Boys Buy Beer! Lesson: 2

Hello Ladies (and you occasional Gents)! I sincerely apologize for keeping you waiting on the second installment of my friends lessons in beer buying! Here it is though... and just so you know, it was totally worth the wait. 

Beer’s been around for approximately 8,000 years. A long time for us to appreciate the historic, economic, and cultural value of the stuff!

There are some beers that have been made of anything from baked bread (ancient Egypt) to human spit (ancient South American cultures).

Fortunately, most of the beer we’re able to get at the local market today is spit free (although there are a few very experimental brewers out there, such as DogFish Head, that’s still trying out primitive brewing methods).

The beers that I like are beverages that give a good feeling, that aren’t made with a lot of unnatural starches and sugars. Those tend to lead to headaches, upset stomachs, and bad attitudes.

I really enjoy beers that taste great, at almost any temperature. Many of the beers that I’m recommending can be enjoyed fresh from the fridge, or at room temperature, and a little flat. If I can enjoy a beer that’s a little flat, and a little warm- based on taste alone- I know I’ve found a really good one!

I hope that you’ll be able to explore and expand your pallet, trying and enjoying new tastes and new experiences with some of the beers I’m recommending.

I think that if you’re able to keep an adventurous spirit about you, you’ll be able to find some really unique 

tastes that you might never have experienced!

Turn over a new leaf, and be adventurous! Challenge your taste-buds, and take them to places they’ve never been before!

New Belgium Snow Day (Seasonal)*

As promised, New Belgium is popping up again with this splendid seasonal Winter Ale. Snow Day is a medium-dark beer, and heavier than your typical Lager or Ale. The brew is made with darker malts, and features a great balance of lightly spicy and floral hops.

Snow Day has well-balanced caramel flavors, perfectly intertwined with dark chocolate and faint hints of heavier fall spices.

When I first tried Snow Day, I was struck by just how fitting a Winter Ale it really is. It’s very drinkable; no overtly strong flavors stand out. This beer really nails it- The perfect brew for that blustery  Snow Day!

*Make sure to check this one out soon, it is a seasonal and will come out of most distributers’ rotation by mid-February!

Brewery: New Belgium, Fort Collins, Colorado

ABV: 6.2%

Expect to pay: $8.00-$10.00 / 6pk

Pairings: Corn Chowder, Grilled Chicken or Steak Panini, Roasted Grouper, Rib-eye

Bells Brewer Best Brown Ale (Seasonal)*

Delicious fall flavors highlight this malty, delicious brew. It’s a darker-brown Ale (as title suggests), with hints of cocoa and caramel and toasted walnuts and pecans. This delicious brew is heavy enough to stand up as an early winter ale, but lacks the heaviness of many of its more malty, heavy companions.

I really enjoy this brew (especially when available on tap), and find it to be a refreshing break from the normal overly spiced cool-weathered brews expected around this time of year. American grown hops balance out the smooth caramel malty taste, and give this a beautifully sweet start and finish. It’s light enough for the fire-pit evening with friends, and heavy enough to keep you warm when the fire dies down. Bell’s Best Brown Ale is a must have for this holiday season!

*Available throughout the fall and winter seasons only!

Brewery: Bell’s Brewery, Galesburg, Michigan

ABV: 5.8%

Expect to pay: $8.00 - $10.00 / 6 pk

Pairings: Session, Goat-Cheese Pasta, Fillet Mignon

Wild Blue Blueberry Lager

This Lager is a rush of fresh Blueberry flavor in a way you’ve never encountered! I include this in the “medium color” because of just that- color!

This is a delicious summertime brew, but beware! The heavier ABV makes this perfect cool-weather reminder of what summer can taste like, a suitable concoction for cool-weather gatherings!

I love this Lager for two simple reasons: Blueberries, and ABV. I won’t lie- this is a great buy on a budget if you’re looking for a great fizzy summery taste, without putting a lot of money into your content.

As stated, this lager does have a heavier alcoholic content than most lager, but  I think that’s what makes it a better summer-nostalgic brew than the average summer sipper- (we all know it’s easier to knock back a few rather than just one or two when it’s hot out).

Fresh Blueberry Juice comes through strong and clear, with a mild taste of hops and spice to balance out the sweetness. For those of you who are migrating from the “near-beer” or “malt-beer” flavors and brands, (you know the Smir(@ff brands that I speak of) this is a great transition for you. Just take care; this Blueberry lager is extremely easy to drink- Very sweet, very mild on the pallet, but it’s mildness in flavor is paid back on the senses!

Brewery: Blue Dawg Brewing, Baldwinsville, New York

ABV: 8.0%

Expect to pay: $7.00 - $9.00/ 6 pk

Pairings: Pork Tenderloin, Fried Chicken, Chedderwurst

Terrapin Rye Pale Ale

As a resident of Georgia, I refuse to allow myself the luxury of being partial to a local brewery. If it’s good, it’s good. If it’s not.. then well, you won’t see it on this short review.

