August Schell Sampler Pack

The Sampler Pack is one of the treats offered by breweries during the holidays. August Schell offers this fine collection of 6 beers for the price of their six-packs and the choices are all worth while.

Schell Pilsner-Nice floral hop presence with malty balance. This beer would go nicely up against the Czech pilsners that abound the marketplace. 4.5 out of 5

Schell Pale Ale-All hops all the time bouquet with nice balance. This pale ale is easy drinking and well flavored and I would get more but there is another favorite of mine in this same six pack. 4.5 out of 5

Schell Octoberfest- While well done, this Octoberfest does for me what most all of them do. I am not enthused by all the spices. Nice malt presence and all prominent hop presence. This one is well done, just not my cup of tea. 4 out of 5

Schell Firebrick-Mellow lager with sweet maltiness that makes me want more. 4.5 out of 5

Schell Caramel Bock- Coffee dark color, rich head. Coffee, toffee, chocolate flavors blend for my favorite beer by August Schell. This one is a special treat. 5 out of 5

Snowstorm- I tried this beer a few years ago and did not like it. I read on the bottle that the recipe changes every year for the brew master to do creative things. This one is Belgian influenced and comes off really potent and tasty. Tingly rich flavors bounce off the tongue, dried fruit and sweetness with good hop balance. 5 out of 5

Yuengling Traditional Lager Original Amber Beer

This beer, brewed by the oldest brewery in the United States, is smooth, potent, delicious and will give you one hell of a headache if you drink nine of them. You will suffer, and deservedly so. Nicely done amber beer. Very drinkable and just a look of the bottle tells me that this recipe has been around longer than the petrified crap between Morty Vareberg's teeth. This is a beer that I take one sip and then the bottle is half empty. Sweet, malty smelling, with a mild hop flash on the back of the tongue at the silky finish. I love this beer and they do not sell it in North Dakota. I am waiting however.

4.25 out of 5 points...this beer is an original and highly recommended.

Shiner Bavarian Style Amber Limited 98 Edition

Shiner is without a doubt, my "when I am in Texas, I will be drinking this", beer. I have always enjoyed shiner bock and have never encountered shiner premium beer or any other "regular" beer. As you may have read, I reviewed Shiner and feel that I was fair with it and its evaluation. Well, this is not Shiner Bock.

This is the brew that commemorates 98 years in the brewing business. I like it, with its more assertive hop flavor and its rather crisp, sweet finish. I will pick it up when ever I see it or Shiner Bock. They drink just fine and are a treat to me when I get down here to Texas. I just feel that this beer could be more assertive. After all, it is 98 years. Why not brew something world class that would stun people. I hope that Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas decides to throw caution to the wind and just brew it. This beer however has a nice head and is not bad in the body department and I would recommend it. Because it is good.

3.75 out of five points...next time just go to Bavaria and brew the stuff you drink while there. E

Henry Weinhards Blonde

I have always for the most part liked Henry's. That being said, I would also say that their Blue Boar Pale Ale could have a modernization of sorts of its recipe to reflect the escalation of the malts and hops present in today's craft beers. This brew starts out a bit richer with more of a malt balance and the hops are present. As beers go, I see quite a bit of good, drinkability in this beer. While it will certainly not overwhelm all but Bud Light trained palettes, it has good drinkable quality and much better balance than their Pale Ale.

At first pour, it has a golden hue with nice beige foam that leaves a mild lace as it goes down. The nose is rather mild and the taste is malty, sweet with a nice mellow bitter from the hops. I have tasted other blonde's and this one would hold its own as a lesser competitor. Not unworthy, yet not at the apex either. I really love the work that Full Sail has done with these brands. This beer is a far cry from the vile sophomoric swill that they named Hefeweitzen about ten years ago. It was gross. This beer was worth my time and I over the course of two days consumed all six. OK, I am hard up and would consume six of anything because I am too cheap to let beer go to waste. But, what I am saying is that these six were pleasant. Far more pleasant that that nasty hefe. Here is a beer that will not offend nor disappoint. Is this a session beer? I have no frigging idea what a session beer is. My session in this case was rather successful and a pleasure as well.

