And the Drinking Begins...

Well, here we are, broken hearted, came to drink so now we've started. This being the first post of our journey into sampling as many beers as we can, symbolizes an idea that not all beers are created equal. We will try to find the best and worst of what man has offered us all to quench our undying need to have good times with good people.  We will do our best to describe, in our own words, what we think and feel about the beers we are consuming.  Often our blogging will come before, during, or after heavy binging, so keep that in mind when reading these posts.  Beers will be rated on a burp scale of 1 to 5 in three categories (subject to change!).  The three categories consist of taste, drinkability, and local availability.  Taste is how it tastes to us.  Drinkability is how well and long we can drink it and how it makes us feel.  Local availability is how easily WE can obtain it (chicagoland area.)

Beers in this post:
1) Goose Island 312
2) Blue Moon Full Moon Winter Ale
3) Goose Island Matilda

Learn More after the break....

1)  Goose Island 312

Goose Island 312 is a hometown brew for the gentlemen, as we come from the Chi Town locale.  The bottle wears a large yellow label with the 312 number, an homage to the original area code of Chicago.  It is a wheat ale and is 4.2 percent alcohol. The background of the label shows the beautiful Chicago skyline. Both the Thirsty Gentlemen enjoy this beer and are big fans of wheat ales.

  As wheat beers go, its pretty tasty.  After 3 or 4, it tastes as good as the first.  It is definitely drinkable for quite a while, although all night long it might get a bit strong flavored and get  one gassy and it isn't something your shotgunning, mostly cause it comes in bottles.  According to Goose Island, the professionals, this beer should be served in a tall glass.

Taste (how does it taste?):  4 burps

Drinkability (how long can i down it?): 3.5 burps

Local Availability (how easy can WE find it?): 5 burps!  Its everywhere! Bars on tap and local liquor and grocery stores.


2) Blue Moon Full Moon Winter Ale


Blue Moon makes many seasonals.  The first thing we would like to comment on regarding the Full Moon Winter Ale is that is is definitively different tasting than the other seasonals we have tried which carry the Blue Moon label.  The bottle states that it is brewed with roasted malts and dark Belgian sugar.  It is quite possible that this is the case.  This stuff is definitely brown in appearance and tastes far maltier than the average Blue Moon variety.  Dropping the standard orange slice in this beer does not feel appropriate.  It tastes more like a brown ale.  Belgian sugars is pushing it in regards to flavors.  This is NO Belgian.  It is definitely very good though.  A great change to the average wheat ale the Coors Brewery distributes under the name of Blue Moon.  Also, tonight is a Blue Moon (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_moon and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/29/blue-moon-new-years-eve-2_n_406295.html) and that's kinda cool.

Taste:  3.5 burps

Drinkability: We have different opinions.  Gentleman 1 feels this is a 3.5 where Gentleman 2 feels this is a 2.  It is definitely a heavier beer than the average and the "darkness" of the taste will spoil the drinkability for some.

Availability:  1  This beer is seasonal and one would be strapped to find it out of the winter months.  If you do, inspect the level of dust accumulation before you purchase.  Some say beers need to age but we wouldnt recommend it.

3) Goose Island Matilda

OK so....  After substasial new years eve consumption, drinking a belgian kinda throws one off kilter a bit.  This beer tastes phenomenal.  It is complex and balanced with all flavors.  It really tastes GREAT.  We are enjoying this quite a bit.  Matilda is a Goose Island special brew that one of the gentlemen was privvy enough to enjoy from the tap at the Goose Island brewery.  It is 7% alcohol and comes in a bottle with a label that looks pasted on.  It looks unique.  The bottle states that the beer can age up to 5 years. Contradictory to the previous review of the Blue Moon Full Moon, if you find a dusty bottle, it might just be aged.  It's definitely a stronger beer for this brewery.  It has a fruity aroma and a quite complex flavor profile.  Its not wheaty, it's not smokey, it's very balanced but definitely tastes stronger than the previous two (well, two varieties) consumed.  We dont think the drinkability is lasting.  This is more of a dinner beer.  One or two is perfect followed by a more "standard" beer to start a night.  Drinking this at 1 AM after many other beverages just adds to ones drunkedness.

Taste: 4.5 after slight debate.  Definitely great but perfect, that is in the eye of the beholder.

Drinkablilty: 1.5 This is not a beer one can consume repetitively without blackout.

Availability: 1 The first time Gentleman 1 saw it was at the tap alone, but appartently it is bottled and sold to local chigaoland groceries in a 4 pack.  Yes, a 4 pack.  Elitist much?  How can you bottle a great beer and distribute it through Jewel and still remain amazing?