Thirsty Thursday: Victory HopDevil India Pale Ale
Most of the time when I’m staring at the endless stacks of beer Wegmans has to offer, I end up choosing something I’ve never had before. But this week I was drawn to an old, hometown favorite of mine —...
View ArticleThirsty Thursday: Commodore Perry India Pale Ale
There is something nice about throwing on that ratty old sweatshirt you have buried in your closet for the first time every fall, that first September afternoon when the weather is too chilly for a...
View ArticleLimited-edition Saranac Disruption Nitro brown ale contains rich and bold...
As I was scanning the numerous shelves of six-packs at Tops this past week trying to find a beer to try, my eyes were drawn to a strange silver box that seemed almost out of place. This small, silver...
View ArticleHarpoon Winter Warmer rings in holiday season with cinnamon flavor
The cycle of seasonal beers is an interesting rotation of flavors. The transition of the level of hoppy, malty, bitter, sweet and fruity flavors of beers can vary greatly between the many months of the...
View ArticleLeinenkugel’s Snowdrift Vanilla Porter contains cocoa and caramel flavors
I’ve often mentioned that porters and stouts are the perfect beers for long, cold Syracuse winters … but have yet to review one. Maybe I have been avoiding admitting that we’ve been drifting closer and...
View ArticleNewcastle Brown Ale has nutty, caramel flavor
The first real snow of the year is always a big deal here in Syracuse — people are bundled up head to toe, slipping on the unplowed sidewalks and taking the obligatory, “this weather is awful”...
View ArticleSaranac Pale Ale has sweet, then bitter taste
Browsing through shelves of beer and deciding what to try this week, I was apprehensive about choosing a pale ale. To be frank, I’m not really a pale ale kind of guy. But after one of my roommates told...
View ArticleHere are the best beers to drink while watching the Super Bowl
There are a lot of questions you’ll have to answer for yourself before watching Super Bowl 50. But one of the hardest ones to answer is what kind of beer you’re going to drink. Here are some quick and...
View ArticleMatua Sauvignon Blanc is packed with citrus, tropical flavors
Since Punxsutawney Phil told us we’re going to have a short winter, I decided to go with a wine that’ll be great in the summertime: the 2014 Matua Sauvignon Blanc. It comes from the Marlborough region...
View ArticleEvan Williams is versatile, sweet and affordable bourbon
Let me introduce you to my friend Jack’s younger brother, Evan. If you love bourbon but don’t have the money to spend on a bottle of Jack Daniels, then you’ll be happy to meet Evan Williams. Like any...
View ArticleLake Placid Black Tie Chocolate Vanilla Porter smells delicious but tastes...
It was a windy and cold night when I tried the Lake Placid Black Tie Chocolate Vanilla Porter. Since Lake Placid’s beers are only available in the Northeast region, I wanted to try one out before I...
View ArticleAbita Purple Haze has crisp flavor, fizzy finish
I saw the bottle and immediately decided that I had to review this beer. I’d never heard of it and didn’t check to see if it was an India Pale Ale, pilsner, porter, light beer. I just went for it by...
View ArticleSmithwick’s Premium Irish Ale is nutty with a hint of apple in the finish
Smithwick’s Premium Irish Ale — now that’s a mouthful to say. Can you imagine ordering it by its full name at the bar? I probably would just ask for a Smithwick’s, hoping the bartender knew what I...
View ArticlePresidente has tropical flavors, corny aftertaste
If you were in Cancun, South Beach, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico or any other tropical place this Spring Break, then there’s a good chance you got to drink a few bottles of the classic Dominican beer,...
View ArticleBallast Point’s The Commodore American Stout has bold scent, weak flavor
The cold and snowy weather made my choice for this week’s review pretty easy: Ballast Point’s The Commodore American Stout. Stouts and porters usually are full-bodied beers that fare pretty well on a...
View ArticleThe 2014 Pacific Rim Riesling has a hint of gummy bears
Let’s travel to the famous Columbia Valley region of Washington state, for a glass or two of the Pacific Rim Riesling 2014. It’s a well selling wine, available at many locations across the nation...
View ArticleLabatt Blue Canadian Pilsener has a balanced, dry cornbread taste
This week’s beer is definitely an upstate New York classic: the Labatt Blue Canadian Pilsener. You can find it at nearly any supermarket or corner store in the area. Hailing from Canada, this imported...
View ArticleSheffield Cellars Tawny Port offers sweet, berry flavor
Switching gears this week, I decided to review a different kind of alcohol: port. It’s not something you’d usually find college students drinking, but with graduation coming up, maybe try ordering one...
View ArticleA light, sweet mixed drink to enjoy in the last few weeks of summer
Summer may have officially ended for Syracuse students, but that doesn’t mean our warm weather festivities have come to a halt. With just a few more weeks of this scorching hot weather, enjoy the Hugo,...
View ArticleRose wine delights tastebuds with fruity, sweet notes
Now that you’re well into the second week of classes and back into the Syracuse groove, it may be time to stay in for a night or two and catch up on all the work you’re already behind on But just...
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