Stone Pale Ale

Alright. I know that when I get a new beer in me that I just have to give you the experience and all that. "bla, bla, blasphemy"

When, I first opened this beer, it reminded me of Anchor Steam with the loud, powerful hiss and the lingering steaming veil over the bottle. It poured nice and rich, with a nice abundant head that smelled like nice delicious hops. The very first sip and I thought to myself that it was a great thing that I did not decide to go with the IPA...but then I thought to myself, this is not really a pure pale ale. I mean, it has all the flavor characteristics going for it...until you look at it. It reminds me of Fritz Maytag's evil brew. I hope he sues me for saying it, now that his crummy washing machines are now being made in Mexico. Sellout loser bastard...what are you going to do next? Sell the brewery, to S&P?

But, seriously folks. The Stone Brewing Company is in Escondido, California. Which gives me the hint, that with as much as that dried up loser and QUAFF beer snob and crony Rich Link has been banging the drum about Stone in the Celebrator Magazine, there has to be some QUAFF arrogant influence somewhere. I remember when I lived in San Diego and QUAFF was having their meetings at the Pacific Beach Brewing Company. A member owned the brewery and I was there with a friend who was a member. I ordered a stout and it was infected and spoiled. They got it going on for sure. That was a while back. If you don't believe me, just look up quaff on Google and find the site. Arrogant. However, this beer is fine and I recommend it. Regardless of what the heck it is.

4 out of 5 points maybe 4.5 out of five. It is good to be sure.

Blitz Weinhard Pale Ale

I have always loved the green. When I toured the brewery in 1990 during the Portland Rose Festival, it was a bittersweet joy. I really wished that I had the chance to try these beers before they were overwhelmed, abused and trodden down by corporate punks with no passion or pride for that matter. The beer was a bit light in the malt department like I remember it. It had a flowery, spicy hop nose like I remember it, although not as pronounced. Could be that since this is Oregon beer being sold in North Dakota that it was not as fresh as it could have been. Still good. I was burning the dump in my shitty little berg occupied by assholes and food stamp collecting pot squats when the beer tasted pretty good and broke up the toxic smoke medley with pride. This beer is brewed by Full Sail out of Hood River, Oregon. Well done, it is true to the original recipe...time for a remix of the old recipe and not the hack job that G. Heilemann Brewing Company did to it in the 90's.

Recommended 3.5 out of 5 points

Session Premium Lager

Man, do I ever have a weakness for any swill in a stubby bottle. I just love stubby bottles. They are aerodynamic as they fly out the car window smashing delightfully with a complete crash rather than the hard bottle syndrome demonstrated by the ever so present Long Red Neck. Ok, back to the beer. It is never the package to us beer nuts. It is always the beer.

Ok...the beer tastes like I remember Blitz Weinhard of Portland, Oregon as a kid. I like it and I will drink it again to be sure. It is a mildly hoppy, slightly darker than pale, light colored premium beer that blows Budweiser out of the water. and I love the hell out of the package. 11 oz. bottle, 5.1 percent alc. drink it daily. Recommended...Full Sail Brewing Company, Hood River, OR.

4.5 out of 5 Points good stuff to be sure...you think I would buy crap...It is bound to happen and you will read how I just hate Magnum Malt Liquor to death. Late

Sierra Nevada Harvest Fresh Hop Ale

IPA, if you live in California and drink something other than Lucky is what I would call a well used or abused term. I have had IPA's from all over and IPA's that shouldn't have been bottled at all. IPA can be to a new drinker of fine brews, a daunting thing, especially if the new drinker has had an IPA from Triple Rock. My god, those people are hop insane. But good...

