Category Archives: Drinks

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

December 7, 2014 · 5:25 pm

Rockstar Super Sours Green Apple Energy Drink

Rockstar Super Sours Green Apple Energy Drink is an energy drink that tastes like sour green apples. It’s only slightly sour, not super sour like it says in its name. That’s okay though, you don’t want your energy drink to taste super sour. I can’t decide if I like it or not. It tastes like somebody dropped a Warhead candy into a can of Rockstar. If that sounds good then you would probably like this. If it doesn’t then you should probably avoid this. It contains no juice, has 66 grams of sugar per 16-oz can, and includes delicious ingredients like pantothenic acid, niacinamide, inositol, pryidoxine, hydrochloride, and cyanocobalamin. Energy drinks are scary if you read the label. I’m not going to do that anymore.

Critically Rated at 9/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as energy drink, green apple, rockstar, super sours

November 30, 2014 · 4:37 pm

Smoked Porter with Chocolate & Orange Peel

Smoked Porter with Chocolate & Orange Peel is a limited fall seasonal beer from Stone Brewing Co. This is one third of Stone’s Smoked Porter seasonals. They also have Smoked Porter with Vanilla and Smoked Porter with Chipotle Peppers. This one is brewed with chocolate and orange peel. It’s a very descriptive name for the beer too. It’s a porter with a malty aroma of smoke, chocolate, and orange peel. It tastes like a porter with a roasted malt backbone with smoke, chocolate, and a little orange peel. It’s 5.9% ABV and very drinkable. It’s not the best beer Stone has to offer, but it’s a solid porter.

Critically at 13/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as chocolate, orange peel, porter, smoked porter, Smoked Porter with Chocolate & Orange Peel, stone brewing co

November 25, 2014 · 3:57 pm

Lukcy Basartd Ale

2014 marks the 17^th year of Stone Brewing Co.’s Arrogant Bastard Ale, and they celebrated by releasing a batch of Lukcy Basartd Ale. That’s not a typo, that’s how they spell it. Tehy jbmueld up the leterts basecue it’s a mutixre of terhe tepys of Anragrot Btarasd Aels, but you can sltil raed it if you try hrad egnuoh. It’s a dry-hopped blend of Arrogant Bastard Ale, Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale, and Double Arrogant Bastard Ale. This is not a beer that you age. This is a beer that you should drink right away. Well not right away. Pay for it first, drive home, and then drink it.

It has a hoppy aroma, mostly pine hops but with noticeable citrus as well. There’s a little smoke and dark fruits and a hint of vanilla. The taste is dominantly hops. Lots of pine, resin, and citrus like orange and grapefruit. It’s very bitter but that makes it better. It has an 8.5% ABV, which is decently hefty. You should get a bottle or two if you happen to come across it. You’ll have to act quickly; it won’t be around for too much longer. The bottle says you should drink it by Jan 1, 2015.

Critically Rated at 15/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as arrogant bastard, double arrogant bastard ale, lukcy basartd ale, oaked arrogant bastard ale, stone brewing co

November 23, 2014 · 8:31 pm

Lemonade Stand

I grew up in the suburbs in the ‘90s, back when it was still safe for kids to set up a lemonade stand outside on the street. The lemonade stand was an integral part of growing up. It was the few sources of income available. You could either mow the lawn, do random chores, or set up a lemonade stand. Lemonade stands were the best way to make cash. Mix some lemonade powder mix into a few pitchers of water and you’ll be turning a profit in no time. Lemonade stands used to be commonplace. You hardly see them anymore. Kids are too busy playing on tablets inside the house. I know I’m going to be a bitter old man because I already am one.

Critically Rated at 15/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as childhood, kid, kids, lemonade, lemonade stand

November 20, 2014 · 8:21 pm

Bundaberg Peachee

I’ve been on a bit of a Bundaberg kick lately, but that’s only because I found a convenience store near my house that has their whole lineup of their flavored sparkling beverages. In case you don’t know, Bundaberg is an Australian company that uses traditional brewing methods to create non-alcoholic soft drinks. I’ve tried their Guava and Lemon Lime & Bitters; tonight I had their Peachee. Peachee is a peach flavored sparkling drink. It’s lighter tasting than you’d think. It’s like a less sugary version of peach juice with a mild amount of carbonation. Most peach flavored products really emphasize the peach flavor. Bundaberg Peachee is a mellower alternative. I’d recommend it for those times where you think you want a peach but you’re not willing to fully commit to one.

