Review of Michelob Hop Hound Amber Wheat
Posted By Ken Wednesday, 20 May 2009 21:52
In a follow up to the Shock Top review, this was my second selection while visiting a friend of mine this past weekend who purchased a mixed 12 pack of Michelob beers. There were only 2 other choices besides the Shock Top and this one, one of which I had already tried before and the other didn't interest me that much. So here is the second review of the day from Michelob. Read on to see if Hop Hound was a good choice, or belonged in a pile of dog shit.
Ken's Review
Taste: A- Hop Hound was not what I was expecting going in. When you think of Hops, Amber, and Wheat in the same beer you are kind of expecting a really bold adventure. Hop Hound, however, blends these three elements very well for a beer that rides that fine line between being too deep and being bland. The smoothness of it is welcoming, and while the aftertaste hangs out a little too long, overall it has a nice body to it. The best way I can describe it is as an Amber beer with some kick to it. Not bad at all.
Packaging: B This one (like the Shock Top label) was interesting. This one features on the center of the label a dog wearing sunglasses clutching what looks like a frisbee while wearing a red scarf around its neck. While this one also is somewhat amusing, the label doesn't really fit the beer itself and doesn't give you the feel of what you are about to drink, or are drinking.
Value: B+ Michelob has always been a reasonably priced beer, and since mine was free I really can't complain too much in the value department. If you like a nice Amber mixed with some wheatness to it, or think you might, definitely grab some of this stuff. For the price, it is an overall great deal.
Drunkeness: B+ The Hop Hound comes in at 5.3% alcohol content. Kind of an unusual number, but in this case I like it because you get enough alcohol in it to get you feeling good without it being enough to send you into stupor too fast to enjoy the beer. I'm not sure how the hangover from a night of partying on this stuff would be, nor do I want to, but it has a decent enough content to help you at least be riding the wave of feeling buzzed with little effort.
Overall: A- I really can't speak negatively of this one. Fans of Michelob beers will probably appreciate this beer a little more than those who don't, but even if you don't like their other offerings (and especially if you are a fan of Ambers) you should still pick it up to try out. You might be a little more than surprised at how good this stuff really is.