Day 196 - Blanche de Chambly

Unibroue - Blanche De Chambly
Chambly, Québec (CANADA)
ABV 5.0% Calories 132

Unibroue's white beer; very nicely done - drank it straight out of the bottle and it had wonderful character - tasted great, bitter, sweet, citrusy, all in one. I'd have to say Unibroue currently ranks as my favorite brewery; every beer is quality in its own regard.

Day 195 - Raison D'etre

Dogfish Head - Raison D'etre
Milton, DE (USA)
ABV 8.0% Calories 220

My second Dogfish - my first (the 90 Minute IPA) still being one of my favorite; actually I should drink it again to see if I have a different opinion about it since I've gone through 185+ beers then... This Raison D'etre was a bit heavy, strong malty flavors - almost like drinking a coffee. A good beer but not nearly as good as my first Dogfish - I'm going to have to drink a few more from this brewery before I can decide if this micro-brew deserves to be in the upper echelon of breweries.

Day 194 - Landshark Lager

Margaritaville Brewing Co. - Landshark Lager
Jacksonville, FL (USA)
ABV 4.7% Calories 150

Crap beer from Florida. If you want a refreshing cerveza, get one brewed in Mexico.

Day 193 - Boreale Rousse

Brasseurs Du Nord - Boreale Rousse
Blainville, Quebec (CANADA)
ABV 5.0% Calories 160*

This is suppose to be Quebec's first red beer similar to the American Amber; it actually tasted great with my grilled steak. I'm wondering if beer just tastes better when you're on the road and when you are eating steak. I also love the polar bear mascot - there were several advertisements I saw, one of them was the polar bear as 'Venus' in Botticelli's "Birth of Venus". There were many more iterations from this brewery but I just couldn't fit them into my luggage or I would have brought home many many more polar bears. I actually had several more beers at a very lovely wedding in the evening; mostly Boston Lagers.

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Day 192 - Long Trail IPA

Long Trail Brewing Co. - Long Trail IPA
Bridewaters Corners, VT (USA)
ABV 5.6% Calories 160*

One of the better IPA's I've had in awhile - and another Vermont native. Never heard of this brewery before and will probably not find any of these in CA but definitely a solid, hoppy, IPA. I see now that Long Trail has a double IPA - will have to find that one next time I'm on the East Coast.

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Day 191 - Magic Hat #9

Magic Hat Brewery - Magic Hat #9
Burlington, VT (USA)
ABV 4.6% Calories 146

This was actually my favorite Magic Hat brew after tasting a few at the brewery. It is interesting because it is a pale ale infused with apricot flavor. The apricot flavor isn't overpowering and is actually a better fruit beer than some of the other ones I've had (strawberry/raspberry). The bartender at Magic Hat said that they are expanding and we should start seeing some of their brews out on the West Coast. I wouldn't mind drinking one of these #9's from time to time.

Day 190 - Magic Hat Wacko

Magic Hat Brewery - Magic Hat Wacko
Burlington, VT (USA)
ABV 4.5% Calories 140*

Our hotel out in Burlington was actually only about a mile away from Magic Hat Brewery. Unfortunately there are no tours on weekdays but you could still walk through the brewery and view the production plant (which was far more impressive than the production plant at Stone Brewery). I wasn't very impressed with the tastings afterwards but I still picked up Wacko and #9 at the local grocery mart. This Wacko is nothing special (I'd much prefered the Southampton Double White); a little bland but definitely easy to drink. Some signs of fruitiness but not enough to give it any distinct flavor. Good summer beer.

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Day 189 - Southampton Double White

Southampton Publick House - Southampton Double White
Southampton, NY (USA)
ABV 6.7% Calories 180*

First day up in the Northeast and I get this little treat. It is along the lines of Hoegaarden (maybe even better because of its depth), a beautiful citrus witbier that dances in your mouth. My only regret is not seeking out more of these beers from Southampton, it will be hard to find here on the West Coast.

