Left Hand Good Juju
Tom 3: Deep gold with a subtle fruity, ginger smell. Thin, but creamy with a weak, yet drinkable flavor. The ginger complements the flavor without overpowering it.
Jabez 3.5: A nice clear golden beer with an off white head. The ginger flavor is there but just a hint. I could also taste some honey. I really don’t like ginger in beer but this was ok. The beer was nothing flashy but the bottle was pretty cool.
Todd 3: A nice pale amber ale with a nice foamy head, this ginger-spiced brew tingles the nose with its pungent ginger zestiness. And despite ginger's natural health benefits (proven to help with nausea and digestive ailments), I'll admit that ginger beer isn't much more than a novelty at this point. I've always been a fan of Left Hand's brews, but this beer has me torn. It's among the better ginger beers I've had, for certain, and it's a nice diversion from the usual fruit or spice-laden ales, but I can't say it's one I'd pursue, either.
Dylan 2: We tried a ginger-infused brew last month, and I suppose I’m just not a fan of the flavor. Here, the ginger is less pronounced than the Michelob Ginger Wheat from the April issue, and overall, I enjoyed this more, but unless the rooty, spicy tang of ginger really appeals to you, I’d take a pass on this dude.
La Cerveza Del Pacifico
Tom 3: Basic golden lager appearance and crisp, light body. Not as sweet as other Mexican lagers, which is nice. Relatively uninteresting, but would probably hit the spot on a hot summer day.
Jabez 4.5: This is a clear golden beer with a nice hops aroma. This would be a very good summer beer. It could be described as a type of pilsner with a little twang. The beer goes down smooth and even smoother on a hot day.
Todd 3.5: A nice, clean, and light lager with a satisfying smooth maltiness, Pacifico easily holds its own against the mainstream American lager monoliths. This pale golden beer is a perfect example of a lager – drinkable and easygoing. Maybe it's not frilly or showy, but this one certainly quenches my thirst and gets the job done. Next time you're in the mood for a lighter beer, pick up one of these instead and see what you think. I like it.
Dylan 3: A balanced and relatively bold batch of flavor for a lager, this is a great and accessible cerveza for someone looking to enjoy an authentic Mexican beer without the weight and body of Negra Modelo.
Negra Modelo
Tom 3.5: Dark amber with a lacey head. Toasted, chocolaty malts in the aroma and taste. Medium bodied with a slightly sweet flavor and a clean finish. Among my favorite Mexican beers.
Jabez 3.5: This beer is a light brown color with good carbonation. I detected a light coffee and malt taste. It had a good balance of sweetness and nuttiness. This beer was light, refreshing and not very heavy but just average.
Todd 4: Pouring a deep bourbon-brown, and tasting sweetly malty (like a brown ale), Negra Modelo is my go-to choice when frequenting Mexican restaurants. It's uncharacteristically dark, when compared to most Mexican brews (which tend to be light lagers), but nicely satisfying, especially when consumed alongside a good burrito or fish taco. A classic and favorite of mine.
Dylan 4: I really love this beer and luckily, it was taco night at home when I cracked this guy open. Todd more or less nailed all the characteristics of this classic south-of-the-border brew.
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale
Tom 5: My childhood fascination with Bigfoot has turned into an adulthood fascination with Bigfoot Ale. With a name like this, it better be a huge beast of a beer, and it is. Reddish amber with a thick head. Powerful aroma of citrusy hops and woody malt and an intense taste that goes down easy despite its apparent, yet not dominating 9.6% ABV.
Jabez 4: A nice amber color with and a fruity aroma. I could detect some fruity flavors and a bunch of hops. This beer was 9.6%, and you can taste it. I am not a fan of barley wine but I thought this was pretty good.
Todd 2.5 : A deep red-amber hue and a thick head (and lacing) heralds this potent 9.6% ABV beast. First taste? Super-strong, rich, and overpowering hoppiness and syrup-y malt presence. This one packs a serious wallop and takes some dedication to finish. It's memorable, but not one to savor repeatedly.
Dylan 4: Anyone familiar with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale will recognize the flavors here. Only difference? The California brewery’s Bigfoot Ale is essentially their pale ale on steroids. Huge hops, a heady alcohol content and a gigantic maltiness make this a superior sipping beer, one to be enjoyed in moderation – not so much because of its ABV, but because it’s basically liquid bread. Delicious stuff, this.
