As I mentioned in an earlier post, like millions of people around the globe my New Year’s resolution was to lose a bit of weight this year. Improving a fitness regime or weight loss is the number one New Year’s resolution. Unlike past years I have stuck to my guns it is almost February and I am still exercising and eating well. To date I am down 10 pounds and slowly losing the beer gut. Sadly this regime has me sans beer. Read the rest of this entry »

With all the hubbub surrounding this beer, I was sure that said hubbub would result in its rarity and great difficulty in my being able to find it. Little did I know that my local grocery store Hy-Vee and their outstanding Wine & Spirits department would come through for me again (and again… and again…). I grabbed the last two sixers of Bell’s Hopslam that they had and quickly squirreled it away to be sampled in the near future. Read the rest of this entry »

Already the brand of choice for beer drinkers who want to enjoy a crisp, refreshing beer with few calories, Select 55 is now introducing smaller-sized cans and bottles. Now available at retailers nationwide, Select 55 “Little Lights” include sleek eight-ounce, 35-calorie cans, available in 12-packs; and seven-ounce, 32-calorie clear glass bottles, available in six-packs. Read the rest of this entry »

I was way overdue for a beer from Stone. The fact that I can’t remember the last one I had is not a good indicator. Today I resolve this dilemma by cracking open a bottle of their 2011 “Odd Year” Belgo Anise Imperial Russian Stout. As the name suggests it’s a big ol’ imperial stout to which Stone has added a Belgian yeast strain and, according to the bottle, “liberal amounts of star anise.” If that doesn’t sound delicious enough, they then “oak” the beer using oak chips! It sounds like a whole heap of delicious, but when it was released there were some mixed reviews. Shall we find out for ourselves? Let’s pour! Read the rest of this entry »

Despite the sluggish economic recovery, consumers are continuing to dine out. According to data in the newly released Cheers On-Premise BARometer Handbook, published by The Beverage Information Group, many customers are seeking a more sophisticated experience when eating out and when ordering adult beverages. Bartenders must stay on top of trends such as “culinary cocktails,” artisanal spirits, specialty non-alcoholic drinks, regional wines and organic and micro-brewed beers to keep customers’ interest. Read the rest of this entry »

I see these beers nearly everywhere I go and could only go so long without trying them out. Instead of drinking them one-by-one, I figure why not put them head to head and see how different they really are. Bad Elf takes on Very Bad Elf in a slugfest of miniature proportions (they are Elves after all). Let’s pour!

First up Bad Elf

Aroma 9/12: My first sensation was that of tart apples and white grapes – the type of grapes one finds in a bottle of sparkling grape juice. Citrus hops are not far behind and provide a hint of herbs and a stronger, syrupy apricot scent. The alcohol warmth can be detected on the back of the throat with a deep inhale and the malts finally show up toward the end. There is a little hay aroma and a molasses sweetness that blends with the other scents so well it’s hard to detect. This is fairly perfume-like, for better or worse, and the ingredients all come together very well. If you like esters, you’re in luck, especially since as the beer warms it takes on more honey and floral characteristics from the hops. Read the rest of this entry »

The Samuel Adams brewers are teaming up with social media enthusiast, Guy Kawasaki, for the first ever Samuel Adams Crowd Craft Project to create a crowd-sourced beer. Via an interactive Facebook application, Samuel Adams and Guy are calling on their Twitter, Facebook and Google+ friends and fans – not to mention all beer lovers – to weigh in on aspects of a beer from color and clarity to the flavor profile.

Beer is social and history shows that many great ideas have been formed over a good beer. Through this program, Samuel Adams and Guy Kawasaki are looking to take this experience online. Guy has the same passion for social media and inspiring innovation that Samuel Adams has for high quality craft beer. From his experience, he’s seen great ideas born from mass conversations, and it’s this type of collective imagination that will make this social collaboration brew a standout. Read the rest of this entry »

Today brings to mind the old adage, “Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.” After unseasonably warm “winter” weather (50s, sunny), and many complaints about the lack of snow we finally got this winter’s first snow. And it’s still falling. I’ve shoveled snow twice today and I have a strong feeling that I’m going to again in the morning.