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Day 188 - Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier

Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams) - Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier
Boston, MA (USA)
ABV 5.5% Calories 176

I'm disappointed with Sam Adams and their beers, but since they are so saturated in the market place, its one of those beers that you can't get away from even if you tried. Of course, I'll still drink them. Thank goodness this was the last one and I'm on a flight to the East coast in a few hours where I'm hopefully going to visit at least one brewery. I'll drink my beers but will have to catch up on the blogs next week.

Day 187 - Samuel Adams Pale Ale

Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams) - Sam Adams Pale Ale
Boston, MA (USA)
ABV 5.25% Calories 145

I've had a long day. I was a a friend's son's birthday party for most of the afternoon - had some beers before playing in our league basketball game. We started out slow, was down by 10 but came back winning in double digits. This Pale Ale is actually my 5th beer of the day (those empty calories are adding up) - and it isn't much better than any of these past few Sam Adam brews. Happy Father's Day to you all.

Day 186 - Samuel Adams Summer Ale

Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams) - Sam Adams Summer Ale
Boston, MA (USA)
ABV 5.2% Calories 150

I think I came into this 2nd round of Sam Adams with expectations too high. After over 150 beers in between I still held Sam Adams in very high regard (due in part to the Boston Lager) but after yet another mediocre Sam Adams beer I'm beginning to think that my fear of Sam Adams being a 'one-and-done' brewery is becoming reality. Other than Boston Lager all these other beers are C, and at best B beers. I'm starting to lump Sam Adams with the mega-breweries, great advertising, great distribution - but lacking the real uniqueness and qualities of a craft/micro-brewery. Sorry Sam, you've slowly shot yourself off my pedestal.

Day 185 - Samuel Adams Hefeweizen

Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams) - Sam Adams Hefeweizen
Boston, MA (USA)
ABV 5.4% Calories 184

Another Sammy another mediocre beer. The Hefewizen is crisp and clean and goes down smooth; slight sweetness and wheatie-ness to the beer. The beer tasted better near the bottom of the glass. No Boston Lager but definitely better than the Light. In terms of Hefewizen's, there are definitely better ones out there...

Day 184 - Sam Adams Light

Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams) - Sam Adams Light
Boston, MA (USA)
ABV 4.0% Calories 124

Spring has come and gone and now Summer is upon us; not since Winter have I had the pleasure of drinking a Sam Adams beer. I picked up a box of the mix Summer beers and will hopefully enjoy these more than the Winter beers. Although I've had this Sam Adams Light before I'm not sure why anyone would drink this over the Boston Lager. For a few extra calories (36), you have a much more flavorful and satisfying beer - let me take that back, the satisfaction is exponential. If I have a choice, I will never drink the Light over the original Boston Lager. My thoughts on Sam Adams so far: one extraordinary beer, top of the class - muddled with a smorgasbord of mediocre brews. This Sam Adams may even be sub-mediocre. Hopefully the remaining 4 Sam Adams brews will change my mind.

Day 183 - Bitburger Premium Beer

Bitburger Brauerei - Bitburger Premium Beer
Bitburg, Germany (GERMANY)
ABV 4.8% Calories 146

Today is a big day, I am officially past the 1/2 way mark of my goal... only 182 more beers to go. Instead of counting up, it is time to count down. 183 days - a blink of an eye, a flutter of wings, yet life changing events have happened in such a short span. I am on my way to becoming a father - the due date just about coinciding with how many more beers I have to drink. At the same time I've also started to think more seriously about the direction of my life. Hopefully the more beer I drink the clearer things will get. Things are going to get more personal in the second half, they always do.

About this Bitburger, the first gulp was sweet like honey - then the flavor mellowed and truthfully, its nothing worth writing home about.

Day 182 - Sierra Nevada Porter

Sierra Nevada Brewing - Sierra Nevada Porter
Chico, CA (USA)
ABV 5.6% Calories 158

I'm not usually a big fan of porters due to its full-body and over-maltiness. Sierra Nevada's Porter is actually quite tasty; roasty malty flavors pop out at you with some bitterness. However if I were to sit down and drink a six-pack, it would definitely be the Pale Ale - two would be one too many for this Porter. Enjoy slowly with some beef jerky.

