Beer News 02.29.2008

Your Leap Day Beer News!

Two new beers to hit Seattle Market tomorrow
Link: New Beers: Oskar Blues Ten Fidy and Full Sail Bourbon Aged Porter

U.S. craft beer industry shows growth
Link: The size of the craft beer industry grew in 2007, according to a report released Friday by the Brewers Association.

Second Annual Glass City Beer Fest at the Erie Street Market
Link: March 7, 2008

Carlsberg

Coming to us from Copenhagen, Denmark is Carlsberg Beer.

As I stated in the Stella Artois post, this European Green Bottled Lager is not my favorite type of beer. The first (and last) time before this 6-pack that I had Carlsberg was when I was in San Fransisco my Senior year with Luke (2004). It was St. Patrick's day and the last bar we went into was selling these for around $2 and we really couldn't pass that up as poor college kids visiting a big city.

There is a nice smoothness to the beer which makes it go down pretty easy. My problem is with the smell of these types of beers. I really can't get past the skunky smell and it really hinders my experience with the beer. That is probably why it takes me about 4 years in between buying Carlsberg. The reason I bought it this time was to probably take me back to that trip to SF and remember all of the great times we had that week.

Who: Luke
Where: Some bar in San Fransisco
Price: $$
Score: 3 / 5

Beer News 02.28.2008

Bud-Light to enter the Octagon
Link: Busch and UFC ink advertisement deal

It's been another tough year for the beer business in the UK
Link: InBev Reveals Slide in UK Volumes

Stella Artois

Stella Artois Premium Lager.

Coming to us from Belgium, Stella Artois is a very typical North and Western European Lager. It has many similarities to Heineken, Becks, Carlsberg etc. I have this feeling that all Lagers that come in a green bottle have the same sort of skunkiness to its taste.

I'm not saying that I dislike the beer, I just don't perfer this style of beer. A couple of things that I did enjoy: the smoothness of the beer itself, and the crisp clean flavor. Before I knew it I had already downed 2 of them (not bad for a beer that I didn't think that I liked all that much). This style beer is probably best enjoyed in a small beer glass (which I didn't do).

All of this being said, you still probably won't find Stella in my refrigerator anytime soon. 1. Because I currently am working on a 6-pack of Carlsberg (which tastes very similar) and 2. Their are so many more beers out there that I still need to try.

Who: Cathy, Bautista, Angela, Jacob
Where: CB's place
Price: FREE
Score: 3 or 4 /5

Chocolate Beer Can Be A Treat

Link: Chocolate Beer Can Be a Treat

Chrisitan Moerlein - Over-the-Rhine Ale

Cincinnati based brewer Christian Moerlein's Over-the-Rhine Ale. Named after the downtown neighborhood where all of the old breweries used to be. The Moerlein offices are still located there. They were the top brewer in Cincinnati's beer heyday's along with: Hudepohl Brewery, Red Top Brewing Company, the Bavarian Brewing Company, and Burger Brewing Company.

I bought this beer over the weekend as part of my world of beers tour at Allyn's Cafe. I wasn't overly impressed with the Ale. It does have a nice copper color, but I didn't care for the citrus flavor, it almost overwhelmed me. I prefer my cooper ales to be a lot smoother and not nearly as bitter. My friend Bill said he liked it and if he were out at the store, would consider buying a 6 pack. I'm glad I tried it at the bar where I only had to drink 1, because I just wouldn't recommend it to any of my friends. In contrast to the Mt. Carmel Copper Ale (another Cincinnati beer), it just doesn't stand up.

Who: Billy, Emily, Cathy
Where: Allyn's Cafe
Price: $
Score: 1 / 5

Great Lakes - Conway's Irish Ale

Great Lakes Brewing Company - Conway's Irish Ale. From my favorite brewer. GLBC produces what I believe to be one of the best seasonal brews out there. I find myself wishing this beer was available all year round, that is why I probably enjoy it so much (knowing I can only get it 4 months out of the year). It is the Winter/Spring ale brewed from January to April. This typical Irish Ale is a beer best enjoyed with your Irish food favorites (potatoes, corned beef, etc). A little history lesson: the beer is named after the grandfather of the founders of GLBC, Patrick Conway, a Cleveland traffic cop who used to work in the same area as the brewery.

Who: Cathy
Where: The old apartment
Price: $$
Score: 5 /5

Rogue - Santa's Private Reserve

Rogue's Winter Seasonal Brew. Although I do fancy the label on Santa's Private Reserve, I think that maybe Santa should keep his beer reserves to himself. It is a little overbearing with the cinnamon and spices which keeps me from enjoying this Ale. Maybe I just had high hopes since I enjoy the Dead Guy Ale so much. But to be fair I honestly shouldn't have gone in thinking it would be nearly the quality of a beer that is produced 12 months a year. There are plenty of better winter ales out there (see any of the Samuel Adams brews) that I would recommend over this one.

Who: Cody
Where: Nino's Bar (Findlay)
Price: $$
Score: 2ish / 5

Beer prices going up?

LINK: Hops Shortage Spiking Up Beer Prices

Miller High Life

The Champagne of Beers. What else is there to say really?

They do have great commercials with that big guy Wendell. "$12 for a hamburger? You must be CRAZY!".

It really is a good honest beer at a tasty price. My college roommate and I used to kick back and have a few of these when we wanted a change up from Milwaukee's Best Light ("The Beast"). I've also been known to buy 1 every once and awhile when out with friends at the bar. I don't think it has the best taste when it comes to American Lagers, but for the price it's worth it.

Who: Everyone
Where: Everywhere
Price: $
Score: 3 / 5

Brooklyn Brown Ale

Brooklyn Brown Ale. One of my original favorites right after college. Very smooth taste because of it being a brown ale. It is obviously closer to an amber flavored beer, which helps with it being less bitter than that of a pale ale. Easy to recommend this beer to anyone.

Who: Luke, Cathy, Angie
Where: The Comet
Price: $$
Score: 4 / 5

Paulaner Salvator

Paulaner Salvator Double Bock German beer. Another beer I had at Allyn's Cafe in my around the world trip of beers. I remember it having a very smooth chocolate taste (as most bocks do). I don't think I have ever seen this beer at the store. I probably wouldn't buy it all that often, but for a change it can be nice (probably more of a fall/winter brew to me).

Who: Luke and Cathy
Where: Allyn's Cafe
Price: $$$
Score: 3 / 5

Bass

I used to like this beer a lot more than I do now. I drank it first in college when I was trying to get away from the regular American light beers. I really wouldn't recommend this beer to anyone if you asked me for a Pale Ale. I just don't think that England has figured out the Pale Ales like the Americans have.

Who: Unsure
Where: Allyn's Cafe
Price: $$
Score: 2 / 5

Schneider Weisse

Honestly, I really don't remember what it tastes like. We are doing the beers around the world at Allyn's Cafe and you have to drink them all. I would bet that I didn't care for it all that much, since I don't usually like the German Hefeweisen's.

Who: Luke
Where: The Comet (Northside - Cincinnati, OH)
Price: $$$
Score: N/A