Beer of the Week: Big Wave Golden Ale

Beer score: 5.9

Company: Kona Brewing Co.

ABV: 4.4
IBU: 21

If you're looking for a cool lighter brew, this one could be for you.

Into the glass this one pours a light yellow color, almost pale but not quite, while giving off very little smell and a slightly foamy head.

In the tasting deparment: Not overly sweet, not overly bitter, but quite clean and easy going down. There are flowery hints here, but not a lot else in the taste area other than a little cool bitterness going down. This beer doesn't taste bad, but it's also not anything overly special.

But could I drink another? Sure! Especially on a hot day after mowing the yard. Also, this one's light enough to be a party beer or bar beer with food. Not a favorite, but nothing here turned me off, either.

Beer of the Week: Mason Jar Pull Tab Pilsner

Beer score: 6.5

Company: The Mason Jar Lager Co.

ABV: 4.7
IBU: 27

Going into the glass, this beer looks like a traditional premium beer made for the American audience. In other words, it's got a weak golden color to it, and it also has more than a little fizz.

Which meant I was expecting a Budweiser ripoff.

But upon smelling and sipping, I was pleasantly surprised.

The scent isn't overly strong, but there are plenty of hops there with a soft bitterness.

However, upon hitting my tongue, that bitterness grew and grew and grew. No, it doesn't reach the burnt caramel bitterness of a porter or stout, but there's still a clean, smooth, light bitterness that's more complex that I had expected. Also, in the tasting, there are hints of honey and bread.

I would drink this again.

Books read in 2020: No. 17 -- Preparation for the Next Life

by Atticus Lish

Started: June 16
Finished: July 13

Notes: I've had this book a few years now. I don't remember why I bought it. Something must have stirred my interest. Guess now I'll find out.

Mini review: Damn. This novel is a tour de force. It doesn't start that way. In fact, it's somewhat slow until the last quarter, but then it packs a punch in the end. An illegal immigrant to the U.S. from China meets and ends up in a relationship with an American soldier just returned from Iraq. The writing is told almost in a documentary style with very little direct feeling or thought from the characters, almost like a screenplay with mostly action and dialogue, but it works here. And the backdrop, the world these characters find themselves in, it is a constant barrage of the seedier elements of the American life, not obviously judgmental, but simply hitting the reader again and again with basic examples of what we Americans find around ourselves and take for granted day after day ... and most of it doesn't necessarily say good things about us or our nation. Not the greatest writing I've come across, not even this year, but still a damn good novel and worth reading.

Books read in 2020: No. 16 -- As You Wish!

edited by Jason M Waltz and Ty Johnston

Started: May 10
Finished: July 9

Notes: Yes, I helped edit this one a while back. There's some comedic fantasy reading here, if that's your type of thing. More than once did I find myself chuckling at these tales while reading them.

Mini review: I have some favorites here, but as an editor on the project, I don't think it would be fair to the writers to point out which stories I liked best. That being said, Princess Bride fans especially should find something here for them.

Beer of the Week: Catawba White Zombie White Ale

Beer score: 7.7

Company: Catawba Brewing Co.

ABV: 5.1
IBU: 7

Appears very light when poured from the can into a clear glass, sort of a weak golden color, but it does present a fairly frothy head.

The smell is not overly strong, but there are hints of citrus and  malt.

The taste is light with more than a little fizz, but not so much fizz as to ruin this drink. There's almost a Belgian taste here, but not quite, with the barest touch of sweetness and a light bitter that's not overpowering.

Honestly, I could drink these all day long. By no means the greatest beer in the world, but not bad by any means. Fans of lighter beers should enjoy this one.

Beer of the Week: Omission IPA

Beer score: 7.0

Company: Omission Brewing Co.

ABV: 6.7
IBU: 65

I've tried one other Omission brew (the Pale Ale), and I had pretty good things to say about it. And honestly, I have to say good things about this one, too, even if it is gluten free. And IPAs usually aren't my thing.

First off, it looks, smells, and tastes like an IPA, so don't let the gluten-free label fool you.

In a clear glass, the color of this beer is a cloudy gold color leaning slightly towards the darker side. The smell reminds me of cereal with a touch of fruitiness. More importantly, the taste is very IPA with a medium bitterness and more than a touch of wheat and other grains, along with hints of orange and other citrus fruits.

To add, one of the reasons IPAs aren't often my favorite drink is because sometimes they have a sourness in the aftertaste which I do not overly enjoy. That being said, there's none of that here.

Yes, you can and should drink this.

Over at Black Gate: Howard Days 2020

This week at the Black Gate site, I talk a little about Howard Days 2020. For those in the know, there wasn't a Howard Days 2020, but that doesn't mean one can't help those in charge of Howard Days.