Red Stripe

Hooray Beer! Anybody remember these commercials from the late 1990's? They were hilarious, and probably a tad politically incorrect, but the advertised product, Red Stripe Jamaican Lager was quite an intriguing substance. Bottled in what looks to be a left over bottle found in a lab containing hydrogen peroxide or some other chemical, Red Stripe definitely gets points for originality in bottle design. So let's get down to the nitty-gritty; the lager has a decent flavor that reminds me of most other basic lagers. The smell and consistency are also quite typical, practically cookie cutter, and there really is no originality to this beer. Instead, Red Stripe tastes like your typical domestic beer that can be purchased at your local bodega for a under $8.00 a six pack. I have no objection to such beer, recognizing the role that typical domestics play and I actually do not mind a decent domestic "brand name" for casual drinking, beer pong, and other drinking games. However, I don't live in Jamaica, therefore, Red Stripe is not a domestic beer for me and totally not worth spending more money to purchase a beer that tastes like many of our domestics that cost $3-4 cheaper per six pack.


Final Verdict: Thanks but no thanks. Maybe if lived in Jamaica and was playing dominoes on the corner, these little brown bottles fit quite conveniently inside brown paper bags.

HARDCORE Cider

For those who are afraid to venture into the land of the ciders, I give you but a stern warning: cider is not to be taken lightly! All those ridiculous notions that fruits and beer should never be paired are not only asinine, but completely unfounded, and if you believe such nonsense you are definitely missing out! That being said, Hardcore Apple Cider is a definite regular in my rotation. This cider packs a refreshingly sharp taste, finish, and aftertaste. All this cider needs to be enjoyed year round is a cup and some ice, maybe some good company to share it with, but nothing more. It packs a decent alcohol percentage at 4%, and the colder you serve this bad boy up, the better tasting and more refreshing it is. Though a little tricky to find in some areas, it generally can be found in areas with decent beer selections, hell, even some gas stations if you are certain neighborhoods in Queens. I actually enjoy this stuff enough to keep it in the fridge.


Final Verdict: Recommend this cider for anyone interested in venturing into the magnificent world of ciders, as well as to those who enjoy a nice crisp, sharp cider.

George Killian's Irish Red

Let me start this off by saying quite simply, I enjoyed drinking a six pack of the Irish Red, and was pleasantly surprised by how smooth and light it was. Now that I have made a rather effeminate statement, let me add that despite the light taste, the brownish-red ale packed a lasting taste, which did not disappoint. I confess to having already tasted this beer before, but I really got to appreciate this pack, and truly learned a thing or two about the beer itself. According to wikipedia, its a "4.9% amber lager brewed by Coors, and widely distributed in the US. The brand name was purchased from the Pelforth Brewery in France, who had previously bought it from Lett's Brewery in Ireland, which had closed in 1956." So thankfully, its not false advertisement and it really is (or at least was) an Irish beer. Nevertheless, the sheer smooth aftertaste, lack of a strong aroma, and relative lightness of the beer makes it a regular in my book - I mean, you can't get hammered every single night, right?! Killian's Irish Red is not only refreshing, it has a very high level of chuggability, but still maintains enough "classiness" to be drank in a nice pint glass while watching a football game at the local watering hole.


Final Verdict: I recommend this beer as a nice light beer with a refreshing taste that can enjoyed by most, especially when the temperature is warm and you serve up Killian's ice cold.

Coors Light

The silver bullet is not a disappointment by any means. In terms of sheer drinkability, this beer is meant for one thing and one thing only, chugging. Yes you can sit down and drink a cold frosty can, but ultimately, this beer has such a smooth follow through that you find yourself pounding it down and opening up another can before you can comment on the taste. Is it the greatest beer ever, not by a long shot, but it is a solid domestic. In terms of sheer bang for your buck, the silver bullet can be loaded up in any gunslingers pea shooter, so don't worry about breaking the bank. A 36 pack of this stuff is usually cheaper than a Heineken mini keg, and offers significantly better tasting beer in greater supply. I don't need to go any further with this beer, its exactly what a cash strapped individual needs, its perfect for beer pong, and most people do not object to its taste. Plus, for all those phony beer drinkers concerned about "carbs" let them know its a light beer!


Final Verdict: A most definite regular domestic that should not be mocked but appreciated for what it is.

