Quick Sip 017. Shiner Old Time Alt (limited edition)

I don't know how long this one has been in my upstairs beer fridge. Probably a year, but it could be a little more than that. So, you need to take this review with a bit of caution -- I might be talking about old beer here.

That being said, I'm very sorry I let this one sit so long. It's really very good and has a lot of depth. If this were not part of their Brewer's Pride collection (and thus a limited edition), I would head out this weekend too but some more to do a proper review. As it is, I'll just share my Quick Sip thoughts with you.

This has a beautiful color: copper with a sweet red hue. The aroma is a combination of spicy malt and heady yeast (the latter I ascribe to age, not brewer's intent). Both of these carry through into the flavor palette, and provide a refreshing and very broad base flavor. I find this to be a really good winter beer. The sweet malt is dominant over the hops, and the strong spices definitely take precedence over the faintly aromatic hops. All in all, the flavor is a rich pageant of fun flavors that are -- for the most part -- working together in harmony. 

It has a slightly dry mouth feel (especially for a beer with a 4.2% ABV) that I am uncertain as to whether it comes from the age or from the beer. It probably has something to do with the strong yeast flavor.

I think I got this as part of a family reunion pack, which is their name for a sampler. I'm going to keep my eyes open to see if I can find another sample of this beer. I like it enough that I want to know more about it.

My score: 7 out of 10.

A Quick Comment: This beer got quite a few interesting descriptions from the guys over at Beer Advocate.

Quick Sip 016. Oskar Blues Mama's Little Yella Pils

I cannot deny that the name was part of the reason I bought this little beer. I mean, what a cool Rolling Stones reference. But, I have to admit I didn't go into this with very high hopes because I have not really enjoyed a lot of the beers offered from Oskar Blues Brewery. I mean, I don't hate their stuff, but in general I have not been that impressed. I was hoping to be proven wrong this time, but that was not to be.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this beer. It is a nice, refreshing little pilsner, definitely the sort of thing to chill you out more than get you hopped up (especially since it has a very mild hop profile, which is NOT a bad thing for me -- I don't like hops for the sake of hops).

It's just nothing special. It's a nice pilsner, the sort that is perfect for a hot summer afternoon. But that's all there is. So, let's break it down: Not much of an aroma. There is almost no head (although it does leave a fine lace). The color is a testament to truth in advertising: it is VERY yellow. The carbonation is very light, and it does have a floral mouthfeel.

This pairs okay with Mexican food and beef. It's low 5.3% ABV doesn't leave any strong alcohol flavors, so I imagine it will pair fairly well with just about any food. So, in closing, I doubt I'll buy this again, but you never know. It's definitely a non-threatening beer, so if I'm faced with a tricky food pairing, I could be tempted to give this one another try.

From their Website:Oskar Blues’ Mama’s Little Yella Pils is an uncompromising, small-batch version of the beer that made Pilsen, Czech Republic, famous. Unlike mass market “pilsners” diluted with corn & rice, Mama’s is built with 100% pale malt, German specialty malts, and Saaz hops. While its rich with Czeched-out flavor, its gentle hopping (35 IBUs) and low ABV (just 5.3%) make it a luxurious but low-dose (by Oskar Blues standards) refresher.

My score: 6 out of 10