I’ve had only a couple of this Athens Georgia Brewery’s beer, and I think very highly of this particular selection. It’s not quite an IPA, it’s not quite a plain old Ale. Terrapin has found a really nice, happy medium between the ultra-hoppy, and the ultra malty-sweet ales.

This brew makes me see a lot of promise in Terrapin, but the brew itself, featuring five different blends of hops, shows a great maturity in the brew-master at this brewery.

This is a brew that will truly capture any beer-lover’s attention, no matter your preference. The balance of hops, spices, and blend of rye malts, promises an excellent session or dinner beer. I guarantee you will not be disappointed in one of Athens’ finest brews!

Brewery: Terrapin Brewery, Athens, Georgia

ABV: 5.5%

Expect to pay: $7.00-$9.00 / 6 pk

Pairings: Burgers, Chili, Pizza, Grilled Corn & Zucchini, Cranberry & Honey-Cream Grits

Yuengling Black & Tan

This is another of Yuengling’s excellent brews, and I’m happy to report it’s quite dandy!

Yuengling mixes their premium Lagers with their Porter (also an excellent brew by itself) to create this medium bodied, coffee and chocolate flavored taste fest!

The caramel flavor is evident from the first sniff of the beer, and the coffee comes soon after. I’ve always found these to bring a delicious hint of chocolate to the mix (or maybe that’s the original intent of the brewer). Overall, this is another excellent brew with a very drinkable flavor at a great price from Yuengling.

In all seriousness, if your price tag is on the lower side, this is a brewery that you really need to check out. These guys have some great year-round brews, complimented by seasonal and regional selections at a price that cannot be beat!

Brewery: Yuengling Brewing Company, Pottsville, Pennsylvania

ABV: 4.7%

Expect to pay: $6.00-$8.00 / 6pk

Pairings: Turkey & Pastrami Subs, Shrimp & Grits, Sushi or Sashami  

Brought to you by my dear friend & ghost-writer:

-Phil Harmonic Smorgasbord

Boys Buy Beer! Lesson: 1

Phil knows beer. His wife and I have been friends for years and Brett and I have really enjoyed becoming closer friends of theirs over the past few months. While we were out on a double lunch date Sunday, I asked Phil if he would share is knowledge of brews and suggest a few favorites with my readers who were looking for an alternative Christmas gift for their beaus. He took the task with pleasure (with a grinning Brett being a willing taste tester) and has offered not one but 3 posts of information to share! So if your guy likes light, medium, or dark beers... you (and him) are in for a treat; served with a world of knowledge! This is the first of a 3 week series. Up first this week: light brews.

Change can be hard, but let’s face it; the same old bland flavored beer just isn’t cutting it anymore.

This Holiday Season, why not treat your guy to some new (or tried and true) beers! Some may be familiar, some may sound weird; but all of them are delicious in their own unique way. I hope that within this list, you’re able to try at least a couple (why not all?) of these quality beers this holiday season, and on throughout the year. Most of the beers included are available year-round, though availability may depend your location. I live on the East Coast United States, and most of these are available all over the U.S.- if not, just bug your local beer store until they get it in for you!

First off, let’s quickly run through some beer definitions to make it easier to work through this small, essential guide for that perfect, fridge-stuffer this season:

ABV – This means how much alcohol is in the brew. Your average beer is around 5%; and your average wine is around 12%.

Hops – This is a plant that’s used to provide a bitter flavor to beers. Historically, hops were used to help preserve beer during long transports by ship from England to Indian colonies. The taste of hops in beer grew in time, and is now considered an essential element in brewing. India Pale Ale’s or IPA’s are the representative of this trend.

BUI – This determines how many “Bittering Units are in a beer. Often this is used when describing a “hoppy” beer (a plant used to make beer have a more bitter taste). Typically, you’ll only really want to know this number when buying a beer that’s specially made to have a “hoppier” or more bitter  flavor, like an IPA (India Pale Ale)

Mouth-Feel – This describes how the beer sits on the pallet. For example; milk has a much different “mouth-feel” from a soda. Soda has a much more crisp and clean mouth feel, where-as milk could be described has having a more malty mouth-feel.

Malty – This is a term to describe a beer with a full body. Think of it like drinking a “malt milk-shake” to understand the term. A more malty beer will have a thicker “mouth-feel”, and typically tends to be a little sweeter.

*Some beers are meant to be enjoyed at warmer temperatures- Icing these kinds of beers down to frigid temperatures often hides a lot of subtle notes and hints that the brewer meant for you to experience and enjoy! Always follow the recommended serving instructions on the bottle. If there are none, then it’s safe to assume normal fridge temperature is the best way to enjoy.

Now on to some great brews!

Allagash Belgian Style Wheat

This is a delicious un-filtered wheat beer. It’s cloudy in color, yet clear and crisp in taste. Notes of Nutmeg, citrusy combinations of lemon, orange, and tangerine give it a wonderful earthy flavor and mouth-feel. This delightful Belgian has a really nice, light texture with no overbearing flavors.

Truly a beer for all occasions, it’s light enough to enjoy on a hot day in mid-summer, yet provides enough depth and character to be a wonderful brew for those chilly, autumn nights by the fire .

