Baranowski on Beer: The Also-Rans

Below are beers that didn't quite have what it took to make my favorite beers list. Some are pretty good, while others are just plain nasty. As always, I recommend beeradvocate.com for more detailed (and more expert) reviews.

Beer	Taste	Verdict
Anchor Ale (11/05/03)	Smooth, medium bodied and slightly sweet with a strong finish that verges on too bitter, but isn't.	A very drinkable beer that would be great just about any time.
Anchor Christmas Ale (1/30/05)	Thickish mouthfeel with taste of gingerbread, dark chocolate, and a roasted, almost burnt flavor. A slight hit of hops at the end that lingers just a bit. Clear malt presence throughout.	A well flavored winter brew that was a good deal maltier than I would have expected. I don't usually like ales in which malt predominates, but I found myself not really minding here.
Anchor Steam (6-8-05)	Crisp and light-medium bodied, with a well-rounded smoothness that develops quickly. A pleasant, dry finish.	Lots of beer geeks really love this one, in no small part because the style is unique. I think it would make for a great everyday beer (something beer geeks call a 'session beer'), especially in the summer, but it has just a little too much lager taste for me to truly love it. (I've never developed much of a taste for lagers.) Would be a good gateway beer for those attempting to get a Budweiser or Coors Light swilling friend to move up to quality beer.
Atlantic Brewing Company Coal Porter (6-8-05)	Heavily toasted malt flavor with a touch of dark chocolate. Nice finish with a bitter - but not unpleasant - aftertaste.	A very drinkable porter, but it lacks some of the smoothness and complexity of the best of its breed. On the other hand, the very characteristics that leave it out of the top rank of porters are what contribute to its drinkability.
Avery 49er E.S.B. Ale (8/20/03)	A fairly clean, crisp taste with light to medium body. Subtle citrus, caramel, and nut flavor. Finish smooth and not at all bitter.	Definitely not what I'd expect from an ESB (it's not nearly bitter enough). Avery 49er is a very nice beer, especially for the warmer months, but it's not really an ESB.
Avery India Pale Ale (11/20/03)	Has that distinctive IPA bite, but it's not harsh. Nice body and good finish.	Tastes like an IPA should - if you appreciate that type of beer, you'll like Avery's IPA. Yet another fine beer from Avery, a brewery I'm growing to like more and more.
Avery Old Jubilation Ale (12/23/03)	Rich and full-bodied. Slight roasted chocolate flavor. Strong finish with a pleasant lingering bitterness.	An enjoyable hearty ale, but the winter spices could be more prominent.
Bell's Expedition Stout (7/7/03)	Pours inky black, and has a very thick, heavy taste, so much so that I can't even imagine taking a hearty swig. Smooth with heavy notes of coffee and dark chocolate. Deep, strong flavor. Strong hoppy bite that stays with you throughout the finish.	About the polar opposite of a girlie beer. Not for the faint of heart or the casual beer drinker. Tastes very little like what most people think of when they think of beer. Almost too much for me - almost. I suspect that had I waited for it to warm a little, it would have been even more rich, complex, and flavorful than it was right out of the refrigerator. Absolutely not an every day, have one with dinner sort of beer.
Bell's Best Brown Ale (10/22/03)	Somewhat heavier than I expected. Rich and full-bodied, with a surprising amount of maltiness. Tastes of chocolate and roasted nuts.	I like this beer, but I can't quite figure out how to categorize it. It reminds me of those rich, complex beers that are so good on their own, especially in the winter months, but it's not quite there. (It reminded me a little bit of of Sam Adams Cream Stout, which definitely is a really nice full winter beer.) The more I drank it the more I liked it, but it's not quite right for an everyday beer.
Bell's Oberon Ale (7/25/03)	Medium-bodied, with pronounced hoppiness, but very well balanced and a little sweet throughout. Somewhat citrusy, though that comes out more in the aroma than the flavor. Crisp finish.	A friend recommended this beer to me, commenting, "It's like a glass of summertime. If you can find it, try it." He's absolutely right - this is an excellent summer beer, and I might be drinking it with some regularity all season long.
