Tap Room No. 21 Moes Backroom Pale Ale - Novato, CA

Tap Room No. 21 Moes Backroom Pale Ale

3.5/5

Thankfully these guys have redeemed themselves with this tasty pale ale. Unlike their lager which I rated low, this yummy little number will tantalize the taste buds.

It pours a clear light amber color, has a hint of hops and is followed by a very slight bitter after taste.

Over all it's pretty decent and has restored my faith in the brewer.

Pick up a sixer with your next pizza.

Lost Coast Brewery Alleycat Amber Ale - Eureka, CA

Lost Coast Brewery Alleycat Amber Ale

4/5

Another one of my favorite Californian brews, Alleycat is a nice malty Amber Ale. It is lightly hoppy with a subtle caramel note. In my opinion, the perfect balance.

Just like the funky artwork on the label, this beer is fresh and hip.

It's a very drinkable beer so be warned that too many and you might find yourself out the back of the bar conversing with the Alley Cats.

Steel Reserve 211 - Iwindale, CA

Steel Reserve 211

1/5

Wow. Not sure where to start with this one.

After recently gaining permanent residency to the US a close friend showed up to my house. He brought with him a can of this utterly putrid "malt liquor," a can of cheez whiz and promises of the "American Experience."

No need for words when one sip forces me to pull a face like in this photo.

I was completely dumbfounded that such a horrible concoction existed and more to the point, that people actually drank this stuff.

It's incredibly cheap and boasts a whopping 8% alcohol volume so you would at least hope it might have drinkability going for it right? Very wrong. It tastes so bad that I had no choice but to fill my mouth with cheez whiz. Oh yeah, pairs well with cheez whiz.

San Miguel - Spain

San Miguel

2/5

Here we have ourselves an example of a rather bland lager. It's quite light and easy to drink but not something I would consciously go out of my way to purchase again.

I first drank this in Barcelona which is perfectly fine as I always make a point of drinking the local brew wherever I go. Unfortunately it's not as good as I remember and I can't imagine I will go out of my way to drink it again....that is unless make my way back over to Spain some time.

Spain should really stick to making other quality products such as the Seat automobile.

Tap Room No. 21 Moes Backroom Lager - Novato CA

Tap Room No. 21 Moes Backroom Lager

2.5/5

This is not a beer to write home about. Ironically I'm writing about it. I guess you should be warned.

I chose this off the shelf at the supermarket as it looked interesting and was quite cheap. Should have known better.

It had a slight metallic smell which put me off from the beginning. I'm afraid it didn't taste that much better. It was drinkable enough but I fear I wasted my money purchasing a 6 pack.

I will not be purchasing this beer again however I'm interested to try other beers from this Brewer mainly as I'm always looking for that diamond in the rough... that huge taste to cost ratio that we're all chasing.

Karl Strauss Amber Lager - San Diego CA

Karl Strauss Amber Lager

3.5/5

This little award winning amber colored gem is one of the best bang for your buck beers I have come across recently. We're talking strictly flavor to price ratio here.

Karl Amber has a generous caramel note and is mildly hoppy. It's twice filtered which give it a nice light amber luster.

I find it to be one of those rare full flavored beers which you can manage to polish off several in one sitting. Fortunately my local Costo sells it by the case (24) at a very reasonable price.

Try Karl Amber with meaty Pizza, Pork or Steak. The subtle sweetness to the amber lager will pair nicely with these meats.

Shiner Bock - Shiner TX

Shiner Bock

3/5

Don't be fooled by the name ladies and gents. Although it's a Bock style beer it seems to lack the boldness and body of a typical Bock.

Don't get me wrong, it's good, but good in a comfort staple kind of way.

I give it points for drinkability but other than that I don't feel it has a lot going for it other than a nice bright label. At the risk of retribution from my manager, I dare say it's a tad bit forgettable.

It might go well with some ribs, brisket or something greasy and fried, Texan style.

Dundee Honey Brown Ale - Rochester NY

Dundee Honey Brown Ale

3.5/5

Now I'm not usually a fan of sweet beers so I usually stay away from honey ales. This little award wining gem is a light golden brown color with a subtle hit of honey on the pallet. I really didn't want to like it but I have nothing bad to say about it. Very much the underdog and a winner in my book.

The perfect drop to accompany a decent slice of barbecue chicken pizza.

Beck's - Germany

Becks

3/5

Some people may disagree with my rating on this one. I feel too many green bottled beers get a bad wrap. Although known to be a little "skunky" I find Beck's is a crisp and refreshing beer and best enjoyed super cold. It's one of those beers that slides down so well after several hours of yard work.

Sam Adams Boston Lager - Boston MA

Sam Adams Boston Lager

3/5

Sam Adams Boston Lager is by no means amazing, but for a mass produced, corporate beer it really is quite decent.

Most restaurants and bars will have Sam Adams. It's a great party beer because not only is it relatively inexpensive but you don't feel like a cheapskate offering it to your friends.

I'm not going to go out of my way to pair it to any specific food but as mentioned, it's a great party beer and will be a hit at your next BBQ.