Zipline Brewing Co.- Jack's Pale

From the first time I stepped in Jack & June’s Urban Spoon in the Lincoln Railyard and tasted my first meal, I knew it would be one of my favorite eateries, not only because of the food, but also because of the atmosphere. What could make this place better? How about a beer brewed exclusively for this restaurant as well as Bread and Cup. Jack’s Pale Ale is that beer, and if you have not tried it, you need to.

Jack’s Pale is by far one of the best pale ales I have had. It is brewed with local organic oats and a fruitful hop taste makes this one of the smoothest pale ales on the market. I am usually not the biggest fan as pale ales are usually very bitter; however, this one is not. The smooth first taste and the nitrogen head stays with you long after your drink is over. Make sure to take a look at the glass when you're finished drinking, the glass shows lines like a tree trunk shows age. Thick lines follow the glass down, a sign of a very dense but soft head that helps make this beer the best.

I have tried many different beers, from many different places, and Zipline Brewing in Lincoln is becoming my favorite beer around. Not only is it great tasting, but it is local. In the coming weeks, I will continue to review these great beers, and I encourage you to go try Zipline's beers as well as sit down for a few in their awesome taproom.

Jack’s Pale is, in my opinion, the best pale ale on the market. It is not too bitter and not too sweet; it is a combination of the two, which make it so amazing. This beer, just like the Copper Alternative that I reviewed last month is a clear five out of five. It is amazing to have this great brewery in our backyard. Buy a few packs of their beer or a growler from the taproom for your Super Bowl party because this beer will not disappoint.  Until next time, happy drinking!

Pair with these foods:

-Bangers and Mash

-Grilled Cheese Sandwich

-Chicken and Dumplings

Beer info:

Style of Beer: Pale Ale

ABV (Alcohol by Volume): 5.2%

Color: Golden Brown

Where to buy in the 402:

-Jack & June’s Urban Spoon

-Bread & Cup

-Zipline Taproom

Boulevard Brewing Company-80-Acre Hoppy Wheat Beer

Where are all of my wheat beer drinkers? If you are one of these beer lovers, I have the perfect beer for you. The Boulevard 80-Acre Hoppy Wheat Beer is one of the best wheat beers I have had. Lets rewind a little bit. On Christmas Eve my taste buds had the enjoyable pleasure of tasting this beer for the first time. The not so good part, this beer was in a sampler pack, therefore I only had one. A few days later I was brainstorming on what beers I should write about in the coming months, and the one that kept coming to mind was this 80-Acre brew.

What makes this beer so perfect is the amazing aroma of an IPA and an awesome taste of a wheat beer. As you bring the bottle up to your mouth your nostrils are instantly filled with a fresh citrus smell, followed by a very light and bitter flavor. The light notes in this beer work well with the bitterness of the wheat. The lightness of malt and amazing balance of the hops makes this the best wheat beer I have ever had.

If you want a beer for a weekend on the town or just an every day brew, this is the beer for you. I must confess, my favorite beer type is wheat beer, with this being said, this beer is the best beer I have had. If you have not tried any beers from my reviews, I suggest you go buy this one for sure; it will not disappoint. Until next time, happy drinking!

Pair with these foods:

-Grilled Chicken

-Chili

-Beer Cheese Soup

Beer info:

Style of Beer: Wheat Beer

ABV (Alcohol by Volume): 5.5%

Color: Light gold

Where to buy in the 402:

-N Street Liquor

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

This photo is courtesy of Boulevard Brewing Co. website 

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)