Rising Moon Spring Ale

Full Moon Spring Ale has 5.4% ABV. Served from a 12oz Brown Bottle, Full Moon Pale Ale was brewed on an unknown date. The beer was purchased at BevMo in Mission Valley on February 26^th 2009 at 7:25 p.m. It was priced at $7.99 for a six pack…I spent a grand total of $17.43…..it WAS NOT on sale.

Proper Glassware: A Pint Glass or a Standard Beer Mug.

Serve @: 40-45°F

Look: This beer poured nicely. It’s a flushed copper with ample 2 fingers of fizzy beige head that left some little lacing behind.

Smell: No overpowering aromas jump out at first. It has a muddled sweet scent. It has faint notes of malt, lime, and spices that round out the nose of this brew. For being a spring ale I expected the hops to be a little more prevalent.

Taste: The taste consisted of a slightly sweet caramel and malt with some mild lime notes, Rising moon has somewhat of a dry yeasty finish.

Feel: Rising Moon has a light to medium body without much carbonation.

Drinkability: Not an everyday drinker for me. I prefer beers with a little more alcohol bite This would make a good beer for a gathering for people who aren’t your typical craft beer drinkers.

Food pairing recommendations: Grilled Cheese Burgers, Hot Dogs, or Brats.

 3.25 out of 5 on the Mahoney’s Beer Scale of Supremacy

Dixie Blackend Voodoo Lager

Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager has 5.0% ABV. Served from a 12oz Brown Bottle, The Blackened Voodoo Lager was brewed on an unknown date. The beer was purchased at BevMo in Mission Valley on February 18^th 2009 at 8:25 p.m. It was priced at $9.99 for a six pack…I spent a grand total of $22.68…..it WAS NOT on sale.

Proper Glassware: A Flute or Pilsner Glass

Serve @: 45-50°F

Look: It’s a hearty mahogany brown that glows a light crimson when held to the light, there is a small tan head that fades quickly, it didn’t leave behind much lacing.

Smell: The nose of Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager starts out even with smells of sweet malts, dark caramel, and brown sugar. There are also faint hints of hops at the end.

Taste: An odd almost bitter toasted malt flavor start off the taste, there are hints of chocolate, barley, and coffee that round out the preliminary taste impact. The Dixie Blackened Voodoo has a bitter finish that didn’t sit in my mouth as pleasantly as I had hoped. It’s almost watered down.

Feel: Lightly carbonated with a wet light body.

Drinkability: Drinkable. Wouldn’t be my first choice of beers by any means but it also wouldn’t be my last.

Food pairing recommendations: Cajun Chicken, Shrimp Creole

 2.7 out of 5 on the Mahoney’s Beer Scale of Supremacy

Yeti Special Export

Yeti Special Export has 7.00% ABV. Yeti is being served from a 22oz Light Brown Bottle that’s top is covered by a gold foil. It was brewed in India on an unknown date. The beer was purchased at BevMO in Mission Valley at 8:30 p.m. on January 14^th. It was priced at $3.99 for a bottle…I spent a grand total of 32.76 dollars on the …it WAS NOT on sale.

Proper Glassware: A 12oz Pint Glass and/or a Standard Beer Mug or straight out of the bottle that’s wrapped in a brown paper bag.

Serve @: 33-35°F (As COLD as possible)

Look: Yeti pours an a pale shade of blonde similar to the run off that you my find behind the 91X van at Chargers Pregame Tailgates in F3. There was almost no head on this beer, I actually was quite aggressive with the pour hoping to get more head from this brew but it was a futile effort…the paltry head that was there was foamy and manila it  faded after just a few brief seconds. There was almost no lacing on the side of my glass.

Smell: Bland and sterile, I get wafts of corn and alcohol which isn’t surprising how much alcohol is in the Yeti.

Taste: It starts with a bittersweet bang and ends sharply with resounding disappointment. Acidic hops and corn mash are the most prevalent flavors. This beer finishes dry and leaves a sour taste in your mouth afterwards.

Feel: It doesn’t feel very impressive, it’s thin bodied and rough and there almost no carbonation.

Drinkability:  This is a beer that is only good if you’ve been craving an ice cold beer for about 6 months and you’ve been stranded on a desert island without the touch or taste of any beer whatsoever…after encountering this beer you’ll probably end up with a headache and feeling regret

Food pairing recommendations: I wouldn’t recommend eating anything with this beer because you would just be throwing your money away because it’s going to ruin your appetite.

1.605 out of 5 on the Mahoney’s Beer Scale of Supremacy

Sierra Nevada 2008 Celebration Ale

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale has 6.8% ABV. Served from a 12oz Dark Brown Bottle that is decorated with a very festive label that features a log cabin in the winter on it, Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Ale was brewed on an unknown date. The beer was purchased at Vons on Murphy Canyon Road at 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday November 5th. It was priced at $8.99 for a six pack…it WAS NOT on sale.

