Brew Review: Grape Pale Ale

Grape Pale Ale (Samuel Adams)
Appearance (0 to 4 stars): 3.5
Aroma: faint. 3.5
Flavor: subdued, slightly sweet. 3.5
Texture: smooth, 4.0
Drinkability: excellent, 3.5

Overall score: 18.0

Cost: $8.99 (sale) at Foodland for "LongShot" 6-pack

On the label: This is a very creative spin on a pale ale, As Lili describes it. "It's like you are drinking a pale ale after biting into a fresh green seedless grape." This delicate brew is light-bodied with unique sweet, yet dry flavors from the grapes. What a combination...

Summary: This "home brew" was concocted by Lili Hess of Hawaii. It brings me great pleasure to see a fellow Hawaii islander win the big prize (one of two winners) in Samuel Adams' LongShot contest. The box, which has become a norm for the company's special brews, stood out in the liquor section, and once I saw faces on the box, I was intrigued. (Good marketing tactic.)

Interestingly enough, Lili is also a Samuel Adams employee. Bottom line: her creation is masterful. Takes a woman to really do something this inventive. Grapes and beer? Amazing.

Brew Review: Gulden Draak

Gulden Draak
Appearance (0 to 4 stars): 4.0
Aroma: 4.0
Flavor: 4.0
Texture: 4.0
Drinkability: 4.0

Overall score: 20

Cost:
On the label:
Summary: Holy shit, this is good. My expectations were lowered when the clerk at Liquor Collection said that it was overrated, blah blah blah. Well, this is the very last of the brews in my fridge (not including the leftovers from the "coffee beer" 6-pack). It is rich, beautiful, has a little kick and is still smooth. One note: the suds are so lush, it looks like whipped cream on top as the brew warms up. It comes in a very small white bottle, but absolutely worth every cent.

Extra note: Careful when pouring. It suds up very quickly and races to the top of your glass. Is it possible the special bottle shape is to account for this?

Brew Review: Shakespeare Stout

Shakespeare Stout (Rogue Brewery, Oregon)
Appearance (0 to 4 stars): 4.0
Aroma: 3.5
Flavor: 2.5
Texture: 3.5
Drinkability: 3.0

Overall score: 16.5 / 20.0

Cost: $5.29, big bottle.
On the label:
Summary: Strangely enough, though I prefer stouts to lagers, it is the Killian lager from Rogue that I like so much, and this Shakespeare Stout that was somewhat weaker. It is thick, it is dark as shoyu, but lacks the richness and velvety texture that I like. Oh, it's smooth, but just not a good stout. I guess I've been spoiled by better.

Brew Review: Big Swell IPA

Big Swell IPA (Maui Brewing Co.)
Appearance (0 to 4 stars): 4.0
Aroma: 3.5
Flavor: 3.5
Texture: 3.5
Drinkability: 3.5

Overall score: 18.0 / 20.0

Cost: $2, 12 oz. can, Liquor Collection.
On the label: See photos.
Summary: I am not a fan of pale ales. Not a hater, but my preference is for malts, porters and stouts. Yet, this brew blew me away. It looks amber, but the flavor is one of a kind. Not sour, not bitter, but definitely strong and smooth. No weird aftertaste. It's a flavor that I can't identify, and it won me over. Quite a kick at first with the carbonation, and it goes down smooth, with just a bit of fizzle.

On the whole, these three brews from Maui Brewing Co. are outstanding, distinct and wonderful. I was not a believer in canned beer until this week. Everything MBC said about cans and what they do today (as opposed to the stereotype of the past) is true. They work. They keep the brews very fresh. And though they are recyclable, I'm saving my as souvenirs.

Can't wait until MBC turns out more of their award-winning brews for me to taste.

Reviewed on Sept. 19, 2007.

Brew Review: Coconut Porter

Coconut Porter (Maui Brewing Co.)
Appearance (0 to 4 stars): 4.0
Aroma: 4.0
Flavor: 4.0
Texture: 3.5
Drinkability: 4.0

Overall score: 19.5 / 20.0

Cost: $2, 12 oz. can, Liquor Collection.
On the label: See below.
Summary: Careful on the open. The can had been moving around, from the fridge to my living room, then sat for a good 5 minutes. Still, when I pulled the tab, a good explosion let out a tablespoon or two. Rather combustible, right? The aroma of coffee, not coconut, is what permeated the room. And with my first sip from the mug, it was sweet, rich and tasted completely like coffee. Is the coconut mixed with coffee? According to MBC's website, where they show step-by-step photos of the process, there is no coffee. Whatever the case, it's an aromatic, rich flavor with a good amount of kick. I really could have scored this a 20 out of 20. It almost tastes as if it belongs in a coffee cake or some sort of coffee pastry, or it could be an ingredient in a coffee glaze or syrup to go over ice cream.

This brew needs no complementary dish. It's rich enough by itself. This brew has won an award in the World Beer competition, and I understand why.

Reviewed on Sept. 17, 2007.

Brew Review: Bikini Blonde Lager

The search for more locally-made (Hawaii) brews slowed recently until I made a long-anticipated visit to Liquor Collection in Ward Warehouse. I found beers made by Maui Brewing Co. there. Never heard of MBC, and the fact that they can their brews was a bit perplexing. Nevertheless, they had an attractive boxed pack, a la Samuel Adams' "Mix Pack" of three different beers. I decided to save a few bucks and buy singles of MBC's brews. Mahalo to Jay of Liquor Collection for his astute recommendation.

