Whootbeer!

This is a test post from my phone.

2009-07-15T12:38:00.000-04:00

Im not sure where this text will show up. Here's awaterfall to look at...

Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier

2009-02-18T21:13:00.002-05:00

Ah, Weihenstephaner. This was probably the first wheat beer I ever had. Illegally obtained by my brother for me at Pazzo's in Lexington, Kentucky my freshman year of college. Good times were had there, I tell you. Pazzo's has a tremendous variety of brews, and an amazing atmosphere. It's like a traditional college pizza place/bar located right by the campus. I really wish we had a place like it at UTK. I might actually get a chance to go there soon, should I decide to head up there for the UT-UK game this Saturday. It's been a long time since I've been in Rupp. But I digress, the subject at hand is beer, not basketball. Time to drink!

It smells so mild and complex! AH! I love it. The beer gives off so many different unique scents that go so freaking good together. You get the normal banana and clove notes, but there are also vanilla bean, cinnamon, cream, hops, and citrus notes. It really is a truly masterful beer. The head even has its own distinct taste. Wow. It almost tastes like foam on a cappuccino. I mean, it doesn't at all, really, but you get what I'm saying. Hopefully.

The first taste is like biting into huge, juicy hamburger. Metaphorically. It tastes nothing like ground beef, though that would be an interesting idea for a beer... get on that, DogFish Head! The taste is more of what is found in the head, but perfectly carbonated and slightly sweet. I can only imagine ow man years it took to perfect this recipe. Ad make no mistake, this is perfection. This is what every hefeweizen strives to be. The brewery was established in 1040 A.D. and there is a reason they are still around. It's just that good. I don't really know how else to describe it. You really need to just get out there and try it for yourself. And if you can get it on tap, try it that way. There is a big difference between the two. One isn't better than the other, there are just differences between them, as the bottled one is bottle conditioned. 100/100.

SHINER Bohemian Black Lager

2009-02-14T21:38:00.002-05:00

Hello all! It has been far to long since we've talked to one another. But I'm on a lull of activity in my academic pursuits this weekend, so I figure a little drinkin' is in order. I've been eying this brew in the grocery store for a few weeks now, but I'm on a bit budget lately and have been drinking my homebrews. Luckily for my conscience, there were enough new, different beers that I could justify getting a “pick 6”. Also, this is my first non-wheat review, so it'll be a bit of a learning experience. Beer that in mind whilst you gaze upon my eloquence.

Oh my god, this smells like coffee and beef jerky. I'm in manly heaven. Not in a gay way, though. I can smell a healthy bit of chocolate malt as well. The head has a very nice light brown sugar color that is persistent but without much lacing. And this beer is damn dark. When Shiner says “black lager”, they mean it. But enough giber jabber about smells and looks. I'm not talking about your mom, after all.

It has a nice lager taste to it. The body is fairly thin, while being very flavorful. You can really taste the chocolate and crystal malts that give the Bohemian Black Lager those coffee and chocolate undertones. It actually tastes very similar to New Belgium's 1554 black lager. But it is definitely a Shiner beer. It has that certain aftertaste that I just can't quite put my finger on. If you've had their Bock, you know what I'm talking about.

This is a very nice beer that I am pretty sure is only available for a limited time. Pick it up if you can, as well as any other black lagers or ales you can find. They are a really excellent style that is an excellent winter beer. It just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, like Valentines day. Try some when you're eating something heavy, like steak or shepherds pie. 88/100.

Changes to Whootbeer!

2009-01-30T22:25:00.000-05:00

Hello all! I'm sorry to say that I think I have finally gotten bored with drinking wheat beers, but only for the moment. Maybe it's winter, maybe it's the repetition, but I just can't keep drinking one type of beer. I've got to expand! So, from here on out I'll be switching formats to one where I review all types of beers, or perhaps whee I review a style a month. So, I'm sorry to say it, but this will be the last wheat beer review for a bit. I've got too many delicious brews in my fridge that I've been sitting on because I'm bored with the style, and I'm not gonna take it any more! It's even made me take an obvious break from blogging. So, to summarize, I will still be drinking and reviewing wheat beers, but not exclusively. But anyway, this isn't what you came here for, so lets get back to drinking vicariously through me!

Sea Dog Raspberry Wheat Ale

2009-01-17T20:38:00.002-05:00

Today was mostly spent drinking and cooking awesome food. I've got some steaks cooked, some bread baked, some salad almost prepared, and I definitely have got some beer to drink. It's been too damn long since I've drank and really appreciated it. I thought that the stress of the semester would make me write a lot more, but so far it hasn't turned out that way. Plus, ive kinda been on a stout kick. It is winter, after all. I know that isn't a 'winter ale' but damnit, it seems like it should be. Sadly, I don't have high hopes for this beverage. It says “natural flavor added” on the bottle. If I wanted that shit, ii'd pour syrup in my natty light.

It's a very clear beer, obviously filtered. That's not a good thing. It has the exact same smell as the Abita Purple Haze, which no es bueno. There is not the slightest hint of hops. Mostly, it just smells of honey and berries. It tastes sweet, but not in a pleasant way. More like a “this beer has sat out too long” way. It's probably that awesome natural flavor. But despite the sweetness, there is no recognizable raspberry taste. It's alllllmost satisfying. The Abita had a little flavor of raspberry with no real sweetness, but this is just the opposite.

I'm not a fan of the Sea Dog Raspberry Wheat Ale. It is not very good at all, and does nothing to satiate my craving for raspberries. This is one pooch that needs to be put to sleep (OH SNAP!!!). 68/100.

Flying Dog VS Iron City Brewery

2009-01-16T10:27:00.002-05:00

It looks like I'm not the only one rooting for the Ravens in this weekend's playoff game. One of my personal favorite breweries, Flying Dog, has made a little wager against Iron City Brewery.

" The terms? The brewery whose home team goes flat on Sunday must toast the victors with their opponent's beer, while fully clad in their opponent’s gear."

