Here come the last and, coincidently, the most trying weeks of the semester. One thing that keeps college students from getting completely overwhelmed is thinking about the night of Dec. 15, followed by a month off campus. How will you celebrate the conclusion of this semester? If you are of legal drinking age and want to blow off some steam, you will probably hit some bars. So instead of celebrating with those boring old shots of tequila, vodka and rum, here are some different recipes to use in your celebration after finals. The Vocachino will not only loosen you up, but will give you a caffeine kick as well! What could be better in a shot? It’s made with two ounces of vodka, 1/2 ounce of coffee liqueur, 1/2 ounce of espresso, 1/2 ounce of light cream, a dash of sugar syrup and a 1/2 teaspoon of cocoa powder. The recipe makes enough for four shots so invite some of your friends over for this caffeine-filled buzz! Drinkers, consider yourselves lucky because the B52 shot tastes just as good as it looks. Made with 1/2 ounce of Kahlúa, 1/2 ounce of Bailey’s Irish cream and 1/2 ounce of Grand Mariner, it is a shot that tastes more like a fluffy Italian restaurant dessert than alcohol. A popular shot at the campus bars is called a Kamakazie. Despite its name, it is not as strong as one would think. It is made up of one ounce vodka, one ounce triple sec and one part Rose’s lime juice. Triple sec just pushes the drink along instead of giving it a kick. A recipe I found entitled the Dixie Car Bomb is a fun alternative to the Irish Car Bomb. What makes this drink even better is the fact it is made with Milwaukee’s own Pabst lager. Yum! Mix a shot of a 1/2 ounce of Old Crow bourbon whiskey and 1/2 ounce of butterscotch schnapps, and drop it into a 15 ounce Pabst lager.

A real kicker is a shot cleverly named Five Best Friends. (And really, I’d say all these liquors are more like enemies, but you might enjoy it!) Here’s the recipe: 1/5 ounce Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey, 1/5 ounce Jagermeister herbal liqueur, 1/5 ounce of Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, 1/5 ounce of Jim Beam bourbon whiskey and, lastly, the kicker: 1/5 ounce of Jose Cuervo Especial gold tequila. Tequila is special because it will kick whatever drink you have to the next level. Be very careful with this shot! A similar recipe is the Three Wise Men, but it is a bit of a step down in my opinion. This shot includes these three leading men and their alcohol, which is also known as Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, Jim Beam bourbon whiskey and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey. Pour each of these evenly into a shot glass and enjoy the ride.

To finish, here is a recipe that’s a little out of the average college kid’s price range, but it is worth it if you can afford it! It is called a Flying Goose, and as both the name and price suggests, it is made with Grey Goose vodka. The recipe calls for one ounce of vodka, one ounce of melon liqueur and one ounce of pineapple juice.

However you choose to celebrate the conclusion of this semester, remember to be safe and enjoy. Hopefully you will try some of these fantastic shots!

Popularity: 25% [?]

The simple truth is that I, unlike many of my contemporaries, like my beer brewed by monks in an approximately 150-year-old Belgian monastery. Perhaps it is just my personality that drives toward tradition when it comes to such things as beer or food. Give me something that has its roots deep in success, something that has been around for being itself, and has expanded for doing so. No coercion, no millions of dollars in advertisement, nothing of the sort, just a beer brewed by monks.

The Beer: Named after the place where it is brewed, Chimay, at the Abbey of Notre Dame de Scourmont in Belgium, it is a work that requires its own name according to the different “Trappist” recipes. In this case, I am reviewing Chimay Blue. So what exactly does “Trappist” mean? Trappist is the order of monks working in the brewery at Chimay. It is their recipe and, as stated on their Web site, “the majority of the revenue generated from its sale is used for charitable purposes.”