Negra Modelo

Let me tell you a little something about my personal relationship with Negra Modelo , I sometimes find myself thinking about how wonderfully smooth and silky the taste of this wonderful dark-amber colored Mexican import, and how refreshingly versatile this beer can be. Let me drop the Barry White voice and get to the point on this one, I have some left over that require some attention and they wont drink themselves. Negra Modelo is one of my favorite beers, mainly because it has such a smooth taste, yet does not have a bad aftertaste and boasts an solid 5.3% alcohol content. Negra is not for those who like light beers with a lack of taste, but rather for those who enjoy the fine taste of a regular beer that does not compromise taste for the prospect of a cheap gimmick, aimed at increasing sales. In fact, Negra Modelo is not often advertised, not even in Latino communities where the majority of Negra consumers reside, and yet still has solid sales. I liken the advertisement strategy to that of Krispy Kreme, a wonderful product that it so well done, there is no need for paid advertising, just simple word of mouth. Honestly, you simply cannot compete with a quality product.


Final Verdict: Negra Modelo is one of the most popular beers in Mexico, but is often viewed as something older gents drink, or those who want to drink something a little more refined. My take, its meant for those with an appreciation for taste and not for those trying to calculate the number of calories in the beer.

Modelo Especial

This beer is definitely in my regular rotation, and has been present at many of my favorite celebratory occasions, as well as small get-togethers, beer bong, and many football (soccer) games. Let me tell you, never has Modelo Especial been anything but a solid beer to have at your disposal. Modelo is significantly smoother than Corona (which is the most popular Mexican-made beer in America, not Mexico) and has a crisper aftertaste that takes some getting use to. Much like a Corona, Modelo tastes much better once you add a lime wedge in the bottle, but I always recommend squeezing the wedge into the beer first, then inserting it into the bottle, placing your thumb firmly in the opening, and turning the beer upside down so the lime floats to the top (which is the bottom of the bottle). This truly spreads the lime taste that really compliments an ice-cold Modelo Especial, but if you push for more authenticity, try adding a shake or two of salt to the mix, but don't add too much, or the beer while rapidly rise! This beer is definitely a welcome addition to any rotation and I would certainly rank it above a Corona, which to many may seem like sacrilege, but these are also the people who drink what they see advertised and of course find the taste to be amazing.

Final Verdict: A solid beer for the regular rotation that should bump Corona out of the mix, is wonderfully refreshing, and carries with it great drinkability - especially with lime!

Joose

This was one of the biggest alcohol related mistakes I have ever committed in my life. To be fair though, I totally went into this experiment dreading the results, assuming that this huge can of malt liquor was going to be a god-awful mess. I was indeed not disappointed, and my original bleak outlook on this crap was proven to be spot on, even worse was the fact that my boy Dave doomed it from the start. Not only does Joose look like something awfully tacky to be seen with, it has one of the most utterly disgusting tastes I have ever had the discomfort of experiencing. This crap is terrible and should never be consumed by anyone under any circumstances. It should not even be considered as a last result for use on a small fire. I tried the original flavor (orange can on the left) and every single sip was almost offensive. The taste can only be described as a horrible can of cheap energy drink with citrus flavoring, mixed with a terrible malt liquor, and hints of really bad coffee. I even had my roommate take a sip of the 9.9% alcohol-content, 23.5oz can of liquid taste bud suicide, and he almost spit it back up. I myself was only able to consume maybe 1/6th of the can, and that was truly a show of endurance and commitment to this blog.

Final Verdict: Under no circumstances should you ever consume this crap. Do not even use it for pranks, it would be constituted as cruel and unusual punishment and may land you a serious beating.

Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat

This is an interesting beer, hands down, no questions asked. I know that a lot of so called "macho men" will be opposed to the notion of a cherry flavored beer, but its really interesting - wish I had another word for this beer though. No, this bottle does not cause you to lose your hearing for several hours, but it does provide a surprisingly amazing taste that is both refreshing, and pleasant to drink. I first tried the beer in a restaurant that was once great and has since sunk to the depths of overpriced mediocrity, but I have to be honest, I have chosen to drink it several times after, and I have to positively comment on the flavor of this beer. I always expect quality from Samuel Adams, one of the few solid beer makers in the country, but I was blown away by the Cherry Wheat, as I admit, I thought it was going to be a horrible experiment resulting in a sub-par product I would immediately hate, but without fail, good ol' Sam Adams came through and delivered yet another quality product.


Final Verdict: Drink this beer! It is a wonderful break from the monotonous taste of regular beers, leads to great beer related "small talk" and can usually influence non-beer drinkers to partake in our thirst quenching pastime. However, it remains best described as "interesting."