WARNING! DO NOT ADD LIME to this fantastic Mexican brew. It seems the habit of drinkers and servers of the offerings from our southern neighbor is to garnish with a slice of lime. That would be a terrible error as it would cause you to miss out on so many subtleties of flavor. More on that in a bit.
   The nose of this cerveza is strong with the odor of malted barley, which I imagine is where this brew gets its deep caramel color. The head is small, tight bubbles that don't linger. The mouthfeel is refreshing, cleansing the palate and hangs around just enough to deliver a pleasant aftertaste. The general impression is a balanced, not too bitter, not too sweet offering reminiscent of Dos Equis Amber, but upon further sampling, you will find a complex palette of flavors swirling in your mouth. I noticed that this beer already hints at lime, and during some of my mouthfuls, but not all, a gentle brush of mint, hence the warning at the outset of this review. All in all I am quite impressed with this Good Night Limited Edition and highly recommend it.
-Zech gives the Noche Buena 4 !Aye Carambas! out of 5-
P.S. - If you are ever in Memphis or Nashville and Hungry for good grub (I highly recommend the buffalo chicken pizza and garlic fries) and Thirsty for some micro brewed beer give Boscos a try. The Beer Lover's Restaurant.


I too was pleased exuberantly at this Dos Equis Product. It sat a little heavier than their Amber but was not heavy. I found that the darkness did not overshadow it with too much barley flavor, but as Zech brought out was refreshing and clean. After preparing this review I read Zech's and now need to try another, to look for more of those subtleties that he discussed. It's a tuff job but someone has to do it. Maybe I'll give you some more to chew on about this beer after I do more due diligence.  ;)  Oh and you must pair this with some mexican food of course! preferably some Tacos de Carne Asade with plenty of Pico De Gallo on the side.

Matt rates this with a very respectable 3.5 of 5

This competent Irish-red style ale is actually produced in the Netherlands by the Heineken Brewing company under the supervision of Murphy's. Though there is nothing wrong with this arrangement, I am not impressed with this brew. It is slightly oily, which makes me think hops, which I don't feel belong in an Irish red (call me old fashioned) and though it finishes rather cleanly, it has faint bitter notes that linger. There is also a strong nose of barley to this brew which is not unpleasant, but stronger than I find appealing in a Irish red. 

-Zech gives Murphy's Red Ale a 2.5 out of 5-

I found the Murphy's a bit light for me, clean beer but not enough punch for an Irish Red. This would be good after mowing the yard or some other chores when you needed to wash down the dust. When purchasing this I was expecting a bit more. I do feel that it probably would be a good beer for those wanting to try something a little more, but once you get your taste-buds on some other products you may graduate from this quickly.

-Matt gives this a try it if your new to darker beer 2.5 out of 5

Within this blog we have often spoken about hefeweizens and their various characteristics. This my friends is the penultimate hefeweizen. It is a superlative example of the student becoming the master. The fine folks at Yazoo brewing have taken a time honored and venerable German brew and recreated it here in America with love, artistry and exquisite attention to detail. The phenolic tones in the nose are so pure and unpolluted they truly allow you to experience the full glory of what a hefeweizen should be. A truly astounding brew and a must try. Make sure you swirl the last bit in the bottle to pour it into your glass to get the yeast.
-Zech gives Yazoo Hefeweizen a 6 out of 5- Ha!

I think Zech likes it. What do you think? I found many nuances in this hefeweizen that set it apart as it's own. First the unfiltered beer has a clean feel on your palate, giving you a full shot of flavors. The hops used in this give a cornucopia of flavors that you'll find yourself picking up on as it warms. One outstanding flavor I tasted was banana, no, they did not put banana in the beer. Many of these hefeweizens get a little oily for me, but this one only has a slight heaviness. That is the kind of chemistry that you can enjoy when trying this beer. I really like pairing various brews with certain foods and with this beer I found myself leaning toward something fresh and light, like a chicken salad with some dried cranberries and nuts. I think that if you have never tried a hefeweizen beer than you should start here. How could anyone not like this beer?
Matt gives this a 4 out of 5