I don't know about you, but i just don't think i could ever force myself to put on Steelers gear. I hate that team. Doesn't Ben Roethlisberger look like he just loves Nickelback?

I'd like to see a couple other breweries do something like this. And who knows, maybe if it goes into overtime, the CEO's could play beer pong to decide the victor.

Spring Semester Update

2009-01-09T22:28:00.001-05:00

Three day weekend, WOOHOO! The semester has officially started and I have, as of this moment, three of the five classes I need to keep me graduating on time and avoiding beginning my seventh year of school. I am not a doctor, so I do not intend to be in school that long. I've been sucking dick left and right all week trying to get into these classes, but budget cuts at UTK are making it hard to find sections that aren't full, since they don't have money to pay for more faculty. So yeah, its been a little stressful. I'm all about some alcohol tonight. I'm actually drinking one of those Leinenkugel Berry Weiss beers that are so sweet, because its the only beer I have laying around that I can drink without writing about. Well, that and the beers that i've got brewing.

One of them is a fruity tasting amber ale that was supposed to be a wheat beer (don't know how that happened), and the other is a milk stout. The amber is nothing to write home about, but the stout might be something special. I brewed a pot of coffee and put it in there before bottling to add a bit of flavor and caffeine. It also should wind up having about 7% alcohol, so the combination should get you nice and tipsy while being delicious. I intend to start writing about brewing at some point if it winds up that I have some sort of talent at it, but that remains to be seen. I'll post about it when the stout is ready.

I also have teamed up with the awesome food site FoodBuzz to generate some traffic, and hopefully some advertising revenue, so look for some pretty ads on the site soon. Well, as soon as I get the paperwork filed. This three day weekend should be good for my productivity. Maybe I can start writing about cooking with beer!

Anyway, that's all I've got for now. I may post a new review later tonight, so check in frequently. Or subscribe to my RSS feed :)

Erdinger Pikantus Weizen-Bock

2009-01-06T21:00:00.002-05:00

7.3% Alcohol by Volume
Color of Body #311700

The spring semester starts tomorrow, and I am actually pretty excited about it. I have a couple classes that should be pretty cool (one is on interactive broadband media!), but the real thrill begins on Thursday when I have to go beg to each individual instructor for them to let me into their class. You see, I just transferred into a new major and wasn't able to sign up for any classes until a few weeks ago, when they were all taken. But luckily, I'm classified as a senior and I need every single class to graduate on time, so they should work with me. Otherwise, I'll be taking a lot of sports classes :) Anyway, today's beer is a strong, dark wheat beer with a high alcohol percentage. I've not been a big fan of Bocks in the past, but we will see how this goes.

Wow, it pours a ridiculous head. Like, an entire glass worth and super persistent. Lots of lacing. In fact, if you tilt the glass the head doesn't even move. It just hangs there, like a college student without work... Both the beer and the head are very dark, thick, and creamy. The Pikantus actually looks like a porter, it's that dark. There are scents of both clove, nutmeg, and oddly, both vanilla and chocolate. There is also a smell of clean glass, but I think that is just the smell from the frost on my glass. Duh.

You can definitely taste the alcohol in this one. That said, it's surprisingly smooth, with a very nice chocolate note. There are surprisingly few fruity notes. Much less than I was expecting with this beer after tasting bocks like Shiner Bock, which has a very unique taste. The Erdinger Pikantus Weizen-Bock reminds me of a Trappist Trippel (Flying Dog makes a really good one in that style) more than the other Bocks that I have had. This is just overwhelmingly filled with chocolate and holiday spice notes, so much so that you really don't taste anything else.

This is one of the first wheat beers that I have had that is alright to drink in the winter. Plus, I'm working on a nice winter break ending buzz after my first beer, which is pretty cool. To me, it tastes nothing like a Bock, but it has a very good flavor and is more chocolaty than most stouts. And it has a great sweet spot with its body that makes it heavy enough to drink during the winter and light enough enjoy in July. Pick it up for sure. 85/100.

P.S. If you are in the Knoxville area, head to Litton's for one of the best burgers you will ever have. There isn't much of anything on tap, but it's all gonna be ok when that burgery awesomeness hits your tongue.

Leinenkugel Berry Weiss

2009-01-01T23:36:00.004-05:00

4.7% Alcohol by Volume
Color of Body #BB6223

There is something about winter break that just destroys my will to do anything productive. I hate it. I think it's because I'm get into a rhythm during the semester, and when I get out of it, I get out of it hard. Plus, the gym has been closed for the past two weeks so i've just been stewing in my room, playing Lego Star Wars and learning to brew. The lack of activity really gets to me, so I'm sorry about the odd spacing between updates. I'm sure I'll have a decent amount of stress coming up as the spring semester starts up, so beer will soon flowing like... beer from a bottle. Did I mention I have no creativity right now either? God, I hate winter. But at least there are a good amount of holidays to brighten my life. Speaking of, HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope if you make any resolutions, you keep them. I'll remind you about them around April, so stick to them or prepare to feel shitty about yourself. Oh yeah, and shitty doesn't show up on spell check. Weird.

I happened upon this beer on my trip to Liquor Barn while I was visiting my brother in Lexington, which is pretty cool because I think it's a seasonal. Otherwise, I wouldn't get my hands on it until about May. I've been I big fan of Leinenkugel ever since I tried their stuff when I first started blogging, and I haven't been let down yet (by the way, it's not a wheat beer, but if you get the chance to try the Fireside Nut Brown, get it. It's fantastic.) I actually had a few of the beers while in Lexington, but I'm doing my best to push the memory out to get a less biased review.

This is such a girly beer. The head is actually a little pink. And the body has this crazy red hue that the hex number code up top doesn't fully show. It smells like some sort of carbonated fruit drink. But I guess it is, so that's ok... there are notes of raspberries, blackberries, strawberry jam (not just strawberries, mind you), and even a little bit of cherries and pineapple. Pretty much any sort of fruit that has a good amount of citric acid. Underneath all the fruit, there are light malt notes, but absolutely no hops. None. Just juicy juice and carbonation.

