Day 53: Centennial IPA

Name: Centennial IPA

Brewer: Founders Brewing Company (Grand Rapids, MI)

Classification: India Pale Ale

Alcohol: 7.2%

Thoughts: Went to the Ol' Stomping Grounds again tonight (Tyler's Taproom) for a nice Tuesday night date with the Ol' Ball and Chain. It has finally cooled off around here and it was the first night in a while that you could sit outside and not sweat. With that in mind I wanted to try any special summer beers they had on tap, since the summer is coming to an end and all. However, they didn't really have any so I moved on to the next best thing, an IPA. I choose Founders Centennial and it pours a rich auburn color that is darker than most IPAs. The smell is immediate and compact like a punch to the nose from a midget. It has grapefruit, lemon and a hint of what smells like spiced rum. The taste is broad and strong like a punch to the palate from Hulk Hogan. It has tropical, lingering tartness with a bit of sour and piney notes. It certainly quenched my need for a summer beer on such a gorgeous evening. I like to use the term "drinking experience" in my posts and it rings true of what beer drinking is to me. Beer is an occasion, an event. It is an attitude adjuster and a mind-bender. This beer was not the perfect beer or even going to break the Top 10. But what it did do was make my night very enjoyable. 

Rating: 85/100

Day 52: Sawtooth Ale

Name: Sawtooth Ale

Brewer: Left Hand Brewing (Longmont, CO)

Classification: Extra Special Bitter

Alcohol: 5.3%

Thoughts: I hope you enjoyed the guest post yesterday. Greg is a more talented writer than I, and I certainly had a good laugh at his thoughts on Lapin Kulta. Today, I have a new brewery that I think highly of. Not only do they make innovative, fantastic beers, but they have amazing artwork on all their labels. Tonight I am trying their ESB, Sawtooth Ale. It pours dark tan/little brown color with a very thing head. The aroma is full of caramel, sweet malts and some vanilla. The taste has a great balance of bitterness and sweetness. There is a little bit of honey and biscuit as well. This sounds a little nuts, but this would go great with breakfast. What? Yeah, breakfast Mother Flippers! I had that feeling of "I wanna do shit" that would be great to start off the day. It is a solidly brewed beer with an appropriate taste that is confined to the boundaries of its classification, yet interesting. 

Rating: 82/100

Day 51: Lapin Kulta (Guest Post)

So, I have offered a few friends the opportunity to do some guest blogs along the way. Don't worry, I will still be drinking a beer the day their post is up. The first is by my friend Greg Anderson who has been living in Finland the past couple of years, hence the Finnish beer. 

Name: Lapin Kulta

Brewer: Hartwall Helsinki (Lahti, Finland)

Classification: Euro Pale Lager

Alcohol: 4.5%

Thoughts: As I sip on this fresh can of Lapin Kulta, a torrent of words and memories come to mind. Aah, Lapin Kulta. Literally "Lapland's gold." Colloquially, "reindeer piss." Lapin Kulta used to be brewed in the far north of Finland, and it was bottled with regional pride by the nomadic brewers. Today it's brewed in southern Finland, but the north still uses it in it's traditional form of self-medication during the cold and dark winters. I can't tell you how it pours because unfortunately it's not the kind of beer you want to get warm or expose to air. You would think Lapland would brew the perfect sauna beer, but after cooking alongside you for a minute you've missed your narrow window of drinkability. The taste is similar to burnt cornflakes, yet oily and lingering in the mouth. Perhaps its smell is best compared to an ex-girlfriend's perfume; it's not so much its essence anymore, but a crippling reminder of degection, poor decisions, and brief moments of elation before feeling like a piece of shit the next day. It might be an acceptable beer at a different price point, but thanks to godless socialism it's about $1 a can. 

