Beer of the Week

The beer: Stockton Red Maple Coffee Porter

The brewery: Hidden Sands Brewing Company, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey

Description (from Untappd): "Debuting our Collaboration with Stockton University, our Red Maple Coffee Porter using a blend of red maple syrup locally produced and Vermont dark robust maple syrup. Typically conditions on locally roasted Ocean City Coffee Company beans."

Would I buy it again? Unfortunately, I wasn't absolutely blown away by this beer. It was okay, but the coffee aspect really dominated. I didn't get all that much maple syrup here, which is what I was looking for. It wasn't overly bitter or anything, so the maple was doing something, but this beer just felt a little boring.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Split Decision

The brewery: Abita Brewing Company, Covington, Louisiana

Description (from the website): "Why choose just one? This crisp, clean lager is infused with the classic trio of Neapolitan flavors – luscious strawberry, rich cocoa, and smooth vanilla – for a surprisingly refreshing twist on dessert. Light-bodied with a hint of sweetness and a creamy finish, it’s nostalgia in a bottle."

Would I buy it again? There was a big question on my mind when I bought this beer: Could it manage to retain its lager-ness while including the bold flavors proclaimed on the label? And the answer is ... not really. Don't get me wrong, it's a solid beer and I liked drinking it, but it does not feel like a lager. As to the actual question of whether I would buy this again, yeah, I probably would. Is it a pure lager? No. Is it still tasty? Yes.