New Glarus Raspberry Tart

Part of the holiday season is sharing experiences with those you care most about. So when Mrs. Brew Blog decided she wanted to share a fine beverage from the New Glarus Brewing Company, I jumped on the opportunity. Her choice was Raspberry Tart.

Very sweet and sour, drinking this New Glarus craft was like drinking a fruit juice and champagne cocktail. The contradicting sugary and bitter tastes were enhanced by the carbonation of the Wisconsin wheat to form a drink that tastes more like a spiked punch than a beer.

And while Raspberry Tart may not have that usual taste one would expect from a beer, it does have certain beer characteristics that are easily noticeable. The refreshing light crispness you enjoy with every drink is undeniably the result of that healthy dose of wheat. And although it’s extremely subtle, there is just enough of a hoppy undertone that prevents one from downing the drink like it’s a glass of juice.

One of my favorite aspects of the beer is that it’s brewed how a fruit beer should be brewed. My biggest complaint with this style is typically that the flavoring comes from syrup and tends to separate from the beer and flattens the taste (check out Lost Coasts Tangerine Wheat for my favorite example of this). Raspberry Tart retains its flavor throughout giving you a consistent drink from start to finish.

While it may be too sweet for my taste as a regular beer, I wouldn’t mind enjoying it every now and again as say a compliment to a cheesecake.

New Glarus Raspberry Tart comes in at 7.5 mugs out of 10.

Granite City Food & Brewery

I have a strong belief that one thing any civilized city truly needs is a microbrew. A perfect marriage of delicious food with an array of house crafted brews that allow patrons to mix and match their palates.

If you find yourself in Peoria, IL, I recommend swinging by Granite City Food & Brewery. Whether your in town to catch a Rivermen game or headed to the Civic Center to take in an off-broadway performance, Granite City has your taste buds covered.

My first experience was the precursor to Young Frankenstein, a truly entertaining Mel Brooksian spectacle. Thankfully, our party had a decent amount of people in attendance, so I was able to sample a good variety of tastes.

Personally, I chose the Granite City Cuban. Typically made with pork , ham, and spicy mustard, Granite City's had a very interesting twist. While the main meat was in fact seasoned pork, instead of pairing it with ham, they used smoked turkey. The sandwich had all the taste and flavor of a Cuban minus the greasy stomach settling one would normally experience. This is an added bonus to anyone imbibing a heavier craft.

Mrs CU Brew Blog went with the Blackened Chicken Linguini. This cajun pasta dish is one I wish she would have had extra leftovers. Despite the discomfort I would have incurred from over-eating, I would definitely have found room to finish her plate.

I also had the opportunity to sample the Prosciutto Olive Flatbread pizza. This was my favorite taste of the night. The blend of cheeses (provolone, mozzarella, and parmesan), basil, and garlic aoli added an amazing flavor to a deliciously light and flaky ham pizza. Furthermore, after I had tasted this, I could only imagine how the Cuban would have tasted with the prosciutto.

My favorite part of their menu, was the menu itself. Perhaps this is limited to the places I've experienced, but Granite City actually offers recommended beer pairings for each entree on the menu. Although, and I say this as a wheat devotee, they could be a little more inventive than pairing a wheat or light lager with the majority of the menu. It goes without saying that a lighter brew easily mixes with just about everything.

Now on to the important stuff, the beer. Offering six regular and two specialty brews at any one time, I highly recommend the flight. With eight four ounce samples at the low price of $3.75, how can you go wrong. That's 32 oz. of beer for almost half the price I normally pay at my local watering holes for a pint. At very minimum, that's one low price to see what your taste buds fancy that day.

Northern Lights Lager:
According to their website, Northern Lights is brewed to the American standard of a classic lager. This can be roughly translated into tastes almost exactly like Miller Light. Golden and mild, this lager isn't big on taste and would be a great pairing for anyone who'd rather focus on their dinner.

Wag's American Wheat:
Cloudy and delicious, Wag's is big on both the pale and coriander. I had trouble placing the zest at first, but the lemon definitely comes through as you continue throughout the drink.

Oktoberfest:
The first of two specialties, there would be no mistaking this beer as anything other than a marzen. It was sweet and delicious and would be a great beer to enjoy on the back porch in late fall.

Brother Benedicts Bock:
Heavy malt with a medium texture, this beer is meant to be enjoyed with a nice thick steak.

Two Pull:
Combining Northern Lights Lager and Brother Benedicts Bock, this beer would be the perfect way to introduce a domestic beer drinker to the world of craft.

Duke of Wellington IPA:
Combines heavy hops with an undertone of bitter. A delicious combination that offers a bold enough taste to go head to head with any dish served. Also carries my endorsement as Granite City's most enjoyable.

The Admiral:
Holy bitters batman. This may be a situation where my palate has yet to experience enough bitter to grow a liking to it, but this specialty craft was like drinking straight menthol.

Broad Axe Stout:
Chocolate beer anyone? Broad Axe takes the traditional espresso feel of a stout and flips it into a mocha. The first stout I've ever had that I would consider a dessert beer.

New Belgium Snow Day

One of the best things about the calendar rolling over to November is the return of winter beers. Warming, flavorful, and delicious, winter beers are most definitely one of the things that make my season bright.

My first seasonal fling of the year comes on the heels of a 37 inch snow storm that rendered transportation in Fort Collins, CO to nothing more than skis and toboggans in 2003. This minor winter blizzard was the inspiration for New Belgium's featured winter ale this year.

Replacing 2 Below, Snow Day is unlike most other winter ales I’ve tried. While most of these seasonal beers come with a heavy dose of spice, Snow day is more like brown ale. The prevailing taste is clearly nut paired with undertones of caramel. Although it’s not a terrible marriage of tastes, it does lack a certain kick.

The head is thick and sweet, but once you pass the deliciously sweet carbonation you are left with an oaky beer that could only be considered a unique and novel taste if drank on a very limited basis. I won’t single out Snow Day as a bad beer because of its bland and uninspired taste, but I do find fault with New Belgium for attempting to turn, in my humble opinion, one of the world’s most underwhelming beer styles into something it’s not.

