I guess I just have a special affection for beers that you can’t see through. While no Blackened Voodoo, it makes a decent substitute. It has that indescribable yummy dark flavor, without a single hint of cheek smash or “lets call it chocolate” twang (yeah you heard me Bison Chocolate Stout). Its good, and I basically have nothing but good to say about how yummy this tastes.

Sadly, since its from Brazil (how the hell do you pronounce that name anyway), you won’t be able to get a six pack for less that 10-12 bucks. Plus, I guess they don’t have good glass in Brazil, since this bottle had the weight and consistency of that sugar glass they use in the movies. If they weren’t so damn pricey, I may have had a few more and drunkily tested to see if it broke over my head. Thank you Market of Choice, for making this too expensive to hurt myself.

There has only been one other beer that has ever received “Never Again” status. That would be Blue Moon from Coors, and its really a Radiohead concert review post.

Now the normal Arrogant Bastard is around 8% of pure skull-crushing madness. Once you get past the intial tastebuds-into-oblivion stage, you can really enjoy the bitterness that is Stone Brewery. As long as you don’t eat the onion rings. The double bastard is around 10%, and seriously once you open the cap you can smell that a night of punishment is in order.

A friend of mine purchased the 3 litre (came with a freaking lock!) bottle of double bastard. He also purchased the patented “shoulda got 2 more” for after the 3 litre was gone. If you have read this far and care to do the math thats roughly 144 ounces of pain. Only youth could possibly come up with a stupider plan. By 11pm that night it was full on technicolor yawns with a permanent stain in my front lawn that refuses to grow. Not for the faint of heart or those who have to go to work for the next couple of weeks. Great for LAN parties, or for that special “no respect for my liver” moment. Check out Stone Brewery

Any beer from Bridgeport Brewery will always get my attention. This local brewery’s IPA will always have a special place in my fridge. However, when I look at the beer cooler at my local Freddies I have to wonder if it isn’t just a big beauty contest.

The packaging on beer labels and boxes gets more and more elaborate each year. From the local artistry featured on Rogue Ales to the slick Budweiser Select bottles, a lot of thought goes in to the look and feel of your average brew. And there is definitely a “micro-brew look.” If you look closely, you can tell the posers from the real thing.

Bridgeport’s Haymaker Extra Pale Ale is no exception when it comes to the design of the packaging. As a designer, I appreciate the level of branding and illustration. This beer is definitely the product of a highly skilled marketing team. However, it IS the real thing.

The verdict: Bridgeport brings their characteristic hoppiness to a wheat beer. Finishes light and crisp, just right for summer time.

So why three bottles in the picture for this review? Because that’s how many the missus and I went through before I realized we were getting drunk and hadn’t done a review yet. In a word: “Yum”. Super Yum even. I give it a 5 because when I got home after losing our basketball game, I downed two. And when I came home after winning the next one, I downed two again.

Pity not my liver, for the six pack has run out. But if you see this stuff in the store pick some up. Both Arty Rex and I agree that it’s the official summer beer of 2007. Awesome for “being manly at the grill”, drowning sorrows (& celebrating victories), and despite what Arty says, it goes great with grilled asparagus.