Category: Advent Calendar

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

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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

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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

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Brewelist Advent Calendar Day 5: Stone Brewing Co. Enjoy by 12.25.15

Admittedly I hated IPAs (India Pale Ales) for a long time. I felt they tasted like turpentine (seriously, don’t ask how I know what turpentine tastes like).

I didn’t understand the hype. Craft beer aficionados rant and rave about them and Pliny the Younger and Pliny the Elder are treated like the Holy Grail of IPAs.

I’ve become more accepting of them in no small part to the efforts of Stone Brewing Co out of San Diego, CA, and soon to be out of my home city of Richmond, VA.

Enjoy by 12.25.15 is part of their effort to show what a difference fresh beer makes. We’ve all accidentally bought that stale six pack. We’ve all had that awful beer. They’re trying to change that by making a large statement about when the beverage should be enjoyed by.

I had the Enjoy By 10.31.15 (admittedly a week late) but it was a well executed batch of flavors.

Its Christmas cousin is no different. It’s hoppy, yes, but the citrus and pine notes don’t beat you over the head. The clear, crisp amber color of the beer is inviting and familiar.

As the name implies, you won’t want to wait on this one.

Where to find it: Wegmans, Beer Shops, anywhere fine Stone beers are sold

ABV: 9.4%

Style: India Pale Ale

Availability: Limited

Taste/Smell: Citrus and Pine, tastes hoppy but mellow enough to be enjoyable

Rating (out of 10): 9/10

JackieLeave a comment

Brewelist Advent Calendar Day 4: Southern Tier Choklat from Southern Tier Brewing Company

I don’t think I’ve ever had an offering from Southern Tier that I didn’t enjoy (although One Buffalo was probably close), and this especially goes for their seasonal beers. Choklat lives up to it’s namesake, which you’ll realize before it ever passes your lips.
While pouring into the glass, the rich aroma of chocolate (more dark chocolate than milk chocolate) wafts into the air and gives you an idea of what is to come. The beer is smooth in the mouth, and while the taste of chocolate is strong, it doesn’t detract from the beer. That being said, it is heavier (and 10% ABV), so you’re only going to want one or two glasses.
Paul

@Hawknight

Where to find it: Wegmans

ABV: 10%

Style: Imperial Stout brewed with Chocolate

Availability: November Release

Taste/Smell: Chocolate

Rating (out of 10): 8/10

JackieLeave a comment

Brewelist Advent Calendar Day 3: CB Joe Latté Vanilla Coffee Stout from CB Craft Brewers

 

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The Joe Latté Vanilla Coffee Stout by CB Brewery of Honeoye Falls, New York is a beer that takes you to Christmas and other seasonal get-togethers where coffee is served later in the evening with dessert.  My initial impression was the balanced coffee and vanilla taste and the smooth creamy texture.  This beer is not bitter and I almost forget that I am drinking beer in the first place.  The color is dark due to it being milk stout and the dark malt makes a perfect complement to the vanilla flavor.  The beer has a sweet taste as well.  

I give the Joe Latté Vanilla Coffee Stout 9 out of 10 for the perfect balance of flavor and texture. I definitely recommend it if you can find it for your seasonal parties.

Where to find it: Western New York Wegmans and most supermarkets; Beers of the World; CB Craft Brewers in Honeoye Falls.

ABV: 5.5%

Style: Coffee Stout

Availability: Seasonal

Taste/Smell: Coffee and Vanilla flavors and smells, dark color

Rating: 9/10

Sean Peters
@seanfinity

JackieLeave a comment

Brewelist Advent Calendar Day 2: Jack-O-Lantic Pumpkin Stout from Lost Borough Brewing

The Lost Borough Brewing Company has excelled in putting out Pumpkin tasting beers. Much like their Pumpkin Ale, this beer has actual pumpkin inside of it and you can really taste it. It’s a darker and heavier beer and it goes down smooth. If you’re a pumpkin enthusiast, this is the beer for you. Just make sure you catch it at the right time, this beer sells out fast!

Where to find it: Lost Borough Brewing Company, Rochester NY

ABV: 6.6%

Style: Pumpkin/Yam Beer

Availability: Seasonal

Taste/Smell: Smells like pumpkin and tastes like Fall.

Rating (out of 10): 9/10

Casey BowkerLeave a comment