Ten American Craft Beers to Drink While Playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3

A friend of mine, who will remain nameless, recently bragged to me about drinking a bunch of Coors Light while playing Call of Duty. That conversation, inspired me to highlight a few themed craft choices for the game. Most of these focus on the patriotic theme in one way or another.

10) Pabst Blue Ribbon: Not all gamers have a lot of money. In this case, PBR may be the most viable American option. Goes great with saving the world.
9) Brooklyn Pennant Ale: This English Pale Ale (ironic isn’t it?) is sessionable and has a baseball is on the label.
8 ) Stoudts American Pale Ale: The label contains a flag and the contents contain a solid American pale ale.
7) Samuel Adams Boston Lager: The beer is highly drinkable, with the picture of a founding father on its label (as to all Samuel Adams products) and one of America’s most celebrated cities in the name. That is pretty American.
6) Schlafly Coffee Stout: Because, if you fall asleep while playing Modern Warfare, the terrorists win.
5) 21st Amendment Bitter American: Great name, even better can design (a monkey in a space suit). Pretty much anything from 21st Amendment Brewery can qualify for this list such as Fireside Chat, Brew Free or Die IPA and The Allies Win the War.
4) Rogue American Amber Ale: Stars and Stripes behind the traditional Rogue image. This is also delicious and drinkable beer.
3) Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale: If that does not scream “American” I don’t know what does. I suppose Canada might be able to make an argument for this as well, but it was brewed in the USA, so we win.
2) Oscar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale: One of the best pale ales out there and in a bright red and blue can.
1) Anchor Liberty Ale: Because isn’t that what you are fighting for in the first place?

Liquor Alternative
Three Olives Dude Vodka, mix with some real Mountain Dew and a little Sprite and you have a a dangerous alcoholic Mountain Dew.

Schlafly Coffee Stout, Lagunitas Bavarian Styled Doppel Weizen and the combination (Review)

I have waited a year for the coffee beers to arrive and the time is now! Tonight, since I have already reviewed the Mother’s Winter Grind Coffee Stout, I feel I owe it to the other large production coffee beer from Missouri. Schlafly Coffee stout is made with St. Louis roasted coffee beans from Kaldi’s Coffee. I remember it as a solid moderately priced staple from previous years and I think it will be that once again even though I am a little disappointed. The nose is as one might expect, very strong on the coffee and little else. This year, I think it is a little watery. There is some pretty intense coffee in there, but the mouth feel is just not right and like the Mother’s it is pretty simple. It is basically, cold coffee with alcohol and some carbonation. I also find it to be exceptionally bitter even for a coffee stout. Still, it is not bad and I will not have a problem drinking the rest of the six pack. Still, it is not what I remember drinking last year nor is it exactly what I was hoping for. Luckily there are many great coffee beers out there, which I have mentioned several times already on this blog. I will probably end up drinking this again this season as the price is right and being as it is so heavy on the coffee, it is always a good beer to wake up to!

I was very excited to see the Lagunitas Bavarian Styled Doppel Weizen as they historically have not produced many beers that are not obsessively hopped (not that I am complaining either). The Bavarian Styled Doppel Weizen does not disappoint. On the nose I got a lot of banana, clove, yeast and bubblegum flavors. The color is a bright, hazy, honey color, with a quickly disappearing head. The taste is much like the aroma, banana and some booze. Perhaps, it is because I know the Lagunitas Brewing Company’s affinity for high alcohol, but I did not forget for a second that I was drinking a 9% beer. It is still very good and about what I expected, essentially an imperial hefeweizen.

I am not very familiar with blending, in fact, my beer blending experience is limited to dares and “brilliant” drunken ideas. But these two beers seemed like an interesting combination. I was thinking, that a “dirty banana” type blend would be created. I was mistaken. While the mixture was not undrinkable, both beers were far better on their own. On the nose the coffee reigned supreme while on the pallet the weizen won out. Oddly enough, the mixture did improve the coffee stout’s weak mouth feel. Ultimately, it is an interesting mix, but not something I plan to repeat.

Since several people have suggested that I actually assign a numerical value to my reviews. I will….Introducing “Tim’s Tasty Scale”!
Schlafly Coffee Stout (2011 version) earns a 78
Lagunitas Bavarian Styled Doppel Weizen earns an 86
Take it for what its worth, enjoy your Sunday and Go Chiefs!

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Speaking of Lagunitas, they will not be making the Brown Shugga this year. While I am very disappointed, the brewmaster’s response is flat out awesome and hilarious (if it is real). http://beernews.org/2011/09/lagunitas-brewing-cancels-brown-shugga-for-2011/. I look forward to drinking a lot of “Lagunitas Sucks” in the next few months. I am also giving Tony Magee my vote for the brewer I would most like to drink with!