May I have beer May 27th Sprecher Hard Apple Pie

Sprecher Hard Apple Pie is listed on Sprecher breweries site as a  hard craft Soda but if  coney island and not your can count as being a beer then this can too. The previously mentioned brews are like drinking pop this was like drinking Apple Pie!  Yes it really was and it was a tasty apple pie at that. I drank my apple pie before dinner and began to feel guilty. Then I remembered something my father in law said once when asked why he was eating his desert before dinner "That way I know I will have room for it"  That does after all make perfect sense. This was a drink I am glad I had room for.
Thanks Leroy for the advise and thanks to my wife for the gift.


Now the official word:

Hard Apple Pie Facts

---

Year First Brewed: 2015
Serving Temperature: 45°

At 5% abv, this is definitely not a simple apple pie though it tastes remarkably similar. Each sip gives you every flavor you get in an apple pie -- crisp yet soft apple up front followed by cinnamon and a pie crust finish. Sweet, tart and smooth with a hint of savory. Engagingly provocative, Hard Apple Pie is delicious on its own, in a float with your favorite ice cream, or mixed in a cocktail. Cheers!

May I have a beer May 26th Anchor Christmas Ale

I have had Anchor brewing companies Christmas ale in  previouse years and it is usually pretty good. This year was in some ways not as good yet really not bad. It was very dark full of flavour even if slightly bitter. Some years it has  been more playful with my taste buds but even so it did not just wash over my tongue like some mass made bottle of urinesque (I believe I am inventing this word. If so the meaning I give it is something that although not urine does too good of a job of tasting and maybe even looking like it) beer. Each year the beer is a different recipe and a different tree on the label.

Now the official word:

Christmas Ale 2016 Anchor Christmas Ale. New tree. New recipe. Same traditions.

A deliciously smooth winter warmer with notes of seasonal spices and a malty backbone, our 2016 Christmas Ale marks the 42nd annual release of this celebrated Anchor tradition.It is sold only from early November to mid–January. The Ale's recipe is different every year—as is the tree on the label—but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew. With a heavily guarded, secret recipe, Christmas Ale is a highly anticipated seasonal delight, complex and full in flavor with a velvety texture and alluring, yet subtle, spiced aroma.Our tree for 2016 is the “1,000 Mile Tree” or the lone pine found during westbound construction of the transcontinental railroad. Discovered in 1869, it was a lone pine amidst a vast and desolate landscape. The tree on this year’s label was hand-drawn by Bay Area artist James Stitt, who has been creating Anchor’s Christmas Ale labels since 1975. His charming illustration of the 1,000 Mile Tree includes a person at the top of the tree with a mug of beer, honoring an old legend that railway passengers sometimes attempted to climb the tree.The 2016 Christmas Ale is a deep mahogany brown with a creamy, tan head and boasts aromas of fruitcake, molasses, and fresh cut wood. The beer tastes of a roasted caramel malt, with notes of spiced chocolate and nuts. And it has a rich, smooth, and velvety mouthfeel. Every year the Anchor brewers look forward to formulating a new Christmas Ale recipe and tasting the fruits of their labors. We are always excited to please beer fans with its ever-changing recipe and label. Cheers from the Anchor brewers!

Brew Facts

First Brew

1975

First Bottling

1975

Alc. by Volume

6.5

Availability

Nov.-Jan.

May I have a beer May 25th Yuengling light lager

Yuengling light lager is a beer that like revenge is best served cold. Not as bad as some light beers such as Budlight that needs to be almost frozen,but cold does serve more of an essential part than is true of its none light sister beer Yuengling lager. It does have a nice copper colour but is very thin and lacking in a decent sustainable head. If you are drinking a Light beer because of need to watch your calorific intake or because you just need a drink might I suggest water If you want something to excite the palate flavoured waters usually do a better job. I had hoped that Americas oldest brewery might have a Light beer that offered more excitement but it may not be possible. So either diet or enjoy when it comes to beer I don't think you can do both. Just one last note Yuengling boast that Yuengling light has 99 calories per 12oz. They are right to be proud Budlight comes in at 110 calories per 12oz. Interestingly they do not seem to tell of it's alcohol content according to beer advocate it is only 3.8% Bud light boasts 4.2%. So as is often the case don't look at what you are being told look at what you are not being told!



