Hofbräu Bohemian Pilsner

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 5.1%
Brewery: Hofbräuhaus
Country: Germany & USA
Beer Type: Pilsner
2011 Rating: A
2010 Rating: B

Comments:  Dark golden color, nice lacing.  Sweet malt aroma.  light, crisp taste - sweet malt start with a slight hop finish.

Hofbräu Premium Lager

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: Hofbräuhaus
Country: Germany & USA
Beer Type: Munich Helles Lager
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Clear yellow color, decent head that lasted for a while.  Taste: nice malt flavor with some hop bitterness.   Clean, crisp - easy to drink.  This beer is brewed under License and Supervision of Staatliches Hofbräuhaus in München.

Victory Whirlwind Witbier

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Victory Brewing Co.

Country: USA
Beer Type: Belgian style Witbier (White Ale)

2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a hazy straw yellow color with a 2 finger white head that disappears QUICKLY, some lacing.  Great spice, lemon and orange aroma, typical of a Witbier.   Taste, similar to the aroma, spice, lemon, orange & maybe some banana.   A good Belgium style Witbier - light and very refreshing, a perfect beer to drink on a summer evening!

Ayinger Jahrhundert Bier

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 5.5%
Brewery: Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Dortmunder-Export Lager
2011 Rating: A
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Brewed in accordance to the "Reinheitsgebot Purity law of 1516".  Hazy gold color with 2 finger head, nice lacing.  Great bread malt aroma.  Sweet malt & spice taste with a dry finish.  EXCELLENT!

Hop Sun Summer Wheat Beer

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Wheat Ale
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: N/A

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

Oberon Ale

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 5.8%
Brewery: Bells Brewery, Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Wheat Ale
2011 Rating: AAA
2010 Rating: AAA

Comments:  As printed on the 6-pack carton: "Goodbye rain, clouds - or snow Hello, suntan lotion  This beer says one thing quite loudly & quite clearly.  Summer is here!"   Hazy golden/ orange color , white 2 finger head, nice lacing.  Wheat, clove & orange aroma.  Hops, citrus & sweet wheat taste. IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN OBERON ALE!

Magic Hat # 9

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 5.1%
Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Fruit Beer
2011 Rating: B + I
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a copper color, 2 finger white head.  Sweet fruit aroma & taste - now the big question… Name that fruit?  My initial pick was raspberry…but the taste & aroma is actually apricot.  I'll never win a game of "name that fruit".  Another INTERESTING - summer / pool-side / beach beer.  I could NOT drink this beer 24/7.

Sawtooth Ale

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 5.3%
Brewery: Left Hand Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Extra Special Bitter (ESB)
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Amber color with not much of a head (typical for an ESB).  Light bread - malt aroma.  Light, smooth malt taste - you could drink this beer all nite!  Great Extra Special Bitter beer.

Dad's Little Helper Black IPA

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 7%
Brewery: Rogue Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Black IPA
2011 Rating: B+ & I
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  The first "Black IPA" I have had.  Pours  black with a nice 1 finger cream head.  Aroma is  a great blend of roasted malt & pine hops.  Taste: bitter hop start, followed by a rich roasted malt flavor.  
     Excellent & Very Interesting.

Bells Porter

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 5.6%
Brewery: Bells Brewery Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Porter
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a DARK brown / black color with a beautiful 2 finger tan head that disappears quickly, no lacing.  Roasted malt, coffee & chocolate aroma.  Taste is similar to the aroma; sweet roasted malt, chocolate with a nice coffee finish.  Drink this "bad boy" warm to enjoy the full aroma & taste!   A good classic Porter.

Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 5.8%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: IPA
2011 Rating: A
2010 Rating: A

Comments:   Poured a deep copper color with a  1 finger off white head, good lacing.  Nice citrus hop aroma.  Great hop start, with a malt finish - well balanced. Great IPA.

Brooklyn Lager

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Amber lager
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: B

Comments:   Beautiful golden/amber color with a 2 finger white head.  Good lacing.  A revival of a pre-Prohibition all malt lager.  Brewed only with malted barley, hops & water.  Caramel malt, hop & spice aroma & taste.