I’ll give Snow Day an extra point because I was unfairly expecting too much from a beer that replaced one of my favorite brews. That being said, I can’t bring myself to give Snow Day anything higher than 5.5 mugs out of 10.

Buffalo Bill’s America’s Original Pumpkin Ale

If there’s one thing I told myself I was going to do with this blog, it was trying as many a new beer as I could get my hands on. This includes expanding my horizons to styles I would never even consider trying if it weren’t for blogging purposes.

With fall beer season at its end, I suppose it’s time I get around to writing up the review for the one particular style I have feared the most, pumpkin beer. Now just because I made a promise to try the beer doesn’t mean I have to go crazy when first tasting the style.

So when I stumbled upon a sixer of Buffalo Bills: America’s Original Pumpkin Ale for the low low price of $2.99, I knew it was destiny that Buffalo Bill be my first. Now, when buying beer at a discount price, there are certain things one must expect, quality not being one.

When I encountered a ketchup smell, I was kind of off put. I understand you get what you pay for, especially when it comes to craft beer, but the last thing I expected was a sudden craving for tater tots. The intrigue however went far past the aroma.

Pouring a very heavy red, the taste had a definite tang to it. It was a little difficult to pinpoint exactly what the tang reminded me of, but by the time I had finished the bottle I came to the conclusion that drinking  America’s Original Pumpkin Ale was like drinking lil’ smokies smothered in sweet chili sauce.

Although I did not particularly enjoy this beer, I admit to being intrigued enough to give a legitimate pumpkin beer a shot, next year.

Buffalo Bills: America’s Original Pumpkin Ale comes in at 4.5 mugs out of 10.

Dublin O'Neils

The Brew Blog’s mission statement claimed that we would be offering our readers an every man’s opinion on as many of the world’s craft beers as possible. It also claimed to offer reviews of the various drinking establishments to enjoy them in. While I’ve done a decent job of drinking the beer, I’ve failed to live up to my venues promise.

Whether this is a result of me visiting the same bars over and over again or me just being lazy is debatable. Regardless, to date I’ve only done one locale review and it involved making an hour road trip to catch a minor league baseball game. So when Dublin O’Neils opened their doors for the first time nearly a month ago, this Irish lad knew CU’s newest Irish Pub had to be my first local review.

At first look, the location could be a little better. Just off of downtown, the most convenient parking available is located across the street at the pay to park lot in front of The Orpheum. Typically, meter parking is ok seeing as most meters stop charging at the end of business hours. This particular lot takes advantage of the popular venues surrounding the area by actually enforcing the meters until 9 pm.

Aside from the parking lot, Dublin’s itself has a nice little feel to the place. As a smaller restaurant, its wooden finishes and lightly spread out décor give it the very old timey feel one expects to see at ye old pub.  The seating however is limited enough were despite the smaller size of the pub, you are not sitting on top of the people sitting next to you.

The food was good and the portions were more than adequate, but for the prices charged, I would like to have a meal that was more than just good. I hold their beer selection in a similar esteem. I will never fault a bar for having a decent craft beer selection, but for fellow beer snobs, finding a bar that features Founder’s, Moylan’s, and Capital Brewery is hardly difficult this day and age.

All in all, I enjoyed my first visit to Dublin O’Neils. And although I would like to try the pub burger complete with rashers, I don’t envision making a special effort to get back in any kind of hurry.

Ephemere (Unibroue)

When one thinks of fall, you’re typically reminded of the start of football season, major league baseball playoffs, and for anyone familiar with Champaign-Urbana, at least one trip to Curtis Orchard. With this in mind, I felt it would be an interesting change of pace to try an apple beer.

Enter Ephemere (Unibroue).  Brewed in Quebec, Canada, initially I was expecting something similar to a Strongbow or Woodchuck, but Ephemere was much sweeter. Once you pop the cork you are greeted by the welcoming scent of granny smith apples. That smell however, was by and far the best part of this brew. 

When it comes to the taste, the best way I can describe it is to compare it to a Summer Shandy. It carries the light airy taste of a mass produced lager with the taste you’d expect from apple juice. These two distinct flavors blend well and provide you with a beverage that is more than just a generic light lager mixed with apple syrup.

Unfortunately, Ephemere loses whatever positive appeal it has rather quickly. I had purchased this brew in a 22 ounce bottle and wasn’t even half way through when it began losing its chill. As it warmed, and warmed quickly it did, the beer flavor petered out and the apple flavoring went sour.

It went from ok to unbearable in a matter of 10 to 12 minutes getting worse with every passing second. Believing that no beer, no matter how bad, deserves the punishment of a drain pour, I powered through. However, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least warming to the idea with every painstaking drink I took.

Initially I had wanted to give Ephemere (Unibroue) a middle of the road review, but when it came time to put pen to paper I couldn’t bring myself to do it. This was definitely a beer that was unable to endure the slightest bit of casual drinking and its rating reflects that.

Ephemere (Unibroue) comes in at 4 mugs out of 10.

Boulevard Bully! Porter

There are very few styles of beer this blogger has come across that he hasn’t enjoyed. Strong and flavorful, robust and hoppy, they’re all good in my eyes for the most part. One style that has never really hit home however, is Porters.

It’s actually quite the conundrum as this brew hound is a big fan of stouts, which are essentially, porters on steroids. To me, the former has always been a little too roasted for my liking. Extremely acidic and bitter, it’s the absence of any kind of sweetness to help offset the robust flavor of this style that I find most off putting.

Boulevard’s Bully! Porter is a rare exception to this standard. The ironic thing about that last statement is that Bully! Porter tastes like straight espresso to me, the very thing that I typically take problem with. But where the flavor of this brew pays homage to the style, it carries with it a subdued after taste that makes this craft bearable.

Although I’d find it very difficult to drink a large quantity of this beer in a single sitting, I feel comfortable saying that this Boulevard brew is a great bridge for anyone that is less than a fanatic of the porter style.

Boulevard Bully! Porter comes in at 7 mugs out of 10.

Ommegang Witte

When most people think of Cooperstown, NY, they think of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Double Day Field, and Pete Rose signing autographs just down the street on Induction Day. But did you know that a fine purveyor of craft beers also calls this cozy up-state New York town home?