I was greatly impressed with the character and flavor of this beer. Not overly heavy, syrupy or bitter; it’s a wonderful balance of spice and citrus, and a perfect year-round beer.

Brewery: Allagash Brewing Company, Portland, Maine

ABV: 5.0%

Price Range: $10 / 4pk

Pairings: Salads, Goat Cheese, Grilled Chicken

Yuengling Lager

No doubt you’ve seen Yuengling in stores recently. This historic company is the second largest
micro-brewery in the U.S., and distribution continues to grow at a very steady pace. I first encountered Yuengling Lager while living in Pennsylvania and was pleasantly surprised to find a delicious crisp and clean Amber Lager.

The brewery is touted as America’s Oldest, dating back to 1829, and its tradition of producing fine-quality beer is clearly shown with their flagship brew.

Yuengling’s Amber Lager has a darker color than a standard American Style Lager but still maintains a very light, easily drinkable body and texture. This is a great beer for either warm or cool weather, with an unassuming, yet satisfying quality.

Yuengling boasts nothing special and nothing fancy. It’s just a great anytime beer for a really good price! I definitely recommend this for anyone looking to break out of the mold of the same old American Lager- the quality is that of some more expensive craft American Lagers, but with a price that rivals even the cheapest mass-produced beer on the market!

Brewery: Yuengling Brewing Company, Pottsville, Pennsylvania

ABV: 4.4%

Expect to pay: $6.00-$8.00 / 6pk

Pairings: Chicken Fajitas, Fried or Grilled Catfish, Pizza, Burgers, (goes well with just about anything!) 

Magic Hat #9

This is a Pale Ale Style beer with extra spice (can you tell I like the spicy beers?). There are hints of Clove, Nutmeg, Allspice, combined with a nice balance of citrusy Apricot. Magic Hat’s #9 is wonderful on tap or bottled, and a must-try for new flavor seekers!

Magic Hat is a great brewery- They definitely are willing to experiment, and my Hat is off to them for that reason alone. There are a lot of other flavors (seasonal and year-round) that Magic Hat puts out, but #9 has become one of my absolute favorite, staple Magic Hat Brews.

There’s enough hoppiness to keep the beverage lively, and yet it’s balanced out with a nice light-medium body of spices.

This one is great for those just who want to test the waters beyond the typical American Lager or Pale Ale. While, not overly aggressive, #9 still holds enough intrigue for even the snobbiest of your self-proclaimed beer  connoisseur friends.

Brewery: Magic Hat, Burlington, Vermont

ABV: 5.10%

Expect to pay: $7.00-$9.00 / 6pk

Pairings: Zesty Chicken, Pizza Margarita, Smoked Salmon

Weyerbacher (why-er-bock-er) Merry Monks’ Belgian Style Golden Ale

Merry Monks is a Belgian Style Abby Tripel (think of a really stout Pale Ale). It has a really nice creamy texture and mouth-feel with very subtle hints of banana.

The traditional Belgian yeast is very apparent and gives the beer a very complex flavor, and very sweet as well. This has no real bitterness, and is a real pleasure to drink!

Merry Monks’ is a great cool weather Ale; it’s a very warming drink. You’ll notice an almost wine-like quality to it with a moderately dry finish. Overall, this is one of the sweeter, more robust, complex and thoughtful beers that I’ve been able to try, and I think you’ll really find a wonderfully similar experience.

*Extra tip- This beer is conditioned in the bottle (a bit of yeast and sugar is added at the time of bottling to give it that extra creamy carbonation) Try storing a couple of bottles out of sunlight for a few months (at around 55-60 degrees)– This conditioning process helps keeps it fresh and will continue to mature the Ale, allowing for a drier and crisper characteristic.

Brewery: WeyerBacher, Easton, PA

ABV: 9.3%

Expect to pay: $10.00-$12.00 / 6pk

Pairings: Fresh Baked Bread, Rueben Sandwich, Pipe Tobacco and a good book

New Belgium Ranger IPA

I’ll go ahead and warn you, you’ll be seeing a couple of New Belgium’s brews on this blog posting, and there’s a good reason!

Leading off the New Belgium Brews, and finishing off this first set of “lighter” brews, is the Ranger IPA, an American Style India Pale Ale.

Ranger is an experience in delicious Floral, Citrus, and Fruity Hops. This beer is at a reasonable 70 IBU, so right at a good place for a medium IPA.

The beer starts hoppy, has a decent balance of medium/caramel malts, and then has a nice, dry finish with the zest and pop of Citrus Hops again.

The color is a beautiful amber-tone, the body is just malty enough to handle the trifecta of hops. For IPA and Hop lovers, this is a beer that’s easy to have just one more!

Like many of New Belgium’s brews, there’s nothing super [insert adjective here] about this splendid IPA, it’s just really good.

Brewery: New Belgium, Fort Collins, Colorado

ABV: 6.5%

Expect to pay: $8.00-$10.00 / 6pk

Pairings: Burgers, Ribs, Creamy Potato Soup, Grilled Trout

Brought to you by my dear friend & ghost-writer:

-Phil Harmonic Smorgasbord