Michelob Amber Bock

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: InBev-Anheuser Busch
Country: USA
Beer Type: Bock
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Dark mahogany color.  Smooth, dark-roasted malt taste.  If you are going to drink an Inbev product, drink this beer.

Ranger IPA

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 6.5%
Brewery:  New Belgium Brewing Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: India Pale Ale
2011 Rating: A
2010 Rating: A

Comments:  Bring out the HOPS!  Clear golden color,  2 finger white head - great lacing.  Strong hop aroma.  Great hop flavor start-middle-end.  Bell's Hopslam is SLIGHTLY better.

Samuel Adams East - West Kölsch

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Kölsch
2011 Rating: A
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Two great Kölsch beers in a row!  Clear golden color (slightly darker than the Full Circle), great  2 finger head.  Once again a crisp, refreshing taste - Malt & hop taste with a fruit / spice finish (not as lemony as the  Full Circle).  Both beers are excellent!

New Holland Full Circle

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: New Holland Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Kölsch
2011 Rating:  A
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Clear pale yellow color with a 1 finger white head that disappears quickly.   Light refreshing taste - hop & malt  with a slight lemon taste.  A great summertime Kölsch Beer!

Trippel Belgium Style Ale

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: 5.25%
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Tripel
2011 Rating: C
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a clear golden color with a 1 finger white head, nice lacing.  Aroma is sweet fruit, citrus, coriander ??? & Belgium yeast.  Taste sweet malt, SPICE (coriander???) and alcohol.  Not my fovorite!

Rivertown Helles Lager

Reviewed: June 2011
ABV: ?
Brewery: Rivertown Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Lager
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: B

Comments:  Golden color , 2 finger white head that disappeared quickly, minimal lacing.  Starts with a smooth malt taste - hop finish.  Very easy to drink on a nice summer evening.

Goose Island Honkers Ale

Reviewed: May 2011
ABV: 4.2%
Brewery: Goose Island Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: English Bitter
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: B+
2009 Rating: B

Comments:  I don't care if A.B (In-Bev) owns Goose Island… this is still a damn good beer!  Amber color, nice white head with great lacing. Great blend of malt & hops. Good ESB.  Easy to drink all night (& I did).

Rivertown Hop Bomber Pale Ale

Reviewed: May 2011
ABV: ?
Brewery: Rivertown Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Pale Ale
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: N/A



Comments:  The name says it all "Hop Bomber".  Great hop taste… but not in the same league as New Belgium's Mighty Arrow Pale Ale.

Rock Bottom Maibock

Reviewed: March 2011
ABV: ?
Brewery:  Rock Bottom Brewery - Cincinnati
Country: USA
Beer Type: Maibock
2011 Rating: F
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  SWEET!!! The worst beer I have had in a while. I'm a trooper, so I drank the entire beer… but  my recommendation would be - JUST DUMP IT

Rock Bottom Red Ale

Reviewed: March 2011
ABV: ?
Brewery: Rock Bottom Brewery - Cincinnati
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Amber Ale
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Copper in color, 1 finger head, no lacing (but served in plastic glass).  Nice malt aroma.  Taste:   smooth malt taste with a nice hop finish - well balanced..  Not too much hop - Pat liked this beer. :)

Moerlein Northern Liberties IPA

Reviewed: March 2011
ABV: 6.3%
Brewery: Christian Moerlein Brewing Co.
Country:  USA
Beer Type: IPA
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: B+

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

Rivertown Dunkel Beer

Reviewed: March 2011
ABV: ?
Brewery: Rivertown Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Dunkel Lager
2011 Rating: D
2010 Rating: C

Comments:   Medium brown color with a 2 finger head that disappeared quickly, no lacing.  Smells and tastes of sweet malts, grain & hints of caramel.  Just average.  There are many great Dunkels available.  Why drink this one?

Samuel Adams Summer Ale

Reviewed: March 2011
ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type:
American Wheat Ale
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: B+

Comments:  Pours an orange yellow color with a 2 finger foamy white head, some lacing.   Wheat & lemon aroma.  The taste is lemon, wheat and spice.   Almost too much lemon for me, but overall a great summer beer!