June 19th, 2012 at 2:08PM
We’ve have moved over to the new Simple Man’s Beer Blog site. Please update your links as applicable and come over to check out the new site.

We’ve have moved over to the new Simple Man’s Beer Blog site. Please update your links as applicable and come over to check out the new site.

June 15th, 2012 at 11:49AM
Lessons Learned - Hawaiian Style Bill Sour I suppose I’m a pretty lucky guy. Really, in my life there are only a few instances where I could say something makes me feel lucky. Once of those things is the fact that I’ve been to Hawai’i not once but twice. Both times were in my early 20s when drinking beer was lots of macro brews and more or less getting loaded. We often say as adults, “if only I knew then what I know now.” So when I picked up some Maui Brewing Bikini Blonde Lager, I definitely had a flashback to what those times were like and what I learned since then. Really, cracking open this can was great. The crisp sound just had me excited to take a chug. It was just like thinking of feeling that light Hawaiian breeze gets you excited to get there so you can feel it for yourself. Before I let myself succumb to the alluring thoughts of a cold beer that would taste good on a white sandy Hawaiian beach, I took a whiff. It smelled crisp. It smelled clean. More of a full aroma than the macros I drank while on the island. There were some malty overtones but nothing that was overpowering. So I took that first swig. That malt was there. It gave it some sweetness. There was some light hoppiness that gave it just a hint of bitter. The balance was extraordinary. Just like the Hawaiian lifestyle that isn’t too fast and isn’t too slow. It was bold and clean but not like it was trying to hard. Much more personality than the macros I consumed when I was on the islands. I could see myself enjoying one of these slowly while lounging on the beach. At the same time, I could see myself slamming one after another hanging with the guys looking to get crazy. This beer really embodied Hawai’i. One second I’m thinking about how it’s the perfect vacation spot, the next I’m thinking about how I might just need to relocate myself. It definitely brought back thoughts from that island. But what did I really learn here anyway? Isn’t this about learning from my past? Well, I did learn a few things since that 2nd trip. I learned that I should not let my dad drink eight mai tias on a self-guided (self-invented) hotel beachfront bar tour of Waikiki Beach or you’ll have to pour him into a taxi to get back to where you’re staying. I learned that you need to be in shape if you’re going to go play in the waves at the Sandy Beach Park otherwise those waves will beat the living hell out of you. (I seriously thought I was looking up at an enormously huge wall of water) I learned that when you go surfing…or just taking surfing lessons it’s important to wear a shirt of some type or you will chafe the hell out of your nipples and have to wear band aids over them for the rest of the trip. Finally, I learned that spending two vacations consisting of over two total weeks in Hawai’i, that if you don’t find delicious craft beers to drink while you’re there, you’ll look back many years later and realize that the incredible vacations you had could have been so much more incredible with less Coors Light, and more Bikini Blonde Lager. Seriously though…my nipples got jacked up. Beach Facts 2009 Gold Medalist L.A. International Commercial Beer Competition (Muncher Style Helles BDR (Binge Drinking Rating) - Inevitable Hops Used - Liberty, Sterling and Hersbrucker This beer’s favorite food - Wouldn’t say, but not Spam ABV% - 5.1% Pretty Hula girl on the label Final Beer Rating - 9 Coconut Bras  http://mauibrewingco.com/ Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/MBCBrewpub Twitter - @MauiBrewingCo

Lessons Learned - Hawaiian Style

Bill Sour

I suppose I’m a pretty lucky guy. Really, in my life there are only a few instances where I could say something makes me feel lucky. Once of those things is the fact that I’ve been to Hawai’i not once but twice. Both times were in my early 20s when drinking beer was lots of macro brews and more or less getting loaded. We often say as adults, “if only I knew then what I know now.” So when I picked up some Maui Brewing Bikini Blonde Lager, I definitely had a flashback to what those times were like and what I learned since then.

Really, cracking open this can was great. The crisp sound just had me excited to take a chug. It was just like thinking of feeling that light Hawaiian breeze gets you excited to get there so you can feel it for yourself. Before I let myself succumb to the alluring thoughts of a cold beer that would taste good on a white sandy Hawaiian beach, I took a whiff. It smelled crisp. It smelled clean. More of a full aroma than the macros I drank while on the island. There were some malty overtones but nothing that was overpowering. So I took that first swig. That malt was there. It gave it some sweetness. There was some light hoppiness that gave it just a hint of bitter. The balance was extraordinary. Just like the Hawaiian lifestyle that isn’t too fast and isn’t too slow. It was bold and clean but not like it was trying to hard. Much more personality than the macros I consumed when I was on the islands. I could see myself enjoying one of these slowly while lounging on the beach. At the same time, I could see myself slamming one after another hanging with the guys looking to get crazy. This beer really embodied Hawai’i. One second I’m thinking about how it’s the perfect vacation spot, the next I’m thinking about how I might just need to relocate myself. It definitely brought back thoughts from that island.

But what did I really learn here anyway? Isn’t this about learning from my past? Well, I did learn a few things since that 2nd trip. I learned that I should not let my dad drink eight mai tias on a self-guided (self-invented) hotel beachfront bar tour of Waikiki Beach or you’ll have to pour him into a taxi to get back to where you’re staying. I learned that you need to be in shape if you’re going to go play in the waves at the Sandy Beach Park otherwise those waves will beat the living hell out of you. (I seriously thought I was looking up at an enormously huge wall of water) I learned that when you go surfing…or just taking surfing lessons it’s important to wear a shirt of some type or you will chafe the hell out of your nipples and have to wear band aids over them for the rest of the trip. Finally, I learned that spending two vacations consisting of over two total weeks in Hawai’i, that if you don’t find delicious craft beers to drink while you’re there, you’ll look back many years later and realize that the incredible vacations you had could have been so much more incredible with less Coors Light, and more Bikini Blonde Lager. Seriously though…my nipples got jacked up.

