The interesting flavor combination offered by Schlafly’s Double Bean Blonde certainly lends some verity to the old saying that “blondes have more fun.” Normally, brewers that add the essences of coffee and chocolate to a beer do so with a porter or a stout, which are both dark, heavy, opaque styles. However, the St. Louis-based brewer Schlafly has pulled off something unique here with the double-bean attack of cocoa and everybody’s favorite morning pick-me-up in a blonde ale. Continue reading
It’s good to finally be back with another review on a fantastic beer. Welcome to the first new installment of The Beer List, fresh off the months-long hiatus I took from The No Seatbelt Blog. My weekly review will now resume its sud-soaked residence on Sundays at noseatbeltblog.com! I’ve made it no secret here that I love the world-class beers that Cooperstown, New York’s Brewery Ommegang churns out, and that for my money, there is not a more delicious type of beer than the Belgian. If the United States wasn’t privy to this style of brewing, well, I’d have to pack up and move to Belgium. Maybe not, but you get my point. Continue reading
The Beer List returns for another week with a review on a specialty beer that was given to me as a joke. I’ve always harbored considerable disdain for the gluten free movement, as over the last handful of years, California yoga moms began condemning themselves and their children to lives without bread without any direction from, you know, DOCTORS. I have the utmost sympathy for people who actually have celiac disease or some other medically viable diagnosis of gluten intolerance, especially that which leaves those people with more than just temporary abdominal discomfort but rather poses long-term danger to their health. Continue reading
Truth be told, dark beers are usually not in my wheelhouse. Once in a while the mood strikes for a good porter, but stouts are even more seldom given a second thought. However, when you’re enduring yet another miserable New Jersey winter and a beer by the name of Hibernation Ale comes along, it’s almost as if that beer understands exactly what you want to do until it’s time to bring out the flip-flops again. Continue reading
What’s in a name? When it comes to the ability of a beer to jump off the shelf at you, that answer is EVERYTHING. While this particular beer was gifted to me, if I had seen it in a liquor store, I would have bought it on the name alone. If the name is clever, and has anything to do with zombies, chances are that I’m in. Continue reading
Last Saturday, I made my way to Asbury Park, New Jersey, with a belly full of delicious pork roll and pretzel necklace draped around my neck to partake in the much-anticipated flow of suds at the city’s annual Beerfest. Convention Hall was the place, situated at one end of the town’s famed boardwalk, hosting taps and bottles from over 40 breweries from around the country. Continue reading
Hello, friends, beer drinkers, and countrymen! Welcome to another Sunday beer session at The No Seatbelt Blog! For this entry on The Beer List, I’m reaching to my neighbor to the west, Pennsylvania’s proudly independent brewery Troegs, and their unfiltered wheat beer that goes by the name of Dream Weaver. I’ve had a few of their brews over the years, and I must say I was impressed by this one. For starters, wheat beers are almost always up my alley, and unfiltered is the way to go. In my not-so-humble opinion, if you want to remove character, taste, and decency from a beer, you filter it. If you can see right through your beer without much of a problem, you should be reaching for something better. Now, onto the good stuff… Continue reading
Welcome back to The Beer List at The No Seatbelt Blog! It is here that I recommend some outstanding brews to beer fans everywhere, every Sunday. Whether you’re doing yardwork, watching your favorite football team kick ass or get slaughtered on the gridiron, or are just simply kicking back, you could use a beer. Every week, you get a review of a high-quality beer that I truly like, or even love – you’ll find no bottom-of-the-barrel swill here. So, without further ado, let’s pop one open and enjoy! Continue reading
Hello, beer lovers, and welcome back to another installment of The Beer List here at The No Seatbelt Blog! I’ve made it no secret here that I thoroughly love Belgian-style beers, and that I hold Dogfish Head in the highest of regards when it comes to breweries. As a result, I’m introducing you to one of my favorites from the Delaware-based brewery, and it goes by the moniker Namaste. Continue reading
As far as I’m concerned, Sam Adams can really do no wrong. While a couple of their standards are not necessarily anything to write home about, I can’t say I’ve ever disliked one of their brews. The Boston-based brewery has the seasonal beer thing down to a science, releasing delightful variety packs for each time of year. Continue reading
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