Month: December 2015

Brewelist Advent Calendar Day 16: ‘Z’

Back in the 90s, I got a Gateway computer. You know, the ones with the Cows. It was a powerful gaming machine at that time. Moving away from 3.75″ floppy’s and using actual CD’s. With this vast improvement in technology and drive space, many companies would pack a cd filled with demos of their latest games. It was on one of these discs that I experienced ‘Z‘ for the first time. A real-time strategy game where you had to navigate your robotic soldiers across an unruly planet and take out the other team. It was before Command & Conquer and the Warcraft games, and it was amazing. The robots had individual personalities, the graphics were top of the line, and even though I only had one level to play; I did so relentlessly.

Last year, TickTock Games acquired the rights from Bitmap Brothers and put out a new, HD, version of the game on PC and for iOs. I greedily downloaded it and have loved going back on the nostalgia train. Better graphics, more witty dialogue, and a ton of fun; I definitely recommend the updated version of Z.

Publisher: TickTock Games

Genre: Strategy

Where to get it: Steam, Playstation Network

Platform: PC, iOs

Rating (out of 10): 8/10

Casey BowkerLeave a comment

Brewelist Advent Calendar Day 15: Uinta Yard Sale Winter Lager

Beer: Yard Sale

Brewery Name/Location: Uinta Brewing, Salt Lake City, UT

ABV: 4%

Style: Winter Lager

Where to find: Beers of The World, Wegmans

Taste/Smell: Light hints of winter flavors like vanilla and caramel in both taste and smell.

Thoughts: After fall comes the winter beers which may be even better than the fall beers. Usually I like my beers dark, closer to stouts. However being an amber lager this beer falls into the darker category of lagers. This is a delicious beer that paired very well with my pasta and meatballs, and I have also had it with steak and potatoes. I could very easily see myself downing a six pack in front of a fire on a cold snowy day. According to Uinta’s website the term Yard Sale is when you fall off your skis and all your gear falls all over the mountain. So this winter take a chance to fall down the mountain and take a sip of the Yard Sale.

Rating (out of 10): 9/10

Submitted by Jake Duell

JackieLeave a comment

Brewelist Advent Calendar Day 14: Shmaltz Brewing Company – He’Brew Messiah Nut Brown Ale

messiah-bottle-and-label

Not to leave out our friends who are celebrating Hanukkah at this time of year, I picked up a Shmaltz Brewing Company He’Brew Messiah Nut Brown Ale.

At 5.2%, it’s a beer that’s good for socializing. It tastes like a brown ale, nothing fancy. It feels fairly thick on the tongue and pours a caramel brown color.

It’s also Kosher certified.

Where to find it: Supermarkets, Beer Shops

ABV: 5.2%

Style: Brown Ale

Availability: Rotating

Taste/Smell: Tastes like a brown beer. Smooth, not too hoppy. Slight notes of nut flavor and pours a caramel brown.

Rating (out of 10): 8/10

JackieLeave a comment

Brewelist Advent Calendar Day 12: Plague, Inc. and Bouncy House from Smuttynose Brewing Company

On the 11th day of Advent, Brewelist Gave to me: Plague, Inc. the video game and Bouncy House from Smuttynose Brewing Company. This episode of the podcast goes through an unusual pairing of craft beer and indie game. Enjoy the episode below and let us know what you think!

Grab the game on STEAM or on Mobile devices and the brew at pretty much any grocery store or beer palace near you!

Check our Facebook page for updates, along with our Twitter and Instagram. We also have an UnTappd account where you can see what we’re drinking; and you can catch us on iTunes for your listening pleasure.

Any ideas you have for a game to play and a drink to go along with it? Email us: brewelist@gmail.com.

Stay Thirsty and Play Indie!

~Casey and Jackie

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Brewelist Advent Calendar Day 11: Extreme Exorcism

I’ve always been a fan of Platforming games. Give me a Mario Bros. any day of the week and I’ll play it all day long. The new ones hearken back to a simpiler time in agaming, and if it’s done right, the nostalgia and gameplay can be a win/win. This is the case in Golden Ruby Games‘, Extreme Exorcism. You choose a character and a level, and then go around bashing/shooting/womping ghosts through a series of levels and try not to die too many times. Not an advanced concept by any means, but it doesn’t have to be. The graphics are simplistic and 8-bit. The music is chiptune-y and eerie. The biggest plus though? My fiancee wanted to play along with me and didn’t get discouraged when she died. Four people can play it at once, and that’s where the biggest points go to the game.

Teamwork makes the dream work they say, and it also keeps the ghosts away!