I think Sierra Nevada is well versed at making me go ooh and aah over their beers. The term Harvest is a nice one and the label attracted me at first glance as it was one that you can't get in ND. I cracked her open and smelled the earthy scents of malt presence and said to myself, this beer is too cold. I let her sit for 5 minutes and was rewarded with a bouquet of hops that made me feel that they had a winner once again. Now I will tell you that first of all, this is a fine ale. I will also tell you that I think that all this wet/not wet hop malarkey is just that. The hop flavor is good and very present and I am sure they spent lots on the hops for this ale. It is an IPA, it is good, but it is an IPA in every area of taste. I think that Sierra Nevada thinks like I do that to call this special ale an IPA would be to call it ordinary, which it isn't. It is very good. I like it. It is an IPA in my mind.

4.75 out of 5 points

Racer 5 IPA

I have looked at this beer on the shelf at this same store many times. The problem was that I had to roll and beer had no part for my plans at the time. Last night, was a different story as my work day ended where the store was and the planets aligned at the same time for the benefit of me and me alone I tell you.

I bought a 24 ounce bottle of this ale with the intention of pouring and enjoying it for what it is. It is on first smell a very hoppy ale. In fact, my first impression of its hoppy smell was of a batch of home brew I made many years ago where my hop dealer mislabeled my purchase and instead of cascade at 5.4, it was centennial at 14.5...I added 3 ounces wanting a strong cascade presence and ended up with a well rounded institutional strength tongue cleaner. I did however make some neat half and half recipes with it. That is another story altogether.

My point with this and other IPA's is that when it comes to hop presence, there should be almost too much to be a really good IPA. A good IPA is like sex with a very demanding lover. You will have to work hard to enjoy it, but at all angles it is all good. At first taste, I was overwhelmed with hop madness for a moment then the malt, and I must say malty joy comes right in and balances the whole thing. The IPA is not made for balance in the basic sense, it must lean toward the bitter hops and this one does nicely. I found this ale to be a pleasant, overwhelming for the senses joy to drink. I had never really heard on Bear Republic except that maybe they have won some awards in this or that category. If you are ever in California, WWW.bearrepublic.com 707-433-2337. I wish they had this in North Dakota.

5 out of 5 points

Bayern Amber Lager

Bayern Amber Lager...God, I hate the term Amber. I know what you might be saying...You can't say that, amber is good, it is at least darker than pale. I know, I know, but whenever it seems that a brewer has nothing to offer, they offer a non descript piece of crap, usually called amber or red or some other crap because they refuse to stand for something.

That is not this beer at all. This beer represents the entry into a new market. When Jurgen Knoller arrived in Montana in 1987, He was given the task of creating a beer that would win the hearts and taste buds of Montanans who wanted, according to popular demand, a beer that is "darker than domestic beer but not too dark, and hoppier than domestic beers, but not too hoppy"

After some consideration, Jurgen came up with Bayern Amber, a traditional American amber lager with a distinct hoppy flavor. To reach this delicate middle ground, Bayern Amber is made with the same type and quantity of malted barly used in German Marzenbiers, and then hopped in the manner of Czech-style pilseners.

I feel that this beer is easy to enjoy. And like other Bayern brews, offers a fine balance that shows me that they pay one heck of a lot of attention to balance in their beers. I like it. I wish it were the rules that if you are to call your beer amber that at least you would have the same distinction as this fine beer.

4.0 points out of five

www.bayernbrewery.com

Moose Drool Brown Ale

I have always liked the products from Big Sky Brewing Company in Missoula, Montana. They have been around for awhile and have a pretty consistent product. The other thing that I like about the Missoula Breweries in general is that they just brew their product and let it stand at that. I like that in a company. So often it is the rule of business that in order to make a profit, one must sell ones soul and pander to the masses in order to gain acceptance. Some have done just that and prospered and some have rightfully fallen by the wayside. Meanwhile, breweries like Bayern and Big Sky in little Missoula, Montana have been doing themselves and beer drinkers proud by serving up some pretty respectful beer.