Since 1997, Brewery Ommegang has shared a home with the birthplace of baseball. Which brings to mind one question, how does this Belgian style brewery rate in a town known for excellence? We‘ll figure out the answer to this question one beer at a time starting with Ommegang Witte.

Witte, Ommegang’s take on the Belgian-White, is a beer that is light, crisp, and heavy on spice. While most witbier’s provide a soft easy drink enhanced by a slice of fruit, Witte slaps your palate right across the face with a bold mix of coriander and citrus.

Like biting into a lemon, Witte gives you a tart rush that leaves your mouth tingling after every drink. This is actually a very refreshing sensation as your first drink will have your taste buds primed to enjoy the spice in every sip.

While I wouldn’t vote this brew into my hall of fame, I’ll always have an open roster spot for this Cooperstown craft on my team.

Ommegang Witte comes in at 8 mugs out of 10.

Boulevard Amber Ale

When I first came across Boulevard Beer a month ago, I fell in love. This Kansas City Brewery offers a number of delicious beers to be enjoyed on any occasion. Unfortunately the subject of this review, Amber Ale, is not one of them.

This Midwest craft brewery has created an expectation of bold flavorful beers but Amber Ale fails to live up to this standard. Now, this isn’t to say that Amber Ale is a bad beer, but it also doesn’t offer anything to truly get behind.

In fact, it’s difficult to come up with any way to describe this beer other than calling it very generic. On a scale of craft beers, Amber Ale comes dangerously close to bud light. That being said, I do believe that this is just a rare miss for one of the Midwest’s finest breweries.

Boulevard Amber Ale comes in at 5.5 mugs out of 10.

Southern Tier Crème Brulee

If you’ve been paying attention to the beer blogosphere over the last month or so, you’ve no doubt noticed a massive influx of reviews on Southern Tier’s Crème Brulee. I’m no better than the rest of them, so without further ado, here’s my humble take.

Although I’ve enjoyed countless upon countless stouts in my days, this Southern Tier seasonal is my first experience with a Milk Stout. I was familiar enough with the style to know I’d be more than likely tasting one of the sweetest strongest beers out there, and I was right.

As soon as I cracked open the bottle I couldn’t help but notice how closely this brews aroma resembled a milk shake. It was like sitting in an old school ice cream parlor only instead of being served a deliciously creamy ice cream treat; I was pouring an ice cold beer into a frozen mug.

The taste even reminded me of the handmade malt shakes my mom used to make me as a child. Equally enjoyable was how well the espresso complimented the vanilla. Perhaps the best way to sum up this excellent craft beer from Southern Tier is by putting it in the simplest terms I can think of. Imagine taking a milkshake, dropping in a shot of espresso and a healthy serving of 9.8% ABV and you’ve got Crème Brulee.

With as good as this milk stout is I do feel it necessary to offer a bit of warning for those trying this beer. It may actually be too sweet. When I was enjoying this tasty concoction I was enjoying it from a 22 oz. bomber, which for a beer as tasty and creamy as this, was about 4 ounces too many. When enjoyed in moderation, ounce for ounce, this is the best dessert beer I have ever tried.

Southern Tier Crème Brulee comes in at 9 mugs out of 10.

Bell's Third Coast Lager

I’ve always been intrigued by trying beers that refuse to identify themselves as a particular style. It’s kind of like opening a present Christmas morning; you’re not quite sure what it is until you actually taste it. This is the case with Bell’s Third Coast Beer, neither label nor brewery website informs drinkers of the style of beer they are about to enjoy.

The mystery ends there, however. Drinkers will need only one taste to know that they are enjoying a pale ale. Although not as strong as most traditional pales, the taste of an assertively hopped brew cannot be mistaken and Third Coast definitely exhibits these tendencies.

The hops go extremely well with the mixture of floral and fruit used by this Michigan brewery. I wish I could give a much more detailed description on the taste of this beer, but the flavors were blended perfectly creating a very complex taste. I will however stake the lives of my non-existent children on the fact that Third Coast beer will provide you with an experience you will not regret.

This pale ale is also one of the smoothest and easiest brews I’ve had the privilege of drinking. If you aren’t paying attention, your bottle will disappear within a matter of minutes. It took less than ten minutes to polish off my first bottle and I wasn’t even remotely trying to drink at a quick pace. Luckily, a 4.8% ABV allows you to drink this beer like any of big beers generic water downed lagers, without any heavy after effect.

Bell’s Third Coast Beer comes in at 8 mugs out of 10.

Dundee Pale Bock Lager

If you have read any of the previous reviews of Dundee beer (Kolsch-Style Ale and Stout) on this blog, you are aware that it is essential to be optimistic and keep an open mind when trying new styles from this brewery. The previously mentioned styles are a perfect example of how craft beer can go wrong, so as any good beer drinker does, we must clear are minds and palates while we move on to other brews.

The first thing I noticed with Dundee Pale Bock Lager was its aroma. The second I opened the bottle, the smell of roasted malts came wafting up to my nose, which was a welcome change from its predecessors. This roasted quality also transferred over to the taste as well.

For the first time with this particular brewery I could actually detect the tastes associated with the style of beer. I could tell that both the caramel and the malt had spent ample time roasting and I enjoyed this aspect of the beer thoroughly. It was bold, thick, and hearty as opposed to the airy/flat taste I had come to expect.

If I could find this Pale Bock Lager by itself and not part of a craft pack, I might actually consider trying it again. It is a beer I could envision drinking as a wind down beer at the end of a long day on the move. And just to remind our drinkers, as with every other Dundee beer I’ve tried, make sure you drink it straight from the bottle.

Dundee Pale Bock Lager receives a respectable 6.5 mugs out of 10.

Stone Cali-Belgique IPA

Hybrid beers can be a very enjoyable experience when done right. So when I came across a bottle of Stone Cali-Belgique IPA during the beer world’s recent India Pale Ale celebration, I knew I had to bring a bomber home with me.

To create this IPA, Stone Brewing Co. takes its traditional Stone IPA and infuses it with Belgian yeast. The result is a full flavored Stone IPA with a deliciously orange taste and a remarkably clean and crisp finish. In other words, Cali-Belgique is a 22 ounce bottle of awesome sauce.