Day 181 - Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager

Dixie Brewing - Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager
New Orleans, LA (USA)
ABV 5.0% Calories 155*

Another Dixie brew with a cooler bottle and cooler name. Unfortunately with the same uninspiring flavor. I've never been to New Orleans but if I did, it would be for jazz, tits, and beads. Pass on the beer.

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Day 180 - Dixie

Dixie Brewing - Dixie
New Orleans, LA (USA)
ABV 4.6% Calories 140*

In the last week I had two beers from Louisiana and my first beer from Texas. Today, I get a taste of Dixie from the heart of New Orleans. The brewery was actually severely flooded and damaged during Hurricane Katrina but has since made major strides in recovery. I'm wondering if the owners should have just taken the insurance money and retire. The beer really has no flavors. Maybe it is a good accompaniment to some good old spicy creole cuisine. Here in Califorina, we just have a Corona.

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Day 179 - Pete's Wicked Strawberry Blonde

Pete's Brewing Co. - Pete's Wicked Strawberry Blonde
San Antonio, TX (USA)
ABV 5.0% Calories 150*

Another fruity beer, another strawberry blonde, another beer I'd prefer to keep on the shelves. Maybe I'm just not into raspberry, strawberry, or any kind of 'berry' infused beers. Not much to write about - a beer with some strawberry flavor.

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Day 178 - Unibroue Terrible

Unibroue - Unibroue Terrible
Chambly, Québec (CANADA)
ABV 10.5% Calories 250*

I've had 178 beers so far and I'd have to say that Unibroue is one of my top picks for best all around brewery. It still is in the running but this 'Terrible' beer was only mediocre. Don't get me wrong, it is still a solid beer - but maybe I'm just not as keen on these dark Belgians as some of Unibroue's other brews. Terrible, is very dark brown with a substantiate head. Deep malty flavors with a sweet aftertaste. Not better than the Unibroues I've had before - Maudite still sits on top of the list.

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Day 177 - Abita Purple Haze

Abita Brewing - Abita Purple Haze
Abita Springs, LA (USA)
ABV 4.2% Calories 140*

Another Abita brew - this one an infused raspberry ale. It is hazy like the name states; no signs of purple, just a cloudy yellowish mix - dense enough that I couldn't see the image on the other side of my glass pint. Taste wise, there is a slight hint of raspberries - not far off from Lost Coast's Raspberry Brown. Other than the hint of Raspberry, the beer is actually pretty bland. Tasting these two beers I wouldn't put Abita up there with some of my favorite micro-brews.

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Day 176 - Abita Amber Beer

Abita Brewing - Abita Amber Beer
Abita Springs, LA (USA)
ABV 4.5% Calories 140*

Brewed by a micro-brew 30 miles north of New Orleans, this Amber was slightly malty, mildly sweet, but lacking any significant flavor. Easy to drink and from what I see, probably a pretty cool place to visit. Have a few beers then head on down to Mardi Gras.

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Day 175 - Baltika 7 Export Lager

Baltika Brewery - Baltika 7 Export Lager
Saint Petersburg, Russia (RUSSIA)
ABV 5.4% Calories 150*

I'm just glad that this is the last Baltika I have in stock - I know there are a few more out there but at least for the time being, I'll be able to get back to some more tasty beers. Again, this #7 lacked any distinction - easy to drink but after these 365-days, I'll probably never have another Baltika unless I'm in Eastern Europe.

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Day 174 - Baltika 2 Lager (Svetloye)

Baltika Brewery - Baltika 2 Lager (Svetloye)
Saint Petersburg, Russia (RUSSIA)
ABV 4.7% Calories 140*

The 4th Baltika on my list - another dud. Although yesterday's Wheat Ale was pass-ably refreshing, this Pale Ale again lacks any distinctive taste or any hoppy goodness. Baltika is the the 2nd largest brewery (Heineken being the largest) and actually numbers its beers from 1-10 ('0' is a non-alcoholic drink) - hopefully I can taste all 10, but inevitably Russia isn't know for its beers so it should stick with vodka, communism, and leggy super models.

