Michelob's Two Premium Wheats: which is better?

Shock Top Belgian White

"Unfiltered Belgian-style wheat ale brewed with orange, lemon and lime peels and corleander... naturally cloudy with a light golden color."

When poured, this bright yellow-gold ale looks like Heineken. Medium-bodied with a smooth citrus taste... Its original title was perhaps a more accurate one, Spring Heat Spiced Wheat.

Summary: This is a great lager-like ale that will mix well with burgers and chicken on the backyard grill.

5.2% ABV

Hop Hound Amber Wheat

"Unfiltered American amber wheat ale brewed with a blend of imported and domestic hops for a balanced... citrus hop aroma and caramel, malty, taste."

This Spring seasonal ale is medium-bodied but it looks and tastes like an eight-tenths scale version of Gordon Biersch's Marzen lager.

Summary: This is a very, very good ale but it is just not quite good enough to match Gordon Biersch's brewed-in-San-Jose Marzen lager. I'll buy it again if I can find it at a savings of $1.00 to $2.00 over the Gordon Biersch Marzen; if not, I'll find the way to San Jose.

5.3% ABV

The win goes to Shock Top Belgian White this round, but don't try to match up these big brewer premium ales against the best from craft brewers like Gordon Biersch, Pyramid, Sudwerk, Rubicon Brewing Company, Redhook Ale Brewery, New Belgian Brewing or Oregon's Deschutes Brewery.

See also: http://troybear.blogspot.com/2009/05/big-brewer-goes-small.html

Life Is Uncertain, Don't Sip!

I would never have tasted a Lagunitas India Pale Ale (IPA) if a friend had not handed me a 22-ounce sample bottle when we met for lunch one day. OK, so just pretend to believe this...

The Lagunitas Brewing Company of Petaluma, California labels its IPA as "12 fluid ounces of Malt, Hops, Yeast and Water." In other words, it's pure and it is quite good. For a pale ale, it has a comparatively strong taste that's halfway between a strong cup of tea and a light cup of coffee. There is a definite hoppy aftertaste but it's a pleasant one, reminding you that this is not a weak ale.

Here's Lagunitas' own description of this high quality IPA:

Thanks for choosing to spend the next few minutes with this special homicidally hoppy ale. Savor the moment as the raging hop character engages the imperial qualities of the malt foundation in mortal combat on the battlefield of your palate.

Whew! Yes, you eventually taste the malt base. And you'll come to remember the slogan of this Northern California brewery: Life Is Uncertain, Don't Sip!