Commenter Petey suggested I try Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale by Black Sheep Bottled Beers. "If you ever see it, try "Monty Python's Holy Ail" from Black Sheep Brewery. It is rather interesting to drink, and just a fun name to say. Worth a try." Petey, what you consider worth a try and what I consider must be two different things.

Let's start with the bottle.

The label has cartoonish drawings on it reminiscent of the Monty Python's Flying Circus. The tag line is "Tempered over burning witches". Funny, but that would explain some things about this beer if it were true. The bottle itself has an interesting leaf and acorn(?) design on it.

I should have known better then trying this beer. I'm not a Monty Python fan, and I've only watched the Holy Grail when I've been drunk. In fact I pretty much dislike Monty Python. Which is a good way to start this review, "In fact I pretty much dislike Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale."

It has a hazy amber coloring to it. Light passes through it, but you can't see what's on the other side of the glass. (This is not necessarily a bad thing; I'm just letting you know what it looks like.) It pours a good head that seems to last. In fact I've been drinking on this beer for 40 minutes and there was still a head on it at the end.

There was a citrus-like aroma to it, with a hint of yeast and hops to it. There is actually a bitter smell to it. (And what the hell is up with all these bitter beers? This is three for three! I'm really getting tired of every beer I drink being a frickin bitter bastich!) Speaking of taste, weak. The first taste isn't bad; very light body to it and soft on the pallet. The original taste is not that bad, but it was weak. Where the bitter comes in is the after-taste. My mouth ended up tasting like it does in the morning after a night of drinking Miller Lite, except it was with in minutes of finishing about a quarter of the beer.

Overall I would rate this beer a 4. It wasn't so bad I won't drink it again, but I definitely won't shell out any of my hard earned cash for it.

Posted by: Contagion at 05:08 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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This weeks beer o' testing was chosen by the lovely and talented Ktreva. While at the store she found a can of Jaguar High Gravity Lager and decided that I should sample this beast. Let me start off by introducing you to the beer. The can is rather interesting; it is an eye catcher.

The fact that it's 24oz of 8.3% alcohol by volume malt liquor that she purchased for $2.00 should be speaking volumes. According to the can the Jaguar Brewing Company in Lacrosse, WI makes this brew. Unfortunately, I am unable to find a website for the company. Unlike Camo High Gravity lager, this wasn't anywhere near as bad. Don't get me wrong, it was not good, but it didn't taste like I was drinking a petroleum product.

Pouring the beer into a glass, it had a pretty week head that dissipated rather quickly. The color had a slight orange tint to it. You could easily smell the alcohol in it. There was also the typical sweet malty smell you get with all malt liqueurs. It wasn't difficult to drink; the initial taste wasn't bad. On the third sip I had the urge to gag. After getting accustomed to it, it wasn't so bad. Again, with the relatively high alcohol content to it, the first thing you tasted was the alcohol. It was thin bodied, but still drinkable. It was the aftertaste that really killed this beer. It had one of those "you'll taste it for twenty minutes after finishing it" qualities to it, bitter and kind of stale.

I think the best thing I can say about this beer is, "If someone gave me another can, I would drink it." I can't say I would enjoy it, but I would drink it. There is also another problem to buying beer in cans this size. They tend to get warm quickly which leaves you with at least 10 OZ of warm cheap beer. And unlike many dark beers, this is not one that is still palatable when it's warm.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd rate this beer a 3.

Update: I've discovered that this is made by City Brewery (Melanie Brewing Co.) I'm taking it as a bad sign that they don't even claim to make Jaguar.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:46 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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