Day 79 - Mothership Wit

New Belgium Brewery - Mothership Wit
Fort Collins, CO (USA)
ABV 4.8% Calories 135

This is a purely organic wheat beer fashioned to mimic the likes of Hoegaarden. However, it falls a little short in comparison to the true Belgium brew. It is a pale beer in color with a beautiful sweet citrus aroma. A very slight spice upon entry but doesn't really leave much beyond that first impression. I still look forward to New Belgium's other brews but this Mothership Wit certainly doesn't compare to the real McCoy.

Day 78 - Stone Levitation Ale

Stone Brewing - Pale Ale
Escondido, CA (USA)
ABV 4.4% Calories 145*

Solid beer and the coolest bottle design out of the 3 Stone brews so far; yet it falls behind the other 2 in terms of taste. Still a smooth tasting beer with a slightly sweet bitter aftertaste.

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Day 77 - Stone Pale Ale

Stone Brewing - Pale Ale
Escondido, CA (USA)
ABV 5.4% Calories 150*

This Pale Ale is smooth; it is the perfect combination of drinkability and flavor; it actually pours a light amber color and is much more tasty than some of the other pale ale's I've drank. Not as hoppy as Stone's IPA but its refreshing without sacrificing flavor. Great all around beer and I'd probably prefer this Pale Ale to the IPA.

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Day 76 - He'Brew Genesis Ale

Schmaltz Brewing Company - He'Brew Genesis Ale
Saratoga Springs, NY (USA)
ABV 6.0% Calories 160*

The Genesis Ale is pretty fair tasting; not overpowering but does have a slight hint of hops. Not as flavorful as I would like and about half way through, I really couldn't savor the fullness of the beer anymore.

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Day 75 - West Coast India Pale Ale

Green Flash Breweries - West Coast India Pale Ale
Vista, CA (USA)
ABV 7.0% Calories 190*

Another awesome IPA - Green Flash Brewery is yet another local micro-brew on the outskirts of San Diego (wow, a lot of good beers come out of there...). If you're wondering, I often refer to research on the beers I drink - most of the time its to learn more about what it is I'm actually drinking. Many a times I am happy to see that my thoughts on a particular beer is shared by other beer lovers out there, such as with this IPA w/ an average A- rating. Other times I'm surprised at how different my view of a beer is compared to the mass - but then beer is an acquired taste and people should drink whatever floats their boat. Again, IPA's for me!

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Day 74 - Red Stripe

Desnoes & Geddes Limited - Red Stripe
Kingston, Jamaica (JAMAICA)
ABV 4.7% Calories 153

This is a pretty common beer you see at all your local markets these days (at least here in Southern California) - I've had it several times before. I'm not sure how some of these beers become so wide spread when they are fairly low in quality. This is no Mexican cerveza but they're on the same playing field.

Day 73 - Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen

Brauerei Tucher Brau - Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen
Nürnberg, Germany (GERMANY)
ABV 5.35% Calories 100*

Somehow this beer was rated an average of B+/A out of 180 reviewers. I'm not sure what those 180 people were drinking because I didn't find anything interesting about this beer - no unique flavors and no outstanding tasting notes. Very plain - weird, it almost gave me an instant headache. I'll pass on this one if I see it again.

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Day 72 - Stiegl "Radler"

Stiegl Brewery - Stiegl "Radler"
Salzburg, Austria (AUSTRIA)
ABV 2.5% Calories 120*

I didn't notice this when I picked this up, but this Stiegl is actually a beer-juice mix; it is 50% Stiegl-Beer and 50% Lemon-Soda. An interesting combination - very light, smooth, refreshing, and will satisfy your sweet-tooth craving. It may not be accurate to classify this is a beer, but if Obama can be labeled African American, then by gosh - this is a full beer to me! Not sure why it is called "Radler"; it is not printed anywhere on the bottle but its what showed up when I did a search.

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Day 71 - Equinox Dark Belgium Winter

Brasserie De La Senne - Equinox Dark Belgium Winter
Brussels, Belgium (BELGIUM)
ABV 8.0% Calories 200*

I wasn't able to find much info on this beer; the brewery's main website is either in French or Dutch (with English 'under construction'). It seems like they brew a variety of beers but they don't seem prevalent in the US. One thing I know is this beer ages well - I've actually had it for over a year and it still tastes magnificent. It actually came in a wine sized bottle and corked like a wine, which I found interesting. The beer is a dark brown color and full of flavor - citrus and a nice sweet-ish bitter-ish aftertaste. If you can find this let me know - I'm not sure I'll ever be able to find this again unless I find myself in the streets of Brussels. Belgium makes good beers.

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Day 70 - Tusker

East African Breweries - Tusker
Nairobi, Kenya (KENYA)
ABV 4.2% Calories 130*

The elephant on the bottle is named Tusker who apparently killed one of the founders of this beer/brewery. Tusker is a very pale yellow, light, and doesn't have much flavor. However, I bet it would be the one thing I would look forward to after a long day baking in the sun chasing wildebeests across the horizon. Kenya is one place I would love to go and I look forward to someday drinking this beer where it was born.

