Alaskan Amber

This altbier is brewed in the capital of Alaska, Juneau by the oh-so-creatively named Alaskan Brewing Company. Alaskan Amber is one of those American beers that is a must try in its genre. I first tasted it in Colorado at a minor league baseball game (doesn't that automatically make it taste extra special?).

It looks great in a glass. Alaskan Amber has a ruby brown color with a light off-white head. It's exactly what this sort of beer should look like, and its color makes it really inviting. Its aroma is very malty, with hints of caramel and spicy floral notes.

As expected, the beer is also tastefully malty with some minor hints of hops, just so you know they're there but not a major player. It leans toward a sweet maltiness, with the caramel leading the way. Amber isn't a heavy beer, but it's also not light. It sticks in your mouth a little, leaving some flavor behind which is great. This is a really refreshing beer because of the medium body and can be enjoyed any time of the year, and with an ABV of 5.3% it isn't overly alcoholic.

Style: Altbier

Rating: 83/100

Bohemia

Cinco de Mayo Beer #5

Bohemia looks great in a glass with it's pale golden color and big, white foamy head. The smells are mostly of corn and malts like other Mexican beers, but this one is a little bit stronger and there seems to be more hop smell coming out which is nice for a change.

This beer isn't the normal American adjunct lager like most of the Mexican beers I've tried. There's a perfect amount of hops in it to give it a little more going on than most from the country. There's a good balancing with malts in here too so it's not too close to a pale ale, and there are even some citrus flavors in it which are strong enough to not require the addition of a lime! It's a great, lighter beer to drink that isn't too watery. I'll be honest, I was shocked when I first drank this beer because I assumed it would be similar to other Mexican beers I've had, but was pleased to be proven wrong. This has definitely challenged for a place as my favorite Mexican beer.

Style: German Pilsener

Rating: 85/100

Carta Blanca

Cinco de Mayo Beer #4

There's almost no head with this beer, but the color is a brilliant, gold straw color in the glass. It smells mostly of grains and corn again, but doesn't even have a little hop smell coming through and overall the entire smell is pretty weak.

The taste is what you might expect from a Mexican lager, it's extremely light and watery, with mostly malt and corn flavors but there are enough hops that keep it from becoming too dull. It doesn't taste flat which is great and makes it a lot nicer to drink. Overall, there isn't a lot of exciting things going on with this beer but it's not a bad beer either. It's well-adjusted in all the important ways and would be a good choice if you're looking for an alternative beer that's not going to turn you off.

Style: American Adjunct Lager

Rating: 79/100

Sol

Cinco de Mayo Beer #3

Another great beer for a hot, sunny day from Mexico. This one's name, Sol, meaning sun is perfect for it. It pours a bright gold with good looking foam in the glass and brings the beach to mind. The smells are most malts and corn, but there is just a tidbit of lime that implants the great idea of adding a wedge of the citrus fruit to it, making the taste really pop.

It's a lighter beer with mostly grain tastes and just a little bit of a hop bite. There's not a lot complex going on with the flavors in this one, just a simple and enjoyable beer, but one of my favorites from Central America. I'd definitely recommend adding the lime for some extra flavor.

Style: American Adjunct Lager

Rating: 83/100

Tecate

Cinco de Mayo Beer #2

 Tecate looks similar to many other Mexican lagers in a glass, it is a pale straw/yellow color with light head that disappears quickly leaving a mostly flat looking beer. Its smell is good and more complex than many others, including the regular sweet corn and grains but also grass and fruity smells as well. 

The flavors are much like the smells but malts come out a little bit stronger here, and it's watered down way too much. Some sour fruit flavors come out at the end which make it slightly unpleasant for me and ultimately hurt the otherwise mild beer. It's also a little heavier than other Mexican beers, but is still a very light brew overall. I would recommend several other similar beers over Tecate but it's not a terrible alternative to the big hitters like Dos Equis and Corona.

Style: American Adjunct Lager

Rating: 66/100

Pacífico

Cinco de Mayo Beer #1

Pacifico is a great beer for a hot, sunny day which is perfect for its homeland, Mexico. It pours a light gold color and while looks a little watery, it isn't nearly as bad as some other Mexican beers. There isn't much of a hop smell to balance the strong, grainy malts when you give it a whiff but this is made up for in the taste where there is just enough of a bite at the end to give the beer a little pizzazz.

The flavors are mostly of grain, a hint of corn flavor, and a little bit of hops. It's light and refreshing, and doesn't leave any sticky residue in your mouth although it doesn't leave much flavor in your mouth after swallowing either. The unfortunate trend of watered down flavors doesn't help, but Pacifico is definitely a Mexican brew I can recommend. Like I said, if you're looking for something refreshing for a hot day, this one will quench your thirst. Also, much like many other Mexican beers, it's great with a lime wedge for a little bit of extra citrus flavor.

Style: American Adjunct Lager

Rating: 77

Grading Scale Explained

Beerwords

Grading Scale Explained:

100-90: Great beers, must try! Hall of Fame.

89-85: Really, really good. Absolutely 100% recommended.

