Beer 85 Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar and Beer 86 Franziskaner Dunkel Hefe-Weisse

In an effort to clear a bit more space on my desk, I am forging ahead with a review of 2 of the larger brown beverage containers that are perched upon it. Super Bowl Sunday is a great day to sit back and think about beer. We are going to have a few friends over later today to set into motion the visions I am having this morning. In all likelihood, I may just need a new desk to hold the bottles in line for review. It seems that my sampling of new beer continues to occur at a pace not met with my blogging efforts.

Beer 85 Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar: At first glance, you may very well pass this beer by. The large brown bottle features a bespectacled man making a not so cool white guy fist in the air. That may be be one reason. The hazelnut flavor might be another reason. It almost looks like a bottle of home brew that was made in this man’s basement. After passing on this brew numerous times, I finally decided to purchase one along with a mixed 6 pack at Walgreens. Even after I brought it home, it sat in the fridge until the 6 pack was gone. When I finally opened the bottle, it gave off a nutty, malty aroma. It poured into my pint glass with a brownish burgundy color and a rich head. I was not expecting much from this beer given my previously mentioned reservations. The first sip was clear evidence that I can predict the future sometimes looks can be deceiving. This beer has a great flavor! I simply had no idea that it would be good. It is an easy drinking brown ale with a nutty quality to it. Mixed in are pale chocolate malts and some choice hops to boot. I could go on and on about the beer, but suffice it to say that I bought another one to share on Super Bowl Sunday. I do believe that no matter what kind of beer you like, you will like this one. Click Here To Visit their website.

Beer 86 Franziskaner Dunkel Hefe-Weisse . I found this 25 ounce bottle at World Market when I was looking for treasures in the beer section. Quite often I can go in there and find something that is not at Andy’s or any of my other beer buying haunts. The Monk on the label, along with the fancy lettering drew me in for a closer look. The combination of dunkel and hefe-weisse in a malt liquor intrigued me. The fact that it was brewed by the good people at Spaten sold me on this one. I poured this reddish brown brew into a pint glass and was rewarded with a reasonable head. Although it faded after about a minute, it was buyoed by a pleasant aroma. The flavor was a bit a malty and had a little sweetness to it among the blend of nuts, banana, and wheat. It was not as thick as it might sound, so it was not overly heavy and it was relatively easy to finish the large bottle. It was an interesting beer to try, given the mulitple flavors that are brought together as one taste experience. This brew is slightly above average, but is not a rush out and buy it beer. Given the choice, I would choose the Spaten Dunkel over this one. Click Here to visit their website.

The Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar was only $5.99 for a 25 ounce bottle, and the Franziskaner Dunkel Hefe-Weisse Dunkel was $4.99 for a 25 ounce bottle.

Beer 83 Dogfish Head Aprihop and Beer 84 Southampton Imperial Porter

Another busy week goes by and I am fighting the blogger-slacker feeling once again. Free time is at a premium these days, and it is all I can do to keep up with the world of Daytona Beach Real Estate. Fortunately, I have been able to continue sampling beers on my way to 100. Now if I could only keep up with the blogging part of the deal.

Beer 83 Dogfish Head Aprihop.  I have tried several of the Dogfish collection and liked most of them.  I will admit  to having some reservations going in as I am not a big IPA fan, let alone a fruit beer lover. Still, it is important to experience a wide variety of beers in my quest as there are occasional surprises along the way. The pouring of this 7% alcohol brew into my pint glass revealed it to be an almost orange colored beer. It had a surprisingly decent head and some lacing in the glass. The aroma turned out to be more hoppy than fruity. My first impression was that it tasted much the same as a Dogfish IPA. The apricot flavor was faint and difficult to detect. In fact, I may have confused it with a regular IPA in a blind taste test. True to its name, I did begin to detect some citrus moments as I worked my way through this bottle. Overall I found it to be a pleasant beer with no bitter aftertaste. If you are a Dogfish fan, or an IPA fan, try one and you will be satisfied. If you are expecting a stinking fruit basket an explosion of apricot, you will not find it here.  Click Here to visit the Aprihop webpage.

