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Beer Reviews

Cowbell Common

San Luis Valley Brewing Company
Alamosa, CO
USA

Style: California Common
ABV: 4.0%

Jill’s Rating:
   (Outstanding within its style.)


Comments:
When I first took a sip of this California Common style beer, I thought, “Eh, it doesn’t make me want ‘more cowbell’ like the menu promised." The start was bitter and disappointing, a far cry from what I hoped this beautiful dark amber beer with the fruity nose would offer. Then the liquid moved back in my mouth and I tasted—-no, savored—-a marvelous complexity. The finish was fruity and a bit spicy, wowing my taste buds, and it alone is the reason I gave this beer four mugs instead of three. How’d they do it? Lager yeast and warm fermentation at ale temps gave this brew the complexity San Luis Valley was striving for, and it delivers as promised. I do want more cowbell!

Reviewed by Jill Jaracz on November 20, 2006.

Drinkin’ And Thinkin’

Beer Dorks News

Want to know how healthy the craft beer industry is? As always, look to Portland. Craft pioneer Bridgeport announces sudden closure, adding to a growing list of PDX casualties. Did Anheuser-Busch Chicago offer their shit beer to Cody Parkey before his missed field goal? Because that may explain why he "accidentally" biffed it. Chicago now has the most breweries of any city in the country. Other things Chicago has the most of: murders, mobsters, and Ditkas. Trying to spin it positive, BA releases end of year graphic. Only 5% growth in the craft sector when nearly 1000 new breweries opened? That's a collapse waiting to happen. R.I.P. Tallgrass... another casualty as the regional/national craft beer market continues to get squeezed. Wait... Constellation Brands cut all of the Ballast Point and Funky Buddha sales staff? They merged it with their Corona/Modelo staff?? We're SHOCKED!!! Pizza Beer founder crying about failure of company, blames everyone else. Reminder, the beer tasted like vomit. Try having better ideas or making better products so you're not a failure. It's Bud Light so doesn't really matter, but we expect this beer to be sitting around for awhile. Indiana brewery to open with controversial beer names to "get the conversation going". Translation: taking advantage of serious issues for free publicity. Hundreds of amazing beers in Wisconsin and the Cubs took back the one everyone drinks just because it exists and people have heard of it. How fitting...