Goose Island Matilda

Matilda is brewed by Goose Island in Chicago, Illinois. I first tried Matilda in early September 2009 while in Chicago. What a topical beer selection for this week as Goose Island has been purchased by Anheuser-Busch/InBev just this week after a several year distribution deal has been ongoing.

Here is a Beer Advocate review and a RateBeer review.

Beer Lao Dark Lager

Beer Lao Dark Lager is brewed by the Lao Brewing Co. I first tried this beer in the summer of 2010 in Seattle, Washington. Here is a Beer Advocate review.

Wilco Tango Foxtrot Jobless Recovery Ale

Wilco Tango Foxtrot Jobless Recovery Ale is brewed by Lagunitas Brewing in Petaluma, California. I first tried Wilco Tango Foxtrot (WTF) in the middle of 2010 in Seattle but I have recently seen it in stores again. Here is a Beer Advocate review and a RateBeer review.

Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA

Union Jack IPA is brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Company in Paso Robles, California. I first tried a taste of this at Hop Scotch in 2009 but I finally got a full bottle from the Beer Authority in the winter of 2009-10.

Here is a Beer Advocate review.

Midnight Sun Sockeye Red IPA

Sockeye Red IPA is brewed by Midnight Sun Brewing in Anchorage, Alaska. I first tried Sockeye Red in the winter of 09-10, more likely in early 2010 in Seattle.

Here is a Beer Advocate review and a RateBeer review.

Mighty Arrow

Mighty Arrow is brewed by New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins, Colorado. I first tried Mighty Arrow at their brewery before they began bottling it for distribution. This is a beer that is available February - April.

Here is a Beer Advocate review and a RateBeer review.

Hop Hound Amber Wheat

Hop Hound is brewed as a spring seasonal brewed by Anheuser-Busch, which is now part of Anheuser-Busch InBev. I first tried this beer when it was released in the spring of 2008 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Here is a Beer Advocate review and a RateBeer review.

Spring Heat Spiced Wheat

Spring Heat Spiced Wheat was brewed by Anheuser-Busch. I first tried this beer shortly after it was released in 2006 in Colorado. Here is a Beer Advocate review.

Gubna Imperial IPA

Gubna is brewed by Oskar Blues in Colorado. I first tried this beer in the spring of 2010 in Seattle Washington. Here is a brief piece about spring brews that Gubna was included in.

Here is a Beer Advocate review.

Elysian Bete Blanche

I am behind again so I will work to "catch up" today with Spring brews. Last night I had an Elysian Bete Blanche from Elysian Brewing in Seattle. Here is a Beer Advocate review.

Irish Car Bomb

This is another drink that is not a specific beer but rather a drink that is popular for St. Patrick's Day because of its Irish ingredients. I don't remember the first time I had this drink but I do remember having it in the fall of 2007 in Fort Collins, Colorado. This also typically involves Guinness as the beer and then has a shot of layered Irish cream and Irish whiskey, most commonly Bailey's and Jameson. Here is how to make your own.

Black & Tan

This isn't a specific beer but rather a drink. I wanted to share it though. The first time I had one was in Chicago in October 2002. This is a beer drink that is made of two beers, most often a Bass Pale Ale and a Guinness stout. Here are instructions on how to make your own.
This is a popular St. Patrick's Day drink along with green beer and Irish Car Bombs.

Smirnoff Ice Twisted V Green Apple

Smirnoff Ice Twisted V Green Apple is another extension of the Smirnoff Ice brand. I tried this in the mid 00s in Colorado.

Smirnoff Ice Twisted V Mandarin Orange

Smirnoff Ice Twisted V Mandarin Orange is another variant of Smirnoff Ice that came out in the early 00s. I tried this probably in 03 or 04 in Colorado. Here is a review.

Smirnoff Ice Triple Black

Smirnoff Ice Triple Black is a spinoff from the original Smirnoff Ice. I first tried this in the early 00s in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Here is a review of Smirnoff Ice Triple Black.

Smirnoff Ice

Once again I am several days behind so as I did last week I will jam through some FMBs. Don't worry FMB lovers out there, I will still have several others to post individually in the future.


Smirnoff Ice is a product from Diageo and I first tried this in 2001 in Fort Collins, Colorado. This is the product that really kicked off the FMB, Alcopop or malternative craze of the early 00s.

Bacardi Silver Raz

Bacardi Silver Raz was another flavor of the Bacardi Silver line of flavored malt beverages produced by Anheuser-Busch. I tried Bacardi Silver Raz just after its release in 2003 in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Here is a review from Great Beer Now.

Bacardi Silver O3

Bacardi Silver O3 was the second type of Bacardi Silver FMB as part of the Bacardi Silver line of beverages from Anheuser-Busch.  Bacardi Silver was launched on March 3, 2003 (03/03/03), which was also intended to be poetic since it was made with the flavor of three different types of oranges. Here is a little hard to read text version of the release fo Bacardi Silver O3.  I first tried this beer a little later in March when my local distributror got some product out to stores in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Here is a review of Bacardi Silver O3.

Bacardi Silver

OK, I am a few postings behind so today I will make a small series of Bacardi Silver postings. The original Bacardi Silver which was made by Anheuser-Busch, now Anheuser-Busch InBev. I first tried the original Bacardi Silver when it was released in 2002 in Fort Collins, Colorado.

For another opinion on flavored malt beverages (FMBs) or malternatives as they are sometimes called, see here. I prefer beer but I have found most of these to be tolerable in small doses.

Serengeti Lager

Serengeti Lager is brewed by Serengeti Breweries though it is complicated as to who will ultimately control this organization. I first tried this beer upon entering Tanzania when I was in Arusha in January 2007.

Here is a Beer Advocate review and a RateBeer review.

Snow Plow Milk Stout

Snow Plow Milk Stout is brewed by Widmer Brothers in Portland, Oregon. I first tried this beer in Fort Collins, Colorado in the mid 00's. Here is a Beer Advocate review.

8-Ball Stout

8-Ball Stout is brewed by Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka, California. I first tried this beer in the fall of 2007 as part of a monthly beer subscription I had received from a friend for my birthday that year.

Here is a Beer Advocate review.

Mackeson XXX Stout

Mackeson XXX Stout is brewed by the Boston Beer Company. I first tried this beer in 2002 and it was quickly one of my favorites in my early beer tasting days.

Here is a Beer Advocate review.

Miller Chill

Miller Chill is a chelada style beer brewed with lime and salt by MillerCoors Brewing in the US. I first tried this beer during the summer of 2007 in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Here is a Beer Advocate review and a RateBeer review.

5 Barrel Pale Ale

5 Barrel Pale Ale is brewed by Odell Brewing in Fort Collins, Colorado. I can't remember the first time I tried this beer but it probably was in the early 2000's with friends in Fort Collins, possibly at Old Chicago.

Here is a Beer Advocate review.

Big Daddy IPA

Big Daddy IPA is brewed by Speakeasy in San Francisco, California. I first tried this beer in the spring of 2010 in Seattle, Washington and I found this beer at The Beer Authority in Lake City. Here is a Beer Advocate review.