Lets visit this current example. First of all, when I read on the label that what I am drinking is a brown ale, I tend to think in my mind about the standards in the brown ale business. Samuel Smith and Newcastle come to mind as good tasting, pleasant drinking brown ales. The brown ale is not to be too ungodly hoppy and represents a working mans beer in its structure and alcohol content. I am not getting technical to be sure but when you brew a beer and declare that it is this brew or that, you have to go back to the originals and determine in your mind whether or not that the beer in your hand actually starts in that same arena.

Clearly, this beer does come from the same pedigree as the others I have mentioned. With a smooth, sweet, mild smoky beginning at first sip segues into the hop profile which is crisp and present but not overpowering. The mouth feel reminds me of Newcastle but yet more so and I am left with a nice satisfying finish. This is a wonderful beer and with winter coming on, I sure wish I had a case of this at home now. There are a bunch of people that favor the barleywine style beers for the winter months and that is fine but I can drink one heck of a lot more of this and I feel that I look better without the bitter beer face. Look them up at www.bigskybrew.com

Tommyknocker Maple Nut Brown Ale

Let me tell you the truth...I have never tried any of these beers by Tommy knocker. I absolutely thought that the name of this beer is stupid. I have always hated the labeling and appearance of the products that they produce (kinda like Rogue) and have always bought other brands when the choice appeared. Well, the other day, I was asked about what kinds of beers a person should try and what I thought was good. I replied that it really doesn't matter what I personally think is good as that does not apply to what you as a person feels. We can try the same beer and agree on some of the beer attributes and qualities. Sure, but when it all comes down to it, there is nothing that says that we have to agree about whether the beer is good or it is swill. I love all kinds of beers. Some people like only the beer that they drink and will not stray. My point? The beer lover must decide for themselves what they like. Pick out the ugliest packaging on the shelf and give it a try. You see how I painted myself into a corner now don't you?

At any rate...Tommy knocker Maple Nut Brown Ale has some great qualities. Is it a British style nut brown? Well, could be as it has the nice mouth feel and the smooth characteristics of a Samuel Smith's. In fact, it is rather sweet. I am convinced that it is a result of its 3.2 percent torturing by the state of Colorado. At 5 percent this beer would be a brew to be reckoned with but it would lose some of that silky smooth flavor that the lower alcohol allows for. Is it a great beer? No, but it is a good beer...a better beer than the label would indicate. Recommended.

Brown Ale 3.75 out of 5 points I liked the silky sweet satisfying package that was it.

Bayern Dancing Trout Beer

http://bayernbrewery.com

To enter this subject and give you the knowledge you need to proceed with impunity will require a bit of background on the Bayern Brewing Company. I will tell you this: That crazy German that brews the beer there has his stuff in one sock. I am so impressed with all the offerings by this brewery that I could care less what kind of beer it is. As long as it says "Bayern" I am sure that it is good.

This beer is a Light Wheat Ale. The flavor is full and I love that when there is the word light in the name of a beer. With that out of the way, I will add that there is a rich creamy caramel base with a good amount (not too much) of hops and a mouthfeel that belongs in a German Hofbrau house. I want to try this brew in my German mug that my brother gave me after he went to Germany last year. By the way, the mug says "bayern" on it and my brother says that the word means Bavaria.

This brew is the great fishing beer. I read from the six pack label that Bayern has dedicated Dancing Trout to sponsor Montana Trout Unlimited. Don't get me wrong, I am not really a big environmentalist. I do however respect the willingness of Bayern to stand firm on its convictions and try to make a difference. I love trout fishing along with all fishing in general. I also like the fact that I can drink a beer that feels the way I do and acts on that. The beer is great and highly recommended. You crazy German, just keep on doing what you do well and I will keep drinking it as long as my liver holds out.

Wheat Ale 4.5 out of 5 points Great Show

A good Beer Read

Check this out www.ohiobreweriana.com I like reading about some of this stuff.

