Posts Tagged ‘review’

Kronenbourg 1664

December 2nd, 2007

BEER REVIEW: KRONENBOURG 1664

1664 is one of the lagers I credit with helping me appreciate a well-made beer. I came across Kronenbourg 1664 during my adventure around Paris, France in the summer of 2004. It was on a sidewalk cafe near the Notre Dame Cathedral where I savored my first pint of this premium lager. Thank you very much to the waiter who recommended this premium beer to accompany my meal. Upon receiving my draught lager served in a Kronenbourg 1664 glass, I immediately noticed the unique “1664 Seal” on the glass. Once you see the 1664 Seal, your life will never be the same again. From that moment on, every time you walk into a bar your eyesight will subconsciously glance towards the beer tap selection to see if today is the lucky day the beer gods have bestowed Kronenbourg 1664 on tap. On top of having a unique recognizable seal, 1664 has a unique recognizable aroma. Kronenbourg 1664 has a unique recipe that employs the use of the aromatic Strisselspalt hop. This unique hop is known as the “caviar of hops” (according the Kronenbourg 1664 website). The aroma and taste found in 1664 stays with you forever. After my first taste of Kronenbourg 1664 I vowed to make sure that it would not be my last. For the remainder of my voyage around Europe I would always seek out bars that had 1664 and cherish another pint (or two, or three, or four). Of course, 1664 is not only available on draft, but in the unique green Eiffel bottle or the more common shape of a can. Yet, there is no substitute for a fresh draft pint of Kronenbourg 1664. Sadly 1664 is not as readily available around the United States. As of right now, I have only come across it in Chicago, IL and Orlando, FL. That is why whenever I travel to Europe, I make sure to get my fill of Kronenbourg 1664 until my next visit…it’s a good excuse to fly out to Europe.

KRONENBOURG 1664 is Highly Recommended by Gonzalo

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Samuel Adams Boston Lager

April 2nd, 2007

BEER REVIEW: SAMUEL ADAMS BOSTON LAGER by the Boston Beer Company

When I first drank the flagship beer of the Boston Beer Company, I had no idea it was a lager. It wasn’t until I actually read the label of the bottle that I realized it was a lager and not an ale. Usually when I order a Samuel Adams Boston Lager I just ask for a “Sam Adams,” unbeknownst to me that it was part of the lager family. You see, Samuel Adams Boston Lager has more hops then one would associate with a lager. In that sense, the Boston Lager stands apart from the other lagers brewed in the USA in that it is more full-bodied and flavorful. Every drop of Samuel Adams Boston Lager has a rich and robust taste. It should come as no surprise that the beer was named “Best Beer in America” on more than one occasion. Lucky for me, this fine beer is available nearly at every pub I fancy. When I am at a loss on which beer to order, Samuel Adams Boston Lager is my “go to” beer.

SAMUEL ADAMS BOSTON LAGER is Highly Recommended by Gonzalo

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The Beer Bistro

March 22nd, 2007

BAR REVIEW: THE BEER BISTRO

The Beer Bistro does its name justice: this bistro of beers has a grand selection of unique beers you normally do not come across in pubs or taverns. I do not want to imply that The Beer Bistro is an up tight, snooty establishment. Far from it, The Beer Bistro has the local pub feel that is found through out this narrow pub. Old beer ads from different companies hang on the walls, along with pictures of Old Chicago. The centerpiece of the pub is the mahogany bar that towers over the sidewall, but of course, the real attraction of the bar is the 12 taps that pour some of the finest beers in the world. One of those taps was pouring the hard to find Kronenbourg 1664. In fact, one of the main reasons this bar is so fantastic is because they offer 1664 on draft. In addition to the lovely tap selection, they have over 90 different brands of beers! There is bound to be a beer that wets your palate. My suggestion is to start with the ales and lagers on draft and then proceed to the bottle selections. With the wide variety of beers available at this establishment, it’s no surprise that they offer a “Beer School” every last Wednesday of the month. From what I was told, the Beer School introduces you to the beer of the night and then they serve you the different brands that offer that style while educating you on that beer. With its grand selection of beers and friendly environment, The Beer Bistro is a welcomed addition to the Chicago bar scene. By the way, make sure you look up as you sit at the bar…they have an old fashion fan system.

The Beerr Bistro is located at 1061 W. Madison Street in Chicago, IL. Phone: (312) 433-0013. Website: www.thebeerbistro.com

THE BEER BISTRO is Highly Recommended by Gonzalo

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Stella Artois

February 20th, 2007

BEER REVIEW: STELLA ARTOIS

Few beers can be as bold as to proclaim perfection, but the lager known as Stella Artois does just that. First brewed and enjoyed in Belgium, Stella Artois is now available across the globe. Everyone has the opportunity to enjoy Belgium’s best-selling beer. Of course, the best way to enjoy Stella Artois is by drinking it out of its special Chalice (glass). Stella Artois is the beer you order when you want to enjoy a lager. You drink it to appreciate tradition and presentation. There has been a strong marketing push as of late to ensure that beer drinkers savor the whole Stella Artois experience, and you should savor the experience, very few beers go out of their way to focus on presentation. That’s what I like most about Stella Artois, the presentation. But is it a perfect beer? Personally, lagers are not my first choice when it comes to selecting a beer but Stella Artois is the first lager I consider. Stella Artois is a great companion to a savory meal.

STELLA ARTOIS is Recommended by Gonzalo

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Beerfest

February 14th, 2007

MOVIE REVIEW: BEERFEST

Other than teen comedies, there are not many films that showcase beer. Lagers and Ales are mostly reserved for the bar scenes or dinner party scenes. Therefore, when a movie appears that has beer as one of its main subjects, we will take a moment to review such film.

The current movie review is: “Beerfest”

From the creators of “Super Troopers” comes a comedy about a secret, international beer(s) drinking competition: Beerfest. Every year during Oktoberfest in Munich, teams from around the world gather in a secret location to crown one country as the best beer drinking country. Teams test their beer drinking abilities in games such as Beer Pong, Quarters, Boat Race, Monkey Chug, etc. Many countries are represented in the competition, but there can only be one victor country. The reigning champions are the Germans, but 2 American brothers are forming an American team to take down the mighty Germans. It turns out that the German team members are their distant cousins who hold a grudge against the brother’s Grandfather.

When you know what the movie is about, you do not (and should not) expect a movie that will be nominated for various awards, but you should expect to enjoy the film. There are memorable characters and plenty of funny scenes. “Beerfest” went largely ignored in the movie theatres which ends up working out for all parties involved because now you can enjoy the fun film while drinking a nice golden lager (most movie theatres across the United States do not serve alcohol). The film involves plenty of beer and creates a world where beer drinking is not just about binging, but about coming together as a country to promote the positive social interactions we get from beer. At its core, “Beerfest” promotes family, friendship and having fun with beer while being responsible.

BEERFEST is Highly Recommended by Gonzalo

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