Kona Brewing Company - Longboard Lager

What: Kona Brewing Company - Longboard Lager
Style: American All Malt Lager
Vessel: Plastic Pint Glass
Price: $6.00 (!)
Where: Omni Championsgate - Orlando
When: April 4, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: After our sessions wrapped up for the day, I headed down to the poolside bar with my old boss. They only had three selections on tap (which, actually isn't bad for a poolside bar) - this Kona, the Key West Sunset Ale, and one of the large domestics (can't remember exactly which one it was). Since I hadn't had the Kona, I thought I'd give it a try. Of all the beers I've had this trip, this is the one I probably liked the most. It's a bit smoother than the Key West, and a little more tasty. Enough with the lagers, already. I'm ready for a nice, hoppy IPA or DIPA. I'm also ready to be home!
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/kona-longboard-lager/2533/

Grupo Modelo - Corona Extra

What: Grupo Modelo - Corona Extra
Style: American Macro Lager
Vessel: Bottle (no glass offered)
Price: Free
Where: Omni Championsgate - Orlando
When: April 3, 2008
Rating: 7
Comments: Yeah, I'm not a fan. This beer was free (thank goodness). I was hoping to avoid this one, but I had exhausted (so I thought), all of my beer options on site and I had to take one for the team. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. Ever. Having said that, I happened across this article in the WSJ yesterday at dinner (after I sampled this beer) that some of you might find interesting. Also, after reading the article I was driven to the http://www.beerinsights.com - lots of good info about the business side of the industry there.
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/corona-extra/742/

Anheuser-Busch, Inc. - Budweiser

What: Anheuser-Busch, Inc. - Budweiser
Style: American Macro Lager
Vessel: Bottle (no glass offered)
Price: Free
Where: Omni Championsgate - Orlando
When: April 3, 2008
Rating: 4
Comments: So a lot of folks buy this beer. It is the King of Beers, and all. For a long time I didn't have much of an appreciation for Bud. I've tried to be more objective, and not dismiss it, just because it's a macro. I bet if macro haters (myself included) tried this blind, they'd think it was pretty good. This was the perfect setting to give it a whirl - it was free, there weren't many selections offered at the cocktail hour, and I hadn't "reviewed" it. It's a pretty decent beer. I can understand why so many folks buy it - an almost unlimited marketing budget, it's cheap, and it's pretty good.
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/budweiser/473/

Kirin Brewing Company - Ichiban

What: Kirin Brewing Company - Ichiban
Style: Japanese Rice Lager
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $6.00 (!)
Where: Omni Championsgate - Orlando
When: April 3, 2008
Rating: 5
Comments: I know, I know - I just said I would quit ordering beers from foreign countries, just because I was eating food from that country. Well, I lied. I decided to unwind by reading the paper, getting a beer and a sushi roll after I was done with all the activities for the day. I thought I was going to go to bed, but I decided I wasn't quite tired yet, and didn't want to be cooped up in my room. So the Japanese restaurant in the hotel is excellent. I remember being here three years ago with my wife and we had the "Zen Experience" and we really enjoyed it. I thought it would be a shame to be back and not stop by the place at least once.

Anyway, back to the beer. Having had all the options offered, except the Ichiban, I knew I had to breakdown and order it - you know, for the sake of having another blog entry. I'd say the beer was OK, but nothing I would recommend. Because it was on tap, it was better than it probably would have been out of a stale can or bottle. Have I said I'm over lagers yet?
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/kirin-ichiban/268/

Florida Beer Co. - Key West Sunset Ale

What: Florida Beer Co. - Key West Sunset Ale
Style: American Amber
Vessel: Pint Glass
Price: $6.00 (!)
Where: Omni Championsgate - Orlando
When: April 2, 2008
Rating: 3
Comments: I decided to enjoy the beautiful FL weather and a cigar after our conference activities and dinner. I headed down to the sports bar in the hotel, and much to my surprise they had 8 - 10 beers on tap. One of them was the Key West Sunset Ale (although the bartender told me it was a pale ale). When I tried it, I thought there was no way it was a pale ale, but it was enjoyable. Now that I'm back in my room, researching the beer I find that it was most probably the Sunset Ale. Much to my surprise it was another offering from the Florida Beer Co. It was really quite enjoyable. If I could find distribution in Indy, I'd probably pick up a six pack every now and then to mix it up. What better than a good cigar, a good beer and beautiful weather?
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/key-west-sunset-ale/2828/

Birra Peroni Industriale - Peroni Premium Lager

What: Birra Peroni Industriale - Peroni Premium Lager
Style: Euro Pale Lager
Vessel: Bottle - no glass offered
Price: Not sure - I didn't pay
Where: Cafe D'Antonio's - Celebration, FL
When: April 1, 2008
Rating: 6
Comments: What a disappointing dining and beer experience. We had a new server who didn't know the menu, didn't deliver our appetizer, didn't refill water, or ask if we wanted a second round of drinks. Enough about the meal - let's get to the beer. When we asked the waitress what their beer selection was, she responded "we've got a lot of them". When asked to elaborate, she said she didn't know what they had. We assumed they had Peroni and ordered a round. It's like the other "themed" beers I've been having lately. I need to stop ordering beer that matches the country of origin of my meal. The beers have been decent, but nothing I would have ordered had I not been enjoying food from the country.
Ratebeer Link: http://ratebeer.com/beer/peroni/2917/