Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome Ale

Well if you have known fine beer, then there is a fair chance that you have known a Samuel Smith's or two or three in your life. I discovered them quite early in my early twenties, thanks to the dirty hippies I knew who valued good beer as much as good bud.
The folks at The Old Brewery Tadcaster brew at a small, traditional British brewery which is the oldest in Yorkshire. They have but one sole U.S. agent which they ship through, and large horses are utilized to take deliveries from the brewery five days a week. Wow.
This is the first Sammy Smith that I have drank in a while, and I think that has to do with the fact that they had nothing to prove to me anymore. I knew years ago that they make exceptional beers, and as I have said before; I like to sample new things. It's not to say that they are 'old hat' or anything, but their quality has always been reliable, and therefor I had nothing to lose by buying their product. Always a win-win, just as this fine, limited Winter Welcome Ale is!
This brew has a mild amber colour, and is being brewed for a very limited run. It has an almost velvet-like maltiness, but I won't talk about the fuggles because I still do not understand what they are and the label is flippantly reminding me of that. I'm just some guy, why can't those limeys just accept that?
Smooth and clear, this is another fine beer! It has a % of alc/vol of 6%, and it was purchased for a pretty penny at Friar Tuck in a four pack of 20 oz bottles.
Let me take one more gulp and give it a rating.

(GULP)

An amazing 7.5 out of 10!! Just a little hoppy too, hippie!

Shiner-Holiday Cheer

PROSIT!

Shiner and I have a strange history. I first heard of Shiner on an album by the mostly German-speaking band FSK, whom no-freggin'-body has heard of apparently. The band was produced by the lead singer of Cracker, Dave summinorother. They had a song simply titled 'Shiner Song', which (in German) told of a trip they took to the small Texas town of Shiner, which is home to the "Little Brewery" that produces Shiner beer. I found the album for $2 in a bargain bin in a store somewhere outside out Orlando, Fl with a handwritten label on the case that read "scary right wing polka stuff". Years later, I dated a girl from Houston, TX and we took a trip down there to visit her mum, and more importantly NASA. On that trip, I imported two meager six-packs back to MO. Soon after, Shiner was available in many stores in the St. Louis area; obviously my doing.
Why this long, boring story? An effort to relate the soft-spot in my heart that Shiner has!
This Shiner-Holiday Cheer is the fourth flavour of Shiner that I have ever tried. It has a dark amber color, and is an extremely clear beer. NO CLOUDY HERE, not that there is anything wrong with that. Easy to drink all night long (all night), it has a strange malty-fruitiness that I only seem to find in specifically Christmas beers. In this case, I am betting that it has to do with the peaches and pecans that it was brewed with! Why add those things? Because it's an X-Mas beer you small-minded Grinch!!
The label claims that this dark wheat ale is an Old World Dunkelweizen, and frankly I believe 'em. I also forgot to mention that the name of the brewery is in fact the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, TX 77984. Yes, SPOETZL, and every drop of Shiner is brewed in Shiner. I did not need to travel to TX to acquire this six-pack of 12 oz. bottles, I only had to go to Friar Tuck. Price; $7.99, I think. Reasonable.
I (once again) do not know the %alc/vol, but it seems like a 5-6%. At any rate, heed Spoetzl's advice and give one to someone you love. This dandy is getting a 6.5 out of 10! Tis the season for Cheer, and I love this beer!

p.s. the cap made me giggle, as it reads; From Shiner, To You.

Samuel Adams-Octoberfest

So, now that things a relatively back in order, lets get back to work! Too many lonely beers are living in my fridge, and it is high time that I kill them. Lets see what I can get done tonight. Again, sorry for the huge delay in postings.
I have one autumn beer left, and then we can move on to the many winter/Christmas brews that are stockpiled. Samuel Adams Octoberfest is that last autumn seasonal, and it is brewed by the Boston Beer Company. They have breweries in Boston, MA, Cincinati, OH, and Breinigville, PA. I think that I bought this at Schnuck's in Florissant, MO for a Halloween party the wife and I were having. I can not tell you the alc/vol %, because the bastards did not print it on the label. They did bother to say that it was brewed with a blend of five malts and Noble hops. Why are the hops Noble? I dunno. Maybe they hold doors open for women and donate money to the United Way. You can call the Boston Beer Company and ask them at 1-800-661-2337.
Anyway, this lager has a medium amber color, and a pleasant aroma. There is a not-too maltyness that drinks smooth and easy. No bite, so you wimps don't need to worry. I guess none of us need to worry really, as I doubt by this date (Dec. 5th) that you can even find it stocked in most stores. On a scale of 1-10, I'm giving it a 6.5. Not too shabby, fun and easy to drink!

