<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28184597</id><updated>2007-12-12T23:03:15.408-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Beer Genius</title><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.beergenius.net/'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default'/><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beergenius.blogspot.com/atom.xml'/><author><name>Jameson Huckaba</name></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>9</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28184597.post-4000489775773198777</id><published>2007-12-12T22:50:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2007-12-12T23:03:15.446-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Chocolate Imperial Stout</title><content type='html'>This particular beer review is a bit different. It is different in the sense that none of you will actually be able to buy it. “What’s the point, then?” you ask. Well, I wanted to swing things a little differently today and talk about homebrew beers as a whole. Don’t really know anything about it? Yes, it’s a geeky thing you can do in your mom’s basement with your friends. But it can be much more.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Anyone that is truly serious about beer has at least looked into brewing at home. Those who are completely obsessed actually do it. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I’ll admit – I haven’t taken the plunge quite yet. I’ve got a reasonable amount of book knowledge without any physical application. A real expert, right? Yeah , that’s me. I’ll tell you what, though: I’m excited enough to write about the art of homebrewed beers, and hopefully that’ll push me over the edge.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My cousin, though, has taken the plunge. In fact, he’s already three years into the hobby. The guys he brews with have been doing it for close to twelve. So what is this all about? “I like good beer, what can I say?” my cousin Dominic starts out. “Plus, I like the challenge of trying to create something to be proud of, and the fellowship that comes with the many hours involved in the process.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dominic was kind enough to send me (by proxy) one of his “Three Stooges Brewing” Chocolate Imperial Stout beers.  It came in a plain brown bottle with a home-printed label to identify its contents. I thought it would only be done justice by pouring it into the correct glass, so I chose a tulip-type snifter to allow some of the more subtle characteristics to work their way out of this gorgeously-dark ale.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Initial taste is pretty rockin’, with that classically dark roasted malt prevailing (as it should in a good stout). The chocolate portion of the namesake is displayed as a nice undertone to the whole lot – much more subtle than in other distinctly-chocolate beers I’ve tasted. I’ll be honest – I prefer it this way. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The finish was, to me, the most interesting part – It almost finished like a port wine, leaving traces of booze and grain long after the main ingredients have disappeared from your palate. Dominic says this particular beer is around 7.5% alcohol; that’s the ‘Imperial’ part.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Overcoming my selfishness to drink the beer myself, I allowed my buddy Gunar (&lt;a href="http://www.mad-avenue.com"&gt;www.mad-avenue.com&lt;/a&gt;) to have a sip. “Wow – that’s really good for a homebrew…”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My thoughts exactly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So while you can’t buy this beer, at least not yet, the point is that there’s an entirely different world out there that most people don’t ever venture into. That’s okay ; that’s what makes home brewing unique and totally rad. If you’re really curious, there is a lot of material to read out there:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="www.beertown.org"&gt;www.beertown.org&lt;/a&gt; – home of the American Homebrewers Association&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.homebrewtalk.com"&gt;www.homebrewtalk.com&lt;/a&gt; – Good online forum for discussion, learning, and advice.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.morebeer.com"&gt;www.morebeer.com&lt;/a&gt; – Good place to buy homebrew equipment. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.howtobrew.com"&gt;www.howtobrew.com&lt;/a&gt; – Excellent introduction to ho mebrewing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There’s something to get you started – I think you’ll rather enjoy it should you choose to take the plunge. I know I’m going to do so. Call me out on it a couple months from now, and see if I’ve made anything cool.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And now for the rating. I’ve been complaining for the past couple of reviews that a couple of the categories bother me, as their qualities don’t necessarily make a good beer. What I’ve done is taken the system  and completely revamped it into something that seems a bit more fair. To keep consistent with my past reviews, the rating will still be out of 100. Also, beers will be compared to others in their category with regards to rating, otherwise we might fall into the trap of regarding a more complex beer a better beer when in actuality it may not be. Any feedback is certainly welcome. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Body:&lt;/strong&gt; (16) - &lt;em&gt;This guy isn’t as much of a mouthful as many other stouts, and has more of a two-dimensional feel than the depth and breadth that I was hoping for. