Beer Battle!: Budweiser VS Miller High Life

Beer Battle I: Budweiser (The King) vs. Miller High Life (The Champagne)

Time for my first beer battle. This time its Budweiser versus the High Life. Blind taste testing is the only way to go here and I will rate them on a scale of 1 to 5 in the areas of flavor, aroma, and sessionability. One will be beer "A", the other beer "B". This is the first of hopefully many more to come...

Aroma:

This is a tough one to call, both very similar but I have to hand this to beer "A". Slightly more of a grainy aroma. No real hop aromas in either one. I always find it really hard to get much in the aroma department when drinking rice malt light lagers but there has to be a winner here.

A: 3 B: 2
Flavor:

Another very close call but A just has a deeper flavor. A has a rich malt flavor compared to "B" which just tastes like a toned down version of "A". "A" has a crisper aftertaste while "B" is a little sweeter. Not much going on in the hop department. At least nothing which sets one apart from the other.

A:3: B:2
Sessionability:

If I was to reach for another one which one would I go for? Hmm... I have to go with "B". The tables seemed to have turned. "A" just starts to taste watery after a short while and "B" still maintains its flavor after a few sips.

A:2 B:3
Results:

Looks like "A" wins by a very narrow margin. This was much harder than I thought it would be. Fun, but tricky. The winner is.... Budweiser! I am honestly surprised, I thought Miller High Life would edge out the King of Beers but the opposite happened. Never again will I buy a High Life. Who needs Champagne when you are the King?

Final Score: A: 8 B:7

Beer Review: Blue Moon Harvest Moon

Blue Moon Brewing Company Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale

Fall seasonals are by far my favorite. These months just don't last long enough. While Blue Moon may be owned by Molson-Coors they produce some decent craft beers and I have yet to try this creation. I have to first give them credit for very cool bottle art. It may not be very important in the grand scheme but I believe everything is part of the whole. I am very fickle about pumpkin ales. I love drinking them in the fall but if they have too much spice I quickly get disgusted. Sessioning with these can be very difficult. It is a very fine line to walk. The Harvest Moon pours a medium amber color with a sizable head that lingers for the duration of the glass. Very faint malty aroma though I do have a cold so you probably shouldn't go by my nose at the moment.

Now for the first taste. Very surprising. This is exceptionally balanced with the rich malt flavor and the delicate spicing. This may be the session pumpkin ale I have been looking for. The spicing is noticeable and delicious but will definitely not cause my tongue to recoil. The pumpkin flavor is actually pronounced in this where as other pumpkin ales tend to overpower this flavor with malt or allspice.

This is a superb example of what this American original fall seasonal should be. Very mouthwatering. Just because it is owned by one of the big boys doesn't mean you should dismiss it. The beer world would do well to keep an open mind. The Blue Moon people hit all the marks with this one.

Final Score: 90% (Solid, Balanced, and Delicious. A Masterful Pumpkin Ale.)

Beer Review: Bud Select 55

Anheuser-Busch Inc. Budweiser Select 55

This is a new one for me. I don't know how long this has been out but it is most certainly an attempt to fight back at Miller's "MGD 64". With a whopping nine calorie difference they are most certainly coming out with guns blazing (there is sarcasm here). Before I go into depth with this I do want to point out that I will review this brew based on the style that was attempted. I won't compare it to a Triple IPA because everyone should already know that this is not going to have that much depth. This is a light light beer (or double light as I would like to call it). The 55 pours like any other Budweiser product with a light golden color and a short lived head. I can't smell anything besides a slight grainy aroma.

The flavor of this is almost impressive. Hear me out. This doesn't taste a whole lot lighter than a coors/bud light and it manages to cut out roughly half the calories. Calorie conscious people who enjoy very light beer would do well to try this. However, the alcohol content is an extremely low 2.3% ABV. So if you are attempting to get a buzz you should certainly look elsewhere. Also, if you enjoy the taste of a full bodied beer you should definitely avoid this. Bohemian style Pilsner this is not. This is more yellow seltzer than anything else. With maybe a little skunk flavor to mix things up.

The main problem I have with this personally is that I just can't see a need for it. Are there really people who drink Bud Light and ask if there is anything lighter? NA beers have more flavor than this. I do, however, think that the target demographic for this beer will love it. People who want to be seen drinking a beer but don't like the taste of it will never have it better. Experiment with this if you like but don't complain to me when you realize you spent the same amount of money on half the beer.

