Beer on a Budget

| December 31st, 2011 | No comments
Beer on a budget

It’s no secret that times are tough.  Unemployment, rising fuel bills, and higher food costs are just some of the troubles facing us in this turbulent economic time.  One thing I continually hear from my less enlightened beer swilling friends, is that craft beer is just too expensive.  Not so, I say!  There are plenty of reasonable, bank account friendly craft beers that are time tested and beer geek approved!

Stone Brewing Company – IPA, Smoked Porter, Arrogant Bastard Ale
First and foremost, we’ll start with the Escondido based brewery which is arguably the most vocal when it comes to bringing craft beer to the mainstream.  While you can rarely go wrong with any of Stone’s excellent beverages, the above beers will give you the most bang for your hard earned buck.  For $3.99 per 22oz. bomber, you can take home a delicious IPA, Smoked Porter, or the infamous Arrogant Bastard Ale.  All 3 are varied enough to impress a wide array of palettes, and the infamous gargoyle logo looks great to boot.

Deschutes Brewery – Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, Inversion IPA
With their higher end beers such as The Abyss and The Stoic, Deschutes Brewery from Oregon have been carving out a nice niche for themselves in the craft beer arena.  However, it is the tried and true staples of their beer lineup which have helped give them the credit they deserve.  At roughly $8.99 for a six-pack, Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, or Inversion IPA will have any self respecting beer lover salivating.  Throw in the seasonal Jubelale, and you have a fantastic mix of beers that will run you slightly more than a six-pack of Newcastle or Blue Moon, but with 10x the flavor!

Wasatch Beers – Apricot Hefeweizen, Polygamy Porter, The Devastator
Wasatch have been brewing quality beers out of Park City, Utah since 1986, and are an oft-overlooked player in the craft beer market.  At roughly the same cost of a 6-pack of Shock Top, you can pick up their fine Apricot Hefeweizen which is sure to be a hit amongst those that prefer their beer a bit lighter and enjoy a fruity finish.  The Polygamy Porter is a great choice for the coffee lover in your life, while The Devastator Double Bock will please the adventurous lot who want a bit more bite to their beer.  All run roughly $7.99 for a six pack.

Anchor Brewing – Anchor Steam Beer, Anchor Liberty Ale, Anchor Porter
WIth a history dating back to as early as 1896, Anchor Brewing company has been riding the beer roller coaster with a dedication to crafting fine brews.  Many consider Anchor to be the first true craft brewery, a term that hadn’t even been coined when they first started bottling their iconic Anchor Steam beer in 1971.  To this day, you just can’t go wrong with Anchor.  The next time you’re thinking of dropping $6 for a six-pack of Sam Adams or Leinenkugel, I urge you to avert your eyes, and instead look for the yellow carrier.  Any of Anchor’s year-round beers will run you close to $7.99 for a 6 pack.   When you crack open your first bottle of Anchor Steam and get a good whiff of the caramel and citrus notes, you’ll know that you’ve made a fiscally responsible choice!  Your bank account and taste buds will thank you!

Where to Buy
When it comes to the best place for your craft beer needs in Las Vegas, you just can’t beat Khoury’s Fine Wine and Spirits.
Khoury’s Fine Wine & Spirits 

For those of you that enjoy the bar scene, Aces and Ales has no competitor.  There you will find the rarest and best beers on tap in town!
Aces & Ales

I can be found on:
Twitter: @aaguilar13

Craft Beers Worth Saving For New Year’s

| December 28th, 2011 | No comments

Great suggestions from Food Republic. All of the suggested beers are very unique beers in that they are attempting to be a sort of “champagne beer,” either by using champagne yeast, being blended with wine, or using “Brett” bacteria to give it some wine-like tartiness.

If you are looking for a more traditional style of beer, but still want something fancy for New Year’s, here are four of my suggestions:
Chimay Grand Reserve
Nothing says celebration like a Belgian beer made by monks. This is my go-to special occasion beer. It’s a very good, balanced beer that pleases everyone, even the non-beer drinker types.

Stone BELGO Old Guardian Barley Wine
A very full flavored, robust beer. If you can’t find the BELGO version (which is very likely since it is only brewed every other year), then get it’s non-Belgian yeast-fermented, slightly less awesome brother. 

Anchor Christmas Ale
Brewed once a year, specifically for Christmas and New Year’s. Well spiced without being overdone.

Tenaya Creek Imperial Stout
Being released today at Khoury’s Fine Wine! Either drink it this New Year’s or age it a year and drink it next year before the world ends!

1 year of @Untappd

| December 28th, 2011 | No comments

I started using Untappd in December of last year. Now, a year later, it’s fun to look back and create some interesting statistics based on one year of drinking. Enjoy

Both Tenaya Creek and Sierra Nevada are tied for 5th place

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