Cant think of any clever monster puns - Brooklyn Monster Ale

Half way to the title! Emma is sleeping soundly on the couch, and I am beginning to feel the affects of the previous two posts. Let keep everything rolling along with a favorite brewery of mine that I was introduced to a little over a year ago during a visit to NYC to visit one of my best friends Nick: Brooklyn Brewing's Monster Ale.





Whooo! This beer has a very sharp flavor profile...tends to linger on the tongue a bit, which I havent quite figured out if this is a good or bad thing, The beer is, again, a nice amber color with no visible flaws. After another sip, I think that the lingering flavor will be deem a negative attribute. This beer is a bit too chemically for my tastes...I would avoid this if you can. Also, I aplogize about the length of these most recent posts. Here to the next three being more than 3 words!

Flavor: Chemically, strong...
Color: Deep amber
Alcohol Content: 11.8% (per volume...yow yow!!)
Average Price: $8.99 (6-pack)



I miss you Nick...do it NYC for me.

Awwww: Black eyes...Red Seal Ale

Well, I really shouldn't threaten myself with a good time...I told Jess that while she was on her trip to Georgia that I was going to do a 6 beer review. Well, she called my bluff and purchased me 6 different beers to do reviews on! Join me on my journey from beer to beer; sobriety to inebriation.


I chose this first beer in honor of my drinking partner for the evening (and a reason I am sure that Jess picked this beer as well): Emma! Both she and seals have much in common...long bodies, black eyes, smooth fir, and an overall cuteness about them.





Red Seal Ale is brought to us North Coast Brewing Company, the same company that makes Old Rasputin (reviewed a few posts ago by yours truly). I really enjoyed the Rasputin and at first glance it looks like I should really enjoy this beer as well. A great red color with no noticeable flaws (no cloudiness or specks). After pouring the beer, the head was quick to subside, but never quiet vanished.

My first taste was meet with much more bitterness than I had expected...much more like an IPA than I anticipated. After reviewing their website, I was surprised to see that this beer actually is an IPA! the color threw me off a bit, but the tastebuds are always batting 1000. The hoppiness grips you nicely without overpowering the smoothness of the beer. I am still slightly shocked by how wonderful this beer is!

I have reviewed so many other IPAs in this blog (in addition to trying so many others that have yet to be reviewed), so I dont think there is much more room for description on what makes an IPA great, but I will part is saying that this will rank among one of the best beers I have ever tasted (and Emma gives her approval too!)


Flavor: Smooth hoppiness, delicious...
Color: Flawless red hue
Alcohol Content: 5.5% (per volume)
Average Price: $8.79 (6-pack)



What a good drinking buddy!

Belfast Bay - Lobster Ale

Let me start of this post by saying that there are certain things that should be combined into one thing...





I had the very highest hopes for this beer...and after the first sip, they we're quickly dashed. Let me get into a little about this beer before I give it the final verdict:

Belfast Bay Lobster Ale is a mirco-brewed amber ale made in Portland...after a bit snooping, I discovered that this is a part of the Shipyard brewing family! So, including the Old Thumper, I am now 0-2 with this brewery. The beer has a deep red color and poured with no head whatsoever. The first sip had a strong chemical flavor to it (the closest thing I can compare it to is chlorine). That flavor lingeres on the tongue for longer than I would have expected, given that this beer is very thin. As promised, I intend on finishing this beer, but I will not be pleased. Do not drink this beer (although it might be good for cleaning out your pool/toilet).


Flavor: Minimal maltiness paired delightfully with the toxic chemical chlorine
Color: Deep red...I always that chlorine was colorless?
Alcohol Content: 5% (per volume)
Average Price: $8.99 (again, who knew chlorine was bottled in 6-packs?)

Dual Boston blog - Hookey Bitter

Well, today I am in Boston with Dave, and we are both reviewing a beer together...today we are enjoying a Hookey Bitter





After first tasting, I think Dave and I came to the conclusion that this is an average tasting beer. Nothing is truly striking about the flavor (besides a slight butterscotch/metallic flavor). It is lightly colored and has very little head, although the guy at the store told us that this was a very mildly flavored ale. Dave has pointed out the pleasant aroma of this beer, but also mentions that the flavor does not live up to it. It is not a bad beer, but certainly cannot justify the price that we paid for it...All in all, I think I can file this under "good beer" and feel happy that I tried it and will not feel bad about not ever having it again...

Flavor: Mild bitter ale
Color: Light amber/gold
Alcohol Content: 3.6% (per volume)
Average Price: $5.99 (per bottle)

Holy Mackerel - Special Golden Ale

This evening I will be partaking in a Florida brewed Ale: Holy Mackerel





This beer won a microbrew contest that was run by Samuel Adams...the beer is still microbrewed, but done in a manner that allows for mass production. I have never tried a "Golden Ale", so I was excited when my buddy Anthony brought this home for me from a local bar. It seems as if it was on tap there, and they filled up my growler yesterday evening...typically when beer is bottled like this, it is intended on being consumed that same day. Since it is not quite 24 hours from that point, I think I am in the clear on this one.

My initial reaction was the color of this beer...the gold hue really leaps out from the glass. The aroma is sweet and has a hint of something I cannot quite detect (or rather, cannot identify).

Having nearly completed my first pint, I can say that I am eager to pour myself the next...The sweetness that I detected is very evident in the flavor of the beer, but the part that is most striking is the subtle earthiness that comes along with the sweetness. The two flavors compliment one another in the sense that one never truly overpowers the other.

Although I have no food directly in front of me, I imagine that the sweetness would be paired best with a saltier type of food:

-French Fries
-Bangers and Mash
-Complimentary popcorn (always tends to be oversalted)

I would definitely recommend this beer for someone who is looking to try a light and sweet new beer...Thanks again Ant for picking this up for me!

Flavor: Sweet with a hint of earthy sharpness
Color: Light golden hue
Alcohol content: 8.5% by volume (Did i mention that i have a 32 oz growler to drink!?)
Average price: $7.29 (4 pack)