Rating: 90/100 (zero being the highest)

By: Greg Anderson

Day 50: Full Sail LTD Series - 03

Name: LTD Series - 03

Brewer: Full Sail Brewery (Hood River, OR)

Classification: German Pilsner

Alcohol: 5.6%

Thoughts: I am admittedly not usually a fan of Limited Edition Beers because if they were that good they would be beers that are available all the time. To me they are usually beers that are brewed to commerate something or they were tried, not very well liked, and then released in order to turn a profit. Every now and then you find a gem of a Limited Release Beer, could this be one? Full Sail has their own LTD Series and this is the third out of five to be released. As with all the pilsners I have tasted so far I used a nice frosty mug. It poured a light golden color that I have come accustomed to see in a pilsner. The smell was a bit more fruity than the traditional sweet yeast aroma you get from brews like this. On the first sip I got a full taste with hints of bready malts and citrusy hops. It was fairly crisp, but a bit more bitter than most pilsners. It was almost a combo of a Pale Ale and a German Pilsner, fairly unique. This is a good beer and a good Limited Release, but not a great one of either. I liked this beer, but I may pass on it in the future if there are more exciting options available. 

Rating: 80/100

Day 49: Fuggles IPA

Name: Fuggles IPA

Brewer: Shipyard Brewing Co. (Portland, ME)

Classification: American Pale Ale

Alcohol: 5.8%

Thoughts: This afternoon I went to the store the get a nice six back of beers of my choosing. I sometimes give myself rules and today I had two rules. The beer had to be $1.79 a bottle or cheaper and I could have no repeat breweries. It forced me to try some beers I have been avoiding for one reason or another. I wasn't avoiding this beer, but I hadn't noticed it either. But Fuggles is a funny name for a beer. It poured out an golden-orange color with a bright white head. The smell hit me as soon as it left the bottle and was on the way to the bottom of the glass. It was herbal, fruity and slightly grassy. The taste was less interesting than the smell. It was bitter and citrusy, but most notably stale and watery. The taste was transparent to me. This is a beer I wouldn't have tried without my rules so if the other beers that I chose don't shape up I may not make any more rules for me because this beer was completely uninteresting. 

Rating: 69/100

Day 48: Namaste

Name: Namaste 

Brewer: Dogfish Head Brewing Co. (Milton, DE)

Classification: Witbier

Alcohol: 5%

Thoughts: These heavy-hitting craft brew makers are back on The Beer Year. This time with their witbier, Namaste. A friend bought this for me as he said it was his favorite beer and I should try it. If you want to be as good a friend as he, buy me your favorite beer and I will drink it then review it. And there is nothing more important than my friendship (even if you bought it). This witbier pours a yellow hazy straw color that is filled with sediment. I swirled it quite a bit during the drinking experience to keep the flavor even. This beer was brewed with coriander, organic dried oranges and lemongrass. All of these things are present in the smell and taste. It reminds me of a hot afternoon storm with lightening bolts of orange and thunderous spice. My knock on this beer is this: about half way down your tongue the taste disappears. It doesn't reach the back of your throat and it takes away from the overall enjoyment of this beer. Everything else is fantastically assembled and this is almost a top-notch brewski.

Rating: 86/100

Day 47: Antigoon

Name: Antigoon

Brewer: Brasserie Beck (Ursel, Belgium)

Classification: Belgian Pale Ale

Alcohol: 6.8%

Thoughts: Is anybody else in utter bewilderment by the awesomely awesome artwork on the label? I mean that is badass and pretty much the sole reason I chose this beer. The artwork depicts "... the story of the mythical Roman soldier Silvius Brabo; an underdog hero who cut the hand off of the cruel giant Druon Antigoon. He then tossed it in the river as Antigoon had done to many undeserving victims in his time. A bit of David and Goliath for the Belgians." Well, it turns out that this is one phenomenal brew. Also, it is the first Belgian beer to be specifically brewed in Belgium for an American restaurant, Brasserie Beck in Washington DC. This Belgian Pale pours a bright, light gold that radiates beneath the thick, white head. In the smell I got clove and spice from the yeast and hints of citrus and alcohol. The taste is simply divine. Next time I am in DC I will be going to Brasserie Beck and trying this on draft. Honestly, this is the freshest beer I have tasted over the last month and a half. After a few sips I complied these words to describe it: bread, spice, orange, earth, and cream. Really well balanced against the alcoholic aftertaste. Yesterday I said I haven't had a lot of Stouts, but I have had a lot of Belgian Pales, or Belgian beer altogether. And this one stands out as one of the best. It was a real surprise, because as I said earlier it was the artwork that made me choose this beer. Maybe I should do that more often. There is a close-up of the label below. 

