009. I like the Ug Pug

The other night I was at my local Randall's grocery store and decided it was another night for some "comfort food." That is to say, I wanted another six pack of Shiner Black. This time they weren't out... they had one sixer left. And they wanted $8 for it! That is more than a bit outrageous. Yes, it's worth it... but no, that's not what I pay for it (the decent price is about $1 a bottle when you buy half a case).  So I went shopping for something else.

I was definitely in the mood for something dark and hefty, so that instantly discounted Foster's and Heineken. I was quickly running out of options (since Randall's was taken over by Safeway, their beer offers have definitely gotten more banal and mainstream). But I did see one new face looking out at me... and what an ugly face it was. It was the face of Rahr & Sons' Ugly Pug Black Lager.

A good friend of mine happens to have a pug named Dexter, and the mug on this mutt on the label definitely reminded me of him. So, I decided to pay the $8 for a six pack of something new, dark, and (hopefully) not-too-ugly.

Having a six pack to play with, I decided to drink it as I would any other beer. That is to say, I poured it into a glass, took a sniff and drank it while watching TV. I didn't spend time photographing it or make more than the most cursory of observations. I did notice that I liked it and that it had a mild head coupled with a deep, dark robust flavor that really let the malt come through. In other words, I enjoyed it while catching up on my daily dose of Law & Order.

I also noticed that slightly chalky taste I sometimes get in micro brews. It's not bad, necessarily, but it is there. It's not as bad as some of the other brews I've had, though, and I definitely don't count it as a major negative to my enjoyment of this beer.

My second and third impressions (when I can, I tend to enjoy two bottles in a sitting, which runs about an hour, or the amount of time it takes to discover the crime and bring the perp to trial) were similar, but I did take more time to savor the beer, observe the head (there was almost none) and ponder what I was drinking. I also got a bit daring on the photo: note how I swapped the glass and bottle in this one (haven't done that for a while, so revel in my rebel attitude while it lasts). This particular photo does do justice to the dark, rich color of this beer. It's not the blackest beer I've ever seen, but it certainly likes to swallow up the light that tries to pass through it. I suspect that may have something to do with the hint of chocolate I detect in the beer (they mention coffee, but to be honest, I don't get that flavor from it).

Rahr & Sons: Ugly Pug Ugly Pug is a schwarzbier, or black lager. But the real story is its name - Fritz Rahr saw his mother-in-law’s pug, Oscar, lounging on a chair and he shouted, “What an ugly pug!” Everyone laughed. You’re right, they were brewing a test batch that night. Unlike most dark beers that are often described as “heavy” or “chewy”, Rahr’s Ugly Pug has a surprisingly light body. Reviewers have been vocal about how happy they are to have a dark beer that’s easy to drink on even the hottest Texas summer days. We’ve even heard people refer to Pug as “nirvana in a bottle” because it combines their three favorite flavors, coffee, hints of chocolate, and of course BEER! From their Website. Alcohol content: 4.5%

Despite the short head, I really like this black lager (although it does have a decent lace). It's has a strong taste of malt and just the right amount of hops for a faint, bitter under-taste. I really like this beer and it is only the second one that I've tried so far that could find its way into my regular beer drinking habits. I can't picture it taking the place of Shiner Black, but I could definitely picture a cold winter where a three dog night would be a pleasant thing if this Ugly Pug was the dog in question.

I'm giving it 8.5 out of 10.

005. Blondes DO have more fun!

It's been a long week and I was in the mood for something soothing... something familiar. So I went to the Randall's near my house at FM 1960 and Champion Forest in NW Houston to pick u a six of my favorite beer:  I did my shopping and wandered over to the beer aisle, only to discover they did not have Shiner Black in stock!

Oh, the humanity!

They had Shiner's seasonal Oktoberfest Beer in stock, but it's not one of my favorites. It's okay... as that style of beer goes, but I was in the mood for something more robust. So, I looked around and was more than a bit bored by what I saw. There were a few things on the shelf that would be "new to me," but nothing leaped out at me. So, I decided that since it's still hotter'n heck out there, that I would go for something light. And still... nothing really impressed me.

Yeah, they had Shiner Blonde and some other brews that would certainly do in a pinch. But still, nothing looked great to me. So, after far too much analysis, I grabbed a six pack of something new, with the idea that I could drink two or three tonight while I played Ticket to Ride online, and then I could write up the review in a day or two when I felt like it.

So, I wound up bringing home a strange blonde (and a blonde beer is the only kind that won't have my dear wife reaching for her shotgun): Rahr & Sons Munich-Style Helles Lager: Rahr's Blonde. And, since I brought home six blondes, I'm guessing she'd be really mad if they were the other kind! At least that was the original plan.

When I got it home, after dinner and waiting for online players to join my game, I decided to have a few. And I found that, as far as writing this blog, I was "Rahring to go." (I imagine that pun sounds a lot better in my head than it looks here on the screen.).

With a six-pack to drink from, tonight's "sip on the wild side" is more than me just dipping my toes into things... so to speak. I've had four of them (don't panic on behalf of my liver -- it's been about two hours), and I must say that this beer is living up to my first impressions: It's pretty good for a lighter beer.

When I first tasted it, I was surprised at just how much of a citrus tang I got from it. Really surprised. It was much more than I expected from a "Munich-Style Helles Beer" (and yes, as an English major in college, I'm pleased to see that they properly hyphenated the compound modifier in that description). Over time (i.e. four of them), it contributes to a definite "pucker" sensation. Also, there's a hint of that chalky feeling on my tongue that is not entirely unpleasant (again, I am aware that I really need to find a better term for that).

Rahr & Sons: Rahr's Blonde Blonde Lager was the first beer to come out of Rahr & Sons Brewing Company. It is a medium-bodied traditional Munich Helles-style pale lager that features a rounded maltiness without being too heavy. And like every proud Texan, it has a good head, is pleasant – but not overly sweet. From their Website. Alcohol content: 4.8%

One thing about the beer that surprised me was that it actually inspired me to write the review tonight.I was fully expecting to put it off for a day or two, but its tangy flavor and sweet dance on my tongue got me to sit down and tap out a few words on it while it was fresh in my mind.

Here are some details: When poured quickly, it has a fast, aggressive head. A slow pour delivers a very gentle head. It has a great nose in the bottle, but it seems to fade quickly after it's poured. It also has a very prominent, long-lasting lace (the foam pattern left on the glass). All in all, this is a very solid beer for a blonde, and I think I could grow to like her.

The beer shelf at Randall's

At $8.99 a six pack, I don't think she'll be coming home with me every night (although I suspect with a little comparison shopping I could get her for a few dollars less), but this is definitely a beer that will be coming home with me again in the future.

I give her a 7 out of 10.