Budweiser Select

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Budweiser Select
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri USA
Est. 1852
www.budselect.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.3 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Light straw color.
Unremarkable in hops, malt or aroma.
Highly carbonated.
Head foams up, then evaporates in 3...2...1 seconds.
Light bodied.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Not too heavy so it won't weigh you down. Actually not a bad tasting beer...just not remarkable. Does not taste as funky as light beers. It's "do-able" on a hot day or if you just want refreshment. Maybe you might need a tonic for an upset tummy...it's a bit 'gassy' for a beer. High carbonation, that is! It doesn't say light, but that's what it is.

Michelob - Winter's Bourbon Cask Ale

Melting Snowman

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Michelob - Winter's Bourbon Cask Ale
Michelob Brewing Company
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri USA
Est. 1852
www.michelob.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.0% ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Soft amber orange, tawny color.
Sweet vanilla smell and taste up front.
Robust, smokey bourbon after finish.
Smooth foaming head from the pour with good lacing.
Medium bodied mouth feel.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Distinctive and different. An ale for the winter. Interesting flavor being aged in oak casks used at one time for bourbon. And as if that's not enough, they drop whole Madagascar vanilla beans in the batch! Yummy! Oh yeah, that's not even the best part; here's to a mass produced American beer with an alcohol content of 6%. There is so much more flavor in higher alcohol content beers. The Europeans know this the best! This will become a Christmas tradition!

Michelob has been a sort of Jekyll and Hyde brand for AB. In the 50's & 60's "Mick" was for cool ultra hipsters being they were way too cool for Budman and his sophomoric antics. Its sexy signature 'teardrop' bottle proved it was more for adult "after-hours" types.

Then came the lean 70's thru 80's where the audience shifted to adult urbanites, again making the cool scene. The last 15 years or so, Michelob has been a brand adrift in light, ultralight, low carb, low taste gimmicky beers...but still aimed at the hip movers and shakers that don't want to get into the Bud rut. I thought it would become the dot-com of beers during that age and die a death, but no!

About ten years ago something started to metamorphize. AB set its sights square on whatever Sam Adams was up to in the micro-taste part of the industry. Michelob now sports a variety of seasonal beers aimed at...you guessed it...hip beer drinkers looking for something a little different in their brew. The familiar 'teardrop' bottle is just a memory now, but they definitely have my attention. Here's to reincarnation; something the Reaper can certainly get behind!

Kirin Ichiban

Dead Kamikaze

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Kirin Ichiban
Shinkawa 2-chome, Chuo-ku
Tokyo, Japan
Est. ????
www.kirin.com

Brain Damage Quotient=4.95% ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Soft golden yellow in color.
Crisp malt, rice and corn with lots of carbonation.
Decent head with soft clumpy rings in the lacing.
Medium bodied mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Well after reviewing so many domestic and European brews, we've finally gone east. To the Far East, that is, only to find out Anheuser Busch has their mitts in this one...so before you go putting on a kimono and serving up some sushi, listen up.

Kirin is a very good beer with a distinct taste. Hmmm....I just can't put my bony finger on it....perhaps it's the rice? Yes, that would explain why the Budman's interested in this import. After all, Bud is blended with rice in it's recipe, so that would seem to explain their involvement. And we all know the rocking-est place in the world is Bud-o-kan, which is Japanese for, Budweiser-in-a-can. If you don't believe me, you can go, "...wax off Daniel-san!"

One more interesting note.....this is the first beer I've rated with two numbers to the right of the decimal point. I guess the Japanese brew masters are as precise as their engineers!

St. Pauli Girl

Dead Fräulein 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

St. Pauli Girl Lager
St. Pauli Girl Brauerei
Bremen, Germany
Est. ???? (USA since 1965)
www.stpauligirl.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.9 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Pale yellow in color.
Non-complex in body and blend of ingredients.
Quick forming and disappearing head with virtually no lacing.
Watery mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Very unusual, this one...it says it's a Plisner on the website, but the front of the bottle says Lager!?! It's certainly not the ol' girl I knew in days of 'yore, when the likes of Lowenbrau & Beck's were the other big German beers on the block.

