Labatt Blue

**Actually did a video review for this. It's still in the editing stage. I'll keep everyone posted.**

I'm sure this is a beer most people have so I won't spend too much time on it. It was a hot day and I was just looking for something light, smooth, and corny... Just kidding about the corny part, but that's what I ended up getting.

Labatt Blue

I've had this beer before. From can and I've also had it on draft from my local sports bar. I decided to pick up a 1 pint can at Mel's Pizzeria in Kittanning, PA. Grabbed this one for $1. Hey, it might be cheap swill...but it's cheap. Right? Can I get an "AMEN!" up in here?

Like I said earlier, I don't have any great stories to tell about this one or much to even talk about. It's a cheap, simple, macro lager. So this will be a cheap, simple, macro review.

Appearance: The swill poured a very light golden color. Large bubbles quickly scampered to

the top of the glass to escape the corn hell. Unlucky for them, they didn't really have anywhere to go. The head however, was not too bad, maybe it was just my pour...? It was about a finger and a half thick and looked like a sponge from the side. The head was a completely pale white color. That is a bit depressing, eh?

Aroma: Well...what I did get was corn. What I didn't get was character. That basically describes it. Seriously. It's corn water. At least it smelled just like corn water.

Taste: I'm not quite sure how I can say this without offending too many folks...It's boring. I know Labatt Blue has a huge following on college campuses and in hockey circles but you know what? I'm not afraid to say it. This beer is BORING. The outright taste, just like the smell, is corn. Corn Corn Corn CORN CORN CORN. "How many times do I have to read that word in this loser's review?" You may be thinking. Well, a lot. Seeing as corn is most likely the predominate ingredient in this besides water, it's a hell of a task to try to overcome the corn. It's no Busch though...

There is a bit of sweetness and just the slightest bit of a leafy, hay like hops in there, somewhere. Good luck finding any of it.

Mouthfeel: Highly carbonated. Very watery. It works.

Over all, this is a beer I would drink again over a few other cheaper macro brews. Although, I can honestly say I would never keep this stocked in my fridge regardless of the situation. For what it is however, i'll go ahead and give this a 1.5/5. I just couldn't give this anything higher.

You could do worse. I guess...

Your Magesty, Coco

Took this picture of my darling Coco at about 2AM this morning. She's a beaut is she not?

Redhook ESB

Redhook

Tonight's brew is an ESB from Redhook.

"Brewed in the style of a traditional British ESB (Extra Special Bitter), we’ve been making ESB continuously since 1987, and it’s now the benchmark for the Amber beer category. Despite having “bitter” in its name, Redhook ESB is really not that bitter at all. This brew is all about the balance of caramel malt sweetness completed by spicy, citrusy hops."

I picked this brew up from Franklin Village Distributor in Kittanning, PA. I paid about $27 for a 24 pack of bottles. Not too bad. Especially for the quality of the nectar contained within the bottles.

The logo that Redhook uses is really quite amazing, I think. The mountain stretching up to the sky with the words; "Redhook" in between. Really something I can get behind, you know? Anyways, let's discuss the brew a bit.

Redhook Extra Special Bitter

Redhook ESB is 5.8% ABV

Coming in at 28 IBUS

13.75 degrees plato for an original gravity

Brewed since 1987

Has won Gold awards at the 2008 & 2009 at the ABA and ABF

The bottle that Redhook ESB comes in is

actually quite intriguing. As you can see, they

are not the normal bottles that most people will be accustomed too. They are a tad short and stubby with a very short neck. The cap is

not a twist off so you will need something to

open it with other than your hands...unless you're some sort of tough guy or something.

Since this was my first try of anything from Redhook, I had to completely clear my mind so that I could make an honest, wholesome review and also clear my palate so that I had no odd, off, or misplaced flavors floating around in there.

