Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Sierra Nevada Glissade

Beer score: 8.2

This was quite possibly my favorite of all the brews from the Sierra Nevada folks, so I was quite disappointed when I went looking for it recently and discovered it's no longer in production. Damn!

Quite possibly the perfect beer for hot weather.

It poured a dark yellow, almost orange color and gave off smells of wheat and maybe a little citrus. Had a light bitterness on the tongue. There was a touch of sweetness right at the beginning, but that dies away after the first sip, though that sweet, almost honey-like quality was still present in the smell.

Had a smooth, fruity quality and a light texture that made this an awesome brew for summer. Basically, this was Sierra Nevada's season brew for Spring.

Must have been a fine trick with the malts to have made such a smooth beer that was known for a high bitterness units rank.

Beer of the Week: Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel

Beer score: 7.0

Company: Ayinger
ABV: 5.0
IBU: 21

This German brew pours a dark brown color but it's not opaque like the thickest of stouts. It has a hint of a sour smell, but not enough to really ruin the experience, mainly because there are also some bready caramel and chocolate scents.

There's some carbonation on the tongue, but again, not enough to hurt.

It's not as heavy as it looks, and tastes nutty with caramel and coffee and a hint of that chocolate.

The perfect beer? No, but it's one of the best I've had in weeks, so I can't complain.

Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Young's Old Nick Barley Wine Ale

Beer score: 3.3

I was too busy to try any new beers this week, but as is always the case, I had some notes about an older beer that's no longer being produced. I last tasted this one a little more than a decade and a half ago, and while I always hate to see beers disappear, I can't say I miss this one.

Some folks liked this brew from London, but I could barely tolerate it because it was extremely sweet. It poured a dark color with scents of fruit and nuts, possibly cherries. The flavor was similar to the smell with perhaps some coffee taste, and this drink was somewhat syrupy.

To me, the sweetness was reminiscent of some of the stronger Scottish ales.

I guess I just don't care for overly sweet beers, so this one was never one I liked.

Beer of the Week: Molson Golden

Beer score: 4.6

Company: Molson
ABV: 5.0
IBU: 12

I've had better. I've had worse.

Pours a pale golden color while providing a skunky smell with maybe hints of wheat grain.

This drink has a flat, fizzy texture to it. There's a little bitterness, but not much. There's some more of that wheat grain in the flavor along with some corn taste, but not much else.

Not awful when served cold.

This beer could use some work, but by the third or fourth one, you really don't care what you're drinking anyway.

Beer of the Week: Young's Double Chocolate Stout

Beer score: 5.7

Company: Damm
ABV: 5.2
IBU: 25

The Young's brews in the UK have gone through various corporate hands over the years, but they continue to still be some pretty pleasant drinks.

This one isn't the best, but it's not awful by any means.

As one might expect for a stout, this one pours a dark brown color not unlike the look of molasses, though perhaps not quite that dark. It gives off a sweet smell of coffee, dark chocolate, and maybe some hints of brown sugar.

It's a wet stout without the heavy syrupiness of some stouts. The flavor definitely is controlled by chocolate and some sweetness, but there are light bitter hints and nuttiness to be found.

I thought this stout started out okay, but about halfway through I tasted a flat, soapy flavor. I've heard of others who liked this beer about halfway through and then lost interest or turned away, so I'm not the only one.

Worth trying if you're a stout drinker.

Beer of the Week: Gritty McDuff's Best Bitter

Beer score: 4.3

Company: Grittys
ABV: 5.0
IBU: 25

I found the heavy mix of sweetness and bitter to be overpowering at first, but that strength dies away until it is tolerable by the time you're halfway through the bottle

The smell is too strong, in my opinion.

Leaves the mouth dry, but I found this one went well with bar food, your typical chicken strips, tiny burgers, etc.

Not a great beer, not even worth going out of your way to try, but not the worst I've ever put to my lips.

Beer of the Week: Coors Light

Beer score: 2.3

Company: Coors
ABV: 4.2
IBU: 10

Quite the popular beer for the mass audience, but not really worth the notice of beer aficionados.

Pours a clear, faint golden color. Smells a little sweet.

There is a little flavor and some carbonation here, but that's about all. Oh, there is some of the familiar cheap corn taste common to most mass-produced beers. Just slightly better in taste than the non-light version, but just barely.

If it's all you've got, that's fine. Otherwise, look elsewhere.

Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Harpoon Munich Type Dark Beer

Beer score: 6.2

No chance to try a new beer this week, so I'm resorting again to my old beer notes about a beer I tried years ago, a beer that's no longer available though the maker is still in business. Also, of note, this beer has gone by a couple of different names over the decades, and the maker does continue to make dark beers, so it's not as if all is lost.

This drink reminded me of a weak porter. It had strength, but it was more like one of those mass-marketed dark beers than a true porter or stout. It had a decent burnt flavor that wasn't too strong, with just the slightest hint of carbonation. A little smokiness and maybe chocolate in the smell and the taste.

Was worth trying.

Beer of the Week: Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier

Beer score: 6.0

Company: Samuel Adams
ABV: 5.5
IBU: 10

This is another brew Samuel Adams has released several times over the decades, and this year they decided to grace us with this one for their Spring collection release.

This one pours a fairly light, hazy golden shade while giving off fruity tart smells, a little citrus perhaps and definitely some blackberry.

That blackberry is also there in the taste, but it's not so strong as to ruin the beer. Sweetness and tartness combine her with the blackberry flavor for a not unfortunate combination, but again, it's not all that strong.

The texture here is also not strong, but it's not the weakest around either.