Rating: 92/100

Day 46: O'Hara's Leann Folláin

Name: O'Hara's Leann Folláin

Brewer: Carlow Brewing Co. (County Carlow, Ireland)

Classification: Irish Dry Stout

Alcohol: 6%

Thoughts: This is the third and final chapter of my Carlow Brewing beers. They have a number of others that if I can find around here I may try, but this was the last one that was brought to me from Ireland itself. I saved it for last because it is the most Irish style of beer there is, an Extra Dry Irish Stout. I mean Irish is in the name. It pours a pitch black with a soft beige foam. The aroma has roasted coffee and sweet chocolate hints to it. However, it is dominated by alcohol. A bit much for me. The taste was creamy, it was chocolately, and strong. Again, a bit much for me. This is a sipper and a tough one for me to handle. It only says that it was 6% alcohol, but it was prevalent in every aspect of this beer. I wish it was more suitable for Stout-newbies like me, but I understand this is a type of beer I have to work up to.

Rating: 77/100

Day 45: Curim Gold Celtic Wheat Beer

Name: Curim Gold Celtic Wheat Beer

Brewer: Carlow Brewing Co. (County Carlow, Ireland)

Classification: American Pale Wheat Ale

Alcohol: 4.3%

Thoughts: This is another Carlow Brewing beer and if you remember my parents brought me a few beers back from Ireland on the recommendation of my Irish cousins. Well this is Carlow's attempt at a Wheat Beer. This well-carbonated brew pours a ravishingly beautiful straw gold with an off-white head. The smell is something of an enigma. On my first few whiffs I got nothing at all. It was plain and unoriginal, but when the beer warmed and I had had a few sips I got banana peel and warm bread. I thought that it was strange that the smell changed so much. The mouthfeel is terrific, it is thin, soft and crisp. The fact that this was a pale wheat ale meant that there was going to be the obvious bitter dryness and soft sweetness. However, I also got some caramel and honey. It was quite nice and wonderfully balanced all around. It seemed like it would be a really nice beer to sit outside on a cool evening and watch the sunset. Well, that is because that is what I did with it and I really enjoyed myself, and more importantly the beer. 

Rating: 82/100

Day 44: Monkey Bizz-Ness

Name: Monkey Bizz-Ness

Brewer: Big Boss Brewery (Raleigh, NC)

Classification: Saison

Alcohol: 9%

Thoughts: They'rrrrrrreeee Back! This is my first repeat brewery, but that's because Big Boss makes some damn good beers! This time I have one of their seasonal brews, Monkey Bizz-Ness, on tap (pun intended). I have had a few Saison's on here before, but this has been the most traditional of the bunch. Big Boss doesn't make these extremely mind-expanding beers, they make traditional style beers really, really well! This follows that line of thinking and drinking. Monkey Bizz-Ness pours a pale gold with a slightly frothy head. It has the spicy smell from the Belgian yeast and hints of cane sugar and citrus fruits.  The taste of this traditional Saison is sweet and spicy upfront with some alcohol and dryness on the back end. This is just a well made beer with great ingredients (they use local products as much as possible) and a thorough knowledge of brewing. It is a little strong for Saisons but damn it is good. 

Rating: 86/100

Day 43: Hargett Street Ale

Name: Hargett Street Ale

Brewer: Carolina Brewing Company (Holly Springs, NC)

Classification: Kölsch

Alcohol: 5.5%

Thoughts: BAM! Another awesome craft brewery from around the NC Triangle! This is a legendary beer in my neck of the woods because it was specially made for my favorite bar in the Triangle, Raleigh-Times, which is on Hargett Street in downtown Raleigh. The also sell it at The Pit, which is an epically amazing Bar-B-Q restaurant in Raleigh, which is where I had this one. It pours an orangey copper color and the head had dissipated by the time it had gotten to me. The aroma had earthy hops, sweet malts, and light citrus notes. This beer is extremely smooth. It has a thin mouthfeel to it. The taste harps on the smell and feel, and is really crisp and refreshing. I really like Kölsch style beers and this is the second good NC brewed Kölsch I have reviewed for this blog. However, this one is more exciting and holds more meaning to me. If you are in the Triangle try this one out, especially because they sell it on the cheap!