The website is great if you like some 'cheesecake' to go with your beer. But the two-fisted brau maiden with the frothy mugs, just doesn't seem to have that Reinheitsgebot. And at only $10.99 a 12 pack, it would seem she's gone from "high maintenance" to just another cheap date. It's like.....kissing your sister! Ugh.

Stella Artois

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Stella Artois
Brouwerijplein 1 (InBev)
Leuven, Belgium
Est.1366
www.stellaartois.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2 

Postmortem Brew Review
Sheer golden color.
Wonderful balance of hops and maltiness.
Creamy, frothy head with delicate spiderweb lacing.
Superb from start to finish. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Like fine food, great artistry, avant garde movies and Champagne, you've got to hand it to the French for a truly great beer. Before they were known as "surrender monkeys", they took up shop in Belgium in the 14th century and created the original Belgian beer. So what if they can't fight a war worth a damn, save for the great Napoleon. This outstanding lager goes great with everything...um, except maybe frog's legs!

Leffe

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Leffe Belgian Abbey Ale - Blonde
Brouwerijplein 1 (InBev)
Leuven, Belgium
Est.1240
www.leffe.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.6 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2 

Postmortem Brew Review
Golden orange in color.
Fruity flavor in mouth.
Great mouthfeel; richness yet subtle and smooth.
Rich, frothy head with tremendous ringed lacing.
Full bodied with no bitter finish. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
"Savor the Mystery of the Ages" is printed on the back label. I don't know about you, but the Abbey style ales that I've sampled are always very very high in alcohol content. I guess when you have that much time on your hands, ahem, practicing celibacy, you can craft a great ale. Can you imagine if the church took beer and wine making away from these guys after already banning women??? Got to give them something to look forward to! A great delicate tasting ale that is not in the least bitter like some of the higher alcohol ales.

Check out their interactive website. It's like taking a beer SAT test!

Hoegaarden

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Hoegaarden Belgian White Wheat Beer
Brouwerij Hoegaarden (InBev)
Stoopkenstraat 46
Hoegaarden , Belgium
Est.1445
www.hoegaarden.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.9 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2 

Postmortem Brew Review
Cloudy yellow color as found in most wheat based beers.
Spice notes throughout.
Delicate, soapy head.
Light to medium bodied with good flavor and no bitter finish. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This one claims to be the "original" Belgian wheat beer. Also states, "...brewed with spices...unfiltered, naturally cloudy..." on the label. All true statements of the drink I sampled. Typical of most wheat or wit-beers is that it uses the traditional ingredients of water, yeast, wheat, hops, coriander and dried Curaçao orange peel, also known as Laraha.

It is a wonderfully well balanced wheat beer and does not possess the 'wheatiness' of flavor found in other wit-beers. We've sampled the 'spade' in Spaten. Now we have the other tool from the shed; the Hoe! Can you dig it?

Harp Lager

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Harp Lager
Guinness Brewing Company
St. James Gate, Dublin, Ireland
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Est.1759
www.guinness.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.6 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Golden, darker yellow color.
More hop than malt in balance.
Long, long, long lasting ring lacing.
Medium bodied. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Guinness and Harp. Black and Tan. Half & half. This is 50% of that potent twin combo. On its own, Harp stands up with any other beer out there. Interestingly the product is now brewed on the other side of the pond in Canada; not Ireland. They are still true to the recipe.

So strike up the band, pop the top and relax with one of finest imbibements known to mankind. Take it from one who knows, me, the reaper...this is the stuff angels drink! Surely it's "the craic!"

Carlsberg Beer

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Carlsberg Beer
Carlsberg Brewery
Copenhagen, Denmark
Est.1847 (first brewed 1904)
www.carlsberg.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.6 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2 

Postmortem Brew Review
Clear, straw yellow color.
Aromatic hop notes.
Long lasting spiderweb lacing.
Light bodied.
Curiously sweet aftertaste. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Not much on the label. No year of origin, no alcohol content. There's a standard "Government Warning" about the risks associated with drinking beer. Very unremarkable...

But don't judge this book by its cover! It is a very good beer with an unusual sweetness in the finish of each sip. I can't quite put my finger on that up-note at the end, but I like it. It's light enough not to weigh you down.

