Messiah Bold

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I saw this 6er a few weeks ago when I picked up my logs for Christmas and I HAD to have it. Messiah Bold from Schmaltz Brewery is it's name, full of chutzpah is it's game. The brewery itself has a great story which you can read more of HERE.

I was kind of afraid it would just be an impulse buy with a funny name but this was a stellar brew. I'm a big fan of other "Nut Brown Ales" like Newcastle and this beer really delivers excellent full flavor with a very smooth flow...made me want to yell "L'chaim!"

My wife even thought it was quit "yummy." We also got a kick that it was brewed in my parents home town of Saratoga Springs, NY.

I'll definitely be a repeat customer of this He'Brew!

Name: Messiah Bold
Brewery: Schmaltz Brewery
Website: http://www.shmaltz.com/
Genre: Ale
Alcohol: Estimated 6.0% (Unlisted)
Price: 70 out of 100
Poundability: 70 out of 100
Taste: 92 out of 100

Dirty Penny Ale

This fine brew from Olde Burnside Brewery here in lovely Connecticut has been a staple on tap in my basement bar since we christened it 3 years ago. It is a black and tan in a can (or log in this case.) They mix 60% of their Ten Penny Ale with 40% of their stout and BAM! Dirty Penny Ale.

The price is great for the quality beer you get. The 40% stout puts a serious hampering on your Poundability but the taste is out of this world. If you dig on stouts you will LOVE this.

This maybe kinda cheating since this beer is not truly available in six packs (only growlers and kegs) but here goes...

Name: Dirty Penny Ale
Brewery: Olde Burnside Brewery
Website: http://www.oldeburnsidebrewing.com/ourbrews.html
Genre: Ale
Alcohol: 5.7%
Price: 65 out of 100
Poundability: 22 out of 100
Taste: 82 out of 100

Periodic Table of Beers

As a Chemical Engineer by degree I can really appreciate this well thought out Periodic Table...of Beer!

Corsendonk Christmas Ale

I scored this beautiful six pack (with free glass) at my work Christmas dew. They are small bottles (8.5 fl oz) but pack a powerful punch (8.5% alcohol.)

Lots of head on the poor which quickly worked it's way down to a nice consistent froth throughout the beer. Dark in color and definitely a typical "Belgian" beer feel on the front end of the swig but the back end is bubbly, almost champagne-ish.

A nice Christmas brew and strongly recommended IF you like Belgian beers...if you don't you may want to stick with the Sierra Nevada Celebration ale.

Name: Corsendonk Christmas Ale
Brewery: Brewery Corsendonk
Website: http://corsendonk.apluz.be/
Genre: Ale (Belgian)
Alcohol: 8.5%
Price: UNKNOWN out of 100
Poundability: 10 out of 100
Taste: 68 out of 100

Yuengling Traditional Lager

I have to admit that I was thrown off a bit when someone had recommended I try "Ying-Ling". I searched high and low at the package store next to Kirin and Sapporo, ready to tackle some new Japanese brew. I come to find out that Yuengling (pronounced Ying-Ling) is brewed by America's oldest brewer... and that Yuengling is German for 'Young Man'.

Despite the rich Amber color, the poundability is fairly high. You don't necessarily want to load up a beer bong with them and play "Frank the Tank"... but you could definitely throw a few back while watching a day's worth of football on your new HDTV.

Name: Yuengling Traditional Lager
Brewery: Yuengling Brewery
Website: http://www.yuengling.com/beers.htm
Genre: Lager
Alcohol: 4.4%
Price: 54 out of 100
Poundability: 62 out of 100
Taste: 71 out of 100

Winter's Bourbon Cask Ale

I found this brew on tap at the Irish American Homes Society in Glastonbury, CT of which I am newly a member. I figured the Irish know their beer so I should probably give this bad boy a shot so I picked up a sixer and brought it to my first Christmas Party of the year this past weekend.

The bourbon aged nature gives it some rich undertones but the taste of this beer is dominated by Vanilla. Not included in the name they do mention in small white print that "Madagascar Vanilla Beans" are used in flavoring this ale. Now I enjoy vanilla so while this was a surprise to me it wasn't necessarily a bad one.

I enjoyed most of the sixer but shared a few with friends. Due to the strong flavors this is definitely not a pounding beer. Since it is an A-B product it does carry a pocket friendly price point compare to other seasonal specialties.

Name: Winter's Bourbon Cask Ale
Brewery: Anheuser-Busch brewery
Website: Click Here
Genre: Ale
Alcohol: 6.0%
Price: 50 out of 100
Poundability: 35 out of 100
Taste: 75 out of 100

What happened last night?

You've probably said those words before...and many times you've learned some pretty ridiculous things you've done.

Nothing...and I mean NOTHING you've done could compare to this guys story:

From Funny Stuff

Celebration Ale

Kool and the Gang were on to something...Celebrate this AWESOME winter ale IF you like IPAs. I'm not sure why this does not qualify as an IPA as it is fully hoppy goodness. My Wife HATED the taste but as an IPA fan I gave it a great rating.

Astute viewers may notice that we changed the definition of our "Crappy Import" Quandrant to the "Connoisseur" Quadrant. While low pound-ability and high price COULD land you with a crappy beer it could also leave you with a category defining beverage in the IPA category (like Dogfish Head 90 min IPA.) This beverage is definitely a "Connoiseur" Quadrant beverage with awesome flavor.

Did I mention it is 6.8% alcohol? If you are in for a long night of beverages with the boys this might not be your last beer but it definitely warrants consideration as your first (or first few...)

This bad boy is only available in winter time around those holidays we like to celebrate to get it while you can!

Name: Celebration Ale
Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Website: http://www.sierranevada.com/beers/celebrationale.html
Genre: Ale
Alcohol: 6.8%
Price: 85 out of 100
Poundability: 15 out of 100
Taste: 90 out of 100

From BEER

Pabst Blue Ribbon

Since the "Microbrew" quadrant was filling up fast... someone had to venture outside their comfort zone, and get into that budget, beer-bonging, college dormitory-"quality" quadrant. PBR me ASAP!

I have to admit a bit of disappointment in that I could not find it in cans at my local retailer. That disappointment quickly turned to sheer glee, as I cracked open (actually twisted off the cap on) my first PBR. Contained with every cap is a poker card. Essentially, my weekend rewarded me with a pair of 9's. On the bright side, it hearkened back to my freshman year of college, cracking open Falstaff's (by the dozen), trying to figure out their "Concentration-style" word puzzles (that became clearer, as the night wore on).

Name: Pabst Blue Ribbon
Brewery: Pabst Brewing Company
Website: http://www.pabstblueribbon.com
Genre: Lager
Alcohol: 5.0%
Price: 17 out of 100
Poundability: 81 out of 100
Taste: 64 out of 100

From 2 Guys and a 6 Pack