Beach Facts

  • 2009 Gold Medalist L.A. International Commercial Beer Competition (Muncher Style Helles
  • BDR (Binge Drinking Rating) - Inevitable
  • Hops Used - Liberty, Sterling and Hersbrucker
  • This beer’s favorite food - Wouldn’t say, but not Spam
  • ABV% - 5.1%
  • Pretty Hula girl on the label
  • Final Beer Rating - 9 Coconut Bras 

http://mauibrewingco.com/

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/MBCBrewpub

Twitter - @MauiBrewingCo

June 11th, 2012 at 1:57PM
It Tasted Like Beer Bill Sour As I’ve been reviewing beers, one of challenging aspects has been finding new beers to review. I like to try and keep a balance. I don’t want every review I have be about some oak-barrel aged beer that’s some brewery’s quarterly release. But I don’t want every review to be your run-of-the-mill micro brew. Thus, I’m always on the lookout for some new things to try. I’m always hoping to find that new, incredible flavor that makes me say, “WOW! Now that’s a nifty beer!” (Yes, I said nifty) At the same time, I don’t want to have my iPhone out looking up info on beer. I don’t want to try it and review it based on another review. That just feels wrong. I want a fresh perspective when I take that first sip. So when I was pacing in front of the micro cases at one of my favorite liquor stores, I saw Genesee Cream Ale and had to give it a go. Cream Ale? It must have a delicious, creamy kind of taste! I love beers that have a creamy taste! It comes in a cool bottle too! It’s a stubby! When do you see beers bottled in stubbies that isn’t Red Stripe? (excellent beer by the way) It comes from Rochester, New York. It’s always good to have some east coast beers to review. It’s so hard to get them west of the old Mississippi. I’ll tell you, I was really excited.  When I cracked open the first bottle, it didn’t have any strong defining qualities. There was a faint hoppiness and a faint malty aroma. Nothing out of the ordinary like most wacky micro brews try to give you. The smell was like a good cold beer. When I took the first sip, I found the exact same thing. It wasn’t overly or even middle-ie malty. It wasn’t overly or even middle-ie hoppy either. It just tasted like a good beer. The crispness of the beer felt very lager-like and it was quite carbonated. It was so far from what I was expecting. But with all of that in mind, it wasn’t bad…it just tasted like beer. Not bad beer. Just good beer. Feels kinda like good old fashioned lawn-mowin’ beer. Or maybe takin’ a break from re-shingling your house beer. Possibly a thirsty from cleaning out the garage beer. It was good…because it just tasted like beer. The Plain Old Facts ABV% - 5.10% This beer’s favorite 70s era sitcom - WKRP in Cincinnati Packaged as - 6-pack 12oz bottles (I drank all 6) BDR (Binge Drinking Rating) - Very Possible Paired well with - Papa John’s Buffalo Chicken Pizza (Rochester isn’t far from Buffalo) Crime that drinking this beer makes me want to commit - Perjury Final Beer Grade - Good Beer http://www.geneseebeer.com/ Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/geneseebrewery Twitter - @GeneseeBrewery

It Tasted Like Beer

Bill Sour

As I’ve been reviewing beers, one of challenging aspects has been finding new beers to review. I like to try and keep a balance. I don’t want every review I have be about some oak-barrel aged beer that’s some brewery’s quarterly release. But I don’t want every review to be your run-of-the-mill micro brew. Thus, I’m always on the lookout for some new things to try. I’m always hoping to find that new, incredible flavor that makes me say, “WOW! Now that’s a nifty beer!” (Yes, I said nifty) At the same time, I don’t want to have my iPhone out looking up info on beer. I don’t want to try it and review it based on another review. That just feels wrong. I want a fresh perspective when I take that first sip.

So when I was pacing in front of the micro cases at one of my favorite liquor stores, I saw Genesee Cream Ale and had to give it a go. Cream Ale? It must have a delicious, creamy kind of taste! I love beers that have a creamy taste! It comes in a cool bottle too! It’s a stubby! When do you see beers bottled in stubbies that isn’t Red Stripe? (excellent beer by the way) It comes from Rochester, New York. It’s always good to have some east coast beers to review. It’s so hard to get them west of the old Mississippi. I’ll tell you, I was really excited. 

When I cracked open the first bottle, it didn’t have any strong defining qualities. There was a faint hoppiness and a faint malty aroma. Nothing out of the ordinary like most wacky micro brews try to give you. The smell was like a good cold beer. When I took the first sip, I found the exact same thing. It wasn’t overly or even middle-ie malty. It wasn’t overly or even middle-ie hoppy either. It just tasted like a good beer. The crispness of the beer felt very lager-like and it was quite carbonated. It was so far from what I was expecting. But with all of that in mind, it wasn’t bad…it just tasted like beer. Not bad beer. Just good beer. Feels kinda like good old fashioned lawn-mowin’ beer. Or maybe takin’ a break from re-shingling your house beer. Possibly a thirsty from cleaning out the garage beer. It was good…because it just tasted like beer.

