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Oskar Blues G’Knight Red Ale

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By: Craft Beer Deer

gknight imperial red aleFirst Impression: As with all beers from Oskar Blues, this Imperial Red comes in a can. The name, not the design, is what caught my attention and led me to purchase this beer from Longmont, CO.

Pour: G’Knight pours a reddish-burgundy, a color that is eerily similar to the Redskins burgundy logo. The head was pretty thick and it stuck around for awhile. A sweet and hoppy aroma accompanied the pour.

Taste: G’Knight would fall somewhere between a Red Ale and an IPA. This beer definitely hides its high alcohol and hop content very well with a nice balance of sweet, malty tastes. If you generally shy away from “knockout”, bitter IPA’s, but are looking for something equally strong, grab a G’Knight Imperial Red and enjoy it with pizza or a burger!

Grade: A-

ABV: 8.7%

IBU: 60

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Nobody Likes an Ass Kisser…

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By: Yelena Keselman

ass kisser aleThis week I tried the Strawberry Wit, a Belgian Style White Ale from Ass Kisser Ales. AKA is a small family owned brewery in San Jose, California established in 2010 and just beginning to make a name for itself in the craft beer industry.

First Impression: From the looks of the brightly colored bottle I got a sense that this was going to be a very sweet brew with an ambitious kick to it.

Pour: As the beer poured it emitted a glassy gold color and was surprisingly less dense than the brewer suggests. The head was a thin ring of white encompassing a sweet berry aroma.

Taste: I was pleasantly surprised to find that the beer didn’t scream of overwhelming fruit flavor. On the other hand it was almost difficult to pinpoint any fruit at all. There is an instant sensation of bitter wheat yet smooth after taste.  My overall impression of the brew was that it could be easily compared to a Pilsner, light in taste and definitely easy to drink, but this one was a bit misleading in terms of the bottle. Although there will not be too much brown nosing coming from me for the Strawberry Wit I do have faith in Ass Kisser Ales and look forward to trying some of their other 4 flavors like the Vanilla Pale ale and the Smoke porter.

ABV: 5.8%

IBU:18

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Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy

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By: Charles Teeman

leinenkugel-summer-shandyUsually when you find something on a clearance rack, there is something wrong with it – maybe the style is from last season or the “sell by date” has passed. However, we all end up meandering on over to the clearance rack to find a hidden treasure. Believe it or not, my local grocery store (Giant) actually has a clearance shelf in their beer aisle. Instant red flag? Usually, yes. Yet, the other day, I noticed something that was worth picking up. I had spotted about a dozen cans of Leinenkugel’s seasonal Shandy – they call it Summer Shandy. Now, I have never tried a Shandy before, but the price was right; at just $1 for a can I couldn’t afford not to try it. Here is my review of Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy:

First Impression: I’m a big fan of the look of Leinenkugel’s labels, and the Summer Shandy was no exception. The lemons on the label almost turned me away, but at the $1 price tag it was worth a shot.

Pour: This beer has a unique lemony wheat smell that was surprisingly pleasant. The head on the beer was nothing special, and didn’t seem to last long. Additionally, the unfiltered beer had a nice yellow color.

Taste: Another surprise. The lemonade flavor was overpowering, yet subdued at the same time. Confused? I was too. I think they nailed the perfect balance of sweet lemonade while maintaining a nice wheat flavor (the Summer Shandy wasn’t too sweet like a Sam Adams Cherry Wheat).

Overall, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy was pleasantly surprising and would be extremely refreshing on a hot summer day!

Grade: B+

ABV: 4.2%

IBU: The Leinenkugel’s website lists the hoppiness as a 2/10

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Light “Beer”

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(This is a reader submitted response to a previous article titled: “What Exactly Is A Beer?“)

By: Nasty Crafty

Recent commercials and fads have begun to lead me towards disgust.  This disgust is referring to the fixation and obsession with low calorie light beers.  I mean folks let’s be honest if you’re worried about your weight then beer is just not for you.  There is no such thing as “great tasting light low calorie” beer, even if you say it with a really deep voice.  This past summer a bunch of my friends and I went to upstate New York to have us some good brews and some fishin. We were watching a movie on Saturday night when all the sudden we ran out of beer.  The local beer store with “actual” beer was closed, so Wal-Mart was our next best bet.  Unfortunately for me and my friends at that point, the only sober man in the room was, yes you guessed it, on a DIET!  So us being a little out of it, told him to use his best judgment.  That was a mistake I’ll soon never forget.  He came back with a 24 pack of CRAP (notice how the brand name doesn’t make a difference because all light beers suck!).

The next morning a bunch of guys bounced and it was just two of my friends (who know what an actual beer taste like) and me.  Fishing hadn’t really been going well for us so we decided to do the next best thing. That’s right, we bought ourselves a sniper BB Gun with a scope. And wouldn’t ya know it we didn’t have to buy targets because they were already sitting at home. Yes that 24 pack of crap had a mission in life, and it’s mission was to be staring down the barrel of a Wal-Mart BB Gun.  We had ourselves the time of our life (plus we were doing so whilst drinking actual beer).

