Aris Greek Lager

Aris Greek Lager

Beer #5 from the parents.

My first taste of a beer from Greece, and it was as expected. It is your typical green bottled Euro Lager. Drinkability is not bad, it is very light with a low ABV so it could replace Stella or Miller Lite or Bud Light. Although I have never seen this beer at a bar or anywhere else, I highly doubt any of my buddies who like this style of beer would choose it over any other.

Light golden color with a very strong skunky smell. Taste is on par with Stella, Heineken et. al. Not my favorite style of beer, but I've had worse.

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: Free
Score: 2 / 5

Happy Drinking!

PS - We are headed to Asheville, NC and Johnson City, TN this weekend so hopefully I will be able to hit up a few brews from Western Carolina. We will be stopping at Bruisin' Ales in Asheville to check out their great selection. They also have a beer blog if you have time to check it out.

Samuel Adams Light

Sam Adams Light

In the light American lager catagory, I think this might be the best entry of them all. Light amber color with a slight amount of head. There is a nice hop flavor but not overwhelming like an IPA or APA. There was also a hint of caramel flavor. This was such a refreshing and clean tasting beer. It can easily be drank a few at a time with no issues.

Since summer started I have been trying to find a lighter flavorful beer because I have not been in the mood for any IPA or heavier beers. The last 2 Sam Adams have hit the spot nicely and I would recommend giving the Light beer a try to anyone.

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: $$
Score: 4 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Snake River Lager

Snake River Lager - Jackson, Wyoming

What a pleasant surprise. Very drinkable beer that looks a lot like an IPA. Nice amber color and smells of sweet caramel and malt. Not much hop flavor coming through, but a very nice alternative. It's not the best beer in the world but easy to drink a few at a time. I had trouble saving one for Cathy to try out of the 6 pack given to me by Thad (can't find Snake River in Cincinnati).

I would recommend this beer to anyone who can get their hands on a six pack. I have also been told that they sell growlers of this out west closer to the brewery and it probably would get any better than that.

Back to regular posting in June. Wedding and honeymoon this weekend!

Who: Thad
Where: Cleveland
Price: FREE
Score: 4 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Pacifico

Pacifico

One of my favorite summer time beers. Best enjoyed with friends on the deck or lounging on the beach.

Mexican pilsner first brewed in the early 1900's and aptly named Beer of the Pacific because the brewery is based in Mazatlan on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Currently brewed by Mexican beer giant Grupo Modelo (mostly owned by Anheuser-Busch).

This beer is what it is, a Mexican Lager. It is in the same boat with Corona, Tecate, Sol. Except in my opinion has a much better flavor and taste. Goes down very easy and doesn't have that skunky after taste of a Corona. I think it outdoes even some of the American lagers like Coors and even Miller Lite (gasp!).

Recommended for anyone. Always better enjoyed with friends!

Who: Cathy
Where: the deck!
Price: $
Score: 4 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Landshark Lager

Landshark Lager from the Margaritaville Brewing Company.

Jimmy Buffett brings us this Island style lager from the songs he sings about. I would guess that this beer is best enjoyed with a big fat cheeseburger with all of the fixins and sitting on your deck or patio with a nice summer breeze blowing.

My brother brought this over to our parents house for Easter lunch since we hadn't tried it yet. It was as expected for a beer from Jimmy Buffett. Think something in between Corona and Bud Light. Now, I'm not one to put Lime in beer, but it just seemed weird that there was no lime and a hot breeze blowing in the background. This beer really made me want the warm weather and honestly I can't wait to kick back with another 6 pack on the porch this summer. It wasn't my favorite beer but once its hotter and I don't want something so bitter and filling, I'll probably grab this before Corona next time.

Who: the family
Where: Mom and Dad's house
Price: Free
Score: 3 / 5

Happy Drinking!

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

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

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