Combining two amazing beer styles perfectly, this Stone craft provides a unique twist on an already delicious standard. Cali-Belgique combines the best features of a traditional Belgian with the generous hoppiness one expects from a California IPA.

It also pours with a thick fluffy head that refuses to dissipate until the beer is finished. The head carries with it a very sweet taste that adds an extra little something to every drink you take. This beer drank easy, drank quickly, and left me wishing I had another waiting for me in the fridge.

Stone Cali-Belgique IPA comes in at 9.5 mugs out of 10.

Anchor Steam Beer

The Urban Dictionary defines the term "California Cool" as having a laid back, chill swagger that all the honeys love. You can't help but enjoy the x-factor it brings to the game and can't do anything but respect the fact it's not forced upon you. It's also a term that pretty much sums up what drinking an Anchor Steam beer from the Anchor Brewing Co. is like.

Pouring a beautiful shade of amber and leaving a thick creamy head that adds a little something extra to every drink, Anchor Steam is a calm and relaxed beer that is the pure essence of the california life style. As best I could tell, this San Francisco native is an American Marzen tride and true.

On first impressions, Anchor Steam is a subtle drink that offers a very sweet aroma similar to a chocolate malted milk shake. Your drink is just as sweet initially, the malt washes over your tounge until it reaches the back of your mouth and the hops explode right before you swallow.

This beer would be the perfect beverage to enjoy on San Fran's Pier 48 for Oktoberfest By the Bay.

Anchor Steam Beer gets 7 mugs out of 10.

Boulevard Pale Ale

Are you a die hard baseball fan?

Do you take the words "Root, Root, Root for the HOME team" seriously?

Do you live in Kansas City?

If you answered yes to all three questions, you are unfortunately a Kansas City Royals fan and are in need of some severe lubrication to make it through the rest of the baseball season. Luckily, Boulevard Brewing Co. has come up with one hell of a beer to help you either forget another losing season or fondly remember 1985.

Boulevard Pale Ale, in my humble opinion, is the crown jewel of this Kansas City brewery's year round beers. Bold enough for truly heavy beer drinkers, crisp and refreshing enough for those who can't handle the heavier stuff; this pale ale is the perfect balance between a wheat beer and an IPA.

With a delicious balance of hops and wheat, this beer is bottle conditioned brilliance. And while many people claim Boulevard's Unfiltered Wheat to be the Midwest's favorite craft beer, I am willing to go on record saying that Pale Ale is its finest.

Boulevard Pale Ale comes in at 9 mugs out of 10.

Bell's Amber Ale

One of my favorite past times is sitting on the porch with an ice cold brew watching a summer storm roll through. It had been a while since as much as a rain drop fell from the heavens, so when Mother Nature opened up with a hell of a storm last week I ran to the fridge and Bell's Amber Ale was what was in my reach.

At first taste I was treated by the flavor of the cinnamon bagel I had eaten earlier that morning. Although the first sip was the only one that tasted like cinnamon, the rest of the beer was quite sweet. Initially I thought that the sweetness was purely the result of my breakfast, but I quickly stepped away from this notion considering I had also had a lunch that was far less sweeter than the bagel prior to the beer.

I also believe that this Amber Ale would be better suited as a lager. The usual paleness one has with an ale was nowhere to be found. Similar to other lagers I am familiar with, it was very filling and I highly doubt its ability as an extended session beer.

Perhaps its most endearing quality came from what would normally be considered an unfortunate mishap. The label on this particular bottle was very loose and as soon as the condensation built up, the label fell off. Regrettably, I was holding the bottle gently with the majority of my grip on the label and the beer fell right out of my hands. Despite a hard crash to the ground, the beer retained all of its taste.

Bell's Amber Ale gets a 7 out 10 mugs for its durability.

Boulevard Zon

With the summer brew season approaching its end, I find myself enjoying as many summer styles as possible. My latest excursion was Boulevard's Zon, the Kansas City Brewery's summer belgian wheat.

I had expected the usual orange flavor one comes to expect from a traditional belgian. Boulevard however, offers one of the more interesting twists I've tasted on this kind of seasonal. Claiming to offer subtle tastes of coriander, orange peel, and other traditional ingredients, Zon can best be described as tangy.

The ingredients blended together well making it difficult to separate this beer into distinct flavors. Instead, Zon had a very balanced tang to it that came across as very lemony. It also attacks your taste buds in multiple waves. The wheat sits on the center of your tongue while the lemon tang spreads throughout the rest of your mouth. The citrus also leaves the roof of your mouth tingling.

In the end, I'd say this belgian wheat is a good beer, but far from great. It holds its chill very well from start to finish which makes it an excellent choice to sit on the back porch while watching the sun fade away. Which is a good thing for this brew in particular considering it's overly acidic taste makes it a sipping beer to begin with.

Boulevard Zon, 7 mugs out of 10.

Carib Premium Lager

When enjoying an all day beer fest with friends, it's important to find a beer that will let you enjoy all the good company, music, and suds you can get your hands on. While craft beers are the preferred libation around these parts, this occasion calls for something with a little less kick.

As has been my modus operandi these last few months, I pick a style and then choose a brew that's a little off the beaten path so to speak. So when Meximerican Lager was chosen, I knew Corona just wouldn't do. Instead of heading south of the border, I went to the Caribbean.

Enter Carib Premium Lager.

Like it's Mexican counterparts, Carib was crisp and light. It's flavor was minimal and it drinks like water. All this allows one to consume mass quantities with the only real side effect being one too many trips to the bathroom.

For the style, it's one of the finest beers I have tasted. One of the things I most liked about Carib was it's natural lime taste. Unlike the Corona's, there is no need to add a slice to enhance the flavor because that attribute is already present. It is a very good choice when looking to enjoy a brew from sun up to sun down.

On a scale of bad to good, Carib Premium Lager comes in at better than Corona receiving 6 mugs out of 10.

Dundee Stout

The tricky thing with buying craft packs is that if the brewer doesn't produce a quality product, you're stuck with multiple kinds of less than stellar beer. After my experience with Dundee Kolsch-Style Ale, I was a little nervous when I cracked open my second style, Dundee Stout.

