Beer #12: Rampant Imperial IPA

For this week's selection, I decided to try a beer that came highly recommended by a friend. The design featured hops topped with a crown, so I immediately knew that hoppiness was this beer's selling point. As someone who enjoys beer with a bitter kick to them, I looked forward to trying something new from New Belgium Brewery, the makers of the bitter, but sumptuous Fat Tire.

It an unexpected turn of events, Rampant was actually much more bitter than expected. After my first sip, my palate was barraged by a wave of tartness that took me by surprise. Finishing the beer was somewhat difficult because of the overwhelming combination of citrus, grapefruit, lemon, and grassy hops. Moreover, Rampant is teeming with alcohol, packing a ridiculous 8.5% ABV. Not feeling discouraged, I decided to drink a second beer, but its overtly-boozy taste was too much to handle. As someone who drinks with alacrity, I found myself sipping this beer, not because I was enjoying it, but because of how difficult it was to imbibe. Needless to say, I gave up after just two beers.

After drinking a varied selection of hoppy beers, it was shocking to discover an IPA that was just way too hoppy. Rampant is reasonably priced, but finishing the six-pack will be, more than anything, a laborious chore.

RATING: 

Sold Out

                                        Beer #11: Soul Doubt

On a recent trip to San Antonio, I came across a beer that shared its name with a song from punk-rock icons NoFX. Oddly enough, the beer is brewed locally in San Antonio and is sold at San Antonio Spurs games (for the steep price of $7 for a 12 ounce can). Even stranger, I listened to NoFX's music on the way to S.A., particularly the album that included the raw and hooky opening track, "Soul Doubt." Clearly, it was a sign from the heavens... or just pure happenstance. Either way, I seized the opportunity. 

"Soul Doubt" is an Indian pale ale from Freetail Brewing Company, the first of their offerings I have tried. The design on the can features a spray-paint style emblem with nicely contrasted colors that have a punk-rock aesthetic to it. This micro-brew contains a respectable 5.9% ABV, which, in retrospect, is really not bad for $7 at a sporting event. Soul Doubt has a mildly hoppy taste that is accentuated by its earthy flavors. For an IPA, is isn't too bitter, but instead has a surprisingly smooth taste.

Regrettably, I did not have the chance to scour the beer aisle's at the San Antonio H-E-B's to purchase a six-pack of Soul Doubt. In fact, it was so good that when I return, I might purchase more than just one. 

RATING: 

                                        Beer #10: Moose Drool 

As I pondered which beer to purchase at the bar this past weekend, I saw a new option that immediately caught my attention because of its insipid name. Drool in general prompts disgust, but moose drool... well, that's just revolting. Still, there was something enticing about this beer, so I decided to give it a shot. Soon after, my apprehension turned to delight, as there was nothing about the beer that was stomach-turning whatsoever. In fact, it made me crave more Moose Drool!

As seen in the photo above, Moose Drool is an American Brown Ale distributed by the Big Sky Brewing Company. Personally, this style of beer is not one of my favorites, nor is it one I regularly imbibe on weekends. However, Moose Drool is anything but sub-par; in fact, my feelings about brown ales have been completely reshaped by this beer. Moose Drool's delectable taste featured hints of chocolate, along with maple flavors that added a surge of sweetness. Overall, Moose Drool's malty flavors and smooth-and-creamy texture make it easy and enjoyable to drink.

RATING: 

Summer of Love

                                        Beer #9: Love Street 

With summer quietly approaching, there is no better way to unwind and relax than to enjoy a refreshing libation. Seasonal beers, however niche, offer an endless assortment of crisp beer options that act as an antidote to the scorching summer temperatures. 

Love Street, a seasonal lager from Karbach Brewery, is a Kölsch-style beer, i.e. a German lager. The drink poured a coruscating golden color and emitted a rich aroma of wheat and citrus. Although I purchased Love Street on tap, the retro art work on the can deserves a mention for its "Summer of Love" callback. Most of the beer's drawbacks, however, were in its taste. At 4.9% ABV, Love Street is a robust lager, and yet it tastes very light. Bizarrely, the beer lacked flavor, and the hints of barley, lemon and grassy/floral hops I did detect were ultimately masked by its flat taste.