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Nose:&lt;/strong&gt; (18) - &lt;em&gt;I absolutely loved the way this one hit me when in the tulip glass. The chocolate was certainly prevailant and rich. I don’t know whether this beer was brewed from a malt-extract or the barley itself, but I certainly couldn’t tell one way or another.&lt;/em&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Character:&lt;/strong&gt; (15) - &lt;em&gt;Again, a bit ‘flat’ in overall complexity, where I was hoping to be knocked off my feet. Props for choosing to do something different. This one certainly has room to grow.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Originality:&lt;/strong&gt; (20) - &lt;em&gt;It’s a homebrew – certainly an advantage for this category in that regard. There are a few chocolate stouts to which this can be compared, but none that I’m aware of with such a nice finish.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Versatility:&lt;/strong&gt; (14) - &lt;em&gt;let’s be honest here – this beer isn’t for everyone. Non-beer drinkers won’t really care for the highly-alcoholic finish, or the impression the dark malt gives to the drinker. Pair it with a busy pizza, any red meat, or a spicy Italian or Mexican dish.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total:&lt;/strong&gt; 84 out of 100 – certainly respectable. Definitely for a homebrew. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For those that don’t know, it’s quite difficult (so I hear) to achieve commercial-level consistency and complexity with inexpensive homebrew equipment. Sterilization of absolutely everything is key, along with proper temperature throughout the entire fermentation process. I’m definitely impressed, and I hope to make something similar someday. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Beer: Chocolate Imperial Stout&lt;br /&gt;ABV: approx 7.5%&lt;br /&gt;Brewed by: Three Stooges Brewing (Homebrewers)&lt;br /&gt;Reviewed by: Jameson Huckaba</content><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.beergenius.net/2007/12/chocolate-imperial-stout.html' title='Chocolate Imperial Stout'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=28184597&amp;postID=4000489775773198777' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beergenius.blogspot.com/atom.xml' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/4000489775773198777'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/4000489775773198777'/><author><name>Jameson Huckaba</name></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28184597.post-2042963280609924977</id><published>2007-12-08T13:24:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2007-12-08T20:07:10.916-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Budweiser. The King.</title><content type='html'>&lt;img src="http://www.beergenius.net/budweiserlabel.jpg" alt="Budweiser Label" style="float:right;margin:8px 0 15px 15px;" /&gt;We've all been in the situation where there's no question whether or not you'll be drinking beer. The situation where you're encouraged - no, expected, to hang with the guys. But there's often one slight problem. You walk into 31 flavors, and all they have are 31 variations on vanilla. Not exactly what you were hoping for, eh?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now my vanilla may be different from your vanilla, but it's pretty clear what is implied here. Do yourself a favor - have a friend pour, in separate, unmarked glasses, all of the major domestic pilsner beers. I bet the only difference you'll be able to tell between them is whether it's a 'lite' beer or not. And don't give me the crap about how much Coors tastes from Miller. Only the most discerning palate can truly tell the difference. It's the genius of marketing, dear friends, that makes us believe one is so much better (well, different) than the other.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After your experiment, open a Budweiser. No, not Select, not Light. The original Budweiser. "But, the calories, Beer Genius! What'll I do? I already have enough of a 'spare tire' around my midsection!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Let's face it. If you're worried about calories, you probably shouldn't be drinking beer anyway. You're not going to get skinny by drinking light beer. So you might as well drink &lt;span style="font-style:italic;"&gt;real&lt;/span&gt; beer. And truly, there's only about a 45 calorie difference (on average) between any given original and its 'lite' variant. With that said, turn on a football game. Grab a 36 pack (yeah, they make those now!) of Bud Heavy. Get a buddy. Fire up the grill.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Forget about sophistication for one second - this beer is about enjoying beer for beer's sake. Unlike most domestics, it doesn't have to be chilled to 33 degrees (F) to be enjoyed. It has some body - didn't expect that, did ya? Taste the slightest hint of citrus. Savor the aftertaste, and you'd be surprised to find the slightest touch of honey. It's just carbonated enough to feel a bit busy. No, it's not the best beer I've ever had. But some beers aren't about being the best.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Guinness is about feeling Irish. Paulaner is about feeling German. Budweiser is about feeling American, and everything that goes with it. And you know what? I like that feeling. I like the idea of grilling meat and watching football. I like the idea of getting together with some friends and causing trouble. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Let us not forget - it's because of Anheuser-Busch that we can enjoy so many wonderful beers from all over the world. They practically invented beer pasteurization, the magic bottle/bottlecap combination, and refrigerated transport.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It may surprise you to learn that Budweiser is brewed in the traditional way. It is aged in a time-honored beechwood lagering process, and naturally carbonated. The brewmasters are obsessed with quality and consistency. They get mad when you rip on their beer. While I typically don't care for traditional American Pilsner Lagers, this one isn't half bad.