Beer

MAY BEER REVIEWS

This month’s beers are available depending on supply & demand at all 10 Liquor Locker locations. Visit our website at www.Liquor-Locker.com.

GOOSE ISLAND NEON BEER HUG RGBEVS LEMMY NADE

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4.25

A thick white head tops this American IPA. Tropical notes dominate the nose, and are joined by citrus fl avors on the palate. Wellbalanced with light to medium body and a light hop bitterness on the fi nish. It weighs in at 7% ABV and is fairly easy-drinking. Like most beers from Goose Island, this one will not disappoint the juicy IPA lover.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4.25

A thick white head rests on this cloudy IPA and remains for a long time. A generous amount of fruity hop scents stays in the nose for a long time. Bitter hop fl avors fi rst hit the tongue when drinking the beer, with the fruit notes returning in the very long fi nish. People who like hoppy beer need to try this one. Pair it with spicy curry dishes or cheeses like Gorgonzola or Cheddar.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 3

This beer comes in a 19.2 oz. can and has an ABV of 7%. It's a decent IPA with the typical hops and fruitiness and a bit of an earthy fl avor that I'm not totally sold on just yet. I'll have to give this one another go in the future - but one big can of this Beer Hug is enough for me at the moment.

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4

The can describes this as a hard lemonade with a hint of lime. It pours like a fresh lemonade, with the scent of a sweet lemonade. On the palate the lime is more than just subtle, tasting like a “hard” version of your favorite lemonlime soda. Not that sweet, easy drinking, and pretty refreshing. While hard sodas are not my favorite beverage, I could easily turn to this on a hot day.

PAUL BRAGIN - 3

No head forms on this translucent beverage. A generous burst of lemon and sugar dominate the scent. The sugar fl avor seems to take over during the fi rst taste, with some lemon coming through in the fi nish. This beer might see a boost in popularity during the sweltering summer months. Use it as an ingredient in your favorite lemon desserts for an extra kick of fl avor, or serve it with fi sh tacos or strawberry shortcake.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 3

This beer looks like a Fresca when I pour it - a clear beverage but somewhat cloudy. I notice the carbonation fell off rather quickly. I gave it a 3 because it's a hard lemonade. I was expecting it to be more refreshing; however, if you are a fan of White Claw, you may enjoy this.

NEW BELGIUM VOODOO RANGER JUICE FORCE IPA

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 3.5

Juice Force IPA is an imperial IPA, with an ABV of 9%. It pours a slightly hazy deep yellow, with tangerine and orange dominating the nose. On the palate there are distinct fl avors of grapefruit joining the orange citrus. I fi nd there's no distinct hop bitterness on the palate. Juice Force IPA fi nishes slightly sweet, with a touch of grapefruit rind bitterness. You’ll be hard-pressed to fi nd a juicier IPA without adding fruit juice.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4.25

A thick white head crowns this hazy IPA and never totally disappears. Tropical citrus fruit comes to the front of the scent profi le. The initial taste contains more tropical fruits and stays in the extended fi nish. Hop lovers defi nitely need to drink this beer. Pair it with cheesy Mexican dishes like burritos, enchiladas or tacos, chips with queso, or spicy Thai cuisine like pad Thai to match the bitterness of the hops.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4.5

This beer pours a hazy straw color with great carbonation. I notice it has an ABV of 9% but you can’t tell. I enjoy the nice hops fl avor - not overpowering and the juiciness really stands out. I'm taking a shine to IPAs of late and this one is pretty good. I also like the smooth fi nish. I've been buying more and more of the Voodoo Ranger series of beers.

SHINER STRAWBERRY BLONDE

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 3.5

This blonde pours a crisp, clear, yellow-orange hue. Brewed with a signifi cant helping of strawberries, there are clear undertones of strawberry on the nose that really break through on the back of the palate. The wheat backbone is clear, with no residual sweetness, and just a touch of bitterness on the fi nish. If you like a light, blonde ale, give this strawberry blonde a try.

PAUL BRAGIN - 3

A thin white head tops this beer but evaporates very quickly. The nose contains an overwhelming amount of strawberry. The strawberry taste seems a bit weaker at first, but it stays on the tongue and becomes more prominent in the long finish. The slightly lower alcohol content make this beer a good choice for drinking several. Drink it with breakfast, serve it with chicken or fish, or pair it with your favorite strawberry desserts.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 3

This is an amber-colored beer but for some reason I was expecting a red tint. I can smell the strawberries right off the bat. It has a light strawberry flavor but I think the malts and the strawberry flavors clash with the sweetness and the bitterness. Overall, it's a decent beer but not my favorite this month.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.