The Plain Old Facts

  • ABV% - 5.10%
  • This beer’s favorite 70s era sitcom - WKRP in Cincinnati
  • Packaged as - 6-pack 12oz bottles (I drank all 6)
  • BDR (Binge Drinking Rating) - Very Possible
  • Paired well with - Papa John’s Buffalo Chicken Pizza (Rochester isn’t far from Buffalo)
  • Crime that drinking this beer makes me want to commit - Perjury
  • Final Beer Grade - Good Beer

http://www.geneseebeer.com/

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/geneseebrewery

Twitter - 
June 8th, 2012 at 2:38PM
It Tastes Good in the Middle Bill Sour Beers from the “Blue Moon Brewing Company” are an interesting topic. Brewed to give the feel and taste of a craft brew but Blue Moon is actually owned by Coors as part of their craft an import division. Makes it a bit difficult to define it as a microbrew. Regardless, there’s plenty of these “middle” beers out there to try and many damn good ones. I know for myself I won’t discriminate and stay away from these types of beers. A beer is a beer is a beer and I’m all about equality even if I prefer one more than the other. So I decided to take the plunge and review one of these “middle” beers. In this case, limited summer release of Agave Blonde Ale caught my eye. The aroma was a bit wheaty with hints of the agave as well as some citrus floating around. This is definitely the smell of a beer that was brand new to me but the smell had me hooked and I was ready to get the first taste. What I found with the first sip was that the flavor did a good job at following the aroma. The draw is a bit wheatie and smooth and the agave sweetness follows quickly. It’s not exactly a subtle sweetness. It’s definitely a but more pronounced than most fruity flavored beers but not nearly as “in your face” as some others I’ve tasted. Almost as if it was sort of right in the middle in terms of fruity. The finish has a bit of that citrus as well as a light hoppy flavor to make it just a bit dry on the back end. Not the hoppiest beer I’ve ever had, but not the least hoppy either. Sort of right in the middle. After having a few drinks, I asked two of my closest friends to try it and tell me what they think. My best friend took a swig and made a bit of a face. Simpy put, she wasn’t exactly a fan. She’ll stick with Blue Moon’s Summer release, Honey Moon until the day she dies. As for the other, he took a swig and looked a bit puzzled. He took a second and had the following comment; “It’s not too bad. The initial taste isn’t bad and the aftertaste is alright. But it’s almost like there’s this flavor in the middle that makes it a bit better.” That series of comments summed up my entire thought process on this beer. You’ll now get to see Justin and I argue for the rest of the life of this blog over a term I decided to coin myself. This beer is not a micro brew. But it’s not exactly a macro brew either. It’s sort of in the middle. It’s a “middle brew.” And this is the perfect example of a middle brew. All of its factors are not exactly on one end of the scale or the other. They’re all sort of in the middle. And when you taste everything together, its not great, but its not terrible. But it tastes good in the middle. Half of the facts: ABV% - 5.6 This beer’s favorite karaoke song - Shock to the Heart by Bon Jovi Citrus tones - Lemon and Orange peel BDR (Binge Drinking Rating) – Not impossible, not very possible. Just possible. Pairs well with - Seasonal salads and fruit sorbets Final Beer Rating - Sort of in the middle  http://www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com/ Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/bluemoon Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/BlueMoon_BrewCo @BlueMoon_BrewCo

It Tastes Good in the Middle

Bill Sour

Beers from the “Blue Moon Brewing Company” are an interesting topic. Brewed to give the feel and taste of a craft brew but Blue Moon is actually owned by Coors as part of their craft an import division. Makes it a bit difficult to define it as a microbrew. Regardless, there’s plenty of these “middle” beers out there to try and many damn good ones. I know for myself I won’t discriminate and stay away from these types of beers. A beer is a beer is a beer and I’m all about equality even if I prefer one more than the other. So I decided to take the plunge and review one of these “middle” beers. In this case, limited summer release of Agave Blonde Ale caught my eye.

The aroma was a bit wheaty with hints of the agave as well as some citrus floating around. This is definitely the smell of a beer that was brand new to me but the smell had me hooked and I was ready to get the first taste. What I found with the first sip was that the flavor did a good job at following the aroma. The draw is a bit wheatie and smooth and the agave sweetness follows quickly. It’s not exactly a subtle sweetness. It’s definitely a but more pronounced than most fruity flavored beers but not nearly as “in your face” as some others I’ve tasted. Almost as if it was sort of right in the middle in terms of fruity. The finish has a bit of that citrus as well as a light hoppy flavor to make it just a bit dry on the back end. Not the hoppiest beer I’ve ever had, but not the least hoppy either. Sort of right in the middle.

After having a few drinks, I asked two of my closest friends to try it and tell me what they think. My best friend took a swig and made a bit of a face. Simpy put, she wasn’t exactly a fan. She’ll stick with Blue Moon’s Summer release, Honey Moon until the day she dies. As for the other, he took a swig and looked a bit puzzled. He took a second and had the following comment; “It’s not too bad. The initial taste isn’t bad and the aftertaste is alright. But it’s almost like there’s this flavor in the middle that makes it a bit better.” That series of comments summed up my entire thought process on this beer.

You’ll now get to see Justin and I argue for the rest of the life of this blog over a term I decided to coin myself. This beer is not a micro brew. But it’s not exactly a macro brew either. It’s sort of in the middle. It’s a “middle brew.” And this is the perfect example of a middle brew. All of its factors are not exactly on one end of the scale or the other. They’re all sort of in the middle. And when you taste everything together, its not great, but its not terrible. But it tastes good in the middle.

