Somersault Ale

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Blonde Ale
2012 Rating: B-
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a clear golden color with a 1 finger white head, nice lacing.  Lemon & citrus hop aroma.  Lemon, fruit & citrus hop taste, dry finish. 

Blank Slate Movin' On

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 4.2%
Brewery: Blank Slate Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Session Ale (English Style Bitter)
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Blank Slate is a new micro-brewery in Cincinnati.  First time I have had one of their beers.  Movin' On is a "session ale" - with a  4.2 ABV you can drink it all nite.  This beer is an English Style Bitter - pours a hazy amber color with a small white head, no lacing.  Nice breaded malt aroma and taste.  Smooth & easy to drink all nite :)  Nice beer - give it a try!

Samuel Adams Whitewater IPA

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 5.8%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: IPA
2012 Rating: B-
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a beautiful cloudy orange color with a 2 finger fluffy white head, nice lacing.   Spice citrus & pine aroma.  Taste is a combination of a wheat beer & an IPA.  Spice & citrus of wheat &  pine hops.  Kind of weird  - not my favorite IPA.

Shiner Spring Ale

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 5.5%
Brewery: Spoetzl Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Dortmunder
2012 Rating: C
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Label states: "Nothing Finer Than A Springtime Shiner"  I beg to differ…many brews are finer than a springtime Shiner.  I like the slogan better than the beer :)  AVERAGE 

Hennepin

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 7.7%
Brewery: Brewery Ommegang
Country: USA
Beer Type: Belgium Style Saison Ale
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a cloudy golden color with a fantastic fluffy white head, some lacing.  Fruit (lemon, banana -orange) and spice aroma.  Similar taste - lemon, orange banana, spice & sweet malt.  An excellent Belgium style beer…but I could not drink it all night.

Left Hand Stranger APA

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Left Hand Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Pale Ale
2012 Rating: C+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a deep golden color with a nice white head, great lacing.  Slight pine, malt & spice aroma.  Taste starts with sweet caramel rye malt, spice & ends with mild floral hops.

Great Lakes Holy Moses White Ale

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 5.4%
Brewery: Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Belgium Witt
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:   Beautiful cloudy yellow color with a nice fluffy white head. Banana & clove aroma. Banana, lemon & clove or coriander taste. Light & refreshing. As good as Hoo- gaarden :)

Breckenridge Agave Wheat

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 4.2%
Brewery: Breckenridge Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Spiced Wheat Ale
2012 Rating: C-
2011 Rating: C-

Comments:  "Unfiltered - Brewed with Agave Nectar."   Hazy straw yellow color, a 1/2" head that disappears immediately.  A citrus & spice aroma?  Starts sweet, then citrus  flavor hits, ends with a weird bitterness (agave?).  Rating & review unchanged from 2011.  Forgettable.

Samuel Adams Porch Rocker

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 4.5%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: German Style Radler
2012 Rating: I
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Interesting, a blend of Bavarian Lager and lemons.  (mix of beer and lemonade).  Sweet…DUH!  Interesting.  I'm stuck with 3 more bottles.

Hop Sun Summer Wheat Beer

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type:
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: B

Comments:  Pours a clear yellow color with a 1 finger white head, no lacing.  A citrus hop aroma.  Pronounced citrus, hops and a sweet wheat taste.  Easy to drink.

Victory Headwaters Pale Ale

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 5.1%
Brewery: Victory Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Pale Ale
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a nice copper color with a 1 finger off white head, nice lacing.  Pine hop aroma.  Taste starts with a nice hop  &  spice flavor, followed by some malt sweetness.  A nice APA.

Hudepohl Summer Pils

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV:  N/A
Brewery: Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Pilsner
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: 5%

Comments:  Oops - problem in the bottle labeling department!  Great summer beer!  Pours a clear golden color with a 2 finger white head, great lacing.  Smooth, slightly sweet, spice & citrus notes.  EASY TO DRINK!

Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 4.2%
Brewery: Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: fruit beer
2012 Rating: C+
2011 Rating: F
2010 Rating: B

Comments:  Sometimes its all about where & when you drink a beer.  In 2010, I drank Summer Shandy at the Cabana on a hot day & it hit the spot: rated a B.  In 2011, I drank  Summer Shandy inside, at a dumpy sports bar - no atmosphere & the beer tasted terrible; rated an F.   This year I once again drank Summer Shandy at the Cabana on a nice sunny afternoon, watching the boaters on the Ohio River.  "Hazy yellow color, drank it in a plastic cup  - by the time it was served, the head was gone.  Strong orange, lemon  / lemonade smell & taste - nice beer for a hot day in the sun."  

Moerlein Northern Liberties IPA

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 6.3%
Brewery: Christian Moerlein Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: IPA
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: B+

Comments:  Copper color, creamy white two finger head, nice lacing.  Aroma: disappointing -not much happening.  Taste: More malt taste than most IPAs.  Sweet caramel malt start,  piney hop & citrus finish.  A "Good Solid Citizen".

Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 7.2%
Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Country:  USA
Beer Type: American IPA
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: A

Comments:  Clear copper color, 2 finger fluffy white head, great lacing.  Pine, citrus and hop aroma.  Taste starts sweet malt, followed  up with pine & citrus hops, ends with a nice hop bite.  In my opinion a perfect IPA!

Victory Whirlwind Witbier

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Victory Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Witbier (Belgium White)
2012 Rating: C+
2011 Rating: B+

Comments:  Pours a hazy straw yellow color with a small white head that disappears QUICKLY, some lacing.  Nice spice, lemon and orange aroma, typical of a Witbier.   Taste, similar to the aroma, spice, lemon, orange & maybe some banana.   A nice Belgium style Witbier - light and very refreshing.  The "weak sister" of the evening.

Harpoon Catamount Maple Wheat

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 6.8%
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Wheat Ale
2012 Rating: I
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Brewed with Vermont Maple Syrup.  Pours a deep amber color with a 1 finger off white head.  Maple syrup & caramel malt aroma and taste.  Sweet (what would you expect?)  When drinking this beer,  you should also order bacon, eggs & PANCAKES - no need to add syrup.   INTERESTING

Smuttynose Big A IPA

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 9.7%
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Imperial (Double) IPA
2012 Rating:  A+
2011 Rating:  N/A

Comments:  Another fantastic Imperial IPA "hop bomb".  Pours a cloudy orange color with a 1 finger white head, excellent lacing.  Grapefruit & citrus hop aroma.  Huge pine & citrus hop flavor with some caramel malt in the background - smooth & creamy.  9.7% ABV - watch it - anytime your beer is served in a tulip glass -                                 LOOK OUT :)  EXCELLENT!

Samuel Adams Summer Ale

Reviewed:  June 2012
ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Wheat Ale
2012 Rating: B+
2011 Rating: B+

Comments:  Pours an orange yellow color with a 2 finger white head, some lacing.   Wheat & lemon aroma.  The taste is lemon, wheat and spice.   A great summer beer!