The Beer Enthusiasts of Blacksburg

Style: Imperial Stout Purchased at: St. George Brewery by DJ & Liz What makes this beer different: It's drinkability Will I be drinking this again: Definitely Grade: A- Comments: This was probably one of the top five beers I had over the summer. It is thick & rich enough to be a stout, but at the same time it is extremely drinkable. Just ask Liz: she normally hates stouts, but she ended up liking this brew. It would not be her top choice however. Medium carbonation levels, with a large pillowy head. Ever so slight detection of molasses, chocolate, cinnamon, and cloves complete this beautiful brown bomber. Bottom line: Try this Virginia breweries RIS before you knock it, I think you will enjoy it :) Recommendations: Pair this with a warm, homemade pretzel with spicy mustard for dipping ... BAM!

Style: Fruit Beer Purchased at: Vintage Cellar by DJ & Liz What makes this beer different: The Rare Blueberry & Wheat Will I be drinking this again: Definitely Grade: B+ Comments: This brew combines a wheat and a classic favorite of mine; blueberries! It smells sweeter than it tastes, and has a faint blueberry taste. So for those of you who do not prefer blueberries, I can safely say you can tolerate and enjoy this blueberry wheat beer. As with most wheat brews, this one has a fairly large head with a low amount of lacing and a surprisingly large amount of carbonation. Also, it has an average ABV of 5.50% so not a lot more than your light beers. Thumbs up to this brew; it isn't perfect (less carbonation, more hops, more blueberries, and a little malt ;) ) but shows a lot of promise in this Colorado Brewery! Enjoy! Recommendations: I'm going to recommend what I had it with, because it was phenomenal! Pair this brew with chocolate fondue; 3/4 Milk chocolate, 1...

Style: English IPA Purchased at: St. George Brewery by DJ & Liz What makes this beer different: It's drinkability Will I be drinking this again: Definitely Grade: A- Comments: I typically prefer a nice bold/spicy American IPA, so I naturally thought I would feel unmoved by this English IPA. Spoiler alert - I was anything but right! This brew exhibits a beautiful copper shade with perfect lacing, delicious english hops, and an overall well balanced malt based recipe. This beer does have moderate carbonation, so make sure you don't let it sit around and linger for long as it will undoubtedly lose its full flavor impact.  I will definitely be drinking this brew again, so thanks to Liz and DJ for this find! Recommendations: This beer pairs well with spicy foods. Period. That being said, I would prescribe a nice bowl of steamed mussels with a white wine reduction sauce including shallots, sea salt, fresh ground peppercorn, italian parsley, tarragon, sauvignon blan...

Style: American Red Ale Furnished by: Justin Barber What makes this beer different: The AMAZING drinkability Will I be drinking this again: Yes. 'Nough Said Grade: A+ Comments: On his first try, Justin Barber and associates have created a knock out brew! Incredible vibrant color and flavor intensity; it has beautifully crafted hops and sweetness interlaced throughout every sip. EXTREMELY drinkable, and definitely a crowd pleaser for even the novice beer officianado! Thumbs up mate, you have my vote! Recommendations: Take a drive to Blacksburg and pair this brew with a nice meatlovers sicilian pizza at PK'S!

Style: American Pale Wheat Ale Purchased at: Vintage Cellar What makes this beer different: Blandness Will I be drinking this again: Probably Not Grade: D Comments:   Not a whole lot I can say about this beer. Very bland and bitter in taste. Hops ... what hops? Quite disappointed in this beer. Do not recommend!

Style: Extra Special/Strong Bitter (ESB) Purchased at: Vintage Cellar What makes this beer different: Malty Will I be drinking this again: Possibly Grade: C Comments: This is one of the better strong ales I have had before; unfortunately that doesn't say much. Pours a cola brown, and actually looks quite appealing in a glass. This brew possesses malty and fruity elements, but just not enough of them. Kind of leaves a dry taste in your mouth, and hardly any depth to this brew. Worth a try if you are new to Strong Ales. A typical old world crafted, American Ale. Would prefer this brew more if it possessed a little more gumption however, and quite a bit more depth. Recommendations: A great mix with a Nathan's Hotdog, Sauerkraut, Ketchup, Onions, and Mustard (add some relish to go the whole way)!

Style: American Pale Ale Purchased at: Whole Foods What makes this beer different: Citrusy Will I be drinking this again: Yes. Grade: B+ Comments: This is a great summer beer; it's light, crisp, and quite drinkable! This is an unfiltered brew, with little pieces of orange and other citruses floating around ... but that's a good thing. Excellent lacing, with a ton of carbonation. The major downside of this beer is the cost. It's about $9 for a six pack. That being said a 6 pack of Blue Moon, which is a comparable brew, will still run you $6-$8. This is definitely a beer I can get behind and recommend, especially in these upcoming summer months! Give it a try, and post your comments here on the blog :) This beer was recommended to me by the lovely Dabney Topp, and purchased for my enjoyment by the Topp Family! Bottoms Up, and good catch Dabs! :) Recommendations: Some crab legs would go perfectly with Oberon Ale. Cheers!