So who needs a lot of info on the bottle? After all, we're here to drink beer not to read it! However, if you do want to read all about this beer, I strongly suggest you go to their website. That's where they do all the explaining, as it's self titled, "Probably the Best Website in the World!"

Pilsner Urquell

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Pilsner Urquell
Plensky Prazdroj
Plzen, Czech Republic
Est.1842
www.pilsner-urquell.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.4 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Clear, transparent yellow color.
Smartly hopped.
Medium lasting head with good lacing.
Light in body and texture.
Wonderfully smooth finish. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
The best beer pun yet.....if their brew master was Steve Urkel, he'd surely say after one delicious sip, "Did I brew thaaaat?" This is the way a beer should taste; crisp, clean and refreshing. You'll want another and there will be room for it. The bottle labeling is all over the place, (just like Steve). It sports a gold foil neckband and the front has a faux wax seal. There's even a transparently clear label stating it's, "The Original Pilsner". Well one thing's for sure, Pilsner Urquell and Steve Urkel are both "originals". You'll be doing the Urkel dance after a 6 pack of these fine beers.

Grolsch - Amber Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Grolsch - Amber Ale
Royal Grolsch N.V.
Enschede , Netherlands
Est.1615
www.grolsch.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Reddish amber color.
Aroma of malted wheat and malted barley.
Medium lasting head with good lacing.
Medium bodied flavor and mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Another amber ale to sample. Seems everyone has one these days. Grolsch makes theirs with malted wheat according to the side label. I have had their beer and enjoyed it, perhaps more for it's relative affordability than for taste.

Also interesting to note, I had been choosing Grolsch beer over domestic brands of lager due to the afore mentioned negligible price difference. I thought, "Why not have a beer that is imported for only $1 more per 12 pack?" Then, here's the twist; they have a partnership with AB (Bud)! Isn't that interesting? I thought so. Why would you assist an import on the shelves for only a buck more than your flagship domestic, (or is Bud now considered an import with the acquisition by InBev?) I'm soooo confused.....

So back to the amber ale...it is average compared to other amber ales on the market, but refreshing none the less. Good ale at a decent price.

Samuel Adams - Octoberfest

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Samuel Adams - Octoberfest
Boston Beer Company
Boston, MA USA
Est.1985
www.samueladams.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Ruddy amber, almost orange hue.
Pleasant aroma of roasted malts & hops.
Adequate, long lasting head with good lacing.
Medium bodied. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Mmmmm, I thought as I passed the grocer's shelves looking for something different! There it was...the beer that had finally won me over with their "Brewmaster's Collection" that you've seen in my previous posts. I am a fan of 'Marzen' style Oktoberfest beers, so off to the lab to experiment.

At first blush the looks of the color and head were good indications there was another winner in the Sam Adams bunch. Upon tasting, however, I was less than thrilled. Oh, don't get me wrong. It's a fine lager worthy of purchase, but it's either my level of expectation of a Marzen style beer (oh, my favorite) and a bit of how the other Sam beers & ales had recently won me over. I give it a solid "B"...Jim, keep up the good work.

Shock Top - Belgian White

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Shock Top
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri USA
Est. 1852
www.anheuser-busch.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Light golden to amber color.
Faint citrus aroma.
Foamy head (when poured by directions on reverse label).
Light bodied and refreshing. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
A wit-beer, or wheat beer is brewed with about 50% wheat (in the Belgian fashion) instead of the traditional barley malt. The beer will produce a cloudy pour that you think will go away, but never does. That's the released protein enzymes that embodies a wheat beer, more than those found in barley. Also, this style of wheat does not roast or 'malt' the wheat. Enough science!

The fact is, it's also brewed using lemon, lime and orange peel to give it a zesty taste. A great beer for the summer time and a sure hit with the ladies. Oh, it also has coriander inside! Very unusual beer considering AB just sold out to the Belch, er...I mean Belgians. This beer and other wheat beers are cracking into the, "...what else can we do with fruit and beer" theme. Corona used to have it all locked up with the lime slice, but these wheat beers are now adding lemon or orange slices to a pour of theirs...but not in the neck of the bottle, no! In the glass, itself. Hanging on the pint glass, deliciously stuffed into that rich, soap-like & foamy head.

