Victory over bad tasting beer!

Last weekend I was in NYC (I truly am a well traveled ape). Aside from enjoying views of the city at night from the Hudson River with someone special, seeing my dear sister, and hanging out with old friends... I came away with a new beer to place along my faves.

Victory Hop Devil! I had this devilishly good beer at a Red Sox bar called Professor Thom's. Little did I know that this gem was named one of the 10 Best Summer Beers by Details Magazine... I just chose it because I hadn't heard of it before and had a hankering for something different. It was slightly sweet, hoppy and refreshing. It was so good, I ignored the fact that a tiny roach ran across the bar as I was drinking it... had it not been so good I would have eaten that tiny roach (bugs are part of an ape's diet! I don't get grossed out at the fact that humans drink the milk of other animals). It was a great summer Ale that isn't wheat, citrusy or very light.

So, if you are hanging in your canopy, drinking nothing but Wit, Wheat or just plain light flavor beers this summer... give Victory Hop Devil a taste, your tongue will thank you!

Do Apes like fish? Maybe Some Mackerel.

The other day I was perusing the beer aisle at Knightly Spirits and I discovered something I hadn't seen before... A local Florida beer called Holy Mackerel Special Golden Ale! I grabbed a six-pack and swung back home. I decided to actually pour the beer into a glass this time and take a "sniffy sniff" (as Wine Library TV's Gary Vaynerchuck says). It's got a yellowish and lightly cloudy color. It smells a bit sweet, but has a bit of funkiness in too. Now, I've been burned by funkiness before (no... not from sniffing my own butt), so I took my first sip with trepidation. I was, thankfully, quite tasty. There was a bit of funkiness in the aftertaste... but nothing close to the funkiness I've had in some saison ales. It was a bit sweet, light, and refreshing. With 8.5% ABV it's no lightweight either. So with that, I give Holy Mackerel a couple of chest bumps. A great showing for a local brew in a state that is sadly lacking in beers with personality. Gordash Brewing Co needs to keep 'em coming.

if you dont like clicking on links... here it is the gratuitous video of a monkey falling off a tree after sniffing his butt

The (not so elusive) White Ape

Another day, another Wheat Beer. Ok, ok... I hear you saying "Another one?!?! Sheesh! Apes sure are creatures of habit." You are completely correct in your assessment, I am a creature of habit. I eat bananas every morning, pick fleas off my neighbor Coco, and swing from the same vine every day. But also remember, it's crazy hot here, and I cant be drinking stouts and darker beers in this weather... I just can't! But, with that in mind, i can drink more Pale Ales, IPAs, Ales (Belgian or otherwise. As long as it's not too heavy, of course.)

I had Avery's White Rascal for the first time a long time ago. It's one of the better known wheat beers that come from a microbrew. First of all, as a visual person, I was originally drawn to the label because of both the clever name and the way artwork plays up the character. But once I tasted it, I was a believer in the taste also. The flavors are a bit more complex and subtle than some other more commercial wheat beers (I'm looking at you Blue Moon!) It's got some nice spice and more orange than lemon to me (which I enjoy). If you haven't tried it, go get it. It's pretty easy to find and a relatively affordable buy!

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Fighting the good fight

Back from Puerto Rico, and as I predicted I had my fair share of Medalla Light, I also got to have some Old Harbor Brew Pale Ale from the tap at Fusion Bee (really great little restaurant in PR). Aside from those I had many other beers from the limited selection found in most San Juan bars and restaurants (Heineken, Sam Adams, and Peroni). Although the trip was fantastic and I got to see some great friends and my family... there was nothing to write home about beer-wise (except for the Old Harbor Brewery Pale Ale actually).

Old Harbor Pale Ale is a decent enough Pale Ale, though it lacks a bit of that hoppy punch that I'm used to. But compared to every other beer I had on the island, it was like the hand of my Ape God touching my lips. "What is this, Oh great Ape Lord?" "It is flavor, my son. Cherish it, for it is the gift I bestow upon thee."

Thank you, Oh, great Silverback!

