 toasts)

Want MOAR!  I had the Mighty Oak Ale from Samuel Adams and it is certainly tasty!  This is an everywoman's beer.  It's smooth, red, malty, and a little oaky, but not overwhelming.  My favorite part is the heavy dose of vanilla.  It's actually a lot like the Chicken Coop Scottish Ale I had recently.  *drool*  Seriously, this vanilla red ale rocks and it's such a great everyday beer.  It's not too light or too heavy.  It had just enough malt and is really smooth, so it goes with everything.  Buy this.  Is goot!

Cheers!

Sonoma Chicken Coop Beers (4 and 3 toasts)

Is this a Bay Area thing?  I personally love the Coop.  Good food, good beer, well run.  A little crowded though, as everyone else agrees with me.  I went there recently for a friend's birthday and tried two of their beers.

1.  Scottish Ale:  4 toasts.  This dark brown ale was very smooth and had notes of vanilla.  It was a lot lighter tasting than it looks, but it was very enjoyable.  I would get this again with just about any dish.

2.  Belgian XXXX:  3 toasts.  They had to serve this in a smaller glass because it had about 13% alcohol.  Just one of those (after the Scottish Ale, of course) put me into the "dancing on table tops" danger zone.  I would recommend taking it easy with these unless you want to wake up next to a complete stranger in Zimbabwe.  I don't think I would ever get one of these again, and a lot of people at my table agreed, but I could imagine that a certain population would really like this beer.  It's a dessert beer: intensely syrupy cider with notes of licorice and molasses.

Now I want their shrimp and avocado salad with a glass of the Scottish Ale.  Yum!
Cheers!