Sam Adams Chocolate Bock

Beer and chocolate are two things I generally avoid consuming together. So I have to admit that a beer named after chocolate doesn't rank terribly highly on my list of things that I expect to be delicious. But here I am, having not only purchased, but refrigerated, opened, tasted, and drunk the entirety of a bottle of Sam Adams Chocolate Bock. To be fair, it was a variety pack.

So, you might ask, how does the combination of two things not generally combined, you know, combine? Short answer: Not well. But it really does warrant some explanation. So if you're willing to stick around for the long answer, look below. If not, well, go buy some beer that's a little less fancy-schmancy.

I didn't hate this beer. To be honest, there were some things about it that I quite liked. I generally go in for the darker beers, and I liked its roasty aftertaste. It had a sweetness that balanced pretty well with the deep, dark flavor. And then, of course, there's the fact that it possesses alcohol content, which sometimes lends to a beer the power to improve its own tastiness merely by its very consumption.

But for me, that's about where the novelty ends. Thing is, I still don't care for the oddness of the beer/chocolate concoction. Like the star-crossed offspring of feuding families, the opposing flavors seem destined for tragedy, drawn by fate to meet their end in each other's arms. Which is to say, this was not my favorite beer. It was alright, but not something I'm going to seek out on a regular basis.

Although for me this beer didn't necessarily teach the torches to burn bright, maybe you'll find that Sam Adams Chocolate Bock is exactly the flavor combination that not only pleases your palate, but compels you to try your other ridiculous ideas, like bananas and garlic. But that would make you a nerd.

Of course, I'm the one quoting Shakespeare.

Anchor Brewing Company Liberty Ale

Anchor Brewing Company of San Francisco, CA is about as American as it gets. Dating back to the California Gold Rush, Anchor is America’s first craft brewery. Today, Anchor churns out beer that’s handmade in a rustic, coppery brewing environment. All their brews are crafted by traditional methods. A tight-knit group, Anchor ensures that everything they send out the door adheres to strict quality guidelines. All of that to say, these people know how to make some pretty good beer.
Liberty Ale is no exception.

First brewed in 1975 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride, Liberty Ale is the perfect complement to your patriotic celebrations. It’s independent, bold and full of character.

I won't go so far as to say that Liberty Ale embodies the very heart and soul of what makes America great. But it does exhibit a greatness of its own. The color is perfect. The flavor is just right. It's refreshing, light, but substantial. I honestly can’t think of a better way to wish these United States a happy birthday. And Liberty Ale won't explode your hands.

So crack open a Liberty Ale this Fourth of July. Or President's Day. Or any other day you're thirsty. But whenever it is you decide to have your great American beer summit, take a second to appreciate what it means. That taste? That's freedom. That's independence. That, my friend, is Liberty. I don't know about you, but I'll drink to that.

Lakefront Brewery Fixed Gear

Fixed Gear from Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee, WI is an American Red Ale that describes itself as "Red, bold and damn good." It's also apparently a beer homage to bicycle couriers.
It's a beautiful, cloudy red ale with a creamy head. And it is bold. The flavor is obvious and distinct, and it's a generous 6.5% alcohol by volume. Damn good? Well, yes. But for me, that depends on the situation.

My first impression was that it was a little too fruity for me. It's a little like sticking your face into a bowl of citrus—although not in an altogether bad way. Does that mean that there's a good way to stick your face into a bowl of citrus? That's probably a question for a different blog.

So while you're pondering the merits of citrus-facing (it's the new planking!), let me tell you how the second impression went. Still fruity. But there's something else there, too. Turns out this beer, under the right circumstances, is quite refreshing. Those right circumstances could be:
1) You're thirsty
2) You feel like a beer
3) You just mowed the lawn
4) You're watching TV
5) You just hammered out a killer break-dance routine
The possibilities are endless, really. But you kind of have to just feel it out. It's definitely a bright, flavorful beer that can often be just the thing you're looking for. But if you're not in the mood for an in-your-face citrus explosion, leave Fixed Gear in the fridge for next time.

So, you may be getting the impression that I'm a little on the fence about Fixed Gear. If you like a hoppy, fruity flavor, you may well love it. As for me, it's quite good, but there's plenty of beer I like better for everyday drinking. But this I can say with certainty: in all the wide world of beers dedicated to bike messengers, this is probably my favorite.