Bikini Blonde Lager (Maui Brewing Co.)
Appearance (0 to 4 stars): 3.5
Aroma: 3.5
Flavor: 3.0
Texture: 3.5
Drinkability: 3.5

Overall score: 17.0/20.0

Cost: $2, Liquor Collection, 12 oz. can.
On the label: See photos below.
Summary: I was repelled at the thought of a canned beer, but the manager at Liquor Collection assured me that the freshness of the brew was only the best. He was right. Out of the can, there is no weird, funky aftertaste. BBL is simply a strong lager with a nice fizz and kick, which then goes down smoothly and leaves the palate rather neutral until the next sip. This went well with spaghetti. It would also go great with chips and salsa. Mexican food. Korean food. Anything spicy.

MBC has brewed many different beverages, but only three are on the market: Bikini Blonde Lager, Big Swell IPA and Coconut Porter. I'll try the latter two in the coming week.

See more at Maui Brewing Co.

Reviewed on Sept. 16, 2007.

Brew Review: Rogue American Amber Ale

American Amber Ale (Rogue Brewery, Oregon)
Appearance (0 to 4 stars): 4.0
Aroma: 4.0
Flavor: 3.5
Texture: 4.0
Drinkability: 3.5

Overall score: 19.0

Cost: $5.49, Foodland. 1 pt, 6 oz.
On the label:
Summary: Like no other brew I've ever had. I expected a lighter ale, but that was because I didn't read the label carefully. A beautiful reddish brown (amber) tone, clear and rich at the same time. The flavor was onolicious (great), but what really piqued my attention was the aftertaste of something I couldn't recognize. Neither fruity nor nutty. I'll look this up on the Rogue site later, but for now, I'm just gonna enjoy this beautiful beer in all its malty, perky beauty.

Reviewed on Sept. 11, 2007

Brew Review: Coors

Yes, I had to celebrate the start of the NFL season yesterday with a tall can of Coor's, which I had not sipped in years. At least a decade, maybe two. I always preferred Coors over Budweiser, but not over Miller Lite or Miller Genuine Draft. That's not saying a whole lot, though, since I gave up on mass-produced domestic brews long ago. But I will say that Coors still has that sharp bite, though not as funky an aftertaste as Bud (formaldehyde).

Coors (USA)
Appearance (0 to 4 stars): 3.0
Aroma: 3.0
Flavor: 2.5
Texture: 2.5
Drinkability: 3.0

Overall score: 14.0

Cost: $2.49 (big can).
On the label: NFL KICKOFF.
Summary: Coors ice cold goes great with Buffalo Wings flavor Doritos. Hail to the new NFL season and all three of my fantasy teams!

Reviewed on Sept. 10, 2007

Brew Review: Koshihikari Ichigo

Koshihikari Ichigo (Niigata, Japan)
Appearance (0 to 4 stars): 3.5. Pristine and golden.
Aroma: 3.0. Very lagerish.
Flavor: 3.0. Crisp and refreshing, especially with spicy food. Sort of like a Heineken. Aftertaste is reminiscent, though, of a Budweiser.
Texture: 3.5. Nice. Fizzly.
Drinkability: 3.0. Best on a hot day.

Overall score: 15.0

Cost: $3.
On the label:
Summary: I mistakenly thought this beer was from Okinawa. It's not. It's a nice brew to have on a warm day and/or with spicy food.

Brew Review: Mehana Volcano Red Ale

Mehana Volcano Red Ale (Hilo, Hawaii)
Appearance (0 to 4 stars): 4.0. Work of art.
Aroma: 3.5. Sweet and rich.
Flavor: 3.5. Smooth, nothing like the typical Hawaii favorites.
Texture: 4.0.
Drinkability: 4.0.

Overall score: 19.

Cost: $3.
On the label:
Summary: Absolutely stunned by this brew from Hilo. My guess is that the brewery is more out of Hilo, toward the cooler elevations of Mountain View or Volcano, because this brew is a winner. Just the way I like a beer. Not sour, not tart, no funky aftertaste. Just smooth, rich and satisfying. I hate to say it, being a former Kona resident, but this is the best beer from the Big Island that I've had the pleasure to taste.

Reviewed April 12, 2007

Brew Review: Waialua Root Beer

I have just tasted the finest root beer of my life. Better than A&W when they were next to Washington Intermediate School. Better than all my favorite root beers.

Waialua Soda Works sells their unique sodas at Star Market, so I picked up a trio of single bottles. I debated over which flavor to try first, but since I was having hot dogs for lunch, root beer was the right pic. It is unmatchable, still fizzing, bubbles still buoyant — yet calm — 5 minutes after I've taken the cap off. The taste is exquisite, a pure, natural product. Just a hint of vanilla coats the taste buds.

The followthrough is amazing. If you really love root beer, you will not only enjoy the taste, but the lingering, subtle and sweet chemistry of cane sugar, Maui white sugar and vanilla.

Waialua Root Beer (Waialua Soda Works, Hawaii)
Appearance (0 to 4 stars): 4.0
Aroma: 4.0
Flavor: 4.0
Texture: 3.5
Drinkability: 4.0

Overall score: 19.5

Cost: $2. (I have to double check my receipt. Might have been a buck and change.)
On the label: "Waialua Soda Works ... finest Hawaiian quality ... Root Beer ... naturally flavored soda. Also some writing in Japanese.
Summary: The only reason this soda didn't have a perfect score is that I would've liked a smidge more carbonation, but it is perfect nonetheless, say my taste buds. Big surprise, huge future ahead for this product and Co.