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So next time you're in that beer-drinking, pretzel-eating, football-watching situation, grab the Budweiser. Savor it. Enjoy it. Because sometimes, as true beer-lovers, drinking beer just for the sake of drinking beer is what we're called to do. Friends and memories are made. And you just don't mess with the King of Beers.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Character:&lt;/span&gt; (13) - This one won't blow you away with its complexity. Sometimes, though, you're just looking for something simple and easy to enjoy. All the basics are here, with more bitterness in younger bottles.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Exclusivity:&lt;/span&gt; (20) - Again, I don't know why I have this category. Some restructuring is needed. Budweiser is easily the most widely distributed beer in the world. Props for that.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Flavor:&lt;/span&gt; (12) - Not a lot here. Notes of citrus and honey, with hops shining through as the beer ages a couple months beyond the bottling date (or the "Born on:" date).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Originality:&lt;/span&gt; (17) - One must give credit where credit is due. This one is the original, as far as I am concerned.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Versatility:&lt;/span&gt; (16) - I must admit, for such a glowing review, I can only handle this guy every once in awhile. However, it's cheap, and goes great with pizza.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Total:&lt;/span&gt; 78 of 100&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Beer: Budweiser Lager (American Pilsner)&lt;br /&gt;Alcoholic Content: 5% ABV&lt;br /&gt;Brewed by Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, Missouri&lt;br /&gt;Reviewed by: Jameson Huckaba</content><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.beergenius.net/2007/12/budweiser-king.html' title='Budweiser. The King.'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=28184597&amp;postID=2042963280609924977' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beergenius.blogspot.com/atom.xml' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/2042963280609924977'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/2042963280609924977'/><author><name>Jameson Huckaba</name></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28184597.post-5091085825287115550</id><published>2007-12-05T17:14:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2007-12-05T17:17:29.429-06:00</updated><title type='text'>RSS feed woes.</title><content type='html'>So I know my RSS feed isn't working quite yet. Big problem - I agree! It should be fixed by later tonight. Thanks for your patience!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Also, a welcome back, and a thank you to my old readership that I left hanging for so long. It's my goal to publish at least every other day. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The look and feel of this site will evolve, hopefully sooner than later. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Any comments or suggestions are always welcome. Just shoot me an email at &lt;a href="mailto:jameson@beergenius.net"&gt;jameson@beergenius.net&lt;/a&gt;. Thanks!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- Jameson Huckaba</content><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.beergenius.net/2007/12/rss-feed-woes.html' title='RSS feed woes.'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=28184597&amp;postID=5091085825287115550' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beergenius.blogspot.com/atom.xml' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/5091085825287115550'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/5091085825287115550'/><author><name>Jameson Huckaba</name></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28184597.post-2106859177082744932</id><published>2007-12-05T14:40:00.001-06:00</published><updated>2007-12-05T16:23:15.558-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Boulevard Pale Ale</title><content type='html'>&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 8px 0 8px 12px; padding:3px;" alt="Boulevard Pale Ale" src="http://www.beergenius.net/paleale.jpg" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A friend of mine has a saying. "I don't drink beer I can see through," he says. Fair enough - you like what you like, but you're missing a whole different world by closing that door. We all know that guy that won't touch a dark beer, simply because it's dark. What he doesn't realize is that, like wine, the beer world consists of more than just light-colored and dark-colored variants (or red and white...nevermind). My point: A classic porter is as different from a dry stout as Miller Lite is from a lambic beer.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A far-too-general description for its classification, pale ales vary widely in color and taste. An Indian Pale Ale (or IPA) is as different from a Saison beer as Dennis Rodman in Vegas is from Emily Post at a state dinner. Most people tend to like beers at either extreme - sometimes unintentionally skipping over the mild-mannered classics in the middle of the bunch, such as Boulevard Brewing Co's flagship beer - the Pale Ale.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's right! I said it. Although Boulevard's Unfiltered Wheat makes for over 73% of the brewery's sales, their Pale Ale was the first beer created by the regional craft brewery, and remains their flagship product. And what a product it is. It has a gorgeous deep-golden color that captivates. A lengthy taste reveals notes of citrus - mainly lime - and honey, with enough hops to give it a pleasant texture. Complete with the slightest caramel undertones, it hits exactly where it intends: right in the middle of the way-too-broad pale ale spectrum.