 Tommyknocker brewery was a stand out at the Mississippi Coast Beerfest. I took a special note of their various tastings there and was excited to review them formally. Unfortunately I have not been able to find their craft offerings in Tennessee, so on a recent trip to Alabama we found the Jack Whacker. I have to say I love the name, reminds me of what an old mountain man would use as a derogatory comment to someone he was displeased with. I also must confess this unfiltered wheat ale initially is a refreshing enjoyable brew. The light fluffy head left a nice lacing as it went down the glass. My initial taste was nice with the lemon grass backdrop, but as I drank I tired of this strong lemon flavor. Earthy flavors follow the lemon that seemed to rest on the back of my tongue. I felt overpowered by these flavors and lost the other nuances that I might have otherwise discovered. Do not quickly dismiss this beer though, for if your habit is to add citrus to your wheat ales it is already there for you. Maybe I'm being a little critical but that's why I'm called a critic!
Matt gives this well named brew 2.5 out of 5

I have to agree with Matt about the initial burst of refreshment when you first start drinking this ale. It is as wit biers should be, unfiltered. There is a strong, sweet scent to the nose as well as a sweet note to the backside of each swallow. I wonder if the yeast weren't inhibited to keep them from devouring all the sugars in this brew. This is only conjecture, but I could see the brewers coming to this decision to counter the natural bitterness of the wheat and the added intense bitter of the lemon grass. I am not generally for or against adding to a beer to achieve a certain flavor as I see this as the artistic expression of the brewer. I do however admire the skill level of brewers who manage to achieve these flavors through skillful manipulation of the yeast rather than resorting to additives. I personally found this beer to be refreshing and enjoyable during my consumption of it. My good friend Matt is not overly fond of sweet beers and if you feel similarly, this is not a brew for you. As the brew warmed I denoted an almost candied tone to the nose and as I continually swirled the yeast laden remnants in my glass, detected faint phenolic nuances. if you pick up a skunky wet-grass tone in hefeweizens, again this beer may not be for you, but as far as that goes, your nose would have to be well trained to detect those faint signatures. Overall I enjoyed it and see this brew as a good way to get beer newbs to branch out in their taste. I will definitely drink this again.
-Zech gives the Jack Whacker 3.5 out of 5-

This dark IPA is truly a craft beer lovers delight. As I poured this I immediately thought it was Stout but after your first sip you'll soon discover that the hops are essentially well placed within this amazing beer. The oils from the hops are well balanced and well mixed. I also found coffee and malt tones to the wonderful elixir. I cannot stress enough the joys I have received from The Magic Hat Brewing Company. If you are looking for a mix of excellent craft beers buy a sampler 12 pack and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
Matt gives the Magic Hat Demo IPA a 4 out of 5


Holy $%^**! This ale wows you at first taste. It is the illegitimate love child of a milk stout and a well balanced IPA. I can honestly say I have never had anything like this. Matt's take on the flavors is spot on and there is stuff (floaties of unknown origin) that is suspended in this brew. Could these be yeast remnants? There is a slight sweetness to this ale that nicely balances the bitter of the malts and the hops. I am once again in awe of the Magic Hat brewery and thus I proclaim my unworthiness. Drink this or die miserable, alone and unfulfilled.
-Zach gives the Demo 4 out of 5-

This English Import comes with a little history, it was named after the delivery car used at the MG car factory, brewing this Ale the first time to commemorate the 50th anniversary of that car maker. That delivery car was called the "ol speckled un". You can see why that wasn't the last time they made this amber ale since it is a good product. It poured with a nice tight head and left a good lacing on the glass as I consumed it. The nose on it initially gave me a whiff of metallic, which I have to admit worried me. My first drinks while the beer was still cold left a dry flavor at the back of my throat, undoubtedly the hops, but as it warms it smooths and sweetens. I found this ale much better, warmer but not warm, if that makes sense. This Ale was reminiscent of the Strangford Lough products we reviewed before, but I have to admit I liked them more. I would say that this is worth an amber ale lovers try.
Matt gives The Speckled Un 3 out of 5

