Summer, fruit and beer: Shock Top Raspberry Wheat

I have always been a fan of wheat beers usually trending to Blue Moon over other rivals like Shock Top. However, one late spring afternoon I stumbled across Shock Top Raspberry Wheat at a local gas station. Having never heard of it before I took a chance, grabbed a 6 pack and headed home. Like all wheat beers a decent amount of sediment collects on the bottom that the bottle suggests you disperse by pouring into a glass and swirling the contents. Considering clean glasses were at a premium in my college apartment, I opted for the tried and true method of rolling the closed bottle gently back and forth on a table before cracking it open and taking that first sip. The first sip had a bit of bitterness to it, and the alcohol was present despite its average 5.3% content. That initial shock quickly subsided to sweetness with a boldly present raspberry flavor with the ever-present orange peel and coriander hanging out in the background. It has an light but creamy texture and was quite refreshing, a great summer beer. My only qualm with this beer, although it may have been my fault, is that once, while enjoying bottle, the sediment at the bottom did not disperse as expected and detached as a giant clump. While nearing the end, I got a nice chunk of wheat and yeast sediment that sent that bottle off on a sour note. While it has not stopped me from buying this beer again and again, I always leave a solid half inch at the bottom of each bottle just to avoid the same mishap happening once again. All in all, Shock Top Raspberry Wheat is a great beer and a nice twist on the typical Belgian wheat ale. While it may be a little sweet, it is an ideal summer beer, especially when ice cold. I definitely recommend it.

The College Mainstay: Busch Light

I feel as though I am cheapening this blog by having my first post about Busch Light. However, it would be doing a disservice to this beverage to ignore its role in my life to this point. There is something about Busch Light that meshes perfectly with ping pong balls, recycled pop music and red plastic cups. Yes this takes me back to my college days (albeit this was only a month or so ago). Whether out of a keg or can, there is something about Busch Light that just seems colder and crisper then the other budget beers. This cold feeling is intensified by the bite of large carbon dioxide bubbles on the tongue, a direct contrast to the flat tasting, almost oily textured rival, Keystone Light. This exceptional drink-ability made it a breeze to throw back in copious amounts in whatever manner you see fit, a characteristic of utmost importance in the college environment. In other roles, however, Busch light is lacking when compared to mainstream and premium counterparts. While its refreshing drink-ability is a plus, its taste is lacking in complexity and boldness. While Busch Light would likely not earn a place amongst my most favorite beers, it will always hold a special place in my heart (and my stomach).