Publisher: Golden Ruby Games

Genre: Action Platformer

Where to get it: Steam, Playstation Network

Platform: PC/Mac, PS4/PS3

Rating (out of 10): 8/10

Casey BowkerLeave a comment

Brewelist Advent Calendar Day 10: Three Heads Brewing Bromigo Smoked Maple Amber Ale

I was excited to taste the Bromigo Smoked Maple Amber Ale because who doesn’t like the combination of Maple Syrup and Bacon? It’s the perfect breakfast blend, and even though I was drinking this in the evening; breakfast for dinner is one of the best things ever. I was warned at the bar that I wasn’t going to like it, and they were absolutely right. I usually am a fan of the stuff that Three Heads Brewing puts out, but I could not get into this beer. Maybe my expectations for ‘breakfast in a glass’ were a bit high, but I was very let down. Putting a piece of bacon in this drink would definitely help, but it wouldn’t revolutionize the drink.

Where to Find it:  Three Heads Brewing Company, Honeoye Falls, NY

ABV: 7%

Style: Smoked Beer

Availability: Seasonal

Taste/Smell: Smells like smoked maple syrup. It tastes like bacon, if it were very bitter. It lingers with a hint of smokiness, not leaving the tongue for a while.

Rating (out of 10): 6/10

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Brewelist Advent Calendar Day 9: Super Motherload

I remember playing the free flash version of Super Motherload while in high school on my PC, digging away, trying to find the mystery of Mars in this alternate reality where the Cold War is still happening. When I reached the planet’s core, I found out the true secrets of Mars. When I got a PS4 I was super excited to play this game again, with added features to the story, including more upgrades for your digger, different characters to play as, and even a local multiplayer mode.

I grapped my PS4 controller and the game was as fun as I remembered, and super easy to pick up and play for short periods of time when I just wanted to relax for a bit. The PS4 version, and the new PC version I assume, is much more in depth then the original free-to-play game and I still haven’t reached Mars core to see how the story plays out since there are now multiple endings. So I implore you, go out and try Super Motherload, get in a digger, upgrade your machine, collect gems, and ‘Get your Ass to Mars’.

Publisher: XGen Studios

Genre: Digging Adventure, RPG, Casual, Arcade, Puzzle

Website: http://supermotherload.com/

Where to get it: Playstation Store for PS4 or PS3, or Steam for PC

Price: $14.99

Platform: PS3, PS4, PC

Rating (out of 10): 8

Guest Blogger8 Comments

Brewelist Advent Calendar Day 8: Troegs Independent Brewing Mad Elf Ale

Where to find it: They distribute in the following states: CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, NC , NJ, NY, OH, PA and VA. Locally Wegmans usually carries this.

ABV: 11%

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Availability: seasonally in the winter

Taste/Smell: Belgian yeast smell (it’s a very specific smell). Also hints of cherry/sweetness. Taste is a punch on the tongue of flavor. Lots of Belgian candied malts, a hint of honey and a good amount of cherry flavor (but this isn’t sweet by any means)

Pairing: Be sure to pair this brew with Viscera Cleanup Detail: Santa’s Rampage. Find it HERE.

Rating (out of 10): 10 out of 10 but be warned – it is 11% so only take this out if your family is getting hard to deal with this holiday season!

Troegs Mad Elf Ale

Brian Beer God: Please follow me on Facebook and on my website to see more great pictures and read more reviews on your favorite brews.

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Brewelist Advent Calendar Day 7: Hayburner from Big Ditch Brewing Company

This is the flagship beer for Big Ditch Brewing Company and I can tell why. It’s got a hoppy taste without hitting you over the head with it. That being said, I wasn’t a fan of the aftertaste. Overall if you’re an IPA fan, then this is a great beer for you.

Where to Find it:  Big Ditch Brewing Company, Buffalo NY

ABV: 7%

Style: India Pale Ale

Availability: Year Round

Taste/Smell: Smells a little tart and tastes hoppy, in a good way

Rating (out of 10): 7/10

Hayburner Big Ditch Brewing

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Brewelist Advent Calendar Day 6 : Monochroma

If you’re a fan of dystopian futures and the game Limbo, then Monochroma from Nowhere Studios, is right up your alley. It only uses black, white, and red colors and tells the story of a boy searching for his younger brother. It plays very fun and has a great soundtrack, despite the depressing backdrop.

Publisher: Nowhere Studios

Genre: Cinematic Puzzler

Where to get it: Steam

Platform: PC/Mac

Rating (out of 10): 8/10

Casey BowkerLeave a comment