Final Score: 60% (Successful in Being Light, Failure in Retaining Flavor)

Beer Review: Guinness Draught

St. James's Gate Brewery Guinness Draught

This is the most classic stout on the planet. It isn't the original but it's prevalence throughout the world is impressive to say the least. Thank you Diageo. Having the innovative widget in the can is awesome. Such a nice touch. The nitrogen head forms perfectly and laces all over the glass (does anyone really not know what a Guinness looks like?). I don't get very much in the aroma department.

The flavor is ridiculously smooth for a stout, I think due in a large part to the nitrogen used for nitrogenation (carbonation doesn't make sense). The majority of the flavor is all coffee with chocolate thrown in. The roasted malt does it's job but doesn't go overboard. Some hop bitterness in the aftertaste. This all goes down so easy, makes it seem like this is a watered down version of what a stout should be. Isn't a porter a lighter version of a stout? This really should be called a porter if you ask me.

It may not be very deep but it does provide a great introduction to the darker beer styles. This is a beer that everyone should try at least once. For me, this is a beer that I will get occasionally in bars but really won't seek out. It isn't bad at all, just doesn't stand out after having experienced a couple of very rich stouts.

Final Score: 73% (Classic and Drinkable. Not Very Complex.)

Beer Review: Mama's LIttle Yella Pils

Oskar Blues Brewing Company Mama's Little Yella Pils

Love those cans. This is a definite craft beer take on a commonly watered down style. The name will try to tell you otherwise though. The pils pours a bright yellow color with a long lasting moderate head. The malt aroma dominates everything. Smells similar to how unfermented malt tastes. Very appealing.

The flavor of this yella is everything I could have hoped for. The bright malt sweetness hits you quickly and with force right before the hops take charge. This is one of the most floral tasting beers in the world. Oskar Blues really captures the hop aroma and flavor properly (the cans help).

I would definitely place this in the top three pilsners I have yet to try. Right alongside Stoudts and Victory. This is one of the best beers you will find for summer and I urge anyone who can find it to buy a case. This will refresh you in even the hottest weather. Not a bit of taste missing either. In my opinion this is one of the most consistent and outstanding breweries in the country and any can detractors would do well to try these.

Final Score: 95% (World Class Pilsner. Mama Never Had This.)

Beer Review: Guinness 250 Anniversary Stout

St. James's Gate Brewery Guinness 250 Anniversary Stout Ale

It is a rare year (or decade?) when Guinness comes out with a new brew. This stout is to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Sir Arthur Guinness signing the lease to the St. James's Gate brewery in Dublin. I do wish this was served in the classic widget can that the Guinness Draught inhabits. It may be little more than a novelty but it really is the little things that count. The new kid pours a very dark mahogany color with a with an average sized caramel head. The aroma is compiled mainly of roasted malt and alcohol. Classic stout.

The flavor really stands out from the original Guinness despite them both being Irish stouts. The 250 is really sweet. Large amounts of roasted caramel all over my palette. Very enjoyable and surprisingly drinkable. This is more of a cross between a traditional schwarzbier and a traditional stout. The sweet caramal flavor really combines well with the roasted barley. Even a slight grainy aftertaste. The hops are there only for bittering and you probably won't pay much attention to them.

There is nothing to complain about with this beer besides its limited edition status. I would really like to see this offered indefinitely. What would be even better would be to have this offered on draft as widely available as the classic Guinness Draught. Even throw in the Extra Stout while you are at it. The original is classic but I can tell you that I would be more likely to order stouts if there were more choices available in bars. This is a winner.

Final Score: 86% (Rich, Sweet, and Roasted. Manages to Stand Out.)

Beer Review: Anchor Summer Beer

Anchor Brewing Company Anchor Summer Beer

This is a classic beer. Although this is my first time trying it, this is the first American wheat beer brewed in modern times. Thank you Fritz Maytag for getting the ball rolling. This wheat beer pours a clear golden color with a very fluffy white laced head. A ton of wheat in the aroma.

The flavor is spicy and smooth at the same time, most likely due to the large percentage (over 50) of wheat malt used. What sets this apart from other wheat beers is the lack of noticeable citrus, banana, or clove flavors. You get wheat, some hop flavors, and a tiny bit of barley malt. Nothing too exotic by today's craft standards.

