Just a quick note on a couple of beers we picked up from Trader Joe’s while in the Portland area last week: Mission Street Pale Ale and Black Toad Dark Ale.

Both were the cheap beers: $4.99 for a six-pack, and they’re good enough to make that a good deal. The Mission Street is pale gold, very clear, and hoppier than I would expect (in a good way) for a commercial-y beer. The Black Toad is mild (not astringently dark, like I was expecting), kind of sweet and maybe a little bit chocolatey.

So: better than expected. The Mission Street, at least, is probably worth buying again; I haven’t had enough of the Black Toad yet to make that determination.