Category Archives: Beer

Yes, Virginia, there is more beer in Mexico than Corona.

Don’t be fooled by the dark, squat bottle. Bohemia is a fairly simple pilsner, a light gold beer that offers a nice, easy-drinking balance of sweet and bitter. There’s a distinct note of gingerbread on the nose, which is quite pleasing, and the body comes across as very fresh and full of life. The finish brings some bitterness, though the finale can run to the watery instead of the crisp.

Altogether this is a solid effort. Not quite Pacifico, but a good, food-friendly beer that is almost ubiquitous in its availability.

B+ / $14 per 12-pack / femsa.com

Is it summer already? Well, no, but it’s close enough, at least for summer beer.

Deschutes’ Twilight is considerably more hoppy than I thought it would be — the summer tagline said sweet and crisp to me, but this is a more bitter, full-bodied experience. The result is a more complex brew than you might be expecting, though one that is still relatively simple and pretty refreshing. Don’t go looking for the answers to the riddles of the universe in it, though.

B+ / $9 per six-pack / deschutesbrewery.com

Want fresh, foamy beer without having to haul your ass down to your local watering hole or deal with the hassles of a home kegerator? Thanks to Newcastle, anyone can tap a pint-sized keg in the comfort of their own kitchen.

This five-liter metal canister contains pure Newcastle, complete with an internal CO2 pressure system and built-in tap. Instructions guide you through setting it up: Chill the keg for 10 hours, clip on the tap and nozzle, and go. You’ll have beer flowing in seconds (and much more quickly and easily than the IKEA-like instructions would make it out to be).

If you’re a fan of foamy heads on your pint, you’ll love the DraughtKeg. In fact, the first pint will be mostly foam, so don’t get too excited to drink it since you’ll need to let it settle. Experimenting with glass placement — since the beer comes out at an angle — helps, also. My only complaint with the delivery system: Lots of spillage after you’re done drawing a glass. Keep it near the sink or remember to leave an empty glass underneath.

The beer itself isn’t bad. It’s definitely Newcastle Brown Ale, which is still a little thin for my taste, but it has a light body and sweetness that lends itself well to a party-sized item like this. (It’s good for about 10 pints of beer.) It’s fun and tailor-made for conversation, and according to the company any leftover beer will keep for 30 days in the fridge — so don’t fret about sucking it all down in one go.

B+ / $23 / newcastlebrown.com

This seasonal IPA from Colorado-based Oskar Blues Brewery comes only in cans, the product of three malts and one type of hops.

The boldly golden beer is full of citrus aroma and bitter hops are instantly hefty on the tongue. But there’s a curious Eastern spice character to the finish — bitter anise, cumin, and dried orange peel, all giving this beer a bit of a “Midnight at the Oasis” feeling.

Refreshing but challenging. Be warned: It’s a hefty 10% alcohol by volume. Check the bottom of your can for a fun little something.

B+ / $4.50 per 12-oz. can / oskarblues.com

Credited as one of the first beers to use honey in its recipe, The Original Honey Brown launched in 1994 by Dundee Brewing Co. but, after the novelty faded, abruptly vanished from the market (the brewer blames an overly high price and packaging changes). Over a decade later, it’s back, with a big sales push, a lower price, and the original yellow, orange, and brown label intact.

I don’t remember the original Original Honey Brown, but this one sure is a keeper. Clearly infused with honey (Manitoba White Clover), it’s sweet but not cloying, smooth and velvety in texture but still distinctly a beer. Those seeking complexity should give it a pass. Original Honey Brown only pays lip service to bitterness, and hops are a vague impression, not a core part of the beer. In other words: Expect sweetness.

Pretty good on its own or, dare I say it, with dessert.

B+ / $7.50 per six-pack / dundeebeer.com