Enjoy the cool half-moon orange slice dude with his "wheaty" mohawk and Ray-Ban's! Then enjoy the beer.

Coronita Extra

Soldadito Muerte 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Coronita Extra
Cerveceria Modelo, S.A. de C.V. Mexico
Est.1925
www.corona.com
www.thecoronabeach.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.6 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 7.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Pale, clear and light yellow color.***
Negligible head and zero lacing of the glass.***
Light watery flavor.*** 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Are you in the mood for less than a full sized 12 ounce Corona Extra? "...Okay. Say hello to my little friend! "
***Here's a repeat of the post dated Friday, May 23, 2008.
http://alesfromthecrypt.blogspot.com/2008/05/corona-extra.html
Does this look familiar to you? Look closer. That's right, it's a cute little 7 oz. bottle of Corona. Even though it is smaller in stature, they still had room to squeeze in two more letters on the labeling! C O R O N I T A !

Restating the obvious, the review made me stop and wonder why I like this beer so much in spite of its weak standings against other beers. It bears repeating, void of it's bottle and lime slice it's like a fish out of water, it misses the essence of the what it truly is. This wee beer has the same amount of tasty refreshment as his bigger brother. But drink it in the bottle and not in a glass. Just be sure to buy yourself some miniature limes!

Pete's Wicked Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Pete's Wicked Ale
Utica, NY- San Antonio, TX USA
Est. 1979
www.peteswicked.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Ruby brown color.
Nice hops smell throughout.
Good, full head on pour with great lacing.
Great balance of hops and malt.
Smooth drinking.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Oh, the flames licking up the label! Oh, the horns on the heads in the netherworld! Pete is a man after the Reaper's heart...and soul! Muhahaahaahaaaaaa! Enough self indulgence now; I'll try to show some restraint.

I command you to go and get some of the Wicked Ale. It's wickedly delicious. Ah, restraint seems to have left me, er, umm...please try this (wickedly) delicious tasting ale. Pretty please? Ahhh, forget it! If you listen to the fellow in white on your right shoulder, you'll never know what you're missing. And there will be more for me, The Reaper! Muaahaahaahaahaahaaaaaa!

Bud Light Lime

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Bud Light Lime
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri USA
Est. 1852
www.budlightlime.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Light golden, straw color.
Basic beer aroma, but with a hint of citrus.
Average head with minimal lacing.
Light watery mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
There is a pretender to the throne! Okay, I'll give them credit for having "100% Natural Lime Flavor" as posted on the label, but this 'King of Beers' is trying to take the crown from Corona. So instead of a garnish like Corona, they, "...put the lime in the coconut and stir it all around" like the song says.

It's all good, if you are in a hurry and want some heat scorching refreshment. Unlike Corona, you can skip the trip from the beer aisle to the produce department and hit the checkout line quicker!

Genesee Cream Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Genesee Cream Ale
Genesee Brewing Company
Rochester, New York USA
Est. 1960
www.creamale.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Light golden, straw color.
Basic beer aroma, but with a hint of citrus.
Average head with minimal lacing.
Light watery mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Okay, so I've been called old fashioned. But of all the old timey beers I remember most from my college days, there was always Genny Cream Ale. Oh, and by the way, if you think it 'aint got taste, then you should visit their ultra cool website. This is not your father's beer, here!

The reaper has been digging Genny for so long for four reasons. One, it was local and therefore cheap to buy. Two, it has smooth, great taste. Three, it has a 5.2% kick above your regular beer. And four, did I mention it tastes great?

Nothing else here to write about....now go out and get some!

All done now? Hardly!

Well, after three months I've been able to finally lay to rest, so to speak, all of the beers from the birthday coffin. Now it might appear that my task would be complete, but I am announcing that with every trip to the local mortuary cooler, I will be bringing back different ales and beers to add to this list.

So stay tuned.....

I will continue to reap the harvest of beers for your entertainment and edification from time to time.