As for the taste, it's incredibly sweet and refreshing, almost like a Smirnoff or Mike's. You can taste a good bit of the yeast, which is the only thing that indicates that this is a beer at all. Or even that it has alcohol. If they could get rid of that taste, they could make a killing selling the Berry Weiss illegally to teenagers. They would absolutely devastate Bacardi. Seriously, it's that sweet and fruity (just like you! Burn!). They must add a ton of sugar when they bottle and pasteurize it. All the flavors from the initial smell are here in full, which is really pretty nice. I hate it when you get a fruit flavored beer that smells good but then the fruit is nowhere to be found when you drink it (like Abita Purple Haze). The Leinenkugel Berry Weiss takes it to an extreme, but isn't that what it was trying for? It would be a horrible beer if it had all those delicious scents up top and then tasted like a Bud.

You could really easily make some sort of desert with this brew. In fact, I might try something with it and post later... Anyway, getting a six pack of this was probably a mistake, but one or two aren't bad. It's a nice change of pace from all the hefeweizens I've been throwing back of late. I don't know about this beer in the winter (I don't like anything in the winter), but it would be a kick ass drink when it gets warmer out. Plus, nobody has to know you're a wuss for drinking it, because it kinda looks like a real beer. I mean, seriously, the Wiggles are more bitter than this. 79/100.

Franziskaner Hefeweizen Dunkel

2008-12-29T00:48:00.002-05:00

So today, I'm coming at you live and direct from down the road at my friend Jonathan's house. It's not much of a trip, less than 100 yards from my house, but it is a change of pace, and will hopefully get me used to writing in strange surroundings. I intend to do a lot more writing from local restaurants and breweries to get more of a local feel. Maybe I can even get some comps, if anyone is out there reading in a position of power...

The head is very, very creamy, but that's pretty standard for a Dunkel like this. The color of the body is just gorgeous. It is a dark caramel color, and honestly, the head is about the color of nougat. Nothing really stands out in the scent; just the normal black olive and citrus smells that accompany a Bavarian hefeweizen. A bit of banana and clove as well. The dunkel just adds a bit of heft to the body and taste. Honestly, I have drank too many hefeweizens in a row. They are all so similar, it just comes down to who does the same basic tastes better. And Franziskaner does this one well. They've been around for awhile, so they have had a lot of practice.

But in comparison to other upscale wheat beers, the Franziskaner Hefeweizen Dunkel is just ok. I think I like the regular hefe Franziskaner does better. Honestly, if you want a dunkel and you have the ability, get the Julius Echter. It's pretty spiffy. Nothing really stands out to me in this. It's not like it is bland, but it is a little boring. 84/100.

Paulaner Hefeweizen

2008-12-26T22:17:00.003-05:00

5.5% Alcohol by Volume
Color of Body #BC7000

My hopes are up really high with this beer. I've read some wonderful things about this beverage, and I get the vibe that they know what they're doing. I'm looking for a good end to my night with a drink that won't give me nightmares. Oh yeah, while I'm drinking this I'm watching “It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia”. It is an amazing show. I highly recommend watching it. It can be found streaming online at Hulu or on TV on FX. They are all such terrible people, it's great. Oh yeah, and I just got done drinking the DogFish Head Palo Santo Marron beer. Drinking it was a life changing experience. There's a great article on it and the state of craft brewing in the New Yorker you should definitely check out. But, it is not a wheat beer so I will discuss it no further.

The hefe pours a small but creamy head (teehee, dirty). It has a nice, rich brown color that is about the same as a caramel apple. And now that I said that, I can't help but get a whiff of Granny Smith in the smell, mixed with the usual olives and fresh bread. I think I'm getting a slight bit of pear from the yeast as well. The beer is surprisingly thick. I can't even see the shadow of my hand through it. It's gonna be delicious, I just know it.

Mmm. It is very nicely carbonated, and very, very traditional. It's weird going back to the Bavarian styles after I get used to the American versions. It's not that the American styles are bad, it's just that the old style tastes so damn good. They have had centuries to perfect their recipes, after all.

And that's what this is. A perfected Hefeweizen. You won't find anything here that knocks your socks off, but it is damn good. It's a little on the expensive side though, which sucks. 88/100.

Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen

2008-12-23T18:42:00.003-05:00

4.9% Alcohol by Volume
Color of Body #CE963E

So today, the only thing I have accomplished is a few sets of sit-ups, and playing through the first three episodes of Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. Now I'm ready to be productive. Today, I am reviewing the Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen. The brewery is the 11th largest in the nation in terms of beer sales, which is really surprising. I had no idea Widmer Brothers were this large, as they only have three year round beers they produce. Also, Anheuser-Busch owns a stake in the company, so hopefully that wont negatively affect the quality of the beer.

The head is pretty flimsy, and disappears quickly, but has a nice smell. Nothing really unusual about the smell, just the normal citrus and hops elements. A tiny bit of olives, too. If it makes sense, it actually smells like there isn't much carbonation, which could explain the lack of a head. Nothing really bites at your nose. This beer has been in my fridge for a while though, so I'm chalking it up to that. A brewery this large normally has really good quality control, so I doubt I got a bad batch. Also, I just looked at the bottlecap, and inside it says “A Prost: To Sleeping In!”, which is kinda cool. I always like little surprises like that. And in case you didn't know (because I didn't), “prost” is German for toast. Easy enough.

The taste is nothing out of the ordinary. Bits of lemony hops and malt come through strongest, with a little bit of pine thrown in. It's a little on the under-carbonated side but I already covered that. The hefeweizen is slightly more bitter than I am used to, but it works for this beer. It also has a deep brownish-gold color that is very aesthetically satisfying.