Sorry, you four.

My appologies to the four of you who are following this blog. I had a few computer issues, then some mum in the hospital issues. Now the only issues I have are the 20+ varieties of beer in my fridge! Not an issue you say? I don't think my wife would aggree.
Maybe if I had a bit of regularity to this blog, I would get a few more followers. My thanks to the quad that I do have. Thank you for taking half a minute to take a look!! Love ya's!

Dixie Brewing Co-Blackened Voodoo Lager

This 'all malt' brew is a pretty dark one. Darker than a Newcastle, but not too much flavor to make it gross. In fact I think it is quite yummy, and at a reasonable price, I would be inclined to buy it again. I don't often say that about a beer, simply because there are so very many beers out there that I feel compelled to try new shit all the time. This one has a good replay value!
I must tell you that the Dixie Brewing Co. is in fact NOT brewing this bier currently. In fact, it is being brewed in Monroe, WI by the Joseph Huber Brewing Co. Before you freak out and cry 'FOUL!', let me elaborate by ripping off the info on the neck label; The century-old Dixie Brewery was almost destroyed by hurricane Katrina. Restoration of the brewery is underway, but in the meantime the Dixie Brewery is getting by with a little help from their friends. Nice. Kind of brings a tear to my eye that they didn't just die off entirely. I also find it ironic that I basically accidentally bought another WI beer. What is it with that state's beer, and me buying it on accident?
Anyway, the % alc/vol is 5%, and I bought it at Bombay Liquor on First Capitol in St. Charles, MO. I give this a rating of 7.5 out of 10, and I love you.

Schlafly-Dry Hopped APA

So, I have a need to crank out the next several posts in quick succession. If you are wondering why, it is because I have eight or nine different types of beer in my fridge, and no doubles, and I want to drink them. Also, I want to drink them now! So, lest get to work!
I have been a bit neglectful in the past week about creating new posts, and I am certainly overdue for a Schlafly. So now I bring you Schlafly Dry Hopped APA. The neck label says that it is a Dry Hopped APA Ale, so I guess that makes it an American pale ale ale. Like an automatic teller machine machine.
Made with American hops, this beer was bottled with love on July 13, 2009. This beer, once finished, has hops added directly to it to boost the flavor. The beer is amber colored, and when you look at it closely you can see quite a bit of particulates floating about. It is a tasty beverage, that has a strong, but not overwhelming taste, and you should rush out and drink it all up everywhere you go. Recommended for the hop lover, I give it an 8 out of ten. Now rush off to Schnuck's or somewhere else and buy it all up!

Rinkuskiai-Lobster Lovers Beer

I think that the reasons that I bought this single bottle of beer are obvious. It clearly and proudly states it is 9.5% alc/vol, and there is a naked lady on the bottle with a giant lobster on her back. Is the lobster a metaphor for an addiction to alcohol that she carries with her, one that she cannot break because she loves this beer so? I doubt it, but maybe that's how they do things in Lithuania. Did I mention this beer is from Lithuania? I did now.
This beer has a bit of a bite. Maybe it was sitting in the cooler for a few years before I got to it. Maybe I'm just a pussy. Either way, drinking this is going to take a bit of inner strength.
All the info I can gleen from the bottle is that it is imported and distibuted by a company is South Carolina, brewed and bottled by Rinkuskiai, Lithuania, and I think they were established in 1991. The bier seems to be a lager or pilsner, and has a depth of flavor. It has a kind of earthy taste to it. I don't taste hops. I don't taste malt. It's not citrus. What is that, lobster juice in there? I KID! At a mere $2.99 a bottle, they can't afford to put lobster juice in there! Don't be silly.
Lobster Lovers Beer is pungent and potent, and I probably will not buy it again ever. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad beer. Drinkable, yes. Novelty, also yes. Good for one try, and then you can say that you did that thing. Lucky for me that it was just one bottle! I give it a 4.5/10 on my silly scale. Do lobsters have scales? No, those are probably exoskeletons. Nevermind then!