The first thing I noticed with Stout was an absence of aroma. For a style that typically, at least in my opinion, produces a very strong scent of espresso, this Dundee craft was somewhat underwhelming. It did however pour a deep dark brown that produced a very thick and creamy head. Pouring the beer woke the aroma and the espresso faintly came through every time you took a drink.

The taste was a different story. Although I was able to detect subtle amounts of the espresso, I believe the malts were roasted a little too long producing a very unique taste that I've yet to come across in a beer. After trying to pinpoint what the flavor was, it dawned on me, drinking Dundee Stout was almost like drinking a beer flavored like Mesquite Smoked Turkey.

This cold cut flavored beer was also lacking in bite. The usual acidity one expects from a standard stout was absent. Dundee was thick, but calling this stout robust would hardly do the style justice. Drinking this beer was more like drinking a milkshake, it has a heavy consistency without a heavy taste.

Dundee Stout receives 4.5 mugs out of 10.

Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Beer

Finding a beer that not only satisfies ones taste buds, but also offers an affordable option as a party beer can be a bit of a difficult task. Luckily, Missouri's largest independent brewer has got your back.

Based out of Kansas City, Boulevard Brewing Company has been a proud purveyor of the Midwest since 1989. And if you're talking about Boulevard Beer, you'd be well served to start the discussion with their Unfiltered Wheat Beer.

Boulevard's most popular style is the American Wheat Ale equivalent to an India Pale Ale. Super charged with pale wheat ale, this unfiltered brew literally sparkles throughout your entire experience. Similar to drinking a can of sprite, this ale fizzes and pops with every drink you take.

Simply put, Unfiltered Wheat has everything one could want in a go to craft beer. It's clean, light, and bottle conditioned to give you the feel of a freshly opened bottle from start to finish. Whether it's a sixer on the golf course or the case you bring to a buddies tailgate, it tastes good and won't break the bank either.

One thing I do highly recommend with this Boulevard brew however, is that you gently swirl the last ounce or two of your beer before you finish the bottle. The wheat that is leftover, due to the unfiltering, will smack the hell out of your palate if you leave it settled.

Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat receives a strong 8 our 10 mugs.

Moylan's Chelsea Porter

I feel slightly ashamed admitting this, but my tasting notes for Moylan's Chelsea Porter were temporarily misplaced. My descriptions are easy to follow but I don't overly remember my true sentiments and interpretations from when I was drinking this beer, so please bare with me. Again my apologies for what may be a brief and concise review.

This porter was very delicious for a dark beer. Traditionally, my experience with these styles have always trended towards something that is very heavy, strong, and roasted. While the espresso provides this Moylan's craft with all these qualities, Chelsea Porter also offers a strong chocolaty counter balance.

Extremely smooth, Moylan's Chelsea Porter is like drinking the alcoholic cousin of a Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino. And with a 5.0% ABV (from BeerAdvocate.com, ABV not listed on Moylan's website), it's a porter you can enjoy again and again like any light domestic that big beer has to offer.

Moylan's Chelsea Porter gets 8 mugs out of 10.

Dundee Kolsch-Style Ale

To many people, this would be considered a coincidence, to the Brew Guy, it is very much pre-ordained that the day I put pen to pad about Dundee's Kolsch-Style Ale, is the day that DrinkCraftBeer.com posts a survey on whether or not you will suffer through or drain pour a brew that is not up to snuff.

Pre-ordained in the fact that this is the exact question I asked myself literally three drinks into this Rochester, NY beer.

My understanding of the Kolsch style is that of a light, crisp, and a refreshing beer with a light golden hue. Out of all these things, Dundee was only able to recreate the latter. This is by far one of my least favorite beers I have ever tasted.

The first drink came across overly sweet, almost like a malt liquor, and it would not get any better. For a matter of comparison, I've tasted better beers in the basement of my frat house when we were trying to turn our beer money into as many forties of Mickey's and Olde English as we could.

As if this wasn't bad enough, there was nothing crisp or refreshing about this Dundee craft beer at all. Purchased as part of a craft pack I had three bottles to taste. Beer number 1 was drank straight from the bottle and was one of the flattest beers I've had the misfortune of stumbling across. I took a different approach to the second bottle and poured it into a pint glass. This was counter productive as whatever carbonation this beer originally contained fizzled out even quicker.

The third and final bottle I held off on a couple of days in hopes of tyring this ale with a fresh palate. It didn't matter, this bottle was just as flat as my first experience. The only thing I took away this kolsch was an affirmation to the question posed by DrinkCraftBeer.com, and yes, I will suffer through a bad beer, no matter how many ounces I have to drink.

Dundee Kolsch-Style Ale receives a lowly 2.5 out of 10.

Founder's Centennial IPA

It's been quite an unprecedented day here at the CU Brew Blog headquarters. Over the last five hours we've unveiled 5 different India Pale Ale's in honor of the first ever International #IPADay. So, without further a do, we knock back the final brew in our #IPADay 6-Pack, Founder's Centennial IPA.

If I've learned one thing from this exercise in hoperiety, it's that the IPA style can be a fickled mistress. One of the most enjoyable beer styles when done right, it can also leave you wanting at times. Founder's Centennial falls somewhere right in the middle.

Centennial offers an aroma of orange that follows up instantly with an over-watery and slightly acidic taste. The hops don't actually hit your taste buds until a few seconds later. This is especially confusing because this Founder's IPA is unfiltered, a process typically used to help enhance the taste of a beer.

Although the delayed taste leaves you feeling like you're drinking a half empty beer, once the hops actually hit, Centennial is enjoyable. It leaves me with the impression that while this Founder's IPA isn't overly good, it isn't all that bad either.

Founder's Centennial IPA, 6 mugs out of 10.

Lost Coast Brewery Indica IPA

The fifth installment of the first ever International #IPADay is the Lost Coast Brewery's Indica IPA. Hailing from Eureka, CA, Indica has a very pungent citrus aroma, easily the strongest smell of all of today's brews. The aroma is however a little misleading as the citrus doesn't really translate over into the flavor of the beer.