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Day 69 - Anchor Small Beer

Anchor - Anchor Small Beer
San Francisco, CA (USA)
ABV 3.3% Calories 140*

On day 69, I'm proud to present you some sloppy seconds - the Anchor Small is a quality beer from quality ingredients (even though its using the 'leftovers' from an initial brew - more on this below); however it is just not my cup of tea. Don't let the 3.3% fool you, it actually tastes much heavier - here is some info on what "small beer" means from the Anchor website:

'The tradition of brewing two distinct beers from one mash has existed for thousands of years, and for centuries the term "small beer" was used in English to describe the lighter and weaker second beer ... we make our Old Foghorn Barleywine Style Ale from the rich first runnings of an all-malt mash, and Anchor Small Beer is our attempt to duplicate the "small beers" of old...'

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Day 68 - Hinano Tahiti

Brasserie de Tahiti S.A. - Hinano Tahiti
Papeete, Tahiti (TAHITI)
ABV 5.0% Calories 140*

I went on a beer run for the first time in about two months - having drank so many in recent days I think I picked up a few gems. Not so sure about this Hinano though; it is easy to drink and has a nice sweet after taste, but doesn't really stand out and simply tastes too common. However, if I was lying on the beach, getting a tan, with beautiful Tahitian (is that even a word) women all around - this beer of paradise would be the beer of choice.

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Day 67 - Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer - Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock
Aying, Germany (GERMANY)
ABV 6.7% Calories 200*

A smooth dark beer. I read the reviews online and everyone seems to put this beer on a pedestal. I admit, it is a good beer but doesn't even crack my top 10 - not even close...

Here is some additional info on the beer:
In Bavaria, the world’s most competitive beer market, Ayinger beers and their famous gasthaus hotel enjoy a special status even among the 750 other brewers. According to Randy Mosher, one of the World Beer Championship expert judges, "Ayinger has a long-standing reputation for excellence in beer and hospitality. Their beers are, you might say, homestyle, more lightly touched by the industrial revolution than some better known German breweries. Compared to the mainstream, their beers tend to be just a touch fuller, darker, more intense. All this without giving up the smoothness for which Bavarian beers are justly famous."

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Day 66 - 9 Extra Lager

Baltika Brewery - 9 Extra Strong
Saint Petersburg, Russia (RUSSIA)
ABV 8.0% Calories 200*

Interesting beer - not much aroma (or my early stages of a cold may be affecting my sense of smell) and the color is a simple pissy yellow. The beer itself at 8% doesn't feel like an 8% beer. It is very sweet - almost like drinking sugar water. I can't say that I like it but it is definitely worth a try for any beer lover.

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Day 65 - Bohemia clasica

Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Brewery - Bohemia clasica
Monterrey, Nuevo León (MEXICO)
ABV 5.3% Calories 150*

Just returned from a wonderful trip to the Dallas/Fort Worth area; attended my first Afghan wedding as well as explored some interesting spots in DFW. I had this Bohemia at a local restaurant in Dallas. I've had a good amount of cervazas so far and my final conclusion is that they are the most drinkable beers out there - meaning you can knock down a six-pack in 30 minutes because its so refreshing and easy to stomach. Just a note - easy to drink does not equal good tasting. By the way, happy belated Valentines day!

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Day 64 - Yebisu

Sapporo Brewery - Yebisu
Ebisu, Tokyo (JAPAN)
ABV 5.0% Calories 140

I'll be out of town this weekend so I'm 'cheating' a little. It's technically past midnight so this Yebisu is my Friday beer (although I'm sure I'll be having more tomorrow night in Dallas). The Yebisu is another Asian brew; it is suppose to be the premium beer brewed by Sapparo and is a 100% malt beer. Yebisu is one of the oldest beers from Japan and depicts the God Yebisu (Ebisu), the God of fishermen, merchants, and good luck. The beer itself is smooth with a honey-like after taste; although not close to being a favorite, it is one of the better Asian beers.

On a different but interesting note, Sapporo Brewery actually owns the Canadian company that brews Unibroue!

Day 63 - Unibroue Trois Pistoles

Unibroue - Trois Pistoles
Chambly, Québec (CANADA)
ABV 9.0% Calories 239

The Trois Pistoles has a nice thick, creamy head. It's a dark beer but relatively light in texture and goes down real smooth. Another great beer from Unibroue - I saw on their site that they have over 20 actively brewed beers; I wonder how I can get my hands on a few more of these A+ grade beers. And actually the name of each beer has a very interesting story attached to it; too long to write out here, but if you're interested, do a search and go out and have a few.

Day 62 - Unibroue Don Du Dieu

Unibroue - Don De Dieu
Chambly, Québec (CANADA)
ABV 9.0% Calories 228

Its hard for me to distinguish between this triple wheat ale and yesterday's La Fin Du Monde. Both are equally appealing visually and on the palette. Something that is interesting is that all 3 of these Unibroue's have been extraordinary and difficult to pick a favorite (the Maudite edges these two out by a tad): very different from the Sam Adam brews, where the Boston Lager stood alone.

