May 2009

  • Montana's Best Brown Ale

    By macallister on 5/31/09 11:25pm
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    Some years ago, living in Montana, I walked into a local watering hole and asked for a beer. Probably an It's actually got a drooling moose pictured on the label, too. Just in case you don't read well, maybe?It's actually got a drooling moose pictured on the label, too. Just in case you don't read well, maybe?Alaskan Amber, or other such brew—even then I wasn't a big fan of the seemingly-ubiquitous Bud Lite or any of its clones.

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  • How to Really Buy American Beer

    By lisala on 5/29/09 3:51pm
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    I've written about trying some domestic, good old American macro beer here. In writing Image of a Shipyard Ale t-shirt.that piece,—and trying to find a can of Michelob, or even a bottle, I started noticing something; American macro beers, the beers of the baseball stadium and cookout, the average guy beers, are all essentially merging into lines of brands owned by international conglomerates.

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  • Domestic Macro Beer Reviews

    By lisala on 5/28/09 5:14pm
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    Given that it's summer, and times are hard, and in part because of the surprising hostility expressed towards American macro beers by a fair number of Traditional Michelob bottlebeer lovers, I've temporarily abandoned my exploration and research into micro brews, brewpubs and craft beers, to actually try a few American style pale lager macro brews. I thought it would be pretty simple; I'd walk to the local grocery store, and get a couple of 22 ounce bottles or 16 ounce cans. In fact, it quickly became apparent that it wasn't going to be that easy. First of all, I wanted to avoid Budwiser for the simple reason that I've had a fair amount of Bud on tap at Dodger games, and that familiarity, I thought, might give "the king of beers" an unfair advantage. I decided to try beers that were familiar brands, macro beers that were widely available all over the United States.

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  • American Macro Brews

    By lisala on 5/20/09 11:26am
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    I grew up on a dirt road in rural New Hampshire, just across the border from Vermont where the drinking age was higher and the beer was more expensive. On Image of a beer in a glass with bread.hot summer nights a lot of underage drinkers would stop to ditch their unfinished beer and their empties on the side of the road before crossing the state line into Vermont. My dad had us pick up the empties, and bring home the full bottles and cans to kill the slugs in the garden. The beer was mostly inexpensive domestic stuff in aluminum cans: Budweiser and Schlitz, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and sometimes maybe Molson's Golden or St. Pauli Girl bottles. When I got to be old enough to drink, I tried a sip here and there, but mostly, thought beer was pretty wretched, and decided to stick to wine.

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  • Two Brews from Full Sail: Limited 02 and Session

    By lisala on 5/13/09 4:46pm
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    full sail session beer bottlefull sail session beer bottle

    I've already reviewed the previous Full Sail Limited, 01 here. This one is Full Sail Limited 02 is another lager that's been brought back temporarily. It was initially brewed as a seasonal spring ale last year. This is definitely a lager; it's a pale golden amber in color. Slight note of hops in the finish, but mostly I noticed that slightly sweet taste. It's very drinkable, and went remarkably well with a burger. It's made with 2-Row pale malt, wheat malt, caramel malt, Vienna malt, and Stryian Goldings Hops. Alcohol by volume is 6.4%. I've been enjoying this one for over a month, and, as it's a Spring seasonal, I suspect it may be replaced soon. I'd suggest grabbing a six pack while you can.

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  • Rogue's Dead Guy Ale worth dying for.

    By selecter on 5/6/09 12:41pm
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    Dead Guy Ale, Rogue Brewery.: Dead Guy Ale labelDead Guy Ale, Rogue Brewery.: Dead Guy Ale labelOne of the best beers I have enjoyed in some time is Rogue's Dead Guy Ale. It is a traditional German Maibock style ale brewed in Newport, Oregon. The ale is a mellow brown beer with strong honey flavors and an easy finish. The label of the Dead Guy Ale is pretty cool too. Featuring a skeleton sitting on top of a barrel, the logo has been linked to the legendary jam band The Grateful Dead, although only coincidentally. The Rogue website recommends it with pork and smoky flavors, but I enjoy it with just about anything, but burgers and steaks and ribs are all good with a 22 ounce Dead Guy next to you. It's a great winter beer, but its light enough to squeak by on a hot summer day. Other brown ales can be a little rough tasting or too hoppy, but Dead Guy is the smoothest of all of them. This is not one of those crappy new start up microbreweries.

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