2008 Woodie Awards
A Beer Review
Gerry Blakney
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Culture
Beer is the world's most popular, yet overlooked alcoholic drink. It has sadly lost most of its allure because it has become "our parents' drink" and due to the overwhelming lack of "good beers" in the United States. Do not fret though, a beer-revolution is fast approaching.
A true, real-life beer connoisseur isn't too far from their snobbish brother, the wine drinker, yet is neglected because popular media and Hollywood has done a great job of vilifying beer, especially beer drinkers. Beer drinkers have been stereotyped as overweight rednecks, who only drink to get drunk when nothing could be further from the truth.
World-wide beer is ferociously judged on appearance, aroma, palate and its flavor on a scale from one to five (five being the best).
To rate your own beer, it is important to use a glass. Rating beer in the bottle (or worse yet, a can) is impossible. After pouring your beer look at its visual appeal, the color, clarity and carbonation. Then smell your beer, paying close attention to the hops, malts or sweetness. Now you can taste your beer, but the job isn't any easier. Palate is basically how the beer feels in your mouth. Is it thick like a Guinness or very light like a Coors? Is the aftertaste smooth or harsh? And finally, how does the beer taste? This is the most difficult because it will taste differently the first, tenth and last time you drink your beer. The aftertaste is also judged in this category.
In Monmouth, your options for purchasing beer are very limited. If you are interested in variety over convenience look toward the many convenience stores around the city instead of our only bar. The prices will be better at the local store and depending on your house (yes, not your residential hall) the atmosphere and company might also be of a higher quality. Plus, you don't have to worry about
a designated driver.
Rookie's Bar & Grill is an obvious (and only) choice of local beer-bar. Unfortunately, Rookie's tends to cater to the masses and provides a generic beer selection, both on tap and in bottles. Though what Rookies lacks in beer selection, it graciously makes up for in excellent food that definitely transcends your typical bar-fare.
A true, real-life beer connoisseur isn't too far from their snobbish brother, the wine drinker, yet is neglected because popular media and Hollywood has done a great job of vilifying beer, especially beer drinkers. Beer drinkers have been stereotyped as overweight rednecks, who only drink to get drunk when nothing could be further from the truth.
World-wide beer is ferociously judged on appearance, aroma, palate and its flavor on a scale from one to five (five being the best).
To rate your own beer, it is important to use a glass. Rating beer in the bottle (or worse yet, a can) is impossible. After pouring your beer look at its visual appeal, the color, clarity and carbonation. Then smell your beer, paying close attention to the hops, malts or sweetness. Now you can taste your beer, but the job isn't any easier. Palate is basically how the beer feels in your mouth. Is it thick like a Guinness or very light like a Coors? Is the aftertaste smooth or harsh? And finally, how does the beer taste? This is the most difficult because it will taste differently the first, tenth and last time you drink your beer. The aftertaste is also judged in this category.
In Monmouth, your options for purchasing beer are very limited. If you are interested in variety over convenience look toward the many convenience stores around the city instead of our only bar. The prices will be better at the local store and depending on your house (yes, not your residential hall) the atmosphere and company might also be of a higher quality. Plus, you don't have to worry about
a designated driver.
Rookie's Bar & Grill is an obvious (and only) choice of local beer-bar. Unfortunately, Rookie's tends to cater to the masses and provides a generic beer selection, both on tap and in bottles. Though what Rookies lacks in beer selection, it graciously makes up for in excellent food that definitely transcends your typical bar-fare.
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