Arrogant Bastard Ale (2 toasts)

Honestly, i might have given this 1 toast, but it gets an extra toast because the bottle is awesome.  The bottle declares,  "This is an aggressive ale.  You probably won't like it".  And, yeah, i don't like it.  It's just a big bottle of high alcohol content bitterness.  Kind of like my last breakup!  HA!  Anyway.  The two fun parts of this beer are the bottle (delightfully tongue in cheek...i think) and the alcohol content (7.2% in 22 fl oz!).  The taste just doesn't make it worthwhile, though (of course i drank all of it!).

So go read the bottle, but don't buy it, unless you enjoy an "unprecedented and uncompromising celebration of intensity".  I didn't.

Cheers!

Peter's Brand Classics Pilsner (3 toasts)

What an odd beer.  It was actually very dry and lemony and had some bitterness.  It was kind of the color of butter but was very light.  Made me feel nouveau riche drinking out of can from Germany.

It's a Dutch Style Pilsner (Lager) made in Germany.  I would check it out just for the hellavit, but I don't think I'd make a habit of drinking this beer.  I got it from Trader Joe's.  It was about a buck for one 16 oz can and 5% alcohol.

Cheers!

Old Thumper Ale (4 toasts)

I went to Yankee Pier in Santana Row with my Mom this weekend and had an Old Thumper.  I had to get it because of the name and the waiter said it was an old style English ale, which sounded intriguing.  It was originally made by Ringwood Brewery in England, but they contracted with Shipyard Brewing Company in Portland, Maine to bring it to the U.S.  It's a pretty enjoyable beer.  I had a fairly greasy meal, so it was pretty refreshing.  It is slightly hoppy and bitter and a little floral.  I probably wouldn't drink this on its own, but it's nicely balanced to pair with a good old English meal.  It comes in a huge bottle, but it's pretty low on the alcohol (about 5.6%), so go ahead and drink the whole thing!

Cheers!

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!

Boatswain Chocolate Stout (4 toasts)

The first thing I thought when I smelled it was, "Whoa, chocolate!  This is a good sign."  But then I tasted it and it tasted like bacon.  This is not necessarily a bad thing, but bacon beer is a little strange.  Upon further tasting, it didn't taste chocolaty at all.  In fact, there is more coffee than chocolate.  I almost want to put a little milk in it.  I am going to go out on a limb here and say that this is a breakfast beer!  I really want some eggs, pancakes, and bacon right now.

I think I'm getting the coffee vibe because it was brewed with real cocoa powder, which can taste rather like coffee (dark and acidic).  By the way, the whole bottle doesn't taste like bacon.  That was just my first impression.

Boatswain (pronounced bosun) is from a small brewery in Wisconsin.  I picked it up from Trader Joe's for $2.  I would drink this on its own or with a fatty meal (like breakfast or a beef stew).  But don't drink it expecting to find a Hershey's bar inside.  This is actually much better than Hershey's.

Cheers.

Sam Adams Whitewater IPA (3 toasts)

I promise to do something other than Sam Adams soon.  They were just such a darn good deal.

Disclaimer:  I hate IPAs.  They are too bitter and hoppy for me.  But I put my big girl panties on so that I could review this beer for you.  You're welcome.

So, the SA Whitewater IPA.  This is the working man's IPA.  Pretty smooth and nicely hopped.  It's a little sweet and woody.  If you want an easy drinking IPA, this is for you.  I wouldn't pick this beer up again because it is too bitter for me.  I even drank it warm to see if I could cut the bitterness a bit.  But no, it's still like chewing on pine needles.  If I did want to drink this again, I would want to be on a warm beach with an attractive man fanning me.  Besides this being a warm weather beer, who can complain about beer when you are on a beach with a hottie?

Jim Koch says, "This hazy brew combines the crisp character of a white ale wit the intense pine and citrus flacors of an India Pale Ale.  We took this unique combination to a new level wit the subtle addition of apricots, which provide a slight sweetness to balance the bitterness of the hops."

Cheers!

Sam Adams Alpine Spring (3 toasts)

I got the Brewer's Choice Sam Adams box recently (hey, SA is a good value, ok?).  I just popped open the Alpine Spring, "a bright citrusty unfiltered lager".  It is made with Tettnang hops from the Alps, pale malts, and honey malts.

Hm.  The verdict is out.  There is a lemony note at the back for sure.  And it does taste and feel unfiltered (Hefey).  It smells pretty good...fruity and floral.  I'm not 100% sure I like it because it's kind of like drinking lemonade beer, but I can see it being refreshing on a hot day.  Too bad it's in the 50s here.  Good thing I turned my thermostat to 80!  FIESTA!

I honestly can't make up my mind about this one.  Maybe I'll try it again in the summer and let you know.  For now, though, I'm just saying "meh".

Cheers!

Sam Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale (4 toasts)

I just baked my Halloween pumpkins and I'm finally working my way through the last of the Sam Adams Harvest Collection.  It was pretty awesome...and I'm talking about both the pumpkin and the beer.