If there ever was a sessionable wheat beer this would be it. Exactly as a summer beer should be. This definitely has nowhere near the depth of an Imperial Stout but this really hits the spot on a hot day. More than enough character to keep thing interesting. If you are in the mood for a very clean and refreshing wheat beer this is a great choice.

Final Score: 80% (Refreshing, Spicy, and Smooth. Very Enjoyable.)

Beer Review: McSorley's Irish Pale Ale

McSorley's Brewery McSorley's Irish Pale Ale

This is to my knowledge my first Irish Pale Ale. The Sorley pours a not so pale amber color with a quickly fading head. Roasted aromas seep into my head. I know of the famous McSorley's pub in NYC and I assume this is the same brew served at the old ale house. I wonder how close this comes to the actual ale served on tap.

This is very different from your standard pale ale. Loaded with roasted malt flavors and having a very creamy mouthfeel, this beer will certainly wake you up. The hop presence is a bit subdued when compared to the robust malt flavor. This is almost a pale ale/porter hybrid. Hard to find a comparable beer, this is very unique. It does seem to be lacking some depth.

If you crave a dark roasted beer but don't want to go all out with a porter or stout this would be a good choice. The roasted malt presence is very strong and tends to dominate every sip. Despite the roasted flavor I would still say this is fairly balanced. The ale never seems to taste overly bitter or sweet, usually somewhere in between. Easy to follow one sip with another.

Final Score: 74% (Good, but Fairly Simple. A Solid Session Beer.)

Beer Review: Licher Pilsner

Licher Private Brewery Licher Pilsner Lager

Another very generous gift beer.  This is a very authentic German pilsner, I can tell from the untranslated website.  Which has a surprising amount of content for a beer website and if you feel comfortable navigating it you can find some unique stuff http://www.licher.de.  The pilsner pours a light golden color with a very long lasting and fluffy white head.  Lacing is in force here.  Aroma is rich in sweet golden malt and sharp hop spice.  I also want to point out that they use the superior amber bottle rather than the green so often found with imported German brews.  

The flavor is exactly as it should be.  Uncomplicated lager goodness.  I love a good pilsner, the drinkability combined with the sharp spicy hop flavors and smooth malt really can hit the spot. I drink a ton of these in the summer, especially when it's incredibly hot or humid out.  You will find this to be one of the more balanced pilsners with a very noticeable hop flavor.   Definitely on the spicier Saaz hops side of things.  

This is a very high quality classic pilsner and one that I don't think will disappoint.  If I was to pick an area where this brew differed from other pilsners I would again say the hop profile is deeper than most, you really get some bitterness and flavor.  I am not sure how much this retails for but if you happen to find it (not that common yet) it is worth a shot.  

Final Score: 85% (Sharp Spicy Hop Flavor, Rich Malt, High Drinkability.)

Beer Review: Simpler Times Lager

Minhas Craft Brewery Simpler Times Lager

This is a beer that I have yet to find in stores and the only reason I possess it is due to the generosity of a very beer friendly individual who is often feeding me interesting malted beverages. Nice to see more cans, I like the preservative and lightweight quality of cans. If you are poring the beer into a glass why go with a bottle? The lager pours a slightly hazy yellow color with a quickly receding head. Aroma is interesting with a full full malt profile with a sharp alcohol kick. The surprisingly high 6.2% ABV is noted.

The malt flavor in this brew is one of a kind. I have never tasted anything quite like this. It has almost a fruity malt flavor with possibly a little bit of corn (or corn like) flavors swirling around. Very hard to describe. I wonder if this was brewed intentionally with any "off" flavors to create this unique quality. Almost has the same diacetyl taste you can pick out of a good ESB. I don't taste a large hop presence but I also don't think that would be keeping with the retro lager (real category?) style.

The most ironic thing I find about this beer is that while it describe simple times, the malt flavor is nothing close to simple. If this is just some basic all barley malt lager then I will bow my head and admit I was reading too much into this but I really feel that this is something unique. It is definitely a drinkable lager and one that I would certainly consider getting if I can make it to Trader Joe's. This brew really makes me wish I could taste the extinct brews of yesteryear, Rheingold being near the top of the list followed by Ballantine's IPA.

Final Score: 82% (Great For The Style. Drinkable but Not Boring.)