A true finals test: applying one’s knowledge gained over this semester

As we approach the end of the semester, we realized that we wanted to switch things up a little bit. Typically, Caden and Andrew do the bulk of the beer selection when it comes to our weekly reviews. This time around they wanted to have Elias pick the entire lineup so that they could “evaluate” how well he did. The goal of this was to see how much Elias’ beer knowledge has grown since the start of the year and make sure he knows what to do if he has to go grab beer again down the road. Thankfully, Caden and Andrew were very impressed at how well he did. For our readers, Elias was graded on two factors. The first is how good the beer was in itself. Second, how impressed Caden and Andrew were with the fact that he picked each beer out of the countless options in the store. If you’re 21+ and are looking for a casual easy drinker or want to impress your friends, then check out any of the beers below!

Bell’s Two Hearted – IPA (7.0%)

Elias started off strong with a classic and it ended up being the beer of the night for both Caden and Andrew. Two Hearted had the classic bitter and hoppy components on the nose along with the citrus that common IPAs have. It was less bitter on the palate than what we were picking up on the nose and ended up being a smooth IPA. The hoppy flavor profile was more prevalent on the back, but the bitterness lingered all the way from start to finish. If you’re looking for an introductory IPA to drink if you are not too familiar with them, this one is for you! It’s impossible to go wrong with a Two Hearted and rightfully deserves a special place in everyone’s hearts. For how good the beer was, Caden and Andrew gave it a 7.3/10. For how impressed they were, they were shocked that Elias pulled this one off the shelf, so they gave him a 7.9/10.

Alaskan – Alt Style Amber Ale (5.3%)

Next Elias moved on with Alaskan. It had sweet honey on the nose that came off as a caramel-like maltiness. There was zero carbonation, and it ended up being a remarkable drinker with a good taste. There was subtle maltiness on the front end of the beer and it finished with a grainy flavor. On the very tail end of the beer, the maltiness and caramel flavors came back and left us with a great aftertaste. Caden and Andrew gave this beer a 6.8/10 for taste and an 8.2/10 for how impressed we were that Elias grabbed this one. Our final thoughts on the beer were that it’s not a typical amber ale. It has more maltiness and lacks the warm roasted flavor that most ambers have. It was almost as if a German beer, like a Dunkel, and a common amber ale had a baby. Maybe that’s why this beer is a “alt style” amber ale instead of a normal amber ale. It was a weird beer, but a really good one, nonetheless.

Dos Equis Ambar Especial – Vienna Style Lager (4.7%)

For our next beer, Elias had us sample a Dos Equis. This beer had roasted grain on the nose, but it was closer to a burnt grain that was somewhat off-putting. Overall, we all felt that it was bland and the roasted grain and maltiness of the beer came and went very quickly. However, it’s very difficult to find a commercialized Vienna lager that’s out of this world as far as taste goes. To find a great Vienna lager, you’re going to have to go into the craft brewery scene. For taste, Caden and Andrew gave it a 5.5/10 and were impressed that Elias definitely picked a beer that differentiated itself from the other three beers in this week’s review. Unfortunately, Caden and Andrew were not as impressed in this pick as they were with the first two, so they gave Elias a 5/10 for this category.

Smithwick’s – Red Ale (4.5%)

Lastly, Elias bounced back with a homerun of a beer in Smithwick’s. It was grainy on the nose, but the beer also provided a light sweetness as well. For the flavor profile, the sweetness of the red ale was on the front end, but it transitioned to graininess that lingered on the back of the palate. It was a great beer out of the can, but it’s even better on tap.

Our final thoughts were that it was a great beer that could be drank all day. It’s hard to get a better commercialized red ale without going into the craft beer scene. For the quality of the beer, Caden and Andrew gave this one an 8/10. Caden had never tried this beer before this week’s review, and it was a great one to end on that left him very impressed. Caden and Andrew agreed that Elias deserved a 7.5/10 for this category. Overall, great work Elias!

You’ve come a long way since the start of the year and Caden, Andrew and all of our readers are proud of you!