The initial metallic taste is a little off-putting at first, and it is present in the nose as well. However, as this brew warms the metallic flavor bends towards a mild hoppy bitterness, but is still present. Though I can detect a smooth amber ale that is quite pleasant, the metallic bitterness is indicative of a poor brewing process and evidence that either the brewers didn't taste this batch or didn't care. Iron or mild steel in contact with the beer; freshly-scrubbed stainless steel that has not been allowed to oxidize (passivation); improper filtering material; high iron content in water; poorly processed grain, all can contribute to this undesirable flavor. You simply don't release a product meant to evoke fond memories without a rigid set of quality control procedures. I am highly disappointed and though the amber ale does give evidence of a well balanced recipe, I cannot get past the lack of concern evidenced in this beer.
-The Zach gives this "Old Speckled Hen" 1 boot in the rear out of 5 and a "Bleh!"-

Zech and I recently celebrated a milestone in our beer blogging by enjoying some brews at one of our favorite beer watering holes, The Flying Saucer, Nashville. http://www.beerknurd.com/stores/nashville/ While there we tried various beers, Zech's view of, "if this is good and that is good than the two together make great", had him trying some really interesting concoctions of beer, which we would like to find some of for reviews... Should make interesting reading. I enjoyed a draft of Old Scratch, so afterwards at Frugal McDoogals beer store I purchased some for review. This malty amber is very smooth with a hint of coffee undertones. The head was definitely passing the 2 finger rule and left a nice lacing down the glass. I personally enjoyed this beer from cold to warm and everything in between. If your an Amber Lager fan as I am than this is absolutely worth a look.

Matt gives this 4 out of 5 scratches!


Monkeys in a walnut tree. Or something like that. This Flying Dog Old Scratch might be sharing a name with the Evil One, but evil it ain't. It be really good. If you ain't stoopid, drink this.

-the Zech gives the Old Scratch a well deserved 4 out of 5-

So... You say Matt is not a lover of the fruity sweet beers he's gonna give this a downer review. I really thought, and was prepared to whine about, a ruined Hefeweizen. As usual you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. The front of the bottle shows all these sweet raspberries as if they laced it with fruitiness. I will say, It has a raspberry flavor in it, but it is a well balanced addition to the Classic hefeweizen flavors and , dare I say it...is quite good. an unfiltered bitterness comes across but the addition of the raspberry adds a little balance. A bit of fruitiness comes out in the nose and the magnificent fluffy white head emanates raspberry, but not overly so. I recommend you pull this one out with a fresh apple pie with extra whipped cream and enjoy a beer with your dessert.
Matt gives it a 3.5 out of 5

If you have tried other beers brewed with raspberries, you will already know that they are often used to balance a bitter brew and lend a smoothness to an ale. This is definitely the case with Schlafly's raspberry hefeweizen. A well crafted hefeweizen made smoother by a subtle addition of raspberry. This ale is unfiltered and should be swirled in your bottle before the last is poured in the glass. As it warms, you can smell the berries even stronger, and their scent mixes well with the phenolic tones coming off this beer. This brew has a crisp mouthfeel with just a hint of slickness. A very enjoyable brew.
-Zech gives this offering from Schlafly a 3.5 out of 5 as well-

This Craft brewed product from the makers of red brick beers out of Atlanta Brewing, delights me in such a favorable way. My initial taste of this brought me slight hints of hop with a smooth malt finish. Both are subtle and this Ale gives you the feeling of quality start to finish. The bottle says its a return of an old favorite from Atlanta and though I never had the pleasure of trying it before, I'm glad they did bring it back so that I could enjoy this delightful Amber.
Matt gives this a 4 out of 5

This  refreshing, unassuming Ale sporting a light dissipating head, drew my attention. The Nose was clean, nothing jumping into my nostrils for a whiff, smelled almost like a light beer. As I began to partake though, I began noticing a light citrus undertow that pulled me back for more. I almost noticed light whispers of hop flavor, but without any bittering. This beer is great for warm weather, I would probably choose this with a summer crab boil. Cover the picnic table with newspapers set the boiling pot dead center and start cracking because a cold Tire Bite will go along with the party.
Matt gives this a howling 4 out of 5.