The Taste: Think of yourself sitting down by a nice cozy fire in a dim room. As you sip this fine beer, your senses are invigorated by its sweet taste. Halfway through the taste there are rings of spice that zip in through your palate. When drinking this, you will notice that the taste changes in degrees of sweetness as your hand warms the beer. Rating: 8.5

On its own: Though it comes in a bottle this beer comes with its own chalice, which reminds me of a brandy glass. It is meant to be held with your hands cupping the bottom while slowly tasting the changing flavor. It is a bit more expensive than Miller Light, but that is because it is to be enjoyed as a work of art, not as something that will “get the job done,” although the alcohol content is nine percent. Rating: 9

With a nice dinner: Despite the advertisements, Miller High Life is not the Champagne of beers. I do not know how many times I have to remind people. If you are going to have a nice dinner, then a beer with tastes of wine is nothing short of a good call (word play). Rating: 8.5

With a date: Chalice in hand, I gaze into her eyes, as she watches me take my drink. I answer her question as to the link between Aristotle and the great scholars of Islam and how they contributed to the founding of Universities in the West. She smiles with intrigue, as I notice that the beer’s presentation in my hand makes me feel sophisticated, adding a sparkle to my confidence. Rating: 8

Final Opinion: It is a wonderful concoction, which will help you realize that there is more to beer than just getting a buzz. Life is to be tasted, and this beer brings a sense of being in an otherwise tasteless life (if all you have is beer that tastes like gutter water).

Where Available: You can find this brew almost anywhere on the Milwaukee Street scene, including Kenadees, Three, Eve, The Social and Tangerine (I prefer Kenadees). It’s also available with a variety of other great beers, at the Milwaukee Public Market on 400 N. Water St.

Popularity: 23% [?]

Over 100 years ago, Salvadorian Rafael Meza Ayau started a brewing company by the name of “Rafael Meza Ayau y Cia,” which was later changed to “La Constancia.” From the lines of this investment came El Salvador’s first world-famous beer. The delicate touch of the Salvadorian people created a beer that has been awarded gold medals by the World Cup of Beers in Brussels and Rome in 1965, 1995, 2000 and 2007. The Beer: A beer with a name as simple, and not so common, as “Pilsener” (Spanish for Pilsner) is usually looked over by much of the “usual” beer crowd. “Not so special,” one might think at first, but this light lager has much to offer in taste, feel and balance. This drink puts hair on your chest, while at the same time melting your heart.

The Color: A light liquid gold in a frozen mug, a fusion of salt and frost around the rim and a lime-wedge floating inside as the fizz rises toward the surface—yes! This is to drink “chelada”-style.

The Taste: Finally, we get to the taste! This brew is for the thirsty—for those who have yet to have a good beer all day. It is refreshingly smooth, with a sudden bitter taste towards the end. The bitterness does not linger, unlike other beers—preparing you for the next sip of this one hundred year old recipe. The feel is, as stated before, smooth and crisp and it goes down clean. A proper balance is needed in such cases, so there is a need for a small, yet brief, bitter after-taste that goes well with the lime-wedge and salt. Rating: 8.5

On its own: This beer wins gold medals for a reason! Internationally recognized, this liquid gold is a libation to the deities of Latin American brewing. Rating: 8.5

With a burger: This beer has proper balance to be enjoyed with almost any food. I prefer it with seafood, mainly raw oysters or mussels with Worcestershire sauce, lime and salt. Rating: 8

With a nice dinner: A light lager and a pricey dinner? This beer is good with almost any food, because it aids it all in going down smoothly. It would not be my first choice at a restaurant such as The Social or Sabor, but it would be appreciated nevertheless. Rating: 7

With a date: “La Constancia” prides itself in the way “Pilsener” brings people together as a social medium. In El Salvador the commercial always ends with “Alegria incoparable! es cosa de cheros!” This is loosely translated to “Joy incomparable! It’s a friends’ thing!” I would agree – this is definitely a beer that would be safe to order on a date. Rating: 8.5

Final Opinion: This beer is hard to find here in Milwaukee, and, as far as I know, it can only be found in one place: El Salvador Restaurant. It used to be available at the El Rey supermarkets, and it might still be available there, but last time I checked they were no longer carrying it. That said, it is a rare find and a good one at that, which makes people enjoy it all the more.

Where Available: El Salvador Restaurant, 2316 S. 6th St., Milwaukee, WI 53215, (414) 383-2039.

Popularity: 14% [?]

