Angry Orchard (Cider, I Know)

I read about Angry Orchard Cider on Lew Bryson's blog yesterday and learned that it's a Boston Brewing Co (known for the Samuel Adams line) product, something I didn't realize when I saw a case of it on the malternatives shelf (most people still ask for "wine coolers" when looking for Mike's Hard Lemonade or Smirnoff, oddly enough) at my place of employment (the gubbamint doesn't have any idea, and we sold the case) (there are far too many parentheses in this paragraph).

Bryson sold me on trying the stuff. I even read some happy reviews elsewhere via a Google search. Most folks seem to like the Crisp Apple selection the best. I found all three varieties at my local bottle shop, but decided against trying (for now) the Apple Ginger (maybe in the fall). At $2.15 a bottle, I was hoping for a shorter price line, but it's better than what I'd pay at a bar.

The Traditional Dry, said to be an English style cider, is still in the fridge. My wife and I tried the Crisp Apple yesterday afternoon. As a matter of fact, my wife was the inspiration behind the purchase. I'm always searching for a drink she'd have no trouble enjoying. See, my wife's a hard one to please when it comes to alcohol. She likes margaritas when there are chips and salsa around, has an occasional glass of wine, and almost never drinks beer anymore (she used to be a Yuengling girl). I figure ciders are the way to go, and the Crisp Apple was damn near perfect for her taste buds.

There's a little bit of heat or alcohol presence in the middle, with a slightly volatile, floral, yeasty aroma (quite nice). Crisp Apple is dangerously quaffable, with a fresh apple taste (the apples are said to be imported from Italy and another country that I'm too lazy to look up and identify for you, but my best comparison would be something close to a gala apple, which happens to be my favorite cultivar). My other half said it almost tastes like apple juice. I honestly couldn't recommend the stuff enough. If interested, it shouldn't be hard to find (honestly, Samuel Adams is just about everywhere now).

 

Tyskie Gronie

Tyskie Gronie...I bought a case to share with a friend for around $21 after tax. Apparently it's one of the most popular beers in Poland (not sure that's a good thing). Full disclosure: I've had a bunch of this already (not today, but in general).

Appearance is hazy gold. No head, slim rim nearly disappears after just 3-4 minutes. Carbonation bubbles. Not a lot going on in appearance.  3/5

Smells like a run-of-the-mill American lager. Vegetal, sweet adjuncts, a touch of grassiness and faint honey.  2.5/5  I'm thirsty...

First thing I notice in the taste is a fairly offensive muted graininess. After a few sips that aspect mellows out, and the taste sweetens, at least improving from the less than stellar introduction. Not a lot to talk about. There seems to be a heavier adjunct bill than a malt, and I prefer the latter. 2.5/5

Fairly balanced in the mouth. Not much hops, but there isn't much body either, so there you go, it's balanced adequately. Washes away pretty cleanly, but as it warms a little booze starts to tug at the back of the throat.  3/5

Overall: 2.5

Notes: this is a below average lager. I could name several American lagers that do the adjunct thing much better. And what's with the 5.6% ABV? That gravity is unnecessary. Why not cut it to 5%, add more malted barley and make a better brew?

Warsteiner Dunkel

Notes from 5/27/12

Bought this on accident (see notes after review):

Near black appearance with mahogany shades toward the bottom of the chalice. A milky, off-white head slims down, but an attractive rim remains and clings gently to the glass.  4

Coffee, timber smoked and grape juice in the nose. A touch of milk chocolate, and a slightly floral aroma.  3.5

Dark, wet malts up front with a grape-like yeast flavor sitting in the middle. A dry lingering in the back end, reminiscent of a red wine with a woody character. Notwithstanding everything I just mentioned, the taste comes off as one dimensional. 3

Hops cut into the wet malts character. The wet body, however, is broad and pronounced. Carbonation might be matching the hops. Feels a little like soda.  3

Overall: 3

Notes: went into my favorite bottle shop for Warsteiner Premium Verum (German pilsner), found it, and checked a bottle for a freshness date. Turned out the brew should have been drank by Sept 2011 (apparently nobody drinks the stuff around here). Then I saw another row of the brew right next to the bottle I picked up, and checked the dates; Warsteiner Premium Verum good til August 2012...or so I thought. Got home, poured a bottle into my chalice glass, and was very surprised by the dark color. The moral of the story is: double check labels, and don't "pull a mom" (late 90s-early 2000s reference to loving mothers and their attempts to buy regular potato chips and other junk food, but due to the constantly rushed nature of the housewife lifestyle, bring home "reduced fat" or "low sodium" bastardizations of name brands).