Red Stripe

I’m gonna fight ‘em off, a 7 nation army couldn’t hold me back! Oh wait, that's White Stripe. I just finished a pint (+) of the Jamaican Lager, Red Stripe, and I got to tell you, I am fairly impressed. Most people think of Bob Marley and his pastime, not beer (think about it), when they think of Jamaica, but this beer could possibly change that image. Red Stripe was first brewed by a soft drink manufacturer, Desnoes & Geddes, Ltd., in 1928. I guess they got tired of the caffeine headaches cola causes and figured if their beverage was going to cause a headache, it will be associated with a hangover!

Okay, let’s begin with the aroma. To me, this beer has a pretty noticeable malt smell to it. And it is coupled with a faint spicy aroma as well. Malt is not my favorite smell, but Red Stripe had a decent aroma. It kind of reminds me of the smell of a spicy beer brat, which is quite delectable!

The color of the beer was a pale gold. Nothing too spectacular about it, it looked just your average lager appearance.

However, the taste of Red Stripe is what got to me. I prefer the hoppier beers, but this beer had a pleasing dry and bitter taste to it. Coupled with the malty taste of it, it made for one fine tasting beer. I think that Bob Marley would have put down the blunt just long enough to enjoy a crisp, cold Red Stripe. Also, note the high carbonation, sort of stung the tongue on the way down!

Would I recommend this beer, absolutely! I thought it was a bit pricy, but still worth it. It goes great with a slightly crispy Frank’s Foot Long and some potato chips. This beer would be perfect for a picnic on a hot August day. Because let's face it, nothing makes a hot day better than a crisp, cold lager!

Beer-O-Meter: 12 pack

Bud Light

We have all had Bud Light because we have all been to the proverbial keg party at your college roommate’s best friend from high school’s girlfriend’s brother’s house. Not the one in the military but the one that dropped out of college and works at the record shop in downtown nowhere and rooms with his hip friends who work at a different record shop in the next town over. We have all done at least one keg stand to this beer since you truly aren’t a man unless you have done one(first and last time I was talked into that). Bud Light was actually introduced in 1982 as Budweiser light. I really had no idea because I was 3 at the time and although my dad let me take a couple swigs off his bottle when my mom wasn’t looking, I had no idea what the heck I was drinking, nor did I care. All that mattered was that I thought my dad thought I was cool!

Anyway, let’s start off with the aroma, or lack-of-a-roma as some may say. I would say that it has a slight malty aroma. But nothing really stands out with the smell, it smells like a traditional light domestic lager to me. However, I will say this, that slight malty aroma does intensify after it has been sitting in your girlfriends stomach for a couple of hours and decides to make its way back up. All you can really do is hold her hair and breathe and talk like you have a really stuffed up nose (“Cub on ‘honey, one more anth leth’s get you home!” and she replies, “RRRRRRALPH!). But that’s enough of that.

The color is your traditional pale yellow. However, one thing I really enjoy about Bud Light is the head after pouring. A chimp could essentially pour you a BL because the head does not really linger that long. It will go away pretty fast and that just makes for a smoother chug..chug..chug!

And now we talk about the taste. It tastes somewhat malty to me and a little dry, which isn’t really a bad thing at all. Some of the best beers I have ever had were as dry as a well in the Mojave Desert during a sand storm. What I do enjoy is the high carbonation of BL. It sort of bites your tongue as it flows down the gullet. However, it does seem a little watery but that is probably why it is the keg of choice since most anyone will be able to drink it.

Would I recommend this beer? Sure, if you do not have a taste for the finer beers in life and are looking for a quick buzz while playing anchorman with your beer drinking buds (no pun intended). It goes really well with buffalo style chicken wings because after eating a 3 alarm at Jeffrey's Sports Bar and Grill, you are going to need lots to drink, fast, and BL will allow you to guzzle ‘till your tongue's content! Very easy to get drunk with this beer, probably because of the watered down texture, so take it slow!

