Slightly problematic, this beer list is growing longer by the summer. I think I'll have to create tougher divisions. later though.Yum! * indicates special note
(In general, I don't describe the "Yum" beers because you really just can't go wrong. )
- La Chouffe* (Belgian ale)
- Kasteel Rouge (Belgian cherry ale)
- Founder's Rubaeus (American raspberry ale)
- Ayinger Weizen (German)
- Weihenstephan Hefeweiss & Kristal (German)
- Sella del Diavolo* (Italian ale: malty)
- Harviestoun Ola Dubh 12 year* (dark ale matured in Highland Park Scotch casks)
- Hitachino Nest XH Ale (Japanese dark sake ale)
- Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale (Japanese ale: hint of soy and seaweed)
- Hitachino Nest Real Ginger Brew (Japanese ale: all Hitachino Nests are super carbonated)
- Seson (Italian Saison, smaller version named Sesonette: nice citrus kick)
- Gaffel kolsch (German exclusive to Munich lager: floral w/ a moderate hop finish); weird web site, good bier
- Sly Fox Saison VOS (American Saison, light crisp hint of citrus with clean bite; until I had this beer, I wasn't a huge fan of the Sly Fox style)
- Kirkland Signature Beers (hefeweizen, pale ale, lager); don't knock the house brand - you won't find beers that taste as classic for the price.
- Schneider-Weisse Aventinus* (wheat doppelbock); don't let the darkness turn you away. Vanilla, nutmeg, chocolate finish. Beer Advocate reviews.
- Dogfish Aprilhop IPA
- Ommegang Hennepin
- Ommegang Three Philosophers (American brewed, Belgian-styled cherry ale)
- Monk's Flemish Sour (flemish sour ale; easy to drink sour as opposed to others I've tried)
- Corsendonk Abbey Pale Ale (Belgian ale)
- Etienne Dupont Cidre Bouché Brut de Normandie (French Cider unknown year: drink in porcelain! While this Cider is certainly special, it might have been the bottling year, or just the atmosphere during drinking, but it wasn't as good as I wanted it to be. We'll see the next time I drink it, if I change my mind.)
- Brouwerij Huyghe Floris Framboise (Belgian raspberry lambic)
- General Lafayette Abbey Blonde (American brewed, Belgian-styled blonde ale: savory herbal notes with hoppy finish)
- Green Flash Brewing Co. Trippel Belgian Style Ale (The hop on this beer is slightly edgy - a little more than I like but not too much that makes it undrinkable. It has a thickness to it, so does better with heavier foods. But what really makes this beer is its punch. 8.5% in a 1 pt 6 fl oz. Perfect for two!)
- Flying Fish Extra Pale Ale (Just enough hop to cut spicy food, but not too much hop that you couldn't drink it all by itself).
- The Bruery Saison de Lente and Dogfish Aprilhop IPA
- Southampton Double White Ale
- Anything from Founders Brewery
- Stone Saison de BUFF (ostensibly also, Dogfish and Victory versions)
- Pretty much anything from Deschutes but especially the Abyss is one to try.
- Unibroue
Drinkable
- Longtrail Blackberry Wheat (blackberry on the nose, but not in the taste. super clean and light to the point where it lacks flavor, but with almost zero hop, it's certainly drinkable)
- Franziskaner Weiss (if you can't get a better German Weissen, and your other options are Corona or some other crap, then drink the Franziskaner. Priced well, goes down smooth and no headaches makes this beer totally drinkable)
- Magic Hat Circus Boy Wheat (in general, I care very little for the Magic Hat brand, but if you have to drink something, this one works)
- Yards Extra Special Ale
- Kirkland Signature Beers Amber Ale (I just don't like ambers as much so that's why this beer isn't sitting one rung higher).
- Alaskan brews - as the only imported domestic, these are much better out of the tap and best if you drink them in Juneau.
- colorado ginger beer (needs more info)
Pretty good, but not for me
- N'ice Chouffe (spiced ale) regrettably, spiced ales not to my taste
- Duchesse de Bourgogne (flemish sour) with the right food, probably good
- Australian Cherry lambic too sweet for me!
- Petrus Pale Ale (Belgian aged ale) wasn't expecting the flavor, would probably try again
- Hitachino Nest Weizen (I'll take a German weizen, thanks!)
- Magic Hat No. 9 (everyone LOVES this beer, but frankly, it gives me a headache)
- Eel River Extra Pale Ale (good solid start. floral hops finishes the beer, which is not bad and works well with the pizza I was eating. All Eel Rivers are a shade too hoppy for me)
Yuck!
Beers I thought I might like, but didn't probably because they were too hoppy, too sweet, or just too something for my tastes (which doesn't mean they don't fit yours!)
- Harpoon UFO Raspberry Hefeweizen
- Fort Collins Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat
- Floris Apple Lambic
- Magic Hat Odd Notion Agave Pilsner
- Troeg Sunshine Pils
- Eel River Acai Berry Wheat (I really wanted to like this beer. good nose, interesting berry flavour at the beginning, flat and musty end. The finish kills the beer for me); Amber and Porter (not much to say except just not my taste)
- Dogfish Festinus Peche (just the wrong taste for me)
- Bell's
- 312 Goose Island Urban Wheat Ale
