My brother Fred and I went camping last week and on our way to the grocery we found a local liquor store that carried hundreds of different beers. We thought “man, this must be our lucky day!” We came across a section that had 3 or 4 different brews by the Mad Anthony brewing co. We each chose one six pack and Fred being a fan of Pale Ale’s and IPA’s, he chose their IPA.

The first thing we noticed was, it had a good looking label. But that was offset by the generic looking caps. They were orange. No writing, no logo, no anything. Just orange. How very dull. But don’t judge a beer by the cap. Turns out, this was a very good beer.  Fred thought it had a nice amber color. It was a little too cloudy for me. The head was a thick creamy white and it lasted for about half the beer and left rings with each drink. I think the pro’s call that “lacing”?????? Anyway, the aroma was very hoppy. Fred set his camera up on the picnic table at the next campsite and said he could smell the hops from there. (watch the big nose jokes, he’s kinda sensitive). When I took my first drink, the flavor seemed to explode on my taste buds. Very hoppy with a little sweetness at the end. I don’t know where the sweetness comes from but just when you think it’s more than you can take, it finishes with a little smoothness that invites the next drink. It has a good mix of spices, could almost be used as a winter beer around the holidays. You can really taste the citrus hops and caramel malts.

Overall this is a very good brew. With an ABV of 6.5%, it packs a little punch. Not sure it’s worth the premium pricing, $9.29 for a six pack, but you get what you pay for and you won’t get a six pack of beer this good and complex for $2.99. This would be a good beer with a steak dinner or as a night cap with pistachios. Would also be a good “winter night with a book by a crackling fire” beer.

P-O-R-C-H   scale rating: C

Posted by Mr. Porch

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Tried this one on a camping trip while grilling out. It came in a brown bottle with a nice looking label. It poured a somewhat cloudy red amber with a nice head that dissapated somewhat quickly. It had a nice aroma and I couldn’t wait to taste it. This was one good looking beer! The flavor was not what I expected. A little bland, not very hoppy. My brother had a more positive opinion of it than I did and we couldn’t figure out why we were tasting two different things. As I finished my cigar (a Cusano Habano LXI) and put the butt into the fire ring, it occurred to us that this was my second cigar of the day and my third different beer. His palate was clear and mine wasn’t. So I decided to wait a day and give it another try.

Next day we had the remaining two of our six pack with lunch and what a difference. This was a smooth ale, again not too hoppy but better than the previous day. The flavor was good and the aroma of each drink made it all the better. I really enjoyed this one and wish I had another, but there is always the next time. I will buy this beer again, it would be a good afternoon/lunch beer with something light like shrimp or a salad.

Rating: “R+”

Posted by Mr. Porch

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