When I’m holed up indoors during the winter months I find myself appreciating the taste of beer far more than any other season. Mark it up to cabin fever if you want, but my taste buds pucker up in cold weather. Samuel Adams Winter Lager, one of the brewing company’s many great season-specific beers, doesn’t disappoint in my constant need for a well-bodied, alcoholic beverage in cool weather.

On the rare instance I make it to Happy Hour, my choice of beer is usually one that can take the edge off without being too expensive (and complex) or too cheap (and cheap-tasting). I’d say eight times out of ten, Stella Artois does the job. The pride of Belgium pours a light golden color with plenty of frothy head and bubbles; a grassy, citrus scent gives way to a smell of slightly skunked beer, which isn’t very attractive to say the least. Still, its distinct stink is similar to almost every Euro Pale Lager I’ve encountered, so methinks its hereditary…

After trying many classy brews, it’s about time I reviewed an old standby of mine, Pabst Blue Ribbon. A pharmacy favorite, PBR can be found nearly everywhere beer is sold – and some places it’s not.
PBR pours a light straw color with…oh forget it. Who am I kidding, here – it’s Pabst. If you’re looking for a complex… Click to read more

I cannot for the life of me understand why Modelo Especial gets a bad rap. Sure, the squat bottled brew isn’t the finest Mexican beer on the market, but it is the most popular – and with good reason. Cheap and refreshing, Especial is stable as a table in drinking terms.
The usual formalities that go into beer reviewing don’t fare well with Mod… Click to read more

A local bar in NYC I stumbled into recently had Old Speckled Hen, an English Pale Ale I’ve never even heard of, let alone tasted. Being the beer lover I am, I was intrigued – and thirsty for it.
Being a nitro-tapped beer, Old Speckled Hen pours rich and smooth, boasting a pale amber color with the best head I’ve encountered since my ex. The scen… Click to read more

Killian’s Irish Red is located straight in the heart of beer purgatory, where snobbish types and casual drinkers alike don’t see the big deal. It has middle-child syndrome; I can empathize, being one myself.
In comparison to other lagers of its status, Killian’s is actually quite good, pouring a reddish rust color that reminds me of fol… Click to read more

Being a frequent traveler to New York (don’t worry, Red Sox/Pats/Celtics fans – I’m still a dedicated fan) I find myself drinking Brooklyn Lager when going to local NYC bars, mostly due to its availability and overall value.
For a mid-priced beer (or high-priced, depending where you live) BK brew is of high quality, stacking up nicely ag… Click to read more

What goes well with food? Beer, of course. But what goes well with spicy and salty food? Tecate, of course…?
First things first: Tecate’s signature red can is alluring in a weird way, like ogling a decent looking girl who seems to have that extra something you can’t quite put your finger on. You can purchase Tecate in glass bottles, but I rec… Click to read more

People hate anything that’s average, so why settle for anything less than the best? Well, for starters, when money is an issue it’s not a good idea to drop your weekly paycheck on beer (fun, but not smart).
The average Joe – no offense, simple Joes – can’t afford to drink Sierra Nevada all the time. When one wants style on a budge… Click to read more

When it comes to cheap beer, quality is as thin as the head most cheap ones provide. But there are (slight) exceptions to the rule, one being Rolling Rock.
If you’re looking for complexity, look elsewhere: Rolling Rock is as simple and drinkable as an inexpensive beer can get. Pouring a pale straw color the brew bears a decent head for the style, with a swe… Click to read more

Americanized versions of Cheladas (Mexican specialty beers that use lime and salt for a distinctive flavor) have yet to impress beer drinkers nationwide – just ask Miller Chill.
So when Budweiser decided to go Chelada, I knew I had to try it…and I faced the ugly consequences. What were they thinking?
What was I thinking?
Do you like carbonated t… Click to read more

The holidays are over, and the snow doesn’t look like lovely sheets of soft cotton stretched for miles anymore; it’s all grime and slush. Welcome to January!
I need a beer. A winter warmer, in particular. ‘Tis the season.
Let it be known: Harpoon Winter Warmer is an acquired taste. One must have a strong palette for spices when attempting t… Click to read more

I’ve been hearing all this talk about Espresso Stouts lately, so I decided to give them a shot…of espresso! Get it? Isn’t that funny? Shot, espresso…forget it.
If you’re into “desert” beers, Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout will be right up your alley. As for me, the brew left my stomach feeling…bloated.… Click to read more

The Morning Show‘s Mike and Juliet totally have their fingers on the pulse of young America as evidenced by their latest buzzworthy topic, “Drunkorexia.”
Drunkorexia (also known as “drunk-arexia”; take your pick) is the name of a media-approved epidemic that describes the daily behavior of every well-adjusted girl in… Click to read more

Do you like cream in your coffee? If so, you may be a fan of Samuel Adams Cream Stout, a dark brew that goes down surprisingly easy.
Thick in more than appearance, this cream stout pours a deep chocolate brown with a tan, foamy head that lingers for a few minutes. Upon settling, a healthy amount of lacing sticks to the serving glass.
Its scent is reminiscent of R… Click to read more