A Taste Analysis of 36 Cheap Beers Ranked By Will Gorden

For those of you who still have not discovered that there are thousands of great tasting beers out there , made by people in your own community, that have nothing to do with the Big Box B.M.C. (Bud Miller Coors) bullshit crap brews on the shelves, this one is for you. Finally a descriptive taste analysis for the cheap beer drinker (keep in mind it is not a bad thing to drink cheap beer, but is a shame to drink shitty beer)  Here is a list from Will Gordon on Deadspin which ranks these gross ass watered down excuses for beers from  Worst to least worst..

With Example like Number 33 Rolling Rock. Smells like three fat guys in a two-man tent.

Or 26 Bud Light. Tastes like printer paper and often gives the impression of unfreshness

And one of my favorites #23 Natural Ice. The soggy cardboard sensation fades after the first several cans, turning Natty Ice into a serviceable alternative to sobriety.

If you want to see the rest go to the link it is funny as hell especially when he "describes" Budwieser...Good Stuff

Bike Humor!

Beginers Tips From Singletracks

Since I have not been able to get out on the trails in the past few weeks, (I am about to loose my mind) I figured I should catch up on some articles, in my monthly magazines and see if there was anything helpful ouyt there for a beginer like me. Well on Singletracks.com I found a great article. Some I knew other stuff I never thought of and a few I learned on my own by doing. 
10 Not-So-Obvious Tips that Every Beginning Mountain Biker Needs to Know This article has tips like Keep your fingers on your handlebars–not your brake levers. and Watch other people. I know these may seem like no brainers, but it is solid advice from mtbikerchick She has some other great stuff on there for Mountian bikers in general as well as the ladies out there. Hopefully soon I will have some more original material but I could not go much longer without a post. So Enjoy the ride

Not Riding Enough

I know I have not written a ton lately about my Mountain Biking. Why? Well in the last few weeks I have gotten exactly 2 rides in. Both have been a split between some bike path riding, and a fast couple of loops around the Mountain Bike trail in Valley Park. While all rides are awesome, the lack of them have sucked. I am still in the process of stretching out my runs for a half marathon and even though the Rides do help in the conditioning, it still does not do everything I need to run the murderous length ahead of me.

 I know I have said it before, and do not want to bore you repeating it, but the rides are fun, even though they get the blood pumping and work the muscles I don’t have time to think about what I am doing, as I watch for the next tree root, turn, hill, or jump, as well as other riders and or people on the path coming the opposite way. As I get better on this particular path.

 

 Meaning the last time I rode I did not come close to killing myself, breaking my balls on the cross bar or going over the handle bars. It is still a workout but until I stop for a drink of water I never notice.

 On the other hand, as I run, and unless I can get out of my own head early on in the run or get into a rhythm with the high humidity and heat, I realize every step and every hill that is there in front of me. Why do I do it? Well to stay in shape and honestly after a good run I feel better. Also if you read my beer posts, well calorie wise, you have to have a balance.

 Weather it is after a stressful day or just that time alone I do feel better. But again there is nothing like riding the bike, and I am looking forward to some new experiences on some different bike trails in the near future. But I have to get this Bucket list Half Marathon out of the way first. So stay tuned on the Mountain Bike front, there will be more to come as I slide to less running and more biking.

 

 

Diamondback Bicycles Sortie Full Suspension 29er Mountain Bike Review

We Always Want to Go On a Ride...Some Days More Than Others

We are going for a ride...Anyone else?

 

 

 

 

Stouts! Yum!!!!

Okay so as I delve into the Craft Beers out there I am slowly realizing that Stouts may very well be the beers I enjoy the most. I love the Sam Adams Cream Stout, and as I said in a past blog entry Friendship Brewing Company Part 2....Three Brews From Friendship Brewing Company where I rated One of Friendship Brewing Company’s beers, their Imperial Stout, Cherry bombed very high. As a matter of fact I set it as a standard Stout with a 10 (and a bit of a spoiler regardless of the good words below it is still the standard Stout). 

 So over the weekend I added two Stouts to my list of beers to drink before you die. The first was on a visit to Stacked Burger Bar in St Louis  

 

From their list of about 27 beers (this does include the regular big box beers, but why have one of those when you can try something new or good) Their Beer menu   has some great choices

They also serve some killer food and burgers you can custom build...

 

 

So if you live in the St Louis Area or are here for a visit I highly suggest this as a place to have a burger and a beer

Anyway I decided on the Nitro Milk Stout   

 

Description from their site Taking America Back. Dark & delicious, America’s great milk stout will change your perception about what a stout can be. Pouring hard out of the bottle, Milk Stout Nitro cascades beautifully, building a tight, thick head like hard whipped cream. The aroma is of brown sugar and vanilla cream, with hints of roasted coffee. The pillowy head coats your upper lip and its creaminess entices your palate. Initial roasty, mocha flavors rise up, with slight hop & roast bitterness in the finish. The rest is pure bliss of milk chocolate fullness. - See more at: http://lefthandbrewing.com/beers/milk-stout-nitro/#sthash.2uSBOe8j.dpuf

 

Now this is a bad video but take a look at the end, it looks like Chocolate milk being poured and what you can’t see is the wavey head on top it was a work of art.