Beer-O-Meter: 40 oz – Sixer, somewhere in between there.

Flying Dog Classic Pale Ale

Okay, so the name jumps out at you a little bit. It should. The founders of the brewery, George Stranahan and Richard McIntyre, were acquaintances of the late, great Hunter S. Thompson, whom we all know as Raul Duke from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. With an associate like that, Flying Dog is not a very strange name at all. In fact, legend has it, that George and Richard were backpacking through the mountains when they swear they saw a “flying dog” heading towards their campsite (flyingdogales.com). I am not sure what exactly it was that they were drinking, but I would like to sample it!

So I would like to share with you what I believe to be the all around beer: Flying Dog Classic Pale Ale. I first stumbled upon this beauty on my way home from work one day. I stopped at a brand new store of liquor in Conyers Ga, Brown’s liquor store, and found this jewel from Denver. I thought to myself, “Hmmm…..could be fun??!?” So I purchased my first ‘sixer and haven’t looked back since.

Let’s start off with the smell. The first thing that I do when I pop the top of a FDCPA, is inhale that fine mist that circles up from the tip of the bottle. It has a very fruity aroma, the kind of aroma that many college kids think would make a fine cologne, and I must say that they would probably be right. However, it might be a little difficult ‘splainin to the cops that you ain’t been drinkin!

The next thing you will notice, after pouring your FDCPA into a tall, frosty mug right out of the freezer, is the color. It has a very pleasing amber-copper color to it. This might surprise a few of you because you’d think the name says it all, with pale being in the name, but it actually looks a little bit like a Killian’s. I apologize if I have blasphemed in some of your eyes!

But what makes this beer stand out from the rest, in my eyes of course, is the exceptional taste. Like I said, it has a fruity aroma, which can be tasted mildly, but the bitter hops will blow you away. It also has a sort of toffee taste, if you will, reminding me of a good brown ale like a Newcastle. And I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t enjoy a Newcastle (except for weenies, jk, but not really)!

Would I recommend this beer? Abso-frickin-lutely! It is a wonderfully tasting beer and if you have a taste for hops, it would definitely be right up your alley. It goes great with a N.Y. Strip, some asparagus, and a baked potato with ranch dressing instead of butter!

Beer-O-Meter: 24 pack

Welcome to the Beer Gazette!

I can't think of one drink in the history of mankind that has been appreciated as much as beer. According to Wikipedia, which we all know is fact (until someone rewrites it, that is), it is the oldest and most enjoyed alcoholic beverage in the world. The ancient Egyptians first stumbled upon the delectable treat known as beer in 6000 BC. And they got so drunk they decided to build triangular shaped buildings! I don't think that there is any other drink in this world that could unite so many people in such a common and ludicrous goal. But there you have it!

Awhile back, as I took a long pull off of my Flying Dog Classic Pale Ale, I thought to myself out loud for some reason (possibly too many beers), I absolutely love the brewing concoction we affectionately refer to as suds, the brew-ha-ha, bottled sunshine...and so on and so forth. So I took it upon myself to join a brewing club started by some of the greatest minds ever to scrape their knuckles on the ground. It is called Lithonia's Finest and it truly holds up to its name.

And I can't help but wonder why everyone doesn't enjoy the fine beverage known as beer. Okay, so beer is an acquired taste. And it is probably not for everyone, which I have no problem with (more beer for me).

Now I am considered somewhat of a hophead. I enjoy the subtle nuances that too many hops bring to the table. But I also enjoy the more hearty malts. However I am not going to stick to one type of beer, but select a beer to write about at random. I think that it is best to first scour the local supermarket, for all you "mainstreamers", then branch out into the tastier treats that can only be specially ordered by your handy dandy store of liquor for a "modest" fee. But I have to write about my personal favorite first. And that would be none other than Flying Dog Classic Pale Ale!