---The Reaper

Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Black Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Black Ale
Harviestoun Brewery
Hillfoots Villiage
Alva, Scotland
Est. ????
www.harviestoun.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark black in color.
Chocolate smell and aromas.
Tan to brown colored, well forming head with significant lacing.
Full bodied.
Roasted caramel flavor with bittersweet finish. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Viscous - Chocolatey - Roasty is right on the label of this proper English ale. I enjoyed it immensely. It also has an old English roadster on the label. This leads me to think that, what with the (lack of) reliability of old English cars, this fellow was a mechanic in a previous life. When his auto broke down, he started to make beer. Well, it flows out of the bottle thick and black just like old engine oil. But it tastes soooo much better. It's, "Brewed in small batches", so I'll have to keep an eye out to find more of this stuff.

2/5/11 Reaper Update - Enjoyed myself another of these beauties and it reads exactly as it did from nearly three years ago. Down to the letter of writing in the 'postmortem', this ale delivers. Will seek out again and again. Delicious and consistent.

Insanely Bad Elf

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Insanely Bad Elf - Imperial Red Ale
Vintage 2007
Ridgeway Brewing
United Kingdom, England
Est. 1779
www.sheltonbrothers.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 11.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Brown red amber color.
Raspberry smell.
Nicely forming head with pleasant foaminess.
Full bodied.
Caramel flavor throughout. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Raspberries! You smell them, and you taste them in the brew. The reaper truly enjoys the things from this earth! Yummy and flavorful, although towards the bottom of the glass there was an alcohol overtone. Well, at a hefty 11.2% this is one of the drunk-est beers I've drunk. Insanely inebriated elf is more like it!

Wicked little fellow on the label...methinks I will give him a job!

Harnas Beer

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Harnas Beer
Okocim Brewery
Browarna Str. 14
Brzesko, Poland
Est. 1845
http://www.okocim.pl/

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 16.9 

Postmortem Brew Review
Clear and golden color.
Flavor is like beer from yesteryear.
Thin head that leaves little lacing.
Finishes clean, with no aftertaste.
Medium carbonation.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
"Of Polish Highlanders", claims the label. There's an angry St. Polish Boy with a tomahawk in one hand and a raised fist for the other. Must be those frost mountains from the back label that's making him so mad. Anyway, if you remember what your father used to drink, so many years ago, you will find this beer nostalgic. It has that backyard barbecue beer taste you grew up on. You'll probably run around with your fists in the air too!

Organic Wild Hop Lager

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Organic Wild Hop Lager
Green Valley Brewing Company
Fairfield, CA USA
Est. 2007
www.wildhoplager.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Pleasant amber color to the point of a rusty orange hue.
Full, rich hop aroma.
Frothy head throughout most the glass.
Grassy aromas, wildflower field nose.
A little watery but an easy drinker.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Interesting beer and equally interesting website. The bill themselves as, "...the organically certified brewery of the Anheuser-Busch Company", according to the label. Sounds like AB had a little skunk works going with this one. But I must say it is a deliciously admirable beer.

Green valley is wholly committed to being organic, down to the labels on their bottles and even the raised lettering at the bottom of the bottle encouraging recycling. The reaper agrees...what comes from the earth, should return to the earth! Ashes to ashes and all that. I guess you should relieve yourself near a bush when through drinking. Muwa-ha-ha-ha !

The website is sparse but has a gadget that will look up where you can find this beer by zip code. Surprisingly, it's not shipped to Florida, but it got here somehow. I must find more.

E B Beer

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
EB Natural Premium Quality Beer
Grupa Zywiec, S.A.
Silesian Voivodeship, Poland
Est. 1872
www.grupazywiec.pl

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 16.9 

Postmortem Brew Review
Pleasant golden color.
Smells like beer should.
Weak soapy head.
Light in flavor and hops.
A little watery.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
EB is a popular brand name of Polish beer produced by the Elbrewery Company Ltd. in Elblag, Poland. The Elbrewery Company is Poland's largest brewery and belongs to the Żywiec Group. The Group consists of four main breweries: Żywiec, Elbrewery, Leżajsk and Warka, and is owned by the Dutch Heineken Group (Heineken International Beheer B.V.)

