The Nectar of the Gods

Okay, I must confess. I picked the title for this blog 80 per cent because I liked the way it sounded and 20 per cent because of its accurate description of the beer I reviewed. That said, Red Nectar by Nectar Ales is still pretty damn tasty!

When Nectar Ales first came onto the beer scene I was in kindergarten. The year was 1987. The craft beer revolution was just budding in the States, and the folks at Nectar Ales were all too happy to do a their share of trail-blazing. The very fact that today, more than 20 years later, they still command a strong following, is testament to their commitment to produce consistent, high-quality, beers year after year.

Without further groveling, here's my review of their Red Nectar, Amber Ale!

Rather than 'red' it poured a very autumnal burnt-pumpkin color. Out of the bottle it was very effervescent but within a few minutes the majority of the bubbles had dissipated (that said, the small well of extra-fine bubbles that survived the first few minutes did persist quite nicely through out my consumption).

Upon tasting, I noticed it was very low on the hop-scale but compensated with pleasant notes of sweet caramel malt and it had a rich creamy mouth feel.

Perhaps the thing I enjoyed most about this beer was the bouquet. It had a very natural aroma of grass and fresh cut flowers (think: walking through a dewy meadow).

Red Nectar is fresh, clean, and easy drinking, and delicious. The only thing that would have made it better, would be if it had been served with melons wrapped in prosciutto! (oh boy, would that have been delicious!)

This amber ale gets a 2/3rds full Pint Glass from me-definitely seek this beer out!

-Prost!

D.Lux

Vegas Baby-VEGAS!

Sin City takes a unique approach to lots of traditional industries so it shouldn't come as any surprise that they would take an equally unique approach to the creation of a micro-brewery. That in mind, on my most recent trip to Las Vegas, I took a few minutes away from the Craps tables to check out Nevadas newest beer producer; Sin City Brewing Company.

Before departing Tempe I had read a couple of online reviews about the brewery. The reviews were overwhelmingly positive and I was excited about the prospect of a high quality brew-pub located on the strip but also I was also tentative (any schmo can write an online review right*). I didn't want to get my hopes until I had the chance to visit and see for myself whether they really were producing quality brew on Las Vegas BLVD, or if, as I feared, it was just another sexy logo in an intoxicating town...

The brewing company is located inside the Flamingo Hotel and is quite easy to find (if, upon entering the main lobby, you are able to avoid the enticing 'ding, ding, ding' of the gaming floor long enough to hang a hard right).

As I approached the 'brewery' I had to summon all of my anti-snobbery not to laugh... At first sight Sin City Brewing Company doesn't look like a micro-brewery, it's looks like a beer-kiosk.

It's located in a part of the hotel sectioned off for shops and restaurants. Over the center of the bar are five brass taps advertising the breweries official logo and the names of their signature ales. I requested the porter, which was tapped-out, and settled for the IPA (my 'litmus test-beer') instead. I also tried their Amber. Both beers were 'okay', and aside from the fact that they were served in a plastic cup** I didn't have any serious complaints about either one of them. The beers weren't overly complex, but they were clean, true to style, and well made.

As I slipped a five-er into the built-into-the bar video poker machine I casually asked Dion our bartender if there was another Sin City Brewing Company (thinking maybe this was the satellite for the larger main building). "There's three actually" he said, and then added with a prideful grin "but this one's the biggest!"

Before long I was out of beer (as well as credits on my video poker game) and the visions of a tiny white ball rolling chaotically around a black and red wheel got too strong to ignore. The night was young, my partner in crime Alan and I paid our tab, and we stepped into the rabbit hole that is Las Vegas.

-Prost!

D.Lux
*hey, no wise cracks about the Dork okay?

**I suppose if they'll let you walk out of the bar, into the street, pretty much anywhere, with an open container I can't complain too much about the fact that they prefer your drunk-ass has a cup that won't break when you drop it.

BREW REVIEW - Speakeasy Prohibition Ale

Once you've made eye contact, it already too late, the seduction has begun. Sleek and mysterious eyes stare intensely from the rounded neck, and slowly draw you closer...

As you approach, you notice that the dark bottle is decorated with an etched image of a 'Bonnie and Clyde' couple, dressed to impress, and you catch yourself fantasizing about a forgone time.
PROHIBITION, written in red bold-faced letters across the top of the image stirs long forgotten memories and you remember that feeling you used to get, when you did something that you knew was wrong, but didn't stop because you like the way it made you feel...

You smile as you remember that there once was a time when the act you're about to do could have landed you time in the slammer. You feel like a rebel, a law-breaker... maybe, even, like a badass.

The label claims that within the bottle is a: " boldly hopped amber ale that strikes a perfect balance between caramel maltiness and its aggressive hopping"

With such a confident claim I could hardly wait to get the bottle open and find out if the brew could live up to the hype. I quickly pried off the cap and gently filled my glass. The beer was red-amber, topped with a light beige head, and from my first sip it was evident that this beer was going to bring some serious flavor to the table.

The beer had a very thick mouth-feel, not quite whole milk consistency, but thicker than 2 percent. It had a richness and creaminess that reminded me of a stout. There was also a phenomenal sweet caramel maltiness. Mouth watering! Near the end, as the beer warmed up a bit, I noticed a delicious mocha/cocoa aroma, and a nutty almond flavor!

So what did I score this wonderful little beer? By the numbers I give it 7/10 [Flavor 8/10, Balance 6/10, Complexity 7/10]. A total score of 21/30!

-Prost!
D.Lux