Leinenkugel's Limited

First brewed in 1986, Leinenkugel's Limited apparently gained a rabid enough following to bring it out of what I can only assume was a relaxing retirement full of bass fishing and afternoon naps. So, for a limited time, this self-proclaimed "classic lager" will once again be available for mass consumption.

The label calls it a "golden lager" and I can't disagree. It is a lager. And it is relatively golden—definitely not the mostly colorless concoctions that some would pass off as beer. It's probably better than a few, but generally a relatively bland lager—easy to drink, light and not overly flavorful.

I can't call this my favorite beer, but I don't think it wants to be. This is the kind of beer that would feel right at home in a dimly lit, wood-paneled basement bar—the flavors providing the perfect complement to the general aroma of moth balls and pipe smoke. It's the kind of beer by which countless young men seeking a blessing have been baptized into the family of a future father-in-law. Even the label could easily match those black-velvet wildlife paintings surrounding the dartboard. So, if that's your thing, pull out your favorite ochre vinyl-seated bar stool and revel in the tongue-loosening elixir that is Leinenkugel's Limited. You have my blessing.

Minhas 1845 Pils

Usually you get what you pay for, but sometimes the semi-local microbreweries can surprise you with an inexpensive beer that tastes terrific. This is not one of those beers.
1845 Pils from Minhas Craft Brewery (Monroe, WI) calls itself a Pilsner, but really it's something else. It's kind of like the beer equivalent of the Predator taking off its mask. You take a sip and you just want to say, "You're one ugly $%&#@&!."

Minhas tastes more like a party beer than time-tested, hand-crafted pilsner-style goodness... the kind of beer you'd better drink fast, because anything less than cold starts tasting like fishbowl. But that shouldn't really come as a surprise when you realize that much of their product line consists of 40's and premium malt beverages.

The beer is more or less tasteless except for the bitterness; and I don't mean the good kind of bitter. To add insult to injury, the packaging boldly proclaims, "This six-pack has 8 beers in it," which seems like a bonus at the time of purchase, but when you get it home and it reveals its underlying hideousness, you just find yourself sitting there, wondering how you'll manage to choke down the seven and a half beers you have left.

If I haven't made myself clear by now, this is not a very good beer. You would do yourself a favor to forfeit the two extra bottles and spend your money on six beers you'll like. Or six beers you don't hate. Or the movie Predator.

Point 2012 Black Ale

If you're planning a big end of the world party on December 21, 2012, then the Stevens Point Brewery (Stevens Point, WI) has the beer for you. Point 2012 Black Ale may be a little gimmicky, if not borderline morbid, but what you get is a rich, robust and totally opaque beer with a smooth, roasty taste.

Could it be that Point saw a financial opportunity in capitalizing on the growing fascination with the ancient Mayan calendar and its end date? I have to believe that they'll sell quite a few of these as that mysterious day approaches. But the marketing notwithstanding, 2012 Black Ale actually is quite a good beer. If you find yourself enjoying the darker beers, I don't think you would be disappointed with 2012 Black Ale. I'm not.

Is this the last beer I would ever want to drink? Well, no, but if the world were crashing down around me and this beer happened to be in my hand, I'd definitely appreciate the circumstances. And I'd probably die happy.

Capital Brewery Supper Club

Last night my brother and I gave a beer called Supper Club by Capital Brewery (Middleton, WI) a try. Capital describes this beer as a Wisconsin style lager in the tradition of roadside supper clubs aglow with colorful neon and even more colorful locals. It's branded as Timelessly Refreshing (TM), and I can't say that I disagree. It is an easy, refreshing drink. That's probably about it. This beer has no pretensions of being extraordinary and for that reason it succeeds at being exactly what it is. Just an American style lager.

I'm a fan of Capital Brewery, so I really can't fault them for making a beer that tastes more like something I've had at college parties than something I've had in Munich. It's the same style of beer as your average Miller or Budweiser, except with a little more flavor. And it seems that's exactly what it wants to be. It's a beer that exudes that great Midwestern attitude of "I am what I am and you can like me or not."

In the end, I'd say that I don't regret trying Supper Club. Will I buy it again? Maybe, maybe not. But for those of you who enjoy MGD or Budweiser, this would be a superior alternative. All in all, Supper Club is exactly what it says on the label... "Not Bad."