Indica isn't short on taste however. You will most certainly pick up on the bold definitive taste of an India Pale Ale. And while this beer does go big on hops, it is not something that will overwhelm your taste buds. Just as soon the bitter hits your lips you will also taste a wave of what I believe to be caramel or vanilla. This sugary compliment slightly dulls the hops creating a beer that is truly bitter-sweet.

While Indica offers plenty of flavor, I would not recommend rushing your way through the bottle. I attempted a large swig and was caught off guard by how acidic that swig was. This Lost Coast brew is most definitely best enjoyed as a sipping beer, which doubles as its down fall. Unfortunately, as Indica warms, it tends to go a little sour as well. You end up caught between a rock and a hard place. This is regrettable considering this beers potential as a solid IPA.

Lost Coast Brewery Indica IPA gets 6 mugs out of 10.

Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA

Have you ever seen a beer that you know will just haunt your dreams? Such is the case with our 4th entry to the International #IPADay 6-Pack, Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA. Before you even contemplate opening the bottle, one can't help but notice the labeling.

Featuring a very creepy snake and dog hybrid that looks more like an I don't know what with a dragon head growing out of it's back, it truly is one of the most memorable labels I've ever seen. At the same time, the bottle description aptly describes the beer as a crazy, stalking, ex girlfriend -- full of bitterness, bite, and attitude that slaps you in the face.

Not only amusing, this bottle description is also spot on in it's description of this IPA. Like a snake, it will lie around in the bushes until it attacks your taste buds with a truly bitter bite, but at the same time, like man's best friend, it is extra crisp and refreshing and will leave you asking for more.

Snake Dog also leaves a very strong aftertaste in a good way. While the common conception of aftertaste isn't a good thing, this Maryland native provides more of a lasting impression or a reminder of the delicious beer you just finished.

Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA gets 8.5 mugs out of 10.

Shipyard Brewing Company Fuggles IPA

The third beer in our International #IPADay 6-Pack comes from Portland, ME and the Shipyard Brewing Company. Their Fuggles IPA is one of the more interesting India Pale Ales I've had the privilege of trying.

The first thing I noticed after I had cracked this brew open was its aroma. It smelled somewhat citrus but I was unable to place exactly where it came from. It was a welcoming smell that had vague hints of orange taking a back seat to a strong floral. I had to research what caused this unique aroma only to discover that Fuggles is brewed with apples and plum.

The smell however did not translate over into the taste. I think the two fruits went together well enough were all you tasted was something slightly fruity and sweet as a secondary compliment to the hops. What was most interesting about the taste however was that Fuggles IPA is only single hopped. Where most IPA's go through two separate stages of hopping, Shipyard elected to fore go the dry hopping process after fermentation.

The result of less hopping definitely showed up in the taste of the beer causing every drink to seem half empty. Most IPA's I've tasted fully engage your taste buds. Fuggles however, seemed to deliver the traditional IPA flavor to targeted areas of your palate only. If I was forced to take a blind taste test I know beyond a matter of doubt I could identify it as an IPA, but to be perfectly honest, I was kind of put off by my first single-hopped experience.

The main reason I love IPA's is the truly hearty taste that completely engulfs your taste buds. While I was able enjoy the flavor, I wasn't able to fully enjoy the taste I expect out of an India Pale Ale. It was almost like drinking a hybrid beer. The IPA flavor quickly dissipated to a crisp clean finish that you would expect out of a lager.

Although I would recommend other IPA's before I would tell someone to give this Shipyard brew a try, I won't condemn it either. In the end, it may just be my style preference that has difficulty fully supporting this IPA "Light."

Shipyard Brewing Company Fuggles IPA receives 6 mugs out of 10.

Abita Jockamo IPA

In part two of the CU Brew Blog's International #IPADay 6-Pack, we'll be heading across country to a state that boasts a personality just as big and bold as the brew being honored throughout the beer universe today.

If Boulder Beer's Mojo IPA is the standard we're living up to, Louisiana's Abita Jockamo IPA is the cream of today's crop. I had hoped to review each of today's 6 brews based solely on their own merits, but for every reason I liked Mojo, I absolutely love Jockamo. The comparison is just natural.

Abita claims to brew Jockamo in a traditional style which means they have chosen a truly amazing blend of hops. This is without a doubt a very strong beer, but at the same time, it is also one of the least overwhelming beers I have ever tasted.

Jockamo drinks like a heavy IPA but finishes just as crisp and cleanly as a wheat beer would. This bold yet unassuming taste spreads over your taste buds instantly and retains that full flavor for at least 15 seconds before it disappears leaving your palate as fresh as it would be if you just rinsed your mouth.

Simple yet distinct, Jockamo's taste truly ignites when being enjoyed with a pizza. A bit of a side note however, if your pizza du jour happens to be Papa John's, do not mix this IPA with the garlic sauce. That is one combination I would not recommend.

Abita Jockamo IPA comes in at 9 mugs out of 10.

Boulder Beer Mojo IPA

Here we go Hopheads, it's August 4th and the day we've all been anticipating for the last month. I hope everyone has plans to pay homage to all things hops today and is ready to enjoy some good beer. If you need a refresher on the IPA style I encourage you to give our crash course (posted tuesday) a read.

So without further ado, let's crack the top on the first beer in the CU Brew Blog's International #IPADay 6-Pack, Boulder Beer Mojo IPA.

For anyone familiar with this style of beer, there's one generalization that can be made about India Pale Ale's, IPA's are beers intended for drinkers that enjoy a big full bodied beer with taste from start to finish. Mojo IPA delivers on this generalization.

The second you open the bottle you are greeted by a thick hearty aroma that smells exactly as the beer tastes. Boulder Beer claims citrus but I detected something a bit more floral. Either way, once the top is popped, the hops attack.

Your first drink is equally as powerful. The second it hits your tongue, your taste buds are overwhelmed in hoppy greatness. Again, I don't really taste any orange but the thick and rich bitter malt taste is all I need to know I'm enjoying a delicious beer.

And while Mojo is a truly enjoyable beer, I also feel comfortable saying that there is definitely room for improvement. This is not an attempt to speak negatively against Boulder Beer, it is simply a statement that Mojo seems to be merely following an almost standard recipe with extreme precision.

