Yuengling--The Oldest & Biggest!

Yuengling holds a special place in the hearts of the Brews Brothers as an affordable yet quality beer; so when I heard they are now America's largest brewer, I had to share the news here on our blog!

You may be as surprised as I was, but consider that Budweiser, Miller and Coors have all been purchased by foreign companies and Yuengling's recent expansion into the Ohio market makes them the American beer king!

The next closest is the Boston Beer Co (Sam Adams) who simply brewed less beer than our friends at Yuengling.

Source:
Trade Journal Beer Marketer's Insights http://www.beerinsights.com/
MSNBC http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/17/10175670-brewer-youve-never-heard-of-is-no-1-in-us-depending-how-you-count?chromedomain=usnews

Genesee Brewing Company - Heritage Collection

Genesee

Beer & Ale

Old-Fashioned Goodness

Heritage Collection

Approximately 5% ABV

Warning: The Genesee (Genny) mixed pack does not deserve three separate reviews.

I started with the Cream Ale, expecting it to be the best of the three.  I can't even express this letdown in writing.  Quite simply, it was like drinking the disappointment of Ashton Kutcher replacing Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men...mixed with a cheap beer aftertaste.  At $7.99 for a 12-pack mixer, my expectations were low to begin with, but I remained very open-minded.   It is unfortunate that my hopes of it being "Natty" mixed with cream soda still seem more promising in retrospect. 

I then moved on to the 12 Horse Ale.  I figured there was no sense in letting their surprisingly unfortunate taste ruin more than one night.  It was slightly better than the Cream Ale, but nowhere near convincing me to buy it again.  It is appropriately named "12 Horse Ale" because I equate its taste to licking about 12 horses, conservatively. However, while you're drinking it, if you close your eyes...and think real hard...you can almost imagine 12 different ways you regret ever buying this. 

Finally, we have the one with the plain label, and even more non-descriptive name.  "Genesee Beer."  Unfortunately, this was the best of the three, the only one to surpass the "urine" level of taste.  "One Great Brewery. One Great Taste."  I am telling you this is a lie, consider me your new best friend. 

Not even if this Heritage Collection went on sale at 50% off plus having a coupon for it would I consider buying this again. You have been warned.  A homeless man wouldn't even steal this beer from you if he knew what it tasted like, even if he was guaranteed to never get caught.  In fact, he would probably give you spare change just to take it back, and then go lick a stray dog's face to get "Genny's"  taste out of his mouth.

It seems as though I still have an inexpensive-yet-great-tasting-beer-shaped hole in my heart than can only be filled by the Molson XXX.  Now I may have only had bad things to say about my Genny experience, but if you are not concerned with taste, and only price, this may be for you.  The only real upside is the shape of the bottle.  You can kinda palm the entire thing, so when you get angry at the taste you can easily chuck it in your fury as if it were a softball.  Don't let yourself get that mad, and I am not responsible if you drink this and have that reaction.  You have been warned.

I will not be calling Genny back.

Sorry, nothing to drink here.

Nevertheless, stay thirsty,

-Thirsteve

Left Hand Brewing Company--Milk Stout

Left Hand’s Milk Stout has a purple label with a cow that made me think it was going to be a psychedelic trip through the farmland, but it pours with a dark body and foamy head that were superbly adult.

As I sipped this stout, I was transported, not to an Ohio dairy farm, but the espresso notes took me to a trendy city café. An acoustic guitarist played a smooth, finger-picked melody while cars and pedestrians filled the bustling streets just outside the window. The Milk Stout’s soft carbonation tingled on my tongue and I looked across the room to notice a lovely lady walking in my direction. “Nice stout.” She said as she walked by and I thought to myself, “Yes, this is a nice stout.”

Stay classy,

-Captain Z

XXX--Molson

Looking for an affordable beer that doesn't taste like water? Molson XXX is one of my favorite beers yet.  It has an orange/amber color, and bitter sweet flavor. The higher carbonation, and almost hoppy/whiskey after-taste makes it not necessarily for everyone.  The bottle makes it look like poison, but its contents taste like angel kisses.

With 7.3% ABV and roughly $11 for a 12-pack, you get a "super premium" beer for a very reasonable price.  It's imported from Canada, and seems to be the one thing they got right, especially after they cursed the world with Justin Bieber.  XXX goes good with most man-food and makes my mid-afternoon Taco Bell seem as enjoyable as a late-night Chipotle.  Try it.

Stay thirsty,

-Thirsteve

Dragon's Milk--New Holland Brewing Company

Christmas is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate icy roads than with a Dragon-themed brew. The New Holland Brewing Company brings us Dragon's Milk, a very dark, basically opaque ale. I've been eyeing this up for months in the store and just recently talked myself into buying it. It has a malty, fairly sweet taste, almost like a rum candy. They describe it as a "roasty malt character intermingled with deep vanilla tones, all dancing in an oak bath." It is somewhat like a rich, malty, milk stout. Boasting a 10% ABV, you will be soaring like a dragon after a few of these.

Its pairings are said to be: red meat, smoked foods, balsamic, rich cheese, and dark chocolate. So naturally I chose to enjoy mine with some Chipotle. The only real downside to this is that it is incredibly expensive, running roughly $4 per bottle. However, milking a dragon is understandably a dangerous job, and the high price comes with the risk.

As far as taste goes I am not disappointed, but I do not see myself paying $16 again for a 4-pack any time soon. I slayed the dragon, not with a sword, but through my appetite for a premium ale, being only disappointed in the price. Ask for this as a Christmas present, or gift it to a friend.  It's a great special-occasion drink, but too pricy to enjoy on a regular basis.

Stay thirsty,

-Thirsteve

Winter Hook #27--Red Hook

I sit on my front porch on this cool November evening as cigar smoke wafts through the air. A beer is necessary to complete this fine eve; but what ale should tease my taste buds? Tonight it is Red Hook's Winter Hook #27. Each delicious sip has a fruity, apple aroma and a bitter, hop after taste that seems to linger as long as the leftover Thanksgiving turkey in the fridge.

Red Hook brews' bottles are stubbed and round, completing their image as a beer not to be reckoned with. This seasonal drink is fit for any steak and potato dinner; or leftover turkey, whatever your lot may be--but no doubt this is a beer that is meant to be drank while eating meat. If not with dinner, enjoy this winter delight on the porch, right before it starts to snow; perhaps with a cigar.

Stay Classy,

-Captain Z

PS check out Red Hook's info on this seasonal ale: http://goo.gl/Q6jD2

Festive Ale--Dundee Ales and Lagers

My roommate has been a long-standing Dundee fan and just brought home a 6-pack of the company's seasonal "Festive Ale." He has always talked about Dundee as being on his favorite breweries, and it was time that I took the plunge and decided for myself as to whether or not I should trust his judgement.

This Festive Ale type is essentially a winter-style beer with plenty of spicy taste, as can be expected from its reddish-brown hue. The beer would suit anyone with even a slight taste for darker style beers, even if they don't dabble in them often. If I had to compare the taste with readily available styles, I would put the Festive Ale between an Oktoberfest and a Belgian White. The spicy flavor is immediately felt, with the orange flavor hitting your taste buds shortly thereafter.

Festive Ale is available in November and December, most likely where other beer is sold.

Would I suggest it to others? Absolutely. Have I developed trust in the word of my roommate? I don't know yet. He says he is engaged, but watches HGTV on a regular basis. Suspect....

Signing off-

Campbell