You know, I swear I've had this before on draft and thought it was terrible, but this time out of the bottle it is really pretty good. Maybe it was the whole Anheuser thing that biased my opinion. The Hefeweizen is nothing unique, but it gets the job done. It actually reminds me a lot of the Sam Adams Hefeweizen I drank yesterday. And it's way cheaper than the competition (normally around $6.75 a six pack) which is a huge bonus. Get this beer if you know what you want and aren't looking for any surprises. You won't be disappointed. It gets bonus points for the cheap price, too. 83/100.

Samual Adams Hefeweizen

2008-12-23T00:03:00.004-05:00

5.4% Alcohol by Volume
Color of Head #FFE7BE
Color of Body #FFB734

Man, there is nothing like visiting a state with relaxed alcohol laws to make you realize how boring your state is. I just got back from visiting my brother in Kentucky, and they have this place called the Liquor Barn there. It's kind of a combination the Fresh Market, and well, a place that has a whole lot of alcohol. It was the most overwhelming experience of my life. For those of you who don't know me, I love more than just wheat beer. I like whiskey, sausage, cheese, boar (in general, manly food), and every kind of beer. In the food section, there was a a block of cheese that totaled over $100 that had been cut up in huge chunks for samples. I made soooooo many discreet passes by that thing to munch. And there were probably a good 300 breweries represented there. Like I said, overwhelming. I really hope Tennessee loosens up so we can get a place like this. Anyway, one of the beers I got was Sam Adam's hefeweizen, which is what I am drinking tonight. It should be pretty good, as they don't put out a bad beer (with the exception of the Cherry Wheat).

The hefeweizen pours a nice, creamy head which smells very crisp and citrusy. The beer has the color of a golden lager, and is not very cloudy at all. There are a few wisps of yeast floating around in there, but the beer is so bright that it looks really clear. It hits the sides of your tongue with a little bit of bitterness, but finishes smooth, with little aftertaste. The Samuel Adams hefeweizen has an unusual taste that is fruity. It doesn't taste of olives at all, which is unusual for a hefe, at least to me. The hops give it a little bit of a pineapple taste. The rest of the fruit flavor is a mix of lemon an orange, with a bit of lime thrown in. but what stands out in this beer is how much the hops stands out without being too bitter.

I wasn't disappointed at all drinking this. A lost a little faith in Sam Adams after the last brew I tried, but this one brings me back to the flock. It's a bit of an unusual take on a hefeweizen, but not a bad one. And while it's not my favorite hefe out there, I'd definitely grab it to try if I were you. It's a solid beer with a lot of good, unique qualities, and is a nice departure from the norm. 80/100.

ABITA Purple Haze

2008-12-18T12:56:00.003-05:00

4.2 Alcohol by Volume
Color of Head #FFEDB7
Color of Body #B79328

I've had a long, soggy day at Dollywood and now I'm ready to unwind with my trusty relaxation combo of Digg, Stumbleupon, and the delicious nectar of the Gods that is wheat beer. Tonight, we look at yet another fruit flavored wheat beer. I've had the Abita Purple Haze before and didn't like it, but I think it was before my taste in beer had fully matured, so I'm hopeful. Plus, I always like a change of pace. I think that's why I like trying the fruit flavored stuff. They are never perfect, but they are definitely unique. And I would much rather have a beer to review that is either great or terrible than one that sits in the middle. It's hard for me to write when I am inspired by neither anger nor enthusiasm. Here's to hoping for more than mediocrity! *DING*

Purple Haze pours a nice, relatively thick foamy head that dissipates over about two minutes. No lacing around the glass, but that is to be expected. The head smells, of course, of raspberries, but also heavily of yeast. It reminds me almost of fresh baked bread, which is really odd. But then again, I could also swear I smell some leaf spinach, or some kind of vegetable in there. Yeast is such an unusual part of the beer. It gives it so many unexpected flavors and smells that are all so relative and particular to each individual person. Oddly enough, I see no hint of a purple color in the beer. On first taste, I get more of that bready yeastiness and surprisingly little raspberry taste. It's also very thin with an extremely minimal aftertaste. I've found with the Purple Haze that if you hold your nose while you drink it, it seems exactly like carbonated water. It's that smooth and even. And that is a good thing to try and do with a beer, but it is done just a little too much here. There's no character to it! It's just sort of bleh, which saddens me.

Regarding the raspberry flavor, it seems to be an ongoing problem for me that I have a really hard time finding a fruit flavored beer that really reconciles both the smell and the taste. By that, I mean you smell so much of a heavy raspberry smell that you are expecting a mouthful of berries when you take a sip, but when you get that sip, you get only a hint of the raspberry taste you were expecting. Now I'm not asking for raspberry syrup to be thrown in here to make a Shirley Temple-like concoction, but there are better ways to accomplish what Purple Haze is trying to do (see Sweetwater Blue). I really hope Abita discovers Sweetwater soon.

This is a slightly better than average tasting beer that does have some really strong points. The biggest ones being that it is very smooth and even, very summery, and ridiculously easy to drink. The downsides are that there isn't a lot of flavor, what flavor is there is boring, and that you experience cognitive dissonance from trying to reconcile the raspberry smell with the taste. 77/100.

Magic Hat Beer Dinner @ Sunspot

2008-12-16T22:31:00.002-05:00

I don't know how to begin this post. There are so many things I want to say all at once, it's just getting jumbled up. I could start by talking about the excellent food that was served, the copious amounts of alcohol present, or the kick ass atmosphere of the place. I guess I'll just do it in chronological order so as to talk about everything at once. And once again, I apologize for the lack of pictures in this post. My friend left his camera at his apartment that had all the picture on it, so this post will have to be updated later. Until then, I'll just have to paint the pictures with words.