The Celebration Ale is an American IPA, which is a different from the traditional IPA style. It’s more flavorful than the English IPA, color can range from very pale golden to reddish amber. Hops are typically American with a big herbal and / or citric character, bitterness is high as well.

Proper Glassware: A 12oz Pint Glass and/or a Standard Beer Mug.

Serve @: 40-45°F (This is a beer that can be cellared)

Look: The 2008 Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale is an attractive shade of burnt amber. It poured a beautiful thick velvety off-white head that stuck around through the duration of the beverage. There was a plethora of thick lacing that crawled down the side of my glass.

Smell: This beer has an absolutely amazing aroma! Complex but smooth. On first whiff I get a nose full of intense floral hops that is balanced nicely with tones of citrus. Some yeasty aromas are also present, but it’s very subtle.

Taste: It’s starts with a bounty of even flavored hops and goes down surprisingly smooth. It also has hints of grapefruit mixed in with an underscored woodsy finish. It’s hoppy but not TOO hoppy. It’s perfect for people who aren’t typically IPA drinkers. This is a great gateway beer.

Feel:  A very pleasant mouth feel. Not to heavy but not to light. There wasn’t much carbonation to this IPA but it didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment of this ale,

Drinkability: This is an easy drinking IPA that can be consumed’ whenever wherever’ as Shakira once said. Yes a Shakira reference in Beer for Breakfast.

Food pairing recommendations: A nice kobe beef cheese burger, salmon, or turkey.

4.372 out of 5 on the Mahoney’s Beer Scale of Supremacy

 

 http://www.91x.com/91xmorningshow/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/nov6_815beerforbreakfast.mp3 [17:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Old Monkeyshine English Style Ale

Old Monkeyshines has 8.20% ABV. Served from a 12oz Dark Brown Bottle that was brewed sometime in June. The beer was purchased at BevMO in Mission Valley at 8:35 p.m. on October 29^th. It was priced at $10.99 for a six pack…it WAS NOT on sale.

Spawned from the Mild Ale, Brown Ales tend to be maltier and sweeter on the palate, with a fuller body. Color can range from reddish brown to dark brown. Some versions will lean towards fruity esters, while others tend to be drier with nutty characters. All seem to have a low hop aroma and bitterness.

Proper Glassware: A 12oz Pint Glass and/or a Standard Beer Mug.

Serve @: 40-45°F

Look: Old Monkeyshine is an ominous shade of brown that is accompanied with

amber highlights. It has an ample 2 fingers of chocolate head that likes to stick around. There is a substantial amount of lacing creeping all the way down the side of my glass.

Smell: Sweet malt is the most prevalent aroma that jumps from this beer followed a nice alcohol fragrance and it’s rounded by some subtle nutty tones.

Taste: The taste starts and ends pleasantly.  Roasted caramel malts are especially apparent and are accompanied by a dry but even hop finish. The alcohol is hidden very well in this fine premium ale. Old Monkeyshine finishes cleanly.

Feel: Medium Bodied with plenty of carbonation it has a nice mouth feel that goes down easy.

Drinkability:  This beer is fun and easy to drink. If it wasn’t so expensive, This is a beer that would be a weekly basis. This would be a beer I plan on stocking when friends come over to watch the fights or for when I was entertaining the ladies who enjoy fine steak dinners and quality beverages.

Food pairing recommendations: Shellfish, a Thick Ribeye, and Chocolates.

4.15 out of 5 on the Mahoney’s Beer Scale of Supremacy

Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale

Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale has 4.9% ABV and is being served from a 12oz brown bottle with no born on date. The beer was purchased at BevMo in Mission Valley at 8:05 p.m. on October 15^th. It was priced at $8.93 for a 6 pack of bottles…it WAS NOT on sale. Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale is a seasonal beer.

Pumpkin Ales are quite varied. Some brewers opt to add hand-cut pumpkins and drop them in the mash, while others use puree or pumpkin flavoring. These beers also tend to be spiced with pumpkin pie spices, like: ground ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and all spice. Pumpkin Ales are typically mild, with little to no bitterness, a malty backbone, with some spice often taking the lead. Many will contain a starchy, slightly thick-ish, mouthfeel too.

Proper Glassware: Pint, Mug,

Serve @: 45-50°F

Look: Buffalo Bill’s is a translucent shade of golden amber, almost copper in color. There was an ample off white head when poured aggressively which subsequently dissolved quickly there after. There is almost no lacing left behind.

Smell: There is a colossal pungent cinnamon nose which conjures images of hay rides, pumpkin patches, and The Fall. The malts and sugars collaborate well to produce a very pumpkin pie-like aroma.

Taste: The taste of cinnamon jumps out at my taste buds on initial tasting. Upon further tasting spiced pumpkin pulls through rounding out the most dominate flavors. There are also soft notes of cloves and nutmeg that are hiding between the stronger flavors.

Feel: Medium to Light bodied that’s nicely carbonated. The spices dance on my tounge.

Drinkability: This is a beer that can only be drank twice a year, Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving and only while watching football and getting your tryptophan on.