Beer 84 Southampton Imperial Porter – I was very impressed with the Southampton Double White in week 30, so I had high hopes for their Imperial Porter. A 6 pack of this Latrobe PA Brew found its way to the checkout counter at Andy’s as I did not think that 1 or 2 would be enough. The beer escapes the bottle and is somewhat smokey as it pours into my pint glass. It is very dark, and sports an almost white head. It is very thick, and has a coffee like aroma. If you do not like thick, dark beers, STOP NOW. If you do, you will be very pleased with this 7.2% brew. Very smooth in flavor, and seemingly uncarbonated, I found the complex smokey porter and its hints of mocha much to my liking. It held up well in an extended 2 bottle – 2 hour taste test, where I pull 2 bottles out of the fridge at once so the 2nd picks up where the 1st leaves off. Even the labeling on the bottle is appealing. Click Here to visit the Southampton Imperial Porter webpage.

I found the Aprihop at Walgreens for $1.33 for a bottle in a make your own 6 pack deal, and the Southampton Imperial was $11.99 for a 6 pack at Andy’s.

Beer 81 Woodchuck Pear Draft Cider and Beer 82 Magners Irish Cider

Apparently more people read this blog than I would have imagined. Last week, Zak Davis from the Schmaltz Brewing Company took the time to comment on my less than favorable review of their Hebrew Genesis Ale. To his credit, he was cordial, encouraged me to try some of their other brews, and thanked me for taking the time write about his product. Class act that Zak Davis. I will make a point of it to try another of their brews. There is no truth to the rumor that he has trucks backing up to my front door loaded with beer. That being said, would I be compromising my “journalistic integrity” should some Schmaltz samples show up someday? A question for a lively debate over a fine beer indeed.

I decided to review “2 Cider Beers”, as many people have commented to me recently how much they have enjoyed them during the colder months. I am familiar with the Hornsby’s Cider and the Woodchuck Amber, so I chose 2 that I had not tried before. I was fortunate to find both a the local Walgreen’s Beer-Booze-Smokes- and Drugs Emporium at the low low price of $1.33 each.

Beer 81 – The Woodchuck Pear Draft Cider came highly recommended by a friend of mine that had to switch from beer to “something else” due to migraine type headaches after drinking 100 or so only a few beers. Weighing in at just 4% alcohol, I was expecting a mildly flavored brew. Brewed in Vermont, this libation may be an alternative for some friends of mine as it is gluten free. As I opened the bottle, a modest whisp of air escaped sending a message that it would be lightly carbonated. It poured a bit flat, but ciders do not typically have any head, so I was not discouraged. The taste of this cider was very mild as anticipated. It was not just a carbonated apple-pear juice Ocean Spray-like variety beverage. You could sense the alcohol, but it was favorably blended into the brew. While I am not a big fan of pears, it did have a nice flavor. Should you enjoy pears, I would recommend trying one. If you are restricted to a gluten free diet, perhaps this will become a regular on your shopping list. Click Here to visit their website.

Beer 82- Magners Irish Cider, brewed in…well…Ireland, is a more traditional cider brew.  Nicely packaged in its brown bottle and green and gold label, it appeared to be a sound choice for comparison. Established in 1935, the folks in Tipperary, Ireland have a strong track record of satisfied customers overseas. The bottle opening and pour were almost identical to that of the Woodchuck Pear Cider. The difference being a more noticeable fragrance. The flavor was a hearty apple brew with a dry finish. Being a bit more carbonated, I found it slightly more to my liking. There was no mention of it being gluten free, so I am not sure if it is, or is not. They recommend drinking it over ice, and it would seem to be a very refreshing summer drink alternative to beer.   Click Here To Visit Their Website

It needs to be stated that I have tried relatively few cider beers. Each time I have come away with the impression that the flavor was good, but that I would not be able to have more than 1 or 2 at a sitting. I would recommend trying each one on a separate night, and as a first taste. If you can find singles of them, try several of them over the course of a week or a month, to find the one that is best for your taste buds.

Beer 79 Peak Organic Nut Brown Ale and Beer 80 Hebrew Genesis Ale

In an effort to honor my commitment to try AND write about beer, I am back at the keyboard on this Sunday morning. I am also determined to reduce the number of empty bottles in the “yet to write the review” pile on my desk and in the garage. If anything, this quest has found my “new beer radar” turned up to 11, whether I am at a bar, restaurant, shopping, or just talking with friends.

I will entering the Walgreens Zone for the next few entries.  Of all places that one would shop at, Walgreens would seem to be an unlikely place to find new beers to try. If you have never been to Port Orange, Florida, you would get a good laugh driving down Dunlawton Ave, where there are 3, count them 3 Walgreens in a 4 mile stretch.  (Insert your own Florida  joke here) Apparently they are after the beer, booze, cigarettes, and drugs crowd among the numerous baby boomers in our area. Interestingly enough, they have a pretty good selection of beer to choose from, and great prices. I find myself stopping into their small store of vices to check out the single beer selection from time to time. Always looking to stretch my beer dollar, I enjoy being able to make my own 6 pack for $7.99.

