Day 135 - Strawberry Blonde

Belmont Brewing - Strawberry Blonde
Long Beach, CA (USA)
ABV 4.5*% Calories 150*

Although I am a fan of all things strawberry; strawberry ice scream, strawberry whoppers, strawberry milk shakes, strawberry cheesecake, etc..., this Strawberry Blonde just doesn't do strawberry justice. This is a very light beer; easy to drink, and smooth going down. If you swish and hum the beer in your mouth, you will barely sense the aroma of strawberries. I wonder if this is what Bud Light would taste like if you drop in some strawberry whoppers.

*estimated

Day 134 - Trader Joe's 2008 Vintage Ale

Unibroue - Trader Joe's 2008 Vintage Ale
Chambly, Québec (CANADA)
ABV 9.0% Calories 225*

I have two beers left in stock, and those two I'm saving for a rainy day - so that means I have to go on a beer run tomorrow - it's been quite some time since I went beer shopping so I'm pretty excited. I've also been saving this 'Trader Joe's' beer for quite some time. Unibroue (one of my favorite breweries so far) brews this once a year for Trader Joe's and it is exceptional, like the rest of the Unibroue beers. It has a clear Belgian influence and it goes down with a fruit-ish smokey blend. I drank the whole 750ml in one sitting. Supposedly this ages well so next time I'm at my local Trader Joe's, I may pick one up and stash it away for another rainy day.

*estimated

Day 133 - Altenmunster Winterbier

Allgäuer Brauhaus - Altenmunster Winterbier
Kempten, Germany (GERMANY)
ABV 7.2% Calories 170

Is this the German Mediocre Week? Another German brew, another reason why I'm starting to think Germany isn't the place to be in October. This is a dark winter beer; pours with a nice thick head. Actually smoother than most doppelbocks but very metallic in taste and an unnatural sweet. Had to put it down after a half glass... maybe save it for later?

Day 132 - Hacker-Pschorr Weisse

Hacker-Pschorr Brewery - Hacker-Pschorr Weisse
Munich, Germany (GERMANY)
ABV 5.5% Calories 150*

Another beer from Munich, Germany. Although the reviews for this beer are extraordinary, I'm not so easily impressed. The H-P is fresh, crisp, and tastes like a quality beer - it is wheaty with a slight citrus taste. Smooth and easy to drink yet very similar to many other German hefe-weizens. The H-P just doesn't stand out in my opinion.

*estimated

Day 131 - Spaten Oktoberfest Ur-Märzen

Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu - Spaten Oktoberfest Ur-Märzen
Munich, Germany (GERMANY)
ABV 5.9% Calories 180

I'm running low stock and my choices each night seem to diminish. I've drank most of the highly anticipated beers (except for one) and left those that I didn't really care for; like this Spaten Oktoberfest. Just not my type of beer; it has a sour, malty sweetness that just doesn't go well with my palette.

Day 130 - Okocim Porter

Browar Okocim - Okocim Porter
Brzesko, Poland (POLAND)
ABV 8.1% Calories 220*

Looks are very deceiving; this Okocim Porter pours a dark brown with little head and seems to be a heavy-set, full-bodied beer. However, it tastes very syrupy and full of malty sweetness - almost too sweet to handle in a beer, in a porter. At 8%+ I could feel the punch after half a glass and that was all I wanted to drink (although I finished the glass, I wouldn't want a 2nd glass).

*estimated

Day 129 - Great Scot Organic Pale Ale

Caledonian Brewery - Great Scot Organic Pale Ale
Edinburgh, Scotland (SCOTLAND)
ABV 5.0% Calories 160*

I'm not sure what it is with the English Pale Ale's - they just taste like butt nasty. Most of the lagers/ales coming from that part of the region always has a metallic sourness to it; not an agreeable hoppy flavor like the brews coming out of central Europe. It is nice that they market it as an organic beer, but I don't really want to save the planet drinking this type of beer.

*estimated

Day 128 - Paulaner Original Münich

Paulaner - Paulaner Original Münich
Munich, Germany (GERMANY)
ABV 4.9% Calories 140*

Paulaner tends to get fairly high ratings across the board from all of their beers. I don't think I've come across a Paulaner that piqued my interest enough for me to want to make a trip to the store for it specifically. This one is no exception; a very solid lager but nothing unique or outstanding. Maybe my nose is still stuffed but this was pretty plain.

