The Consumer’s Corner

I reviewed Sparks Plus way back in 2007, and I was pretty impressed with it. I did a lot of tailgating with them, they’re an ideal adult beverage for that purpose. It had been quite a while since I’d seen a line extension though, so when I saw Sparks Red, it was a no brainer to pick one up. 16 ounces of 8% alcohol and energy in hand, good times were ahead.

Tasted pretty decent. Sparks claims it’s berry and cherry blended, but before I read that little piece of information, I thought it was supposed to be cranberry flavored, in the same mold as Mike’s Harder Cranberry Lemonade. Regardless, the first sip was harsh as always, and after that I was good. I do recommend getting them as cold as you possibly can, and keeping them that way, because once these get a touch warm they can be kind of skanky.

Still love the feeling these give me; one can gives a nice buzz, and the energy drink elements keep you from getting that groggy feeling if you happen to be a ‘sleepy’ drinker (which I am). Of course if you attack the 4-pack with reckless abandon, you’re going to be crawling to your cab, so be careful.

Verdict? Sparks Red gets a ‘Win.’ I’d use them to pregame if I were you, or maintain a good buzz. It is a beer, after all. I’ve seen them priced between $1-$2, and at that price, they’re worth it. Enjoy!

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–Jeremy Hobbs

‘Joose‘ is an alcohol/energy hybrib (malternative), and I’ve been wanting to try it for awhile. Truth is, I haven’t been drinking that much, so it hasn’t been very tempting to me sitting in the cooler. But last night was rough, I wanted to go home and chill, so I thought ‘What the hell?’ and grabbed a can.

From past experience, I know the colder you can get these potent mixes, the better. Stuck it in the freeze for an hour and a half or so, and it was frigid. First sip; physical pain. It burnt so bad. I’m no professional drinker, but I’ve done my fair share of straight shots, and a great many of them went down smoother than Joose. I kept sipping, because I wasn’t going back out, and it was just as harsh from start to finish.

‘Gasoline’ was all I could think of. It’s orange based, but the aftertaste reminded me of petrol fumes, just nowhere near as pleasant. Carbonation was fairly intense, and the flavoring kept the malt taste down, but nothing I put in my body should spark images of combustible fluids in my mind.

For the second half of the can (yeah, I finished it… a dare became involved) I iced it, and that helped. Like a bandaid helps an amputated limb. Joose is a product I will never, ever purchase again, and I know of much tastier options to get my cheap drink on. Epic fail.

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–Jeremy Hobbs

I just picked up Leinenkugel’s 1888 Bock.  This brewery known for their simple, straightforward beers and this 1888 Bock is no exception.

This beer pours a clear copper with a tan head that disappears with big bubbles and no lacing.  It smells of sweet malt, a bit of caramel, and a hint of nuttiness.  It tastes like roasted malts and a bit of light bitters.  The body is thin and heavily carbonated.  It is simple and easy drinking with only the yeast flavor lingering in the finish.

This beer is a good beer, but lacks character in maltiness and complexity compared to other winter beers like Sam Adams Winter Lager.   It is another smooth and light beer from Leinenkugel.  I paid $6.49 for a 6-pack. Mildly recommended.

–Matt Scheerer (of Red-Icculus.com)

Shiner Hefe-Weizen pours a cloudy straw color with a white head and tiny bubbles that dissipate slowly with quite a bit of lace.  This beer is bottle conditioned, so it is hazy with slight chunks of yeast.  The smell is that of citrus with only a hint of wheat.

The taste is bright and ‘citrusy’ with a solid, but round malt flavor.  It is like drinking golden sunshine. It is medium bodied with good carbonation on the palate.  It finishes clean, but with just a touch of yeast.

This beer is really smooth drinking.  Although this beer would be really refreshing in the summer, it is full bodied enough to drink year round.  I paid $8.49 for a 6-pack.

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–Matt Scheerer (of Red-Icculus.com)

‘Dead Guy’ Ale was the first beer that got me interested in ‘big beers’ after consuming brews like Miller Lite and Keystone all my life.  I’ve yet to go back to anything other than craft beers since Dead Guy inspired my love for good beer.

Cracking the bottle, Dead Guy has an aroma of sweet malt and honey with a bit of alcohol vapors.  It pours to a dark amber color.  There is a light amber head with a finger of thick bubbles that take their time to dissipate.  The first taste is of sweet malts.  It is a full-bodied beer that highlights different flavors the longer it is held on the tongue.  There are balanced aromatic and bitter hops and the sweet finish lingers.  This is a beer to sip on and savor.

The alcohol content (6.5%) will warm your stomach. It is great beer well worth the money, if you have the spare coin.  I paid $9.49 for a 6-pack.

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–Matt Scheerer (of Red-Icculus.com)

Most consumers are familiar with the more heavily promoted Coors Light, but how many of you have sampled its full-flavored parent, Coors Banquet?

Into a pilsner glass, Coors Banquet will pour a rich golden straw color. There are some thick carbonation bubbles rising inside this brew. The head is a thin bright white, and disappears almost immediately. It smells of light grain and a hint of esters from the yeast. With my first sip, I taste grainy malts and some light hoppiness. The mouthfeel is light bodied and smooth. The finish is crisp and clean. My only complaint was the heavy carbonation that makes me belch like a glutton. For a full-flavored American macro beer, it is easily drinkable. It is definitely lawnmower beer. I enjoy Coors Original more than its “light” counterparts.

