Brothers Drake: Apple Pie

This right here is a tasty beverage, Apple Pie honey wine, made in Columbus, Ohio. This beer came onto my radar again at The Winking Lizard: Lizardville Tavern where it was on tap. I was fortunate enough to have a couple of glasses before the keg expired. Later i was able to tract down a few bottles at said tavern and at Acme as well.

Now this is not exactly a beer, but it is close enough because honey wines/meads still use the same concept of fermenting sugar to make a beverage, honey wine in particular though does not have any carbonation. Mead are belied to date back to 7,000 BC in China and it is believe to be the father of all malted beverages . Vikings also drank this while they raped and pillaged their way across Scandinavia, so its a cool thing to drink.

So how does it taste? As you have probably guessed by the name it tastes like apple pie. There is not much to say about it, its very very good and has a strong apple flavor, some cinnamon notes along side a slight honey presence. It finishes with a slight sting as this honey wine rings in at  13%, nearly three times your standard bud light.  The whole experience of flavors is still very smooth though, the fragrance is also that of cinnamon and apples, very pleasing to your sense of smell and will leave your mouth watering for more.  It is generally served chilled in a fancy glass so you can swirl it around all cool like and see just how much alcohol there is in it as it slowly crawls back down your glass. It is clear, no sediment or residue and is a golden color. Now is it as good as it sounds? Yes. Should you buy it? Yes, it is only available in Ohio, unfortunately, and comes in a 750ml bottle that will run you $30 or a  325ml bottle (as pictured) that will run you $15.


About the brewery, I do not now too much about them, they are located in Columbus, Ohio and have a Meadery with tours available, as well as a tasting room. They believe in responsible and sustainable brewing methods and utilizing local resources when it is possible. I plan on visiting and touring them next time I am vising Columbus, and suggest you do the same if you have an opportunity.

Overall I rate this at 10/10 will definitely purchase again.

Hoppin Frog: Turbo Shandy

TURBO SHANDY!!!! This is one of my favorite beers and it is in fact, my favorite shandy. Brewed in Akron, Ohio by Hoppin' Frog Brewery, a small craft brewery that was named to the top 100 in the world for 2014 by Ratebeer.com. They make at least 44 beers, with a variety of specialties, and they have a tasting room where you can buy limited run beers and sample from taps. What makes this brewery even better is that it was founded by a University of Akron Graduate, my alma matter, and a lifelong Akron resident! Enough about the brewer, lets talk about the beer!

So as you probably guessed this beer is has a strong citrus flavor, a very strong and refreshing taste. If you are a fan of sweeter Shandy's, then this is the one for you. It also boasts a 7% ABV and only comes in 22oz bottle, either drink this one with friends or you will feel a slight buzz afterwards. IBU is rated at a mere 7.3, bitterness is not a factor in this brew, which to me on a hot summer day, is a great thing.

This is an Ohio brew but it is available in 19 states and 15 countries around the world (not sure of which) so if you are looking for a great refreshing summer beer grab a Hoppin' Frog Turbo shandy, or if you mosey on down to their Akron Brewery you can grab yourself a barrel aged Turbo Shandy. I plan on getting one so look for it in the near future.

Overall rating 9/10, will buy again, it is priced at $8.99 a bottle with wide availability in Ohio so it is priced right for the quality, not to mention it comes in a sweet bottle adorned with a giant frog.