La Crosse Lager

Let's go back 20 or so years to La Crosse, WI...The G. Heileman brewing company had grown into a massive corporate powerhouse of regional brands. The brewing industry was and had been for some time a very cutthroat enterprise. The competition was fierce and in some ways G. Heileman was going in the right direction. Enter Alan Bond and his holding company. There was scandal, false valuation of this man and his assets and the whole thing came tumbling down. The pieces that was G. Heileman ended up going different directions to brewers that really had no interest in keeping the good G. Heileman name going and the whole enterprise became a mess where the consumer no longer had any idea who was brewing what.

The last time I was at the La Crosse brewery was when I worked for Crete Carriers hauling their Old Milwaukee beer to Omaha. This was 1998 and the workers said that the brewery was owned at that point by Stroh. Which makes sense as Old Milwaukee was never a G. Heileman brand. Then the brewery closed sometime after that, leaving the employees and La Crosse holding the bag. A local group purchased the brewery, naming it City Brewery. They didn't own the hallmark Old Style name so new brands were created. There was money troubles and an ownership change. The large Old Style sign was removed from the top of the brewery building and they plugged away brewing their new brands. I live in North Dakota and never saw any of the brands but I kept looking. I think that the loss of the Old Style brand was a hidden blessing because any of the cheap incarnations I tasted were not pleasant.

Fast forward to La Crosse Lager with its distinctive label and and fresh new image. Here is a beer that I would visit the brewery for. It has a typical American Premium style to it. It has a crisp hop signature that is satisfying. It has flavor; more so than the major brewers in the same category. I am really impressed by the quality of this product. When every brewer over the years has tried to homogenize the flavor into a smooth soda pop like product, so much so that the only difference the beer drinker can detect is the labeling and supposed image of the beer inside. Trust me, I am saying nothing new about the brewing industry and I am not complaining as the average beer drinker will tell you that the "bad" tastes in a beer are really the hallmarks of a well brewed beer. People don't like an aftertaste and I really do not understand that as the aftertaste is simply the final stage of the tasting process. If your beer has an aftertaste resembling fresh garbage, I can see your point. This beer drinks smooth with a well thought out flavor and finished well in my opinion. This beer is inexpensive and also gives you flavor. Who'd have thunk it?

If you get the chance to give LaCrosse Lager a try, I recommend it and the brewery tour is worth the drive to La Crosse as well. The people of La Crosse have a good thing and they were smart to keep it going.

American Style Pilsner 4.5 points out of 5

Stite Black and Tan

I like Stite, with its dry, no nonsense flavor and crisp finish. Alcohol is very present in this drink along with a mild malt background. I feel that it can be better at 8 bucks a six-pack however. It seems that they could do so much more with the flavor. I drink this regularly when I am at home and find it satisfying. I just think that such a small brewery could really create a good niche that so many others are pursuing by pulling all the stops and making the beer world class. I will still drink this beer as the small brewery needs all of us to stay in business. Think of the possibilities though. The packaging is classy with the choice of colors and the aluminum 12 ounce bottle. Follow through with the real deal and you will have a winner.

Black and Tan 3.5 out of 5 points.

Grain Belt Beer

Made by the August Schell Brewing Co. of New Ulm, MN, this beer is one of the former regional standards that has suffered under the hands of corporate takeovers. First, lets look at Grain Belt Breweries. In the 60's Grain Belt, of Minneapolis, MN bought out Storz Brewing Co of Omaha, NE. I feel that the purchase put some strain on the small brewery as it was not long before they were in trouble and were purchased by G. Heilemann of Lacrosse, WI. I don't know, I tried a lot of George Heilemann products over the years and did not like them. Anyway Grain Belt suffered over the years until the brand ended up with out a brewery when the Grain Belt Brewery was going to be closed. The brewery was purchased along with the recipe by an employee group. Some other name brands were developed and all seemed to go well and the beer by the way, was really good. In 2002 the brewery was sold and the brand names were handed over to the fine people at August Schell Brewing Company. The beer improved even more. I find the beer to be a very drinkable, strong, flavorful beer. Made with American Barley and American hops it has a flavor that differs from all those other Premium beers. I find it to be in a class by itself.