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To be fair, it's technically an American Pale Ale - a category shared with Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale and Rogue's Juniper Pale Ale, both of which are not at all like this finely balanced example I'm enjoying at the moment. As I try and pick another beer that's identical, I fail. Sure, there are other mild pale ales out there, but Boulevard's example has to be among the most finely balanced available.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Unfortunately for East - and West coast readers, Boulevard isn't quite available there. They have an approximate 500-800 mile distribution radius from the brewery, and growing. Their sales have jumped approximately 15-20% since the brewery opened in 1989, so expect their excellent beers to creep to your area in the near future.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Character:&lt;/b&gt; (18) - The straight-laced kid doesn't always have to be the boring one. Don't expect a lot, and be pleasantly surprised. Just like the middle child in your family. Always underrated.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Exclusivity:&lt;/b&gt; (17) - I've been contemplating tossing this category - as an exclusive beer doesn't necessarily mean it's a good beer. Personally, I wish Boulevard was available everywhere. Expect to find it in most midwestern establishments.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Flavor:&lt;/b&gt; (19) - Perfectly balanced. Supreme enjoyment.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Originality:&lt;/b&gt; (18) - None exactly like it in this crowded category. Again - the middle is often overlooked for something more 'exciting.' Don't make that mistake with this beer.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Versatility:&lt;/b&gt; (20) - Full points for this bad boy. Refreshing and clean in the summer, and just busy enough to be warming in the cold months. Your friends won't go "eww!" like they might with a porter.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Total:&lt;/b&gt; 92 of 100 points.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Beer: Boulevard Pale Ale (American Pale Ale)&lt;br /&gt;Alcoholic Content: 4.9% ABV&lt;br /&gt;Brewed by Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City, Missouri&lt;br /&gt;Reviewed by: Jameson Huckaba</content><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.beergenius.net/2007/12/boulevard-pale-ale.html' title='Boulevard Pale Ale'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=28184597&amp;postID=2106859177082744932' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beergenius.blogspot.com/atom.xml' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/2106859177082744932'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/2106859177082744932'/><author><name>Jameson Huckaba</name></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28184597.post-115172758121021202</id><published>2006-06-30T23:17:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-06-30T23:21:51.663-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Sundance Amber Ale</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7235/2981/1600/sunwin.0.png"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7235/2981/320/sunwin.0.png" alt="" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Welcome to possibly my favorite genre of that cool beverage we call beer: the Amber Ale. I like ambers for their variety - they can consist of so many great flavors and still be called an 'Amber.' They are typically robust, flavorful beers that beg to be drank at almost any occasion.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;This one is certainly distinct from many I've enjoyed. A deep copper color, it is said to be the color of a Colorado Sunset. Ok - maybe stretching it a bit far, but that's what Boulder Beer Company says. Boulder Beer is the first microbrewery in Colorado - sock that away in your trivia bank for a rainy day.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;A first sip reveals notes of smoke and roasted barley, with a strong yet warm malt taste, a signature of any good amber. Further progression yields a full body and an almost dry finish. I like it. There are the classic elements of a great amber with Boulder's own little twist on it. Nothing too crazy or out of the ordinary. Definitely a pretty versatile brew.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Sundance won a Silver Medal at the 2000 World Beer Cup, an annual competition of over 2000 beers. More than 500 brewers participate in this annual event, and it is always stiff competition.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;If you like beers that have flavor, you'll like this one. The roasted barley and flavorful hops make for quite a well rounded taste - you won't be disappointed. While not the best amber I've had, it certainly distinguishes itself among the others.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Character: 17 - original, but not outstanding. Plenty to love here, but the components leave you wanting just a little bit more to spice things up.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Exclusivity: 16 - Found at most liquor stores around the midwest. I'm not sure how widely Boulder distributes, but this is one of your more 'average' ales. Most people wouldn't go pick it up, so extra cool points for that.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Flavor: 18 - Different enough to be distinguished. Everything is well balanced and sophisticated.