Beer 79 is a Nut Brown Ale from the Peak Organic Brewery located in Portland Maine. At first glance, I thought that I was sampling a beer from Colorado, or some place with mountains. It turns out that this USDA Certified Organic brewer uses photos on their labels that are submitted by their customers. The label did not suggest that this would be a quality beer, but given the opportunity to try one for $1.33, I did not have a great sense of risk.  Ahhh the benefits of beer shopping. What I found once I opened the bottle was a smooth tasting 4.7% alcohol surprise. The beer was moderately carbonated and had a smooth finish. The nutty flavor was ample, and there is a noticeable hint of chocolate malt. Overall this whim of an experiment unearthed a decent organic beer. If you can find one as a single as I did, its worth a try.  Click Here to visit their website.

Beer 80 was a Hebrew Genesis Ale. The brewers bill this as The Chosen Beer. Another one of my $1.33 experiments was now underway. I have to admit that the goofy label had me interested far more than the beer. Bottled and brewed by the Schmaltz brewery in Saratoga (but inspired in San Francisco) It came across as some kind of joke beer that was created by a marketing major for a college thesis. This light brown ale featured a slightly creamy head and a bit of  a biscuit like aroma. The flavor was a rather non-descript ale, with very little in the way of memorable characteristics. There were mild citrus like flavors and a bit of hoppiness in this 5.6% alochol brew. It was a bit bitter as you might expect, and a little malty flavor to boot. At the end of the bottle, I was convinced that this would be a great accessory for a Rabbi Halloween Costume, but not a high priority on anyone’s” gotta try this beer list” .  Click Here To See Their Amusing Website

Beer 77 Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan and Beer 78 Bad Elf Winters Ale

Let me start by saying that the 12 Beers Of Christmas idea was a good one. Unfortunately, it never got a chance to be put into action. My wife Jess had surgery a few days before Christmas, and beer blogging didn’t make the list of important things on my “to do list”. Thankfully, she is now well into her her recovery, and back to work. We thank everyone for their well wishes.

Interestingly, I have had far more calls regarding this beer blogs hiatus than I would have imagined. Many thought I went full girly gave up beer for the New Year. Others simply thought I forgot how to read and write. Most of all, I heard that many of you were “jonesing” for some beer talk in this blog. The good news is that the blog is back, and I will be drinking working feverishly to get back on track.

Beer 77 is the Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan. The pride of “Mississippi’s Brewery” is purported to be the original pecan nut brown ale.  It came highly recommended and when I saw that Andy had it available, I jumped at the opportunity to try it.  I wasted zero minutes opening this bottle when I got home and poured into the nearest pint glass. It’s carmel brown in color was accented with a modest head. The sniff test was pleasant as it gave off a scent of roasted nuts. To be honest, I wasn’t all that sure that a roasted nut beer was going to be my cup of tea. It sounded more like my morning Dunkin Donuts coffee fix. Still, I was overly intrigued by this offering, and set about taking my first sip.

What I discovered is that the beer had a very pleasant taste. The alcohol content, as expected, was low at 4.5%. It was a highly drinkable beer, with excellent pecan undertones. Moderate carbonation allowed it to feel far less filling than my initial impressions would have lead me to believe. The proof in the pudding in this sampling is that the 6 pack did not enjoy a long stay in the refrigerator. I would purchase this again for personal consumption or perhaps  a “beer night” sampling.   Click Here to visit their website

Beer 78 is the Bad Elf Winters Ale. The name alone would appeal to any “Man’s Man” ego preserving sense of entitlement around the holidays. I originally purchased it with the intention of carrying it around for the inevitable holiday moment where the conversation drops 2 levels below Manly. At that high risk moment, I could restore my pirate-like manly-ness by simply opening the Bad Elf to immediately restore my rebel “image”.

As it turns out, it was a quiet sampling as we spent most of the holidays in the living room. This sturdy Winters Ale poured itself into my pint glass, similar to a magical sleigh gliding over a fresh fallen snow. The aroma was hop infused to be sure. Dark gold, almost orange in color, this 6% IPA promised to be a cheerful holiday delight. It had a rather light, “citrussy” flavor, that turned out to be smoother than I would have imagined. Ultimately, I found this mellow beer to be drinkable, but lacking any distinguishing flavors to set it apart from other beers in its class. Perhaps the best part of the beer was the name and the mischievous bad elf on the label. Actually, that alone made it worth buying, and I do believe that I will purchase one again next holiday season as my protection against the “inevitable moment” once again. Click Here to visit the Bad Elf Website.

The Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan was $11.99 for a 6 pack at Andy’s the Bad Elf was $4.99 at World Market for a 25 ounce bottle.

I took this comment off of their website:

ELF WARNING:  Consumption of too much Winter’s Ale may be bad for your elf and may impair your ability to drive a sleigh or operate toy-making machinery.

Beer 75 Stone Vertical Epic and Beer 76 Blue Moon Grand Cru

Beer 75 is the limited edition Stone Vertical Epic 09.09.09 . Carrying on the Stone Brewery tradition of repetitive date speacial issued beers, the 09 version is a complex creation of multiple layered flavors. Boasting chocolate, malts, fruit, banana, and vanilla flavorings, this 8.9% alcohol brew promised to an epic beer, “heroic and and impressive in quality” on its bottle.

When I opened the 25 ounce bottle, there was a very interesting aroma. So many scents permeated the air. I had pre-planned a 2 hour time block to sample it, was excited to see how this complex beers flavor changed as the temperature increased. There was a NY Ranger game on, which typically lasts 2 1/2 hours. How perfect to be able to be able to watch the game without having to get up for another beer. It was a thick and rich pour into the my glass, and has a very pronounced thick head. I admired it as long as I could, before I had my first taste. After much deliberation, I was able to come up with the one word capable of describing it: mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Each sip brought with it an opportunity to distinguish a new flavor in this incredible brew.  Chocolate, check…cirtus/tangerines…check…malts, check… vanilla, check. It was all in there. Perhaps the most exciting part of the experience was the finish brought out numerous flavorful spices that differed from the initial taste as it hit my pallette. It improved as it warmed up during the taste test. Simply a fantastic brew to savor slowly during a NY Ranger victory. Click Here to visit the Stone Vertical Epic Website.

Beer 76 is the Blue Moon Grand Cru. This beer was created to celebrate the first New Years Eve Blue Moon since 1990. A Blue Moon is the 2nd full moon in a calendar month for those of you that were wondering. I have had the “regular” Blue Moon several times, always find it remarkable that a beer that good can come from the Coors People in Golden, Colorado.

The Grand Cru is brewed in the tradition of a Belgian White style wheat beer. Brewed specifically for the Blue Moon on New Years Eve to honor the rare event, the alcohol content was increased to 8.2% . Upon opening the bottle, I was met with a wonderful bouquet of orange peel and spices. A hazy pour into my pint glass yielded a bountiful head. It was hard to imagine that this brew was not going to be impressive. I let it bask in the glass for awhile, and its head held up very well. My first taste brought everything that I had expected as a Blue Moon enthusiast. Orange, coriander, and Belgian White Beer goodness. The added alcohol took away some of the sweetness that is found in the reqular version as expected. It was noticably stronger, and there was an afteratste where the alcohol was noticeable. I found it very enjoyable and would recommend it to anyone that enjoys Belgian White Beers.

The Stone Verical Epic was $8.99 for a 25 ounce bottle, and the Blue Moon was $11.99 for a 25 ounce bottle.

Click here to visit the Blue Moon Website.

The 12 Beers Of Christmas

It is time to get caught up on the Beer Blog. An interesting this has happened on the way to trying 100 New Beers in one year. I have kept pace with my weekly updates, but have tried more than 2 per week with the help of my friends. Several weeks ago, I slipped in an extra sampling and simply put the bottle on my desk with the intention of using it for the following week. It was a good theory. In practice, empty bottles were accumuluating on my desk at an alarming rate, as the door was opened to trying more than 2 per week. I have gotten to the point where I rarely have the same beer twice in a row, as I am so captivated with trying new beers.

I have resorted to buying singles at World Market, ABC, and Walgreens liquor store. Surprisingly, Walgreen’s has a great selection. Most single beers can be purchased for $1.99 or less, so it really strecthes my experimenting dollar. It also greatly reduces the chance of being stuck with a 6 pack of beer I do not like. I am now more willing to take a chance on a beer I am unsure about, and often can find 3 or 4 new ones to make up a 6 pack. I am starting to resemble a garage sale shopper in search of treaures when I go to the store. Beer trades with David and Larry have also added significantly to Beer Bottle Mountain.