Upon popping the cap off I noticed a bit of

smoke billow out from the bottle. It was not

too much, definitely have seen far more. However, it's not about the smoke, it's about the beer. I poured the contents of these stubby bottles into my 16 oz English pint glass. The

beautiful golden, amber body quickly filled my glass leading to about a half an inch worth of head that did not stick around for all that long. A bit disappointing on the head section. I let the beer sit for a few seconds to watch the

medium sized bubbles quickly make a dash for the top of the glass. Plenty of stragglers where left clinging to the side of my glass throughout my consumption of this beer.

At first smell I didn't really get too much of anything. A lot of people may be expecting this

to be a super hopped up brew, but it really isn't. Being called an ESB or Extra Special Bitter does not actually mean this beer is that bitter. My fiance does think it's bitter, but she is not a hop head in the least bit. An almost sweet, honey like smell made itself present. It seems that was the strongest scent I get from the beer. Some toasty malts and a bit of grassy hops try to sneak in, but they are easily powerbombed to the mat by the honey scent.

The beer actually starts off quite malty in taste. The honey-ness of the bees is back for a second round as well. I'm not sure why but I just can't shake the honey sweet taste that this beer has. It reminds of honey grahams, the cereal (at least I think that's what it's called.)

Anyways, the honey like malts are very present but they lead into a very nice, and smooth lemon rind hop bite. Not too bitter. If you are a huge hop head and expecting something extreme, this is not the beer for you. Everything in this beer works together perfectly and is balanced just right. No one aspect overpowers the other. The carbonation is very tight and even tingles the tongue a bit. The beer is very smooth, the only downfall is that it really is just a bit watery. I wish the mouth feel could have worked out just a little better (or should I say bitter) but I guess it fits the style well.

Over all this is definitely not a beer I would turn down and I can truthfully say that it is now one of my favorites. As for being a good or great representation of the ESB style...I can't really say for sure. The only other English bitters I have had are Boddington's and Tetley's Ale. I found those both to be pretty enjoyable as do I with Redhook ESB.

I give Redhook ESB a resounding 4/5 . OBTAIN RIGHT THIS VERY INSTANT

Ballantine XXX Ale

Alright ladies and Gentlemen, here we go again. I was originally going to explain the history of Ballantine, but it's far too long and complicated a story. Instead, i'll just give you a link to a site that goes very in depth on it's history. HERE

I've had my go at some pretty cheap swill. I consider this a cheap beer, however I do not consider it to be swill. I bought this one at Myrna's Beer Outlet in Tarentum, PA for $19.99 + tax.

Ballantine XXX Ale comes in green bottles. Yeah, yeah, I know...green bottles. They aren't known for keeping beer in it's tip top shape, but oh well. The date stamped on the bottle is May 09, 2011. Only about 2 months old. Not

shabby. Falstaff Brewing stamped on the label.

Twisting the bottle cap off reveals a decent

amount of smoke. There's a fellow I watch, who does reviews, on Youtube; Joe D. He's real into smoke and would be most proud of the pyre that develops from inside the bottle. I will be consuming this from a tulip glass.

Appearance - Pours a very deep, golden color. The best way I could describe it is cut,

wet hay. Plenty of bubbly carbonation

working it's way to the top of the brew. Not too much of a head to speak of. I didn't really pour it that aggressively though since I was drinking it from a tulip glass and doubted that a large head would fit without exploding over and flooding my kitchen in sticky suds... What I did get was about a fingers worth of white, fluffy suds that floated on top like a boat in calm waters. Didn't stick around for all that long. Gone and lonely in about a minute flat.

Aroma - Fairly sweet nose at first. After taking a few more whiffs I was getting a little bit of a light malt and some subdued hops in the background. I really wish that the hops scent was more brave than it is. I'm not too keen on the sweet scent that this brew gives off.

Taste/Mouthefeel - Here is where this $20 brew becomes not just a cheap beer, but a

pretty well done, cheap beer. First glug reveals some pretty good hop bitterness right up front that follows into a light malt middle. After you get through the middle you get this odd medicinal taste that only sticks around for a short second. But, this medicinal sweetness is a bit off putting for me, not enough for me to dislike this brew, but I just can't get over that taste... I'm not even sure what it is. Corn? The beer starts off a bit sweet with some pretty good hops and finishes with a tad of hop bitterness.