*estimated

Day 127 - Boont Amber Ale

Anderson Valley Brewing Company - Boont Amber Ale
Boonville, CA (USA)
ABV 5.8% Calories 175*

Another 'American' Amber Ale, this time from my favorite little brewery in Boonville. If I had a side by side taste test between this Boont and the Rogue American Ale, I would probably prefer the later. The Rogue from yesterday had a more unique flavor to it and a sweetness that I enjoy. The Boont is not bad, is also very smooth and has a malty sweet to it that just isn't on par with the Rogue.

*estimated

Day 126 - Rogue American Amber Ale

Rogue Ales Brewery - Rogue American Amber Ale
Newport, OR (USA)
ABV 5.6% Calories 165*

I'm still a little congested but solid enough to have a cold one, while enjoying the Lakers dominate in the first round of the playoffs. This is another Rogue brew and is surprisingly smooth and unique. Less tangy and more hoppy than those English ales, and has a sweet malty flavor. A good sweet unlike the metallic sweet in some lower quality ales. Great way to start off post intermission.

Intermission

At the onset of this project I absentmindedly forgot that there would be the possibility that I would get sick bad enough not to be able to enjoy beer. The past few days have been bad, coughing up phlegm and being congested enough not to taste Pho. I still plan on drinking 365 beers, it might just take me a few extra days due to this intermission.

Day 125 - Liberty Ale

Anchor - Liberty Ale
San Francisco, CA (USA)
ABV 6.0% Calories 175

I've had a few beers from Anchor Brewing Co. now and nothing comes even close to Anchor Steam (their flagship beer). This Liberty Ale falls short of whatever it was trying to accomplish - supposedly it is a classic American Pale Ale but I would much prefer an IPA over this any day. It has a light sweetness to it, but instead of the IPA bitter/citrusy sweet - it is a sour sweet, which I don't like in my beers. It is rated high, but it is not my personal preference.

Day 124 - Pyramid Hefeweizen

Pyramid Brewery - Pyramid Hefeweizen
Seattle, WA (USA)
ABV 5.2% Calories 145

Decent Hefeweizen; a nice amber-ish color with little head. Simple flavor with nothing too spectacular. Light citrus taste; probably better from tap.

Day 123 - Stella Artois

Stella Artois - Stella Artois
Leuven, Belgium (BELGIUM)
ABV 5.2% Calories 135

A very plain lager for Belgium standards - nothing special here, no unique flavors, scent, or taste. Maybe that is why it is one of the more common Belgium brews out there at the local stores.

Day 122 - Pyramid Apricot Ale

Pyramid Brewery - Pyramid Apricot Ale
Seattle, WA (USA)
ABV 5.25% Calories 146

After a week of fine, quality, flavorful, and sometimes extremely hoppy Stone brews - I turn my attention to a very different type of beer; this Apricot Ale from Pyramid. It is surprisingly pleasant, refreshing, and exactly what I needed after a long day in the sun. It is easy to drink, yet has substance and if you like apricots, you will love this beer; it leaves a great apricot taste in your mouth.

Day 121 - Stone Imperial Russian Stout

Stone Brewing - Stone Imperial Russian Stout
Escondido, CA (USA)
ABV 10.8% Calories 300*

This is the last Stone beer during my 'week of Stone' and unfortunately the worst one of the bunch. This is a dark brew, thick, and cough-syrupy - no great flavors in my book so not my cup of tea.

*estimated

Day 120 - Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Ale

Stone Brewing - Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Ale
Escondido, CA (USA)
ABV 11.3% Calories 300*

This is a potent beer. I'm not sure I like how strong the beer tastes - it is very heavy and malty with a Steel Reserve type of taste. Unfortunately I'd probably pass on this beer in the future.

*estimated

Day 119 - Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale

Stone Brewing - Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale
Escondido, CA (USA)
ABV 7.2% Calories 250*

I hate cocky people and cocky beer! This Arrogant Bastard Ale prides itself on being too good for you, me, and everyone else out there - 'you're not worthy' it states on the bottle. I like the beautiful amber pour and the spicy, sugary aroma - but in my books the arrogance is over-rated. It does have a spicy, bitter, and unique taste but I personally prefer the IPA or the Cali-Belgique. Of course, this doesn't deter me from wanting to try the Double Bastard Ale (which unfortunately I did not see or buy at the brewery).

