Category Archives: Drinks

Beer, soda, and other fun fluids you put in your mouth.

November 28, 2013 · 11:15 am

Ocean Spray Cran-Lemonade

Ocean Spray Cran-Lemonade is a cranberry and lemonade juice cocktail. I like it. It tastes good and it’s refreshing. Cranberry juice and lemonade make a good team. Cranberries are tart, lemons are sour, and they go great together. This isn’t a healthy beverage. A 15.2 fluid ounce bottle has 53 grams of sugar. That’s a lot of Pixie Stix. It does have 100% of your daily Vitamin C content so there are some benefits I guess. Ocean Spray Cran-Lemonade is slightly more satisfying than your average lemonade hybrid. There are better tasting, more refreshing, and healthier lemonades on the market, but you shouldn’t be too picky about lemonade. There’s nothing wrong with settling for Ocean Spray.

Critically Rated at 11/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 19, 2013 · 10:06 am

Anderson Valley Bourbon Barrel Stout

Bourbon Barrel Stout is an American stout from the Anderson Valley Brewing Company. It’s a malt beverage aged in Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrels. It’s a winning combination anytime you combine beer with another alcohol, as far as I’m concerned. It has a smoky aroma, exactly like what you’d expect and hope for. You get whiffs of whiskey, chocolate malt, toasted malt, with a little hint of vanilla and oatmeal cookies. It’s really creamy and smooth and drinkable. I taste chocolate and caramel malts primarily, with sweet molasses, roasted coffee, oak, and just a hint of bourbon. It has a 6.9% alcohol content, enough to keep you warmed up on a cold night. It’s a delicious beer and worth getting again.

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 18, 2013 · 9:51 am

Anchor BigLeaf Maple Autumn Red

BigLeaf Maple Autumn Red is Anchor Brewing’s fall seasonal. It’s a red ale brewed with real maple syrup. It has a toasty malt scent mixed with pine and citric hops, and a hint of maple. It has a nice caramel malt flavor with a decent amount of hoppy goodness as well. There is a little bit of maple syrup flavor, but it’s hardly noticeable. It’s got a 6% alcohol content, which is about average for Anchor’s brews. It’s alright, it’s slightly better than your average red ale, but I was expecting a little bit more from Anchor. It’s still a satisfying beer, but it’s a bit of a letdown for their fall seasonal.

Critically Rated at 12/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 17, 2013 · 10:29 am

Heretic Evil Cousin

Evil Cousin is a massively hoppy Imperial IPA from Pittsburg, California’s Heretic Brewing Co. It’s a companion beer to their Evil Twin Red Ale, but I think it’s better than Evil Twin. I prefer IPAs over Red Ales, it has an 8% ABV as opposed to Evil Twin’s 6.8% ABV, and there’s a lot more emphasis on the hops. If you like hops, you’ll like this beer. It has a rich grapefruit and piney hop scent, and you can really taste the hops in the brew. I taste pine, grapefruit, citrus, resin, and spicy hops. You also get a little malty sweetness that really allows the hops to stand out. It’s a well-rounded West Coast Double IPA, and definitely worth drinking again. Plus it has a cool name and a cool label, so you look cool when you drink it.

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 13, 2013 · 6:27 pm

Heretic Evil Twin

Evil Twin is a bold West Coast Red Ale from Pittsburg, California’s Heretic Brewing Co. I just cracked it open and my nostrils were instantly hit by a strong whiff of grass, grapefruit, and hops. It tastes malty, with caramel, banana, toffee, and bitter hops to balance it out. You can also get a bit of grapefruit and apricot flavor as well. It has a crisp, creamy, and smooth mouthfeel, with a moderate amount of carbonation. It’s a nice red ale, with a decent 6.8% ABV. It would be better if it was stronger, but it’s still a very well-rounded brew. They should rename it though. It’s nowhere near as malicious as it sounds. It’s quite approachable and very drinkable. Give it a chance if you can.

Critically Rated at 13/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 12, 2013 · 7:24 pm

Ninkasi Maiden The Shade

Maiden The Shade is a limited release IPA from Oregon’s Ninkasi Brewing Company. It’s a clever name for a beer, it’s got a little pun action going on and everyone appreciates a good pun. The artwork on the label is pretty cool. There’s a Medusa-looking maiden sitting underneath a tree made of hops with a devil butterfly creeping up on her. It smells of citric hops, pineapple, grapefruit, mango, floral, and spice. It tastes of pine and citric hops with a slight bread malt flavor. Its bitterness is counterbalanced with subtle fruit sweetness. It’s got a 6.8% alcohol content, which is on the lower side of acceptable for a limited release microbrew IPA. All in all, this is a solid beer. But I wouldn’t go out of my way to get it again.