The beer contains far more hops than any of your standard macro lagers or "retro" beers. The only one that even comes close is Schlitz, but that's a tale for another time.

The beer is fairly watery, which is a bit of a downfall. I would have liked it to be a bit more sturdy but I won't complain all too much. Carbonation is really vamped up and a bit in your face. Not enough that it burns the back of your throat or esophagus out, but your tongue has a bit of a boxing match in store.

Over all, you know what this really makes me think? This is your grandfather's beer. This is what he use to drink back in the 50's and 60's, while smoking a hearty cigar. I would hardly consider this a good American Ale or Ale showing, but you know what for $20 I will

definitely start keeping this beer on rotation in my fridge. This has easily become my new, favorite, "cheap" beer.

For it's price and style, plus it's pronounced hop flavor and bitterness, i'll give Ballantine XXX Ale a 4/5.

*Forgot to mention that the caps come with nifty, little puzzles on the underside. Rad.

Murphy's Irish Stout

Since this will be my first post I feel it be necessary to give a little background.

I am in no way "new" to the drinking world. I've had my encounters with plenty of swill and plenty of amazing beers, wines, and liquors of many variety. I've ventured high and I've ventured low. I've consumed Natural Light and I've consumed Dogfish Head. I must say this so that I am not immediately labeled a beer "snob." Although many will undoubtedly attempt to label me as such. I also feel it necessary to say that I do and have reviewed many beers over at Beeradvocate.com. I will continue to do so, only my reviews here will contain much more sustenance than they would over at BA...for obvious reasons.

I'm going to go ahead and do my first review on this blog, with Murphy's Irish Stout. I picked this brew up in a four pack of Draught(widget) cans from my local Giant Eagle store. These four cans ran about $7.89.

A hot, muggy summer it has been. I've been delighted recently due to the fact that we here in Western Pennsylvania have avoided most of the severe weather that has been plaguing the Midwest the last few months. We've had our days filled with rain and thunderstorms, but it has been utterly beautiful these last couple of weeks.

I decided that it was a good night to sit out on the porch, enjoy the warm weather and a bowl of Hot and Sour soup from a Chinese restaurant I dare not name, simply to keep their identity a secret and safeguard this wonderful institution.

Quickly uncapping the soup and grabbing a spoon, I gathered up my consumption materials, which included a napkin and my trusted British Pint glass. I sat down for what became a very enjoyable evening.

The beer, when cracked open(since it is a can) begins to surge. Immediately you notice the foam start to make itself known at the top of the can. I usually let them sit for a few seconds so that the nitrogen can do it's job in the can, before pouring it into my glass.

After the few second time limit I allot, I begin the pour. The beer pours a very nice, chocolaty brown color and begins to do the nitrogen-dance. This lasts for about 30 seconds at the most. For those familiar with Guinness draught and widget bottles, or the extra stout bottles, you will most certainly know what I am talking about.

The head is a very rich, creamy, and dark tan. Wonderful to say the least.

The smell carries a very sweet scent offset with a mild, chocolaty bitterness. If you let it sit and warm, rather than serve it straight up cold, you will notice that the smells become more pronounced...as will the flavor.

My first sip brought me into some sort of heaven. Very creamy and smooth. The only problem I found was that the mouth feel is a tad bit watery. The first taste that hits your palette is that of the dark malt. They come across very sweet but with enough of a chocolate bitterness to keep things together. There is an equal amount of herbal/grass coming from the hops in this brew as well. It is a very mild beer though to say the least. I'm not sure if it's just because it's in a nitrogen can , or what the deal is, but it seems to be a bit tamed down. Not as much as Guinness is however. I will probably garner plenty of heat for my last Guinness comment.

My overall thoughts on this beer are pretty decent. I like keeping things easy so I'm going to do a 0.0,0.5-5.0 scale. I give this one a 3.5/5