Lagunitas: Little Sumpin' Wild (Belgian Strong Pale Ale) 8.85%

Drank From: bomber, poured into a pint glass

This pours a nice orange color with a thick foamy head. It smells very hoppy and citrusy. The flavor is very full, leaving no doubt that this is a Belgian style ale. The heavy body and yeast almost knocks you down. It is smooth and well balance for being such a strong beer. I taste malt followed by strong hops. It is not boozy like you might expect. I don't love Belgian beers, they are almost always too sweet in my opinion. This beer is pretty good though. 


My Rating: A-/4.15
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/220/57912

Great River: 483 Pale Ale (APA) 5.3%

Drank From: can, poured into a pint glass

This pours copper and has a nice two finger head. I smell a good balance of malt and hops and the taste does not disappoint. It is surprisingly hoppy and almost reminds me of an IPA. The drinkability and medium body define it as a Pale Ale. It has a nice bite and good carbonation. It is well filtered, and almost looks like a lager in it's transparency. However, it is substantial and meaty. I wish I lived nearer to this brewery.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/741/2843
My Rating: A/4.3

Lakefront: Organic ESB (Extra Special/Strong Bitter) 5.42%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

I will admit that the whole ESB genre is a newer find for me. I just started taking interest in them. Having just had Greenman's version, which was hoppy and flavor packed, I may have been expecting the same with this Organic ESB. It is, in no way, similar...they are both beer. This beer pours cloudy copper and has a nice foamy head that lasts a little longer than the other beers form this brewery. The nose is fruit and caramel; I can definitely expect some sweetness if the smells are indicative at all. Not the case. This beer is pleasantly bitter and mild. It is smooth and drinkable, one of the easiest drinkers that I've had to date. I really felt like I was having an iced tea...if iced tea had a delicious malt aftertaste. The medium body and crispness make this enjoyable throughout.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/741/2843

My Rating: B+/3.85

Lakefront: Cream City Pale Ale (APA) 5.68%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This pale ale pours cloudy orange/brown. The head is about one finger that dissipates pretty quickly. First taste seemed a little watery, but I had a beer with more hop presence during the same session, so I tried to focus on what I liked about it. It was citrusy, hoppy and herbal. It had a natural aspect that I sometimes like and sometimes do not. Like in my previous post, I have been been swayed by the name of this beer, but I thought there was a nice creaminess to it. It was light and easy to drink...could have a few of these. 


http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/741/2222
My Rating: B/3.75

Green Man: ESB (Extra special/Strong Bitter) 5.3%

Drank From: on-tap

I've been excited to try this beer for a few reasons: One, it's a local place and I appreciate that. Two, it comes recommended by a friend. Contrary to what has become popular in the beer critiquing community, I like to approach a new brew with the expectation that I am going to like it (or at least appreciate something about it). Although I enjoy discussing the nuances of beer, I am not interested in trying to prove my beer knowledge is superior to every else's by making negative assessments of everything that isn't foreign and weird. That said, this beer was good. I thoroughly enjoyed the intense hoppy flavor, which I was not expecting. It had a robust, natural element. I enjoyed the "rawness" and heaviness despite the fact that it is only 5.3%. Maybe there is power of suggestion in the name, but earthy and organic came to mind as well. I could have a few of these in a row and am looking forward to trying Green Man's other beers. 


http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/11599/28146
My Rating: A-/4.2

Warbird: Pale Ale (APA) 7.3%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This is the second time that I've had this beer, and I can't say this is something that I would buy again. It pours dark copper with a decent one finger of head that sticks around long enough. For a pale ale, this is a surprising 7.3%, which makes the second half more enjoyable than than the first. It has a strong grainy flavor that comes across as sour in the smell. The silage/boozy smell overtakes the slight hop presence. To be respectful, it has a bold flavor that some people could get behind...just not my preference. It does remind me of the Midwest, so that's something. 

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10673/36418

My Rating: C+/3.01

Sierra Nevada: Pale Ale (APA) 5.6%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale is an old stand by. It's on-tap everywhere, so the "ace in the hole" factor is a plus. I like that it is well rounded, medium bodied, and easy to have a few of. This time around I poured it into a pint glass with two fingers of head. The retention isn't as good as Celebration, but still pretty good. The color is orange/copper. I smell hops, malt and citrus. The taste is a little on the sweet side, but there is a good amount of hop presence for a Pale Ale. 

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/276

My Rating: B+/3.8

Lakefront: Wheat Monkey Ale (American Pale Wheat Ale) 4.2%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This poured cloudy orange/white and had almost no head retention. It was a little flat and sweet. I smelled a little bit of banana, but it didn't necessarily come out in the taste. I don't like wheat beer that features coriander, and I did not pick that up in this one. This didn't have an odd complexity that some wheat beers have, so I am counting that a plus. It was light bodied and easy drinking. I very publicly do not like wheat beer, but this is a good find for something different. 

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/741/50649

My Rating: C+/3.15

Coors: Killian's Irish Red (American Amber/Red Ale) 4.9%

                           Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

Ok, I have debated whether or not to even review beer like this because I am not interested in taking a snobby, snide approach to a beer that doesn't claim to be a craft brew. I crack a Natty Ice from time to time, and I would be lying to say that I didn't enjoy it. All beer has it's place. Although Killian's is better served with a drop shot of Baileys and Jamison, it can be enjoyed for what it is...affordable beer. 