American Premium 4.5 out of 5 points

Rainier Beer

This beer has suffered miserably over the years with all the mergers and shortsighted business decisions that the recipe has suffered. Don't get me wrong. I am not here to run down this beer by any means. I was at one time stationed in Hawaii. Rainier was abundant there and that was soon after the brewery was brought under the aegis of G. Heilemann brewing company of LaCrosse, WI. I was always talking to my friends about beer and the mistaken image that people had when it came to beer. So, I had a blind taste test of beer at my house with several friends that were Budweiser drinkers. Number 1 in the taste test was Rainier followed by Olympia. There were some converts that day. I saw one heck of a lot more Oly and Rainier at our barbeque's after that. Fast forward to a few years ago. I have no idea who was brewing Rainier at the time. The label had some vague references to a brewery with no phone number and a PO BOX. The beer was awful. Fast forward to today. It sure seems like the Miller Brewing Company (who is brewing the beer by contract) is following the recipe to the T. It is the same good beer I remember. One reason for this could be that the major brewers, rather than brewing sludge and putting it in Rainier cans, see Rainier and other former regional brands as an opportunity to develop market share and volume in an otherwise flat beer market. I would be willing to set this beer down next to Bud today and I think Rainier would come out on top.

www.rememberrainier.com
American Style Premium - 4 out of 5 points

Rainier Beer

Full Sail Pale Ale

The first sip of this fine ale made by Full Sail Brewing of Hood River, Oregon right on interstate 84 really grabs you. That blast of hop madness assaults the tongue and you wonder at first if that is all there is. Second sip and the hops seem a bit more subdued and the warm maltiness comes in if not in a truly balanced role. This is clearly set up to put the hop flavor in its prominence. Not a lawnmower day beer, it is to be enjoyed when thirst is not the first priority. I certainly enjoyed it and you will too.

Shiner Bock

Whenever I am in Texas, I try to find Shiner Bock. It is not the best bock beer but it does have more flavor than the usual Premium beers that crowd the aisles. They have gotten better at their distribution reaching as far north as Nebraska and even Minnesota. I recommend this beer for the fact that it is a satisfying brew if you want a brew that is drinkable and will quench your thirst. It is by no means an esoteric craft beer. They do however have consistency down as I have drank this beer for years and am satisfied with its quality. Give it a try.

3.5 out of five points.

Stevens Point Brewery

I paid a visit to the Stevens Point Brewery in Stevens Point WI yesterday. I got there too late to tour but managed to buy a beer glass and a shirt. It was raining and I felt that the camera would suffer but I promise, I will return.

Point Spring Bock

Point Spring Bock Beer, Stevens Point, WI

Served in a Glass 55 degrees

Good God, Sweet malty hoppy frothy heaven! This beer even though it is intended to be a stodgy old Bock, is rather refreshing which is hard to say about the meal replacing Bock. Filling, equals bock, that is the rule only surpassed by a few scotch ales, barley wines and porters and stouts. This flavor was light on its feet and can you say mouth feel. I wonder if lactose is in use here...I have had some British ales with that same smoothness and the feeling that you had enjoyed a milky way in your mouth but it tastes like beer. You know? Seems almost in the flavor department that there is honey involved somewhere. Tastes like malt and hops in balanced concert. Molasses background with subtle coffee and chocolate undertones. Take a sip and swallow and the flavor and texture remain. This is a bock I would want to drink all the time. Well done.

Bock Beer 4.5 out of 5 points

Point Honey Light

Point Honey Light bought July 25th, Stevens Point, WI

Served In the Glass 50 deg

I have to say, I do not usually seek out the typical light beer. That having been said, I really don't feel that this is a light beer among light beers. There are calories there...125 of them...not a problem for me but I do come from the generation that produced Falstaff with 96 calories.

