How have you been?! It has been a while!
With summer coming to a close and fall approaching, it was time to take a trip back to the local grocery store craft beer selection to see what we could find. After navigating the school supply shoppers, our trip served us well with some out of state beer options! Let's see what we were able to pick up to try.
420 - Extra Pale Ale
SweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, GA)
5.7% ABV
The Can: This is a very simple can, but it still creates a bit of imagery. The prominent road sign doesn't seem to tie in much with the beer, or its name, but after a little research, it seems to give homage to the tried-and-true success of the beer. The strong blue and red of the sign brings a great contrast to the bright green of the can. The addition of the brewery's logo and tagline, "Don't Float the Mainstream!", is a great way to tie in the beer's success with the brewery's, itself.
The Taste: If you like drinking a cold Sprite on a hot afternoon, then this beer is for you. There was a quality about this beer that made it quite evident why it is a trusted beer of SweetWater's. From the initial sip, I was satisfied about the journey I was embarking on. The hops in this beer are very minimal. In fact, there is a slight sweetness to the beer, which made it almost impossible to put down! While it is an extra pale ale, the 5.7% ABV caused me to anticipate a strong taste of hops, but that was never the case. This sweet and smooth tasting beer is one that I would have no qualms with recommending in the future.
The Situation: You just got done with a long road trip, the bags are unpacked and you just need a drink. Let me introduce you to this pale ale. This is a perfect drink to go with some relaxation after a long day when you just need a beer. A simple situation for a simply good beer.
Fun Fact: The name of this beer represents the date in which it was created, 4/20, and the slogan represents the brewers laid back and authentic approach to beer making.
Blueberry Lemonade Shandy - Fruit and Field Beer
Saugatuck Brewing Co. (Douglas, MI)
5.0% ABV
The Can: Another can that is quite simple, yet still appeasing to the eye. The bright colors give a light and fun summer vibe for the beer and the simple clean-cut design gives it a little bit of a rustic feel. The smiley face character at the bottom of the can is a clever use of both the blueberries and the lemon to welcome the drinker into the entire beer's experience.
The Taste: One word can describe the taste of this shandy: stellar. While it brings a little heavier of a feel, which one could conclude is from the fruits that were included in the brewing process, the taste is anything but. The taste of the blueberry dominates the taste of the lemonade, but its subtle enough that it is not overbearing. The taste represented the intent of the beer perfectly. There were little to no hops in the taste and this beer went down very smoothly.
The Situation: While champagne or wine is a common go-to for picnic goers, this beer would fit right into the mix. Some cheese, sliced meats and a fruit salad would accommodate this beer quite well. When a passerby wonders what has got you smiling, you can tell them you are sipping on the taste of summer. If you like fruit, and if you like beer, this is the one for you.
Fun Fact: A Fruit and Field beer is created when fruit bits, and at times even whole fruit, are added to a beer's brewing process. This is a less common technique that has started to see a revolution in recent years.
Fake Juice - India Pale Ale
Maumee Brewing Co. (Toledo, OH)
6.5% ABV
The Can: A can with some flare. There is a lot going on with this can which leads it to be very stimulating. The bright and vibrant colors are very inviting and bring a fun vibe to the beer, right off the bat. The bridge in the background gives the can a nice highlight. The name, a play on "fake news" is humorous and makes sense seeing as how this is definitely not juice. The newspaper and headline add to the fun, which is furthered by the image of a newspaper dispenser displaying a "Fake Juice Network" logo on the back of the can.
The Taste: While many of the beers we have reviewed over the past couple of weeks have been fairly light and less emphasis on the hops, this beer is not. This IPA comes strong out of the gate with bold and hoppy flavors. The can states that there are flavors of Tangerine, Clementine and Pineapple, but the hops are the most pronounced. It is a very aroma driven beer that brings a punch with all of its 6.5% ABV.
The Situation: Have you ever been watching the news and can't help but feel sad and angry? This beer pairs tremendously with a side of cynicism. Fake Juice is a perfect beer for sitting at the table for lunch while simultaneously reading a newspaper and listening to NPR. When you find yourself rolling your eyes at the latest headlines, take a sip instead.
Fun Fact: Maumee, OH was the site of many wars during the 1700 hundreds due to the American, French and British armies fighting for its important ports and access to Lake Erie.
Until next time, bottoms up!
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