ARRIVAL

My homeboy Adam and I arrived at Sunspot at about 6:15 which proved to be a poor choice, because they didn't start the dinner until 7. The reservations said 6:30, but I guess they wanted to make sure everyone was there before the evening commenced. I almost died of thirst and starvation leading up to that time because I had decided it would be a good idea to refrain eating for several hours before. I can't go more than about 3 hours at a time without eating. That's just how my body works; I have a fast metabolism. And as for the no drink thing, that's just because I was too cheap to buy a beer knowing that there would be unlimited free beer in just a few minutes, and boy were those minutes long. But finally, our emcee for the evening, a pleasant fellow by the name of Jeremy Walker from Eagle Distributing Company, began to prepare us for the first course.

Course #1: Circus Boy paired with Camembert en croute, garlic and apricot gremolata, and a balsamic reduction.

This was probably the best pairing of the evening. Imagine the dish as a sort of flaky croissant filled with a mozzarella textured but havarti tasting cheese, topped of a salsa made of garlic and apricots, and surrounded perfectly by a tangy balsamic reduction. Both the beer and the reduction cut through the richness of the camembert cheese, and went extremely well together. It really was incredibly good. At this point, Adam and I were both about three Circus Boys in. The beer was much better this time versus when I had drank and reviewed it previously. It was much more mellow and tasted more like a traditional hefeweizen, though I honestly don't remember too much else about it. It was a long night.

Course #2: #9 paired with Braised rabbit, oyster mushrooms, daikon radish, and a lemon grass and #9 gelee.

This was my least favorite course, and I think everyone else's too. I think the chef did a good job with it, but it was a tough dish to prepare. It was a little watery and bland, though we could have thought that because we had just come off of the high from the first course. The #9 is probably my favorite beer from magic hat. The yeast they use gives it a nice, apricot smell and fruity taste that doesn't have too much of a bitter aftertaste. Had the flavor in the rabbit been a little more pronounced it would have been a better pairing, but as it was it was just ok. At this point, things were starting to get a little more rowdy. The people beside started heckling our emcee. The guy was new to this whole hosting thing and looked exactly like what you imagine someone heavily into microbrews would look like; artsy, beard, glasses, and a happy smile. The guy to my right shouted, “Jeremy, I'd like to buy your hat and glasses! How much for the beard?” I don't know why I found this so funny.

Course #3: Roxy Rolles paired with Sugar cured Ahi tuna, Parmesan potato hash, grated horseradish, and a cherry tomato confit.

This is where things start to get fuzzy. I remember really liking this dish, but it could have just been because I love tuna. This was basically sashimi with some awesome sides thrown in. the sugar really brought out the amazing flavor of the high grade Ahi tuna. The Roxy Rolles beer, while being an excellent, hoppy beer on its own, did not pair too well with this dish. But then again, I don't know what beer would go well with it. The tuna just gets overwhelmed too easily by the strong flavors from the beer. The seasonal Roxy brew was a tangy, wintry beer that would be very easy to enjoy beside a fire. Or on a motorcycle, like is displayed on the label. The damn waitress just kept bringing us beers at this point, like she wanted us to die. She brought Adam and I a beer each and made the four people beside us ration one. I started donating my brews to their cause, as I had a final at 8 a.m. the next day and had to slow down or risk falling asleep on my desk during the test and choking on my vomit.

Course #4: Lucky Cat paired with Pistachio crusted wild boar tenderloin roulade, baby carrots, sweet potato pudding, and fig and apricot jam.

This was the dish everyone was waiting for, and with good reason. It was freaking amazing, and probably the best pork tenderloin I have ever had. It was an excellent, comfort-food like dish. Sadly, I don't remember too many details about the dish, or the beer, besides that both were really good and paired nicely. Much apologies. I do remember that things were starting to go south for my friend, as we had just learned that he and the guy beside me were both celebrating their birthdays from the day before. They ordered him a shot of Jack Daniels. Adam did not want this, for whiskey is his one true weakness. Fortunately, it would not remain in his system for long.

Course #5: Braggot paired with Smoked chocolate cake, chocolate and cayenne anglaise, and salted cream.

This one is a little hazy too. I remember the braggot being a nice, malty brew that did not have the hoppy bitterness of the other offerings of the evening, which I guess is why it was paired with the cake. The cake it self was generous and tasty, but the salted cream was off putting. To me, it was gross and very unappetizing. It tasted exactly like the description; whipped cream (no sugar) that had salt thrown in. The chocolate cayenne sauce on the other hand, was fantastic and unique. It wasn't spicy at all and had an interesting smoky flavor that went well with the cake. Adam finished his and retreated to the bathroom for about 15 minutes or so which was kinda odd. He has a unique way of dealing with excess amounts of alcohol, and that is to find the nearest shower and just sit in there with the water on for about an hour, or until he feels better. There was no shower in this particular restroom, so I still have no idea what he was doing in there for so long. He was not went when he came out.

I'm so disappointed that I didn't find out about these beer dinners sooner. Evidently Sweetwater and Sam Adams were already there. This was a great experience overall. Every single dish was unique and exciting, and it really made me think about the possibilities beer has to open up flavors I never knew food had. I fully intend to attend any similar event that is held that I find out about, and would encourage you to do the same. Mad props go out to Sunspot, Magic Hat, and Eagle Distributing for putting on this event!

SWEETWATER Blue

2008-12-13T01:12:00.004-05:00

4.9% Alcohol by Volume
Color of Head is White
Color of Body #F6C547

I'm done with finals! And to top it off, I think I may have actually gotten good grades, so that's cool. Go me. I would like to sincerely apologize for the lack of updates to Whootbeer! over the last week. I would have loved to take the time to sit back and write a review, but I just didn't have the time. Well, I probably had the time, but I couldn't do it without feeling really guilty about not doing something more constructive. But the wait is over, and I'm back now so let the drinking commence! Also, I'd like to preface this by saying that I am not actually sure if this is a wheat beer. It really tastes like one, but I'm not positive. Either way, this is happening.