Now the official word:

Light Lager

An exceptional brew that appeals to consumers who don’t want to sacrifice character for a low-calorie light beer. Masterfully developed to maintain the full flavor profile akin to our flagship Lager brand, but has only 99 calories per 12oz serving. Skillfully pairing a caramel malt flavor and mild hop character creates a beautifully rich-colored beer with deep amber highlights that finishes smooth and clean.

May I have a beer May 24th Goose Island Goose winter ale

It's summer so I am going to do another winter ale why because summer should have flavour. Goose winter ale certainly does not seem to have  much head but a great brown colour and a great malt and chocolate taste more than make up for it.Should you want to enjoy flavour then dont waste your pucker on some watery sucker, cause theirs something good on the scene. Give it a try.
 




















Now the Official word:

GOOSE WINTER ALE

BREWER'S NOTES

Layered with rich, nutty chocolate notes and malty, roasted caramel flavors, our brown ale gives you plenty to contemplate on long winter nights.

RECIPE INFORMATION

Style: Winter Ale

ABV: 5.3%

IBU: 25

Color: Umber

Hops: Fuggle

Malts: 2-Row, Caramel-60, Dark Chocolate, Victory, Wheat

REVIEWS

Rate BeerBeer Advocate

May I have a beer May 23rd Atwater brewery Christmas ale

Everybody it seems these days have a Christmas or winter beer. Yes it is now summer but I feel like most breweries do there best work for the winter season. Atwater certainly put forth  a good winter brew, a little cloudy a little brown a little flavourful brew.  YES it is malty yes it is smooth and flavourful. Yes it is only able to be enjoyed in winter wait scratch that reverse it no it is not. Tastes great all year long   so why is it only available november to january they are teasing us. Most   breweries think we onIy want flavourless brews in Summer. Stand up wand say "we want Beer with taste all year long." Official word :

ABV 6.10% IBU: 28

Style: Herb & Spice Beer   Color: Copper

Brewed with respect to the season, Atwater’s Winter Bock boasts the body and deep malt flavors matched with a warming, but well blended hint of alcohol. Extended aging reduces the sharpness and acidity typically apparent in strong ales.

Historically traced to the 14th century and the Northern German town of Eisbeck, the popularity of these lagers spread via the commercial and defensive confederations of the region. Bocks range from the deep gold of Mai Bocks to the more traditional copper and brown. The aromas and flavors tend to be malty and lightly roasty, with only enough hop character to clear the finish.

Available: November-January

May I have a beer May 22nd Harpoon IPA

Yes I tried Black white and rye from Harpoons IPA range, but I have not yet tried straight IPA. It would probable on reflection, be where most people doing the range of Harpoon IPA's should start. It is the mildest of the range so fare. The official description of the colour is copper. It is cloudy with a decent head and decent amount of lacing.Tasty but mild with very little after taste.




Official word:

It started as a summer seasonal in 1993 – one of the first IPAs to be brewed on the East Coast. People loved it so much and demanded more, so it became a year-round the next year. And as they say, the rest is IPA-istory.  

Our IPA finds harmony in the combination of hops, malt, and yeast so that no single ingredient dominates the drinking experience. Floral and citrus hop notes combine with a sturdy malt backbone to impart a clean, fresh finish. Our IPA is a crisp, balanced interpretation of this classic style.

