Spaten Dunkel

I’ve lived a long time without ever having tried Spaten Munchen Dunkel, so I figured what the hell.  My credo:  Any product from one of the greatest breweries in the world should be sampled, savored and enjoyed.  Therefore, I will tell you this about Spaten Dunkel:
“Medium brown, not much carbonation, not much of a head.  [...]

Read Full Post »

Dynamo Hum

You don’t need to be a fan of Zappa to appreciate Dynamo Copper Lager.  Despite complete lack of head retention, no lacing and minimal carbonation, the flavor of this beer is well-crafted.  The rusty copper color shows a bit of haze.  The bouquet is similar to a home-brewed brown ale, primarily yeasty.  There is a slight [...]

Read Full Post »

Flywheel Bright Lager

A new local brew – YAY!  I still remember Baderbrau and Legacy Lager fondly.  I don’t know how they didn’t catch on here.  Anyway(s), Metropolitan Brewing of Chicago has produced a real weinner in Flywheel Bright Lager.  There are no flies on them, as Grampa Abt would say.  It’s bright yellow with the slightest of [...]

Read Full Post »

Mission Street India Pale Ale

Here’s an interesting brew that is contract brewed for Trader Joe’s by at least two contract brewers.  Mine came from Steinhaus Brewing Company, as opposed to Firestone Walker, both in Paso Robles, California.  Perhaps they are the same company.  The point is, I found Mission Street India Pale Ale to be a very enjoyable beer.  [...]

Read Full Post »

Deja Spew

1982 Wisconsin Club…review by my friend Al:
When most beer companies decided to move to aluminum cans, Wisconsin Club bravely kept the steel can packaging, allowing the slow oxidation to rust to add to its carefully crafted blend of hops and barley that other brewers deemed unsuitable for their products. That in combination with the best [...]

Read Full Post »

Taking Liberties

I’m on a roll.  2 consecutive gold star beers in a row.  Today’s winner is Liberty Ale by Anchor Brewing Company.  Liberty ale is medium gold with lots of carbonation, a sparse-but-foamy head and graces the air with a hoppy, doughy essence.  The hops are not as strong as in an IPA, buth their presence [...]

Read Full Post »

Cisk XS is Amazing.

Nothing but good things to say here.  It starts with that great pilsner bouquet as soon as the cap is popped, like the great Czech pilsners.  Light gold, good frothy head and light carbonation.  Again, the bouquet is amazing, and perhaps its best attribute.  Cisk XS Extra Lager is dry, hoppy, grainy and sweet, followed [...]

Read Full Post »

Sour Beer: A Good Thing

A recent article in the Trib hipped me to an interesting type of beer.  Sour Beer.  It is made to be sour by the introduction of wild yeast strains, and consistency between batches is difficult to achieve.  My first experience with sour beer was interesting, which I suppose means that the jury is out on [...]

Read Full Post »