Brought to you by:
BrewTools Homebrewing iPhone App

Latest Reviews

Double Dry Hopped pseudoSue
Toppling Goliath
Modus Vivendi
Wild Beer Co.
Spaceman
Brewfist

Recent Articles

Shameless
Craft brewer sellouts become as tone-deaf and underhanded as their new overlords. Great Taste Eve
Check out the burgeoning Madison beer scene the night before the best fest in country. Good Beer Makes Good Conversation
The effects of drinking beer worth talking about. The Beers of Walmart
The largest retailer in the world now has its own line of beers. Our Take on the Lagunitas-Heineken Deal
Fuck Lagunitas. archives »

Beer Reviews

Wheat Ale

Upland Brewing Company
Bloomington, IN
USA
http://www.uplandbeer.com/

Style: Wheat
ABV: 4.5%

Jill’s Rating:
   (Recommended)


Comments:
This beer advertises that it took first place at the Great American Beer Fest in the herb and spice category. In 2002. So even though it’s been a few years, I had to hope it was still a top notch beer.

Um, no, it wasn’t. Here’s the thing: If you’re looking for herbs and spices, you will find them in at least a couple of places: Kentucky Fried Chicken and this beer. What else does KFC have in common with this ale? Neither of them have beer.

Now, before you go all, “Well, you’re still giving it three mugs!” on me (that means you, Eddie Glick), here’s what happened when I drank this: I got a nice pour, and the beer was golden and sunny and clear. The nose is fantastic with a beautiful herb and spice smell, and based on the smell, I was really looking forward to the taste. The spices really hit your tongue and spread out in your mouth—it’s lovely. The spices are full of flavor and give the beer a lot of character. You might say that the spices are its only character because there’s really no beer flavor behind it—the beer disappears down your throat, and you hardly know you had anything to drink. The spice flavor lingers a bit and keeps you wanting more, but as a total beer, it’s not much. It’s refreshing and would be a decent summer beer, but it’s not much for the true craft beer connoisseur. In fact, a friend of mine said, “This is almost like Bud Light with spice.”

I don’t know if it’s quite that bad, but it is a bit disappointing for a winning beer to be watery like that. They took this great, four-mug-worthy spice and knocked it down a bit. Don’t be afraid, Upland Brewing, give this beer a little meat to it, and you’ll have a total winner.

Reviewed by Jill Jaracz on January 28, 2008.

Drinkin’ And Thinkin’

Beer Dorks News

BA creates label to distinguish true, independent craft beer from faux, corporate-owned "craft" beer. Cheers to that! The aptly named Tenacity Brewing seeks to emerge from the disaster that was the water crisis in Flint, MI. Chicagoans hopeful a recent announcement from Three Floyds will bring a much-desired brewpub to the city. Sam Calagione's brilliant response to the news that an AB/InBev subsidiary is now a part-owner of RateBeer. Wisconsin's Gestapo, the Tavern League, looks to tighten rules that will hurt small brewers. One of the original craft beer stalwarts of the Upper Midwest, Summit, ceases distribution in 6 more states, leaving only 5 from their peak of 17. How much does psychology play into perceptions of craft beer? An incredibly interesting case study by this Estonian brewery indicates it's a major factor. AB-InBev controls South African hop market, not allowing craft brewers access. Sounds like the actions of a company that "advocates for craft brewers". Dirty fucking liars. Denmark brewer creates "Pisner", brewed with human urine. As opposed to Bud/Miller/Coors, which is just straight up urine, human or otherwise. On the heels of the Wicked Weed sellout, Lagunitas announces it's sold the remaining 50% to Heineken. We've said it before... this is not going to end well.