84-80: Good beer, stands out. Recommended.

79-75: Good beer, nothing special, and does not stand out. Will recommend to people.

74-70: Average beer. Probably would not recommend to friends.

69-60: Below average. Actively discourage friends from trying.

60-0: Reserved for the beers that I will turn down if offered.

Remember: All beers have their place!

Denver Pale Ale

This one from Great Divide Brewing Company, from Denver, Colorado is a pretty good English Pale Ale. It pours a clear, bright orange color with a bubbly head that's perhaps a little too much. The smell is mainly floral with a bit of wood and other earthiness.

It's a good beer to drink because of its crispness on the tongue, and is relatively light in the stomach, but it's thick enough to hold its own and doesn't feel too weak like beers sometimes can. The flavors are mainly earthy malts and a bit of the bite from hops but it's definitely not too much for those that don't enjoy hoppy bitterness. There's even a bit of sweet and fruity at the back end. Overall, it's a pretty darn good pale ale and I would never turn one down or hold it to last in a variety pack. Not one of my regulars though. I'm definitely not disappointed when one of these comes into my possession.

Rating: 83/100

Dig Pale Ale

Dig Pale Ale is a seasonal release from New Belgium Brewing Company, located in Fort Collins, Colorado. (If you ever get the chance to visit, DO IT!) The art on the bottle is great, as usual from New Belgium (who has a local artist, and former neighbor of the owners to do all the designs).

First off, it pours a beautiful amber color with big, foamy white head that will linger a bit, but not too long. The smell is a good amount of citrus and a good amount of floral hops as well.

Five different varieties of hops are used in brewing to make this beer one that should knock you off your seat with bitterness, but it's balanced well and though the bitterness lingers a bit it's not a bad thing. It's really more malty than you might expect based on the smells (and my first sentence of this paragraph). The tastes are mostly citrus with some lemon and orange and is just a medium bodied beer. It's very drinkable and I'd love to have this one again! Vying for a place on my list of favorite pale ales for sure!

Rating: 87/100

Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale

Pumpkin Ales are one of the enigmas of my life; I don't like pumpkin pie at all, and can't seem to think of any other pumpkin anything that I enjoy, but pumpkin beer is something I look forward to every year. Now, this review is coming out a little too late for this year, but next year I recommend at least trying a couple of different ones if you've never had them.


Buffalo Bill's, out of Hayward, California, produces this Pumpkin Ale packaged with a good looking label. Once poured into a glass though, it's another story. It sits a orange-red color and has small, foamy bubbles on the top. The bubbles go away quickly, and the beer looks sort of flat in the glass which is never good. The smell of pumpkin beers are what I look forward to most a lot of the time, and this one does a pretty good job in that aspect. You'll smell all the spices you'd want to find in a pie, nutmeg, sweet sugars, and some cinnamon, but the pumpkin aroma could stand to be amped up a bit here. Drinking Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale will be a pleasant experience as it is not heavy and doesn't stick too much to the insides of your cheek. The taste isn't as pumpkin-y as I would have hoped from a pumpkin ale, so it fails to live up to its name, but the other spices stick around in the flavors. Overall, it's a pretty average pumpkin ale, and if you're just starting to try pumpkin beers I'd stay away from this one or you'll be disappointed. Not an awful attempt though, and not something I would turn down if offered.

Rating: 76/100

McSorley's Irish Black Lager

McSorley's Irish Black Lager is named for one of the oldest pubs in New York City, where it is still served. It is brewed by Pabst Brewing Company in Illinois though, and is an extremely tasty black lager. You'll see immediately why 'black' is in its name as you pour it and the almost pitch black liquid fills up your glass. There is a tan/brown foam that sits atop the beer and gives it a dark, ominous look. The smells will remind you of a coffee house, with some smoky cocoa and coffee scents.

Then comes the tasting. Once again it tastes a bit smoky and you can definitely taste the cocoa and coffee a bit again, but it sits surprisingly light in your stomach, and has a lighter mouth-feel than you would expect based on the color. I would pick this beer up at the end of a tough day, or when you want something that isn't too heavy, but has enough weight to not be confused with water. A good choice for those new to black lagers, and a perfect representative for Saint Patrick's Day in America!

Rating: 85/100

Velvet Rooster

From Tallgrass Brewing Co. in Manhattan, Kansas as well this is their newest widely available beer. This is a Belgian Tripel that really does what it should. It'll knock you back with it's 8.5% abv, but it isn't a boozey drink by any means. It's well crafted, and pours a rich orange-gold color that looks great in the glass. Not going to lie though, the can is just as awesome looking as having it in the glass. How can you not love that flamboyant rooster on there? Back to it, with a sniff you'll smell the malts and some grass right away, but also just a tiny hint of fruit aroma. It feels a bit thick while you're drinking it but it's a good, creamy thick that fits well with the flavors. The flavors are generally what you'd expect based on the aromas, but the fruitiness comes out a bit more and the malts aren't as overpowering as you might have thought. Overall, a very tasty beer that will taste even better the second time you have it! Impressed again by Tallgrass.

