Beer: Bell's Brewery - Oberon Ale

Brewery: Bell's Brewery, Inc. (Kalamazoo, MI)

Beer: Oberon Ale

ABV: 5.8%

Score: 6

Date: 04.14.12

Last Saturday I tried Oberon Ale from Bell's Brewery for the first time. It is an unfiltered ale that has a citrusy taste. While drinking Oberon I have to say that I was not all that impressed. It's not that it tastes bad or anything but it just tasted like several other summer time brews I have had in the past. Maybe if I were outside during the summer it would have tasted better than sitting inside during a cool spring day, but I'm not sure. This may be a beer that I try again later this year to see if my thoughts change, but if not I will not be heartbroken. Oberon is my least favorite beer from Bell's, with Hopslam being number one and with Two Hearted Ale and Cherry Stout being up there as well. 

Beer: Wells - Banana Bread Beer

Brewery: Wells & Young's Brewing Company (United Kingdom)

Beer:      Banana Bread Beer

ABV:      5.2%

Score:    9

Wells Banana Bread Beer is a brew that I have had several times. The banana taste and smell is strong but not overpowering. As you can see from my score, it is a beer that I really enjoy drinking. This is at least the second or third separate time that I have drank this beer and it seems to get better each time. 

Beer: Southern Tier - Raspberry Wheat

Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Company (Lakewood, NY)

Beer:      Raspberry Wheat

ABV:      4.9%

Score:    7

Date:      02.04.12

Over the weekend I had the Raspberry Wheat beer from Southern Tier Brewing Company. It is a good light tasting beer but the smell of raspberry is stronger than the taste of it. I wish the raspberry taste was more prominent in the beer; however, I did enjoy drinking it. The Imperial Créme Brûlée Stout is still my favorite beer from Southern Tier, but so far I would have to say that they do a nice job brewing beer.

Beer : Brooklyn Brewery - Black Chocolate Stout

Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery (NY)
Beer:      Black Chocolate Stout
ABV:      10%
Score:    8
Date:      01.21.12


Black Chocolate Stout is a great tasting stout that I would recommend for anyone who loves a thick, tasteful beer. With the taste of chocolate and great smell, you can't go wrong with this brew. It is a smooth drink that I would love to have again.

Beer: Left Hand - Sawtooth Ale

Brewery: Left Hand Brewing Co. (Longmont, CO)

Beer:      Sawtooth Ale

ABV:      5.3%

Score:    6

Date:      01.21.12

Sawtooth Ale is yet another brew that I had on that same Sunday. Not much to say other than it was pretty average. A little better flavor than a Bud Light or equivalent, but not one that I would want to drink much of. So far, 400 Pound Monkey IPA is still my favorite beer from Left Hand Brewing Co.

Beer: Great Divide - Titan

Brewery: Great Divide Brewing Co. (Denver, CO)

Beer:      Titan

ABV:      7.1%

Score:    8

Date:      01.21.12

Titan from Great Divide is another good IPA that I have had recently. It has a more amber color than Encore from Magic Hat and a better taste. It is a little more bitter but it is pretty smooth to drink. Titan is the second brew I have had from Great Divide as YETI is the other one. If you like IPAs, I would recommend checking out Titan.

Beer: Magic Hat - Encore

Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company (South Burlington, VT)
Beer:      Encore
ABV:      6.4%
Score:    7
Date:      01.21.12


Magic Hat's Encore was another beer we tried last weekend. It is an American Wheat IPA that has decent flavor. However, if I remember correctly, this is the beer that my brother thought smelled like trash. While I somewhat agreed with him, the taste of Encore did not remind me of trash. It is a lighter brew that does have some bitterness to it, like any other IPA. Since I gave it a 7, it is an average beer for my tastes.

Beer - Leinenkugel's: Big Eddy

Brewery: Leinenkugel's (Chippewa Falls, WI)
Beer:       Big Eddy
ABV:      9.5%
Score:      9
Date:       01.21.12


Big Eddy, a Russian Imperial Stout brewed by Leinenkugel's Brewery is another beer that my brother and I had this last weekend. As you can see by the score I gave it, it is one of the best beers that I have tried. It has a strong but not overpowering taste to it and goes down pretty smooth. Big Eddy is definitely a beer that I would like to drink again... and again. I highly recommend it to anyone that likes a good stout.

Beer - Left Hand: Black Jack Porter

Brewery: Left Hand Brewing Co. (Longmont, CO)
Beer:       Black Jack Porter
ABV:     6.8%
Score:    6
Date:      01.21.12


Black Jack Porter is another beer that my brother and I had this last weekend. It is an average beer in my opinion, as it doesn't have a great taste. As porters and stouts have probably become my favorite types of beer, this one disappointed. In my mind, porters and stouts usually have the best flavor and you can taste the different brewing ingredients, but this one was a below average porter to me. As for Left Hand beers, 400 Pound Monkey IPA is my favorite so far.

Beer - New Holland: Golden Cap

Brewery: New Holland Brewing Company (Holland, MI)
Brew:      Golden Cap
ABV:      6.25%
Score:      7
Date:       01.21.12


This last Saturday, my brother came over and we had a few beers, including this one. Golden Cap was a decent beer that had a hint of lemon, in my brother and I's opinion. It was a light tasting beer that was definitely an unfiltered one. I enjoyed it, but would not drink it often as I thought that there are many beers out there that have a similar taste.

Beer - Breckenridge: Vanilla Porter

Brewery: Breckenridge Brewery (Denver, CO)

Brew:      Vanilla Porter

ABV:      4.7%

Score:      8

Date:       01.15.12

Another beer I had on Sunday January 15, 2012 was the Vanilla Porter from Breckenridge Brewery. As with other porter's, the Vanilla Porter has a dark color and somewhat bitter taste. The vanilla flavor is prominent but not overpowering. This beer is cheaper than the Dragon's Milk from New Holland and one that I enjoyed drinking more as well. So far I have had good experiences with Breckenridge beers. The Oatmeal Stout is a great beer that is definitely worth a try for anybody.

Beer - New Holland: Dragon's Milk

Brewery: New Holland Brewing Company (Holland, MI)

Brew:      Dragon's Milk

ABV:      10.0%

Score:      7

Date:       01.15.12

This last Sunday, January 15, 2012, I tried New Holland: Dragon's Milk for the first time. As you can see from the picture, it is a dark beer / porter (I believe). Dragon's Milk is a rich but bitter beer that has some good flavor. You can definitely sense the "Aged in Oak Barrels" taste. While I did enjoy it, it is not a beer that I would drink regularly. For one, the price is pretty high at about $4.00 or so a bottle; plus it appears to be a once in a while brew for New Holland.