Hot Pug on Pug Action: We Try Pug Ryan's Dunkel (Special Saturday Edition!)

No pugs were harmed in the taking of this picture. Also, he's not allowed to drink beer.

Jeff

The problem with some dark beers is that, even if you enjoy dark and bitter flavors, finding pairings that won't overwhelm your food can be difficult. Luckily, Pug Ryan's German style Dunkel is a dark beer that not only pairs well with food, but is also a complex and delicious experience all on its own.

Cracking open this beer I noticed it had an attractive reddish-brown hue which complimented its faintly bitter smell. My first drink was surprising- nicely bitter but with definitely noticeable hits of sour and sweet as well. The flavor also had a nice rounded malt flavor to it, almost caramel like, with a nicely balanced note of hops.

H was surprised at the lack of bitterness and, unusually, found this to be a darker beer that she actually enjoyed. I would definitely buy this again and wouldn't hesitate to pair this with food. It's complexity is what keeps it from being overpowering and eminently drinkable.

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Haley

I had to know when we chose this beer to review where the name "Pug Ryan" had come from. The name is as good as the real person behind it was bad. This beer is named after an outlaw: bank robber, train robber, deputy killer. A real bad hombre. Sadly, the can design is a little more tame.

For a beer that is billed as "brewed for the outlaw in you," I wish more of that was reflected in the design. Where's the intrigue? Show me a train, give me an action pose. Guns, danger, pew pew! If you're going to choose something for its edginess, let it be edgy!

That plus even more mountains equals, to me, a pretty boring can design.

Forget the Hot Cocoa: We Audition Tempter IPA For Our New After-Ski Drink

Jeff

Can this really be the first IPA we have done so far? Perhaps I have shied away from testing too many because I know that H hate hate hates them. I admit, the super bitter hoppiness of most IPAs is not for everyone. But I just can't resist the strong and bold flavors. IPAs are to regular beers what straight whiskey is compared to a daiquiri- all are tasty, but you can feel an IPA or a good whiskey as much as taste it.

This IPA from the Telluride Brewing Company is a nicely balanced IPA with a good level of bitterness. As anyone who regularly drinks India pale ales will tell you, once you become familiar with them you can see there's actually a lot of variety in the bitter hoppiness that they offer. This beer is bitter without being unpleasant, and the aftertaste doesn't linger like some others do.

However, for as solid as it is that is also its problem. It just doesn't stand out to me. No real flavor profile pops out, beyond a slight fruity sweetness underneath the bitter. It's a low key IPA, good enough to be in the category but not memorable enough that I would reach for it again. 

Also, and I realize that this is just silly marketing stuff, but H and I both did a mega eye roll at their can which lists "snow melt" as an ingredient. Maybe we are just both so jaded by modern advertising that we can't appreciate a little tongue in cheek humor anymore, but that seems like the exact kind of thing someone would use as an actual selling point if they were trying to be a weasel. I think this brewer is just trying to be cute but we both still found it dumb.

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Haley

I hate IPAs. Whew! Feels good to get that off my chest! Now that my dirty little secret is out of the way, let me discuss something else I'm starting to hate.

Hey Colorado brewers, chill out with the mountains already.

OK, I have been up, around, and in the mountains all around this lovely state now and let me say this: I get it. But there is so, so much more to offer here if one is looking for artistic inspiration. In an hour I can go from snow capped peaks to literal cacti. That is amazing! But everyone around here seems bound and determined to cling to this one pool of imagery. Which brings me back to the topic at hand.

I looked at the logo at this can for a long time. I asked myself "am I sure we hadn't already done something from the Telluride Brewing Company before?". Then I checked our archives and figured out what seemed so familiar.

Denver Brewing Company has a mountain logo as well. Oskar Blues has a mountain logo with an identically styled rising sun behind it!

When is enough, enough? These logos could be clones!

Originally, I was going to give this label three stars. I do like the blue and the sort of green-leaning yellow together. I also think the orientation of the mountains and skiers on the can are organized uniquely enough to give the layout some visual interest with the criss-crossing lines of sight. I did think the awkward 80s video-game style font at the top was out of place and I disliked the lack of basic information found on the can, like ABV%. So three stars would have been fair, I think.