Critically Rated at 12/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as australian, beverage, brewed, Bundaberg, non-alcoholic, Peachee, sparkling

November 16, 2014 · 4:05 pm

Little Sumpin’ Wild Ale

A Little Sumpin’ Wild Ale is a summer seasonal version of Lagunitas Brewing Company’s Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale. It’s higher gravity, meaning that it has more booze in it. It comes in at around 8.9% alcohol by volume, so it’s a strong brew. It pours a nice golden orange color with a thick white head. The nose is a lot of citrus, spice, cloves, with a hint of bubblegum. It has an interesting taste. They describe it as a Belgian IPA and I can see why. I get a lot of pine and citrus with the spiciness you’d expect from a Belgian Ale. It’s delicious. I wish it was available year round, that’s why I’m not complaining that I found a summer brew in the middle of November. It’s one of my favorite beers from one of my favorite breweries.

Critically Rated at 15/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as beer, belgian ipa, lagunitas, lagunitas brewing company, little sumpin sumpin, Little Sumpin' Wild, Little Sumpin' Wild Ale

November 12, 2014 · 7:57 pm

Bundaberg Lemon Lime & Bitters

Australia’s Bundaberg Brewed Drinks is a company best known for their ginger beer. They also have a whole lineup of genuinely brewed beverages. I’ve previously tried their Guava and enjoyed it. This time I decided to go with something a little bit more traditional so I got Lemon Lime & Bitters. I know that Australians love bitters and I wanted to see what all the fuss is about. It smells like ginger beer with a hint of citrus. That’s pretty much what it tastes like too. It’s like ginger beer mixed with Sprite. The bitters gives it a kick of spice and herbs. It’s pretty good. It would make a great mixer. Throw a little gin in there and garnish it with a lemon or a lime and you’ll have a nice little cocktail.

Critically Rated at 13/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as Australia, beverage, bitters, Bundaberg, ginger beer, lemon lime, Lemon Lime & Bitters, non-alcoholic, sparkling

November 11, 2014 · 10:25 pm

A Toast

A toast is when you raise your glasses in commemoration of something. You’ll clink your drinking in order to celebrate a special occasion or event. Often times someone will give a short speech in honor of a graduation, promotion, birthday, anniversary, or any old excuse to drink and be merry. You don’t need a reason to get drunk, but it’s nice to have one. Drinking should be a social event and a toast can confirm the comradery. You always have something in your life to be thankful for. Drink to that.

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as a toast, cheers, glasses, toast

November 9, 2014 · 6:18 pm

Xocoveza Mocha Stout (beer)

San Diego’s Stone Brewing Co. is one of the best microbreweries in America and their Xocoveza Mocha Stout is just one of many reasons why. The recipe was created by a guy named Chris Banker and it was good enough to win a homebrewing competition. Stone took his recipe and collaborated with Mexico’s Cervezería Insurgente to bring Xocoveza Mocha Stout to the masses. This is one of the best stouts that I’ve ever had. It has a rich aroma, full of cocoa, coffee, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and toasted malts. It tastes even better than it smells. I get coffee, chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, maybe some cloves, and there’s a little bit of heat on the finish because they brew it with chili peppers. Chris Banker says that he was inspired to create a beer version of Mexican hot chocolate. He succeeded spectacularly. This is a very drinkable beer, even with the 8.1% alcohol content. It warms you up and leaves you wanting more. Too bad it’s a limited batch and it’s hard to find. I was lucky enough to get in on draft. I would definitely grab a few bottles to hoard if I come across any in a liquor store.

