Shock Top Belgian White

Ever since I have tried Blue Moon, I have pretty much not had the need to get all messed up that is in the world of white. I do like some styles of Belgian beer, that having been said, I will also say that there are too many great American styles of brew to sample without needing any more new names to add. That is the way I feel about Belgian White. It is wheat ale dammit with flavorings added. It is good, yes, but it is still wheat beer. Do you want proof? This ale is also listed with awards from 2006 and 2007 from the North American Beer Awards. The name it was entered under was Spring Heat Spiced Wheat.

Now with that over with, lets get to the nuts and bolts of this brew. This brew is cloudy and the label recommends that you gently pour this down the side of the glass and then gently roll the bottle to collect the yeast remnants and foam that over the top. No way, I chugged the first one straight from the bottle and then trained my tongue to reach the yeast on the end of the bottle. Ladies, don't get any strange ideas here... The second bottle, I robustly poured it down the middle of a pint glass(the way men were meant to pour) and admired the foamy esters enter the room in the form of orange and citrus with a peppery background. The flavors were mild and clean and I can see some possibilities for this brew near summer. I like the mild hop finish. I would have to say that this ranks on the top row of Anheuser-Busch products. Well done, I just hope that this ale finds its niche and does not go the way of Elk Mountain and other large brewer efforts at craft beer. This is craft beer and I hope it stays around for awhile.

4.85 points out of 5 Nicely crafted and well balanced. Good use of citrus rind and spices.

Moerlein Emancipator Doppel Bock

In Cincinnati, the name Christian Moerlein is synonymous with good beer but there was a rather large gap in that name over the years. Christian Moerlein had at one time the largest, most impressive brewery in Cincinnati. Then came the dreaded prohibition. The brewery was unable to recover from the beer ban and never returned to the beer scene after prohibition ended. Fast forward to 1981...Hudepohl began brewing Christian Moerlein as an all malt lager. I tried it and was rather impressed with its smooth easy drinking characteristics.

Well, fast forward again to Emancipator, this beer is designed for keeping you warm during the winter months. My mouth is still numb from the alcohol. The base flavors are molasses, toffee, chocolate and coffee that starts off with a sort of smokiness and ends sweet but not cloying. The overall texture and mouth feel of this beer is thick but not heavy on the tongue. Alcohol is a major component in the flavor of this brew. There are hops of no real mention other than their bitter presence. The color is dark brown and the head is a beige reminiscent of A&W root beer with a bit more staying power. While I think that there really is nothing wrong with this crafted beer, I must also say that while you are making such an effort to place so many fine ingredients together, the least you can do is make the effort at getting things to work together. This doppelbock is satisfying but in no way should it be mistaken for one of those smooth, dark beers that some brewers make. I will not say that this brew is in any way bad, but I feel that it can be better. I will still enjoy it and complain about it as that is in my nature and who can change that.

All in all, this is a very potent brew that will be enjoyed my many. It is just a shame that there are many beers of this calibre on the market and in order to get above the competition, there has to be unique and remarkable flavors that the beer drinker will remember and crave.

4.5 out of 5 points Not bad, could be better in my opinion though.

Purple Haze

The beer is an American style wheat ale with a touch of raspberry syrup. It is reminiscent of the Brussels way of serving white ales using fruit. I thought the beer was rather smooth and the raspberry was a good addition. Foremost, the flavor was a true fruit flavor without the bitter aftertastes when preservatives, or artificial flavors are used. This beer is not really my cup of tea as I prefer real flavor involving just the simple ingredients that make up beer. For me, fruit is not needed. In this case however, fruit adds a nice flavor that gives a sweet goodness to the beverage. The name of the brewer is Abita from Abita Springs, Louisiana. www.abita.com

4 out of 5 points Not bad at all.

Miller High Life

Yup, It is good beer for the ball game and the lawnmower. Clean, crisp with a mild aftertaste from the malt. Not bad, not bad at all. I would recommend a 30 pack as they are reasonably priced and go with most any food you can come up with except for Captain Crunch.

4 out of 5 points

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

One of my top 5 beers of all time. I have detected more of a hop presence in this brew over the years and I am good with that. When you pour, you detect the flowery essence of hop power. Nice. There is quality malt presence in this brew as well but I will tell you that it is not really what I would call smooth or truly balanced. It is not meant to be that way...it is just what it is. I like this beer so much because I first tasted it in San Diego not long after I arrived back to the US from the Persian Gulf. That was 1988 or so. The first gulf war where Iran was the bad guy spreading mines all over the gulf and threatening the leviathan sized oil tankers. I hit the dock and went to the farmers market and ordered a Sammy Adams. The taste of America. I had a t-shirt that said that "I am a revolting American" from Sam Adams for many years that I thought was cool. While over the years, Sam Adams has been made by contract in many places, the quality has remained constant. Good things always satisfy and this beer is a winner and always has been.

5 out of 5 points