Watch out Puerto Rico! You are not ready for this Damn Dirty Ape!!!

Has it been 10 years already? I still feel like a adolescent ape and not like the silverback I am. Regardless of what I feel like, today I swing off to my lovely birth place... Puerto Rico. Tomorrow I'm meeting a bunch of old classmates from ape school for a mini-reunion (the official 10 year reunion will be around X-mas time, I think)

I'm pretty sure I'll be drinking a fare share of beer while I'm there. I enjoy supporting the local economy, so I will most probably be enjoying the last remaining fully-distributed Puertorican beer... Medalla Light! Notice that I didn't just say Medalla... this is because it only comes in "Light". Sure, it doesnt have a lot of flavor (and if it does, it's not a very good one)... but, by God, it's our beer! It doesn't hurt that it's super cheap (you might be able to find it for $1.25 in certain places).

Aside from drinking Medallas all day and all night, I will be trying to visit Old San Juan's only Brew Pub (Puerto Rico's only microbrewery), The Old Harbor Brewery. I do remember enjoying their Old Harbor Brew Pale Ale when I went last time. Ahhhh Puerto Rico... this lumbering ape longs to see you and drink your fine brews!

More White Ale... and Gorillas found

Yesterday a friend of mine told me some great news! More than 100,000 rare gorillas have been found in Congo! I am amazed that this kind of discovery can still be made in a world that is increasingly smaller with every technological advancement in communications. I'm still working on this damned spear (you humans better watch out once I figure this shit out!) and maybe some cans with a string attached to talk to my buddy Coco that lives in the next tree over. In honor of this discovery I will be reviewing Mendocino White Ale.

This is Mendocino's Summer Seasonal offering. And what an offering! Refreshing with hints of orange and lemon and some nice spices coming through in the aroma. The color is very light and clear... it almost makes the Lagunitas Pils look like an amber ale in comparison. All in all a very nice White Ale. The citrus and spice flavors make me want to yell the praises of this summer seasonal as I swing from the tree canopy.

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Entering the world of Pilsners... better take some extra bananas

I'm going to admit fist that I'm not a big pilsner drinker. But seeing as it's summer and I'm exploring as many refreshing beers as possible, Lagunitas Pils seemed to be a good choice at Knightly Spirits.

Although I should be, like a good beer reviewer, pouring my beer into a glass to look at color and whatnot... I drank this pilsner right out of the bottle, like the brute ape I am! It was very clean and refreshing with a very nice crisp finish. Having had Lagunitas before and knowing their penchant for using a lot of hops, I believe their Pils has a bit more of a hoppy flavor than a more traditional European pilsner... but I'm not complaining.

With the review out of the way, dear reader, I regret to inform you that this blog might be giving me monkey nightmares... I was viciously attacked by one last night at approximately 4am. I personally have a healthy respect (i.e. paralyzing fear) of monkeys. "But why? They are so cute" you ask... Because when they attack the go for the genitals and the face, and one of those is the "money maker". You can guess which one.

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Brewery Spotlight: Hitachino Nest Beer

Today, this humble ape has decided to spotlight Kiuchi Brewery's Hitachino Nest Beer line. I am a huge fan ever since I tried their amazing White Ale more than a year ago. I had ordered some sushi from a restaurant near by and felt like drinking a nice Japanese beer to go with it... little did I know I would end up with this very European (Belgian) style White Ale. The only one of their line that i have heard is o.k. is the Red Rice Ale... but until I try it, I'll reserve my judgement.

So far, all the beers I've tried from them have made me feel like a silverback... pounding my chest in victory!

Beating the Heat like it was my Chest

I've gotten tired of saving empty beer bottles (yes, I wash them out!), so I can remember what beers I like and why. So I decided to photograph all the empty beer bottles I have saved so far and put them online for all to see. Now on to the first beer!

It's getting pretty hot here in sunny Orlando, FL so I've been drinking a lot of Heffenweizens, Wit Beers, and Pale Ales recently. Weyerbacher Blanche is a really nice and refreshing Wit Beer from Belgium... the land of giants and rubber stoppers, or so i've heard.

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