But tracing back now why the logo feels so familiar, I'm going to have to knock off another star based on unoriginality. This logo is so similar to Oskar Blues that as a consumer, I confess I had actual honest-to-God brand confusion for a minute. That can't be good for anyone.

Please Telluride Brewers, get yourself a new artist/designer and make yourself a logo that sets you apart better!

Princess Yum Yum is a Bit of a Dumb Dumb.

Jeff

I brought a six pack of Denver Brewing Company's Princess Yum Yum to a family dinner recently and let's just say that the results were divisive. They were divisive in that everyone seemed to hate this beer except for me.

Fruit beers can be very hit or miss. I also believe that many people fall firmly on one side or the other: either they love them or think they are vile. I personally do enjoy a fruity beer now and again and I think this is a good example of a fruit beer done right.

Princess Yum Yum is a raspberry flavored ale. The flavoring is natural and light, not heavy or, IMO, kool-aide like. Yet it is fruit flavored, so much so that I feel like the those flavor overwhelms the quality beer underneath it. It's kind of a mish-mash of sweet, sour, and bitter, no one flavor really dominating. All of the those flavors have a way of canceling each other out and muting what should be a much more bright and vibrant beer.

If raspberry is going to turn off some people from the onset anyway, might as well fully go for it.

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Haley

First off I have a note on the beer itself: it is pink and murky when poured. I know J says that floating bits and things don't matter but this one seemed excessive and grossed me out. Yet, what grossed me out most of all is how a beer called PRINCESS YUM YUM could so thoroughly squander all of its potential.

With a name like that I want so much more- crowns, jewels, cartoon princesses, unicorns, castles. Anything! Why choose such an evocative name and then do NOTHING with it. It really is a shame. My Dad agreed- he thought it needed a twist of anime to compliment the name.

Instead we get a plain red design and the logo of the brewer. What a waste. This is by far the most disappointing design I've come across so far for this blog. 

Renegade Plays by the Rules with 5:00 O'Clock Afternoon Ale

Jeff

I've been a fan of Renegade for a long time: an empty bottle of their iconic Voodoo Maple Bacon Doughnut Ale has been standing on one of my bookshelves for many years now. Their willingness to experiment is something I appreciate. However, in their 5:00 Afternoon Ale I find that creativity sorely lacking.

This ale has a mild citrusy flavor with a pleasant bitterness that doesn't linger. It has some complexity (though I couldn't identify anything specific) and overall I would say this is an OK representitive of an ale. Unfortunately, it's just not very interesting. For this to merit higher than average with this flavor profile this beer would just have had to be a whole lot bolder in flavor. As it is it's just sort of exists- it neither excites me or is a complete failure.

I think Renegade can do better.

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Haley

Since this very summer, I have had the oppourtunity to try an actual Voodoo Doughtnut Maple Bacon bar. It is perfectly delicious. Sweet, salty, umami, everything perfectly rationed out so nothing overpowers, bacon cooked to perfection. It is a unique and rare treat. Having tried an imitation at a lesser doughnut shop years earlier I can tell you- it's either the real deal, or it's not. Accept no substitutions.

But that what I kind of feel like when I look at this can. Like this design is the substitute placeholder used until the REAL design is finished. How completely boring is this? The yellow is a nice shade but this might as well be a white can with "BEER" stamped on it in black.

I guess I was under the impression that Renegade put a bit more thought into their design work (because that bottle in our living room that Jeff mentions isn't just there for the memories). I guess I thought wrong.

Note: the name of this beer also reminds of this classic riff from MST3K:

"They just didn't care!"

Mountain Man Jeff Takes on Mountain Livin' Pale Ale

Jeff

Our trip to the Crazy Mountain Brewery has been a highlight of my summer so far this year, so I was excited to review the beer we picked up their while doing our little taste test. 

Mountain Livin' is a pale ale with a tropical, citrusy smell when freshly opened. Unfortunately, those bright smells don't really translate taste-wise. I couldn't detect any tropical flavor in the beer itself- in fact, the dominate flavor of this beer seemed to just be "bitter".

For a pale ale I found this beer surprisingly bitter. The bitterness lingered after each sip as well. I really felt like I was drinking something closer to an IPA.