Half of the facts:

  • ABV% - 5.6
  • This beer’s favorite karaoke song - Shock to the Heart by Bon Jovi
  • Citrus tones - Lemon and Orange peel
  • BDR (Binge Drinking Rating) – Not impossible, not very possible. Just possible.
  • Pairs well with - Seasonal salads and fruit sorbets
  • Final Beer Rating - Sort of in the middle 

http://www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com/

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/bluemoon

Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/BlueMoon_BrewCo @BlueMoon_BrewCo

June 6th, 2012 at 1:28PM
Well Built, Like a Lifelong Friendship Justin Jaramillo This past Saturday I stood in a tuxedo under an expansive Colorado sky listening and watching as one of the best friends a guy could ask for entered into marriage.  I felt a bit of emptiness in my stomach, as I knew that this one was special.  Jose always reminded me of a brother that I never had, a guy that I considered to be my family. My buddy Jose is a great guy, he is one of those guys who no matter how long you have been away from him you can always pick up a conversation and have a good time. We both went to the University of Colorado, yet our paths never crossed during our four years in Boulder (most likely a good thing for the city). I have known Jose since we both started working together at our first “real” job. During these past 8 years of friendship, Jose and I have had the opportunity to experience life in ways that would make others envious. We have traveled to great locations, spent many days lounging around drinking and telling ridiculously unfunny jokes, and pontificated on a myriad of topics. I am sure there are many people would who say the same things I could and would say about him. He has shared his time and lent his talents to all his friends, and in a pinch he even lent his crotch to a lonely mouse (an inside story!) In all of those moments, I acted as any young friend would; I took them for granted.  Not wanting to take for granted the last few moments of Jose’s bachelorhood, I decided to share my specially procured bottle of Breckenridge Well Built ESB. This beer is produced by my favorite brewery, Breckenridge Brewery. This beer was aged in Stranahan’s Colorado whiskey barrels and exudes the unique and enjoyable spirit of Colorado craft brewing. Breckenridge Brewery has teamed with Stranahan’s distillery to help produce an incredible brew. I can’t do justice in describing the flavor of this beer. It has a smoothness that I have not experienced while drinking a beer. The fullness of flavor and the distinct yet mild whiskey undertones gave each of us a reason to continue sipping. You did get a taste of caramel, vanilla, even coffee.  The aftertaste was dry but still held that refreshing quality.  To me this was the perfect bottle to share between friends.  As the sky started to cloud over and the wind started to pick up, I was left standing there wondering how my life, and the friendship I had built over the last 8 years was bound to change. Nearly every one of my friends has married over the last 10 years. Jose had stood as the last bastion of the life I had before I “grew up”. Yet, as he slowly turned to the groomsmen after he had laid that obligatory first kiss on his bride, I saw that same goofy smile I had come to know, and my uneasiness calmed. In that moment I understood that my life has changed, but the well-built and strong friendships I have will continue. I was also glad that I was able to share one last great memory with Jose before his life changes as well. Facts: IBU: 55 ABV: 7.8% Flavor: Complex hopiness balanced with traditional English Ale maltiness Availability: Quarterly Release Rating: Highly Recommended http://www.breckbrew.com/ Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/BreckenridgeBrewery Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/BreckBrew (@breckbrew)

Well Built, Like a Lifelong Friendship

Justin Jaramillo

This past Saturday I stood in a tuxedo under an expansive Colorado sky listening and watching as one of the best friends a guy could ask for entered into marriage.  I felt a bit of emptiness in my stomach, as I knew that this one was special.  Jose always reminded me of a brother that I never had, a guy that I considered to be my family.

My buddy Jose is a great guy, he is one of those guys who no matter how long you have been away from him you can always pick up a conversation and have a good time. We both went to the University of Colorado, yet our paths never crossed during our four years in Boulder (most likely a good thing for the city). I have known Jose since we both started working together at our first “real” job. During these past 8 years of friendship, Jose and I have had the opportunity to experience life in ways that would make others envious. We have traveled to great locations, spent many days lounging around drinking and telling ridiculously unfunny jokes, and pontificated on a myriad of topics. I am sure there are many people would who say the same things I could and would say about him. He has shared his time and lent his talents to all his friends, and in a pinch he even lent his crotch to a lonely mouse (an inside story!) In all of those moments, I acted as any young friend would; I took them for granted. 

Not wanting to take for granted the last few moments of Jose’s bachelorhood, I decided to share my specially procured bottle of Breckenridge Well Built ESB. This beer is produced by my favorite brewery, Breckenridge Brewery. This beer was aged in Stranahan’s Colorado whiskey barrels and exudes the unique and enjoyable spirit of Colorado craft brewing. Breckenridge Brewery has teamed with Stranahan’s distillery to help produce an incredible brew. I can’t do justice in describing the flavor of this beer. It has a smoothness that I have not experienced while drinking a beer. The fullness of flavor and the distinct yet mild whiskey undertones gave each of us a reason to continue sipping. You did get a taste of caramel, vanilla, even coffee.  The aftertaste was dry but still held that refreshing quality.  To me this was the perfect bottle to share between friends. 

As the sky started to cloud over and the wind started to pick up, I was left standing there wondering how my life, and the friendship I had built over the last 8 years was bound to change. Nearly every one of my friends has married over the last 10 years. Jose had stood as the last bastion of the life I had before I “grew up”. Yet, as he slowly turned to the groomsmen after he had laid that obligatory first kiss on his bride, I saw that same goofy smile I had come to know, and my uneasiness calmed. In that moment I understood that my life has changed, but the well-built and strong friendships I have will continue. I was also glad that I was able to share one last great memory with Jose before his life changes as well.

