It's been a busy 2009 so far, beer readers. I've had time to sample some new brews, but I haven't been able to tell you folks about them. My humble whatevah. Anyway, here's a review for you. Enjoy with a side of beer. Mission Street's beers are very good. You may recall earlier this month when I discussed their Pale Ale. Well, what's the logical progression? Yeh... India Pale Ale. These beers run you$5.99 a 6-pack. Good recession brew.

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Friends, let me be frank. I don't much care for Becks. It is a prosaic beer in the German style. OK, a prosaic German beer (it is imported... it can have that much from me). As most of you know, good ol' Captain Beer isn't one for light beers. If you want to cut calories, put down the pastrami sandwich. If you want to drink beer, drink beer! I'll get off my soapbox now. OK... so... Beck's Premier Light:

Meh. Not so hot. Very light malt flavor, the littlest bit of floral-bitter hops in the finish. I mean, the beer has 64 calories---where is the flavor going to hide? It's refreshing, it's extremely "drinkable"* meaning... refreshing. That's about it. But... when you add..

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This is one of the best stouts I have tried in months. It hangs right up there with some of Rogue and New Belgium and other such top-tier brewery's offerings. It's... delicious. Go... go get some. Don't bother reading this post, just go---hey get back here! OK. That's better. Have a seat... relax...

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All I can think of at the moment is that scene in Dances With Wolves where Kevin Costner is yelling "Tatonka!" and making little horns with his fingers. Always good for a larf. Watch that movie and see how many times he flops onto his back in a comical manner... I believe the count is 4 which may not seem high but when you focus on it, it... is. OK... on to the beer! BJ's, a limited California chain, has some great food and some damn good beer, not to mention excellent prices on their 5 and 7 glass five ounce beer sampler flights. A great way to have a lot of great beer. I could (and likely will eventually) write at some length on each of their 6 standard beers and rotating seasonals, but I'm going to focus on their Tatonka Stout this time. Thus the heading of this review. Yeh...

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  I'll start as I usually do when discussing a beer brewed by a macro-brewery---I had my reservations, I prefer to support smaller breweries, I didn't expect much, etc etc. Well... this is a good beer.

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Friends! I'm in the mix. Back on track. Uh... reviewing... some... beers. OK so normally if you pick up a six pack of canned beers, you start of with your expectations low. There are certain breweries that have begun canning good beer (try an Archer Ale) but they're limited and usually the brews cost more for a sixer than... $3.99. So I was skeptical but feeling cheap. Call it research. My life has not been changed, but I was pleasantly surprised.

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Yet another solemn nod to The Boston Beer Company and another satisfied palate over here. As we strolled the awful cavernous aisles of a wholesaler, seeking free samples and bulk-size crackers, there like a beacon of light shown a beer brewed near Beacon Hill where once I made a bacon sandwich and beckoned friends with brew to draw near. Or something. What I mean is I got this mixed case of Sam Adams and aw damn, happy times. Sam Lager, Black Lager, Scotch Ale and Brown Ale, all in one place! And this Brown Ale is a fine beer, man. For serious.

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Friends, those last few sips in the bespectacled, goatee-d and uh, pastel hatted Captain's glass are Trader Joe's Dunkelweizen. I was initially critical (this is years back, I'm talkin') of Trader Joe's beers. But then I started drinking them. By in large, they score. It still seems odd to me that a grocery store craft brews, but they do, and they do it pretty well. Sergeant Stout came by yesterday and we sampled this 'lil weizen (along with various fine homebrews, of course) and it's fine indeed.

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