In an effort to reduce the number of bottles that are overtaking my desk, I will be switching my format over the holidays from weeks to days. There are several samples that I have reviewed but not posted that will be online over the next few days.

Week 37 – Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale and Bison Gingerbread Ale

The holiday season is now in full swing, so it is time to review some seasonal beers. While I am typically drawn to stout and porter brews, I am increasingly choosing beers with interestings flavors. That is not to say that I am “fruting the beer”, but rather, I am in search of excellent beermaster combinations to savor. Please save your childish manhood atttacking verbal barbs insightful comments for a more accepting person. There are a number of great tasting brews recently sampled that could occasionally steer any of us from the dark side.

My first sample of the week is the Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale. I had passed over this brand several times in the past few weeks. So many beers to try, so little time. As with any flavor beer, there is always a bit of trepidation involved in removing a pack from a cooler and taking it up to the register. First and foremost is the “what if I hate the taste of this $9.99 6 pack of beer” feeling. This blog has helped save many a beer drinker such causes for concern, and someday may very well be a reference for the masses. I obtained this Headless Horseman labeled beer in a trade with David. I believe he said it had been stored in his maximum security cooler rolling around in his truck for a bit. My opportunity to satisfy my curiosity was there for the taking, and I seized it.

When I opened the bottle, there was an aroma that was similar to pumpkin pie. The golden beer had a hint of orange color to it, and poured relatively flat. Not much in the way of head or lacing along the glass. The moment of truth was upon me as I took my first sip. To my surprise, it tasted like a liquid pumpkin pie. In a Willy Wonka-ish way, a very pleasant tasting flavor was achieved. The alcohol content of 4.5% allows it to be free of any bitter aftertaste. This would go over well at a Halloween Party, as well as at Thanksgiving dinner. Being a big fan of pumpkin pie probably has given some bias to this review that would not be afforded to other flavors. If this were an apple or strawberry flavored beer, this review may not be as flattering. If you like pumpkin pie, this is a must selection. If not, run – don’t walk – away from this beer.

My 2nd sampling was a much anticipated brew for Christmas. Anyone that has clicked through this blog a bit will have most likely noticed that I am in a constant search for a ginger flavored holiday ale to equal to CB’s Christmas Ale that is brewed in Honeoye Falls NY. Click here to see what all my fussing is about. I had high hope for the Bison Gingerbread Ale that I had chosen for this entry. I discovered it on the Bison website while I was sampling their Chocolate Stout. It was not available locally, but Andy was kind enough to special order some for me.

The Bison brewery in Berkeley CA, is known for its organic beers. This ale combines natural ginger, cinammon, and nutmeg flavors in a 6.8% alcohol blend. Upon opening the bottle, I noticed that there was an absence of the spicy aroma that would signify a flavorful experience was in store for me. Undaunted, I poured the gingery beer into a pint glass and gave it another sniff. Still nothing, but I was hopeful that the flavor would trump the aroma. My first sip was typical of an IPA, as I had anticipated, and I was hoping for a gingery finish. To my surprise, it wasn’t there. The beer was pretty cold, so I let it warm up a bit. Faint hints of ginger in the second sip. More waiting ensued but to no avail. The ginger inspired flavor I was looking for never materialized and I was left with a warm IPA to finish. If you are an IPA fan, you will like this beer. When you are expecting a flavorful creation, you are left with an empty feeling. I am a fan of this organic brewery, but I was highly disappointed in this beer. There are bound to be disappointments on the way to finding great beers, and I chalk this up to experience. There is something special about having a Christmas Ale at the Old Toad Pub back in Rochester that may not be duplicated, let alone exceeded. 

The Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale is $9.99 a 6 pack, and the Bison Gingerbread Ale was $13.99 for a 6 pack.

Week 36 – Orval Trappist Ale and Mothership Wit Organic Wheat Beer

Week 36 was actually part of the beer trade that was started in week 35. Judging by the number of empty bottles neatly arranged in 6 pack holders near my desk, it is becoming very clear that the 12 beers of Christmas idea may very well become a reality. In actuality, it is staring to look more like the 2 New Beers A Day Blog around here, and I am going to have to do something fast if I want to be able see my desk anytime soon.