Facts:

  • IBU: 55
  • ABV: 7.8%
  • Flavor: Complex hopiness balanced with traditional English Ale maltiness
  • Availability: Quarterly Release
  • Rating: Highly Recommended

http://www.breckbrew.com/

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/BreckenridgeBrewery

Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/BreckBrew (@breckbrew)

June 4th, 2012 at 2:34PM
It Was Just Damn Good! Bill Sour After almost two months of reviewing beers, we finally launched a Facebook page for the Simple Man’s Beer Blog. Before midnight, we had over 50 “likes” on the page which was astounding. That’s Good! Damn Good! I was so excited to know that the work Justin and I had been putting in had some real momentum and people might actually see the little thing we care so much about. It was so damn good I just needed to celebrate a little. But it was a Tuesday night so it’s not like I could get too crazy. Still, I had to do something to celebrate this new road we’d opened up for this simple blog. I had a few Santa Fe Brewing Company Pale Ales in the fridge so I figured cracking them open and enjoying a new beer would be an excellent option. All I can say is, it was good. Damn good. I’ve had quite a few pale ales in my time as a beer drinker but this one was good. Damn good! The aroma was so enjoyable. It had a little hoppiness, a little citrus, a little maltiness. It smelled good. Damn good! I took that first swig and it just had amazing balance. You tasted the prominent hops that you should taste in pale ale, but it wasn’t overpowering. It mixed damn near perfectly with the light carbonation and almost pilsner like malt flavor.  It tasted good. Damn good! As I finished each drink, the aftertaste was so pleasant. It wasn’t too dry and had just the right bite of hops on the back end, but that pilsner taste got a little bit sweet and fit really well with the hops at the end. It finished good. Damn good! So damn good that it just made me crave that next drink. I think it’s easy to say I like this beer a lot. You know, because it’s so good. It’s so good that I’d drink it out of an opossum skull. So good that I’d walk through a crowd of Justin Bieber fans in full Justin Bieber makeup just go get one. It’s so good that if I got my arm stuck under a boulder on my way to get one, I’d chew my own arm off just so I got there before they ran out.  It’s so good I’d ride a Pegicorn (pegasus/unicorn cross-breed) naked over 1000 rainbows on my way to watch Jay Cutler and the Bears beat the Broncos in the Super Bowl…just because they were selling it at the game. It’s so good that it could be the first thing I’d drink in a pub, or buy at a liquor store…Just because it’s so good. It’s just so damn good. Damn Good Details; ABV% - 5.4% Smoothness - Smooth as a Santa Fe sunset Awards won - 7 (http://www.santafebrewing.com/beer_detail/20) Where did I get the Pegicorn? I summoned it using Liger magic Best foods for pairing - Hot and spicy foods with Southwestern flavors. How badly did Cutler beat the Broncos - Are you kidding? Cutler will never win a Super Bowl…especially over the Broncos. Final Beer Grade - Damn Good http://www.santafebrewing.com Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SantaFeBrewing Twitter - @SantaFeBrew

It Was Just Damn Good!

Bill Sour

After almost two months of reviewing beers, we finally launched a Facebook page for the Simple Man’s Beer Blog. Before midnight, we had over 50 “likes” on the page which was astounding. That’s Good! Damn Good! I was so excited to know that the work Justin and I had been putting in had some real momentum and people might actually see the little thing we care so much about. It was so damn good I just needed to celebrate a little. But it was a Tuesday night so it’s not like I could get too crazy. Still, I had to do something to celebrate this new road we’d opened up for this simple blog. I had a few Santa Fe Brewing Company Pale Ales in the fridge so I figured cracking them open and enjoying a new beer would be an excellent option.

All I can say is, it was good. Damn good. I’ve had quite a few pale ales in my time as a beer drinker but this one was good. Damn good! The aroma was so enjoyable. It had a little hoppiness, a little citrus, a little maltiness. It smelled good. Damn good! I took that first swig and it just had amazing balance. You tasted the prominent hops that you should taste in pale ale, but it wasn’t overpowering. It mixed damn near perfectly with the light carbonation and almost pilsner like malt flavor.  It tasted good. Damn good! As I finished each drink, the aftertaste was so pleasant. It wasn’t too dry and had just the right bite of hops on the back end, but that pilsner taste got a little bit sweet and fit really well with the hops at the end. It finished good. Damn good! So damn good that it just made me crave that next drink.

I think it’s easy to say I like this beer a lot. You know, because it’s so good. It’s so good that I’d drink it out of an opossum skull. So good that I’d walk through a crowd of Justin Bieber fans in full Justin Bieber makeup just go get one. It’s so good that if I got my arm stuck under a boulder on my way to get one, I’d chew my own arm off just so I got there before they ran out.  It’s so good I’d ride a Pegicorn (pegasus/unicorn cross-breed) naked over 1000 rainbows on my way to watch Jay Cutler and the Bears beat the Broncos in the Super Bowl…just because they were selling it at the game. It’s so good that it could be the first thing I’d drink in a pub, or buy at a liquor store…Just because it’s so good. It’s just so damn good.

