Alas, the Beersurfing blog is being painfully neglected. To spice things up a little bit, Beersurfing is going to try something new! On Thirsty Thursday, we will be reviewing at least one new beer each week. On tonight’s menu, we have the Spanish Peaks Brewing Company Variety Pack, which I purchased for about $12 at my local Bevmo. 12 bottles of beer – 4 bottles each of 3 different brews. Not a bad deal, but was it worth it? Keep on reading to find out how we fared!
Black Dog Crystal Weiss
Billed as “The World’s Best Wheat Beer”, it sure doesn’t taste like a wheat beer. It sort of smells like overripe fruit but has a hint of a fruity taste to it. I’m not complaining, as it goes down fairly smoothly but feels harsh on the tongue. I probably wouldn’t like the Crystal Weiss very much if I was after a true hef, but being the first beer of the evening, it sure hits the spot after a long day at work. I’m going to enjoy the other three!
Black Dog Ale
Billed as an “English Style Amber Ale”. This tastes more like a weak porter than an amber. I’m not big on porters, especially when I’m expecting something else. It’s like eating an M&M when expecting a Skittle. Black Dog Ale has a burnt, smoky, and almost woodsy taste to it. I didn’t believe it was actually an amber because the bottle was so dark so I poured it into a glass to confirm.
The Black Dog Ale
You win this round, Spanish Peaks, but I’m on to you! This is a pretty stiff drink, and the alcohol content is making it difficult to type.
Honey Raspberry Ale
This beer is much more about the raspberry than the honey. It tastes almost like cough syrup on its way in and almost as appetizing on its way down. It has a harsh feel on the tongue and a horrible aftertaste. Honey Raspberry Ale smells decent, but if I wanted to drink rancid Koolaid, I would drink a cheap red wine before I chose this beer. It gets worse as it gets warmer; I don’t know if I can drink three more of these.
The Honey Raspberry
All in all, this selection of Spanish Peaks was decent, but at $1 a beer you definitely get what you pay for. I look forward to trying some of their other brews, but sadly I think I will be disappointed. If their website is any indication, I drank all that they had to offer and then some. I guess if I ever find myself in Montana again (perhaps during my next 27-hour drive to Calgary?), I’ll hit up the brewery and see what else they have!
Aside from Bevmo, you can find Spanish Peaks beer throughout Montana and most of the Pacific Northwest. See their website for more info.
Got a beer we have to try? Beersurfing will feature a new beer or brewer every Thursday – if you know of one that we absolutely have to try, we’d be happy to hear about it! Send me an email at elliot@beersurfing.com.
this is dad…. for $6.99— pound the Yeti and savor the taste all night and well into the morning… Thanx son, you did find the best DARK beer I have tried so far….anybody else have suggestions?