Whether it's music, dancing and drinking, literature, or the Catholicism and politics that merged in JFK, Irish exports have infiltrated just about every aspect of American society. And for the most part, we're better off because of them. There is, however, one exception. The Irish perfected the stout in Guinness, and Jameson is a reliable go-to when it comes to affordable whiskey. And based on positive experiences with these two, you might think that that a clearance sale on Harp Lager ($9.99 for a box of 12) would be worth the risk. |
Price check: Trader Jose varies in price from state to state. CA is the cheapest, at $4.99. It tops out in FL at $7.99. But what about Trader Jose Dark? While still a Mexican import ostensibly created to compete with the big two (two macrobreweries are responsible for the vast majority of all Mexican imports), Trader Jose Dark doesn't immediately remind me of anything. It's lacking the distinctive bottle of Negro Modela, so I'm not sure if they're trying for something like Tecate or Dos Equis Lager. As a consumer, this matters. If I'm buying a knock off label, it's because I want something that reminds me of the premium brand. If I can't tell what that premium brand is, I'm much less likely to buy it.
What follows are my tasting notes for Trader Jose's Dark, but I'm tasting it blind. I have nothing to compare it to. You can help us out by leaving a comment and telling us what Trader Jose reminds you of. You have to play detective to discover where Trader Joe's brands are made. Google always comes back with a handful of different results, so you have to dig deeper. Contrary to popular opinion, TJ's is NOT brewed by Gordon Biersche. It's actually a product of Cervecería Mexicali in Tecate, Mexico. This is a brewery you've never heard of, that makes beers you've probably never tried, including Mexicali, Red Pig Ale, and Chili Beer (brewed with real chilies). Cervecería Mexicali was founded in 1923 by two Mexican entrepreneurs, who learned their craft from a German brewmaster. But before you get too excited about drinking Mexican microbrews, it's important to note that the original brewery was forced out of business by the big two, and was then purchased by Coors. Trader Jose Dark Premium Lager: Nose: Heavy molasses notes. Light, sweet finish. Hay. Taste: Reminds me of other brown ales. Woody molasses flavor, with a slightly sour finish. Leave a note. What does TJ Dark lager remind you of? Ready for the second installation in my Beers of Mexico series? Then quick! Name a Mexican lager whose roots trace all the way back to 1800s Germany. Give up? Before you cheat and scroll down further, think back through your memories. Have you ever tried a Mexican beer that reminded you of a pilsner (think Stella Artois)?
Truth be told, I didn't know anything about this lager when I picked it up last weekend. I'm sure I've tried it before, but never really paid any attention to its distinct notes. Expecting a mellow lager, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a flavor profile that lands smack in the middle between a Stella and a Corona. Ready for the big reveal? One more clue... "Stay thirsty my friend!" Our mystery beer is Dos Equis lager. Dos Equis is Spanish for XX, as the beer was first produced in 1897 to celebrate the arrival of the twentieth century. This beer was first crafted by a German brewer named Wilhelm Hasse who emigrated to Mexico under the short-lived Second Mexican Empire of Maximilian I (for kicks, check out the wiki on this fascinating period), hence its similarity to European pilsners. Today, thanks to the most interesting man in the world, Dos Equis remains a popular Mexican import in the U.S., and throughout the world. Dos Equis is brewed by Cuauhtemoc-Moctezuma Brewery (CMB), one of the two mega breweries in Mexico (the other is Modelo), but it is itself a subsidiary of Heineken. CMB has been in business since 1890, when a group of Austrian and Mexican businessmen joined forces to start a brewery. Other recognizable imports from CMB include Sol and Tecate, among others. Dos Equis Lager: Nose: Like a Stella, with a light, sweet finish Taste: I'd put it right between Stella and Corona. A smooth oaky start, with the distinct limey notes of a Mexican lager, pilsner hints and a floral essence. Recommendation: If you've been avoiding Dos Equis lager just because it's too mainstream, why not give it a try, then tell us what you think! Brewers have been making beer in Mexico since the arrival of Spanish conquistadors under Cortes. But it was really the arrival of Austrian immigrants in the 19th century that kickstarted the Mexican brewing industry that has us quenching our thirst with Corona and limes every summer. Right around the time of the American Civil War, Maximilian I, with the support of the French government and elite Mexican monarchists, established the short lived Second Mexican Empire. This led to an influx of German-speaking immigrants, who brought with them their centuries old brewing knowledge. This is evident more in beers like Dos Equis (stay thirsty my friend!), which is really a Vienna style lager brewed south of the border. Mexico and Holland have been battling it out for some time to be the top beer exporter in the world. Mexico came out on top for the first time in 2003, and since then it's been a toss up from year to year. Despite the valiant efforts of the most interesting man in the world, Corona remains the top selling Mexican beer. Corona is brewed by Grupo Modelo, a Mexico City brewery that also makes Estrella, Modela, Pacifico, and Victoria beers. Their main competitor, Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc-Moctezuma/FEMAS, makes most of the other Mexican imports you're familiar with: Tecate, Sol, Dos Equis, Carta Blanca, Superior, Indio, Bohemia and Noche Buena. Corona was first brewed in 1925 to celebrate Modelo's tenth anniversary as a brewing company. It is instantly recognizable by its clear glass bottle (so is the Trader Jose knock-off). Most breweries prefer tinted glass or aluminum cans because ultraviolet light will eventually turn the oils in beer rancid. Still, despite the clear glass bottles, Corona seems to be doing just fine. It's the best selling import in both the United States and the U.K. Interestingly, according to the Swedish National Food Agency, Corona contains less than 20ppm of gluten, while some independent tests have resulted in counts as low as 10ppm. The FDA considers anything below 20ppm gluten free, so while I can't with good conscience recommend this beer to my friends with Celiac disease, it looks like a great option for people with gluten sensitivity. "Although concentrations gluten in beer are in line with those found in gluten-free foods should be aware that the consumption of beer leads to an increased intake of gluten. Consumption of 0.5-1 liters of beer can in some cases make a significant contribution to the daily intake of gluten." -SNFA For this tasting, I tried Corona Extra ($7.99) and Trader Jose ($5.99) side by side. Is Corona really worth the extra $2.00 per six pack? Let's find out!