TASTING NOTES

• Appearance: copper in color
• Aroma: floral
• Mouth feel: medium-bodied
• Taste: citrusy, hoppy
• Finish: distinct hop finish

AVAILABILITY

On tap at the Windsor, VT Brewery 

On tap at the Boston, MA Brewery 

• Bottle: 6-pack, 12-pack, Loose Case; 22 oz. bottles
• Draught: full and 1/2 kegs
• Can: 12-packs

May I have a beer May 21st Magic Hat Demo Black IPA

Yesterday we did a Black IPA from Harpoon well Magic Hat also do a Black IPA not as creamy a little harsher yes it still beats Bud light but in this case Harpoon beats the Magic Hat. Don't get me wrong it's ok with lacing head and all but not as creamy as yesterdays.


Now the official word:

DEMO

A Black IPA with a unique combination of floral hop notes and subtle roasted & chocolate malt flavors.

Brewed with Pale, Chocolate, Carafa, Caramel, Cara Vienna Malts, Apollo, Goldings Hops, English Ale Yeast.

• 6.0%/ABV

 

• 45IBU

 

• 80SRM

May I have a beer May 20th Harpoon Black IPA

In recent days I have tried Harpoons Rye IPA and White IPA well lets continue that trend with a Black IPA. It is said that the darkside has cookies well they do have a creamy IPA full flavoured and tasty but it is also aromatic. This beer held a head and is has good lacing.From what I can tell it is only available in bottles in a mix pack that seems silly and sad. Harpoon let this one loose in a six pack.

Now the official word:

This beer was originally brewed in 2011 as the 40^th offering of our 100 Barrel Series.  The inspiration behind the original was our enduring love for the IPA style and our brewers’ enjoyment of experimentation.  We loved the 100 Barrel Series Black IPA…but after it was gone, we realized we wanted more.  So we brewed it again.  It’s just one of the perks of working at a brewery!

A specialty malt called Midnight Wheat gives this beer an almost stout-like appearance without the overly roasty attributes often associated with traditional dark malts. Chinook, Simcoe, Cascade, Amarillo, and Centennial hops provide a fruity aroma to complement the earthy, spicy bitterness of this dark ale.

TASTING NOTES

• Appearance: dark, almost stout/porter-like
• Aroma: fruity, citrusy, juicy
• Mouth feel: smooth, yet bitter, juicy
• Taste: bitter and fruity
• Finish: fruity, sweet malt flavor

May I have a beer May 19th Great Lakes Chillwave Double IPA

Disclaimer Chillwave Double IPA is one of my favourite IPA's. Very cloudy in appearance my wife describes the colour as orangey I thought more reddish.Decent lacing modest head, These are not the important parts.Discussing these things when talking about Chillwave is like talking about the colour of  a sinking boat. Not the important part people. Thefact that the bot is sinking should be addressed. Taste in  this case is the important factor. If colour is more important in your beerthan flavour, might i suggest you crry food colouring with you. Sadly the taste is better when the beer is on draft. However that is also not important because even not on draft it is still far superior to most beers available to the world of beer drinkers.

Official word:

CHILLWAVE® DOUBLE IPA

VIEW LABEL DETAILS

Inspired by the North Coast’s dedicated (and sometimes chilly) surf community, our Double IPA will melt the ice in your beard and never lose its balance.

FLAVOR

Earthy, tropical Mosaic hops ride frontside here, followed by a deft cutback of sweet honey malt

PACKAGING: 

• 4-pack
• Draft

ABV

9.0%

IBU

80

PAIRS WITH

Grilled lamb, sweet desserts, and dawn patrol

BEER AVAILABILITY: 

• February

May I have a beer May18th Harpoon White IPA

Yesterday we did Harpoon rye Ipa today White IPA This one is lower in Alcohol only 6.2 ABV and has a very definite citrus flavour better lacing on the glass. The citrus would most likely cut through a summer thirst better. Both could be enjoyed in different circumstances. the important thing to take from  this is that both can be enjoyed!