Not a bad brew, but not really worth going out of your way to try. If someone hands you one, sure, toss it back, but there's no need to go searching for this one.

Beer of the Week: Samuel Adams Alpine Spring

Beer score: 5.1

Company: Samuel Adams
ABV: 5.5
IBU: 18

The folks at Samuel Adams have brought this beer out several times over the decades, sometimes with a slightly different name, and this year they've released it once again for their Spring collection.

Pours a slightly hazy golden color into a clear glass. Gives off some typical, premium bready beer-like scents with maybe just the barest hint of citrus.

On the tongue, it has some pale bitterness up front and then a slightly sweet aftertaste that lingers. There are a little of woodsy flavors here, along with maybe some honey.

Not a weak beer, but also not overly strong.

Not a bad beer, but also not all that great.

Probably one of the most mediocre beers produced by Samuel Adams. Again, not bad, but nothing great. Your Budweiser friends might think it's something special.

Beer of the Week: Jenlain Ambrée

Beer score: 4.4

Company: Brasserie Duyck
ABV: 7.5
IBU: 25

I've tried this one a few times over the years, and I hate to say it, but it's always kind of let me down. I think my expectations were just too high.

Anyway, this French brew pours a slight reddish color while giving off some fruity and bread-like smells.

Extremely sweet. The honey sweetness is so strong it destroy any other flavoring. There is some spiced fruity flavor and maybe a little apple among all that sweetness. At least it goes down light and smooth.

Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Younger's Special Bitter

Beer score: 7.4

Brought to us from the folks at Rogue Ales, this quality beer is no longer with us.

It poured a vaguely orange color while giving off scents of citrus and earthiness.

Extremely smooth going down despite the barest hint of carbonation. A light, wet bitterness on the tongue that left me more than satisfied.

I found it went well with chili.

Alas, a good ale gone down. Perhaps the Rogue Ales gang will make it again some day.

Beer of the Week: Tennent's Lager

Beer score: 6.0

Company: Tennent's
ABU: 4.0
IBU: NA

Been a long while since I've enjoyed a Tennent's beer, in no small part because they've become somewhat difficult to find here in the U.S., especially during the last year with tariffs and the like (I'm not taking sides, blame who you want, but it is what it is).

Anyway, this one pours an amber color with hints of citrus sweetness in the smell, though there's not a lot of that smell.

Tastes very sweet in a caramel way with an almost fizzy, cider-type texture. Goes down pretty smooth. There's just the barest hint of citrus in the flavor.

Worth trying for its uniqueness.

Beer of the Week: Corona Light

Beer score: 4.0

Company: Constellation Brands
ABU: 4.0
IBU: 18

Pours a pale golden color while giving off some bare scents of grain. On the tongue, there's just a hint of bitterness and sweetness, but not much.

Weak and watery like Corona, but there's less carbonation, which is surprising because most light beers have plenty of fizz. This one is so weak, it's almost like drinking water.

I guess if I were to drink light beers regularly, this might be the one, mainly because it's the only light beer I know (off the top of my head) that doesn't have more carbonation than the non-light version.

Books read in 2026: No. 2 -- The Undiscovered Self

by C. G. Jung

Started: Jan. 2

Finished: Jan. 8

Notes: Though I've read a fair amount about Jung over the years, I've never actually sat down and read one of his books, though of course I've read excerpts and quotes, etc. I've been intrigued, so now I hope to learn a thing or two.

Mini review: An interesting look at the individual and his/her relationship with the masses, or Society or the State. Jung seems to reach the decision that the individual must come to terms with the darkness that resides within our subconscious for us to have any chance of facing or even defeating the evil that resides within our world. I can't say I disagree, but I was often surprised in this book how words written approximately 70 years ago are still quite relevant today. On the down side, I don't care for Jung's writing, finding him too ... hmm, "pedantic" doesn't seem quite the right word, but it's close. And Jung is overly wordy, in my opinion, his writing not being overly readable by the average person, though Jung wasn't necessarily writing for the average person.

Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Grolsch Amber Ale

Beer score: 5.5

Yet another beer that's no longer with us.

There was a little power to this brew, making it seem a little stronger than most amber ales, so novice beer snobs had to beware.

The taste was dry but also smooth. Lighter than I'd expected, but not weak. Not overly sweet but also not overly bitter, kind of an even mix of both. A touch of carbonation with a hint of spice.

A decent drink to go along with cheese and crackers.

Not great, but not bad.

Books read in 2025: No. 44, Books read in 2026: No. 1 -- A Nefarious Plot

by Steve Deace

Started: Dec. 27, 2025

Finished: Jan. 2, 2026

Notes: I normally don't care to read modern Christian fiction or to watch modern Christian movies, mainly because I find them hugely facile. That being said, I did catch the movie Nefarious a while back and found it quite interesting, the plot being about a murderer in prison who proclaims to be a demon and he does indeed seem to be so when interviewed. This particular novel and the author are apparently connected to the movie, though I don't know if the film is based off this book. It does concern me this might just be propaganda, as is much of modern Christian literature, but I'll deal with it if it comes to that.

Mini review: Basically, this is a long post from a demon telling mankind, and especially Americans, how we're all screwed and going to hell. And the only thing we can do about it is to become Christian Nationalists. I don't espouse that viewpoint, but I can't say this book didn't give me a few things to think about. All in all, I preferred the movie based upon this book much more than I did the book itself. Also, this book is more than a decade old, and I don't think it's aged well considering the current political climate here in the U.S. If you're a Christian Nationalist, this might be right up your alley, but otherwise, I don't think most readers would be drawn to it.