Now this is how to do a fruit flavored beer. The head fades away really fast. Very thin, sadly. In the nose, you obviously get a bunch of blueberries, but also light bubblegum finish. There aren't a whole lot of other smells to the beer, but that's ok. It doesn't need them. This has been one of my favorite beers for a while now. It's just so damn fun to drink. Very light, not too complex, but very satisfying. Unfortunately for me, it's much better out of a keg than out of a bottle. I mean, its still great out of the bottle, it just doesn't taste quite as crisp. When you drink it out of the keg, the aftertaste actually seems like you just got done eating a handful of blueberries. The bottle seems like half a handful. But by saying that, in no way do I want to imply that the taste is overpowering. It's not. It's just a big part of the beer.

Other brewers really need to look at this beer and see what they did with it. So many other brewers craft these fruit beers, and they just taste like it was an afterthought. It's as though they took a lager base and just threw in some fruit flavoring and slapped an a wacky name. But not Sweetwater. The blueberries are a part of this beer. They really did a remarkable job in creating an incredibly consistent and easy to drink beer. It's not too sweet, not too bitter, and it doesn't overdo the fruit thing. It's perfect. Definitely get this if you have the ability. And you owe it to yourself to get this on tap if you have the chance. 93/100.

P.S. Check out Sweetwater's site. It's pretty awesome. Very nicely designed, though the music is a tad annoying.

Break Time

2008-12-07T13:17:00.003-05:00

I'm taking a few days break from reviewing, just until i get done with finals. It pains me, it does. But, i should have a good amount of stuff to report when i come back. I'm actually going to a beer dinner Magic Hat is putting on at Sunspot in Knoxville on Monday, so i'll definitely be covering that, though there is really only one wheat beer that will be there. And i still have a lot of beers in my fridge that need to be drank, so bear with me until i get done with school. After Thursday, everything is gonna be allllllright...

SAMUEL ADAMS Cherry Wheat

2008-12-05T15:29:00.003-05:00

Color of Head #F6DBC5
Color of Body #EBB54D

OK, I'm done with my first round of finals and am ready for a beer. Normally, it's pretty hard to go wrong with a Sam Adams beer, but I'm not so sure about this one. Something deep in my subconscious is telling me that I've had this beer before and hated it, but I hope my subconscious is wrong. There's only one way to find out...

This smells like Cherry Juicy Juice, straight up. Very sweet and malty smelling, and hardly smells like beer at all. It tastes very crisp, and is highly carbonated. A bit too carbonated for my tastes. The smell really had me hoping, for some reason, that this would be a super sweet beer. But it's not. In fact, the beer smells much more like cherries than it tastes. The taste of cherries only really comes out in the aftertaste. My roommate just pointed out that it tastes a little like cough syrup, which it does. But even so, it's really all I can taste. The rest of the beer just tastes like carbonated water. It's really very thin.

My subconscious was right. Well, almost. I didn't hate Cherry Wheat, but I didn't like it at all either. The beer is not very complex, and the one flavor that really comes through doesn't come through enough which is unfortunate. And I would have liked a little more sweetness, too. Normally, you can't go wrong with a Sam Adams beer, but this is really not one of their best. 65/100.

P.S. Sorry about the lack of an actual picture of the beer. I still don't have a camera and don't want to infringe on copyrights, but i should get one in the next few weeks.

LOST COAST Great White (Belgian White Style)

2008-12-03T16:10:00.002-05:00

4.8% Alcohol by Volume
Color of Head #FFFCE4
Color of Body #F9E750

Whoot! It's final time in Tennessee, and I'm ready for a break from studying. I've been studying for my intro to Electronic Media class for a while now, and I'm a little burned out. The class is all about the history and progression of different forms of media with an emphasis on the internet, which I'm pretty into. The class is taught by an awesome guy by the name of Ed Spray, who besides having a massive list of credentials like teaching at Syracuse and being broadcasting director at CBS in LA, was the former president of Scripps Networks, which created networks like HGTV and the Food Network. Needless to say, I have an A in the class. And the best part is, he's a fan of my blog! But because i have these finals, updates to Whootbeer! might be a little sporadic for a bit, so bear with me. That said, it's time to do a review.

Great White pours a bright, white head that fades away after only a few seconds. Not very viscous. For an unfiltered beer, its really clear with a bright pilsner color. It smells of coriander, sage, and the usual citrus elements that come with the American Belgian White style beers. It actually tastes like a Blue Moon lite, if such a beer existed. It's got maybe a little too much carbonation for my taste, but not enough to burn. It tastes pretty thin, too, and is not very filling. But, the beer does have a lot of tastes floating around in it, which is nice. And it has all those flavors without anything being too overpowering.

I'm not a huge fan of this beer, but I can appreciate what it does right. It has a bunch of nice full flavors and would really be a nice beer to sit and relax on a beach with. The problem for me is that I'm separated from the beach by the Great Smoky Mountains. I also don't really like that it tastes like a slightly modified Blue Moon. I bet it gets better about three beers in, but what beer doesn't? To close, I would say get this beer if you are hot and like the Belgian White stile, but otherwise it isn't that great. I probably won't get it again, unless my purchasing options become extremely limited. 73/100.

WITTEKERKE (Wit Bier)

2008-12-01T09:09:00.005-05:00

5% Alcohol by Volume
Color of Head #F7F3C9
Color of Body #DFD25E

I feel bad about drinking this beer tonight. I came back from several pounds heavier from Thanksgiving, and I don't really need the extra calories, but oh well. To find today's beer, I stopped by this new place call The Market in Maryville, TN, that is kinda like the Fresh Market. They had a nice little Belgian beer section there that wound up making me pull about $25 out of my moth ridden pocket to try this stuff, but I don't care because it looks delicious! Wittekerke is the best selling Wit Bier in Belgium, so I'm pretty amped to try it. The Belgians know what they're doing when it comes to beer. Oh yeah, and would you like something extra to think about? This popped into my head the other day, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. Just take a second and really sit back and think about the amount of naked people on the Internet relative to the population of the world. It's staggering! In my days of using StumbleUpon alone, not to sound pervy or anything, but I have seen a countless amount of naked women online. I really don't think I have ever seen a repeated face. I mean, it's gotta be thousands, right? Then I started thinking about how most of these women were from America, which has only about 5% of the worlds population, so that's 95% of the world's supply of women that I'm not seeing naked. Add to that the roughly equal amount of naked dudes online to up the number. What makes this even weirder is that I know a whole bunch of people, and I'm pretty sure that none of them are naked online. At least I hope. I don't know, it's just something weird to think about. Anyway...