Now the official word:

It’s been almost three decades since we brewed our first IPA, and we’ve continued to experiment with new interpretations of a beloved style. For The Long Thaw we wanted to brew a beer that could carry us through the January cold while hinting at warmer days ahead. A favorite beer at the brewery, Harpooners made it clear we wanted this one in the Harpoon 30-Pack.

The Long Thaw White IPA style blends the spiciness of a Belgian Wit and the American hop character of an IPA.  

TASTING NOTES

• Appearance:  light colored, hazy, thick white head
• Aroma:  very citrusy, floral, and spicy from the ground coriander
• Mouth feel: soft mouth feel with a clean finish.  Light to medium bodied. 
• Taste:  Medium bitterness, fruit and citrus flavors from the hops and orange peel, and spicy from the coriander.  A little bready / biscuity malt and wheat character.
• Finish:  fruity, spicy, a little bitter, but clean and refreshing.  

AVAILABILITY

• Bottle: 6-packs, 12-packs, cases
• Draught: Widely Available from January - March
• Can: 12-packs, cases

May I have a beer May 17th Harpoon Rye IPA

Harpoon do a pretty good range of beers I liked Rich and Dan's Rye IPA but it was kind of one note to me however it was a good note so I will forgive it.
It is 6.9 ABV so Not a session beer but not too high to enjoy in as they say moderation. It did leave flavour in my mouth but not a strong unpleasant one like some IPA's get the reputation of doing. Yes Dan an Rich keep doing what you are doing. Beer is an art and you are artists. I may not always like all of your art but I respect your talent and to be honest most of your work is very tasteful.



Official word:
This beer is brewed with hops, a variety of malts, our proprietary yeast – the same yeast we’ve used since first brewing Harpoon Ale – and more hops. A lot more hops. Centennial and Chinook, and the dry hop addition of Falconer’s Flight add a multidimensional hop character, and the combination of Pale, Rye, Caramel 60, and Vienna yield a complex malt body that stands up to the spiciness of the rye and the pronounced hop flavor.  

TASTING NOTES

• Appearance:  hazy, deep orange with a reddish hue
• Aroma: citrus, fruity aroma with an underlying spice note
• Mouth feel:  medium-bodied, slightly chewy
• Taste: the spice from the rye is balanced by the malt blend
• Finish: dry, distinct hop finish

AVAILABILITY

• Bottle: Available in 6-packs & 12-packs
• Draught: Widely available

May I have a beer My 16th The BREW kettle Winter Warmer

It is not winter, but I am as usual for me in the summer, thirsty. A flavourful beer like this hits the spot. I could do a boring watery beer, but why?with honey cinnamon ginger and citrus peel flavour to brighten my day. Only problem with drinking this in the summer when I have heightened thirst... It's gone already.  Try it sometime.


Now the official word:

A Spiced Ale

A Christmas Ale packed with the spices of the holidays; cinnamon, ginger, orange & lemon peel, and a sleigh load of honey. A beer thats loaded with holiday cheer!

8% ABV 24 IBUs

May I have a beer May 15th Red Hook out of your Gourd Pumpkin Porter

First thing I noticed was a dark brown colour the second was it not being able to hold a head. Due to the lack of info on redhook.com I looked at other reviews they seem to vary between it having a rich golden brown head in one case to not much head in another. My experience was slight head that vanished shortly after pouring. It might be due to it's age mine was from last years brew. I expected a lot more from this beer because unlike most "Pumpkin" beers this one actually contained pumpkin not just pumpkin spices. Sadly the flavours did not excite me as much as  I had hoped I will again cut it some slack due to age but Red Hook out of your Gourd Pumpkin Porter was inferior to some other pumpkin beer I  have tried.


