The Summer of Cerveza Sundays: Saturday & Wagyu Meatballs Addition

There is no Sunday Night Baseball this week, because the All-Star break is happening, and the Saturday afternoon games weren't anything I was interested in watching... but it was 93º and blue skies, perfect for Mexican beer.

The scoring:

1: BAD. I didn't finish.

2: MEH. Probably not something I would ever get again.

3. GOOD. Would order if my only other choices are IPAs. 

4. VERY GOOD. Would happily drink any time. 

5. GREAT. Great. 

Full Sail Sesión Cerveza - 5

I've told this story before on my various blogs over the last 16 years, but one of the best afternoons of my life was spent on a summer day with my friend Tom at the Full Sail brewpub in Hood River, Oregon, watching windsurfers out on the Columbia River and drinking cold beer. We were on our way to Portland (to visit Erik) and had planned to arrive that evening, but we were having so much fun we got a room at a motel in Hood River and spent the night there instead. 

It's impossible to drink this beer and not think of that glorious afternoon more than two decades ago. That being said... even if I had never been to Hood River, this would still be a 5. Just a great beer. 

SPICE TRADE BREWING MEXCAN LAGER - 5

They tell you what they are trying to do on the can, and then they go out and do it. Beautiful. 

4 NOSES BREWING RIO LENTO MEXICAN LAGER - 4

Maybe I’m judging too easily because it is 94° and humid and I can see the storm clouds rolling in. Each beer is hitting the spot this afternoon and maybe I should be scrutinizing them a little more. But still... my game, my rules. And this hits the spot. But, like I said, I doubt a lime & salt lager can ever receive a 5. 

MARBLE BREWING CERVEZA - 3

I have drank a lot of these over the last two years, so I was surprised to find that I did not like this one more. The smell of tortilla chips was overpowering. I know that's a strange complaint, as tortilla chips are one of my favorite things in the whole world, but this aroma was just ridiculously over-the-top.

But not bad by any means. 

RESOLUTE BREWING CRISPY RIVER SALTED LIME LAGER - 4

Refreshing, but too salty. God I love the can, though. 

FOURTEEN CANONS BREWING COMPANY CATORCE - 4

Delicious. A little too malty, though. 

Man, I did well selecting these beers today. 

All Angels fans - and Dodgers fans over the ago of 40 - think of one thing when they hear the name Catorce:

I miss that guy. 

 

FIGUEROA MOUNTAIN BREWING AGUA SANTA MEXICAN LAGER - 5

Like I wrote a few few weeks ago, Troy wanted me to rank all of the beers in order. But that is impossible for 70 beers (I picked up a few more since I started this project), but if I were to undertake such a task, this would be a strong contender for number one. This is exactly what I want a Mexican lager to taste like.

It's based in Buellton so, although I don't remember where I bought this, I am guessing it was at the Total Wine in Pasadena. I recommend you give it a try. 

What a great afternoon and evening of beer tasting. Three 5s and not a single 1 or 2. 

I bet that doesn't happen again this summer. 

Unfortunately, the Wagyu beef meatballs were a disappointment. I should have smoked them for less time at a higher heat - they were dried-out, which should never happen with glorious, fatty Wagyu.