Man, this smells a lot like Heineken or Grolsch It's not what I was expecting at all. I guess that's because of my damn perception of a Belgian White coming from the likes of beers like Blue Moon and Shock Top. This is one of the most yellow beers I've ever had. It really looks a lot like the Leinenkugel Summer Shandy, which actually has lemonade in it (or at least tastes like it does). It's cloudy, but on the light side of cloudy, like there is some heave condensation on the side of the glass. The head was pretty bubbly and dissipated quickly. Very white. The most obvious smell coming off the top is of lemon, but more lemon grass than lemon zest. A little orange scent, too. And I swear there is the faintest hint of rosemary. But underneath it all is that skunky scent of a pale lager like Heineken. That's not a bad thing, it's just not what I was expecting. Like I said, my perceptions might be a little off base because of what I'm used to.

I'm not too wild about this beer. It has some nice flavors to it, and has a pretty crisp finish, but there just isn't much there. It's not that complex. I probably won't get it again. If I lived in Belgium where I bet it's cheaper, I would probably drink it a lot more, but I don't. I live in Tennessee where it is over $10 a six pack, so it just isn't worth it. Later on, after I have a little more experience with genuine Belgian White's, I may change my opinion on Wittekerke. But for now, I am just not a fan. 70/100.

JULIUS ECHTER (Hefeweizen Dunkel)

2008-11-29T17:10:00.003-05:00

4.9% Alcohol by Volume
Color of Head #E1AD6F
Color of Body #784D1A

Ok, so I'm a day off from when I said I would be back to reviewing beer, but it's worth the wait. I have a brand new beer (new to me, at least) that looks absolutely amazing, and I can't wait to try it. And sorry about the lack of a picture. I couldn't find a brewery image to put on the site here. I really need a camera :( This is a big ass, expensive beer. The Julius Echter Hefeweizen Dunkel cost about $12 for a freaking four pack, so I'm going to be incredibly disappointed if it doesn't blow my pants off with its orgasmic quality. And I'm really hoping for this beer to turn my day around, so it has its work cut out for it. What's wrong with my day, you ask? Here's what is wrong in a nice, bullet point list:

It's raining outside.
I have two tickets with nice field position to the last UT football game of the year against Kentucky, and Phillip Fulmer's final game as UT's head coach
it's freaking cold out
my roommate ditched out on going to the game with me, and I can't find anyone to take his place
I just figured out my schedule for the next two weeks, and I have a tremendous amount of finals and projects due
And finally, it's November 29th and I still haven't been advised for next semester so I can't register for classes.

So that sucks... Anyway, at least UT's basketball team kicks ass and takes names. Oh yeah, and we got Lane Kiffin as head coach! Whoot! But enough about sports, let's get to drinkin!

This pours a very nice, bubbly, yet creamy head that is persisting nicely. Its the exact color of the head on a cappuccino. The body is the color of a darker, lager, like Yuengling, and has the hue of light milk chocolate. It has the normal Hefe smell of olives, but there is much more to it than that. It's very complex. There is a faint hint of lemon zest, a little bit of hops, and oddly, tomato vine. Yes, that's right, tomato vine. You know the smell that gets on your hand after you handle a tomato, fresh and straight from the vine? That's what I'm talking about. It's faint, but it's there.

Oh wow, that tastes really good. Very nicely carbonated. There is a slightly bitter, hoppy aftertaste that hits the back of your tongue that is in no way unpleasant. I keep smelling the beer, it's just so complex! There are so many tastes here, which is weird because it's brewed under Reinheitsgebot, or the Bavarian Purity Act of 1516, so there are no spices added to the brew. It just has water, wheat malt, barley malt, and hops in it. This really shows the quality and devotion of the brewery that this beer gets so much out of so few ingredients.

If you get the pleasure of drinking this beer, make sure you use a 16oz glass and really swish it around in the bottle to get all the residue that has settled to the bottom. It tends to get stuck there if it has been sitting for any period of time. I just drank enough out of my 12oz glass to be able to pour the rest in, and it greatly added to the color, texture, and flavor of the beer. It enhanced everything.

Getting down to the bottom of the glass I'm starting to see little pockets of debris that have settled on the bottom of the glass, which look delicious. As the Dunkel gets a little warmer, a little more bitterness is coming out. I'm also getting a slight mocha taste that I didn't notice before, though that could be a psychological effect, due to the color of the beer.

This beer was great. It was just what I needed to turn my day around, and well worth the steep price. I would really like to compare it to the Weihenstephaner Dunkel which is one of my favorite beers I have ever had (the fact that I had it at the glorious Nantahala Outdoor Center might have something to do with it being a favorite), though I have yet to see it around these parts so it might be a while. In summary, this is a complex, delicious beer that makes me love life just a little more. If it weren't for the price and the difficulty of locating it, it would be what I drank every day. If you happen to see it in your travels, definitely pick it up. You will not regret it, I promise. This beer earns me highest score yet. 95/100.

Hulu Rant

2008-11-26T18:15:00.003-05:00

Just a random rant to break the monotony:

On Hulu they take breaks from whatever it is you're watching to show you commercials, just like with regular TV. This is not what upsets me. It is perfectly fine to try and generate some ad revenue from this service. What bothers me is that the commercials you see on Hulu are the same ones (for the most part) that you can see on TV. This is ridiculous. You have the ability to know more about your demographic than with any other medium possible, and you choose to show me the same, homogenized shit that's on FOX? It is so incredibly easy to target your ads with current technology, but they aren't taking advantage of it. I mean, the information readily available to them about me is that I am using a Linux pc, using Firefox, that I am from the UTK area of Knoxville, TN, and that I am watching the episode of “It's Always Sunny In Philidelphia” where they try to figure out who pooped the bed. That is the absolute, bare minimum amount of information they could know about me.