Critically Rated at 12/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 10, 2013 · 2:20 pm

Discovering a New Bar

People like to drink, especially in social settings. That’s why there are multiple bars in almost every single city and town around the world. There are classy bars, dive bars, sports bars, bars that you frequent, and bars that you avoid. Most people have a default bar or two, a place where you know the bartenders and they know you. The problem with being a regular is that you don’t bother going to other bars that you aren’t familiar with. Sometimes you have to take a chance and go to a different bar, you have to see what else is out there. I went to a going-away party for my friend’s last night in the city, and we went to a bar of his choice. It was a bar that I’ve never been to or even heard of. They had about fifty beers on tap, all microbrews. They even had Pliny the Elder. You know it’s a good bar if they have Pliny the Elder. It blew my mind that I had never been there before. Discovering a new bar that you like is a wakeup call, a reminder that you’re missing out on things by sticking to a routine. Discovering a new bar means forgetting an old one.

Critically Rated at 15/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 10, 2013 · 2:19 pm

Pliny the Elder (beer, not the Roman philosopher)

Pliny the Elder is the flagship beer from the Russian River Brewing Company. It’s widely considered to be the best Double IPA on the market. It’s proof that God loves us and wants us to drink. It’s a perfect beer. It has a fresh pine scent, with grapefruit and floral notes. Upon the first sip, you’re hit by piney hops and bready malt flavors, with hints of grapefruit. It’s got an 8% ABV, but you can’t tell because it’s so refreshing and easy to drink. People go crazy for this beer, and for good reason. It’s hard to find, so consider yourself lucky if you ever come across it. Don’t hesitate to buy it, it will change your life. I would consider it the best beer of all time, but Russian River also makes a magical beer called Pliny the Younger. It’s a Triple IPA with a 10.5% alcohol content that is only available on draft at a few select locations near their brewery, and it’s only available for two weeks in February. It’s on my bucket list. Until then, I’ll just have to settle for Pliny the Elder, but I’m ok with settling on perfection.

Critically Rated at 17/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 9, 2013 · 8:53 am

Moylan’s Kilt Lifter Scotch-Style Ale

Moylan’s Brewery from Novato, California presents Kilt Lifter Scotch-Style Ale. It’s a good beer from a good brewery. It’s a solid 8% ABV, but you can’t taste the alcohol. It has a robust malty flavor with caramel and toffee notes, as well as dark fruit and hop spice. You also get hints of Scotch whiskey, smoke, and earthiness. It smells bready and malty with Scotch, toffee, caramel, and plum aromas competing for your nose’s attention. It is mildly carbonated and has a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. There are a lot of things to like about this beer. It’s a beer that you can sip and discuss. I think you should try it. You can thank me later.

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 8, 2013 · 8:48 am

High Water Brewing Hop Riot IPA

Hop Riot IPA is an India Pale Ale from San Jose’s High Water Brewing. It has a floral hop with hints of citrus and spices and malt. It has a bitter taste thanks to the grapefruit and pine hops, and it’s mellowed out by a malty backbone. There is a subtle orange flavor that gets stronger as you keep drinking. I don’t know why they call it Hop Riot IPA. You can taste the hops, but they aren’t rioting. It’s just your standard IPA, there’s nothing that really stands out about this beer. Its Alcohol by Volume content is a 7.3%, which is not that strong for a microbrewed IPA. This is High Water Brewing’s flagship beer, and it doesn’t get me excited for their other offerings. It’s alright. It’s decent. But you have made some major mistakes in life if this is your favorite beer.

Critically Rated at 10/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 3, 2013 · 1:16 pm

Dr Pepper Cherry

If you’ve ever wondered what Dr Pepper with cherry would taste like, then you should try Dr Pepper Cherry. It’s Dr Pepper with cherry flavor added to it. It seems like a good idea, but it’s a little unnecessary. Dr Pepper has a unique taste because it blends 23 different flavors. Adding the cherry flavor makes it an even 24. It’s a lot for your taste buds to handle, and no single flavor steals the show. You can hardly taste the cherry. It just blends together with the Dr Pepper. I’m not that impressed with it. It’s a decent soda, but I’d rather have a Cherry Coke or a regular Dr Pepper. Or a beer.