Love Street, although very crisp, failed to capture the exhilaration that permeates the summer season. It is not a bad beer, but summer is about excitement, and that is something that is missing from this beer.

RATING:  (Three-and-a-Half Beers) 

Texas Forever

                                        Beer #8: Heart O' Texas

The sizzling expanse known as Texas has many distinctive flavors that are familiar to its residents, but alien to outsiders. To really experience everything the state has to offer, one has to trek through long stretches of barren land, the only consolation being that there is something unquestionably singular to be collected from the experience. Discovering what is at the heart of Texas is an arduous task, and for a beer to try to discover just what that taste like seems unimaginable. 

Heart O' Texas is a red ale from Four Corners Brewery, the manufacturer of the previously reviewed IPA El Chingon. As seen on the picture, Heart O' Texas has a fiery red color that perfectly encapsulates the sweltering Texas heat. Moreover, the artwork on the can aptly captures Texas' infatuation with murals and mosaics. For a beer with 6.3% ABV, Heart O' Texas is shockingly smooth and effortless to drink. It does, however, feature a bold taste that may put-off drinkers who prefer lighter options. The beer's zesty citrus aroma complements the underlying sweetness of pines, caramel and fruit.

Heart O' Texas' refreshing aftertaste makes it suitable to drink on a hot spring/summer day. Even though it is on the cusp of moderate/heavy beers, it should satiate drinkers who enjoy their taste buds to be walloped by a maelstrom of flavors. Texas certainly has its faults, but there is no denying that it has much to offer, one of those things being great beer. 

RATING: 

Lager than Life

                                        Beer #7: Guinness Blonde

For beer drinkers, Guinness is synonymous with stouts. Drinking their Draught beer on tap is a rite of passage for novices who are looking to become more serious beer drinkers. When I first heard that Guinness ventured into brewing a blonde lager, I was both excited and skeptical to try the beer. The variety of beers that I have had from the Guinness brewery have been superb, but they were also exclusively stouts. Nevertheless, I was intrigued when a friend of mine purchased the beer and asked to try it out.

Although the beer was well-chilled, the taste was not immediately discernible. Perhaps the beers I had previously imbibed affected my abilities to properly assess the beer, but one thing I was able to observe was that it was not a bad beer at all. As I kept drinking, the beer's overall taste became easier to identify, and each sip was met with the skunky taste/smell typically found in lagers. With an even 5% ABV, Guinness Blonde is comparatively weaker than the other beers I have reviewed, and not as flavorful either. There is a sweetness to the beer's flavor, but ultimately its taste (which include traces of lemon and malty flavors) never truly stand out.

As far as lagers go, this is a touch above some of the more well-known brands in the beer market, e.g. Budweiser. Unfortunately, there are as many areas where the beer lacks as it excels. 

RATING: 

King of the Monsters

                                        Beer #6: Hopadillo IPA

If you haven't noticed by now, I am a big fan of Indian Pale Ales. Interestingly, many of the beers I've been trying as of late have been brewed in Texas. When I spotted Hopadillo among the group of beers sold at local music venue Yerberia Cultura, it immediately caught my eye. A part of me found the image of a green armadillo composed entirely of hops so absurd and comical that I would regretted not purchasing it right then and there. The $5 price-tag, although hefty, felt like a bargain when considering a few things, namely its ABV and notable taste.

The beer's packaging includes an off-kilter description of the "Hopadillo" as though it were a mythical creature. The message on the can delineates the beer's ingredients and taste while warning drinker's of the monstrous Hopadillo. The level of fun that Karbach Brewing Co. is having with their product is a refreshing reminder that first and foremost, beers are meant to be enjoyed. Another warning the brewers failed to include is how quickly the beer sneaks up on the drinker, which isn't really a surprise when its ABV is an ample 6.6%. One distinguishable trait the beer possesses is how bitter it tastes, and that piquant flavor is attributed to its most vital ingredient, hops. At the risk of sounding redundant, Hopadillo included the caramel/pine/grassy/bread-infused flavors synonymous with IPA's and unfortunately, not much else. 

Overall, Hopadillo was both savory and refreshing. The biggest drawback this beer has is that the bitterness that dominates the taste does not make it the easiest IPA to drink. However, this is a very minor blemish on the beer itself, and if seen at your local bar, be sure to purchase it anyway, or else the Hopadillo might come after you. 

RATING: