Mike Loves Beer

Tonight at Laser Wolf in Fort Lauderdale the beers of Left Hand and Victory will grace the handles including some rare and new beers from the two.  Here’s what to expect.

• Victory Braumiester Spalt
• Victory Mad King (the only keg in South Florida!)
• Left Hand Nitro Sawtooth
• Left Hand Beer Week Sauce Porter

The beers go on tap at 5 pm and is pay as you go.

Laser Wolf
901 Progresso Dr. Suite #101
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Name – Summer Love
Country – United States
Type – American Blonde Ale

Obviously summer is in full effect.  A couple days ago was the mid summer classic, the MLB All Star Game, and my Phillies stars had a good showing.  Halladay pitched a perfect 2 innings.  Lee gave up the only AL run but still worked good.  And Hamels, Victorine and Polanco actually showed up to the festivities.  That’s more than some AL shortstops can say.

So as a bit of a celebration I am reviewing Victory’s Summer Love today.  The label shows all things that you think about when it comes to summer.  It’s got baseball, camping, ice cream, cooking out and more.  And of course with Victory being from right outside Philadelphia this is a tip of the cap to the City of Brotherly Love.  So let’s dive in.

I pour it into my traditional pint glass and it comes out a very clear yellow color.  There is a very thin white head that is gone pretty quickly.

The nose is filled with grains and lemon zest.  Hints of orange and a slight grassy smell round it out.

The taste is a really very similar to the smell.  It’s grainy with some nice citrus notes in there.  Crisp finish.  It’s quite full bodied for a blonde ale as well.

As I’ve mentioned before I really enjoy a good beer that is perfect for a hot, humid day like we have in Florida all the time.  So this one actually fits that bill perfectly.  It has flavor and body for what many call a dull style.

I’m actually now thinking that all the images on the label are actually ideas of great things to pair Summer Love with.  It’s great out at a ball game.  Out camping?  Why not bring a sixer along with you.  Slaving over the grill to feed hungry friends and family?  Have a pair of tongs in one hand and this in another.  See they all work.

So if you like a refreshing beer in this heat or are a sucker for stuff reminding you of your birthplace (I’m both), then Summer Love is a good choice.  Pick some up before the leaves start falling.  Or in Florida when summer just continues into winter, which isn’t really winter but kind of spring.  Oh just go try it.

Grade - B

Name – Headwaters Pale Ale
Country – United States
Type – American Pale Ale

It’s a really special time in South Florida right now.  It’s one that doesn’t happen all the time or on a regular schedule.  So you know right away it’s not the blistering hot, humid summer.  But I guess you could say it has to do with “heat.”  Yes it’s the time of the year when a South Florida team actually makes a deep run into the playoffs and every bandwagon jumping idiot comes out of the wood works and acts like a life long fan.  I mean of course they haven’t been to a game in 4 years but they are such die hards.

In my now coming on 15 years of living in South Florida I can count the number of true South Florida sport teams fans on both of my hands.  It’s rare.  Most people down here are implants to begin with.  They have allegiances elsewhere.  But numbers of the ones born and raise here could care less what the Dolphins, Marlins, Panthers and Heat do until it comes time for the playoffs.  Call me a hater all you want.  I know that I support my teams whether they play good or are stinking up the joint.  That’s a fan.

So anyway today’s beer is sort of a symbol of my continued support for my teams.  That is because it is from Victory Brewing in Downingtown, PA.  The brewery just outside of Philadelphia has become a symbol of Philly Beer.  And today’s review is of their newest year round brew, Headwaters Pale Ale.

Pouring into my nonic pint glass it arrives a clear orange color.  A thin bubbly white head sits on top for a few seconds and then is gone.

The nose is filled with citrus, piney and earthy hops.  Not overpowering but enough to give a great scent.

This brew is smooth!  Nice citrus and piney hop flavor.  A slight bit of malt backing.  Crisp and clean finish.

This beer is an absolutely perfect session beer.  It’s really smooth and easy to drink.  Has a 5.1% ABV.  And has enough character to it to put it above most other big names.  And with June now upon us I can see myself having a number of these on the hot summer days.

Victory again shows why they are well respected brewery.  They make solid beers in so many different styles.  A lot of breweries stick to their guns and don’t try to make certain styles.  Victory can and does do them all.  Their year round portfolio is larger than almost all breweries I know of.  And they don’t do a bad job on any of them.  It’s not like one is a middle child that is seemingly forgotten.  Victory loves all their children the same.

And being a Philly staple I love them even more.  I wish I was going to be up there this coming weekend for the kick off of Philly Beer Week.  I had a great time last year.  To all those going have a great time.

Now I could totally end this review with a good old “Go Mavs” to rub in the face of the Heat fans.  But I honestly don’t care about the NBA.  All I’m saying is be a fan or don’t.  Stop only supporting when they play good.  Part of being a fan is showing your distaste for when a team is playing bad.  Let them know it and maybe they will try harder to make the people that really pay their salaries happy.

Grade - A