I paid $14.99 on sale for a 24-pack of cans. Recommended!

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–Matt Scheerer (of Red-Icculus.com)

‘Peach’ hasn’t ever been my favorite flavor of anything, Bacardi Silver included, but that’s not really Bacardi’s fault. But for a peach flavored beverage, I did enjoy it at least as much as I have enjoyed any other peach flabored things. This tastes very similar to a peach soda I used to be known to sip on every now and then; just stings a little bit more going down the hatch.

Not too much, just more than the soda. The ‘Peach’ reminds me a lot of the ‘Big Apple’ Bacardi Silver (to be reviewed later); more ‘sweet’ flavor, less ‘bite.’ I guess it’s hard to have both? I like knowing that there is some alcohol in what I’m drinking while I’m drinking it, keeps me from getting stupid, but I really don’t taste it in this. At all. You may love that, a lot of people will, and if you do, that is all the better for you. Either way, it’s a good tasting peach drink. Fans of that fruit should enjoy this, easily.

Alcohol comes in around 5%. That’s 20% more than most beers, so don’t let your drinking buddies give you any crap while you’re drinking this and they’re sipping a Budweiser. Why should they care if you like things a little ‘fruity?’ To each his own. Oh yeah, the alcohol/volume percentage may vary a little bit by region. Just an FYI for you.

Calories are prohibitive if you’re a dieter, it takes a lot of sugar to make these not taste like beer. 230 calories worth of sugar, actually. Also, I’m going to ask very nicely that you always drink responsibly, especially if you have intentions on driving anything heavier or more powerful than a bicycle. Babies, either in fetus or nursing stages, do not need to be exposed either. Think of the kids! Otherwise, drink up; I feel safe recommending these.

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–Jeremy Hobbs

I really enjoy a good barley wine, so I was undeniably excited to pick up the 25th Anniversary Expedition Edition of the 2008 Bigfoot Barley Wine by Sierra Nevada. It was served in a pint glass at cellar temperature and is a very interesting big brew.

‘Bigfoot’ pours revealing an amber hue with a head that dissipates quickly into a thick film. The smell is intoxicating and has hints of pine, citrus and dark malt. I could tell this beer was going to have some fruity esters. Taking a sip is intense. My initial impression is that the beer is very hops forward and the esters give it a fruity note like apricots. It is a heavier brew, light on the carbonation, no heavy alcohol fumes, and the lack of hops “brassiness” common in barley wines makes it very drinkable. The bitters in the finish linger making this an excellent one to sip on all night.

I paid $9 for a 6-pack. I highly recommend the 2008 Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barley Wine.

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–Matt Scheerer (of Red-Icculus.com)

Bacardi Silver hasn’t ever been my favorite out of the ‘malternative’ brands, but I haven’t ever been scared to drink one (or six) either if I can find them on sale. Thrifty thrifty thrifty.

You consumers can often find the line of Bacardi drinks at significantly lower prices than Smirnoff and Mike’s, but there really isn’t a significant drop off in the quality of the drink. Bacardi just got into the game a little late, and they’re having to scrounge around a bit for some market share. I find them to taste a bit less sweet, but I’m sure a lot of people like that about them. Simple matter of preference.

I’ll get into more of ‘the line’ later; but tonight I’m focusing on this particular variety, ‘Mojito.’ The flavor is a really good reproduction; I was surprised. Can’t beat it in terms of convenience, the Mojito isn’t exactly an easy drink to make. Ever if you use a mix, it’s still easier just to twist off the top on a Bacardi Silver Mojito.

Did I think it was any good? Absolutely. The mint flavor (spearmint, I’m thinking?) did not over power the lime, or vice versa. It was very light tasting, not syrupy at all. That can be rare with these types of drinks. It left a cool, refreshing taste in my mouth. Calories will kind of ding you at 235 (35 grams carbs), but you should know by now that these things are loaded down with sugar going in. Definitely not for dieters, unless you’re a very light drinker. Alcohol percentage is 5% in my area of the world, but I’ve been told that may vary a bit by state (country?).

I look forward to popping the tops on the rest of my 6 pack this evening, so that should give you a clue as to whether of not I give them a recommendation. Sold in 6 packs only I believe (unless you own a bar), and Publix made me give them $5.50 at the checkout counter before they’d allow me to leave with them. Prices will of course vary by location. Drink in moderation, don’t drive, and keep your fetus sober, please. Thank you.

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–Jeremy Hobbs

Adult Beverage, beer, malternative

I decided to review an Irish beer, Guinness Draught. When you crack the ‘nitro’ can a widget gas ball releases liquid nitrogen into the can to give Guinness an “on tap” texture. When I pour it into my glass, it separates into 4 very distinct layers and finally settles into just 2, the opaque black body with a creamy tan head.

The aroma is that of roasted malt, dark chocolate and coffee. There is a bit of sourish grain, little bit of dark roasted malt and some coffee notes on the palate. The finish is very clean and ends quickly. For having the amount of dark roasted malt that Guinness Draught has, it has a light body with low carbonation. It is extremely easy to drink.

I recommend Guinness Draught!

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–Matt Scheerer (of Red-Icculus.com)

guinness, guinness draught, beer, alcohol, adult beverage