When tasting beer, as beer connoisseurs such as myself do, there are some words that come to mind that might sound a little bizarre: malty, hoppy, bold, bitter, strong, smooth, tantalizing, etc. These words help to fuse the taste and feelings that beer can give us. Rarely though, do we speak of places that describe what the beer is, what it stands for, whom it was brewed for, and why one would come to enjoy such a concocted masterpiece.

The Beer: Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the beer that represents the Riverwest area of Milwaukee: the Riverwest Stein Amber Lager. Please hold the applause, for one needs to understand what type of beer this is. Hopefully after reading this article, you will be able to enjoy this all the more.

The Color: Its color is a beautiful copper-in-the-light (hence “amber” in the name), but it is best to keep it in the dark bottle it comes in, because sunlight can be harmful to beer—though some people prefer to watch the thematic autumn color gradually diminish after every drink.

The Taste: This brew is a Vienna-style lager—that’s Vienna, Austria, NOT Venice, Italy or California—which means that it has an initial bold, yet smooth “carmelly” taste (depending on the brewer). The taste begins to transition into a slight bitterness for good balance—mixing with the initial flavor and its aroma. As with the average all-malt beer there is a roasted taste, something that kicks in around the middle, but can be smelled before the taste. Toward the end, one is left to contemplate what else is in the beer—a few citric hops perhaps? Maybe even a hint of floral hops as the crafters of this lager have cleverly hinted at? Rating: 8

On its own: It’s a stein beer, but it’s in a bottle. It’s rather tasty on its own and can be had during a time of relaxation, or even out with the guys or gals, but it’s not the type of beer that one may want to have all night. It could get boring—at least for those exciting beer connoisseurs out there! Rating: 8

With a burger: A beer with a malty, roasted taste always goes well with a nice, juicy burger at the local pub. Rating: 8.5

With a nice dinner: Having a relaxing beer during a pricey or moderately priced dinner may not be the best idea, in my opinion. This is the type of beer that stays at home or at the pub. Rating: 6.5

With a date: Couples will enjoy this lager as the type of drink to be had during a first date, cracking jokes or even during a philosophical conversation. Rating: 8.5

Final Opinion: Try it at least once, but I know that once won’t be enough to be had of this excellent craft-brew. Is this the new “usual” at the campus bar? If people get their act together, then perhaps so.

Popularity: 14% [?]

The school year is ending and summer is almost here. There is nothing better than a cold beer on a hot summer night. Unfortunately, many people get stuck in habits and drink the same old thing. Instead of having another Corona, try something else at your next cookout. I have four suggestions: New Glarus Totally Naked, Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse, Bell’s Oberon Ale and Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale.

Wisconsin’s own New Glarus Brewing Co. produces a variety of summer seasonal beers. One of my favorites is called Totally Naked. The suggestive name refers to the beer’s character. Totally Naked is beer in its basic and pure form. The aroma and the flavor are dominated by malts. The beer goes down smoothly with a small bit of hop bitterness detectable at the end. Totally Naked is a fairly light beer that’s very drinkable. It is the perfect choice for casual beer drinkers. This variety from New Glarus is available from May through September.

If you are in the mood for an import, I would suggest the Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse. The Hefe Weizen is a German-style wheat beer. This beer is golden and cloudy. The cloudiness is from the unfiltered yeast remaining in the beer. The aroma is a combination of sweet yeast and fruit. The flavor combination reminds me of a banana. Hefe Weizens are often served with a lemon wedge. Some people believe that the lemon ruins the flavor of the beer. The lemon will definitely alter the flavor. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing depends on personal preference, and I’ll let you decide for yourself.

Bell’s Oberon Ale is produced by Michigan’s Kalamazoo Brewing Co. The Oberon Ale is an American Pale Wheat Ale, the domestic cousin of the German Hefe Weizen. It has a cloudy, orange-amber color. Poured properly, the Oberon Ale will have a thick head. The light aroma is dominated by citrus and wheat. It reminds me of fresh oranges and lemons. The fruit flavors are crisp and sweet. The background flavors add spice, yeast and grain to the experience. Oberon Ale is complex, but definitely drinkable and refreshing.