Rating: 84/100

Day 42: O'Hara's Irish Pale Ale

Name: O'Hara's Irish Pale Ale

Brewer: Carlow Brewing Co. (County Carlow, Ireland)

Classification: American Pale Ale

Alcohol: 5.2%

Thoughts: This brew was brought to me from Ireland by my Parents on the recommendation of my Irish cousins. They actually brought me two other beers for this brewery which will be consumed in the next couple of days. I had to look up some info about this brewery, but what I found out is they are one of Ireland's most celebrated craft breweries. The first of the three beers I was brought back was the O'Hara's Irish Pale Ale, which is really an APA style beer. Also, I busted out my big pint glasses because the Irish do it right and make big bottles. This Irish Pale Ale pours a dark gold with a light, fluffy head. The smell was blatantly sour with flowery hints. The taste is dry and bitter with orange undertones. That may not sound that great, but it tasted like a true Pale Ale. Usually Pale Ales are a six-pack beer, which means you can drink a bunch of it at a time. However, I feel this one is a nice sipper and it got better as it warmed. Ireland is the home of my ancestors and some of my family still lives there. And I am excited to see that Guinness is not the only great brewery. I look forward to seeing what else Ireland has up their sleeve. 

Rating: 83/100

Day 41: 5 A.M. Saint

Name: 5 A.M. Saint

Brewer: BrewDog (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Classification: Amber Ale

Alcohol: 5%

Thoughts: So, BrewDog is quite possibly the best Craft Brewery in the world in my opinion. In actual fact, more like Top 5. Their style of brewing reminds me of my favorite band, The Pixies. Why? Well, they make the product they want, how they want and with no regards for other people's opinion. These young Scottish brewers just want to brew beer and then drink it. I realize that sounds simple, but it is not always that way. It allows for the creative process to be as genuine and free as possible. And it has led them to world-wide infamy and acclaim. Let's just hope their lead singer (or brewer in this case) doesn't quit for no reason! This is a brewery that will frequent this blog, but I will start with their Amber Ale, 5 A.M. Saint. This pours a foggy dark cherry color with a slightly tan head. The foam looks like lingerie because of the amount of lace it leaves on the glass. The grapefruit and molasses in the aroma is fervent and consumes the nostrils. Tasting this beer I expected it to be dynamic, but even my preconceived notions did not ready me for the apricot, caramel, grapefruit, and sugary avalanche that was about to enter my mouth. Epic, I know ... I wrote it! One of the blogs that convinced me that I could do this Beer Year has this brew in its top 5 (at least it was last time I checked). This is really what beer drinking is about. A truly hearty, spirited craft brew that entertains all senses with ease. I was completely naked-tired tonight after working a 14-hour day in the sun, which is not my normal 8-hour day in air-conditioning. However, this beer energized me and kept my passion for beer ripe. Drink this beer now and drink this beer often!

Rating: 91/100

Day 40: Boddington's Pub Ale

Name: Boddington's Pub Ale

Brewer: Boddington's (Manchester, UK)

Classification: English Pale Ale

Alcohol: 4.7%

Thoughts: Shit! 

Rating: 34/100

Day 39: Boont ESB

Name: Boont ESB

Brewer: Anderson Valley Brewing Company (Boonville, CA)