So if you are on a diet, or interested in light low calorie beers, please excuse yourself from the table and do so in your own private area, as doing so is very disrespectful to those of us in the world who know what beer really is.  And that my friends, is anything that isn’t light.

Brews at the Beach 2013

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By: Yelena Keselman

There really aren’t too many things that can surpass spending a day in Santa Barbara with the Pacific Ocean within footsteps and the picturesque peaks of the Santa Ynez Mountains as the backdrop. Now, add live music, great food, and some of the country’s best craft brewers and you’ve got yourself one Spectacular Saturday. “Brews at the Beach” brought together over 30 local and national breweries for a celebration of the flourishing art of craft beer. Local favorites included Figueroa Mountain Brewery from the Santa Ynez Valley and Telegraph Brewing Company located in the heart of the rapidly expanding “funk zone” of Santa Barbara, an industrial area slowly growing into the Mecca for urban wine and beer tasting. The goal of the event was to not only pay tribute to the love of great beer but to bring the community together and raise money for the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation.

Santa Barbara

The demonstration of beer variety was beyond impressive. Each of the 30 breweries had at least 2 varieties of kegs flowing at a time. Brews ranged from favorites such as Sierra Nevada’s torpedo to seasonal crafts such as Firestone’s Solace. With my 4 oz. glass in hand I attempted to conquer as many as humanly possible.

From advice of a fellow beer drinker my friends and I stumbled upon a great IPA made by Karl Strauss Brewing Company, located in La Jolla, California (near San Diego). They recently launched a limited release series titled “ Karl’s Reserves” which features the Big Barrel Double IPA, a brew that definitely lives up to its oversized name in taste. A strong IPA with an ABV of 9% and an IBU of 90, it’s a great choice for any IPA lover as it goes down surprisingly smooth with a residual hint of citrus fruit taste and medium bitterness. The hops for this particular brew are imported from New Zealand and are notorious for emitting tropical aromas.

craft beer blogAnother very notable beer was the River Ale hailing from Deschutes brewery in Portland Oregon.  It’s a fun, easy to drink beer with an ABV of 4% and an IBU of 28. A medium bodied blonde Ale that immediately struck me with the smell of honey. It goes down incredibly smooth and was the perfect refreshment on a warm day like this one. Deschutes distributes this one year round.

In Summary, this was a great event for beer lovers of all preferences. A presentation of the friendly yet competitive nature of the craft beer industry. Each brewery exhibited creations with a great deal of individual pride yet promoted a sense of fellowship between one another. One last thing I’d like to note is the host did a great job at welcoming designated drivers to the event with discounted tickets for D.D.’s and a booth with non alcoholic beverages They also promoted alternative means of transportation such as walking and biking and encouraged the use of their free bike valet.  Overall a delightfully intoxicating way to spend the day celebrating the beauty of craft beer.

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Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale

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dogfish head indian brown aleI would like to start this review with a short story about craft beer, Colorado and Dogfish Head. On a recent trip to Colorado, I happened upon Falling Rock Tap House, which happens to be an excellent place to grab a craft brew. A man wearing an old school Mookie Blaylock jersey approached me at the bar and struck up conversation. He was a fairly knowledgeable craft beer snob and the conversation quickly shifted toward our favorite IPA’s. When I mentioned Dogfish Head 90 Minute, he shot me a confused look. Here was a man who claimed to know the IBU’s of every IPA ever brewed, yet he had never heard of Dogfish Head Brewery? Just shows you how many amazing breweries are in Colorado. The dude probably never drank a beer that wasn’t brewed in the Centennial State. Now to the review…

First Impression: The standard looking Dogfish Head label. I really enjoy the concise description that accompanies the label of each Dogfish brew. I am also really into the feel of the Dogfish Head labels. Alright, enough label talk.

Pour: This beer has an overpowering aroma of caramel. A quite impressive head showed up when this brew was poured and its thickness caused it to hang around for awhile.

Taste: A near perfect balance of sweet brown maltiness, and bitter hoppiness. This brew is so smooth, and even more tasty. A must try!

Grade: A-

ABV: 7.2%

IBU: 50

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Blue Moon Agave Nectar Ale

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By: Craft Beer Deer

Blue moon agave nectar aleI’ve got a confession to make, and I hope it doesn’t rub too many people the wrong way. I drank a Blue Moon today….and I actually enjoyed it. Ya, that “craft brewery” that is really a product of Coors. Let the hater parade come out in full force. Blue Moon’s seasonal collection is bursting with flavor and tastes nothing like its macro-brew relatives. If you’ve made it this far into this post without shouting obscenities at your computer (or smart phone) and bouncing out of the site, read my review of Agave Nectar Ale below.

First Impression: I, The Craft Beer Deer, am a beer snob. Therefore, when offered a Blue Moon this afternoon, I turned my nose and pretended it didnt exist. After I realized that was the only beer available, I figured I would give it a try. The only thing remotely interesting about the bottle was the name. Something about “Agave Nectar” sounds pretty nifty.