If you are in the mood for something exotic, I would suggest the Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale. Rice and fruit dominate the aroma and flavor of this Japanese ale. The flavors are subtle, cool and crisp. Light hops and berries are detectable before the wheat-like finish. Be mindful that the Red Rice Ale has slightly higher alcohol content than the other reviewed beers, but this beer is so smooth that you probably will not notice it.

This summer, don’t be afraid to try something new when you are looking for a cool drink on a warm evening.

Popularity: 14% [?]

Hops can be intimidating for beer novices, but these little flowers are responsible for much of the bitterness and aroma in beer. If you are normally a watery macro-brew drinker, you probably are not used to hoppy beers and going from a macro-brewed beer to a very hoppy beer can be difficult for inexperienced taste buds. However, there are ways to ease into hoppy beers and broaden your horizons.

American Pale Ales are excellent gateway beers for novices. APAs use American hops with pine and citrus flavors. In my opinion, these hop varieties can make the beer more palatable. They are flavorful but well-balanced by the accompanying malt taste. I will be reviewing three APAs: Point Cascade Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Summit Extra Pale Ale.

The Point Cascade Pale Ale is produced year round by Stevens Point Brewery. The beer’s name refers to Cascade hops, the American variety of hops commonly found in APAs. The Cascade Pale Ale pours golden and clear. You can pick up light hints of the hops in the aroma. The hop flavor hits your tongue with a sharp bite then fades. Although you’ll definitely taste the hops in this beer, it is quite smooth and drinkable. The Point Cascade Pale Ale is an excellent introduction to the APA style.

The Sierra Nevada Brewing Company’s Pale Ale is the second best-selling craft beer in the United States. This amber-colored beer smells lightly of citrus hops. The carbonation is strong and the flavor is crisp. The hop flavor is more pronounced than that of the Point APA, yet the background malt flavor balances it nicely. The bitter aftertaste lingers a little in your mouth. The Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is an all-around excellent beer. You can even find this California-made Pale Ale on tap in local bars.

Minnesota’s Summit Brewing Company has brewed their famous Extra Pale Ale since 1986. Summit’s Extra Pale Ale, like most APAs, pours with very little head. This copper-colored beer has the slight hop aroma found in the other two APAs. I think that the Summit APA is the most flavorful of the three. The citrus bite from the hops hits you up front. As you drink the beer, the flavor coats your mouth and lingers. You will still taste the hops but the beer becomes more drinkable on subsequent sips. The hops stop hitting your taste buds with the same force that was so noticeable in the first sip.

Hops can be daunting, but they are an important part of beer flavor. Beer novices should recognize that American Pale Ales can be an entryway to new beer flavors.

Popularity: 10% [?]

A well-stocked store shelf or a long beer menu can be intimidating to beer novices. Sometimes they aren’t sure what to buy or what types of beer are best. Luckily, with so many breweries in the area, Milwaukee has many opportunities for the new beer drinker to learn about beer, the brewing process and beer varieties. And, even more luckily for you, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite brewery tours:

1. Miller Brewery is a Milwaukee institution. Located on 4251 W. State St., Miller offers tours Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The tour is free but tends to fill up fast. I recommend arriving early to guarantee a spot.

The tour includes a video about the history of Miller, and visits to the brew house, the packaging center and the Miller caves. The tour ends at either the Miller Inn or the beer garden for beer samples. Expect two or three Miller and Leinenkugel products. The Miller tour is perfect for those interested in learning how a large brewery operates.

2. In contrast, the Sprecher Brewery tour will show you how a smaller microbrewery makes its beer. Located at 701 W. Glendale Ave. in Glendale, Sprecher runs tours on Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Because spots are fairly limited for the tour, Sprecher asks that you call ahead and make a reservation.

This $3 tour is well worth your money. The tour guide takes you through the entire process from brewing to bottling. The tour ends at Sprecher’s indoor beer garden for a sampling from a list of up to ten beers. Sprecher lets you take your small tasting glass home as a gift.