*estimated

Day 118 - Stone Ruination IPA

Stone Brewing - Stone Ruination IPA
Escondido, CA (USA)
ABV 7.7% Calories 275*

A tasty IPA with double the hops - it leaves you craving something sweet to counter the bitterness of the brew. Dubbed 'a liquid poem to the glory of the hop', the Ruination IPA is intensely hoppy - and will make all those hop lovers very happy. I don't think this beer is for everyone, and I myself am on the fence.

*estimated

Day 117 - Stone Sublimely Self Righteous Ale

Stone Brewing - Stone Sublimely Self Righteous Ale
Escondido, CA (USA)
ABV 8.7% Calories 275*

I was surprised at how dark this beer poured; almost as dark as the Chocolate Oatmeal I had the other day; the only difference is this is a great tasting beer. Some may feel that it is too bitter but I like it (in small quantities) - it is smooth upon entry and has an IPA feel but just heavier and more malty. It leaves your entire mouth with a bitter after taste. 8 oz. of this would be perfect; not sure if I'm going to make it through the full 22 oz. bottle tonight.

*estimated

Day 116 - Stone Sawyer's Triple

Stone Brewing - Stone Sawyer's Triple
Escondido, CA (USA)
ABV 7.6% Calories 200*

My Stone week continues and I kick off this week with a special Stone brew. This Sawyer's Triple is limited release and only available at the Stone Brewery. The story and cause behind this brew is amazing. To make a long story short, one of Stone's employee's son was diagnosed and eventually passed away due to ALD (Adrenoleukodystrophy), which is a rare and devastating neuro-degenerative disease that typically affects young boys. This beer is dedicated to Sawyer - and 100% of all proceeds go towards fighting ALD! The beer itself is a beautiful, light golden brown and has spicy, citrusy notes. I like the IPA's better but this is a great beer for a great cause - I should have bought more!

*estimated

Day 115 - Stone Cali-Beligique IPA

Stone Brewing - Stone Cali-Beligique IPA
Escondido, CA (USA)
ABV 6.9% Calories 200*

I have some slight allergies today and my nose is a little stuff but from the little I smell and taste, this is probably my favorite Stone brew so far; it is supposedly identical to the Stone IPA except for the use of Belgium yeast - hence the Californian style Belgium influenced IPA. The Cali-Beligique is a soft shade of amber and pours with little head - it has a citrusy scent and provides a palette full of flavors with a strong malt-bitter finish. Not sure it is that easy to find, but I'm glad the brewery is only about an hour away!

*estimated

Day 114 - Stone Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

Stone Brewing - Stone Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout
Escondido, CA (USA)
ABV 9.2% Calories 250*

Aged for a year, this Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout sounds a lot better than it actually tastes. It pours blackish-brown with little head and my NY buddy commented that it looks and smells like soy-sauce. In terms of taste, I really like how this reviewer puts it: "the problem, I think, was in trying to replace hop bitterness with chocolate bitterness. It gives the beer a sharp, astringent, almost medicinal flavor, that isn't helped by too much unmasked alcohol. For whatever reason, the malts don't provide much flavor or complexity and whole thing sinks under its own weight. Too harsh? Maybe, but Stone set the bar high by virtue of the rest of their deliciously drinkable lineup.'

As an aside, I had this beer at the Stone Brewery this afternoon and since I was there, I brought back quite a few more Stone's, which I will continue to drink this coming week - I know Stone will redeem itself and I am looking forward to some tasty carbs.

*estimated

Day 113 - Peroni Nastro Azzurro

Birra Peroni Industriale - Peroni Nastro Azzurro
Roma, Italy (ITALY)
ABV 4.7% Calories 140*

First Italian beer on this list - it is light and refreshing but lacking any unique flavor. Drinkable but not something I would crave or want to drink at a restaurant; even if it was an Italian restaurant.

*estimated

Day 112 - Harp Lager

Guinness - Harp Lager
St. James Gate, Dublin (IRELAND)
ABV 5.0% Calories 153

Advertising this Harp as 'from the brewers of Guinness' doesn't help out its cause. Harp is a mediocre beer at best and does not distinct itself from other lagers.

Day 111 - Foster's

Foster's Group - Foster's
Southbank, Australia (AUSTRALIA)
ABV 4.9% Calories 156

Australia is often times considered to be part of the Asiatic countries - and this Foster's has a very similar taste to the lagers of Asia. This is the first Australian beer on my list and what sets it apart from the Asian beers is the sweeter taste. Foster's is advertised as the 'Amber Nectar' in Australia and it does fit the bill. Here in the US all of us recognize Foster's as 'Australia for Beer'.