Wailua Wheat Ale

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: 5.4%
Brewery: Kona Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Wheat Ale
2012 Rating: C
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Golden color with 1 finger head that disappeared immediately, no lacing.  Wheat & Passion Fruit (per their website) aroma.  I honestly don't know what passion fruit smells or tastes like.  Wheat, citrus & passion fruit (???) taste.   Smooth sweet wheat start; start (sour) finish.  Average.

Smithwicks Irish Ale

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: 4.5%
Brewery: Guinness & Co
Country: Ireland
Beer Type: Irish Red Ale
2012 Rating: C+
2011 Rating: C+

Comments:  "Smitiks" has a smooth / malt flavor, no hops to speak of - easy to drink, but not much happening.  I'm just not a big fan of Irish Red Ale's.  Better than Killians.

Bengali Tiger

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: 6.4%
Brewery: Sixpoint Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: IPA
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Golden orange color with a 1 finger white head, great lacing.  Citrus hop aroma.  Citrus & pine hop balanced with caramel malt.  Easy to drink.

Rivertown Helles Lager

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: 5.3%
Brewery: Rivertown Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Lager
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: B

Comments:  Golden color , 2 finger white head that disappeared quickly, minimal lacing.  Starts with a smooth malt taste - hop finish. 

Palm Dobbel

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: 6%
Brewery: Palm Breweries NV
Country: Belgium
Beer Type: Belgium Amber
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a beautiful clear amber red color with a 1" finger white head.  Great malt & caramel aroma.  Roasted malt, caramel & spice taste - SMOOTH.  Excellent.

George Killians Irish Red

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: 4.9%
Brewery: Coors Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Red Lager
2012 Rating: B-
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Amber red color with a 1 finger white head. Slight malt aroma. Malt & caramel taste - crisp - no hops. OK

Dark Horse Tres Blueberry Stout

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: 7.5%
Brewery: Dark Horse Brewing Co.
Country:  USA
Beer Type: Stout
2012 Rating: A & I
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a black coffee color with a 1 finger mocha head.  Chocolate, coffee, blueberry & roasted malt aroma.  Taste starts with coffee, sweet chocolate & BLUEBERRY, followed by a nice roasted malt finish.

Guinness Draught

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: 4.2%
Brewery: Guinness LTD
Country: Ireland
Beer Type: Irish Dry Stout
2012 Rating: AAA+
2011 Rating: AAA+

Comments:  Nothing beats "The black liquidation with the froth on the top"!  In my opinion, Guinness should never be drank direct from a bottle - watching it properly poured  into a pint glass is quite an experience. EXCELLENT!

Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: 9%
Brewery:  North Coast Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Imperial Stout
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating:N/A

Comments:  Pours a dark brown color with a 2 finger creamy tan head, nice lacing.  Chocolate - malt -alcohol aroma.   Chocolate, coffee, malt & alcohol taste. Smooth - easy to drink; but the alcohol taste queers it for me.

Spaten Optimator Doppelbock

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: 7.2%
Brewery: Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Doppelbock
2012 Rating: C
2011 Rating: C

Comments: Dark amber color, 2 finger cream head. Roasted malt / alcohol aroma. Sweet caramel / fruit flavor. This beer is labeled as a "MALT LIQUOR".  Remember: "Beer is fine, but malt liquor's quicker."  (I know; I modified that saying)

Tröegs HopBack Amber Ale

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: 6%
Brewery: Tröegs Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Amber Ale
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Amber / caramel color with a 1 finger off white head, nice lacing.  Caramel malt & pine aroma.  Taste starts with a nice citrus & pine hop flavor, followed by a caramel malt sweetness.  Excellent!

Christian Moerlein Emancipator Dopplebock

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: 7%
Brewery: Christian Moerlein Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Bock
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: B+

Comments:  Dark amber/brown color - nice off white head.  Drank from a plastic cup @ Bockfest - really couldn't judge the lacing.   Sweet caramel -  malt aroma & taste.   Full bodied .

Yuengling Bock Beer

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: 5.1%
Brewery: D.G. Yuengling & Sons, Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Bock
2012 Rating: C
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a dark copper color with a 1 finger off white head, some lacing.  Slight malt aroma. Taste: sweet malt start, followed by  some hop bitterness, ends with a weird sour taste.

Schoenling Bock Beer

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: N/A
Brewery: Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Bock
2012 Rating: C+
2011 Rating: C+

Comments:  Red/brown color - off white head.  Drank from a plastic cup @ Bockfest - really couldn't judge the lacing.   Roasted malt taste.

Hudepohl Festival Bock Beer

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: 6.5%
Brewery: Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Bock
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: A-

Comments:  Nice amber color, small off white head, no lacing.  Sweet malt aroma.  Yeast, bread malt & caramel  taste.  Easy to drink.

Friar Bacon Smoked Bock

Reviewed:  March 2012
ABV: 7%
Brewery: Listermann Brewing
Country: USA
Beer Type: Rauchbier
2012 Rating: I & A
2011 Rating: I & A

Comments:  "Just Like The Monk's Made It"    Strong smoked "bacon" aroma and taste.  Its just like drinking BACON.  EXCELLENT