Aaahhhh...I'm glad I kept some of this beer.  It brings me right back to pumpkin pie season.  Seriously, this beer is like drinking the holidays.  It's super spicy.  It's kind of like someone took a Hefe and threw in some pumpkin pie spices.  I would throw in an orange slice if I had any other food in the house besides beer and pumpkins.  (But, let's be real here, what else do you really need?  Oh...besides the oranges.)

Speaking of those pumpkins, those gorgeous, tasty treats.  Just cut one in half, set it cut side down on an oven safe tray, and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes (longer for a large pumpkin).  Turn it over, slather it with butter, bake it a few minutes longer, and enjoy.  I usually just eat mine right out of the pumpkin shell with butter, but sometimes I'll mix in pasta or other veggies.  They also do make an awesome container to roast a variety of fillings.  They are great because they last forever and they go great with beer.

Cheers!

Nero's Red Ale and Double Dark Malt Ale (3 toasts)

I got these at Trader Joe's for about $5 each and there's about two glasses of beer in each super cool bottle, so it's a fair deal.  The beer is just so-so though.  They are both Italian Craft Ales.  I have no idea what Italian beers are typically like, but I think I'll stick to the wine while I'm over there.

Let's start with the Apecchio Red Ale.  It was a light golden red and smelled like roasted nuts.  The flavor was interesting, roasted nuts and lemon, but not enough to keep me interested.  It wasn't too hoppy or too malty, so some might find this fairly well balanced, but it just lost my interest pretty quickly.

The second is the 1st Century Double Dark Malt Ale.  It's not dark at all.  In fact it's a light yellow-brown.  It doesn't have a noticeable smell, but my nose is shot, so you'll have to let me know if you smell anything.  The taste does live up to its name:  it is super malty.  But it's too sweet on the back of my palate and it kind of grosses me out.

Does anyone have an opinion on these or other Italian beers?

Cheers!

MGD (5 nostalgic toasts, 2 real toasts)

Ahh, Miller Genuine Draft...that cold filtered, fresh from the tap taste.  As in fresh from the water tap?  Yes, it's a bit watery and slightly tastes of beer, but it is pretty refreshing in sultry Arizona.  I'm in Arizona for Thanksgiving and I love being here with my grandparents because they have "Beer Time".  Sometime in the afternoon they announce "Beer Time!" and pull out a couple cans of MGD and, because a love of all alcohol runs in the family, I join in.  We sit around and gab with our MGDs in a nice air conditioned house while every other poor soul around us swelters in the heat without the blessings of Beer Time.

Yes, it tastes like flavored water, but everytime I pass a case of MGD in the store, I get a little misty for those times with my grandparents.  So, this holiday, I am thankful for Beer Time with my grandparents and MGD.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sam Adams Irish Red (4 toasts)

You know, I'm a dark beer kinda gal, but I can't eat my beer all the time.  Sometimes I have a hankering for a lighter dark beer.  That's where my Red Ales come to the rescue.  These dark red, malty, yet refreshing ales have partied with me for many years.  Sam Adams makes a good one.  It's malty and goes well with just about any food without being overpowering.  It is a little light flavored for my tastes, but you still get a good dose of caramel in there.  This is one of the beers in their Harvest Collection.  You get 12 beers of 6 varieties (all are really good...the other beers will be reviewed soon) for about $13 on sale at Lucky's.

I paired my glass with a veggie pizza from Mt. Mike's in San Jose.  What can I say?  Beer and pizza love each other and want to get married and have little bezza babies.

What Sam Adams had to say about the Irish Red:  "This rich and malty ale originated in Ireland in 1710.  It has a deep red color and distinctive caramel flavor from its pale and caramel malts.  The malt sweetness is balanced by the earthy notes of the East Kent Goldings hops.  Cheers!"

I concur.  Cheers!

Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha (5 toasts)

I have to take a break from my regularly scheduled program to bring you this little piece of heaven.  I tried this masterpiece this morning and I actually considered forsaking all men and running away with it.  It was very persuasive.  For those of you who have a love affair with salt and fat, this is the holiday drink for you.  It's a regular mocha with a little caramel, lovingly topped with whipped cream, caramel, and sea salt.  I couldn't stop drinking it and I actually want one now, even though it's almost 9 pm.  I know salt with caramel and chocolate sounds gross, but it's actually the best combination.  EVER.  Seriously, go get one.

I'm going to try to make my own because I don't think I can afford to pay $3.50 everyday for a tall coffee (although calling this coffee is liking calling the Mona Lisa a little doodle).  I'll let you know how I do.


Cheers!

St. Somewhere Syrah (5 toasts)

2009 St. Somewhere Syrah by Castoro Cellars, Paso Robles
$10 at Trader Joes

This is an exclusive vintage made especially for the west coast Trader Joes and it is a surprising find for the price.  If you find some at your local TJs, pick up a case because it is available for a limited time.  You really can't beat the value of this wine, and with the holidays coming up, you'll need something cheap, but good, to take to all those parties.

This wine doesn't have much of a nose, but it has a great essence of dark fruit, such as blackberries.  There's a hint of tannins and a little acid on the back, but it doesn't linger on the palate.  It's very clean and doesn't interfere with food.  The problem is that most foods will overpower this wine, so it is best drunk on its own.

Cheers!