Mike Loves Beer

Name – So Thank You Music Ginger Wheat
Country – United States
Type – Herb/Spice Hefeweizen

It’s great having a local brewery.  And for the past almost 2 months I have been proud to call the Funky Buddha my local brewery.  Between the opening night and many visits since I have enjoyed a number of their brews.  But one thing was missing, a review on the site for any of the beers.  Well today we put an end to that.

After talking with Kevin and Ryan from the Buddha Monday night I figured I’d go in and pick up a growler of one of their brews and take it home to review.  They know full well how badly I want their Don’t Try Amber Ale again.  Unfortunately it is not currently on.  But alas they plan on brewing it again next week so I should have that baby in my possession again shortly.  I decided to go with one that I have had before and find it to be one of their more unique brews, So Thank You Music Ginger Wheat.

I poured it from the Funky Buddha 32 oz growler into my pilsner glass.  It arrived at the bottom a hazy golden color.  It has some orange type hues to it as well.  The head was thin, bubbly and white.  Unfortunately it was gone rather quickly.

The smell is unlike any beer I’ve ever had but very similar to a real craft made ginger ale soda.  You get tons of ginger in the nose and hints of lemongrass.  Seems pretty obvious to get those as they are exactly what are used to make the beer.

The taste is more of the same from the nose.  But I also get a little honey and orange in there.  Some hefe like yeast characteristics rounds this out.  It is also quite light in body.  The carbonation seemed a hint off from the last time I had it but not enough to be a big difference.

From the first time that I had this beer I have said that this beer will pair very well with most Asian cuisine, especially sushi.  That ginger and lemongrass is just so present and would make a lovely compliment to the meal.

I also love how much this reminds me of ginger ale.  I just love ginger ale while I know many people do not.  It just reminds them of times when they were sick as a kid and it was all their parents gave them to drink.  While my parents did that too I actually developed a love for the soft drink.  This beer just reminds me in so many aspects of it.

So next time your in South Florida, or Boca Raton specifically drop in to the Funky Buddha and have a beer.  If this one is on tap and you want to try something completely unique then have it.  Then if you like it get a growler to go.

Grade - A-

Name – Rogue John John Ale (Spruce Gin Barrel)
Country – United States
Type – Spiced Beer

Appearance – Poured a very hazy orangish color with a big white head.

Smell – Citrus like hops with a hint of juniper berries in there.

Taste – More of the citrus hops with a bit of a malt backing.  You can pick up the juniper again and bit of the spruce.

I was looking forward to this one when it was announce because gin is one of very few liquors I actually enjoy.  But I had no idea what to expect as I’ve never heard of a beer being aged in a gin barrel before.  Well luckily I didn’t have that high of hopes because I really got no hints of gin in the smell or taste.  You could probably make an argument that the juniper and slight spruce taste were from the gin but I don’t know.  I’ve had beers with those flavors before and they weren’t aged in gin barrels.  Definitely didn’t get any barrel taste to it.  I guess what we are left with here is the regular Rogue Juniper Pale Ale.  That’s pretty much what it tastes like to me.  While it was enjoyable as just a beer I am a little let down by the lack of gin presence considering the John John Dead Guy was very bourbon present.  Oh well I guess.

Overall Grade – C+

Name – Dogma
Country – Scotland
Type – Spiced Beer

Appearance – Pours a clear copper color with a finger wide slightly off white head that leaves some lacing on the glass.

Smell – Interesting nose.  There are malts but a lot of spices that I’m not really familiar with in there.

Taste – You get spices immediately that follows with a sort of cola like taste.  You get some of the alcohol bite in there.  But there is a lot more going on in here that I just can’t place.

When I had the chance to choose some BrewDog beers I picked this one up because it sounded interesting and boy was it.  There was a whole lot going on in the taste of this.  It says their are poppy seeds in it but to be honest I don’t know what poppy seeds taste like.  Never had a poppy seed bagel in my life.  I couldn’t help but get this cola taste in there that made me wonder if that is from the kola nuts used in the brewing.  I’m glad I tried it but not sure I would go back to it.  I might if I was going to share but I definitely couldn’t handle another bottle by myself.  It’s a bizarre one to say the least from the crazy boys over at BrewDog.

Overall Grade – C+