Food pairing recommendations: Turkey, Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole.

2.3 out of 5 on the Mahoney’s Beer Scale of Supremacy

Karl Strauss Oktoberfest Beer

Karl Strauss Oktoberfest has 4.9% ABV and is being served from a giant bottles directly from the Karl Strauss Brewery. The beer was served to us by the lovely ladies of The High Dive on Morena Blvd in Bay park and was brought to us by Chris the Karl Strauss rep. The Karl Strauss Oktoberfest is a seasonal beer.

Karl Strauss Oktoberfest is a Märzenbier and is only available in the Fall. – In the olden days before refrigeration, it was nearly impossible to brew beer in the summer due to the hot weather and bacterial infections. Brewing ended with the coming of spring, and began again in the fall. Most were brewed in March (Märzen). These brews were kept in cold storage over the spring and summer months, or brewed at a higher gravity, so they’d keep.

Proper Glassware: Pint, Mug, or Giant Stein

Serve @: 40-45°F

Look: Karl’s has a profound golden color with a firm white head, there is a plethora of lacing crawling down the side of my pint.

Smell: Sweet aromas of toasted vienna malts hit my nose on first wiff followed by creamy caramel, it’s a incredibly satisfying aroma.

Taste: Pleasant of toasty malts with hints of rich nut flavors. There are undertones of spice that are light and engaging on the tongue… flawlessly balanced with a smooth hop back.

Feel: Karl’s has very fine mouth feel. It’s a light to medium body that is almost velvety. The carbonation is perfect.

Drinkability: This is a beer I recommend drinking everyday in Late September and through October at parties and other social gatherings.

Food pairing recommendations: Traditional German Cuisine.

4.4 out of 5 on the Mahoney’s Beer Scale of Supremacy

Mickey’s Fine Malt Liquor

Mickey’s has 5.60% ABV. Served from a 40oz Emerald Green Bottle that was brewed on a unknown date. The beer was purchased at Vons on Murphy Canyon at 10:35 p.m. on September 24^th. It was priced at $3.47 for a 40oz bottle…it WAS NOT on sale.

Proper Glassware: Giant Beer Mug, Straight out of the bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag.

Serve @: 34-40°F AS COLD AS POSSIBLE

Look: Mickey’s is a fine golden yellow akin to the sun rising in the Far East sky, it has a relatively small white foamy head. There is little to no lacing creeping down the side of the glass. 

Smell: A burly grain aroma bursts out at my nose with a deep whiff along with a strong alcohol undercurrent but in the end Mickey’s is simple, clean, and pleasant..

Taste: Sweet corn favors dance on my tongue with the first taste. Hints of grain are apparent more malty than hoppy seeing but both are discernable. Mickey’s takes me back to a simpler time. A time in my youth where beer was cheap, women were easy, and life was grand. The finish is dry and clean.

Feel: Light mouth feel with ample carbonation.

Drinkability: This is a beer that I can drink anytime be it at a Chargers tailgate or while reading Raymond Feists latest Fantasy novel.  This is my official beer for watching UFC.

Food pairing recommendations: Hungry Man XXL Microwave Dinners, Pepperoni Hot Pockets, Fried Zucchini from Carl’s Jr Drive Thru, Beluga Caviar=

2.9999999998 out of 5 on the Mahoney’s Beer Scale of Supremacy

 

 Beer For Breakfast Mickey's Fine Malt Liquor [18:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Samuel Adams Octoberfest

Sam’s Oktoberfest has 5.70% ABV. Served from a 12oz Brown Bottle that was brewed on a unknown date but best used by February 09. The beer was purchased at Vons on Murphy Canyon at 10:05 p.m. on September 10^th. It was priced at $14.49 for a 12 pack…it WAS on sale.

Sam’s Oktoberfest is a Märzenbier and is only available in the Fall. – In the olden days before refrigeration, it was nearly impossible to brew beer in the summer due to the hot weather and bacterial infections. Brewing ended with the coming of spring, and began again in the fall. Most were brewed in March (Märzen). These brews were kept in cold storage over the spring and summer months, or brewed at a higher gravity, so they’d keep.

Proper Glassware: Pint Glass, Mug, Stein.

Serve @: 40-45°F

Look: A Shimmery Copper tone with a ample amount of carbonation with a moderate sized off white head that does leave lacing down the side of the pint. It reminds me of Halloween.

Smell: A strong but pleasant roasted malty scent jumps at my nose, with sweet caramel and light floral hops rounding out the aroma.

Taste: Starts with a smooth and creamy bread like taste that, The roasted malt is very noticeable and there is a good hop balance with this beer. A quick dry finish that finishes nicely with a touch of sweet caramel.

Feel: Medium to Full bodied.

Drinkability: This beer is very tasty. I would prefer it to have alittle more alcohol to be a regular on my list but good none the less.

Food pairing recommendations: bratwursts, haggis, pumpkin pie.

3.65 out of 5 on the Mahoney’s Beer Scale of Supremacy