This is a pilsner beer, done in the old tradition. The Elbrewery's logo has a kangaroo and an ostrich on the label, not two items you would likely find in Poland, except at the zoo. Their motto is, "It's time for EB." Well, I don't know what time it really is but I'd have another of these, anytime at all.

Dos Equis - Ambar

Soldado Muerte

Donde desenterrar más sobre esta cerveza
Cerveza Dos Equis Ambar
Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma, S.A.
Monterrey, NL Mexico
Est. 1897
www.dosxx.com

Cociente del daño de cerebro = 4.7 % ABV
Líquido onza. = 12.0 

Revisión postmortem del Brew
Oro en color con la cabeza mínima.
Nada mucho 'lacing' y la cabeza se descolora rápidamente.
El olor es un poco cobarde, como el maíz dulce.
El gusto es dulce también.
Hay un poco dulzor granoso con no mucho.

Elogio del segador severo
Total, no hay definitivamente nada especial sobre esta cerveza. Ciertamente demasiado caro. Demasiado de esta cerveza le hará loco en la cabeza.

I'll leave you to the Spanish English riddle's up above, but sufficed to say, in plain English, Dos Equis is a Mexican beer originally brewed by German brewer Wilhelm Hasse. The "XX" roman numerals, (also known as the 'dos XX'), was named to signify the arrival of the new "20th century", and so the bottles were marked with the two X's. It's okay, but don't run to the border for it.

Which reminds the reaper of the old joke, "If a plane crashes on the border, where do they bury the survivors?" Alas, survivors don't get buried, but you may want to bury this beer when finished with it. Que lastima!

Yuengling - Original Black & Tan

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Yuengling - Original Black & Tan
D. G. Yuengling & Son Brewery
Pottsville, PA USA
Est. 1829
www.yuengling.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.4 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark chocolate brown color.
Full, rich hop aroma.
Remains surprisingly refreshing for a dark brewed porter/beer mixture.
Not too heavy, easy drinker.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Once again, inexpensive, tasty, QUALITY beer. This is a mix of their wonderful lager beer with a rich, dark roasted porter. Absolutely wonderful to behold and consume. Second to none. You must add this to your list when you next go shopping. It will be an eternal reward!

St. Peter's Old Style Porter

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

St. Peter's Old Style Porter

St. Peter’s Brewery Co. Ltd

St. Peter’s Hall, St. Peter South Elmham

Bungay, Suffolk, England

Est.1996

www.stpetersbrewery.co.uk

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.1 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 16.9 

Postmortem Brew Review

Clear brown colored beer with nice maroon color when held up to the light.
Normal sized tan head.
Light smell of hops and toffee with dark roasted maltiness.
Tastes slightly sweet with a big taste of malt in the finish.
Mild grain flavor and a hint of coffee.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy

Here's the other great St. Peter's brew from the box. That cute little logo has a raven with a key for a wing is also present as on its brother. It was as tasty too. I've got to dig up more of these somewhere!

Thames - Welsh ESB

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Thames - Welsh ESB (Extra Special Bitters)
Felinfoel Brewery Co. Ltd
Llanelli, Wales UK
Est.1878
www.thamesamerica.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.0 % Alcohol
Fluid Oz. = 16.9 

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep brown in color.
Nicely balanced malt smell & taste.
Also a balanced amount of hops.
Good lacing of head. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Wasn't too sure about this one at first because of the word 'bitters' in the name. I mean, c'mon...what can be so 'extra special' about something like 'bitters' ??? Come to find out it is just a good balancing of hops to punch up the taste. It wasn't awful, but could had been a bit better. Overall though it drank very well with the meal I ate.

Note: There are a bunch of tiny green dragons as a watermark running throughout the label which is kinda' neat. But the real cool factor is a big-ass, red dragon on the label. Us reapers like cool big-ass, red dragons!

Okocim - O.K. Beer

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Okocim - O.K. Beer
Okocim Brewery
Browarna Str. 14
Brzesko, Poland
Est. 1845
www.okocim.pl

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.6 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 16.9 

Postmortem Brew Review
Clear and golden straw color to the pour.
Flavor is like honey and some earthy hop smells.
Thin, receding head that leaves little lacing.
Finishes with a sourish aftertaste.
Light to medium moderate carbonation.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
I believe there is nothing better than truth in advertising when it comes to beer. This one says it all on the label. It's an "O.K. Beer" and nothing more. You can drink it for it's 5.6% alcohol content and be happy. Not great, not bad.