Damn Good Details;

  • ABV% - 5.4%
  • Smoothness - Smooth as a Santa Fe sunset
  • Awards won - 7 (http://www.santafebrewing.com/beer_detail/20)
  • Where did I get the Pegicorn? I summoned it using Liger magic
  • Best foods for pairing - Hot and spicy foods with Southwestern flavors.
  • How badly did Cutler beat the Broncos - Are you kidding? Cutler will never win a Super Bowl…especially over the Broncos.
  • Final Beer Grade - Damn Good

http://www.santafebrewing.com

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SantaFeBrewing

Twitter - @SantaFeBrew

May 29th, 2012 at 12:03PM
Captain America and a Ranger IPA Bill Sour My three year old son has a group of stuffed animals he carries around with him that he calls his “best friends.” One is a character named “Broby” from a show called “Yo Gabba Gabba” that he’s had since he was an infant. Another is a small monkey he received from his Uncle Justin he’s named “Bobo.” Finally, there’s a small white rabbit he started carrying around during Easter he aptly calls “Bunny.” It bummed me out that none of his best friends were from me. So I purchased a small stuffed version of Captain America that I thought he’d really like. He likes super heroes and Captain America is very colorful. But off the bat my son was very resistant. He maintained that he only had three best friends and he did not need a fourth. After about a week of prodding him, I sat down with him one night shortly after opening up a Ranger IPA from New Belgium Brewing. Now, I’d never been a huge fan of IPAs. The hoppiness is an acquired taste and when I first began venturing out from bland American style lagers, that bitter bite was not something my pallet would accept. Slowly but surely over the past 10 years, I’ve forced myself to branch out and really try find exactly what each beer I drink is really trying to make me taste. Thus, I’m finding myself more drawn to pale ales a lot more often and even have begun to take in more IPAs. Thus when I took that first smell and drink of Ranger IPA, I had a new fond appreciation for this style of beer. While it began with a hint of pine in the aroma, as it warms a little it becomes a bit more citrus based. It was smooth and slightly sweet before the hops take a crack at you. Definitely some sweeter malty flavors on the draw and a good sense of that hoppy richness as the draw becomes aftertaste. As with all IPAs, the flavors definitely change as the beer warms up a but. Hops become more pronounced and that smoothness fades and gives a bit more bite. But the flavors are still there. Sweet at first and hoppy in the finish. Seems I’d really leaned how to appreciate a beer with different flavors than I’d usually try. As I drank the IPA, I explained to my son that Captain America was a super hero and that he had his own cartoons and movies. I told him that, while he may not be who he expected to be one of his “best friends” that there were things about him that made him cool and fun to have around. Very similar to the fondness I’ve found with IPAs. While it’s not the taste I reach for right away, when I see an IPA that looks interesting, I no longer scoff and look for something else. I find myself intrigued and am much more willing to try what I wasn’t accepting of before. As for my son, Captain America is now in the group and possibly leading the pack of stuffed best friends. When I ask him about his friends he says Bobo has the biggest appetite (bananas), Broby is the saddest (which is weird) but Captain America is the strongest, the bravest and tells the best jokes. Sounds like my son learned to appreciate something he didn’t appreciate before. Maybe he learned something from his old man…or did his old man learn something from him? Just the Facts Ma’am ABV% - 6.5% This Beer’s Best Friends - Alf, Serta Sheep #26, the Hamburglar Types of hops used - 3 (Cascade[twice], Chinook, Simcoe) This beer’s favorite (original) Law & Order detective - Lenny Briscoe Best food pairings - Char-Grilled Peaches and Honey Glazed Grilled Chicken Final Beer Grade -  3 out of 4 hop cones http://www.newbelgium.com Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/newbelgium Twitter - @newbelgium

Captain America and a Ranger IPA

Bill Sour

My three year old son has a group of stuffed animals he carries around with him that he calls his “best friends.” One is a character named “Broby” from a show called “Yo Gabba Gabba” that he’s had since he was an infant. Another is a small monkey he received from his Uncle Justin he’s named “Bobo.” Finally, there’s a small white rabbit he started carrying around during Easter he aptly calls “Bunny.” It bummed me out that none of his best friends were from me. So I purchased a small stuffed version of Captain America that I thought he’d really like. He likes super heroes and Captain America is very colorful. But off the bat my son was very resistant. He maintained that he only had three best friends and he did not need a fourth.

After about a week of prodding him, I sat down with him one night shortly after opening up a Ranger IPA from New Belgium Brewing. Now, I’d never been a huge fan of IPAs. The hoppiness is an acquired taste and when I first began venturing out from bland American style lagers, that bitter bite was not something my pallet would accept. Slowly but surely over the past 10 years, I’ve forced myself to branch out and really try find exactly what each beer I drink is really trying to make me taste. Thus, I’m finding myself more drawn to pale ales a lot more often and even have begun to take in more IPAs.

Thus when I took that first smell and drink of Ranger IPA, I had a new fond appreciation for this style of beer. While it began with a hint of pine in the aroma, as it warms a little it becomes a bit more citrus based. It was smooth and slightly sweet before the hops take a crack at you. Definitely some sweeter malty flavors on the draw and a good sense of that hoppy richness as the draw becomes aftertaste. As with all IPAs, the flavors definitely change as the beer warms up a but. Hops become more pronounced and that smoothness fades and gives a bit more bite. But the flavors are still there. Sweet at first and hoppy in the finish. Seems I’d really leaned how to appreciate a beer with different flavors than I’d usually try.

As I drank the IPA, I explained to my son that Captain America was a super hero and that he had his own cartoons and movies. I told him that, while he may not be who he expected to be one of his “best friends” that there were things about him that made him cool and fun to have around. Very similar to the fondness I’ve found with IPAs. While it’s not the taste I reach for right away, when I see an IPA that looks interesting, I no longer scoff and look for something else. I find myself intrigued and am much more willing to try what I wasn’t accepting of before. As for my son, Captain America is now in the group and possibly leading the pack of stuffed best friends. When I ask him about his friends he says Bobo has the biggest appetite (bananas), Broby is the saddest (which is weird) but Captain America is the strongest, the bravest and tells the best jokes. Sounds like my son learned to appreciate something he didn’t appreciate before. Maybe he learned something from his old man…or did his old man learn something from him?

