Beer of the week
Brubaker beer

Brewed and bottled by Lion, Inc., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. under licensing agreement with Vara Brewing Co., Boston, Mass.

Craig Nickels

Let’s be honest. You’re not drinking Brubaker for the taste. You didn’t hear that it had nutty caramel overtones or a dry hoppy finish. You’re drinking it because all the poseurs in town have picked up on PBR as their go-to hipster drink, and you need something new. Fine. That’s acceptable. You could do a lot worse than Brubaker. It tastes about the same as any other American macro brew. It doesn’t have a distinctively bad taste. Ice cold, it’s pretty good.

But let’s get to the positives: It comes in 16 oz. scratched-up brown returnable bottles. It’s usually the cheapest beer in the bar. And the label—burnt orange, navy blue, and matted gold—is retro-fabulous. It’s the perfect accessory for that brown velour polo you found on the floor of the Garment District. So embrace it: Grab a Bru, be fashion-forward, and drink it down.

Craig Nickels can be reached at cnickels@theoysteronline.com

04/05/2006   |   Permalink

Allagash White

from Allagash Brewers, Inc., Portland, Maine. (5.5% ABV)

Jim Furbush

There is nothing better then the slow fade of winter into the warm, rainy breezes of spring. Furthermore, Belgian witbeirs are the perfect compliment to the changing seasons. The light yellow wheat beers look like a cloudy lager, but then that first scent of aroma is complex, and then the taste is spicy and sweet. It feels like winter and summer in the same glass of beer.

Hoegaarden used to be my witbeir of choice, but no more after having an Allagash White! This signature beer from the Portland brewery is light and crisp with a huge citrus, specifically orange and lemon, and honey taste. The spices come from coriander, but the two are nicely balanced for an exceptional taste. It finishes smooth with a subtle bitterness. What make this beer superior to Hoegaarden is Allagash White doesn't need the addition of a lemon wedge to enhance the refreshing taste.

Jim Furbush can be reached at jfurbush@theoysteronline.com

03/29/2006   |   Permalink

Whale's Tale Pale Ale

from Cisco Brewers, Inc., Nantucket, Mass.

Jim Furbush

This is a very misleading pale ale. It pours cloudy but then settles quite nicely into a dark orangey color, reminiscent of a cider, with half-a-finger of white foamy head. Its floral aroma is nothing like the taste of the beer. The sweet malts create a buttery and caramel taste with a slight nutty aftertaste.

This is a pretty good beer, one that I could drink several pints of without getting the least bit bored. The problem is there is nothing about this beer that would make me want to drink it, other than to give it a try. It is certainly worth checking out if you come across it on draught because its modestly high alcohol content (6.8% ABV) is hidden well, but I wouldn’t sail the seven seas to find it.

Jim Furbush can be reached at jfurbush@theoysteronline.com

03/22/2006   |   Permalink

from Thomas Caffrey Brewing Co., Belfast, North Ireland

Jim Furbush

Choosing Guinness would be too easy for this week celebrating St. Patty's Day. Yes, a pint of the black stuff is the national jewel of the Emerald Island, but The Oyster felt it was best to recognize another Irish brew in honor of St. Patrick.

Caffrey's was my go-to beer my last year of college. When Fagen's Pub got this on draft, it was a godsend. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find in the States these days, which is a shame. Look for it in a four-pack of pub cans in your local packy. Caffrey's is a very smooth, drinkable Irish Ale. Much like Guinness, it is carbonated with nitro bubbles, which creates a tight white creamy finger-length head. Reddish-copper colored ale has a toasty caramel taste with a slightly bitter and clean finish. If you normally like Bass, try this refreshing ale for a change.

Jim Furbush can be reached at jfurbush@theoysteronline.com

03/15/2006   |   Permalink

Inkwell Imperial Stout

from Offshore Ale Co., Oak Bluffs (Martha's Vineyard), Mass.

Jim Furbush

Wow. In a word, I wasn't prepared for the sheer delight of this complex brew. Inkwell Imperial Stout is like that intense girl you love but can't figure out. It would be easy to hate her if you didn't adore her with all your heart. It makes Guinness seem dull!

The color is coal black with a brown head. Inkwell was a very carbonated and full-bodied stout. At times, the high alcohol content (10.00% ABV) overwhelmed the taste of the stout, but don't let that deter you from being wrapped up in its chocolate flavors and hints of fruit. It has a velvety and mellow finish. There is so much going on in the brew, it is sad to think Inkwell Stout is only offered at a few bars in the Boston area, including the Publick House, Linwood Grill and Redbones. This stout is certainly worth the trip to any of those bars, or even a trip to the Vineyard.

Jim Furbush can be reached at jfurbush@theoysteronline.com

03/08/2006   |   Permalink

from Sherwood Forest Brewers, Clinton, Mass.

Jim Furbush

This microbrew can be found in most supermarkets, but it's the rare exception to find it on draught. Archer's Ale is an American Pale Ale that is slightly more ruby red than amber in color with an excellent but small creamy head, which unfortunately dried up very quickly. The beer has a slightly spicy taste that blends well with the malts. The aftertaste had a hint of sweetness, but sadly it was only a wisp. It goes down very easy from the little amounts of carbonation. Archer's Ale is very easy to drink, think Killian's as a viable comparison, except with a more complex taste because it's a higher quality brew.

Jim Furbush can be reached at jfurbush@theoysteronline.com

03/01/2006   |   Permalink

JW Dundee's Honeybrown

from High Falls Brewery, Rochester, N.Y.

Jim Furbush

I remember being a little kid and discovering Playboy for the first time. It was refreshing knowing there was something else out there besides the JC Penny catalogue. Anyway, I had the very same sensation discovering Honeybrown during my junior year at Syracuse after years of drinking watered down light lagers.

Honeybrown is the first officially endorsed beer of The Oyster, consider it the finest transition beer—those stepping stones between Bud Light and Arrogant Bastard Ale—on the market. It tastes similar to Britain's Newcastle Ale, a full-flavored nut brown ale, but with a smooth honey aftertaste. The best part is that a six-pack only costs about six bucks.

Jim Furbush can be reached at jfurbush@theoysteronline.com

02/22/2006   |   Permalink