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Originality: 18 - Boulder was the first real microbrewery in Colorado, and they like to brag about it. This particular beer is pretty unique among the ambers I've tried.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Versatility: 19 - As said before, this one can be drank pretty much year round. Not too filling, light and crisp, yet robustly flavored makes for a perfect year-round selection.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Total: 88 of 100&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Beer: Boulder Sundance Amber Ale&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Alcoholic Content: 4.8% ABV&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Brewed by Boulder Beer Company, Boulder, Colorado&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Amber Ale&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Reviewed by: Jameson Huckaba&lt;/span&gt;</content><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.beergenius.net/2006/06/sundance-amber-ale.html' title='Sundance Amber Ale'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=28184597&amp;postID=115172758121021202' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beergenius.blogspot.com/atom.xml' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/115172758121021202'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/115172758121021202'/><author><name>Jameson Huckaba</name></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28184597.post-114963552533246537</id><published>2006-06-06T18:09:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-06-06T18:18:18.466-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Staropramen</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7235/2981/1600/staropramen.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7235/2981/320/staropramen.jpg" alt="" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;So I'm not typically a pilsner fan. But when I asked the barmaid at one of my favorite hangouts to suggest a beer I most likely had not tried, she was more than happy to suggest Staropramen Pilsner Lager for me. I thought 'great...I've done the Czech pilsner thing before (Pilsner Urquell).'&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;    However, I took her up on her suggestion, and was pleasantly rewarded. Served relatively cold, as most pilsners are, this particular lager had a rich, warm character to it. While still having the characteristic pilsner bite, I discovered that it was nicely balanced by the complexity of flavor the czech hops gave. Slight hints of melon and lemon were found, along with that classic european hops flavor.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;    One of the complaints I often hear is that european pilsners are skunkish. This is not a 'stinky' beer. For someone looking to transition from our favorite domestics  (riiight...), this would be a great place to start. Full flavored, not too weird, and good enough to make you wonder what else is out there.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;From their website:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;        &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Traditional Czech brewing methods are used in the brewing of     Staropramen.                 Staropramen uses a special blend of natural Czech     ingredients. Bohemian     barley and         Zatec (Saatzer) hops have been used to     produce Czech beer for     hundreds of years. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;       When you take a sip of our pale lager, you will surely appreciate its     natural "bite."         Consistent and sufficient fermentation give Staropramen a full-    bodied, pleasantly             smooth taste with a thirst quenching finish known as RIZ or     "just right." a rich head of         foam, and deep golden colour.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;    I'm not sure that I could have stated it better. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;    Staropramen is brewed by Pivovary Staropramen a.s., and as of 2000, is actually owned by InBev, who also owns Stella Artois and Becks, among others. Founded in 1869, Staropramen is one of Prague's most popular beers, served in over 800 locations within the city. They are also the Czech Republic's third biggest brewery. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Staropramen Pilsner Lager&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Character&lt;/span&gt;: 17 - A unique pilsner with a complexity of hops and fruit that will please the palate. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Exclusivity&lt;/span&gt;: 18 - while popular in eastern Europe, I've not seen it too many places here in the US. Certainly less popular than other imported macrobrews, such as becks or warsteiner, or Pilsner Urquell.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Flavor&lt;/span&gt;: 16 - Still a pilsner, although a good one. This left no hint of a cheap beer after each sip, and the flavor continued to unravel itself as I made my way through the bottle.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Originality&lt;/span&gt;: 18 - one of Czech Republic's original brews, and from my experience, unique in its construction.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Versatility&lt;/span&gt;: 20 - I can't place a season or an event to this one. You'd be perfectly comfortable slamming (I mean enjoying) one of these before a ball game as you would at a wedding.