August is Virginia Craft Beer Month, and I had grand plans of tasting and writing a lot about beer because, let’s be honest, when it comes to alcohol while wine is my first love, beer isn’t far behind.  However, big things have been happening in the A Glass After Work household, and while I’m not quite ready to share the news publically yet, let’s just say that my focus has been elsewhere and suddenly the month has gotten away from me.  Last Friday was the culmination of everything that’s been going on, so in a true Mid-Atlantic celebratory fashion, Hubby broiled some crab cakes and I cracked open a Virginia craft beer to kick back with and just enjoy the moment.

The Blue Mountain Brewery Full Nelson Virginia Pale Ale (brewery) had a medium amber color with very little head.  On the nose, there was something a floral mixed in with hints of orange peel.  In the mouth, there was citrus and hops that gave it a touch of bitterness without being too much.  The beer had a lighter medium body with lighter carbonation.

Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll have a decent, reliable beer.   The beer was a little lighter than I expected, but had good flavor.  What was particularly exciting for me, though, was that this beer was a great match with the crab cakes.  Instead of overpowering the food’s flavor, this beer played a great supporting role during dinner, and in fact, it actually enhanced the flavors of the crab cake.  After dinner, I opened another can, which was enjoyable on its own.

Question of the Day: Are you a beer drinker or do you mostly stick with wine?  If you enjoy a cold one every now and then, what type of beer do you generally grab?

Price: I forget (sorry!)
Purchased at Arrowine
Overall: 3 Corks