Arnold Palmer Hard Half & Half

Hard Arnold Palmer Half & Half

Knob Creek

Knob Creek

Gotta love instagram!

"Mouse" Drinks Saranac

Saranac Adirondack Lager

Saranac Adirondack Lager is a brand made in Utica, NY and can be found at http://www.saranac.com/. They are also on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Saranac) and you can follow them on twitter @SaranacBrewery

MATEUS Rose Wine

Mateus Rose Wine

When someone asks me to get wine, I am going to find the most unique wine in the entire liquor store. That's how I discovered MATEUS. It's brilliant and unique bottle + name of MATEUS = Beck's Brands Purchase.  It is a Rose wine that was quite bubbly, but not too bubbly where we didn't like it. MATEUS was semi-sweet and @33Cait88, @dirtyjerzimages, and @jillydukez all enjoyed the taste as well. An overall great product, with the bottle being worth saving and displaying. I will definitely purchase this product in the future. Thanks MATEUS! I couldn't find a website, so you can check Wikipedia for more info - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mateus_(wine)

GT Vodka

GT Vodka

It all started out with searching for "Vodka" on twitter. I wanted to try something new and unique, and also find a brand that interacts with their customers. GT Vodka caught my eye on the first page. The name GT instantly makes you think of GT muscle cars and race cars. AKA an upgrade from stock. @33Cait88 said that it reminded her of Jersey Shore, so "Gym, Tan, Vodka?" It's made in the USA and has ZERO impurities under a verified scientific test. During the taste test we discovered that it went very well with mixers like tonic, cola, and red bull. I also heard online that it tastes good with @SPEED_ENERGY. The GT logo with wings is my favorite part of the bottle. GT Vodka is Headquartered in Winter Park, FL and is made with ingredients from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. They sponsor NASCAR drivers and JR Motorsports. You can follow them @gtvodka on twitter or like their facebook fan page here - https://www.facebook.com/GrandTouringVodka. For more information visit http://www.grandtouringvodka.com/.

Jeremiah Weed Malt Beverages

Jeremiah Weed Malt Beverages

I was in Springfield, MA this past weekend and at the local "package store" was a taste testing for Jeremiah Weed Malt Beverages, so of course I had to participate. The first flavor I tried was the Spiked Cola because I was drinking a Coca-Cola on the way there and I wanted to compare the tastes. The Spiked Cola had a very good cola taste and you could not recognize any alcohol in the drink, which is good or bad depending on your point-of-view. This "can't taste the alcohol" theme continued with the other flavors as well. The Spiked Cola tastes great, but I would not purchase it because I would not want to ruin drinking an actual cola. When I make mix drinks, I never use my favorite sodas or juices because I don't want to ruin them for future thirst situations. I could see myself using the Spiked Cola as a mixer with Vodka though. Next I tried a combination of the Lightning Lemonade and the Roadhouse Tea, which is the same concept as a Arnold Palmer. This combination I would highly recommend to people who enjoy Arnold Palmer. I am not the biggest fan of it because I don't enjoy really sweet things like the Lemonade. For the third taste test I removed the Lightning Lemonade and went with the Roadhouse Tea by itself. This was my absolute favorite because it tasted like real Ice Tea, and not like sugary, gross tea drinks on the market (Twisted Tea). I wanted to purchase a 6 pack of Roadhouse Tea, but they only had cold ones and I had to make a 3 hour trip back to New York. So next time you are looking for great flavor and taste, check out the line of Jeremiah Weed Malt Beverages. The 4.5% alcohol is completely masked and the flavor is fantastic. Jeremiah Weed also makes Vodkas and Bourbons, and you can find out more about these on http://www.jeremiahweed.com/ or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JeremiahWeed.

Moo Thunder & Beer Cloud App

Butternuts Beer & Ale

I was at the Uptown Theatre in Utica, NY where I came across a beer can with a goofy cow getting struck by lightning on it. Of course I had to try this "Moo Thunder" craziness. I love milk and anything that tastes like milk, so I went for it. Moo Thunder is a Stout beer an the first brand that comes to my mind when I hear stout is Guiness. I'm pretty sure I do not like Guiness, but I sure did LOVE Moo Thunder. It was thick and smooth, and I drank it slow because of it's dessert-like taste. Moo Thunder is made by Butternuts Beer and Ale in Garrattsville, NY and is currently available in NY and MA only. Garratsville is close to places like Cooperstown and Oneonta. After going to http://www.butternutsbeerandale.com/ they linked me to http://greatbrewers.com/ and the Beer Cloud app below. I have been to the Great Brewers website before while I was checking out Tri-Valley Beverage, a local beverage distribution company. I just downloaded the Beer Cloud app, and I can't wait to find unique brands and cans that will sit on my brand Hall-of-Fame shelves. Have you tried their 3 other beers? Let me know.