If you are looking for a very solid IPA that shows you exactly what India Pale Ale's are all about, I highly recommend this Boulder Beer. We'll go ahead and consider Mojo IPA the barometer for the rest of today's 6-Pack.

Boulder Company Mojo IPA weighs in at 7 mugs out of 10.

IPA 101: A Crash Course on India Pale Ale

This Thursday will mark the first ever International #IPADay, a day aimed at celebrating one of Craft Beer’s most popular styles. Considering that no two beer drinker’s taste buds are alike, I figured I’d take this opportunity to give a little lesson on India Pale Ale, where it came from and what to expect, for those brew hounds that haven’t experienced this style of beer.

We’ll start by hopping into our Delorian and go back to the 1700’s when India was still under colonial rule. Soldiers and Civilians living in India found themselves missing the traditional British ales they were accustomed to at the local pub. Brewer’s found that every attempt to ship these ales to India ended up with spoiled beer.

The only way to deliver a non-spoiled beer to the British-Colony was to increase the alcohol, and more importantly, the hops of the beer.  The process started with adding extra hops to a traditional pale ale recipe creating a higher alcohol content which fought off bacteria.  Once the ale was ready to be casked, an additional amount of dry hops and sugar was added to help prevent the ale from going flat.

India Pale Ale became a more than suitable substitute for those Imperials living in the colony, but it wasn’t until later that IPA became anything more than a specialty brew. In 1827, a ship leaving London wrecked and the decision was made to sell any damaged barrels locally. The Londoners instantly fell in love with this hop heavy ale and the IPA style was here to stay.

As to what you can expect from an IPA (Courtesy of James Clausen; Beers, Cocktails, and Beverages):

·         Coloring. IPA can vary widely in coloring depending on the types and amounts of malts used. The color can range from a light golden to a dark amber coloring. IPA usually has a good-sized head of foam and can vary in color from pure white to a darker brown.

·         Aroma. IPA usually has a strong aroma of hops. The strength of the aroma depends on the type and amount of hops used. Most IPA aromas have a sweet citrus blossom aroma or a pine tree aroma. Although there are many types of hops used in an IPA by American Breweries, Cascade and Chinook Hops are very popular. Cascade has a strong citrus blossom aroma and Chinook has more of a piney aroma. The amounts and types of malts used can also have an effect on the aroma of an IPA.

·         Taste. Many IPA’s have a bitter hoppy taste. Just like the aroma, the taste can vary widely from one IPA to another. Some IPA’s can have a very complex taste with lots of different flavors or it can be more simple with just a strong taste of pine or citrus. The taste of an IPA depends a lot on the types of hops and malts along with the amounts used. Often times a brewer will use a mixture of different types of hops and malts. Don’t judge an IPA by the aroma. Often times the aroma is totally independent of the taste.

I’ll go ahead and add my own personal disclaimer at this point in time; India Pale Ales are not for everyone. These beers are very strong and don’t sit easily on the palate of beer drinkers who don’t enjoy think full bodied beers.

UPDATE: You're telling me Santa isn't real? Apparently the origin story I have grown to know and love is a complete fallacy. It appears that the extra hops aren't added to help avoid spoiling and my face is officially red. This may be the common story spread throughout most of the beer world, (I know of at least 20 articles not published on Wikipedia that claim this story to be true) but I'm willing to bet at some point it was copy created by a truly excellent marketing mind. An in depth look at the origin can be found following the link below:

http://www.beerconnoisseur.com/the-origins-of-ipa

Drinking the Pig: Samburro Chili Beer

When I originally started the CU Brew Blog, my intentions were to give an honest non-technical review of brews that can’t be found at your local grocery store. If you’re expecting to read about Miller Light or Coors Light, you’re in the wrong place. If a Corona is the most exotic beer you’ve enjoyed, I’m willing to bet you’re not an overly adventurous beer drinker.

So it seems to reason that a review about a beer created by a local brewery is something that needs to be featured in this blog. In Champaign, local beers are few and far between with one location standing above the rest, The Blind Pig Brewery. So we’ll consider this post the first of many entries in an on-going series we’ll call "Drinking the Pig."

My most recent visit was an unexpected stop following a disappointing road trip to the County Fair. We decided to cut our losses and at least enjoy a couple of delicious brews in our favorite beer garden. We rolled in and I noticed the Pig had a new beer on draught, the Samburro Chili Beer. I caved to the urge and took a chance.

Brainchild of a local home brewer, Samburro is the first Pro/Am brewed by the Blind Pig (professional brewery making a large scale amount of an amateur recipe). Combining amber ale with a healthy amount of morita peppers, similar to a chipotle pepper, this beer pours a beautiful reddish brown and has a very detectable spicy aroma.

The first thing you will notice about the taste is again, the spice. Strong but not too overwhelming, drinking a Samburro is similar to drinking a bloody mary. You can definitely taste the spice but you don’t lose any of the alcohol taste, or in this case, the ale taste either.  Based on my research of the chili beer style, this is an accomplishment in its own. The most difficult thing about brewing a beer such as this is how quickly the peppers can overtake the beer.

The spice also lingers throughout your drink letting you know that you have just ingested a healthy dose of smoked pepper. And if you’re looking to pair this beer with a specific food, I can’t help but think about a nice hearty breakfast. I can only imagine how well this spicy ale would mix with an omelet, sausage, bacon, and home fries. On the flip side, I couldn’t think of anything worse to pair this beer with than my usual weekend breakfast, a short stack.

Blind Pig Samburro Chili Beer comes in at 8 mugs out of 10.

Shock Top Belgian White

Welcome to part two of the CU Brew Blog's unofficial Wheat Week. After a less than stellar experience with Lost Coast Brewery's Tangerine Wheat, I felt compelled to wash the poor taste out of my mouth with one of my favorite wheats, Shock Top Belgian White.

Right out of the gate, the differences between Lost Coast and Shock Top are night and day. While the former tasted like kool-aid and stale wheat beer mixed in a martini shaker, Shock Top is perfectly balanced with an incredibly delicious citrus flavor.