This isn’t so much my normal rating and compare type post as much as just a blog entry about two great stouts. But I will say this one as far as Milk Stouts go is my new 10 a Great coffee, vanilla, creamy taste and everything a beer should be. The down side is it is a filling beer so after two plus my burger I was quite full…But it was worth it!!!!

On Sunday the in laws came over for my birthday (since everyone was out of town on my actual birthday this was kind of a makeup party we grabbed some beer from the local supermarket and as usual I tried to grab something different, So I grabbed a 22oz  Stone Imperial Russian Stout

 

From their Site

Stone Imperial Russian Stout is so thick, rich and well, sinful, you might worry that you'll be doomed to the fiery pits just for thinking about a sip. Rest assured, however, that even though this seemingly pernicious brew is indeed as black as sin, we guarantee that no actual sin was committed in making it... you'll have to add that on your own. This massive and intensely aromatic beer abounds with notes of anise, black currants, coffee, and roastiness, and its heavy palate is nothing to be trifled with!

 

And let's be real I know what I like and I am learning as I go but here is a video from Youtube and Stone Brewings site that explains this brew a bit better....

 

With that, in my opinion a really great Stout not as thick as the Milk stout, and although a higher alcohol volume it did not kick like it had hard alchol in it. To me this Black Brew was delicious and without going into too much detail I would have to on its own accord give it a 10 but if I had to choose between the two I still give the Milk Stout the edge  10 and this a 9.8

How does it compare with the Cherry Bombed? At some point I will do a taste comparison as I get a few more Stouts under my belt (or with how heavy the Milk Stouts are maybe above my belt) Also as compared with my current go to beers but for now I highly recommend going out and grabbing either of these beers, and if you can catch Friendship Brewing at a brew fest here in Missouri or when they open, (I will have updates on that soon) the Cherry Bombed rocks. But for now Sit back and enjoy the beers out there that are not watered down and mass produced.

If you do have a chance to watch the pour on the Left hand Milk stout, as geeky as it may sound, it is very cool (and my camera phone does not tell do it justice)

Sheep vs cyclist

Okay not exactly mountain biking here but I found this one this morning and thought it was pretty funny.

Bottle Opener of the Month August 2014

The Zeon Star Wars Lightsaber Bottle Opener is awesome for my fellow Star Wars Geeks out there who also enjoy a tasty Beverage. It is available on Amazon for about 15 bucks (and free shipping if you are a Amazon Prime member) It also makes the sound of a Lightsaber opening as you are opening Your Beer, the down side that is the only sound it makes, no clashing or anything else, But hey you only need a second to pop open a brew.....So May the Force BE With You...And Your Beer!!!

Nice Heinie

The Only Time, in my opinion, a Heineken looks good

Bat Creek Midwest Farmers Daughter a Sunday Taste Test

As I looked for a beer on the shelves of our local supermarket I came across Bat Creek Brewery's Midwest Farmers Daughter. They are a small Brewery out of Bowling Green Missouri, this is from their site...

"Our humble operation is run out of a machine shed. We currently brew a barrel or two at a time. We have a few fairly successful year round brews that we are extremely proud to offer as well as a few occasional special brews. Come back often to see what we're cooking up next."

Now before I get into the tasting let me say the price point (it was a sale item for under 5 bucks) and more importantly the label (yeah she is drawn but it is still a sexy midwest female on a barrel)  is what caught my attention. 

The description from the Batcreek Brewery site is, "Our flagship beer and most popular, this light blonde ale delivers on its promise. It really makes you feel alright. It is smooth, easy drinking and refreshing but not too light. This brew has a subtle malt and hop character and a crisp clean finish, making it an easy drinking experience."

In this particular Taste testing we brought in a buddy of mine Rob, and my wife to share in the single bottle of brew.

Rob Tried it and said it was a mild summer beer good for a hot day, but not a lot of flavor. Adding a lemon may help, on the plus side he said it was better than your average Big Box beer BMC (Budwieser Miller Coors)

Rob's usual Go To Beer is Sierra Nevada IPA against that he gave this one a 5 (stating 3 and below to him are undrinkable)

Against something similar he looks to a good Summer Ale (like Sam Adams) or even Boulavard wheat as his 10 and gives Midwest Farmer's daughter a 6.5

Next u Sarah, Her first impression was "What is The point? If this was all I had to drink all day, then Okay" She did not like it, she said it lacked any kind of taste to it. Her Go To 10 is Arrogant Bastard and even against her Summer type beers she gave this an overall 3.

It was not my favorite beer, the label I would say was my favorite part of this beer (well also the 5 dollar price) I would say it was better than a Big Box beer but not something I would drink again.

Against my 10 Sam Adams Octoberfest I give it a 4, it was drinkable and was not at all gross, just lacked a lot of flavor I tend to enjoy, a little too light for my taste. Against a lighter Summer Ale I would even give it a 4.5. Again it is not a bad beer for someone who likes a lighter style brew this would probably be really good for them. And even a great introduction to craft beers when they decide to take that step away from ther Big Box beers. I would almost call this a "Craft Brew Starter Beer"

So In closing, never judge a Book or Bottle by its cover. Once we average out the scores this is what  Bat Creek Brewery's Midwest Farmers Daughter gets

Against Our Go To Beers a Solid 4

Against a Similair Brew 4.6

And added all up 4.3

Again for someone who is a "Craft Beer Virgin" and wants to take that first step this is a great beer for you. If you are like me and like the heavier beers this one may be too light.