Darin
Darin Dalida
Registered Since: 2008-07-26 07:27:37
Profile: I still remember the first time I craved a beer...it was a nasty high school party with people I hardly liked. The only saving grace was a kid I knew who had a sixer of Budweiser tall-boys. I offered him a dollar for a can and the rest was history. Since then I have grown a love and passion for all shades of beer.
Reviews by Darin:
Mesabi Yousabi
Week 35: Lake Superior Mesabi Red (August 25-31) | Reviewed on August 30th, 2008
Well it’s malty, but quite good. Comes on with a sweet malt taste and finishes with a fruity hop bitterness. Overall a good beer… especially after a long day at work. Similar to Schell’s firebrick, but I think lake superior does it better.
Partisan Punch
Week 36: Flat Earth Convention Ale (September 1-7) | Reviewed on August 30th, 2008
Well it’s a true to form Belgian red ale, really no bells and whistles. I will say this is the first of it’s kind I’ve tried, so I don’t have anything to compare it to other than what I have read about this style. It takes you by surprise by how sour it is (hooray for bacteria and yeast!)…the only thing is, it’s hard to get past the sour on your palette. I rather enjoyed it due to it being so different than anything I’ve tasted to date. The sour taste is appropriate coming into the election season, in which we will probably all be left with a sour taste in our mouths.
Old Boring Ale
Week 34: Cold Spring Olde Johnnie Ale (August 18-24) | Reviewed on August 15th, 2008
I will start by saying I’ve never enjoyed anything made by Gluek’s. This one is no exception. Despite the cute story about monks from Germany and all the old English font, the taste simply cannot carry the facade…this beer is really boring. The color is a deep amber, which leads you to believe it will have tons of character…false. It starts with a slight malt taste, and quickly finishes with a small hop note. It feels like a runner giving up half way through a race. The only good things about this beer is that it’s cheap, and the alcohol works.
Wheatie Wheat Wheat
Week 31: Summit Hefeweizen (July 28-August 3) | Reviewed on August 14th, 2008
This beer is pretty much exactly what you might expect it to be. A great wheat style, with summit’s signature hoppiness. The only thing that threw me for a loop was how very filtered this beer is. Most hefeweizens I’ve had are unfiltered, as if to prove how very wheaty they are. I’m not saying that’s a drawback, merely an observation. What makes this hefeweizen so good is the bitterness from the hops covers the sugars of the wheat. It’s so balanced, and so incredible on a hot day. (especially after softball on tap) Summit done did it. I wish they would sell it bottled outside of the variety pack…if they do, please let me know.
Not bad, not bad at all
Week 30: Schell Firebrick (July 21-27) | Reviewed on July 27th, 2008
Schell’s beers seem to have a commonality to them…they all taste sweet. Maybe it’s just me, although an all-malt lager should have been an obvious enough warning. I like this beer, perhaps it has something to do with first having tried it at the state fair. (that’s enough reason to like anything) Despite it’s amber color it’s very smooth and doesn’t really bite. Its roasted malts come out in the finish, which is a nice twist after drinking primo for the last week and a half. Good, not great.