Framboise Raspberry Lambic: 28

Taste: 9 Finish: 9 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5
Total: 28

It looks and smells like fruit juice mixed with Sprite. Wow, a very tart punch up front from the raspberries. No trace of alcohol (~3%). Just pure carbonated punch. Drink it by the gallon.

Rogue Single Malt Ale: 18

Taste: 6 Finish: 6 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3
Total: 18

It has a clear copper color with a quick head. The aroma is sweet but faint. The first sip has a good carbonating bite to it. In the back a bit of hops peek in. Under it all is a dry hay flavor. The flavors are very light and subdued. I mean, there's enough hops there to distinguish itself. But this is a lite craft beer.

Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale: 19

Taste: 7 Finish: 7 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 22

Yards is the only full brewery actually in Philadelphia. This excludes small batch brew bars. They've been relatively well respected so I finally decided to pick up a six and start with their Philadelphia Pale Ale.

It has an interesting golden orange hue. I kind of like it. The head is full. The aroma has a real nice mix of lemon peel and hops.

It hits you with moderate bitter hops right from the tip. But it quickly mellows in the middle. There is a trace of citrus throughout which is nice. And then at the end the hops and bitterness swell. The hops are sharp but not overpowering. At this point I would consider it a pretty good pale ale that's definitely worth trying.

Smuttynose IPA: 24

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

Good creamy head. Lots of lacing. Cloudy and golden/amber color. Flecked with yeast. The aroma is of hops and grapefruit, it's just very light. Upfront it's got a good amount of floral hops. A bit of grapefruit comes in the middle as well as the hop bitterness. In the back is a bit of piny oil which stays on the tongue. On the breath is more floral hops. It's got good punch but it won't knock you out. A well balanced IPA.

Harpoon UFO White: 16

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

Harpoon recommends serving with a slice of orange. I have to agree. There is orange undertones to the brew, but it needs a real orange to kick it up and make it taste good. Heck, maybe even a shot of orange juice would help. The flavor is also a bit chaulky and has a seltzer-quality backbone. The head is huge on pour but dissipates quickly and has no lacing. The brew could be much better, but instead it's middling at best.

Rodenbach Flemish Red Brown: 20

Taste: 6 Finish: 7 Visual: 3 Aroma: 4
Total: 20

It's a deep and cloudy mahogany with a thin head. The aroma is light but sweet with ripe cherries. The flavor is very pungent, tart, and sour. Under it is more cherries and ripe red plums. But it fades quickly leaving behind a slightly sour finish. It could use a bit more fruit throughout instead of just the tartness. Certainly a refreshing beer that will clear the palate. But not one I'd reach for again.

Stone 14 Imperial IPA: 29

Taste: 10 Finish: 9 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5
Total: 29

Stone commemorates its 14th anniversary with another huge IPA. It really looks more like a wheat beer. Golden, almost orange colored. Totally unfiltered. You can't see through it at all. Big creamy head. Nice lacing. The aroma has malt, but also grapefruit and orange and even a bit of pine. It's almost sweet upfront. The citrus is really front and center with the sweetness of orange juice and the bitterness bite of grapefruit. But then the hops kick in big. It's sharp on the tongue. A good bit of pine hits the back of the tongue. It's very oily on the tongue with plenty of lingering hops, pine, and grapefruit. Along with its almost 9%, the bigness of it makes this a slow sipper. Grab a bottle for a long night, or split it with a friend. Fantastic.

Philadelphia Brewing Newbold IPA: 21

Taste: 6 Finish: 7 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 21

A good whiff of roasted malt and honey. Creamy head with a bit of lacing. Good amber color. But after the pour it's slightly flat which gives it a mellow mouth feel. Nice big cream flavor upfront. Good roasted malt. A moderate amount of hops in the back. But there is no bite from the hops. No grapefruit or florals. I would say it's a very smooth IPA. Good flavor but not bold or overbearing. Slightly more hops than a Sam Adams. More of an "everyday" IPA.

Dogfish Head My Antonia: 29

Taste: 10 Finish: 10 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4
Total: 29

An Imperial Pilsner? Yes, please! You know it's going to be good when even the foam is tasty. It pours with a big, creamy head. The color is a slightly cloudy gold. The aroma is big with grapefruit and hops. The flavor is very reminiscent of a medium IPA like their 60 Minutes. But it's somehow cleaner than that. The spiced hops are there. Lots of grapefruit, lemon, and coriander. But it slides down the tongue instead of punching it. The lagering really helps mellow the flavors without muting them. You could down many of these without hesitation despite the 7.5% alcohol. It's just that clean and smooth without sacrificing flavor. Why haven't I seen this before? Truly a great concept and a new favorite.

Stoudt's Pils: 24

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

Big creamy head with lacing. Light golden in color. Slightly cloudy. Faint malt, bread, and banana in the aroma. Just having their Gold, the Pils is like the lighter version of it. Much lighter in hop flavor, but a lot more crisp. Definitely lemon peel and slight black pepper. And cleaner finish. This is definitely a hot weather brew.