Zipline Brewing Co.- Copper Alt.

Nothing is better than supporting local businesses.  Zip Line Brewing Company is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and if you have time, stop by and hit up the Zip Line taproom where you can try out all of the different beers that they brew. They have three beers that change based on the season, and they are known for their four year-round brews.

Sitting at Gate 25 in the Lincoln Rail-yard, I looked at the different beers they offered; the first one that stuck out to me was the Zip Line Copper Alt brew. Alt, in the beer world, is short for altbier, which is a German beer. It is a happy medium between an ale and a lager. These beers have become very popular due to the fact that they are a very drinkable beer. Knowing that altbier usually has a nutty flavor mixed with chocolate, I thought this would be a great beer to have during the winter months. Boy, was I right!

The Copper Alt has two very distinct tastes: first you are hit with hazelnut, followed by a subtle chocolate, and finally leading into a hoppy aftertaste. I have experimented with many different brewery's altbiers, and this is clearly the best I have had. The mixture of the flavors and the hoppy aftertaste complement each other in an amazing way that has you wanting another sip. This is a great beer to drink casually or to pair with different foods.

In short, with the holiday season spiraling down, this is a must beer for your New Year's parties or just sitting by a nice cozy fire. This beer is clearly a five out of five. Those of you who have not had any beers from the Zip Line Brewery, need to try one! It is a privilege to have such a great brewery in Lincoln, and I would not be surprised if this beer eventually makes its way across the country. Until next week, happy drinking.

Pair with these foods:

-Hot beef sandwich

-Cheeseburger

-Hot apple pie

Beer info:

Style of Beer: Altbier (hybrid of a pilsner and ale)

ABV (Alcohol by Volume): 5.2%

Color: Copper

Where to buy in the 402:

-N Street Liquor

-Most liquor or grocery stores in the Metro and Lincoln areas

-Jack and Junes and Gate 25 restaurants (Located in the Lincoln Rail-Yard)

Empyrean Brewing Company- Winter Axis FestivAle

As I watched TV over Thanksgiving break, I noticed a lot of different ads for “Small Business Saturday.” These ads were aiming to persuade people to shop locally on Saturday the 30^th of November. In the spirit of this idea, my wife and I decided to go to Lazlo’s, which is a local restaurant in Lincoln's Haymarket area. Keeping with this theme, I decided to drink a local beer brewed at the Empyrean Brewing Company.  I have had many different kinds of beer from this company, so I decided to go with the never failing, seasonal option. Starting in November and lasting most of the winter months is the great tasting Winter Axis FestivAle.

This is a perfect beer for the cold winter months due to the mixture of ripe fruit and an amazing crisp and clean finish. All of these attributes make this one of the top beers for the winter months. The first taste of this brew hits you with many different flavors of fruit as well as the warm herbs that are used in this beer. The great thing about the FestivAle is that the brewers change the maltiness and hops from year to year making for a different flavor every winter, yet maintaining its overall amazing taste. I paired this beer with Lazlo's famous  spicy Voodoo Chicken. This entree really went well with the fruit and herbs used in the FestivAle.

I am lucky enough to live in the great city of Lincoln, the home of Empyrean Brewing Company. Those of you who have not had any beers from this brewery need to try it! Those of you who are regulars, make sure you give this great seasonal beer a try. This is the best winter ale I have had yet, making this easily a five out of five stars. Until next week, happy drinking!!

Pair with these foods:

-        Roasted/Grilled Chicken

-        Steak

-        Hot Beef Sandwich

Beer Info:

Style of Beer: Winter Ale, slightly hoppy

ABV: 6.0%

Color: Gold

Where to buy in the 402:

-N Street Liquor

-HyVee Liquor

-Most downtown/Haymarket restaurants will have on tap

Batch 19- Coors Brewing Company

As the sounds of John Mayer filled the Pinnacle Bank Arena, I thought I would spice up the moment with a good brew. I walked into the VIP bar area assuming that they would only have the good old regulars when it comes to beer: Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller Light, Coors Light, but, to my delight, they had a few others. I decided to try Batch 19. This is a Coors Brewery beer the majority of which is brewed at their Golden, Colorado site. The full name of this great beer is Batch 19 Pre-Prohibition Style Beer.

This great brew uses Hersbrucker hops, which were used a lot during the early 1900’s. This is a very strong beer with a dark golden color. The great mixture of hops and caramel maltiness really work well with one another to make this an amazingly bold and great tasting brew. Compared to other hoppy and bold beers, Batch 19 has a crisp and clean after taste. The non-hoppy aftertaste makes this a great bold beer. If you're wanting to try this brew at a family dinner or a night out, I suggest you pair it with: steak, sausage, baked chicken, or a good bowl of mac and cheese.

As the concert continued, I found myself going back to the bar a few more times, each time grabbing a Batch 19. For all of you beer lovers out there, this is a must try. Batch 19  is one of my top bold beers of the year. Bold beers are usually not my favorite, but this one exceeded my expectations and is a clear four out of five stars. I suggest all of you beer lovers make sure and give this brew a try! Until next week, happy drinking!

Beer info:

Style of Beer: Bold, Pre-Prohibition

ABV (Alcohol by Volume): 5.5%

Color: Golden

Where to buy in the 402:

-N Street Liquor, Lincoln, NE

-Most HyVee liquor stores

-Pinnacle Bank Arena (Non-UNL events)