Now the Official word:
OK so I couldn't find anything on redhook.com
Porter · 5.8% ABV

Out of Your Gourd Pumpkin Porter is a dark ale brewed with pumpkin, spices and maple syrup

May I have beer May 14th Sierra Nevada Otra Vez

Otra Vez is a light golden colour with a strong aroma and a very cloudy appearance. The first taste came off what I thought was very citrus y. Turns out that is the cactus and Grapefruit I did  not  identify the coriander either. After several tastes the grapefruit seems to become more identifiable. I like IPA's a lot. This one not so much so. It could be a good one for cutting through an extreme thirst. As I always advise judge for yourself if  however we are out drinking together I think I will try something else. Such as Sierra Nevada Torpedo now there is a good taste sensation.
Since Otra Vez translates from Spanish to "again" I will say No otra vez.




 Now the official word:

Cactus adds a twist to the traditional gose style.

On our search for the perfect warm weather beer, we wanted something light bodied and thirst quenching, yet filled with complex and interesting flavors. We stumbled across the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, native to California. This tangy fruit is a great complement to the tart and refreshing traditional gose style beer. Otra Vez combines prickly pear cactus with a hint of grapefruit for a refreshing beer that will have you calling for round after round. Otra Vez!

OVERVIEW

• ALCOHOL CONTENT 4.5% by volume
• BEGINNING GRAVITY 11.0° plato
• ENDING GRAVITY 1.8° plato
• BITTERNESS UNITS 5

INGREDIENTS

• YEAST Ale yeast
• BITTERING HOPS Experimental variety
• FINISHING HOPS Experimental variety
• MALTS Two-row Pale, Wheat
• OTHER Cactus, Grapefruit, Coriander

FOOD PAIRING

• CUISINE Thai or Vietnamese noodle dishes. Grilled Mahi. Pickled watermelon salad
• CHEESE Fresh tangy goat’s cheese
• DESSERT Grapefruit and mint sorbet

May I have a beer May 13 th Kona Brewing company Koko Brown

Ok so this is sort of a cheat since I reviewed this already, but when I last reviewed it I had recently tried it on draft. So I wanted to see if the bottled version could stand on it's own merits . Kona Brewing company Koko Brown not only stands on it's own merits it is full of flavours that are worth repeating again and again.Malt and toasted coconut do those two go together ...The answer is YES Ok so I just wanted an excuse to have another. Try it  and you will probably understand why.



Now the official word:

A Nut Brown Worth Cracking

Is there anything more iconic of the lush tropics than the coconut? The delicious heart of the island treasure has a nutty, toffee flavor and aroma that sends you straight to the beaches of Paradise. Kick back with a Koko Brown, brewed with real toasted coconut, and savor the mahogany color and smooth, roasty malt taste. Before you know it, you’ll feel like you’re on a crescent beach, ringed with feathery palm trees swaying in a light ocean breeze and basking in the warm sun.

BITTERNESS:

45 IBU

ALCOHOL BY VOLUME:

5.5%

ORIGINAL GRAVITY:

13.69° P

MALTS:

PALE (PREMIUM 2-ROW), VICTORY, CARAPILS, MUNICH 30, CHOCOLATE

HOPS:

ALCHEMY, CASCADE, WILLAMETTE

May I have a beer May 12th Great Lakes Alberta Clipper Porter

Do you like Porter beers? Do not answer this unless you have tried them all. Some are lets be honest nasty some creamy some rich and full bodied.
This one had some creamy qualities but the chocolate and Raspberry won me over. I looked over at my glass and realized it was gone. My desire to drink it had not. Great Lakes brewery rarely disappoints and Alberta clipper was on  that long list of beers that show why I order Great lakes that I have not yet tried with confidence. Will you like it I do not know you tell me!



Now the official word from great lakes:

ALBERTA CLIPPER® PORTER

VIEW LABEL DETAILS

Named for the intense winter storms that sweep the Great Lakes region, our porter is rich and smooth with balanced gusts of tart raspberry and bittersweet chocolate.

FLAVOR

It was a dark and stormy Porter, with squalls of dark chocolate and fresh raspberries...