Just the Facts Ma’am

  • ABV% - 6.5%
  • This Beer’s Best Friends - Alf, Serta Sheep #26, the Hamburglar
  • Types of hops used - 3 (Cascade[twice], Chinook, Simcoe)
  • This beer’s favorite (original) Law & Order detective - Lenny Briscoe
  • Best food pairings - Char-Grilled Peaches and Honey Glazed Grilled Chicken
  • Final Beer Grade -  3 out of 4 hop cones

http://www.newbelgium.com

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/newbelgium

Twitter - @newbelgium

May 25th, 2012 at 1:44PM
A Victim of Karma Justin Jaramillo Having gone to school in Boulder you may assume I would have been on the leading edge of craft brewing. A region that boasts several very successful and accomplished breweries would have been a playground for a young drinker. Unfortunately I missed that whole scene. Being self involved and extremely narrow minded tends to lead one to not explore much. Some would say karma got the best of me.  Averys special edition Karma Ale boasts a name that should espouse a positive and deliciously rewarding drinking experience. Unfortunately I feel like this one was reciprocity for something I must have done some random night behind The Sink. Avery is known for fabulous beer and Karma had a very palatable first taste. The beer had a hint of the Belgian hops as advertised. I feel as if the flavor was being suppressed in some way. Each drink left me waiting for a little more. I would like to try this beer out of a tap to see if the experience was lost in any aging the beer experienced in the bottle.  As it stands, I would pass on a second serving.  5.4% ABV Limited Release Belgian Style  Rocky Mountain Water included Rating: One before a nap  http://averybrewing.com/ Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/AveryBrewing Twitter - @AveryBrewingCo

A Victim of Karma

Justin Jaramillo

Having gone to school in Boulder you may assume I would have been on the leading edge of craft brewing. A region that boasts several very successful and accomplished breweries would have been a playground for a young drinker. Unfortunately I missed that whole scene. Being self involved and extremely narrow minded tends to lead one to not explore much. Some would say karma got the best of me. 

Averys special edition Karma Ale boasts a name that should espouse a positive and deliciously rewarding drinking experience. Unfortunately I feel like this one was reciprocity for something I must have done some random night behind The Sink. Avery is known for fabulous beer and Karma had a very palatable first taste. The beer had a hint of the Belgian hops as advertised. I feel as if the flavor was being suppressed in some way. Each drink left me waiting for a little more. I would like to try this beer out of a tap to see if the experience was lost in any aging the beer experienced in the bottle. 

As it stands, I would pass on a second serving. 

  • 5.4% ABV
  • Limited Release
  • Belgian Style 
  • Rocky Mountain Water included
  • Rating: One before a nap 


http://averybrewing.com/

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/AveryBrewing

Twitter - @AveryBrewingCo

May 21st, 2012 at 1:03PM
Bottles of Bass and Cups Full of Cake Bill Sour I love beer. Everyone always gets my classic explanation. I don’t love beer because it gets me drunk. I love it because it tastes great. Getting drunk from it is just an added bonus. And when you love beer, you tend to drink it with just about anything. And a few Saturday nights ago that included cupcakes. My best friend and I decided we wanted to make some cupcakes and have some black and tans. But while we had the beers for the delicious mixture available, I couldn’t help but have a few plain Bass without the Guinness mixture. And I figured I’d have a few cupcakes while I was at it. • Color Bass – Slightly darker than yellow. Not quite Amber. More golden Cupcake – funfetti cake (white with sprinkles) • Aroma Bass – Balanced citrus and hops. Both quite subtle Cupcake – Like freshly baked cake. Sweet and comforting • Head Bass – white fizzy 1” head. Fits perfectly with the golden body Cupcake – Light pink whipped frosting with sprinkles (I LOVE sprinkles) • Draw Bass – Slightly sweet with a hint of citrus. Smooth and crisp Cupcake – Very sweet with even balance between cake and frosting • Finish Bass – Sweetness fades on the draw. Hoppy enough so it finishes smooth, not enough to really even taste it Cupcake – Still quite sweet. Balance of cake and frosting remains. (I like to eat my cupcakes evenly) • Aftertaste Bass – Light and refreshing. Not overpowering or “lip-smacking.” Invites you in for another taste Cupcake – Sweet and sugary. Not overly filling but not so light that you need to eat 20…although I could with no problem Bass is a classic. Touted as “The World’s First Pale Ale,” it’s crisp, clean and refreshing. It has a pleasant aroma that doesn’t overpower the senses. There’s a slightly sweet taste on the draw that evens out with a smooth aftertaste that isn’t offensive. I won’t go into the specifics of the beer because Bass is very old school. If you haven’t had some Bass, I suggest you try it. Definitely a beer everyone should sample. It’s easy to enjoy and always a good option if it’s available on tap. Bass was just like the cupcakes. You don’t always know you want one, but when it’s there, there is almost no reason why you shouldn’t have one. And really, the two go together just fine. Final Beer Grade – 7 Cupcakes http://www.bass.com/

Bottles of Bass and Cups Full of Cake

Bill Sour

I love beer. Everyone always gets my classic explanation. I don’t love beer because it gets me drunk. I love it because it tastes great. Getting drunk from it is just an added bonus. And when you love beer, you tend to drink it with just about anything. And a few Saturday nights ago that included cupcakes.

My best friend and I decided we wanted to make some cupcakes and have some black and tans. But while we had the beers for the delicious mixture available, I couldn’t help but have a few plain Bass without the Guinness mixture. And I figured I’d have a few cupcakes while I was at it.

