Weekly Brew Review: 6/21/10

So, this weekend I took part in my weekly ritual of picking up some beers to enjoy while watching NASCAR. Val and I found a beer mecca in the town of Cary called Total Wine & More. This place rules for those who love beer but are bored with the generic flavors of Coors, Miller, and Budweiser.

Why does this place rule? I’ll tell you why. Have you ever gone out on a beer run and wanted something different only to find out that craft brew you chose took a heavier toll on your taste buds than it did on your wallet? Well, I’ve been there far too often.

Total Wine & More takes a little bit of the guesswork out of that guessing game. A few months ago, Val and I discovered that this place allows you to buy beer by the bottle. They even give you 6-pack holders to keep your beer in while you shop.

I, myself, enjoy Imperial IPAs but also like to try something new once in a while. So, here are my picks from over the weekend:

Stone Brewing Company Stone Ruination IPA (7.7% ABV)
Spoetzl Brewery Shiner Hefeweizen (5.4% ABV)
Flying Dog Brewery Double Dog Double Pale Ale (11.5% ABV)
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery 90 Minute I.P.A. (9.0% ABV)
Gordon Biersch Brewing Company Hefeweizen (5.4% ABV)
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company Kellerweis Hefeweizen (4.8% ABV)

My favorite IPA out of the batch . . . Stone Ruination IPA. It seemed to carry all of the characteristics of your average hoppy IPA, but it didn’t have too bitter of an aftertaste. It is a bit pricey, but it is well worth a try if you can find it. I have seen it in a 22 oz. bottle at our local grocer for about $5.

I also decided to get some Hefeweizens to try out. These beers are good for those who think Pilsners are weak but Bock beers are too bitter. My winner in this category was the Gordon Biersch Hefeweizen. It had a unique taste to it and definitely stood out compared to the Hefeweizens from Shiner and Sierra Nevada.

Now, I’m planning on making my “Beer Me” entries a weekly addition to my corner of the world as long as my liver and wallet allow. If you have a beer recommendation, please leave a comment. I can’t guarantee you any kind words about your beer of choice, but I’d be happy to give it a try.