What the Fahrvergnügen? Is Matt starting to like fruity beers? Come to the dark side Matt. We have cookies.
Anyway, I digress. It is not really a fruity beer, there are simply some hints of citrus that I attribute to masterful use of hops and yeast. There is a well balanced malts and hops essence to the nose, the mouth feel is clean and medium bodied. A thoroughly enjoyable brew that delivers golden rays of sunshine directly to your tastebuds while little refreshment ninjas surf into your mouth on gentle waves of hoppy malted barley goodness.
-the Zech also delivers 4 out of 5 to this ale-

Moose Drool, made by Big Sky Brewing Co. in Missoula, Montana is a delicious and masterfully crafted brown ale. It has chocolate tones in the flavor, a bit of charcoal in the nose and a clean, refreshing mouthfeel. I was given this can by a friend of mine at the Jackson, TN, Fire Department (Thanks Brian) and now I am mad @ him for not giving me a six pack. I mean, what kind of friend gives you one beer when he knows it will be this good? That is simple cruelty. Anyway, this is an excellent brown ale with just a touch of individuality from the good folks in Missoula. I highly recommend it.
-Zach gives the Moose 5 out 5 big drooly kisses-

 This passion fruit infused beer has a sweet caramel tone to the nose, and a strange (that doesn't necessarily mean bad) dominant flavor. We will come back to that. The mouth feel is crisp yet also slightly slick, and goes down quite smooth. There is a sweet aftertaste indicating a good deal of sugar is in this brew. Almost no bitterness is present at all. If you are trying to get your wife to try new beers, this might do the trick.
  Now, back to that flavor. I am not really familiar with passion fruit, so I cannot with any degree of accuracy comment on whether this beer taste strongly of that fruit. It does definitely taste strongly of something and I detected an almost vegetal undertone mixed with hints of mango. This is an easy to drink beer whose nose bends more towards malted barley as it warms. It is definitely worth a try if you like sweet beers, but it is not high on this reviewer's favorites list. I will trying pairing one of them with a strongly bitter beer to see what that does with the flavor. As an important side note, I obtained a six-pack of this by winning a bet with a good friend of mine. My friend Brittnee bet me a six-pack if I ate a katydid. Which I did. So now with gratitude in my heart I have reviewed the fruits of my labor.
_ the Zech gives the Grenade a 3.0 out of 5-

Lazy Magnolia Brewery has allowed this beer to be brewed there and bottled under another name. I'm confused, is this malt liquor with passion fruit infusion or an effort at a quality beer. Either way, I found an initial grapy smell coming from this product. Expecting a sweetness that comes with the whiff, I was belayed by a flat, unimpressive offering. You can call it a lack of appreciation for passion fruit or a misunderstanding of what to expect, but I missed the point here. At first I found some promise in this as I felt it had a smoothness in the aftertaste, but the more I drank the more the aftertaste began to annoy me. It stayed with me like an onion does long after finishing the burger, you enjoy it initially but then it just gets to be to much. I found this to be more than my palate could bear and so...
Matt gives this 1.5 out of 5

Today is a good day! I'm enjoying an unfiltered wheat hefeweizen by Flying Dog brewery, and it is worth the purchase price! This Hefe is a solid pick for your tasting pleasure. It has such a smoothness that surprises you with that classic hefeweizen flavor, no bitterness. I am enjoying this while cooking up a mess of my Chicken gumbo and am looking forward to pairing the two. I think you would be amiss if you tried to add a lemon slice, or anything for that matter, to this brew, it stands alone just fine.
Matt gives this a 4 out of 5 and an ayeeee!