Dave Van de Walle

Jun 01 2014

Miller Fortune

Miller Fortune: the Beer You Drink from a Rocks Glass

Your next question is “why do I have to drink it from a rocks glass?”

Rather than answer that question, though, here’s a link to something awesome – and NSFW – from Deadspin; they, like us, tried both Miller Fortune and Budweiser Black Crown. They pitted them head-to-head, but we won’t do that.

They’re a little more over-the-top than we’ll be, as some questions are better left unanswered. Such as the rocks glass question – which seems rhetorical.

Let’s just cut to the chase and give you a review of Miller Fortune.

Taste

The rocks glass is unnecessary, since you are drinking beer.

As for the taste, it’s not bad. Unlike the folks at Deadspin, I think this doesn’t taste like a macrobrewery got into the craft market – it’s well-made and doesn’t taste overpowering. Smooth, a little hoppy, but not too much. It’s a golden lager – color-wise, probably more copper than gold. But we won’t argue.

Profile

6.9% ABV. Couldn’t find info on bitterness and whatnot – but it’s “undistilled.” Aimed to be the beer to drink when you’re at an occasion that calls for whiskey.

Value

They can charge a little more – $5.99 is around what you should pay.

Metasip Grade: B

Again, it’s not half bad. And, since Miller is behind it, the marketing machine will make sure you get a chance to try it. Which, I guess, you should.

May 31 2014

Sky High Rye Pale Ale

: Sky High Rye Pale Ale

What happened to the Sky High Rye Pale Ale?

Honestly, there are very few times in the history of Metasip when we’ve actually had to pour something out. This, sadly, was one of those times.

Rye, when done in an ale, can be quite effective. We’ve had Terrapin, which we found quite good. We’ve even tried the local rye ale, one from Temperance called Restless Years, and we found that one to be a solid choice.

But this one…this one failed. Time for the review of Sky High Rye Ale, from Arcadia Ales in Michigan.

Taste

Too bitter, really bitter aftertastes, and, again, we poured it out. Sorry, Sky High folks, maybe it was over-ryed or over-hopped or over-somethinged.

Actually, Dave, the website will tell you: it’s 80% English Barley Malt, and 20% Rye Malt.

Whatever it was, the citrusy taste wasn’t there for us, having been overpowered by the bitterness.

Profile

6.0% ABV, 55 IBUs.

Value

We’re the wrong people to ask – since we paid $9.99 for a mixed-six pack, this came out to $1.66 for a bottle of a beer that we poured down the drain. However, we’ll give the benefit of the doubt – maybe it was a bad bottle (there was another bottle in the mixed-six that was, we’re CERTAIN, “skunky”) or maybe we had a bad day.

In retrospect, we learned something: the continued value of the mixed-six. Had one and it wasn’t a fit? Pour it out, try another. You’re out less than two bucks.

Metasip Grade: C+

We’ll try this again down the road, we’re sure. And, if we find out we were mistaken, we’ll update our rating accordingly. OR, even better…you can tell us we’re wrong and rate it yourself – do so in the comments.

May 17 2014

Grate Red Toscana Rosso

We should be working for Aldi. Yet another sub-$5 wine, this one a red that you can drink everyday.

“Product of Italy.” That should tell us a little something about this wine.

But it doesn’t tell us enough – Chianti? Montepulciano? Something else? A blend?

Aldi Strikes Again with an Everyday Red – Grate Red Toscana Rosso

In this particular case, the red wine from Aldi is NOT going to be something you save for that special occasion. In the “everyday wine” category, however, this shines – with the goal (at least for me) of having something that can stand up for a couple days in the bottle, and won’t make you feel insanely guilty if you have to pour the remainder out.

Grate Red Toscana Rosso Review

This is a non-vintage red. (No year.) It IS from Italy, and, if you look in the lower left corner of the photo up there, you’ll see all officially Italian markings on the cork. Adding to the cool factor.

Taste

Can’t pin this down – not a ton of fruit, actually, but the nose is strong and there’s a bit of pepper on the finish. THIS has to be why they say “An Italian wine perfect for anything grilled.”

We had it, night one, with pizza and that was a-okay. (Even if the pizza did not come right off the Weber.)

Profile

Red wine from Italy. ABV 12.5%. If you know the grapes at work here, let us know. Seriously.

Value

Again, where the above-average wine becomes worthy of the grade you’ll see below. Does this stand up to $30 bottles of Cab (like the Simi we reviewed this week)? No.

Is it an absolute steal at $4.99 at our local Aldi? Yes.

Metasip Grade: B+

May 04 2014

Why Mirror Pond Pale Ale Gets An A

We have a dilemma here at Metasip World Headquarters. That dilemma? It involves whether or not to grade on a curve. And that conundrum is front and center when we tried the Mirror Pond Pale Ale from Deschutes.

IF we graded on a curve – a true bell curve – then we’d probably have to give some beers (and some wines and a few spirits) an…F. We’d also have to give as many an F as we gave an A.

And that’s not fair. If you think about it this way, for a brewery to even get to the point where their stuff is available to the public, it’s not bad, right?

I mean, even stuff that isn’t craft beer can be…passable.

So no bell curve here. It’s settled.

But, that doesn’t really tell us what to do with this Mirror Pond Pale Ale.

Because, the other problem with grading, and even not grading on a curve, might be over-compensating.

For instance, we’ve actually noticed beer available at Whole Foods that gets a grade of 100. We assume this is 100 on a 100-point scale. Thus, the beer is, by all intents and purposes…PERFECT.

That’s saying a lot. Even the best, absolute most awesome beer will not be perfect. It’s impossible.

Mirror Pond Pale Ale Review

You know what’s next: this Pale Ale from the people at Deschutes…comes pretty close to perfect. It gets our highest grade – an A. Here’s why.

Taste

It’s got plenty of it, and it’s a brilliant pale ale with the hoppy goodness that’s not overpowering. NOT bitter. It’s just bloody awesome, mates. Really. Awesome enough that we said that in a foreign accent, maybe British, or Scottish, or even Australian.

Profile

5% ABV – which we love because you don’t feel bad having a second one. 40 IBUs, so it’s not bitter.

Value

If memory serves, it was $8.99 for a six-pack. If it were $9.99 or $10.99 for a six-pack, it’s money well-spent. This stuff rocks.

Metasip Grade: A.

Not “A-” but a full-blown “A.” And this beer earned it.

Apr 11 2014

Revolution A Little Crazy Pale Ale

We’re here to review Revolution’s A Little Crazy Pale Ale. We wanted to say that up front because the SEO people told us to.

This beer, from our friends at Revolution in Chicago, is…well, it’s flat-out phenomenal.

It’s pale – I’m more partial to “pale” than IPA – but still packs some decent hoppy goodness. 6.8% ABV, “A Little Crazy” has a photo of someone who looks too much like Jerry Garcia on its website. See the link here: Revolution Website.

“Belgo-Style” according to the web. I’m not a beer snob – but I play one on TV – so I’ll just say that I need MORE BELGO STYLE! MORE!

BTW, Gentle Reader: You can review this in the comments. Please do so if you are so inclined.

Hugs,

Metasip