Wexford Creme Ale

Hello Beer drinkers, and welcome back to another edition of Younge's Beer Review! Today I am sampling an interesting Beverage that was recently given to me as a gift. Wexford Creme Ale is a delightful Irish-style Red, with a creamy head and an unbeatable smoothness. I say Irish-style, of course, because the Beer itself is actually Brewed in Suffolk, UK. Wexford comes in a can, and uses a nitrogen widget, similar to popular stouts like Guinness. Popping the top and taking a whiff reveals a mellow sweetness, characteristic of English Pub Ales (my favorite!). It also shares a common pour with stouts: as if flows into the glass, the head billows out and slowly ascends to the top, forming a very creamy crown atop the golden body.

Tasting Wexford is a pleasant, albeit simple experience. There isn't much depth to it, like most English Goldens and Reds. Instead, the drink is smoothly imbibed in either sips or gulps, refreshing and leaving the thinnest of finishes. The hop profile is nearly nonexistent, more of a nip than a bite. Honestly, I could drink this stuff instead of water, it's so refreshing. At the end of the day, there isn't anything particularly exciting about Wexford, but it sure is satisfying.

Score: 8/10

Seeya next week!

Red Tail Amber Ale

Hello again, this is Devin, and welcome back to another edition of Younge's Beer Review! Mid October brings with it the first sign of changing weather around San Diego, prompting all its residents to wear more than sandals and a t-shirt for a change. In the same spirit, I thought I would try something slightly different as well. This week's selection is from the Mendocino Brewing Company, whom I previously gave glowing ratings to for their Eye of the Hawk creation. Today, I will be reviewing the flagship entry in their line, the Red Tail Ale.

Houseplant not included

Red Tail is a nice American Amber with a few surprises. Some of them are quite good, while others are not so much. To start, the opening pour produces a dark, dirty gold body, and a short head that quickly dissipates. Not my personal favorite presentation, but not a deal-breaker, either. The first taste is that of copper earth tones, with a bitter bite from a California style hopping process. What's not so nice here is that all this changes to an astonishingly mild finish that leaves much to be desired. It pairs reasonably well with food, although given the IBUs and the alcohol content (~6%), i'd recommend nothing too salty or dry. One nice thing that can be said for the Red Tail Ale is its utility as a palate cleanser. In between every bite of food, a decent gulp from this Amber will clear away the taste with its own domineering experience, before settling into nothing. And at the end of the day, that deserves some merit.

For a beer that delivers substance but lacks in style,  I give the Red Tail Amber Ale a 7/10.

Until next time, Happy Drinking!

-Devin

Oktoberfestive

Hey all, welcome back to this fall edition of Younge's Beer Review. I have been absent form this blog for a bit, due to sickness (see: Antibitoics + Alcohol), but I'm back just in time for an excellent entry. It's October the 3rd, making this officially the last day of a very special holiday, Oktoberfest! The Bavarian tradition has years of history behind it, so today's selection will pay homage to it. Today I am sampling the Oktoberfest-Marzen from Ayinger, a medium sized private Brewery in Aying, Germany. According to Wikipedia, this is technically not on the short list of official Oktoberfest brews, but since I'm in the states, I'll give myself a pass (although you really should try some of those, they are delicious!)

Ayinger's offering opens up with a nice full bodied smell that nips the nose a bit. It pours into a yellow-amber colored body and keeps a stable thick foamy head for a bit. The taste is very malty, as expected of a German festival lager, and not too heavy on the alcohol (5.8%). Very traditional as I understand it, Ayinger makes a solid beverage in this category. Sipping it leaves little finish, so It's recommended to take it in big, tasty gulps. Overall, the beer is nice and refreshing, and far better than standard festival fare offered on this side of the pond. Ayinger earns high marks for that alone, although it would have been nice to see something stand out out about it. Oh wait, it comes in a half Liter bottle...that'l do!

Score: 7/10

Happy Oktoberfest, and see you all again soon. Happy Drinking!
-Devin