• Color

  • Bass – Slightly darker than yellow. Not quite Amber. More golden
  • Cupcake – funfetti cake (white with sprinkles)

• Aroma

  • Bass – Balanced citrus and hops. Both quite subtle
  • Cupcake – Like freshly baked cake. Sweet and comforting

• Head

  • Bass – white fizzy 1” head. Fits perfectly with the golden body
  • Cupcake – Light pink whipped frosting with sprinkles (I LOVE sprinkles)

• Draw

  • Bass – Slightly sweet with a hint of citrus. Smooth and crisp
  • Cupcake – Very sweet with even balance between cake and frosting

• Finish

  • Bass – Sweetness fades on the draw. Hoppy enough so it finishes smooth, not enough to really even taste it
  • Cupcake – Still quite sweet. Balance of cake and frosting remains. (I like to eat my cupcakes evenly)

• Aftertaste

  • Bass – Light and refreshing. Not overpowering or “lip-smacking.” Invites you in for another taste
  • Cupcake – Sweet and sugary. Not overly filling but not so light that you need to eat 20…although I could with no problem

Bass is a classic. Touted as “The World’s First Pale Ale,” it’s crisp, clean and refreshing. It has a pleasant aroma that doesn’t overpower the senses. There’s a slightly sweet taste on the draw that evens out with a smooth aftertaste that isn’t offensive. I won’t go into the specifics of the beer because Bass is very old school. If you haven’t had some Bass, I suggest you try it. Definitely a beer everyone should sample. It’s easy to enjoy and always a good option if it’s available on tap. Bass was just like the cupcakes. You don’t always know you want one, but when it’s there, there is almost no reason why you shouldn’t have one. And really, the two go together just fine.

Final Beer Grade – 7 Cupcakes

http://www.bass.com/

May 18th, 2012 at 12:05PM
Fruity Pebbles, Flintstones Included Justin Jaramillo Fruity pebbles…my favorite cereal as a kid. I absolutely loved dumping a huge load of those colorful sugar chunks into my designated cereal vessel. I don’t know exactly why I loved them. Most likely it was due to their 99-1 sugar to healthy nutrients ratio. I just know that it was the cereal I always reached for and would try to sneak past my parents into the shopping cart at the grocery store.  I don’t even remember them having to use any gimmicks or decoder rings to convince kids to risk Type 1 diabetes to eat them.  I think the Flintstones tie-in made them fun and relatable. The reason I bring up fruity pebbles is that I generally am not crazy about super fruity foods.  I may have spoiled myself young as I found the epic fruity taste of the pebbles before I refined my tastes as an adult.  With this being said, I generally tend to reach for a more savory brew. So sweet fruity beers aren’t really my game.  I happened upon this Dry Dock Apricot Blonde and found that the brewers used a fruit I oft pass up and felt the need to give it a shot.  Dry Dock has gone and developed a tasty year round brew. The beer had a very sweet and agreeable initial apricot flavor.  I don’t mean that cheap dried tart apricot taste you get from your trail mix either, it’s the real deal.  The beer has a fair amount of carbonation, which makes it enjoyable to sip. It has a light color and I noticed a light and airy head. The aftertaste of the brew was just slightly tart, but not lip puckering.  The brewery touts the beer as an ale that is fermented “with shiploads of fruit…”, which is exactly what I experienced. The beer would be a great beer to consume at a barbecue as the apricot taste would go great along with any sweet sauce.  It seems like a beer that is approachable by beer drinkers and non beer drinkers alike. There is no heavy hoppyiness or complex layering of flavors. It is prehistorically simple.  Notes: 5.1 ABV 17 IBU 2009  Small Brewing Company of the Year Rating: 100% Enjoyable http://www.drydockbrewing.com/ Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/DryDockBrewing Twitter - @DryDockBrewing

Fruity Pebbles, Flintstones Included

Justin Jaramillo

Fruity pebbles…my favorite cereal as a kid. I absolutely loved dumping a huge load of those colorful sugar chunks into my designated cereal vessel. I don’t know exactly why I loved them. Most likely it was due to their 99-1 sugar to healthy nutrients ratio. I just know that it was the cereal I always reached for and would try to sneak past my parents into the shopping cart at the grocery store.  I don’t even remember them having to use any gimmicks or decoder rings to convince kids to risk Type 1 diabetes to eat them.  I think the Flintstones tie-in made them fun and relatable.

The reason I bring up fruity pebbles is that I generally am not crazy about super fruity foods.  I may have spoiled myself young as I found the epic fruity taste of the pebbles before I refined my tastes as an adult.  With this being said, I generally tend to reach for a more savory brew. So sweet fruity beers aren’t really my game.  I happened upon this Dry Dock Apricot Blonde and found that the brewers used a fruit I oft pass up and felt the need to give it a shot.  Dry Dock has gone and developed a tasty year round brew. The beer had a very sweet and agreeable initial apricot flavor.  I don’t mean that cheap dried tart apricot taste you get from your trail mix either, it’s the real deal.  The beer has a fair amount of carbonation, which makes it enjoyable to sip. It has a light color and I noticed a light and airy head. The aftertaste of the brew was just slightly tart, but not lip puckering.  The brewery touts the beer as an ale that is fermented “with shiploads of fruit…”, which is exactly what I experienced. The beer would be a great beer to consume at a barbecue as the apricot taste would go great along with any sweet sauce.  It seems like a beer that is approachable by beer drinkers and non beer drinkers alike. There is no heavy hoppyiness or complex layering of flavors. It is prehistorically simple. 

Notes:

  • 5.1 ABV
  • 17 IBU
  • 2009  Small Brewing Company of the Year
  • Rating: 100% Enjoyable
Twitter - @DryDockBrewing

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