Classification: Extra Special Bitter

Alcohol: 6.8%

Thoughts: Usually beer makes me very loquacious. It makes me want to talk all day about cars, politics, beer, soccer, beer, beer, stories of old, and beer. I admit that my attitude of beer has changed over the past 39 days and sometimes I don't feel so talkative. I feel as if I am doing a job and not enjoying my beer as I should. I have really noticed this after I reread some of my posts from the past weeks. I love beer more then ever, but I am so overwhelmed by the world that has now opened up to me, and I don't know if I am up to the task some days. For instance, the beer I picked out for today is a classification I have never heard of until I saw it at the store. And it has tastes and smells that I have never experienced before. This is exactly what I wanted to happen, but I guess I expected to meet the challenge head on instead of being timid as I have lately. This Boont ESB is an interesting beer and I enjoyed certain things about it, but it isn't something I would drink again. It had a smell that reminded me of garlic-y pizza crust and an overly bitter taste that rested and cooled my taste buds. I thought in the store that when I selected it for one of my beers this week it would just be another class of beer to check off my list, but I have to be honest. I feel nothing from it, except something that I have wanted to feel for weeks now, gregarious. I write avidly in my free time. Anything from short stories to screenplay outlines. This is the first time in weeks that I have really wanted to write my blog and share my experience. For this, Boont ESB was a gift from the Beer Gods, and I will sacrifice a virgin in their honor. 

Rating: 77/100

Day 38: Hazed & Infused

Name: Hazed & Infused

Brewer: Boulder Beer (Boulder, CO)

Classification: American Pale Ale

Alcohol: 4.85%

 Thoughts: Boulder Beer Company was Colorado's first microbrewery opening their doors in 1979. This may not seem like a big deal, but they were only the 43rd brewery to be allowed a national brewing license in this country. Now there are over 1500 breweries in the country and Colorado has 92! This is one of Boulder Beer's best selling beers. So, I thought I'd give it a try. It pours a cloud, lighter amber color with a huge, soft head. The smell is very sweet and hoppy, very similar to an IPA. The taste is herbal, fruity, dry and bitter. It creates this sense of nostalgia to me. It really had a faint smell of play-dough and a taste of juicy-juice. If I could drink beer in preschool, this is what I would have been attracted to. This was a clean, refreshing beer that would do me better in colder weather, not the low 90s. It is an intriguing beer and well made. I do recommend it to people who like Magic Hat or other flavorful APAs.

Rating: 83/100

Day 37: Small Craft Warning

Name: Heavy Seas - Small Craft Warning (Über Pils)

Brewer: Clipper City Brewing Co. (Baltimore, MD)

Classification: American Double/Imperial Pilsner

Alcohol: 7.25%

Thoughts: I used the Beard Glass tonight because, well, it's a beer with a pirate theme. The only thing more pirate than gold and ships is beards. On another note when I was searching for beers I admit I avoided Heavy Seas beers because, and this is shallow, their label design is kind of cheesy. However, I should not judge a beer by its cover. So, I picked out their Imperial Pilsner, Small Craft Warning. And I feel like an idiot for avoiding this brewery because well, this was a magical pilsner. It poured a great deep gold with a wonderfully fluffy head. The smell was packed with caramel, malts, and dank pils. Almost similar to a good cannabis. The taste had sweet bread, biting hops and a decent amount of alcohol in the aftertaste. It reminded me of a traditional Czech Pilsner. Small Craft Warning was well balanced, enjoyable and crafted with real knowledge of pilsners. This is a beer I could drink over and over again. I recommend this 110% to anyone who likes beer, period. 

Rating: 87/100

Day 36: Avery White Rascal

Name: White Rascal

Brewer: Avery Brewing (Boulder, CO)

Classification: Belgian White Ale

Alcohol: 5.6%

Thoughts: If the creature on the front of this bottle, this so called "White Rascal", showed up on my front doorstep and offered me a beer I think I would drink it. Only after I shit myself from the creepiness of this thing. It would be a helluva a story to tell the grandkids. White Rascal pours a muted crystalized yellow. Almost like champagne but without the heavy carbonation. In the smell I sensed wheat and lemon peel. The taste only added on to the smell with sweetness, yeast and a really good spice, maybe coriander. It was easily drinkable and very light bodied. It seems like it would pair well with lots of different types of food. This was a crisp beer, not overly refreshing though. I would have it again, and I would probably like it better on draft. However, I fell with a picture and name like the one this beer has I expected it to be more interesting. It was good by it could be improved upon. 