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Total&lt;/span&gt;: 89 of 100&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Beer: Staropramen&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Alcoholic Content: 5% ABV&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Brewed by Pivovary Staropramen, Smichov, Czech Republic&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Czech Style Pilsner Lager&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Reviewed by: Jameson Huckaba&lt;/span&gt;</content><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.beergenius.net/2006/06/staropramen.html' title='Staropramen'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=28184597&amp;postID=114963552533246537' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beergenius.blogspot.com/atom.xml' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/114963552533246537'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/114963552533246537'/><author><name>Jameson Huckaba</name></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28184597.post-114920480011965372</id><published>2006-06-01T17:41:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-06-01T18:36:14.733-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Pabst Blue Ribbon</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7235/2981/1600/pbr.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7235/2981/320/pbr.jpg" alt="" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Yeah, I had to do it. I was at Old Chicago with my buddy Jeff yesterday, which so happens to be Beer Tour Wednesday. For those who aren't in the know, every Wednesday, Old Chicago will feature a beer (usually unique and obscure) that will count for four beers on one's quest to conquer the World Beer Tour.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Well, the story goes on, and we discover that the 'unique and obscure' beer of their offering just so happened to be the infamous PBR, or Pabst Blue Ribbon. I was jumping for joy, let me tell ya. So what's the excitement about? Blatantly put, I wouldn't pick this beer up just for the heck of it. I've gotta have a pretty good reason. Available most places for $5.99 a 12 pack (yeah, you heard me right), the stuff is akin to some of the more inexpensive beers you can buy.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Pabst Brewing company was founded in 1844, and has a strong will for adhering to tradition. Maybe too strong. They tend to be fans of locality and culture of particular regions, given different brews like 'Lone Star' and 'Old Style.' A quick glance at their other brands reveals several traditionally laughable brands such as Colt 45 and Schlitz. My biology professor was discussing digestion one day and cracked a joke about Schlitz. But that's for another day.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;So being the objective type of person I am, I decide to put away my prejudices and preconceptions, and go for it. After all, every beer I take a look at can't be absolutely fantastic, can it? Maybe I'll see this one as something different this time. Probably not, but oh well. It's worth a shot.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;PBR won a blue ribbon, hence its name, back in the late 1800's. From Pabst's website:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;    &lt;span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Our beer was originally called "Select," but people started                    asking for that "Blue Ribbon" beer in 1882 when we started tying silk ribbons                    to the bottles. We officially added the words "Blue Ribbon" to the bottle in                    1895. Pabst was the first brewery to put beer in cans way back in 1935. This                    was Blue Ribbon beer but it was called "Export" when sold in the can. Our first                    cans had a picture of a can opener on the side with instructions on how to open                    the can of beer, with the can opener.&lt;/span&gt;                  &lt;p style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="bodytext"&gt;                   During World War II, Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans were painted olive drab at the                    factory for military use. All of the canned beer was for the military. Pabst                    Blue Ribbon beer was not sold to civilians in cans during the war because of                    tin rationing.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;So the taste test began. I took an initial sip, and I was stung with a blast of carbonation. And then came that taste. That sour, stinky, warm beer taste that even the poorest of frat boys loathe. Keep in mind that particular PBR was ice cold. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;...and that's all there really is to the taste. It hits your mouth and dies. In an emergency situation (use your imagination on that one), it's drinkable. For comparison's sake, take a warm Natural Light (one of the few beer companies to spell "light" correctly, I commend them for that), and let it sit open overnight. You'll begin to see what I mean, and you can skip the PBR all together.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;I had to work to choke it all down. It seemed like such a waste to dump those calories and maltose sugars in me when I clearly wasn't interested in compliance. On Pabst's website, they indicate that one 'wouldn't be at home' dropping a motor into a car or changing the oil without a PBR by their side. I think I'd rather take the motor oil. And no, not Guinness. But hey - maybe It would get better? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;It didn't. Drink this one as quickly as you can. It gets worse with age. No decanting on this one, ladies and gents. I moved on to Sierra Nevada's Porter. A beer never tasted so good.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Pabst Blue Ribbon&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Character&lt;/span&gt;: 15 points - I had to give this one some points for being so terrible. There aren't too many beers out there that one just completely laughs to themselves when asked if they would like one.