Samuel Adams Octoberfest

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 5.3%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Märzen
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: B

Comments:  Dark amber / copper color with a 2 finger white head. Smell & taste is of sweet malted barley , toffee & caramel . A good Märzen style beer. 

Jever Pilsener

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 4.9%
Brewery: Friesisches Brauhaus zu Jever GmbH & Co KG
Country: Germany
Beer Type: German Pilsener
2012 Rating: C+
2011 Rating: C+

Comments:  Clear straw yellow color, white head.  Not much aroma. light crisp dry hop taste.   Smooth…but just average.

Spaten Oktoberfest Bier

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 5.9%
Brewery: Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Märzen Oktoberfest
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: B

Comments:  It's a decent Märzen.  Copper / amber color, nice white head.  Smells of malt & caramel.  Taste: sweet malt, yeast & caramel, with a slight dry hop finish.  Smooth -easy to drink.  In my opinion it's a toss up between the Spaten & Warsteiner Oktoberfest's.

Warsteiner Premium Oktoberfest

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 5.9%
Brewery: Warsteiner Brauerei
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Märzen Oktoberfest
2012 Rating: B-
2011 Rating: B

Comments:  Pours a nice amber color with a 2 finger white head.   Mild malt aroma.  Taste is sweet malt with a dry finish.   Like all Warsteiner beers that I have had;  smooth & easy to drink.

Spaten Premium Lager

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Lager
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: B-

Comments:  Light golden color, 1 finger white head.  Not much aroma.   Taste:  hops & grain - smooth.  Last year I rated this a B-, this year it's an "A".  It actually tasted better than the Warsteiner.

Warsteiner Premium Verum

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 4.8%
Brewery: Warsteiner Brauerei
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Pilsener
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: A

Comments:  An old favorite of mine.  "Because life's too short to drink cheap beer!"  A classic Pilsener.  Brewed according to the German Purity Law of 1516.

Terrapin Easy Rider

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 4.5%
Brewery: Terrapin Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Session Ale
2012 Rating: B+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments: 
Pours a clear golden color with a two finger fluffy white head (beautiful!), great lacing.  Citrus hop & sweet malt aroma.  Citrus hop and sweet caramel malt taste with a crisp finish.  Easy to drink and with a 4.5% ABV, this is an all day sipper.

Rivertown War

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 6.2%
Brewery: Rivertown Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Smoked Red Ale
2012 Rating: B & I
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Cherry wood smoked malt, rye & roasted barley malt.  Pours a dark amber color with a white head, nice lacing.  Smoke (campfire) aroma.  Smoked wood, meat (bacon?) & malt taste.  INTERESTING - worth a try.

White Rascal

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 5.5%
Brewery: Avery Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Belgium Style Witbier
2012 Rating: C
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a cloudy pale yellow color with a foamy white head that disappears quickly, no lacing.  Aroma is yeast, banana & lemon.  Taste is very similar to the aroma, Belgium yeast, citrus & banana.  I nice beer, but unremarkable.

Great Lakes Erie Monster

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 9.1%
Brewery: Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Imperial IPA
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Clear copper color with a white head, nice lacing.  Grapefruit, citrus hop aroma.  Excellent citrus-grapefruit hop bitterness balanced with some malt sweetness.  EXCELLENT…but watch out - 9.1% ABV.

Rogue Chipotle

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 5.5%
Brewery: Rogue Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Amber Ale
2012 Rating: B & I
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a deep amber color with a small white head.  Malt & pepper aroma.  Sweet bread malt & hot pepper taste.  Smooth - with a pepper bite.  Not too hot or spicy - smooth & easy to drink.  Very Good.

Belgo Belgium Style India Pale Ale

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV:  7%
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Belgium Style IPA
2012 Rating: A & I
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Clear copper color with a great 2 finger white head, some lacing.  Great grapefruit hop & yeast aroma.  Tastes just like a Belgium Style IPA should - Grapefruit hops & Belgium yeast with some malt sweetness in the background.  EXCELLENT!

Moerlein Exposition Lager

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: n/a
Brewery: Christian Moerlein Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Vienna Style Lager
2012 Rating: B+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a copper color with a 2 finger white head, nice lacing.  Aroma & taste is sweet, toasty caramel malt, not much hops.  Very Good!  A nice toasty malt Vienna Lager.

Landshark Lager

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 4.7%
Brewery: Margaritaville Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Lager
2012 Rating: D
2011 Rating: N/a

Comments:  A Corona knock off, brewed by Anheuser Busch.  Served with a lime -just drink a Corona -  the original.

Yuengling Traditional Lager

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 4.4%
Brewery: Yuengling Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Amber Lager
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: A-

Comments:  $1.00 Yuengling 16oz drafts @ Barnsburg Tavern!   Amber color, 1 finger white head, some lacing.  Malt aroma with a hint of hops.  Brewed with roasted caramel malt - taste starts malt sweet & ends with a slight hop bitterness. 

SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 5.4%
Brewery: SweetWater Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Pale Ale
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: B+

Comments:  Cloudy golden / orange color, 2 finger head- decent lacing.  Malt, hop & spice aroma.  The malt taste jumped out, followed with spice and a mild hop bitterness.    Smooth  - very easy to drink! 

Samuel Adams East - West Kölsch

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Kölsch
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: A

Comments:  Clear golden color, great  2 finger head.  A crisp, refreshing taste - malt & hop taste with a fruit / spice finish.  A nice summer beer - Excellent!

Labatt Blue

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Labatt Brewing Co.
Country: Canada
Beer Type: American Style Lager
2012 Rating: D
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  I haven't had a Labatt Blue in YEARS... and hopefully it will be many more years until I have another :)  They can't all be "A's"

Anchor Summer Beer

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 4.6%
Brewery: Anchor Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Wheat Ale
2012 Rating: C+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Anchor's been brewing their Summer Beer since 1984.  It is an all-malt  beer & over 50% of it's malt comes from malted wheat.  Pours a clear straw yellow color with a 3 finger fluffy white head.  Lemon & wheat aroma.  Taste is similar to aroma; sweet malted wheat & citrus.  Smooth, crisp & refreshing.

Hopsecutioner

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 7.3%
Brewery: Terrapin Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: India Pale Ale  (IPA)
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  I agree with the label:  "A killer IPA. You May Lose Your Head Over This One"    Pours a clear, bright copper color with a 2 finger white head, nice lacing.  Nice grapefruit hop aroma.   Pine & grapefruit hop, with caramel malt taste.  Not an "overwhelming hop bomb", but a nice IPA, none the less.

Sea Dog Blueberry Wheat Ale

Reviewed:  August 2012
ABV: 4.6%
Brewery: Sea Dog Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Fruit Beer
2012 Rating: I
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a clear golden color with no real head.  Aroma & taste is: BLUEBERRIES.  The  flavor is more subtle than the the overwhelming blueberry taste of  the Rivertown Blueberry Lager (reviewed in July)  Once again I did not reorder.   INTERESTING