Critically Rated at 15/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as beer, Cervezería Insurgente, Chris Banker, microbrewery, stone brewing co, stout, Xocoveza Mocha Stout

November 6, 2014 · 9:19 pm

Fireside Chat (beer)

Fireside Chat is a winter spiced ale from 21^st Amendment Brewery. 21^st Amendment Brewery (also called 21A) is one of San Francisco’s best microbreweries and Fireside Chat is one of my favorite seasonals. The beer is named after Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s famous radio addresses. They even put a cheerful cartoon image of FDR sitting in front of a comfy fire. It’s an English-style brown ale brewed with spices. The aroma is of spice, cinnamon, raisin, coffee, cloves, and maybe a little vanilla. It tastes of sweet malt with allspice, cloves, cinnamon, figs, nutmeg, cocoa, vanilla, and coffee. It’s categorized as a Winter Warmer and that’s a great way to describe it. It’s perfect for those long, dark, cold winter nights that are soon to be in abundance. It also has a 7.9% alcohol content so you can stretch out a six pack with a friend. Get it, sip it, enjoy it.

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as 21A, 21st amendment brewery, beer, craft beer, Fireside Chat, india pale ale, microbrewery, spices, winter, winter warmer

November 5, 2014 · 7:01 pm

Bundaberg Guava

Bundaberg Guava is a non-alcoholic guava flavored sparkling drink. Bundaberg is an Australian beverage company best known for its Ginger Beer. Apparently they have a whole lineup of brewed drinks they refer to as the Sparkling Selection. They have Lime, Pink Grapefruit, Passionfruit, Peachee, Blood Orange, and Guava. I saw a few different flavors at the store. I chose Guava. I don’t know why, it spoke to me. The first thing I noticed when I was about to drink it was the notice on the bottle that tells you to invert the bottle before you open it. I inverted the bottle. Then I opened it. It spilled everywhere. Just kidding, lol, I crack myself up. Where was I? Oh yeah, so I inverted the bottle, returned it to the upright position, and then opened it. I took a whiff and got the muted aroma of guava. You can definitely smell the guava, but it’s fainter than you’d expect it to be. It tastes like fizzy guava juice, only not as sweet as juice and more sweet than a guava-infused sparkling water. It has 39 grams of sugar, so it’s more like a soda than anything else. I like it. I approve. It tastes good enough to make me want to try the other flavors.

Critically Rated at 13/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as beverage, Bundaberg, Bundaerg Guava, drink, guava, sparkling, Sparkling Selection

October 27, 2014 · 6:06 pm

Snapple Peach Tea

Snapple Peach Tea is a peach flavored iced tea. You’ll like it if you like iced tea and peaches. It’s made from green and black tea leaves just in case you were wondering. I know that if I were you, I would be wondering what kind of tea leaves they use to make it. It’s refreshing to drink on a hot day and it’s a healthier alternative than a soda. It’s caffeinated and that’s always a bonus, just maybe not right before bedtime. If you’re going to get it, look for the glass bottle as opposed to the larger plastic bottle. The glass bottle caps are the ones with “Real Facts” printed on them. Some of the “Real Facts” are real and some of them are completely wrong or inaccurate. It’s like the Wikipedia of bottle caps.

Critically Rated at 12/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as iced tea, peach, snapple, snapple peach tea, tea

October 22, 2014 · 1:44 pm

Orange Juice

Orange juice is juice made from oranges. You can drink it anytime you want, but most people consider it to be a breakfast beverage. It’s full of vitamin C, so it will help fight colds and stop scurvy. It’s also an essential ingredient for mimosas and screwdrivers. It tastes good, is beneficial to your health, and it makes a great mixer. No refrigerator is complete without it. Orange juice is commonly referred to as OJ. It’s the only juice that gets an abbreviated name. Apple juice is apple juice, not AJ. Pineapple juice is pineapple juice, not PJ. Cranberry juice is cranberry juice, not CJ. Grape juice is grape juice, not GJ. I don’t know why orange juice is the lone exception. You would think that Minute Maid and Tropicana would try to distance themselves from the term OJ after the whole incident involving a certain football player, two dead people, and a white Bronco, but I guess OJ is too established a term.
When you’re picking out orange juice, you have to pay attention to your pulp levels. So,e people love pulp, some people hate it, and some have no feelings toward it. No Pulp is always a safe option, but it’s boring. You want some pulp, just not too much. Luckily Some Pulp is actually an option. I think Tropicana makes it. It’s the ideal pulp level for mimosas.
Critically Rated at 13/17
Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as breakfast, juice, mimosa, mimosas, oj, orange, orange juice, oranges, screwdriver

