The Consumer’s Corner

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

Miller has made over their Miller Genuine Draft Light in an effort to go toe to toe with Michelob Ultra in the low carb beer market. It is a mere 64 calories compared to Michelob Ultra’s 95. I was eager to try this one out.

Miller Genuine Draft Light 64 has a slight corn malt aroma. The pour results in a vigorous head that dissipates to a thin film. The color, as pictured, is a pale yellow. The mouthfeel is very light bodied and a lot of carbonation. It has a corny sweetness to it, but there are no big “beer forward” attributes. It does, however, have more flavor to it than Michelob Ultra. I could drink quite a few of these beers in rapid succession and not get tired of the flavor because it is so light.

A friend of mine commented that Miller Genuine Draft Light 64 is “watered down”. I told him that I think they did an incredible job for what they were trying to accomplish in the low carb/calorie category. One suggestion that would not raise the caloric intake is to add a few more hops. The bitters would give it some more dimension instead of being a bit thin on flavor. Even though this beer lacks a bit of beer character, it has its place in the market. It would be perfect ice cold on a hot day and definitely fits the bill if you are looking to drink a refreshing light beer.

This beer is a bargain in terms of price. Genuine Draft is considered “premium” beer, while it’s competitor, Michelob Ultra, is considered “above premium”. A 6-pack of bottles was $4.99. Recommended!

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–Matt Scheerer (of Red-Icculus.com)

miller genuine draft light 64, miller, beer, adult beverage

While browsing the microbrew section of my friendly neighborhood liquor store, I came across Upland Winter Warmer barley-style wine. A barley wine is essentially a beer that uses several times the barley and hops and packs a higher alcohol percentage. This one beer in particular has 9% alcohol, thus the “Winter Warmer” moniker.  I was excited to dive into this unique brew.

Upland Winter Warmer has the aroma of roasted malt, alcohol fumes and a hint of plums. This beer should definitely be decanted for 10 minutes or so. It pours a deep mahogany with an off-white lace that subsides quickly. The taste is a chewy, sweet caramel with a bit of resiny hops. The higher carbonation lightens up the fullness of this beer. It has a full grain finish and isn’t brassy or coppery like most barley wines from the large amounts of hops. It is one of the most balanced barley wines I have had yet.

I paid $9 for a 6-pack. Upland is produced in Bloomington, IN and has distribution in the Midwest. If you can find it, I’ll definitely recommend picking up Upland Winter Warmer for a cold day.

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–Matt Scheerer (of Red-Icculus.com)

beer, adult beverage

Following my good experience with Sam Adam’s Cherry Wheat review, I was eager to try another beer with adjuncts. Weiss beer, (which is pronounced “vice”) means “wheat” in German. This wheat beer is a bit lighter, brewed with cluster hops, and just a touch of honey. Despite that, Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss beer is not what most people expect it to be.

Upon twisting off the top, I catch the aroma of grain and lemon. While slowly pouring it into my weisen glass, I notice it’s nice clear, gold color with just a finger of head that recedes quickly with no lace. Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss beer is a thin and lighter bodied beverage. With every sip, there is lively carbonation, a nice wheat flavor, some light malt flavor, and almost no hops or bitters. The finish is slightly sweet and crisp, with little to no honey flavor.

Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss beer is quite easy to drink and would go very well with seafood or a spicy dish. I recommend Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss. I picked up a 12-pack for $11.89.

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–Matt Scheerer (of Red-Icculus.com)

leinenkugel’s honey weiss, beer, adult beverage

Samuel Adams produces excellent beer because they are made in much smaller batches, with a higher quality of ingredients. Sam Adams has a wonderful reputation, but I am usually skeptical about beers with adjuncts. Despite my reservations, I was certainly impressed with the ‘Cherry Wheat.’

I have always been a fan of wheat beer because of Blue Moon. I decided to try something little different and I snatched up a 6-pack of the Sam Adams Cherry Wheat for about seven bucks. I pry off the top (twist offs are for your frat buddies!) and pour it into a glass. It’s a dark amber color with a nice thick head and little lace. It smells faintly of cherries and grain.

Upon taking my first sip, I fall in love. It has a solid wheat and a bit of yeast flavor, but a light mouth-feel. Sam Adams Cherry Wheat is not heavy at all for the amount of flavor. Having the perfect amount of light carbonation, it has some sparkle without being over carbonated. In the finish, there is the crisp and light taste of cherries. Extremely refreshing.

For the price and quality, I highly recommend anything Sam Adams does.

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Matt Scheerer (of Red-Icculus.com)

samuel adams, samuel adams cherry wheat, beer

This one kind of reminded me of a cross between Smirnoff Watermelon, and Smirnoff Berry. Mostly Berry though. How does the flavor compare to a real pomegranate juice? Beats me. I haven’t tried a 100% juice product, so I’m kind of flying blind. It tastes excellent though; berries always equal delicious in my book. Blog. Whatever.

Alcohol percentage is a little north of 5.0%, just a smidgen stronger than most beers. You really can’t tell it’s even there though; it’s covered up incredibly well. This is a very common trait amongst all of the Smirnoff Ice varieties, they have perfected the art of masking the flavor of alcohol.

‘How do they do it?,’ you ask. Well, for starters, they dump in over 220 calories worth of sugar into each and every twelve ounce serving. That is a lot of sugar, folks. That number is good for each flavor as well. Smirnoff with Splenda, anynone?

Take it easy, these will quickly sneak up on you. Please, remember to be safe and responsible. Otherwise, I easily recommend. Cheers!

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–Jeremy Hobbs

Adult Beverage, beer, malternative