This beer had a nice light beer color. Somehow I envisioned a honey beer as darker but what is in the appearance. It has a nice hue to be sure and when it is poured it retains a nice head for a light beer. So far, so good. The smells are of light malt tones and a very slight honey-sweet presence. Also present are the alcohol esters that honey seems to add to beer. Not at all unpleasant. The flavor is well balanced and smooth. In fact, it reminded me of the base Point Special with the honey treatment. That is not at all bad as Special is great beer. I drank this one down and savored every sip. That is rare for a light beer. You ever notice that when you are drinking a light beer that the beer gets a bit foul as it gets to the bottom so you speed up the last few sips to get through it. Well, there is non of that going on here. I enjoyed that last bit just as much as the first. For a light beer that is no small feat. Good job Stevens Point Brewery. Point well made.

Light Beer 5 out of 5 points Job well done Point

Point Cascade Pale Ale

Bought-Stevens Point, WI July 26th in a variety 12 pack. $10.39

Served in a Point Special glass at 50 degrees f

Boy oh boy! This, being the first of my official reviews, all I can say is I am off with a bang. This ale is truly refreshing. I have been a Point Special drinker for years and had never had the chance to try this. The first thing that gets you is the spicy, fiery, strong punch of the cascade hops. Then just as quick there is a rush of mildly sweet malt to balance the bitter and roll on into a rather smooth well balanced ale. This ale reminds me of the same sort of style called California Pale that I have had several examples of over the years. Funny thing though...That first sip reminded me on a small scale of the cascade ale I had back in 1991 at Triple Rock in Berkeley, CA. Not quite as heavy on the hop punch but just as good. This ale is truly a winner and I hope that Stevens Point Brewery continues their great work. The common denominator with Point always seems to be smooth balance in all their beers.

Pale Ale-5 out of 5 points. Point well Made!

The Birth Of Beer Blasphemy

I am a beer lover. I am not a beer snob.

I have been a homebrewer for the last 24 years. Occasionally, I have a bad batch or a beer with a strange flavor. I never said that I was a perfect Homebrewer. Usually the best of my beers are much like the perfect crime. The only evidence that I brewed and brewed well is the empty bottles.

I have been through some training as a beer taster/judge with some organizations in years past where one is surrounded by snobs and elitist beer drinkers. I find that there is definitely a place for the person with the impeccable taste to choose the absolute pedigreed beer and make his or her opinion known about such beers with their books and articles.

With all the effort in the last 20 years to make beer a more wholesome, tastier, quality beverage for the American public, I find that there is indeed some rather well packaged swill making the rounds. I have friends and family that enjoy beer based on its buzz appeal. Don't get me wrong. I do not put these people down. They have the right to enjoy their brew of choice.

The point that I am trying badly to make here is that there are a lot of accepted beliefs when it comes to beer and beer drinking. There are also quite a few opinions that people gather when they go out to try a beer or when they read about the beer in an article or magazine. Everyone takes the ratings of beers so seriously. I feel that there is a need to change this.

First of all: Let's compare apples to apples for once. Why should a light beer be compared with a pale ale just because the reviewer is simply too lazy to group an opinion to one area of beer. Why give me a light beer opinion when you drink hefeweizen?
I will rate beers against their peers and try to focus on their attributes in language that you will enjoy.

I will give you no opinions from other peoples ratings. These will be mine and they will be detailed as much as possible. I want you to know my true opinion. I am not going to give you a pile of regurgitated crap and call it valid.

I will give you the city the beer came from and the price if possible.

I will not tell you that I prefer another beer but for your own good I am reviewing this beer etc. etc.

I will not try to sound like Michael Jackson or any other beer reviewing snob. No offense Michael, but you are too wrapped up in Belgium and some of that stuff is swill. I Like the Lindemanns Peche however.

Okay, Let's get on with it!