There's an "O.K." caricature of St. Polish Girl adorning the label. This is another okey dokey beer from the people who train miniature goats to scale beer glasses, Okocim.

Samuel Adams Honey Porter

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Samuel Adams - Honey Porter
Boston Beer Company
Boston, MA USA
Est.1985
www.samueladams.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Black as the night.
Pleasant aroma of roasted malts & honey.
Frothy head with UNBELIEVABLE lacing.
Full bodied.
Frothy, rich creamy clumps of delicious foam that stayed after the porter was finished!

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Like the other Sam Adams (Black Lager & Irish Red) cadavers, this beer is part of the 'Brewmaster's Collection'.

This one seals the deal. I have had Samuel Adams Lager in the past and wasn't too impressed. I found it dry and a bit gassy. Well, bring on the Brewmaster's collection, cause these have all been winners. I am wowed. This beer had foam in the glass 1/2 hour after I finished the beer. I, the Reaper, couldn't kill it! Oh so tasty...look there's another in the mortuary fridge! Yeah!

Warka

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Warka High Quality Beer
Mazowia, Poland
Est. 1478
www.fourcorners.ie

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.0% ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2 

Postmortem Brew Review
Rich amber hue.
Hoppy head without bitterness.
Easy drinker, not overly filling.
Minimal lacing of head. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
A real 'dead soldier', named Kazimierz Pułaski, adorns the label of this beer. He was member of the Polish nobility, and a military commander who and fought against Russian domination of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. When this uprising failed, he emigrated to North America, where he became a General in the Continental Army American Revolutionary War. He died of wounds suffered in the Battle of Savannah and has been called "the father of American cavalry".

Okay, enough with the history lesson. It was unassuming looking enough, almost like a Bass Ale. And it sounds like something Fozzie Bear from the Muppets would say, but the 7.0% alcohol content rocks it like a cavalry cannon ball! The Reaper likes the fact that it's a true 'war hero' beer, so let's salute this dead soldier in style...Nostrovia!

Spaten Premium

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Spaten Premium
Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Munich, Germany
Est. 1397
www.spatenusa.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Clear, pale yellow.
Slight hop bitterness.
Light and refreshing.
Some lacing of head.
Touch of skunky flavor. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Like it's brethren, I also give this "two thumbs up" just for having a brewer's malt spade (spaten) head for a logo. But that is where the similarities end. While this was enjoyable and refreshing, it had that oh-so skunky aftertaste that can appear from time to time in all beers. Perhaps the hops? Anyway, I'll have to try again sometime with another batch to see if it is just an aberration.

Black Sheep Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Black Sheep Ale
The Black Sheep Brewery

Masham, North Yorkshire, England
Est.1992
www.blacksheep.co.uk

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.4 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 16.9 

Postmortem Brew Review
Rich golden brown in color.
Meringue-like foaming head.
Superb lacing.
Sweetness to the brew with a pleasant hops finish. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy

Being that I am a bit of a 'black sheep' myself, I was curiously drawn to this ale. It had wonderful taste with a bittersweet aftertaste, which I found very refreshing. Enormous body and flavor that lasts. A small brewer that takes great pride in crafting their beer; as it states on the label, "...the culmination of five generations of brewing expertise. Brewed at The Black Sheep Brewery, Masham, North Yorkshire --- and nowhere else." The bottle cap and bottle had interesting artwork. The cap appeared to be scribblings at first glance, but the words Black Sheep Ale, rose out of the scribblings. The base of the bottle neck had hops vines encircling the bottle just above the label. Both are great touches.