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Exclusivity&lt;/span&gt;: 5 points - Available everywhere, predominantly in boothill regions. No offense to my country lovin' friends, as I'm sure they enjoy a good beer as well. I'm just stating matter of fact.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Flavor&lt;/span&gt;: 1 point - I'm being generous with this one. Order of preference: A good beer &gt;  water &gt; corona &gt; club soda &gt; gasoline &gt; pea soup &gt; rubber cement &gt; PBR.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Originality&lt;/span&gt;: 5 points - This was probably a respectable beer in the late 1800's, but that was also when cholera and diphtheria were prevalant, and muddy lake water was just fine. This stuff is probably still made with that water, and whatever else they put in it definitely kills any diseases that might be inhabiting your cold, refreshing beverage of choice.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Versatility&lt;/span&gt;: 3 points - This beer has two purposes. Getting wrecked, and killing diseases. Use as a substitute for Mr. Clean.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Total&lt;/span&gt;: 29 of 100&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Beer: Pabst Blue Ribbon&lt;br /&gt;Alcoholic Content: 5% ABV&lt;br /&gt;"Brewed" by Pabst Brewing Company in San Antonio, Texas&lt;br /&gt;American Style Pilsner&lt;br /&gt;Reviewed by: Jameson Huckaba&lt;/span&gt;</content><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.beergenius.net/2006/06/pabst-blue-ribbon.html' title='Pabst Blue Ribbon'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=28184597&amp;postID=114920480011965372' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beergenius.blogspot.com/atom.xml' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/114920480011965372'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/114920480011965372'/><author><name>Jameson Huckaba</name></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28184597.post-114791103892573319</id><published>2006-05-17T18:33:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-05-17T19:22:18.493-05:00</updated><title type='text'>La Fin Du Monde</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7235/2981/1600/SSPX0048.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7235/2981/320/SSPX0048.jpg" alt="" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: white;font-family:times;font-size:100%;color:maroon;"   &gt;&lt;span style="color: white;font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;&lt;span style="color: white;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: white;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: white;"&gt;La Fin Du Monde, or The End of the World as it is translated, absoluely assaults your tastebuds with nothing but wonderful flavor after flavor in a seemingly endless fashion. A wonderfly golden deep yellow, the color only hints at the punch of flavor this beer brings to your tastebuds. La Fin Du Monde is brewed by Unibroue in Chambly, Quebec, but you wouldn't have guessed that. Upon simple observation,you'd guess this was a Belgian beer.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Unibroue recommends a tulip glass for serving this beer, as it will allow a full flavor release as well as an appropriate sized head.  And what a head it is, with wonderful suds abounding on top of the initial pour.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This beer completely floods you with a burst of flavor with every sip. I was able to pick out grapes and melons, along with a hint of spice. You could almost compare this to a sweet white wine. This is a good spring/early summer beer, with an incredibly refreshing taste. Re-fermented yeast on bottom gives it an interesting character and the triple fermentation makes it an incredibly complex beer.  Let this beer sit in your fridge for several hours as to allow the yeast to settle before you pour it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A lingering sweetness resides in your mouth and prompts you to take another sip, and eventually, another beer. This is most certainly one of the most interesting and complex beers I've come across. But at 9% ABV, take it slow. Otherwise, you may just find out why this beer is named La Fin Du Monde, or The End of the World!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Character&lt;/span&gt;: 19 points - One of the more unique beers I've come across - this one definitely stands out. At 9% ABV, watch yourself. The alcohol is noticeable, but just barely when stacked up against these other premium ingredients.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Exclusivity&lt;/span&gt;: 18 points - I have seen this beer before in select liquor stores - it's available on what I would guess is a limited basis. However, ask the guy next to you at the bar if he's tried it before, and I'd venture no. A wonderful beer, and yet easily overlooked.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Flavor&lt;/span&gt;: 20 points - Wow, what a bombardment of the senses. A gorgeous color, and a sip rewards you with an intense burst of fruit, a hint of spice, and sharp hops, all perfectly balanced together.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Originality&lt;/span&gt;: 20 points - Not a whole lot of beers like this one. I'd describe it as a wheat beer mixed with a barley wine and then tied up with an IPA without the bitterness. Certainly not something you'd run into everyday.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Versatility&lt;/span&gt;: 17 points - Acceptable year-round, but best in late spring/early summer. Refreshing quality. Most people would find it pleasant.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Total&lt;/span&gt;: 94 out of 100&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Beer: La Fin Du Monde Ale (The end of the World)&lt;br /&gt;Alcoholic Content: 9% ABV&lt;br /&gt;Triple fermented, brewed by Unibroue in Chambly, Quebec. Belgian Style Ale.