The Peach Martini

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The Great Beer Challenge 2013

…or my personal quest to find a beer that doesn’t make me grimace when I drink it.

It is known to my family and friends that I am not a beer drinker. I don’t particularly like the smell of most beers, and while they look really refreshing on a hot day – frothy and ice cold – one sip of it makes my toes curl and makes me gag.

At Christmastime I tried an unusual concoction from Sam Adams – those in the know call it Chocolate Bock…whatever that means. It was crazy…it had a faint taste of beer…and it had this peculiar velvety chocolate finish. (Listen to me, like I know what I’m saying…velvety chocolate finish…ha!) According to my Uncle, it’s a “sipper…something you’d take an hour or two to just slowly sip and enjoy.” I was intrigued…and decided to embark upon this journey…

Being a total beer novice I didn’t want to buy an entire 6-pack of something and end up hating it (though I’m sure I know enough people who would gladly take the remaining beer off my hands), I was pleased to remember that our local Kroger/Scott’s grocery store has a mix-and-match deal – you select your own varieties and build your own 6-pack. With great excitement and trepidation, I began perusing the selections. Again, no knowledge of IPA, Belgium, fruit, sorghum, etc…it took me a good 30 minutes to fill my little cardboard 6-pack case. 🙂 I did not use a very scientific approach to this – some were selected based on previous experience, some on recommendation of friends, and if I’m honest, the label or where it was brewed/bottled.  And so begins my beer-tasting adventure.

I will be sampling some different beers and adding my $0.02 to the world wide interwebz – mostly for my amusement, but maybe you, dear readers, may find some entertainment as well.

So, without further ado, here is the starting line-up for the first round:

Stella Artois and Woodchuck Hard Cider Granny Smith

Stella and Woodchuck Granny Smith

Stella and Woodchuck Granny Smith

Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat and Redbridge Gluten-Free Sorghum Beer

Sam Adams Cherry Wheat and Redbridge

Sam Adams Cherry Wheat and Redbridge

Breckenridge Christmas Ale and Oaken Barrel Brewery Razz-Wheat

Breckenridge Christmas Ale and Oaken Barrel Razz-Wheat

Breckenridge Christmas Ale and Oaken Barrel Razz-Wheat

So, there’s the cast for this silly little challenge I’ve set for myself. Stay tuned for my next installment in which I attempt to consume one of these intriguing brews.

2 Comments

  1. Megan

    Yeah – I’m not a beer fan either… I do like hard ciders. I tend to like the spiced ciders and haven’t tried the granny smith, so I’m interested in hearing your thoughts. My husband is very fond of Shocktop’s End of the World Wheat which has chocolate and chili I think – I could sip it without grimacing, but it isn’t something I’d really want to drink a whole bottle of…

  2. thepeachmartini (Post author)

    Megan, my favorite cider is Crispin…it is perfect, but a little pricey. Hornsby’s is pretty good…as is the Samuel Adam’s Angry Orchard.

    I’ll actually be posting my thoughts on the Woodchuck later this week…it was the first I tried from the bunch, mainly because I knew what I was getting myself into 🙂

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