This St. Louis ale not only provides its connoisseurs with a remarkable taste of orange, it also has tones of lemon and lime to take the flavor to the next level. Also added to the mix is coriander, an Asian version of cilantro that supposedly adds an extra citrus zest. While I will readily admit I don't know if the coriander does in fact add anything to the mix, I can tell you the result is one hell of a beer.

Perhaps my favorite part of this beer is the fact that you do not need a slice of orange on the glass to enhance the flavor. Unlike most other citrus wheats I've tried, Shock Top does not need the assistance of a slice of fruit to help you recognize the flavor. If you're going to do anything to enrich this beer I recommend following the suggestion on the bottle.

Empty your bottle until there is only an inch of beer remaining, lay the bottle on it's side and begin gently rolling the beer bottle back and forth, pour what's left in your glass and enjoy. This won't do anything for flavor but it will make each sip smell like a freshly cut orange.

Shock Top Belgian White, 9 mugs out of 10.

Lost Coast Brewery Tangerine Wheat

One of the Brew Blog's favorite spring to summer beers has always been wheat beer. Light and refreshing, these brews are a great way to start a day of drinking, enjoy casually while at a baseball game or family get together, chilling in the backyard listening to music while the grill is burning, hell, I'll take a good Hefeweizen just about any time.

So when I came across a wheat beer that infused tangerines (one of my favorite fruits) in the brew, I was ecstatic. Wheat's and oranges have long been paired together, blue moon and shock top just to name a few, so the idea of pairing a wheat with the orange's sweeter better tasting cousin seemed right up my alley.

Unfortunately, Lost Coast Brewery failed to live up to the expectations I had for its Tangerine Wheat. From the very first sip I noticed two specifically different tastes. The first was that of a very flat wheat ale. Whatever carbonation this beer possessed apparently dissipated within seconds of opening the bottle.

The second was a very cheap water downed overly sugared children's orange drink. What's worse is that these two tastes could not have mixed together any worse. Drinking this Lost Coast brew was like drinking a Hoegaarden that had been left opened for three days, adding a healthy dose of Walmart brand tangerine syrup, and then shaking out whatever carbonation remains of this red-headed step child of a beer.

Even more damning was that Tangerine Wheat got considerably flatter by just the fourth drink. I will say one positive thing for this California native however, the tangerine head labeling was quite impressive; regrettably, it's taste was not.

Lost Coast Brewery Tangerine Wheat, 4 mugs out of 10.

Saying Goodbye to a Friend

When I first came up with the idea to start my Brew Blog I was enjoying a very delicious New Belgium 2 Below that I happened to stumble upon in Late May. So when I saw the beernews.org report that New Belgium has decided to replace 2 Below with a new Winter Seasonal, I was saddened to find out that my inspiration was being replaced.

While I respect New Belgium's decision to craft a new winter brew biannually, I will miss 2 Below. Warming in the winter, cooling in the summer, it was a beer to enjoy for any occasion. I look forward to Snow Day hitting shelves this November, I just hope somehow, I'll be able to run into my good friend 2 Below one last time.

R.I.P. Buddy

Avery Eighteen Dry-Hopped Rye Saison

Every once in a while the Brew Guy encounters a style of beer he’s never tried before. Like a kid opening the big present on Christmas morning, I find myself full of excitement over the prospect of trying the new brew placed in front of me.

This was the case with a recent trip to my favorite watering hole when I encountered Avery Brewing Company’s Eighteen Dry-Hopped Rye Saison. For those of you unfamiliar with the Saison style of beer, it was originally brewed by Belgian farmers as a refreshing beverage for their field hands when clean potable water was not readily available.

Brewed just before the winter to avoid spoilage in warm weather, saison uses wild yeasts left over from the summer’s harvest. The farmer’s kept the alcohol content to around 3 percent to help hydrate the workers without risking drunkenness.

At one point, saison's fell out of favor with beer drinkers but a recent revival has been occurring over the last decade or so. Today, these beers typically range from 5-8% ABV and, thanks to modern brewing techniques, can now be brewed year round.

After my first sip I fell in love. Eighteen is without a doubt, one of the most delicious beers I have ever tasted. Extremely flavorful, every sip of this beer was like taking a bite out of a ripe orange. It also carries a strong hint of spice most likely present thanks to the rye.

This being my first experience with a saison, I’m unsure whether or not I have fallen in love with a new style of beer or simply discovered one of the best individually crafted beers I’ve ever had the luxury of tasting. For my sake, I hope it’s the former because this wonderful beer was exclusively bottled in May and will never be brewed again.

My advice to you, if you have a chance to try this beer do not miss the opportunity, it may be your one and only chance to taste perfection.

Avery Eighteen Dry-Hopped Rye Saison receives the first perfect 10 out of 10 mugs in Brew Blog history.

Hoist the Colors with Heavy Seas Mutiny Fleet Prosit Imperial Oktoberbest Lager

Avast me maties, hoist the mizzen mast, swab the poop deck, and fetch me a hogshead of grog. Or for those of you who aren't fluent in pirate, welcome to the Brew Blog's first review of a Pirate beer.

A look into the history of the brew guy will show a moderate fascination with all things pirate lore. Treasure Island is one of my all time favorite books, grade school reports on historical figures include the likes of Black Beard, hell, I even paid full price to see the third and fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

So when I was at my favorite liquor store and came across a collection of 22 oz. bottles baring a skull and crossbones, I couldn't help but immediately make a purchase.

Based out of Baltimore, Heavy Seas Beer comes in a variety of styles including their Mutiny Fleet showcasing unusual beer styles in excess of 8% ABV. I settled on Heavy Seas Prosit Imperial Oktoberfest Lager and I wasn't disappointed.

Thick and rich, Oktoberfest was direct and to the point. Pouring a dark amber with an intense aroma, I was eager to dive right in. Distinctly German in taste, Heavy Seas drinks strong, finishes clean, and then kicks you right in the lederhosen.

Before you know it you'll be trading in your pirate hat and cutlass for a Bavarian feather cap and a really bad ass alpine horn that you'll be playing from the yardarm.

Heavy Seas Mutiny Fleet Prosit Imperial Oktoberfest Lager weighs in at 8 mugs out of 10.