Critically Rated at 10/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 2, 2013 · 9:52 am

Sanpellegrino Pompelmo

Sanpellegrino Pompelmo is a sparkling grapefruit beverage that’s made from concentrate and has 16% grapefruit juice. 16%! That’s like drinking three bites of a grapefruit. Grapefruit is a pretty strong flavor so I was reluctant to try this beverage, but I did, and I’m glad to say that the grapefruit taste was pretty muted. You still get the distinct grapefruit flavor, but it’s sweetened and watered down. It’s a pretty pleasant grapefruit taste. Even babies and little kids would like it. It’s not that bitter and it’s not that acidic on your tongue. It’s sweeter and more enjoyable than grapefruit sodas like Squirt. It’s a lot healthier too. I was pleasantly surprised by this drink, and I will definitely get it again.

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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October 30, 2013 · 12:05 pm

Sunkist Strawberry Soda

Sunkist Strawberry Soda is a strawberry flavored soda. It has a good amount of strawberry-sugar sweetness. It might be a little too sweet to satisfy your thirst. It’s kind of like drinking a liquid Jolly Rancher. I don’t see strawberry soda that often, so I feel obliged to get it when I do. I wouldn’t get a six-pack, but I might buy a 20oz bottle for ninety-nine cents. That’s what I did today, and it’s been working out pretty well so far. It will never be in my top twenty-five sodas, but it’s nice to mix up your choices every now and then. Variety is the spice of life after all.

Critically Rated at 12/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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October 28, 2013 · 8:57 am

Emergen-C

I grab a few packets of Emergen-C every time I start sniffling and sneezing. Emergen-C is a powdered drink mix that contains a shitload of Vitamin C. Like a single packet has 1000 milligrams of Vitamin C. That’s 1667% of your recommended daily value. And they suggest taking it twice a day. That’s 3334%. That’s a whole lot of Vitamin C. It’s even more effective if you mix it with orange juice. If that doesn’t kick your cold’s ass, nothing will. It comes in a variety of flavors, like Super Orange, Tangerine, Raspberry, Lemon-Lime, Cranberry-Pomegranate, Pink Lemonade, Triple Berry… there are more but I never see them in stores so I don’t think that they are real. I tell friends to try Emergen-C whenever they are starting to feel a cold coming on. I’m not trying to help them; I just like telling people what to do.

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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October 24, 2013 · 1:15 pm

Stone Suede Imperial Porter

California’s Stone Brewing Co. presents Suede Imperial Porter, a limited batch ale brewed with calendula flowers, jasmine and honey. I don’t know why they call it Suede. It doesn’t smell like leather and it doesn’t taste like leather. It has a roasty and chocolaty aroma with fruity floral scents. It has a roasted malt flavor, and I can also taste chocolate, coffee, brown sugar, jasmine, lavender, and hops. It’s kind of a sweet porter with just little bitterness thrown in to balance it out. I’ve had better porters, but not many. It also has a hefty 9.6% alcohol content, enough to put a couple of hairs on your chest. I wouldn’t recommend chugging it, this is a beer that you sip on and savor. I would get it again. Too bad it’s only around for a few more weeks.

Critically Rated at 13/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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October 21, 2013 · 8:17 pm

Aquafina Flavorsplash Berry Loco

Aquafina Flavorsplash Berry Loco is a sparkling nutrient enhanced flavored water beverage. Doesn’t that sound appetizing? And scientific? It tastes vaguely of berries. It says on the label that it is a four berry blend flavor. I can’t figure out what four berries it’s supposed to be flavored like. It has a pink hue to it, so I’m guessing that strawberries and raspberries are two of the four flavors. I don’t know why they call it Berry Loco. It doesn’t really taste like berries, much less crazy ones. It has zero calories and a very slight aftertaste. It’s drinkable and refreshing, but I would still take a Vitamin Water over it. It’s alright, but it’s pretty forgettable at the same time.

Critically Rated at 9/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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October 19, 2013 · 9:56 am

Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout

Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout is a beary good beer. Sorry about the obligatory bear pun, I had to say it. Now on with the review. This is a delicious and ideal stout. It has a rich roasted malt aroma with chocolate, coffee, and caramel notes. It tastes even richer than it smells. It has a roasted malt backbone with bittersweet chocolate flavor as well as caramel and coffee. It finishes slightly hoppy which gives it a nice balance. You can’t really taste the alcohol, but the label assures me that it’s 8.1%. It’s more drinkable than most stouts. It’s smooth and creamy, and it will warm you up on cold nights. This is another great beer from the Bear Republic Brewing Co. Good job brewmasters, keep it up.

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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