The face off: Corona Extra Nose: Sharp and delicious, the smell of summer. Maybe I'm biased, but this lager is screaming for a fresh lime. Taste: Full bodied and sweet, with a crunch like English cheddar. Color: Bright straw Trader Jose: Nose: Lacks the distinctive characteristics of Corona Extra. Less complex, less aromatic. Mildly reminiscent of hay. Taste: Thinner body, less complex, but still drinkable. Improves with a slice of lime. Color: Dark straw Conclusion: Corona wins hands down on this one. Trader Jose just doesn't carry the same complexity or the crisp flavors of Corona. Spend the extra two dollars, it's only $.33 per beer. And if you're still thirsty after you finish that six pack, go for Trader Jose. Have you tried these Mexican lagers side by side? Which do you prefer? Leave me a note! Ever wonder what it takes to ruin a good red wine? Turns out, it doesn't take much. If, like me, your budget keeps you in the $5 wine range most nights, you'd jump at the chance to try a couple of nice California Cabernet's. Actually, who wouldn't? I recently had the opportunity to try two highly recommended wines... and ruined both tastings. The wines were a Jordan 2010 Cabernet ($42-$60) and a Josh 2013 Cabernet ($9.99). Both wines were delicious despite my mistake, but I can't help but wonder what I missed out on. Before I let you in on where I went wrong, here are the notes from my original tasting: The problem: Now, there's nothing bad in these descriptions. And even if these flavor profiles were correct, I would still go back to both of these Cabs for more. But the mint and vanilla flavors were much stronger than I expected, even to the point of being overwhelming. As the tasting experience was still delightful, it took me quite some time before I realized what was going on. I was in Nashville when I tried these wines. It was February, and the air was that special kind of dry you only get in the winter. So you guessed it: chapped lips. I was self-medicating regularly with vanilla mint chapstick. Yep. That was the culprit. I went into a great wine tasting having overwhelmed my senses with mouthwash flavored paraffin wax. What do we learn from this? That if you really want to explore the flavors of a new wine, beer or spirit, make sure your palate is clean. On the other hand, with a little foresight (or luck), the flavors you introduce might complement your drink very well!
Josh Cabernet is a product of Joseph Carr Winery and Josh Cellars. The grapes are sourced from Lake County, California, just north of Sonoma County. This Cab was created in honor of Josh Carr, Joseph's father. I'm unclear as to the relationship between Josh Cellars and Joseph Carr Winery, but both entities seem to have been founded in 2005 by a sommelier who spent a 30 year career working with Napa Valley winderies. Information has been hard to dig up. What is clear, is that these are California grapes with bold California flavors.
What about you? Have you ever ruined a tasting? Share your story below. Remember these mouth-puckering candy apple delights? Sure, inevitably the candy would sharpen itself into a mouth-mutilating blade. But despite the pain, as chewy caramel comingled with sweet apple, it was pure bliss.
Johnny Appleseed hard apple cider is an adult version of the the caramel apple candy. In fact, this cider is so candy-like it has more common with a cocktail than it does dry ciders. Johnny Appleseed is American made. It's a subsidiary of Amhauser-Busch, and crafted in Baldwinsville, New York... the same place Stella's Cidre is sourced from. I sampled this cider on draft. But A-B recommends it on the rocks, again pointing to its cocktailish nature. Johnny Appleseed Hard Apple Cider Nose: Sour apples Taste: Caramel apple suckers + alcohol Recommendation: This is the perfect cider for people who love sweet drinks, but if dry ciders are your thing, you'll want to look elsewhere.
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