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/306/909

My Rating: C/2.8

New Glarus: Coffee Stout (American Stout) 5.75%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

I didn't take down any notes while having this one, so I will be going off memory...which I realize is slightly unfair. However, I wouldn't have a lot to say about this even if I did have notes. There wasn't anything wrong with it, but I just do not prefer coffee stout. It poured black and had a coffee and chocolate smell and taste. I remember that it took me a while to get it down, so I wasn't loving it. It was more bitter than sweet. I think this needs to be consumed with some sort of dessert to really appreciate it. 

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/590/2810
My Rating: C+/3.2

Founders: Centennial IPA (American IPA) 7.2%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This poured a dark amber with 1-2 fingers of head. It has a hoppy smell that you might expect, but there is a malty smell that also comes out in the taste. I should have expected as much from an atypically dark IPA. The taste is hoppy and fruity that is followed by bitterness that lingers...but not unpleasant. It is fairly heavy bodied, so one or two of these will leave you wanting to change it up. 


http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1199/5441
My Rating: A-/4.2

Sam Adams: Latitude 48 IPA (American IPA) 6.0%

Drank from: bottle, poured into a glass

I was not expecting this to be so orange in color; it was almost red. The smell was citrus and hops. I expected it to be sweeter, but the red color comes out in the flavor. There is some dark malty flavor and a bitterness that was not unpleasant. This beer has a unique toasty flavor for an IPA, yet it is smooth and easy to drink. If I had more than one of these, I would have cracked a second and third. I'm not a huge Sam Adams fan, but this beer is good.


http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/35/57252
My Rating: B+/3.95

Olde Mecklenburg: Dunkel (Euro Dark Lager) 4.9%

Drank From: on-tap and from a growler

The bitterness in this reminded me a winter warmer. It poured a little darker than OMB Copper. It smells warm and sweet. The taste is similar, but more bitter. I like OMB beer because it is always filtered to be crystal clear and drinkable. I enjoyed alternating between this and copper. 

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/19247/54854

My Rating: A-/4.1%

Anchor: Christmas Ale 2010 (Winter Warmer) 5.5%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This is similar to the 1 year aged 2009 edition. I would say that it is even more balanced though. It reminded me of a pale ale a little more. The hops were more noticeable. The whole experience was smooth and had less of an earthy taste than 2009. It poured dark brown and had nice head. It was medium bodied; this might be something that you would drink a few of around Christmas. 


http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28/63022
My Rating: B+/3.8%

Anchor: Christmas Ale 2009 (Winter Warmer) 5.5%

Drank  From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

I first had this last Christmas. I remember it being a little too spicy and piny in taste and smell. I saved one to see if it would mellow out a year later; which turned out to be true. It poured dark brown with a nice head on it. The smells and flavors were much more rounded out and pleasant. I could smell caramel and toasty, but the taste was bitter and not sweet...similar to an ESB. This was definitely better than it was a year ago. 

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28/53863

My Rating: B/3.75

SweetWater Tackle Box (4 variety 12 pack)

I've had SweetWater before a few times, but last month I decided that getting a variety pack would be a good way to sample these beers again. Plus, I needed to revisit them for the sake of the blog. Like most mix pack within a brand, one or two stand out as clear favorites. It almost isn't fair to pit them against each other. The IPA was my favorite in this case, followed by 420. The other two we goo too, but less memorable. 
I Drank All From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

SweetWater: IPA (American IPA) 6.7%

The IPA had 1 1/2 Fingers of head and was copper in color. The chunky head lasted throughout. The smell was strong hops and floral. This was suprisingly more refreshing than some other IPAs that I've had. The taste is bold, but is quickly out of your mouth. It does not have that lingering sour flavor that makes you wish you could brush your teeth; and you would if you didn't already know how terrible beeramint is. It has a welcome crispness and a little malty finish. It was medium bodied and easy to drink, but pretty zesty. I probably wouldn't drink more than two of these in a sitting. 


http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/273/1493
My Rating: A+/4.55


SweetWater: 420 Extra Pale Ale (APA) 5.4%
This poured light orange and had one finger of head that didn't last. This was very refreshing and easy to drink. Hops and floral come out in the smell and taste. I noticed that it was a little more malty than other pale ales that I've testy, which is nice for a change. It relatively light bodied, making it easy to have several of these in a sitting without making yourself feel like a sausage. 


http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/273/751
My Rating: A/4.35

SweetWater: Exodus Porter (American Porter) 5.9%
This poured black with one finger of foamy head. The smell was tasty, malty, coffee and sweet. The taste is even more dark than the smell. I was expecting something sweet and got pleasant toasty, maybe even a little burnt flavor. This was medium bodied and had noticeable carbonation for a porter. I don't typically drink porters and stouts in succession, but you could if that's your bag. 

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/273/1494
My Rating: B/3.7


SweetWater: Sweet Georgia Brown (English Brown Ale) 5.4%
This poured dark brown with 2 fingers of foamy head. It toasty and sweet, maybe even a little sour. The taste was more smoky and not as sweet as a Sierra Nevada: Tumbler. It is medium bodied and crisp. Given the right mood or season, a couple of these would be nice. 

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2078/9826
My Rating: B+/3.85