Beer Can Blog

No, I am not talking ice cream. I am talking about the goal of trying 31 different new beers, i.e., ones that I have not tried before.

Or sometimes they might be a different version of a yearly, seasonal beer, e.g., the Red Brick Winter Brew of 2008 was a different style that the previous year. 2007 was a Double Chocolate Porter, while 2008 was a Belgian-style ale. During a couple of years in the 1990s (1996 & 1997, perhaps), I tried at least 365 different beers over the course of the year. In 2008, I tried 220 different beers. It is just a side hobby.

As I have a new job, working from home on the computer, and normal chores, this is just kind of a fun thing. The master list of the beers that I have tried before 2002 is on an old, dead McIntosh SE, but I would guess that I have probably tried about 4,000 American beers since I started collecting beer cans in 1974.

When I try a beer, that doesn't mean I consume the entire thing. I may only try two or three "fingers" of beer in a small glass. [At the Great American Beer Festival, I hear they only give you a 1 ounce sample of each brand. Sometimes it takes a second sip to properly judge a beer, IMHO.]

During January, I tried 36 different American beers:

Allagash Grande Cru
Avery Karma
Bison Organic IPA
Boulevard ’47 Oktoberfest
Dogfishhead 120 Minute IPA
Full Sail Amber
Full Sail Pale Ale
JosephsBrau Winterfest Dark Doppelbock
Kennebunkport Porter
Kennebunkport Wheat
Lemp Lager
Minhas Craft Brewed Light
Old Auburn Ale House Mile High Pale Ale
Old Auburn Ale House The Last Dragon
Old Auburn Ale House Tiger Tail
Old Auburn Ale House Winter Nude
Real Ale Sisyphus Barleywine
Red Brick Winter ‘08
R. J. Rockers Bald Eagle Brown
R. J. Rockers Light Rock
Rogue 15th Paul’s Black Lager
Santa Fe Chicken Killer Barleywine
Saranac India Brown Ale
Saranac Vanilla Stout
Sea Dog Riverdriver Porter
Simpler Times Lager
Simpler Times Pilsener
Southampton Publick House Double White
Southampton Publick House IPA
Stroh’s (Miller)
Terrapin Dos Cocoas Chocolate Porter
Terrapin Oak-Aged Big Hoppy Monster
Terrapin Rye Pale Ale (GA)
Terrapin Sun Ray Wheat
Trinity Red Ale
Victory Donnybrook Stout

The ones in bold were the ones that I consumed the entire 12 oz. glass (properly pouring the beer from the bottle (or can) into a glass, then letting warm a little helps properly release the aromas and flavors), the others were ones that I tried small sample glasses or shared with friends.

Later, I may blog about certain noteworthy beers/ales, when time permits.

[mid-February update - I finished the month of January, having tried 36 new beers/ales. I will "carry over" the extras toward February's goal.