Pour: I didnt pour this beer, I drank it straight from the bottle (I know, I apologize). Due to my lack of sophistication when enjoying this brew, I saw or smelled no head on this beer.

Taste: This beer is agave-sweet and goes down extremely smooth and easy. There were very subtle citrusy notes, but this beer was overpowered with the sweet, wheaty flavor that Blue Moon has become known for.

Grade: B

ABV: 5.6%

IBU: 14

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New Kids On The Block Brewfest

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By: Katie Schroepfer

shwagAs a part of Colorado Craft Beer Week, I was able to attend the New Kids On The Block Brewfest, a mix of an 80s dance party and a celebration of Colorado breweries that are under two years old. Since new breweries are constantly opening in this wonderful state, it’s hard to recognize all of them. Imbibe, Porch Drinking and Denver Off The Wagon did a great job of putting a list of around 20 breweries together to showcase some of their brew. They really were celebrating the new kids on the block…and it worked, because the event sold out with around 250 people in attendance (even after a glorious day of nonstop snow).

80s

I had the pleasure of enjoying a few beers, not nearly enough beers since there were 5 taps kicking kegs all throughout the night. I was able to enjoy City Star’s Vanilla Bandit, Telluride Brewing’s Face Down Brown, Caution Brewing’s Card Your Mom Saison, and a few others that were extremely delicious.

Colorado is constantly coming out with some phenomenal craft beer Check out the list of the 20 breweries that were involved:

 

  • Big Choice
  • Bootstrap Brewing
  • Black Bottle Brewery
  • Caution Brewing Co
  • City Star
  • Crooked Stave
  • Elevation Beer Co
  • Fate Brewing Company
  • Gravity Brewing
  • High Hops
  • Hogshead Brewery
  • Lone Tree Brewing Co.
  • Our Mutual Friend
  • Pateros Creek Brewing Co
  • Pikes Peak
  • Prost
  • River North Brewing
  • Telluride Brewing
  • TRVE
  • West Flanders Brewing
  • Wits End
  • Echo Brewing
  • Verboten Brewing

 

Besides the beer, there was a DJ, a costume contest, and a bunch of 80s-style dancing fools. With 80s music blasting, streamers floating, and balloons popping, it was evident that everyone was having a, you know, gnarly, time.

(photo credits: Imbibe Denver)

Saranac Brewery

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By: Rasta Fur

I recently moved to Baltimore MD and I have been looking for a new place to buy my weekly craft beer when I happened stance on a beer store that had a tasting for Saranac Beer. They were offering a taste of 3 different brews. I have had Saranac in the past, occasionally enjoying the occasional Pale Ale or Adirondack Lager, but these beers really turned me onto the winter seasonal from this upstate New York brewery.

 

Big Moose Ale

big moose aleFirst Impression: Crisp golden pilsner that I would gladly choose as a tasteful alternative to a rice beer.

Taste: Big Moose Ale was extremely refreshing and would be classified as a “lawnmower beer”.

Grade: B

 

White IPA

white ipaFirst Impression: This beer pours like its namesake, white and hoppy. A medium toned head clung nicely to the rim of the glass as I enjoyed this hop devil.

Taste: As someone who really enjoys a hoppy IPA such as the Stone Ruination IPA (which apparently has become the measuring for hops in an IPA) this IPA was a nice full bodied and malty alternative. The hops don’t come out and kick you but they are there. I would call this a great beginner IPA that is not just for first tie drinkers but for anyone who wants the full bodied taste without the overpowering hoppy taste.

Grade: A-

 

Caramel Porter

caramel porterFirst Impression: At first smell of this brew I didn’t think I would enjoy it. It has a very strong caramel waft, almost like the World’s Finest Chocolate Caramel Whirls.

Taste:  When I tasted it my reservations went out the window. This porter had a distinct roasted taste that really accents the natural flavor that Saranac uses to make your beer as tasteful as can be.

Grade: A-

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Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter

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By: Katie Schroepfer

tommyknockerporterTommyknocker is a favorite brewery of mine, it’s hidden up in Idaho Springs, CO and is a great destination for beer enthusiasts. The brewery is worth visiting, quite a few times in my opinion, and it gives you a nice break from the busy interstate of I-70 after a weekend of outdoor activities. Their seasonal cocoa porter is one that will warm you up after a day of skiing.

First Impression: The label is nothing that stands out from the other Tommyknocker labels. It has soothing tones that reflect on the Tommyknocker brand and fit perfectly with the style of the beer.

Pour: Very dark, chocolately color. It has very little head, but what it does have is rich and foamy.

Taste: The taste is of a rich chocolate flavor with a hint of coffee. The balance between cocoa powder and hops makes it an easy beer to drink that isn’t very filling and meant to be enjoyed on a chilly day. It goes down smooth and has a nice lingering taste.

Grade: B+

ABV: 5.7%

IBU: 18

Tommy

Although this beer is only seasonal and in limited quantities, Tommyknocker’s has plenty of other beers that are more than worthy of trying, like their imperial nut brown ale and butt head bock.

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