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Day 173 - Baltika 8 Wheat Ale

Baltika Brewery - Baltika 8 Wheat Ale
Saint Petersburg, Russia (RUSSIA)
ABV 5.0% Calories 145*

The 3rd installment from this Russian brewery and my favorite so far. Nothing special to note; a very light wheat ale, not very citrusy - but smooth and crisp. Easy to drink and refreshing on this warm evening.

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Day 172 - Rogue MoriMoto Soba Ale

Rogue Ales Brewery - Rogue MoriMoto Soba Ale
Newport, OR (USA)
ABV 4.8% Calories 145*

I've actually been looking forward to this beer for quite some time; the Rogue beers I've had so far have been above average. This Soba made beer piqued my interest and after a long day of mowing lawns and picking up around the house, I wanted to reward myself with a special beer. It pours a dirty, light amber color - smells a little fruity, and tastes semi-sweet with some hops. Maybe I expected too much but the beer is 'better than most' but really not worth the close to $6 price tag. I would rather pick up a six pack of Sam Adams Boston Lager and have a jolly good time than pay for this again. Definitely worth a try but I probably won't pick this one up again.

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Day 171 - Smmerfest Lager

Sierra Nevada Brewing - Summerfest Lager
Chico, CA (USA)
ABV 5.0% Calories 158

This just goes to show that a great beer from one brewery doesn't always translate into other great beers. I love Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale, but this seasonal Summerfest Lager leaves much to desire. A light pissy yellow, it doesn't have an distinguishing flavors. It a simple lager, crisp, malty and that is about it.

Day 170 - Saison Dupont

Brasserie Dupont - Saison Dupont
Tourpes-Leuze, Belgium (BELGIUM)
ABV 6.5% Calories 200*

Saison is the French word for seasons; this type of beer was originally brewed on farmhouses for the farm hand to drink during harvest. It is a bottle conditioned beer, meaning the final fermentation happens in the bottle. This Saison was sweet upon entry but then turned into a sour after taste; not in a pleasant way. The sour bitterness stays on your palette. Maybe the Saison beers are an acquired taste; one that I have not yet acquired. If I was a farmer, I would drink gatorade or if it had to be a beer - one of those light Mexican cervezas.

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Day 169 - Mighty Arrow Pale Ale

New Belgium Brewery - Mighty Arrow Pale Ale
Fort Collins, CO (USA)
ABV 6.0% Calories 160*

One of many lesser known New Belgium beers, this Mighty Arrow is one of NB's seasonal brews and is named after a Border/Collie mix that 'ran' the brewery for 12 years. It is actually a fairly light beer - the initial taste was fabulous; citursy, hoppy, and a bit malty. About half way through, it tasted less citrusy/hoppy. I'd order the Fat Tire before this Mighty Arrow - but I am trying to get my hands or NB's Abbey and Trippel; if you know where I can land one of these, let me know.

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Day 168 - Pacifico Clara

Grupo Modelo - Pacifico Clara
Mexico City, Mexico (MEXICO)
ABV 4.8% Calories 156

This isn't my picture but I do have the bottle; had dinner down at Miguel's - sub par food, sub par beer. I've had many Pacifico's in the past and although it is easy to drink and great to pound on a hot summer's day - it really is a pretty shitty piss beer. Have one and piss it out.

Day 167 - Lagunitas Maximus IPA

Lagunitas Brewing - Lagunitas Maximus IPA
Petaluma, CA (USA)
ABV 7.5% Calories 220*

I'd probably prefer this IPA on steroids over yesterday's Alsakan IPA. This Maximus (how can you not like a beer named Maximus)has a bitter entry but is sweet in your mouth and then malty down your hatchet. Doesn't smell very appetizing - like citrus gone bad; but the overall impression is positive. If you sip it, you get a totally different flavor than gulping. Don't know what they put in this Maximus but it seems like they just throw it all in. Try one.

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