ABV

7.5%

 IBU
40

PAIRS WITH

Braised meats, Gruyere cheese, and snow days

May I have a beer May 11th Coney Island Cherry Cream ale

I discussed in a previous "may I have a beer" that you can still enjoy novelty flavoured beer If you approach it with an open mind the same is true of beers that are fruity etc think of them as a drink that just happens to be called a beer. Well this is more of a pop that is called an ale. It is super sweet very cherry cream soda tasting it just happens to contain alcohol.
So if you are in the mood for a pop and don't mind some alcohol give it a go.


Now the official word:

Hard Cherry Cream Ale

Hard Cherry Cream Ale

ABV: 5.4%

No counter! No line! No toppings to decide! Your favorite frozen treat is all grown up. Toss the cone aside, you’ll enjoy this one on ice.

Coney Island Hard Cherry Cream Ale sends you on a wild ride of big amaretto and cherry flavors balanced by vanilla and cream. Are you tall enough to ride?

Available In
6-Packs

May I have a berr May 10th Sam Adams Rebel juiced IPA

Sam Adams was one of the first beers to offer something not so run of the mill when I first came to America thirty plus years ago. Fortunately the beer revolution happened and micro brewers began to grow like clover dotted across the American landscape. My interest in Sam Adams Boston lager faded very quickly since so many better things became available.  In the last few years Sam Adams have reinvented themselves coming up with many new taste sensations. A lot of these I am sorry to say fell short of being exciting some were even disasters. If you are familiar with the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang you will have learned that from the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success. Such as been the case with some of the Sam Adams brews. Among the roses you  will find such tasty brews as Rebel Rouser double IPA and in my opinion Sam Adams can add Rebel juiced IPA to the Bouquet. It is refreshing well flavoured and something I would have no problem repeating. At 6.2 ABV I could do at least a  couple Individual results may vary.








Now the official word: 

REBEL JUICED IPA

Swirling with ripe aromas of mango and tropical fruits, this IPA is jam-packed with juicy, citrusy hops and mango juice.  It’s as if we took fresh hops and mangos and put them in a juicer.

STYLE

Tropical IPA

AVAILABILITY

Year Round - Draft, 6-pack bottles

HOP VARIETIES

Zeus, Mosaic, Mandarina

MALT VARIETIES

Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend

SPECIAL INGREDIENTS

Mango Juice

COLOR

Golden, slightly veiled, SRM: 6

ALC. BY VOL/WT

6.2% ABV - 4.8% ABW

IBUs

55

CALORIES

210

May I have a beer May 9th Yuengling Lager

America's oldest brewery brings us Yuengling Lager. Back in 1829 when Yuengling first brewed beer competition and advertising were both very different.Advertising reached out less effectively largely because it reached a smaller audience. That did not stop the  company having success. It even survived Prohibition by selling near beer. Time moves on and the company lost some of it's success possible due to miss management but also due to greater competition. When  Richard Yuengling, Sr. became ill in 1985 his  son who had left the family business to pursue his own path, (He was actually in beer distribution selling other beers. Which I am sure confused a few people. Your ____ beer rep is named after its competition.) Anyway when Dick took over, the company was to say the least not doing as well as it could.  Under his guidance the company is now distributed in several states and is part of American history and American culture. 
With an ABU of 4.4 it fits that category known as session beers. Despite being a session beer it does still have a decent amount of flavour. I tend to think the ingredients although not up to some beers is still far superior to certain better known beers. So why is it not outselling Budweiser. It might be a matter of timing or just a matter of time. One of my own tests of beer is if it has to be majorly chilled to be palatable it isn't very good I have had yuengling slightly cold and very cold it is refreshing either way! 




Official word:

Famous for its rich amber color and medium-bodied flavor with roasted caramel malt for a subtle sweetness and a combination of cluster and cascade hops, this true original delivers a well-balanced taste with very distinct character. Born from a historic recipe that was resurrected in 1987, Yuengling Traditional Lager is a true classic.