Of course, it's not a total disaster. The color is lovely and it does have a nicely balanced hops flavor. Ultimately I just found it to be underwhelming. The bitterness was too strong and the flavor profile was otherwise too simple and not strong enough. I was blown away by some other beers they offered but this one just didn't do it for me. Because of the strength they've shown in other beers I have enjoyed from them I will still be going back to Crazy Mountain again- one mistake does not a failure make.

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Haley

OoooOOoOOOOoo, aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh. Marvel at the beauty and intricacy of the artwork used by the Crazy Mountain Brewery. Every color is in harmony, every font works together and strengthens the overall design, and the subject matter itself all ties back into the names of both the beer and the brewer who made it. It's creepy and whimsical all at the same time, with a strong dash of practicality as well. 

I like how the information about this beer is printed in almost a little chart on the side of the bottle (on the left in the above picture). No hunting for the name, style, or ABV. It's all neatly and legibly in one easy to find place.

When J and I started this blog, this is what I was looking for- companies that go the extra mile in their design work. This label isn't just striving to tell you what's inside, it's also trying to tell you about who is behind this company. This label has personality and taste, a point of view. I see this art and I think: this product is made by people who really, really care about their jobs.

I love this bottle and I can't wait to see what other artwork they put on their brews that me might test in the future.

Dale's Pale Ale: Crafties vs. The Big Boys

Jeff

Oskar Blues: the good ol' boy of craft beers. As one of the first options to exist for a canned local craft beer, Oskar Blues' brews are everywhere here in Colorado. They are the beer made to fish with or to pack up to go camping with. But just because for a long time they were the only option for canned craft beer, that doesn't make them the best option.

I found the pale ale to be very bitter for something that isn't a true IPA. Otherwise, it's nicely balanced, and the hoppy flavor doesn't linger, which I like. Ultimately though, it's just doesn't really transcend it's status as a workhorse beer- it's not something I would really want to savor and it lacks the complexity of other craft beers.

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Haley

Since being made aware of Oskar Blues and their history I have definitely seen how ingrained they are in the culture around here. So I will probably get flayed alive for giving my true opinion, which is that this can bores me to tears.

I dislike the fonts (which are all over the place), Americana is overdone in the beer world, and it manages to be busy without being very interesting.

That being said, I recognize the intelligence behind the design. This is a craft beer marketed to compete against the likes of a Budweiser or a Coors. It makes sense that the design brings to mind those other brands. I will also say that since every different Oskar Blue's can I've seen so far is a variation of this same design, they at least are remarkably consistent in their branding.

Too bad what they are so consistent at is so uninspiring to look at.

Sweaty Betty Hefeweizen: Will It Give Us The Hots?

Jeff

Sweaty Betty Blonde is an incredibly light and refreshing beer. Described as having hints of banana and clove, I could definitely detect the subtle spice from the clove, and the banana lends it a nice mellow sweetness- fruity, but not too fruity.

This is a great summer beer, with a subtle smell and a very clean finish. As Haley pointed out, it's "very chuggable".

This beer would be great to accompany an outdoor barbecue and the only thing that stops it from being prefect in my book is it is a bit one-note. However, I would still heartily recommend it.

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Haley

Let me start with what I do like. The color combo here is one of my personal favorites. They are bright and summery which does match what's inside. Apart from that though, I don't love this design.

"Sweaty Betty" sounds very sexy to me but this does not convey that. It's just part of a face, with eyes that are big and vacant. Where's the sexiness? Where's the allure? Where's the SWEAT?

The font and bits of graphics swirls around the top and bottom of the label look almost vaguely Egyptian, especially with the shape of the Ts in the font. Overall the graphics have a bit of a clip art feel to them- cheap looking, without a clear point of view.

While the colors are eye catching, this design doesn't live up to its evocative name and doesn't make me want to reach for it when I need refreshment.

Breck Lager: Will it Turn Haley into A Breck Girl?

Jeff

Breck lager: an unfortunate example of doing everything competently, but nothing above and beyond. This golden beer with the nicely foaming head has a clean taste, with minimal bitterness for a lager. I also detected no iron taste, which I find some lagers to have.

The simple nature of this beer makes it a good substitute for your average canned beer. It's light flavor would pair well with food. The problem is though, its strengths are also its weaknesses. I found the flavor to be fairly boring and basic. It also lost its carbonation quickly when poured. 