Beer Cloud

Plus they had very cool 6-pack holders:

Kanon Vodka

Kanon Vodka

I was interested in this Vodka mainly because of it's beautiful website, and the bottle design. Kanon Vodka is an organic vodka made in Sweeden. It all starts with Organic Wheat, which is then hinted in the smell and taste of the final product. The circular Kanon emblem that you see on the bottle is actually made out of metal, which I like to see in a brand. The unique bottle shape creates a spout that reminds you of the old school glasses that they pour water out of at restaurants. Kanon has been producing their organic vodka since 1580, which  enables you to feel like you are drinking vodka that is all natural and experienced. I'm not a connoisseur of alcohol or vodka, but I enjoyed the taste. It had the typical vodka kick when taking a shot, and mixed well with cola and red bull. We did have one problem though. After storing the vodka in the freezer overnight the top was very difficult to open because of its spherical design. We had to use a cloth around it to get grip. It might actually have to do with the top semi-freezing to the bottle. A very classy and beautiful bottle. I am going to keep this one for the shelves. For more information vist Kanon Vodka's Website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Wódka Vodka from Poland

Wódka Vodka

I had the chance to try Wódka Vodka last night for the first time (thanks Farmer Bob!). At first look the bottle gave me the feeling of what it would be like to grow up in Poland around the time that Vodka was invented and popularized. The label has parts written in polish, and has a rustic, hand stamped look to it. No fancy logos or designs here, just a straight up stick-to-your-roots product. You can get a 750ml bottle for around $10 bucks depending on where you go. Alcohol content is 40%. Don't let the price scare you though. Here I am writing the next morning with a clear head and no hangover. We tried the Vodka straight for our first drink. It packed a hefty punch, like most vodkas do. It didn't burn on the way down, but the smell and taste is pretty intense and not recommended for the weak drinker. We then tried the Wódka and Soda and Wódka Wed Bull. (That got me thinking that they should go after Elmer Fud for a spokesperson). I recommend this vodka as a mix drink rather than a shot. When I make my drinks I like to taste the alcohol and this vodka mixed really well. I actually had to keep adding more vodka to get the kick that I like. With most hard alcohol, it gets easier to drink as the night goes on. If you are looking to get the best bang for your buck, I would definitely tell you to try this. We had 3 people drinking on the 750ml bottle and it went a lot quicker than I thought it would.
Wódka Vodka is located in New York, New York, and the vodka is imported from Poland. I would like to see them add a link on there website to locate Wódka Vodka to purchase at retail locations. If you have any questions about the Vodka you can contact "Farmer Bob" at FARMERBOB@WELOVEWODKA.COM or friend his unique personality on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/farmerbobwodka. They are also on twitter @RealWodkaVodka. Make sure to check out their zany website at http://welovewodka.com/.
Might have some edited photos in a few days from Dirty Jerz. We did take some video, but it got a little goofy. I guess you just have to taste Wódka Vodka and experience it for yourself.

Anheuser-Busch Canned Water

Anheuser-Busch Canned Water

In the wake of natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, and now Irene, Anheuser-Busch produces, stockpiles, and donates canned water to people in need. I would absolutely love to have one of these cans for my brand collection (filled or not). To send me a can, please contact me at: becksbrands@gmail.com

New Budweiser Bowtie Can

New Budweiser Bowtie Can

Budweiser Can Evolution

The "6 Month Rule"

Have you ever wondered how long a product can be considered New? I remember trying out the New Trident Layers after seeing the commercial of people getting paid in gum. I feel like this product has been out for a while now and it still says "New" on the packaging. According to the Consumer Advertising Law Blog you must physically change the product (like ingredients) and not just re-design the packaging. The product can then claim itself as new for a period of no longer than 6 months. Seems like this rule is not set in stone, and is more of a "tentative outer limit".

Malibu Black

Malibu Black

I tried a free sample of Malibu Black a couple weeks ago and it was surprisingly very good. I do not like Malibu original, because I am not a big fan of coconut and its too sweet and sugary for my taste. The Malibu Black kicks it up a notch with Caribbean Rum which makes it 70 Proof. I could actually see myself drinking Malibu Black on the rocks at a beach. Job well done Malibu. I might actually purchase this in the future.

Pinnacle Flavored Vodkas

Chocolate Whipped

Forget the alcohol infused Whipped Cream, (Which I still have to try!) and try Pinnacle Flavored Vodkas. My personal favorite is the Chocolate Whipped. I have also tried Whipped and Cake flavors. I checked out their website and they actually produce it in 29, yes...29 Flavors. (http://www.pinnaclevodka.com/flavors). 29 Flavors sounds like an obnoxious amount of flavors, but with unique tastes like Cotton Candy, Espresso, Gummy, and Root Beer; you are sure to find something tasty that suits your mood and tingles your taste buds. No chaser necessary. Just enjoy the unique tastes that are infused in these French Vodkas.