Rating: 82/100

Day 35: Otter Creek Copper Ale

Name: Cotter Creek Copper Ale

Brewer: Otter Creek Brewing (Middleberry, VT)

Classification: Altbier

Alcohol: 5.4%

Thoughts: No real special story to start off this post. It was from a brewery I have never heard of before and I am a sucker for a good copper ale. So I decided to try it and see what came of it. The pour lives up to it's name. As you can see in the picture this is a picture perfect copper color and the head seems to have a light shade of copper in it as well. The smell has a subtle sweetness, but it doesn't really add much to the experience. The flavor of this beer was odd. There was caramel, toasted hops and tartness in the there, but it had a sour metallic aftertaste. I don't know if this was from the beer or from the bottle. But it was unpleasant. It had a good feel to it and was medium-bodied. Copper ales aren't really exciting beers, but this one was exciting even for a copper ale. Hopefully the beers I have coming up will have a little more enthusiasm for being a beer. This beer didn't seem to want to be drunk, digested and urinated out. How dare he!

Rating:  76/100

Day 34: Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout

Name: Milk Stout

Brewer: Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery (Farmville, NC)

Classification: Milk Stout

Alcohol: 5.7%

Thoughts: Stouts. This is the word of the evening. I am most definitely not a stout person. Matter of fact, the only other time I have had a stout was a Guinness, at the Guinness Brewery in Dublin. I was 18 and I hated the ever-loving shit out of it. It was too much to handle for an inexperienced drinker. So, I thought now would be a great time to try one again. I choose Duck-Rabbit's Milk Stout because Duck-Rabbit specialize in dark beers and they are another amazing NC Craft Brewery. I think I waited an entire week without introducing a new NC Craft Brewery. So let's get cracking. This BAMF of a beer pours a pure black color with a tan head. You can sense from the pour that this beer has some density to it. The smell is slightly chocolate with hints of vanilla and coffee. The taste is something else! I rally did not expect what I got. The malts were smokey, the flavor was mixed with mocha and sweetness and there seemed to be some citrusy notes in there at some point in there. This thing was seriously complex and I am sure there were a number of other flavors. I couldn't yet finish the whole glass, but close. I will have to work my self up to being a stout guy, but that is the point of this blog. To try everything I can and learn everything I can. This Milk Stout certainly helped. 

Rating: 85/100

Day 33: Jockamo IPA

Name: Jockamo IPA

Brewer: Abita Brewing (Abita Springs, LA)

Classification: American IPA

Alcohol: 6.5%

Thoughts: Abita is a pretty big brewery, at least it is bigger than most of the craft breweries that I have discussed on this blog. However, when you try to drink and review 365 beers in 365 days and you go to a bar instead of a store you are sometimes left with little choice. On this occasion this was my only choice. It's not a bad choice, but not a very interesting one. Jockamo IPA pours a coppery-gold color with a thin head. The aroma from this brew was piney, sweet, and caramel. It wasn't very interesting. The taste was a little harsh at the fore front. It did present bitter hops and bready malts with a little bit of citrus mixed in. Again uninteresting. That's what this beer was. It wasn't overwhelming, it wasn't empty, it was just mediocre. That is all.

Rating: 79/100

Day 32: La Fin Du Monde

Name: La Fin Du Monde

Brewer: Unibroue (Chambly, Quebec, Canada)

Classification: Tripel

Alcohol: 9%

Thoughts: Unibroue is one of Canada's top breweries, maybe even the best. They have a number a beers that I want to try and will try for this blog. But I wanted to start with the beer that is French for "The End of the World". Thank you NC State French Department. This is an Abbey Tripel style beer. Remember, earlier in the blog I discussed how these beers are made by Belgian Monks who spend their whole lives brewing beer. Well, leave it to a Canadian brewery, make that a French-Canadian brewery, to make a great Tripel. This beer pours a beautiful hazy yellow-orange with a thin white head. The most present note in the smell is grapes, like a white wine. I also smelled pepper, clove, and sweetness. This is such a complex aroma you have to smell it for yourself. When I taste a craft beer I want it to be ferocious and thought-provoking. This beer is exactly that. The beginning of this taste is fruity and carbonated and it jumps out at you. The spice and the alcohol come on strong during the finish. I want to drink this on a cold winter night, sitting next to a fire under the moon, while hanging out with my best friends. That is where this brew took me. This is an imaginative beer that really made me ponder a lot of things. I am totally babbling right now, but La Fin Du Monde is unlike any other beer I've had and such a fantastic drink. 

