Yes, the calendar says late autumn but, except for 3, maybe 4 days last week, the thermometer says 80 degrees out. And the barometer says... says... oh my god, you ATE the barometer!? Jesus, man! What were you thinking!?Well, we'll deal with that mess later. For now... yes... Pacifico--a summer beer's near-vernal reprise.

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Now for one of the Captain's favorite activities... unabashed praise for a Samuel Adams beer. I said it last year and I say it again this year: winter beers are my favorite. And as of the past few days, they're here! Why, Mrs. Beer and I met up with Sergeant Stout over the weekend over several Sierra Nevada Celebration Ales and a few New Belgium 1554s. Both grand slams of beer. Nevermind that it was nearly 90 degrees last week---it rained a bit over the weekend, it was Halloween, temperatures dropped and winter beers flowed. Finally. I also had my first egg nog of the season. It was exquisite.

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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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Well, it's still summer. It's still hot (as all hell) here in Southern California* so yeah, I bought some Molson lager. It was priced to sell and I was in no mood to uh... like... I don't know where this sentence is going. Anyway, it's not going to win any medals or accolades at snooty (snotty) beer tasting events, but it's crisp and refreshing and inarguably beer.

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Spring is here, and the time for drinking Kronenbourg is upon us. While France might not be known for its exceptional beer, try to think of Kronenbourg to France as being the same as Perroni to Italy. It is one of the most drinkable and enjoyable lagers I've had from such a large brewery. Kronenbourg has a light, malty taste up front, but a very crisp and slightly bitter aftertaste. The overall sensation is very smooth and pleasant- perfect for a sunny day with nothing to do but drink a few beers. The taste up front is almost floral. To be clear, this is nothing like a hearty Czech lager saying "Hey asshole, I'm here and I'm beer." It is more like, "Bonjour, I am Kronenbourg- how are you this evening? We have some exquisite specials tonight. But first, can I get you some more of me?"

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