Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale: 24

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

Total: 24

Great head that lingers. Lots of lacing. Cloudy and amber color. Aroma is of hops and slight grapefruit. Lots of hops throughout without being overpowering. It will cut through any thirst but it's a bit too strong to beat the heat. Lots of pine and earthy flavors. A bit of grapefruit in the back. A hint of floral hops on the aftertaste. And the bitterness lingers, as it should. It's a big pale without going to IPA. But I've tasted IPAs with less punch.

Troegs Dream Weaver: 20

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

Good head that fades quickly. Pale straw yellow and cloudy color. The aroma has a good amount of yeast and straw. It has a light body with a good amount of carbonation. The yeast is consistent throughout including the exhale. Slight lemon undertones as well. Can really cut through a thirst and cool you off. Perfect for hot weather. Might be better with a lemon wedge to accent the citrus.

Victory Headwaters: 29

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

The aroma is light, but you can smell hops, citrus, banana, and earthy tones. The head is thick and it has a bit of lacing. The color is a medium copper. This is either a strong pale or a weak IPA. Either way it's great. The hops are throughout from the tip to the exhale but they never overpower. Under it are banana, the dryness of walnut, earthy spices. It also has a floral quality to it which I love.

For a pale ale or even a regular IPA, I love love love this brew. Perfect.

The Bruery Saison de Lente: 23

Taste: 7 Finish: 7 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4
Total: 23

A huge creamy head. It literally looks like whipped cream floating. The color is a medium golden/amber. Very cloudy. The aroma has vanilla, some citrus, banana, and bread. The flavor is very light, but it basically tastes like it smells. The huge head takes out much of the carbonation which makes it smooth and doesn't have a bit of bite that I want. I'll pour more slowly next time. The finish is also light but a bit of bitter hops lingers, as well as the yeast and citrus. And a hint of alcohol (6.5%). A very good brew for the warming weather. Drink the first one quickly to cool off. Drink the rest moderately and enjoy the flavor.

Fuller's London Pride: 9

Taste: 3 Finish: 2 Visual: 2 Aroma: 2
Total: 9

I was expecting something much better. True, it's a session beer so it shouldn't hit you over the head. But this is a beer that has the makings of a better brew. It tastes like they took a decent pale ale and then cut it with Bud. So under it there is a quick tease of flavor, and then it goes away never to return.

Pete's Wicked Ale: 14

Taste: 4 Finish: 4 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3
Total: 14

Way back in the day I remember this is one kickin' ale. 10 years of great craft beers have not been kind to Pete. This ale is way too sweet. Yes, it's a red that should have a good malt taste. But it's out of balance for today's market. No wonder it hardly has any shelf space anymore. They need to up the hops to help balance it all out. Otherwise it's a shade better than Killians.

Dogfish Stone Victory Saison du Buff: 21

Taste: 8 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 21

Dogfish Head, Stone, and Victory, my 3 most favorite breweries, come together to brew a saison, mu second favorite style of ale. The color is of straw. It's hazy throughout. The head fizzes out quickly. At first it's a bit creamy but then the bitterness of the hops come through in the middle of the tongue. That's quickly taken over by lemon, straw, and some earthy tones. I want to say apricot is hiding in the back. If not that, some sort of fruit. The finish stays a bit too bitter for a saison for my tastes. I would expect a cleaner ending. It makes it not quite refreshing. Surprisingly, it's 6.8% alcohol which I can taste none of. Perhaps the extra hopping is masking it. I like this, but there are better saisons out there.

Franziskaner Weissbier: 21

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

A very good pale and cloudy orange color with a big head. Little to no lacing. Aroma has lots of citrus and yeast. The taste starts crisp. Undertones of orange and lemon. The yeast kicks in the back giving it a bit of a chalky finish. The citrus lingers on the tongue for a while. Pretty good. I'd like it to be a bit cleaner in the finish. But a solid unfiltered wheat.

Spaten Optimator: 20

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

It's got a good, creamy head. Dark brown color. Very little aroma. Upfront there is a lot of sweet malt taste. Milk chocolate. Roasted flavors. The finish is a bit buttery and disappears quickly. Very easy to drink. Good flavors but a bit two dimensional.

Elysian Immortal IPA: 18

Taste: 6 Finish: 6 Visual: 3 Aroma: 2
Total: 18

The pale amber color does not inspire. The head is full but it's a bit too fizzy. The aroma is faint and bland. Luckily, the taste is pretty complex. Good bitterness throughout. Lots of pine/woody flavors. Undertones of honey. Although the hops linger, it finishes pretty cleanly for an IPA. It could use a bit of citrus to help jazz it up a bit more.