October 12, 2014 · 3:07 pm

Lagunitas Imperial Red Ale

Lagunitas Imperial Red Ale is a Red Ale/American Amber made by Petaluma, California’s Lagunitas Brewing Company. It’s a solid beer all around. It pours a ruby orange color with a creamy off white head. The nose is full of pine and citrus hops and bready malts. The aroma is a bit misleading because it tastes more on the malty side than the hoppy side. You still get pine and citrus (mostly grapefruit) flavors, but it has a nice bready and malty backbone. There’s a little sweet and spicy caramel flavor and maybe a hint of wood. Throw in the decent 7.8% ABV and you have a great Red Ale. I’m more of an IPA drinker, but this beer hits the spot. Lagunitas is a great brewery and this is a great brew.

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as lagunitas, lagunitas brewing company, Lagunitas Imperial Red Ale, red ale

October 10, 2014 · 11:15 pm

Getting Carded

I’m twenty-nine years old and still get carded. That might seem inconvenient to some, but it’s a great compliment and one that I will take any day. It might be my baby face. It might be my demeanor. I don’t care. People think that I’m a lot younger than I am. I can get away with paying student price on the bus. I can get half-priced move tickets. I have to have my ID ready at every bar or liquor store checkout. My last name is Young. I act young. I look young. I am Young. I plan to enjoy this as long as I can. One day I will wake up old or dead and nobody will bother to card me. And I will look back on the glory days of my youth with a twinkle in my eye and a scowl on my face.

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as bar, drinking, drinks, getting carded, ID, proof of age

October 5, 2014 · 8:17 pm

Falling Asleep and Wasting a Good Beer

Yesterday I went to the bar after work to watch the San Francisco Giants take on the Washington Nationals for Game 2 of the 2014 NLDS. I only got a beer every other inning, but the game ended up going 18 innings and lasting six hours and twenty-three minutes before the Giants finally eked out a victory. Naturally, I celebrated with another beer. Then it was time to go home because I was pretty hammered. I skated to the subway and caught a train home. I cracked open another beer and made a sandwich when I got back. I kind of blacked out at that point because I don’t remember much after that, other than watching Harry Potter and getting crumbs all over the floor. I know that I passed out because I woke up for work this morning and saw a half-full bottle of beer on the table. And it was a good beer too. Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale is practically precious. I hate falling asleep and wasting a good beer. But I’ve found a decent solution for my after work beers: I’ll drink one quality craft brew and one inferior domestic like a Budweiser or Coor’s. I have no problems with falling asleep and wasting a shitty beer.

Critically Rated at 7/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as asleep, beer, falling asleep, falling asleep and wasting a good beer

October 2, 2014 · 11:23 am

Guinness

Guinness is an Irish Dry Stout from Ireland. It’s one of the most popular beers in the world, and I don’t know why. It’s extremely overrated and not that enjoyable. It’s rich and creamy with hints of caramel, coffee, and roasted barley. It looks dark and tastes heavy, but it’s deceiving because it’s only 4.2% alcohol. That’s less booze than Budweiser. It’s more filling than Budweiser so you can’t drink more of them to make up for the lack of booze. Guinness drinkers take Guinness way too seriously. They will only drink it on draft, and only if it’s poured correctly. Yes, there’s a specific way to pour Guinness. I won’t go into details because I don’t care about pouring a shitty beer a specific way. Look up instructional videos on YouTube if you really care that much. The best thing about Guinness is the brand recognition. Guinness is a beer that even non-beer drinkers know, mostly because of the Guinness Book of World Records. The Guinness Book of World Records lists a bunch of random records like the fastest bird, highest-selling musical artists, heaviest human being, etc. it sounds educational, but it was created to settle bar bets. Now we use iPhones and Google to win arguments. Guinness is a decent beer, but it doesn’t deserve the acclamations it gets. It’s a boring beer.
Critically Rated at 10/17
Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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Tagged as beer, guinness, guinness book of world records, Ireland, irish dry stout, stout