Heineken: 16

Taste: 5 Finish: 4 Visual: 3 Aroma: 4
Total: 16

Growing up, Heineken and Lowenbrau probably epitomized what good European beer was. In a new world where great craft beer can be gotten almost anywhere, is Heineken still a king amongst brews?

It has a very pale yellow color with a small head. The color is kind of generic. The aroma is what you'd expect for a light lager. Straw. A bit of hops. And it has that European pilsner aroma even though this isn't technically a pilsner. It's a pale lager which to me means generic.

It has a bit of a bitter bite up front. By the middle the earthiness of it opens up. Straw. Earth. I want a little lemon or yeast in it but there is none. And in the back is the flavor of boiled hops. It finishes cleanly with just a hint of hops on the tongue.

I mean, this has more flavor than any macrobrew from the US or Europe. So, in that way it succeeds. It's the step up from Bud that a more discerning drinker wants. So, great for a party to show your guests you have another choice. But, I can't figure out why you'd ever buy it for yourself to drink when there are literally dozens of better brews in the cold case. For those who think this is great beer, move a shelf or two down and get some Pilsner Urquell or Stella Artis. Or Harpoon. Or Sierra Nevada. Or...

Bear Republic - Red Rocket Ale: 26

Taste: 9 Finish: 9 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 26

It's a brown/reddish color and cloudy. It has a nice small creamy head. The aroma is very light but has some malt and citrus in it.

There just a hint of sweetness upfront but very quickly that fades. Bitterness and spice pick up on the edges of the tongue. In the back the hop flavor kicks in. There's a bit of dry nut undertone to it. The finish is a bit oily and stays on the tongue nicely.

This is great. Good flavor but not overpowering. Very drinkable. A bit stronger in alcohol but not overbearing. Definitely a brew you can drink all night.

Bear Republic - Big Bear Black Stout: 22

Taste: 7 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 2
Total: 22

It pure black in a glass with a huge chocolate brown head. It has very little aroma which is disappointing.

It creamy and a bit sweet upfront. But quickly a moderate hop bitterness cuts in. Then a nice wallop of black coffee. A bit of caramel. It stays on the tongue for a while. There's just a little bit of alcohol under it all. This clocks in at 8.1% so it's strong but not overpowering.

It's a very nice and big stout. Not one I would grab repeatedly. But worth a few now and then.

Budweiser American Ale: 16

Taste: 5 Finish: 4 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 16

Bud comes out with their first ale. Surprisingly, it looks great. Good amber color with a full head. It has a sweet malt aroma. No hops or citrus.

It is very sweet. Lots of malt up front. There is a bit of dryness at the end which shows there are a few hops in here. But certainly not like what the bottle says. Closing my eyes I'll tell you exactly what this tastes like. Yeungling but sweeter. With a bit of a stretch, it tastes as if Yeungling made an Octoberfest beer. Actually, that's not a bad thing. But, they certainly have not made anything that tastes like an ale. No way, no how. I don't care how they made it. This tastes like a lager.

Wild Turkey Rye Whisky: 23

Taste:8 Finish: 7 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 23

Tasted on the rocks, no added water.

It has a medium amber color. I'd prefer it a bit darker but it's still appealing. The aroma is light but a good sniff reveals tobacco and hay and just a hint of alcohol.

It's a bit oily up front which is interesting. It is very bold with big caramel, grains, vanilla, and in the back a wallop of alcohol. It is 101 proof . Under it is a bit of sweetness. The flavor lingers and stings the tongue. But it's not harsh. As the ice melts and the mix gets diluted, it definitely mellows a bit. It is very "big country" with flavors of the farm: hay, grains, the earth.

Ryes are typically a bit more bold and lean towards harsh when not done properly. This has a nice balance. Overall I'd say a well done rye. More flavor than its Jim Beam counterpart. I rather like it.

Cerveceria Modelo Especial: 8

Taste: 2 Finish: 2 Visual: 3 Aroma: 1
Total: 8

It's cold. It's wet. It tastes like "beer". It smells of boiled malt. It has a cooked down flavor. But, it does have a decent color!

Bear Republic Racer 5: 24

Taste: 8 Finish: 7 Visual: 4 Aroma: 5
Total: 24

Bear Republic is partially credited for bringing ultra-hopped IPAs to California, and ultimately the country.

It has a slightly cloudy yellow color with a hint of orange. It has a full creamy head. It has a grapefruit and spiced aroma.

The bitter hops are front and center. Behind it is a bit of grapefruit but not as much as I expected. In fact, the whole brew is oddly strong yet muted. It's lightly carbonated giving it just a bit of sizzle around the edges of the tongue. The finish has some dry hops on it but it's not overpowering.

It's a step stronger than a good IPA but nothing as powerful as a Stone Arrogant Bastard or Smuttynose Big A IPA. Very drinkable for a big beer.

Harpoon Octoberfest: 24

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 3
Total: 24

It has a perfect amber color with a very full and creamy head. The aroma is sweet but faint.

There is the typical sweet malt upfront. Nothing too strong. That washes over the tongue and then a nice amount of bitter hops kicks in the back. So, it has a great balance. The finish is a bit dry and clean and dissipates quickly.

It's missing a bit of that standard Octoberfest flavor. But it's still a solid brew. Very drinkable with just the right amount of sweet and bitterness to it.

Smuttynose Wheat Wine Ale:27

Taste: 9 Finish: 10 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 27

This brew is made by combining a barleywine with a wheat brew and then hopping it.

It has a very deep mahogany color with very little head. The aroma is of very sweet malt but also of ripe red fruit.

It is a totally unique taste. There is a bit of sweetness upfront. But pretty quickly the alcohol kicks in (10.7%). It's a warming alcohol, not a harsh one. Similar to a red wine. Towards the back the hops show up nicely. Just a bit of bitterness around the tongue to balance out the alcohol. In the finish the ripe red fruit picks up and it ends a bit tart and a bit sweet. I taste some plums and cherries.

A really great brew. Would be great to start a meal or finish it. It's too complex to eat a main course with. I've read that if you cellar this bottle for a while it will tame the alcohol. But cellar it too long (~2 years) and it takes all the punch out of it.

So, pick up 2 bottles from this year. Drink one now and then another next year. It will be a nice treat.

Stoudts Oktoberfest: 24

Taste: 7 Finish: 9 Visual: 5 Aroma: 3
Total: 24

It has a great copper color with a full creamy head. It has a very light malt aroma.

It has a moderate sweetness upfront from the malt. Under it is a bit of roasted nuts and caramel. There is a bit of brightness of hops at the back of the tongue. But it finishes very cleanly. In fact, it's a bit dry which I wasn't expecting. Definitely some walnut. It's really nice. I expected a bit more character upfront. But the finish is great.