Day 61 - Unibroue La Fin du Monde

Unibroue - La Fin du Monde
Chambly, Québec (CANADA)
ABV 9.0% Calories 225

This La Fin du Monde (The End of Days) did not disappoint. Although I may be slightly more inclined to have another Maudite, the Fin du Monde is another great beer. It has a beautiful malty aroma and at 9% you can taste the alcohol. As the days go by, I am starting to align myself with Unibroue's motto, 'drink less, drink better!' Yes, definitely another fine beer.

Day 60 - Unibroue Maudite

Unibroue - Maudite
Chambly, Québec (CANADA)
ABV 8.0% Calories 208

When I purchased this 4 beer taster set from Unibroue, I didn't know what to expect - I've never heard of this brewery but thought the bottle art was too artsy fartsy. I just read that most of Unibroue's beers (including the 4 in this set) are bottled "on the lees", or containing yeast sediment, which allows it to age (I may have to stock up on some more after drinking this Maudite). Modeled after Belgian beers the Maudite is actually a redder, stronger, version of the Hoegaarden - and just as tasty and sweet. Out of the current 60, this would have to be in my top 5! The only question I have is the name of this beer: Maudite translates to 'Damned', which doesn't make sense since this is clearly a slice of heaven. I'm looking forward to drinking the remaining 3 Unibroue brews in succession.

Day 59 - Quilmes

Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes - Quilmes
Quilmes, Buenos Aires (ARGENTINA)
ABV 4.9% Calories 120*

Looking in my beer queue, I think this might be the last of the "10 Beers from Around the World" collection. Being as a third of them came from El Salvador and the rest from non-beer producing powerhouses, you can guess that this Quilmes was just as crappy as the rest. Things can't get much worst than these 10 beers.

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Day 58 - Pilsner 100

Cerveceria La Constancia S.A. - Pilsner 100
San Salvador, El Salvador (EL SALVADOR)
ABV 4.0%* Calories 110*

I have to eat my words; here is another beer from El Salvador. The End.

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Day 57 - Cerveza Suprema

Cerveceria La Constancia S.A. - Cerveza Suprema
San Salvador, El Salvador (EL SALVADOR)
ABV 4.0%* Calories 110*

I am never going to drink another beer from El Salvador.

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Day 56 - Mac's Blackwatch Cream Porter

MacTarnahan Brewery - Blackwatch Cream Porter
Portaland, OR (USA)
ABV 5.3% Calories 171

I think this is the last Porter I have on queue before my next beer run. This is a nice treat and is just as tasty as the Anchor Porter from yesterday. This had a little less head than the Anchor, just as smooth, not as strong, but with a sweeter after taste. It made me sleepy. The next few beers coming up are going to be crap beers, hopefully I can make it to the store to pick up some better micro brews soon!

Day 55 - Anchor Porter

Anchor - Anchor Porter
San Francisco, CA (USA)
ABV 5.6% Calories 209

This pours a dark brown almost black color with a thick fuzzy head that lingers for awhile. Fairly smooth and light for a porter but has a bitter kick that stays in all areas of your mouth. I much prefer the Anchor Steam over this Anchor Porter but if you like porter, this is a must try!

Day 54 - Lost Coast Downtown Brown

Lost Coast Brewery - Downtown Brown
Eureka, CA (USA)
ABV 5.0% Calories 160*

I'm on a roll - that is 4 days of good beers. This is another Lost Coast beer - and my first time drinking the Downtown Brown. Based on the name I would have thought that this would be another heavy, full-bodied beer but to my surprise it is fairly light and has a nice sweet entry and enough flavor to make me smile. I probably prefer this one over the Great White.

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Day 53 - 2° Below Winter Ale

New Belgium Brewery - 2° Below Winter Ale
Fort Collins, CO (USA)
ABV 6.6% Calories 200

I'm sure everyone has had and loves New Belgium's Fat Tire; this lesser know 2° Below (at least to me) is one of New Belgium's seasonal brews. It is more hoppy/bitter than sweet and has a unique oakey taste. Actually it has a cigar-ish after taste; almost like having a fine wet cigar in your mouth. I never knew until recently the number of craft beers brewed by New Belgium but it seems like they make quality, 'Belgium' like beers here in the US. I'm starting to believe that if you see 'New Belgium' on the bottle, you should take it home.

Day 52 - Leffe Blonde

Abbaye de Leffe - Leffe Blonde
Leuven, Belgium (BELGUIM)
ABV 6.6% Calories 106

I don't think you can go wrong with Belgium beers; each of them have years of history and brewed to perfection and quality. I drank this Leffe out of the bottle - it was light, yet had enough hops and flavor for you to want more. I actually had one of these in Belgium and it tastes just as good here in the States - I will have to try some of Leffe's other beers.