&lt;br /&gt;Reviewed by: Jameson Huckaba&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;</content><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.beergenius.net/2006/05/la-fin-du-monde.html' title='La Fin Du Monde'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=28184597&amp;postID=114791103892573319' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beergenius.blogspot.com/atom.xml' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/114791103892573319'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/114791103892573319'/><author><name>Jameson Huckaba</name></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28184597.post-114775589850612775</id><published>2006-05-15T23:58:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-05-16T11:39:27.873-05:00</updated><title type='text'>In the beginning...</title><content type='html'>&lt;a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7235/2981/1600/SSPX0029.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7235/2981/320/SSPX0029.jpg" alt="" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;We're going to attempt to pick out some good beers, tell you what we like about them, and when/how you should drink them. We're bossy like that. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;We're excited to turn our love for beer into useful information for you when you make your next trip to the liquor store. We've created a simple rating system on a scale of 1 - 100 that we think you'll find effective in making your next malt beverage choice.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Once a week, sometimes more often, you can expect a review of a new beer. Eventually, you'll be able to sort by:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;ul style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;&lt;li&gt;Alphabetically&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Region&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Type&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Occasion&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Season&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;To the upper right is Free State Brewery's Oatmeal Stout. We'd spend time telling you all about it, but unfortunately, it isn't available outside of the Kansas City area.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Ok, we changed our minds. It's too good to ignore.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;The Oatmeal Stout is a year-round beer at Free State, and is one of our personal favorites. It's rich, bold character gives a hint of spice and molasses, yet it's not too thick to order more than one. It's versatile character allows it to be drank in any season.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;From their website:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times;font-size:100%;color:maroon;"   &gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;    In 1989 the Free State Brewery in Lawrence opened its doors as the first licensed brewery&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;   in Kansas since 1881 and joined the resurgence of small-scale breweries across the United        States offering fresh, full-flavored beer in a variety of styles.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:times;font-size:100%;color:maroon;"   &gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Free State is famous in Lawrence for their Monday night Pint Nights. They select usually three beers to put on special for $1.75, and the Oatmeal Stout is often one of them. Oh yeah, and they're also a great place to eat. The food is fantastic. Your server can recommend a beer to go with your entreé selection.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;On our rating scale, we assign points on both subjective and objective characteristics:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Free State Brewing Company's Oatmeal Stout:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Character - 18 points&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Exclusitivity - 19 points&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Flavor - 18 points&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Originality - 16 points&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Versatility - 17 points&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Total: 88 points&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;Pretty darn good. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times;font-size:100%;color:maroon;"   &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Check them out at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" href="http://www.freestatebrewing.com/"&gt;http://www.freestatebrewing.com/.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;We'll eventually be  up at www.beergenius.net. Give us a little time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;If you have any suggestions of brews you'd like us to review, we'd love to hear them! Shoot us an email at beergenius@gmail.com and hopefully your favorite brew will be available in our area.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Thanks!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" &gt;Beer Geniuses&lt;/span&gt;</content><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.beergenius.net/2006/05/in-beginning.html' title='In the beginning...'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=28184597&amp;postID=114775589850612775' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beergenius.blogspot.com/atom.xml' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/114775589850612775'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/28184597/posts/default/114775589850612775'/><author><name>Jameson Huckaba</name></author></entry></feed>