Three Beers to Try Right Now
Scan the QR code with your smart phone and you'll go straight to the Magic Hat Plus/Minus website.
I’m always looking to sample new beers whenever I can, whether in the comfort of my own home or out. Here are three I recently had a chance to try out that I really enjoyed.
Smuttynose Brewing’s Really Old Brown Dog
The Really Old Brown Dog is part of Smutty’s Big Beer series, so you know it’s serious. The only evidence you need that this is really good beer is that I’ve bought three big bottles in the past three week. I can’t get enough of it. I’ve had Smutty’s Old Brown Dog Ale before (truth be told, I’m drinking one now), and it’s good beer, but this is different. It’s a great sipping beer, at more than 10 percent alcohol content, but it’s also light enough so that it’s not as filling as a darker beer. It’s probably my favorite beer right now. Trust me, you need to try it.
Magic Hat’s Plus/Minus
I came across this one in Magic Hat’s 12-pack spring mix. They describe it as a dark mild beer, medium in body, with caramel and chocolate tones. It’s only 4.2 percent alcohol, but it tastes like a darker beer. My favorite part is that it’s got a QR code on it, and if you scan it with your smart phone, it takes you to the Magic Hat website, where you can rate the beer and add a comment.
I’ve always been a big fan of Brooklyn, but I had never tried one of their more serious beers. On St. Patrick’s Day, I was dumb enough to venture out to the bars, which, as you’d expect, were swamped. Anyway, when I spotted Brooklyn Monster Ale on tap, I knew I had to try it. I probably should have been drinking Guinness, it being St. Patrick’s Day and all, but I couldn’t resist. Brooklyn describes the Monster Ale as a “classic barley wine.” I’m not usually a fan of barley wines, but this one was delicious. It was a bit bitter, but very rich. Another great sipping beer, and a strong one at that, with an alcohol content of 10.3 percent. I wisely decided to stop at just one.
Mr. X is a contributor to the Beer Drinking Report. He’s really excited that summer ales are starting to show up on the shelves.
