Wingwalker Pale Ale

Not everything has to be innovative. Its well and good when you come across something inventive and new but if everything was that way the world would come to a screeching halt rather quickly. I like a little insanity in my fridge, don't get me wrong, but sometimes you just need a simple no frills beer.

Wingwalker does a good job of making all of their beers fairly standard for their style. When I bought this I was looking for something slightly hoppy (but not IPA territory) and still refreshing (but not lager territory). The Pale Ale it was. I have to admit it being on sale didn't hurt my decision.

Wingwalker sticks to the formula with this beer, but it tastes so balanced that there had to be some mastery behind it. Its a damn good by the book pale ale. I think one of Wingwalkers strengths is that all of their beers taste very 'clean'. I assume that this as to do with quality ingredients and the fact that there aren't too many of those said ingredients. The end result is a beer that won't be winning any awards for originality but does a fine job of meeting your expectations and quenching your thirst. My gut approves.

Musical Pairing: Big Star- Radio City (more by the numbers than their other records, but it is still a great album)

Wingwalker Lager

This is malty stuff, but just shy of crossing the line where it would start tasting ridiculous. Its not 40 oz 'malt liquor' or anything vile. You could chug this stuff all night, it is definitely one of those beers. I think I taste a little apple flavor in there, which surprisingly doesn't add a discernable crispness. I like this beer, but not for nights when I want to geek out with beer. This is not complex, which is one of its strong points. Sometimes you don't need complex, sometimes simple is just fine.

Wingwalker Lager is definitely for getting drunk, but I don't want you to think that it is akin to Old Style or some other cheap beer as its ingredients reek of quality. This stuff is a flavorful, affordable, well made lager that I am sure I will drink by the gallon once baseball season starts. It's a summer beer, so crank up the Boston and break out your lawn chairs! Drinking this stuff when it is six degrees outside is giving me some rough cabin fever, but that isn't the beers fault. Recommended!

Wingwalker Winter Brew

Wingwalker is 2 for 2! My buddy bought me this six pack and I am very glad that he did. Wingwalker Winter Brew tastes exactly like a winter brew should- crisp, hoppy and completely refreshing when its total garbage outside. In Chicago it is 10 degrees outside with sheets of ice that are covering a few inches of snow which has already turned greyish brown. Chicago needs this kind of beer. The aftertaste has a hint of citrus and has the slightest smokey yet sweet zing to it that really makes this beer. My only complaint, and this is really reaching for something here, is that the carbonation of this beer is a bit too high.

This is one of the few beers I have opened that met all of my expectations to the letter. Wingwalker Winter Brew is a great beer when you finally succumb to winter. I wish I had a fireplace to warm up to while drinking this beer, maybe lay out on a bear rug and gulp away on this stuff. Recommended!