Lezajsk Premium Beer

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Lezajsk Premium Beer
Browar Lezajsk
Grupa Zywiec, S.A.
Silesian Voivodeship, Poland
Est.1525
www.yespils.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 16.9 

Postmortem Brew Review
Floral, light aroma.
Golden yellow nicely carbonated body.
Head sparse with nonexistent lacing.
Peaches, sweet apples and light hops flavor.
Light and well balanced for an overall refreshing brew.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
For starters, let's not confuse this with eyesight correction. But at 5.5% alcohol, the too much Lezajsk might make you 'cockeyed' ! This beer claims roots back to 1525 and states "Legendary" status in several places on the label. I never heard of the legend, let alone how to pronounce the name. It's a train wreck of consonants!
Anyway, as legend goes, Polish King Sigismund "The Old", (hmmm...I the reaper, do my best to remember 'the old'), allowed the Lezajsk brothers exclusive brewing rights. Well bro', this is one beer alive with refreshment, but just like 'ol King Siggy, it's "gone" now.

Smithwick's Irish Ale

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Smithwick's Irish Ale
Smithwick's Brewery / Irish Ale Breweries Ltd.
St. Francis Abbey Brewery
Parliament St

Kilkenny, Ireland
Est.1710
www.diageo.ie/brands/smithwicks

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark, ruby red tone.
Deep forming head; looks like cotton candy.
Significant lacing to the bottom the glass, leaving 'clumps' of foam.
Hints of chocolate and deeply roasted malt.
Great body and delicious finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Lads, simply another heavenly religious experience...brewed since 1710 in Kilkenny at the St. Francis Abbey Brewery, dontcha' know? It's wee in alcohol at 4.5%, but readin' about this beer you de-scover the domestic Irish version is even wee-er at 3.8%. Odd that the 'yanks get the stronger version.

Also, you need to be knowin' that this here is the oldest brewery in Ireland at mere 300 years young. Must have taken a lot for the Irish to put aside uisge making (for a little while) to start an ale brewery, because uisge baugh is the 'craic' in Ireland. Saints preserve us all, for that!

This beer was fulll of sudsy head and smelled like liquid whole wheat bread...yummy. Interesting side note: the 'W' is silent when you be pronouncin', like, 'Smiddicks' or 'Smithicks'. Anyway, tis a great day to be Irish, so get out there and be wearin' the green and drinkin' this red!

St. Peter's - Cream Stout (Ale)

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

St. Peter's Cream Stout

St. Peter’s Brewery Co. Ltd

St. Peter’s Hall, St. Peter South Elmham

Bungay, Suffolk, England

Est.1996

www.stpetersbrewery.co.uk

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.5 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 16.9 

Postmortem Brew Review

Color, black as midnight.

Medium forming head.

Significant lacing throughout the glass.

Black currant & gooseberries with honey flavors in aroma and taste.

Barley and malt taste.

Bittersweet finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy

Seems to be a trend with the last three beers and their ties to religion. St. Peter's brew site dates back to circa 1280 AD, as part of a monastery and nunnery. They even have a pub in London, "The Jerusalem Tavern". Doesn't get more biblical than that. The bottle logo has a raven with a key for a wing; a 'church key', me thinks? Wise old crow! There's lots of fruit flavor that embodies this darn fine ale from a young brewery. But even at that, the location of this brewer keeps such history, including references to King Henry VIII. "Off with its head!", I say, and let's have another! Oh goody, there's two in the casket!

Greene King - Abbot Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Abbot Ale
Greene King - Morland Brewery
Bury St. Edmunds
Suffolk, England
Est.1799
www.abbotale.co.uk

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 16.9 

Postmortem Brew Review
Golden red color.
Deep forming head from bottom to the top of glass on pour.
Liquid marshmallow like head that continuously coats glass.
Malty aroma start and mild bitter hop finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Fella's, if you can find a more beautiful, mature, rich and creamy, smooth bodied, strawberry blond that you can hold in your hand without upsetting your current girl one iota, let me know. Inside the confines of this proper pint is a plastic nitrogen ball,(widget). Says so on the can. Pop open this 'big-unit' and the widget will rupture, giving forth a frothy creamy, smooth tasting ale.

I must say, this is an ale to experience. Sit back a while and watch the full head form from bottom to top. As it goes down, it doesn't just lace the glass, it coats it. As the comical talent Lou Costello (more than) once said, "Hey, Abbot! ! !" Must have wanted one of these ales.