3. My favorite local brewery tour is the Lakefront Brewery tour. Located at 1872 N. Commerce St., Lakefront is a microbrewery that has been producing a wide variety of crafts brews since 1987. Tours are Monday through Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., every half hour. There are also 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. tours on Friday for diners at Lakefront’s excellent fish fry.

For only $5, you get a tour of the brewery, four beer samples and either a Lakefront pint glass or $2 off of anything in the gift shop. Quite the deal if you ask me. During my last visit, Lakefront had five beers on tap to sample, including one that had never been bottled. Lakefront is unique because the tour begins and ends at the tap. You get to drink beer before, during and after the tour.

Brewery tours are excellent opportunities to try new beers without spending too much money. The tours also teach you about the brewing process and different beer varieties. Stop by any of these local breweries for a great afternoon.

Popularity: 11% [?]

The Warrior is pleased to introduce the new Beyond Busch Light columnist, Law student Steve Heiderer. Feel free to e-mail him comments, suggestions and praise. Enjoy!Winter has arrived in Milwaukee. The signs are unmistakable. The temperatures are dropping and the snow is falling. The winter seasonal beers are also on store shelves and in bar taps around the city. Even if you do not like the cold weather, the seasonal beers are an excellent reason to celebrate winter.

When many people think of seasonal beers, they think of summer seasonals and Oktoberfests. That’s certainly understandable. There are many excellent beers produced during those periods.

Unfortunately, the lesser known winter seasonals are often forgotten or ignored. That’s a shame because many breweries produce their finest beers during the winter. I will be reviewing three of these beers: Samuel Adams Winter Lager, Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale and Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome Ale.

Samuel Adams Winter Lager is one of the winter seasonals produced by the Boston-based brewery. The aroma is fairly malty and has hints of caramel and spices. The flavor of this dark beer is rich and warming, coating your mouth and lingering. You can definitely taste the roasted malts. While the flavor is fairly rich, the body is not. The Winter Lager is not a heavy beer and is highly drinkable. Many bars have a Samuel Adams seasonal tap, so you might even be able to try this beer without buying an entire six pack.

Flying Dog, a Denver brewery known for its interesting bottle labels, produces the K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale from November to March. This dark amber beer will have a thick head if poured properly. The K-9 Cruiser smells sweet and malty. Like the Samuel Adams Winter Lager, the flavors of the malts dominate the K-9 Cruiser. This strong ale is 6.4 percent alcohol by volume. The excellent balance of the sweetness from the malts and the dry finish, however, make the 6.4 percent ABV easy to handle. While you enjoy this beer, you can also admire the Ralph Steadman artwork on the bottle.

English brewery Samuel Smith, famous for its oatmeal stout beer, celebrates the cold months of the year with its Winter Welcome Ale. This beer pours golden and clear. The aroma is a blend of sweet, roasted grains and spices. The caramel flavor of the malts is balanced nicely by the slightly bitter flavor of the hops.

The Winter Welcome Ale is not as malty as the Samuel Adams or the Flying Dog beers and probably more accessible for casual drinkers. Also, this winter seasonal, like all Samuel Smith beers, is vegan. The Winter Welcome Ale might be a little harder to find in stores, but your efforts will be worth it.

You have no reason to keep drinking the same old beers when breweries are producing these excellent winter seasonals. Give them a try. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Perhaps it is the chilly Wisconsin weather, or wanting to release stress after midterms or the new 007 movie being released this weekend, but something has put me in the mood for a strong drink, preferably a martini. Shaken, not stirred of course. However, the martini I speak of is not one of the specials at Murphy’s on Thursday nights. Those really should be renamed fruit concentrate with a splash of cheap vodka compared with these awesome recipes. These martinis are well-made, with a high alcohol content and smooth finish. Unfortunately, they have a habit of being on the pricey side. So for your drinking pleasure, here are some resounding simple martini recipes you can enjoy from your cozy, warm homes.The traditional martini is easy to order, but it has a trick to it. In order for a martini to be the best, the drink needs to be made with the top-shelf liquor. Using cheap vermouth can ruin a martini. The original martini is made with a ten-to-one ratio of gin and dry vermouth with a twist of lemon peel or olive. A common variation of this, however, is the vodka martini, which substitutes vodka for gin – hence the name!