There are probably all sorts of things they could know about me that I'm not thinking of, But still, they decide to repeat the same, heartfelt Christmas Best Buy commercial three times until the end of the episode. If this keeps up, Hulu and any other forms of legal, streaming media are bound to fail, and I don't want to see that happen.

BOULEVARD WHEAT BEER

2008-11-24T16:46:00.004-05:00

Color of Head #E7DBBD
Color of Body #D3B24B

This is one of the few beers that I really don't have any preconceived notions about. The bottle is plain, but nicely designed. I don't really like the logo, but the six pack has a nice, recycled look to it, and I mean that in a good way. Sustainability is important in all parts of life, and beer is no exception. Oh yeah, and just to rant for a moment, I'm getting really tired of winter already, which is a very bad thing. It's so cold out that I'm kinda dreading drinking this ice cold beer. I'm starting to become curious about the German (is that the right country?) thing where they drink warm beer. But oh well. It's time to drink this beer! For America...

For an unfiltered beer, there is not much haziness at all. It smells very crisp and clean, and has the slightest hint of a honey scent. Had an excellent head on an easy pour. It's actually persisting nicely as well. Man, it's really nice to have a wheat beer that isn't heavily laced with coriander. This one is brewed along the lines of the German Beer Purity Law (with the obvious addition of wheat), so there are no secret herbs and spices thrown in. All that is in it are barley malt, wheat, water, hops, and yeast. That's it. It's really refreshing to taste a beer that is this clean and pure. This tastes like what beer is supposed to taste like. It hits every part of the taste buds equally and his no bitter aftertaste, or much of an aftertaste at all. I can only imagine what this tastes like from draft and not from a bottle.

This was a great, simple beer. Nothing too complex, just simple, deep, well done beer. If PūR made a filter for beer, this is what would come out of it. My only regret is that I didn't have this at a bar where I could properly enjoy it. I can see a great time being had with a couple friends over a couple rounds of this beer. I strongly recommend this beer. I think it is fantastic, and was very pleasantly surprised by it. I've complained in the past about a beer being good but not doing anything special, but for this beer, what it does special is having a simple, awesome taste. 87/100.

SHOCK TOP

2008-11-22T12:20:00.004-05:00

5.2% Alcohol by Volume
Color of Head #FFFAE5
Color of Body #DF8F31

Tonight, I am finally drinking the beer that is my main glass's namesake. For some reason, I have always been hateful and distrusting of this beer, though I don't believe I have ever had it. I don't know why, but I think it has something to do with the douchey packaging and branding and the fact that it's from Michelob. Not that there's anything wrong with Michelob, I just have a prejudice against large breweries. I like the little guy, you dig? But the design is really inexcusable. I mean, there's a damn orange slice with a Mohawk and and ZZ Top glasses on. This had better be the most radical beer ever...

The smell is very reminiscent of Blue Moon. I'm guessing there is some heavy coriander being used here, because it almost takes your breath away. Behind that there are some definite citrus notes, which is much more orange than lemon. After the pour, there was a very nice looking, unusually creamy head which sadly faded completely away within about 25 seconds. It's a very pretty beer, and really does possess a slightly orangish hue. This is very similar to Blue Moon, which I suppose may be due to it being mass produced, as well as having other successful beers already out there to model itself from. I mean hell, just look at the sales figures for Blue Moon that have exploded recently and you don't even need to do any market research, just make a beer like it. It's very nicely carbonated. This is a very fragmented review, isn't it? It kinda jumps around a lot. Oh well. It's been a long week, lots of homework and projects due, in addition to tests. Siiiigh. This isn't nearly as overpowering as Blue Moon, but as a result isn't nearly as satisfying. Also, it's cloudy, but there is no real debris to be found.

As silly as this sounds, I would have really liked to have tasted a lot more citrus in this beer. I mean, there is an orange prominently displayed on the label of this beer, and yet this citrus elements are incredibly subtle. It's like how you would feel if you picked up a Penthouse and you found articles about gardening inside. I mean, I like gardening just fine, but I was really hoping to see something else. This beer was ok, but that's all. Just ok. Like I said, imagine a Blue Moon but more docile and with very faint citrus notes and you have this beer. I wouldn't really recommend this beer. It's nothing to write home about and I honestly can't even remember what it tasted like, it's that forgettable. It is not bad, but definitely nothing “shocking” about it. 62/100.

FLYING DOG IN HEAT WHEAT (Hefeweizen)

2008-11-20T11:26:00.003-05:00

4.7% Alcohol by Volume
Color of Head #FFE0BE
Color of Body #A46014

OK, this is going to be a little bit of a biased review. I love Flying Dog beer. I've loved every beer I have ever had from them. They are amazing. And they, like Magic Hat, have excellent design and branding. The bottles just look so damn cool and edgy! Don't they? I mean, look at the In Heat Wheat bottle for an example of what I mean. Wow. Dirty. Anyway...

OK, now THIS smells like a Hefeweizen. Smells like olives. Man, alcohol is weird, you know? I hate olives, but I love the taste and smell in a beer. I have that same thing going on with Jagermeister where it smells and tastes like licorice but I like it, despite abhorring licorice. Head was really thin and faded fast. Nicely carbonated. Makes your gums tingle, but isn't overpowering at all. A little bitter and slightly hoppy. In addition to the olive taste, I think there is a little bit of cinnamon in there too. It's nicely filling and has a very pretty brownish-gold color to the body.

I don't really have a whole lot else to say about this beer. The fact that I have had it a decent number of times before kinda messes of the creative process for me. I mean, it's a really good American Hefeweizen that I highly recommend. It's one of the best Hefeweizens you can get around these parts, or anywhere else. Plus, you'll look really freaking cool holding the bottle. 85/100.