Rating: 84/100

Black Rock

This Irish Dry Stout brewed by Dungarvan Brewing Company in, you guessed it, Ireland (County Waterford to be exact) and is a good alternative to the giant Guinness. It pours into the glass nearly pitch black with a ton of brown bubbles reaching the top of the glass. Smelling it will bring a coffee-lover to their knees as great roasted coffee smells rule with hints of chocolate and other roasts. The taste almost did me in as it is so delicately hopped that it is almost none there at all making for an extremely malty beer. This does not make it heavy though which is a big plus. Their are also a lot of roasted coffee and cocoa flavors making up the taste as well, but the coffee seems to be almost over-roasted and maybe even burned because it knocked me back a little. For some this will be an extremely pleasant experience, while for me (a non-coffee drinker) it was too much roasting to handle and I couldn't go for a second thereafter. In my opinion it is a middle of the road Irish Stout, and could stand for improvement.

Rating: 76/100

Sky High Rye

This pale ale from Arcadia Brewing Company in Battle Creek, Michigan pours a hazy, golden color with bright white head along the top that leaves a good amount of sticky, good-looking lacing around the glass. You can smell the rye without getting your nose too close though it's not overwhelming, and there are other citrus and wood smells that compliment it well. The rye really hits you in the taste though. There are some pretty good, flowery hops but the bit of rye does a great job combining with the hops to make an easy to drink beer. It has a way of making itself sort of sweet tasting with the way it lasts even after you've finished your gulp. I would recommend this to anyone that wants to try a rye beer, or even a pale ale. The label also helped to draw me into trying this one; I love the style of Arcadia's labels.

Rating: 87/100

Nutcracker Ale

Boulevard Brewing Company has really done well with this brew. A perfect beer for the winter, as you would guess by the festive style label. It pours a beautiful, light amber color with a good looking foam top. There is a certain amount of fruitiness in the flavor that reminds you of some common Christmas dishes that might be served at a family get-together. It has just enough citrus flavors and smells that it won't be forgotten with the many other winter warmer beers that are released during the season. There are also some sweet smells that are enticing, like brown sugar. The unique mix of citrus fruits and sweetness is balanced well with light, bitter hops that will make sure you're awake. Overall this beer won't weigh you down as many winter seasonals would but because of its uniqueness it may not suit all drinkers and can even put you off from having another.

Rating: 74/100

Lech Premium

Lech Premium is from Poznan, Poland and is pretty similar to most Euro Pale Lagers you're going to find around the world. It pours a pale, yellowish color and has tight, bubbly head. The taste is pretty plain, and will be something familiar to fans of plain lagers or American Adjuncts. It would be best enjoyed outside on a hot day, and probably gets better in larger quantities if you know what I'm getting at. It's not high in alcohol and goes well with most meals due to its lack of defining flavors.

Rating: 64/100

Schneeweisse

Another beer from Erdinger Weissbrau, and this one is slightly better than the last. It is a little bit closer to what I would usually expect from a wheat beer. It is a good color, and is bottle fermented, so there will be some particulate in the bottom of the bottle, but by pouring it correctly this only adds more flavor to the beer.

1. Pour 2/3 into a glass.
2. Swirl what is left in the bottle to help mix the particulate into the liquid.
3. Pour the rest of the bottle into glass.
4. Enjoy!

The beer is smooth, with a distinct grain taste. It is called Snow-white, and is Erdinger's winter seasonal and is built exactly for the season. It has a thick mouth-feel, and is a little heavy in the stomach but will definitely keep you warm after one or two. I don't particularly enjoy it, but there was nothing to complain about either. It's a difficult beer to rate as it is very similar to many other wheat and winter seasonal beers I've tasted. Many wheat beers have hints of citrus or fruit added to them, but this one does not have that (and it really wouldn't make sense to have citrus popping up in the winter would it?) and is therefore a little less complex than you may be hoping for. Still a pretty decent beer to enjoy on a winter evening.

Rating: 72/100

Kristallklar

A kristalweizen beer from Erding, Germany and a fairly easy to find beer brand (Erdinger Weissbrau) that has a slightly dark gold color. The beer is pretty much what you would expect from a wheat beer, and is nothing that got my taste buds excited. It is neither too malty, nor too bitter...and so it won't turn anyone away, but it won't turn heads either. I can't see many people picking this as one of their all-time favorites, and I won't even be putting it near my top 50. If you're looking for something simple to try, go for it.

Rating: 64/100

Hardcore IPA

Brewdog is a company from Fraserburg, Scotland that produced beers that attempt to cause a little revolution. They don't try to avoid confrontation and aren't afraid of you if you don't enjoy their beer. Hardcore IPA is another testament to that attitude. It is strong at 9.2% alcohol, and is an Imperial IPA which may cause some to turn their backs on a really tasty beverage. It is extremely hoppy, as it should be...but this should make you happy because it is really well done, and tastes pretty damn good. The alcohol content does not seem to affect the taste at all, and you may think that you could drink several of these before you begin to regret your decision. It's a hardcore kick to the face if you have too many but, for one or maybe two, it is a pretty good beer.

Rating: 82/100