A fun and different martini that tastes fantastic is known as the Sunset Martini. It is one part Absolut Mandrin, one part Rose’s Cranberry Twist Mix and one part Sprite. It is incredibly light but still has enough alcohol to support the martini name.

The Caramel Appletini is a martini with a strong amount of alcohol that has an altogether different taste. Living in Wisconsin, we should be aware of all types of caramel apples. The recipe calls for two parts of vodka, one part apple pucker and half part butterscotch schnapps. It sounds odd but is quite enjoyable. If you are an olive fan, you will love a Dirty Martini. It is quite simple, too. It has three parts of vodka followed by an addition of olive juice. A tip for this one is to have the vodka ice cold; if possible, keep it in the freezer until serving time.

The martini named Purple Haze is a must for fruity drink lovers. With three parts lemon vodka and one part raspberry liquor, it spices up your palate and allows you to enjoy a smooth fruity buzz. It does not even taste like alcohol!

The special thing about martinis, in case you have not noticed from the recipes above, is the main alcohol used is diluted with even more alcohol. Therefore, too many of these little drinks in their classy glasses tend to leave you looking less than classy. As college students, we are beaten over the head with the saying, “drink responsibly.” Although we might want to dismiss it from time to time, I would highly recommend taking the saying seriously when enjoying a night with martinis.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Students of Marquette: There is no better time to glorify the wonders of beer than right now! Oktoberfest is upon us! So before you begin to read this article, come celebrate with me. Go to the fridge, grab a beer, hold it up high and cheer out “Prost!” Take a drink and let there be a moment of silence as you bask in the glory of your beer. On to the history of Oktoberfest.Oktoberfest is the age old beer festival of Munich, Germany, honoring the deep tradition of the Bavarian people. The first Oktoberfest took place on Oct. 12, 1810, for the commemoration of the marriage between Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. It has since grown to be the largest people’s fair in the world. Year after year, about six million people visit the 42-hectare plot filled with beer tents, brat vendors and traditional German music and activities!

Last year, I was blessed by the beer gods and was able to witness this festival of liquid awesomeness firsthand. As all of you fellow home brewers and beer fanatics out there know, experiencing Munich during Oktoberfest is the equivalent to going to Disneyland as a child. It is a magical place where the flow of beer never ends; it is what dreams are made of.

But fear not, beer lovers of Marquette! To bring a taste of this festival to Wisconsin, Leinenkugel’s brewery in Chippewa Falls throws their own version of Oktoberfest, tapping massive amounts of their specialty beer, sponsoring sauerkraut eating contests, among many other traditional German fares.

So keeping with tradition, my first beer pick is Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest lager, a crisp yet smooth beer that is bursting with malty flavor and a slight sweetness. (Not to mention it really hits the spot after a long day of walking to and from classes in the brisk, cool air.)

My next recommendation is inspired by our own American tradition of Thanksgiving, and brings an unconventional twist to beer. Being true to the harvest theme, Milwaukee’s own Lakefront Brewery came up with a Pumpkin lager that epitomizes the upcoming holiday. That’s right – beer made with pumpkin. And yes, it is ever so delicious!

In contrast to the Oktoberfest beer, Lakefront’s Pumpkin lager is a lighter colored beer with less malt but a perfect blend of spices to accompany that hint of pumpkin. This festive drink has your mouth believing it’s Thanksgiving with every little sip. Matching the bright orange leaves changing color in fall, this is the perfect beer to celebrate the cool autumn weather in Wisconsin. (Be careful to not offend your grandma when you choose one of these over a slice of her homemade pumpkin pie.)

Because beer has a way of making every holiday a little bit better, I suggest you grab one of this issue’s top picks and propose a toast in thanks for everything you have been given. Whether you’re carving pumpkins with friends or sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner with your family, remember to grab a delicious autumn beer to complement your holiday memories.

This column was guest-written by ‘05 alum Jeremy Eskritt. Josette Goff will return next issue.

Popularity: 4% [?]