Breck Lager reminds me of my work truck. It isn't flashy or showy. It doesn't have any bells or whistles, but it's not a hunk of junk either. It's reliable- it gets me where I need to go every day without fail, but it isn't my dream vehicle either. Breck Lager is the same way: reliable, good, but not great.

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Haley

So, I very much dislike this can. To start with the good though, I do think the periwinkle/gold/red orange color scheme is interesting. Not pleasant to look at, but interesting. 

Unfortunately this same color scheme, from a practical standpoint, just doesn't work. The words are hard to read on the front with the blue and gold fonts on gold background. What stands out to me is the word "beer", which seems amusingly generic.

I wish it had more design elements or a bit more personality. As it is, I find this can to be muted and mostly dull. Even with a sort of mid-century feel to it I just can't work up any enthusiasm for this design.

Jeff Gose a Little Crazy Over Brombeere Blackberry Gose

Jeff

The picture for this Blackberry flavored beer from the Odell Brewing Company does not do it justice. Haley and I were both impressed by the beautiful blush color it had. As soon as I poured it I noticed the color, followed closely by the pleasant scent.

According to the can, this Gose (a German sour style beer pronounced goes-uh) is flavored with coriander, salt, and blackberry. I will be honest- I couldn't taste the coriander at all. Not even as just an herbaceous note at the end. But the salt came through, as well as the blackberry.

This is a sour beer, but it is just about the perfect level of sourness. Not enough to pucker your mouth put it definitely has a zing to it.  The light fruit flavor and the salt help balance the sour as well. The blackberry is noticeable as blackberry, but it's not a sugary sweet and it's also very natural tasting.

It finishes with just a hint of salt at the back of the mouth and it did leave my mouth a little dry because of that.

Overall this is a very strong summer time sipping beer, with crisp and clean flavors that will refresh without overpowering.

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Haley

It's important to remember that every reviewer of, well, everything has their own criteria on how they base their judgments. Mine are, as stated previously, does the design make me want to buy the product (does it catch my eye) and does it represent what's inside of it? 

So I'm just going to say this upfront: I really dislike the muted colors of this can. It's blackberry- give me some in your face purple! It's a bear- give me the greens of the forest! Honestly, the colors were just too subtle for me to really stand out, especially with such an intricate design. This is worsened by the fact that this is a summery beer and the colors read very fall to me.

I acknowledge this had a lot to do with personal preference because otherwise this is just about the perfect can. The design is strong and unique, it has a point of view. It's playful while also perfectly connecting to the name and the flavors inside the can.

The font is also delightful- they look like branches!

Maybe this is harsh, but I'm giving it three and a half stars just because the colors leave me wanting more, especially considering the beautiful and rich blush color of the beer inside.

Death by Coconut Gives Jeff Life

Jeff

Beers are incredibly seasonally oriented. There are beers for summer, beers for winter, and beers for every season in between. Death by Coconut is interesting in that it seems to straddle multiple seasons by offering a dark porter flavored with the more summery taste of coconut.

My first thought when opening up this beer was that it smelled a little artificial. However, upon tasting, the coconut is very naturally flavored, with nice caramel undertones. It's not hugely complex, but the notes it does hit are right on.

I will say that it is pretty light for a porter and I was a pretty surprised at the lack of bitterness it has. I would actually prefer my porters to have a little more body and to be a bit more bitter than this one. Because of this though it does manage to straddle the line between winter and spring pretty well.

This deserves a four out of five star rating because the flavor is nice and true to its description. It also deserves a high rating because it has no unpleasant aftertaste. It would be perfect if not for the off putting fake scent when opened, which Haley also noticed had a strong "boozey" element to it as well.

If you like strong coconut flavor in a dark beer that is smooth and without noticeable bitterness, Death by Coconut might be for you.

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Haley

I guess much like the beer itself, I find this can a little confusing. Jeff and I both noted the mish mash of design elements here: it's a coconut flavored Irish porter with Colorado mountains, faux tiki fonts and textures, a brown and white color scheme, and "land of the rising sun" rays all crammed together on the can. Not to mention it also features a pale icy blue (shout out to periwinkle!). What is this? What season is this beer for?

Because of all of these issues the design just seems muddled to me so I'm going to give this 3/5 stars, because at least it does say "coconut" if not "Irish porter"- so I know a little bit of what I'm getting. Overall though, I don't really love it, and it didn't catch my eye in the store.