It should then go without saying that today’s appropriately chosen beer to review will be New Belgium’s Snow Day Winter Ale. I obtained this bottle from their Folly variety 12-pack and have thoroughly enjoyed the other bottles. As with the previous day’s review, this beer really surprised me by straying far from they “typical” Christmas/winter seasonal. Read the rest of this entry »

The weather in IL is a bit odd for this time of year. Granted, the weather in the midwest is always odd, giving rise to the expression, “You don’t like midwest weather? Wait 5 minutes,” but we generally have an expected pattern. This pattern is being mocked by Mother Nature and she has been giving us 50-degree days throughout January. However, tonight is supposed to give rise to a less-than-punctual Old Man Winter and we might even get some snow. It’s just the type of thing to put me in the mood for more winter/Christmas seasonal beers. Today’s review will be Mikkeller’s Santa’s Little Helper. It’s a Belgian ale whose 10.9% ABV should help me land on the naughty list next year. Let’s pour! Read the rest of this entry »

The brewers at Samuel Adams have crafted a brand new seasonal beer, Samuel Adams Alpine Spring. This beer has the balanced maltiness and hoppiness of a helles, the strength and smoothness of a bock, and the unfiltered haze of a kellerbier. Although it’s categorized as an unfiltered wheat lager, this one-of-a-kind beer transcends any one style, and the crisp, citrus flavor notes make it a perfect offering for spring. Read the rest of this entry »

Anheuser-Busch, the U.S. subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, today named Blaise D’Sylva to lead its U.S. media, sports and entertainment marketing division, responsible for directing the company’s category-leading investments in growing its brands through media, sports and entertainment marketing properties at both the national and local levels. D’Sylva will report to Paul Chibe, Vice President of U.S. Marketing and joins the company on January 16. Read the rest of this entry »

Chang Beer, the popular lager from Thailand, announced it has signed on as the title sponsor of the 2012 season of Friday Night Fights, featuring Muay Thai Kickboxing. Muay Thai has grown in popularity in the United States, and Chang is leading the charge to reach more athletes and audiences in the U.S. Chang, the official sponsor of Thailand’s most renowned boxing stadium, Lumpinee, is a longtime supporter of Muay Thai. The brand’s longstanding association with the sport makes this title sponsorship a natural next step. Read the rest of this entry »

I know… I know… I said I was done with the pumpkin beers and honestly I thought I was. I had completely exhausted my supply and so had the stores so that was the end of it, right? Wrong. My beer trading buddy Keith sent me a beer mail yesterday and it was a doozy! Check out this quality selection!

With that selection in mind, there will be two more pumpkin ale reviews before this year is finished. Tonight’s happens to be for the larger of the two bottles, Cigar City’s Good Gourd out of Tampa, FL. If you’ve been paying attention at all, you know I love pumpkin ales. So without any further ado, let’s pour! Read the rest of this entry »

Among the things I’ve asked Santa for, there is a tin Rahr and Sons sign that I’ve had my eye on, but alas, my wife will not let me spend money on making her space look like a bar. The only good thing that this restriction has created is offering more money to spend on the wonderful beers this company produces. While I have not always been so kind to some of their normal production line, this company produces some of the most exceptional one offs and seasonal brews this drinker has experienced. Read the rest of this entry »

We are kicking off the new year with 99 bottles of beer on our wall! This entire year we will be featuring 99 different beers from dozens of different breweries. We will be have beer tastings of whatever we’re featuring each Wednesday from 5-8pm, as well as discounts on the beer or beers we’re featuring. Read the rest of this entry »

3rd party testing lab Consumer Reports recently did a blinded controlled testing of ten popular lagers. The only standout of the ten was Coors which scored “very good” for taste and value. Coors also delivered a solid whooping to InBev rivals Budweiser and Bud Light in both taste and value categories.

The big surprise here is Budweiser and Bud Light from Anheuser-Busch InBev NV (BUD) (NYSE)‎ didn’t even place in the value category. Adding insult to injury is AB was beaten out by Trader Joe’s store brand Tag contract brewed by Minhas Craft Brewery and Walgreen’s store brand Big Flats brewed by Genesee Brewing Company. Walgreens? Come on man! Read the rest of this entry »