I had really enjoyed the Chimay Triple that I found at Beer’s Of The World World Market, and had picked up an Orval Trappist Ale to see how it might compare. Chimay is in the gold standard category, but I had high hopes for this bowling pin shaped bottle. It has a nice aroma and it poured very nicely into my pint glass. With a thick, almost fluffy head sitting on top of its hazy orange-amber colored beer, it certainly looked as if it was going to be another successful sampling. I was careful to let this 6.9% alcohol brew warm up a bit as my prior trappist experiences improved as the temperature increased. While the beer taunted me from its safe haven in my pint glass, I had visions of how good it was going to taste. Sure enough, when the internal beer clock in my head sounded the alarm to begin, I was rewarded with a very complex and delicious first taste. Hints of lemons, herbs, and spices, were wonderfully blended into this creation of the monastic community that run the Orval Brewery.  I strongly recommend trying this beer. The Orval Brewery of Belgium has a fine website that describes its many unique characteristics and stories, and I recommend that you click here for more information on this fantastic beer.

The next sampling was an Organic Beer from the New Belgium brewery in Fort Collins Colorado called Mothership Wit. Brewed in the tradition of a Belgium white beers, it features coriander and and orange peel flavoring in its composition, and is certified organic by the USDA. The distinctive green and white circle on the label is showing up more in more stores and on more labels these days, which I think is a good thing. It is golden in color when poured into a pint glass, and if you keep a little in the bottom of the bottle, you can swirl it a bit bit to add a little hazyness to your brew. It has the aroma of a Blue Moon, but is not as cloudy. It has a taste similar to a Blue Moon as well, but is lighter in taste. Call it a Blue Moon Light at 4.8% alcohol content. Not bad for an organic beer, but not good enough to choose it over some of the better white beers we have sampled such as Hoegaarden.  Click Here for a trip to the Very Interesting New Belgium Website.

The Orval was $4.99 for an 11.2 ounce bottle and I am unsure about the Mothership Wit as I got it in a trade.

Week 35 – French Broad 13 Rebels E.S.B and Gateway Kolsch

Week 35 took place about 2 weeks ago. Between work and the holiday season that is upon us, 2 things are readily apparent. Item one, I am struggling to find time for everything, including this beer blog. Item two, I am sampling a lot of new beers, and I have enough notes for several weeks worth of entries. David and Larry are providing some interesting beer trading opportunities lately, and combined with creative shopping of my own, the beer is flowing at a very good rate these days. I am contemplating a 12 days of Christmas theme so that I can get the blog caught up to what has been sampled lately. It is safe to say that I am going to reach 100 new beers a bit ahead of schedule.

A fine day of Sunday football was enhanced by a beer trade that David and I had been brewing during the week. I had been saving my usual 1 beer per 6 pack in anticipation of the event. David chose to bring over some  of his North Carolina collection from a recent trip. The trade was on.

The first sampling was from the French Broad Brewing Co in Asheville, NC. called Gateway Kolsch. At first glance, I was not sure what to make of it. The  label on the bottle looked like it had some sort of fortress made of stone and a wooden gate. There was a rather nice side label that described the beer inside. German Style Ale, and 5.3% alcohol caught my eye. I am not as well informed as some beer lovers, so things like SRM: 3.9, IBU 32.3, and OG 11.5P were not as interesting to me.  I noticed when opening the 22 ounce bottle that there was a rush of air forcing its way out. When it was poured into a pint glass, it was very “heady”. Thick puffs of foam erupted into the glass. An unsuspecting person could end up with a glass of foam. The beer itself, once visible, was golden in color. There was a sweet malty aroma that some might describe as “biscuity”. It has an easy drinking mild taste and a clean finish. It is not as flashy or flavorful as most of the beers I have sampled. I would consider this a good beer for a warm summer day, and a step above the mass production domestic brewers.

The second sample was a French Broad 13 Rebels E.S.B. Ale.  The front label features a pirate-like skull and crossbones that appears to be smiling at you. The side label on the bottle gave me fair warning that this beer is an American Interpretation of Britain’s Extra Special Bitter. The 22 ounce bottle of 5.2% beer was opened carefully to guard against a repeat foam incident. There is an interestingly pleasant malty aroma to this one. It is dark amber in color, and pours nicely into a pint glass. The first taste is decidedly more flavorful than its Kolsch counterpart. Bitter to be sure, but it also had a burnt toast type of flavor working in the background. It was an interesting combination that was distinctively good. I would favor the piratey E.S.B. over the Kolsch if you were only going to try one. Click Here to visit the French Broad Website.

Each of these 22 ounce bottles are in the $4-$5 price range.