Heineken Draughtkeg

Purchased: Walmart, Arlington TX

Website: http://heinekendraughtkeg.com/

Beer Type:  Pale Lager

Alcohol Content: 5% ABV

Size: 5L mini-keg, 8oz.

About: Draft Heineken poured from “Draughtkeg”

Taste: I‘m really in love with a couple of things about the Heineken Draughteg.  First, there’s the cool factor.  I purchased the “collectors pack” (see previous post) which came with coasters, a skimmer, and two very nice 8 oz. glasses.  It make serving this to friends a lot of fun.  Second, there’s something pretty awesome about having draft beer in your house whenever you like….and the draughtkeg, with Heineken’s own patented CO2 in-keg system does a fantastic job of producing bar-quality brew.

So that brings me to taste.  Its Heineken.  So if you like that style of lager, then you will love this.  I personally find Heineken a little on the bitter side and prefer a smoother taste.  But the carbonation level produced by the draughtkeg helps cut the bite and makes this a great beer for relaxing with friends…its not too filling and would be easy for four people to polish off a mini-keg in a few hours of shooting the breeze.  What Heineken lacks in taste, it makes up in having this cool option for serving beer.

Food Pairing Suggestions:  Great while snacking, this Heineken would be perfect with some nachos or chips and dip.

Rating: 4 Bottlecaps (out of 6)

Apparently my GF reads http://beermarketing.tumblr.com/ 

She gave me early Valentine’s gifts….I was pretty pumped.  Enough to grab some Shiner and give them a try.  Awesome beer related products.  Awesome Girlfriend.

Pictured:  

Bottle Opener iPhone case from BeAHeadCase.com

Trudeau Bottle Opener/Cap Catcher  - here on amazon

Silicone Bottle Savers by Kegworks

Coffee Porter

Purchased: WineStyles - Mansfield, TX

Website: http://realalebrewing.com/beers/coffeeporter

Beer Type:  Dark Porter

Alcohol Content: 5.6% ABV

Size: 12 oz.

About: Small batch , Seasonal from Real Ale Brewing Company and Katz Coffee

Taste: Mixing two of my favorite drinks in the world (coffee and beer) can be a challenging task.  First, there’s the coffee.  Is it full-bodied, complex, fresh brewed, without too much acidity and no bitterness?  Does it taste like a hipster coffee house brew or the swill they serve at McDonalds? And not to mention the beer…and a stout porter at that!  A good porter can be a meal.  Beer you can chew.  Filling, satisfying and down-right amazing.

Real Ale Brewing Company does a respectful job of blending these two tricky masterpieces.  Not only is their beer thick and smooth (without being over-powering), but the coffee choice is excellent.  I have to give it to them;  a small brewery joining forces with a small coffee roaster keeps the small batch, craft brew tastes compatible and complimentary.

I have to admit, I didn’t finish the beer…I sipped on it while working on some other projects and eventually stopped with about a fourth of the bottle left.  But that’s OK.  In my opinion, this beer is something to have as a something different and works well on its own.  Which brings me to….

Food Pairing Suggestions:  While you could certainly enjoy this beer with some snacks (or what about Beer for Saturday morning breakfast?!) I suggest enjoying this seasonal all on its own.

Rating: 5 Bottlecaps (out of 6)

beermarketing:

Click the image to see the Intoxicase Review

Perhaps my next beer-related purchase?

Shiner - Ryes & Shine

Purchased:  Kroger - Grand Prairie, TX

Website: http://www.shiner.com/main.php

Beer Type:  Dark Lager

Alcohol Content: 4.9%

Size: 12 oz.

About: Small batch from Shiner from the Brewer’s Pride Craft Brew Series, only available in the “Family Reunion” variety Pack.

Taste: The name says it all, with 30% rye and chocolate rye Malt, along with caramel malt, this was a great middle-of-the-range beer.  Its the first from a variety pack I got at the local grocery store…one good thing about living in Texas is that they all carry Shiner. I don’t tend to like overly chocolate tasting beers - I don’t care for Sam Adam’s Double Chocolate Malt, for example - but this special edition from Shiner was perfect and turned out to be the perfect beer for a cool night by a warm fire.  I liked the spice of this beer, somewhat complex (I can’t begin to name everything I was tasting) but not over done, so the beer kept a simple taste to it, which I like if I am drinking with a meal.  Otherwise, I would probably suggest a beer with a thicker flavor. 

It’s a shame this beer isn’t available year round, because I found it not only extremely drinkable, but would definitively be a beer I would get with some regularity.

Food Pairing Suggestions:  Well, obviously I had this while grilling some hot dogs, and it would be a great beer for hamburgers and fries as well.

Rating: 4 Bottlecaps (out of 6)

Not a review, but had to share. Shiner Bock makes excellent beer brats. Great meal tonight.

Lucky Buddha

Purchased:  WineStyles - Mansfield, TX

Website: http://www.luckydrinkco.com/

Beer Type:  Asian Lager

Alcohol Content: 4.8%

Size: 11.6 oz.

About: Lucky Buddha is brewed in China with simple ingredients that produce a simple flavor.

Taste: The best thing about this beer is also the most obvious, its awesome bottle.  I can’t lie, that’s the main reason I purchased it! It’s flavor was a lot similar to other Asian Lagers that I have tried, like Tsingtao.  For those not familiar with Asian Lagers, I would say they taste quite a bit like Heinenkin or Becks, also pale lagers.  I found the Lucky Buddha to be slightly more hoppy in flavor although it was still very mild and sweet without having any complicated flavors.  This would be a great beer to bring to a party - not only because its easy to drink and light on the stomach, but also because it’s crazy appearance would be a real conversation starter. This beer is smooth, crisp… it’s good and I’ll buy it again.

Food Pairing Suggestions:  Chinese takeout, of course! Would also pair well with some spicy sushi.

Rating: 5 Bottlecaps (out of 6)

Franziskaner Weissbier

Purchased:  WineStyles - Mansfield, TX

Website: www.franziskaner.com

Beer Type:  Unfiltered Wheat

Taste: MMMM….Had a slightly sweet flavor, with a light hint of spices without being overpowering…cloves, corriander, maybe some orange.  The beer was very drinkable - maybe too much so!  Would definitely have this again - and purchase in a six pack for an evening. 

Rating: 4 Bottlecaps (out of 6)