Rating: 95/100

Day 31: Mendocino Seasonal Blonde Ale

Name: Seasonal Blonde Ale

Brewer: Mendocino Brewing Co. (Ukiah, CA)

Classification: American Blonde Ale

Alcohol: 5.0%

Thoughts: This is the first offering I have tried from Mendocino. I see there beers all the time, but I have never had one. I was hoping their seasonal was going to be ideal for another hot night. But it wasn't. The pour was nice. Plenty of carbonation and a nice head. It even laced well along the glass. The smell was biscuity and slightly skunky, which I hate. I'm not going to lie, I like my summer bears to be floral, fruity, and refreshing, which is probably one reason that this beer seemed really flat on flavor. In fact, I'd call it just a step up from, say, Coor's Light. There is nothing really bad about it, but there is nothing really good either. In some aspects, it's almost like drinking beer flavored water. I suppose one redeeming value would be that this would be an ideal beer to introduce to a mainstream beer drinking friend who has been to afraid to try craft beer because it might be too strong or weird. Call it a gateway beer, I guess. But I can still think of other beers I would defer to first.

Rating: 63/100

Day 30: Victory Sunrise Weissbier

Name: Sunrise Weissbier

Brewer: Victory Brewing (Downingtown, PA)

Classification: Hefeweizen

Alcohol: 5.7% 

Thoughts: I have a friend who's beer knowledge I respect a good deal. Not just because he knows the best beer, but because he will try anything. That is important because it means you are not saying a certain type of beer is not worthy of your taste buds. It was his recommendation to try Victory. This was a good recommendation. I tried their hefeweizen, Sunrise Weissbier, and I was pleased with it, very pleased. It pours a yellow-gold with no head. The aroma is made up of banana and spice but it wasn't all that interesting. However, I did this crazy thing that some people with a beer may not know how to do ... I drank it! Huh? What? Yeah! I tasted that bitch! And that bitch was good! It is full of lemon zest, more spice, a little bit of clove and plenty of tang. It was a very nice combo. It was smooth and the aftertaste was relatively hoppy. It was a great thirst-quencher in this 100 degree heat. I would and could drink this all day long. I recommend this to anybody who just ran a marathon, fought a tiger with their bare hands, or has recently returned from a quest for the Holy Grail. And its probably better for you than Gatorade. 

Rating: 84/100

Day 29: Estrella Damm

Name: Estrella Damm

Brewer: Damm S.A. (Barcelona, Spain)

Classification: American Lager

Alcohol: 5.2%

Thoughts: I think this is the first and only beer I have ever had from Spain. A country more known for having batshit crazy parties and crying as if there leg has fallen off every time they get fouled in soccer. Beer is not what you think of. Well, from what I know Estrella Damm is like the Heineken of Spain. So, if it is anything like Heineken it will be shit here in the States and amazingly perfect in Spain. It poured and looked just like Heineken. A very pale, muted straw color with a clean white head. The aroma is slightly bittersweet and grainy. On first sip there is a sharp punch of bitterness with little to no hops to be found. It is a very unbalanced beer and it had a bit of skunk to it, which you usually find in a stale beer. However the "brewed-on" date was only a month ago. Which is not bad for a beer that is brewed on a different continent. So, why the skunk flavor? I would love to have the budget for this blog to fly to Spain, have one of these as a fresh draft and then fly back. But that ain't happininininin'. I wouldn't recommend this on this side of the pond, but most likely on the other side of it. 

Rating: 67/100

Day 28: Anchor Steam Beer

Name: Anchor Steam Beer

Brewer: Anchor Brewing (San Francisco, CA)

Classification: California Common

Alcohol: 4.9%

Thoughts: Despite the classification of this beer it is a truly uncommon type of beer. I have only heard of a handful of brewers that brew a California Common, but this is the one everybody knows of. And although there is steam in the name the beer is not actually steam. The name comes from the way the carbonation happens when it is brewed. So does it affect the look, smell or taste. It pours a great copper color that I really love in beers. The head is soft and off-white, and it faded quickly while leaving some lace around the inside of the glass. The smell was unique to say the least. The malts are robust and there are hints of nuts and plums. The taste was fairly muted for me and a little too carbonated. I don't like beer to be fizzy. I'll drink champagne or soda if I want that. Beer should be smooth and drinkable. This wasn't really either. The taste is bitter and similar to an English Pale Ale. Anchor Steam has been brewed in San Francisco for well over 100 years, so I am sure there are a lot of fans out there, but I'm not one of them. It was alright, but I want to try a California Common with a little more excitement. 

Rating: 77/100

Day 27: Triangle IPA 2.0

Name: Triangle IPA 2.0

Brewer: Triangle Brewing Co. (Durham, NC)

Classification: India Pale Ale

Alcohol: 5.7%

Thoughts: The original plan tonight was to go to Tyler's pick out some fancy beer and hold off bringing in Triangle Brewing Co. for a few weeks. However, Tyler's had over an hour wait and we didn't feel like waiting that long. So we went elsewhere and the place we went only had NC Brews on tap, which is awesome, but not for my mission. So I picked the only one I had not had, Triangle IPA 2.0. By the time it had gotten to me the head had faded, if it even existed in the first place, but the color was a pure murky gold. It smelled a bit tropical with a faint hint of hops. I think the smell could have been stronger or at least be more hoppy. The taste had a little citrus, a little hops, a little floral and a little smoke. I don't know if the smoke was intended, but if it was it was a nice surprise. I know I have been having a lot of IPAs lately, but they are a good summer beer and it has been in the 100s a lot lately around here. This Triangle IPA was refreshing and the hops were a great appetite stimulant to start off my meal with. I feel like this blog is getting a little NC Brew heavy, despite NC being one of the best beer states in the union. So, I plan to change it up with the next few beers and get funky.

Rating: 82/100

Day 26: Blanco Diablo

Name: Blanco Diablo

Brewer: Big Boss Brewery (Raleigh, NC)

Classification: Witbier

Alcohol: 4.5%

Thoughts: Big Boss is the shizzle snap bam dizzle! I went on a brewery tour this past December and it was like a giant party where everybody is drinking really good beer. The are hardcore brewers making hardcore brew. And by the way, they name all their beers after WW2 bomber planes. I like that! I have had just about everything they offer, but it is time I start sharing their collection with the world (a.k.a. my 3 followers). So, I will start with one of their core brews, Blanco Diablo. It pours a hazy gold that has a lovely soft head that laces nicely around the glass. The smell is fairly light, but you can notice the orange peel, coriander and what I thought was banana. When I sipped it I wasn't entertained by the taste as some other witbiers, but it was a good taste. It is very citrusy with that yeast taste you get from most witbiers. It smells and tastes very similar. The mouthfeel of this beer is fantastic though. It is such an easy beer to drink. I have to admit it I had only refrigerated it for about 2 hours, not really enough time to properly chill it. However, this usually allows for more of the taste to come through. Even then it could have used a little more umph. I think Blanco Diablo is an A-rated beer, but as my rule goes I have to judge it on this experience. 

Rating: 81/100

Day 25: Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

Name: 60 Minute IPA

Brewer: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, DE) 

Classification: India Pale Ale

Alcohol: 6%

Thoughts: IPAs have been the hot topic of this blog lately. There really is no hot topic, that was just a joke. However, this will be the second great IPA I've had this week. Dogfish Head Brewery is a big player in the craft beer world and they brew some of the best beers in the country. So I thought I would start with their most simple beer and go from there. When I popped the top on this 60 Minute IPA the sharp floral hops jumped out at me. It instantly drew me in. It poured a solid gold with a thick white head. So much so that on the first sip the foam covered my nose. The taste was soft and drinkable, almost creamy. I got notes of spice, pine and herbs as well as some citrus. The finish was smooth with no hint of alcohol. This is a very well balanced beer that leaves behind a wonderful feeling in your mouth as well as your gut. I could totally drink a six pack, but for now I'll stick with the one. For many this could be a better beer than the Green Flash IPA I had earlier this week, but it just wasn't as exciting to me. But all in all it was an excellent drink. 

Rating: 90/100