Bell's Pale Ale (5/30/04)	Very crisp and refreshing citrusy / floral taste, followed by a nice hop presence to lend it extra character.	A great summer beer, especially for when you want something with a little bite, but aren't quite up for an IPA.
Bell's Third Coast Old Ale (3/22/04)	Full bodied and smooth with great balance and strongly alcohol-infused bite that surprises in its intensity (at least it surprised me). Very mellow finish that leaves a warm feeling with little lingering bitterness.	A big surprise - this beer had a lot more oomph than I thought it would and every sip left me with that (pleasant) feeling I associate more with a good bourbon than with beer. Definitely not for everyone.
Berghoff Hazelnut Winterfest Ale (11/28/04)	Medium bodied and smooth with slight sweetness and a clear hazelnut flavor with coffee undertones that becomes stronger as the beer warms slightly.	Very nice choice for a winter ale - but if you don't like hazelnut, look elsewhere.
Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale (3/22/04)	Crisp and somewhat light, without a ton of pumpkin flavor. Not a terribly strong finish.	Very ordinary without nearly enough pumpkin for a pumpkin ale.
Brooklyn Chocolate Stout (6-8-05)	A rich and smooth chocolate malt taste dominates, with just a hint of black licorice, especially toward the end.	A decent, full-bodied after-dinner beer, but something of a one-trick pony. Good, but not great.
Boddington's Pub Ale (1/19/04)	About as smooth as a beer can be, with a little bite at the end to make things slightly more interesting. Taste is largely MIA.	If there's a good reason to drink this beer, I can't think of it. The best I can say is that it goes down easily and inoffensively - but so does water. (note: I had this beer on draught during my Summer 2005 trip to England and it's quite a bit better than the version in a can I had here at home. If you can get a draught Boddington's, you should give it a try)
Bombardier English Premium Bitter (8/5/05)	Medium to full body with a smooth and slightly nutty creamy malt flavor that gains strength throughout.	A very agreeable beer that's more than substantial enough to stand alone. Maybe a bit much with pizza or hot dogs. Flavor really opens up when it warms a little.
Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale (10/31/04)	Strong pumpkin an spice flavors but a watery, malty dreck of a beer underneath it.	Like someone put some really good pumpkin flavor and fall spices in a Budweiser. Very disappointing.
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA (10/18/03)	Nice and hoppy, with without that traditional IPA bite. Sweeter than I'd have expected. Very full bodied with hints of honey. Nice finish.	Not a traditional IPA taste and a little too heavy to go with a lot of food, but a very nice standalone beer.
Dogfish Head Immort Ale (7/7/03)	Smooth, with low carbonation and a pronounced oakiness / earthy taste. Somewhat sweet - can definitely pick up on the maple with a vanilla undercurrent. Fairly heavy, though not unpleasantly so. Somewhat bitter and stays with you.	An after-dinner type beer. Would go well with desserts in the place of coffee. Not a beer to drink quickly or for refreshment. A little lighter and smoother than the creme stouts from Bells and Sam Adams.
Dogfish Head Punkin Ale (11/05/03)	The base is a very good brown ale, which is brewed with pumpkin, brown sugar, allsipce, cinnamon, and nutmeg. All those flavors are definitely present in a very nice blend. The spices don't at all overpower the beer; they just make it taste like fall. A very mellow start, with medium mouthfeel, and a strong finish.	A great fall beer - not for everyday drinking, but something I definitely want to have again.
Dogfish Head Shelter Pale Ale (7/31/03)	Strong hoppiness with initial hints of honey and citrus. Semi sweet with a somewhat flat finish and not very full-bodied.	A weak and uninteresting beer. It's not really bad, but there are so many superior beers out there that I can't imagine spending more time or money with this one.
Ellie's Brown Ale (7/15/03)	Rich and complex - especially for an ale - with very nice roasted nut and chocolate notes. Still manages to be fairly crisp, with a strong finish leaving only a touch of bitterness.	A really nice ale, especially if you're looking for something along the lines of a stout or porter, but not as heavy. Possibly a little too complex for an everyday beer, but absolutely something I'd be happy to order should I happen to see it on a beer list. (Plus, the dog on the bottle looks like Mars, my chocolate Lab.)
Goose Island Hex Nut Brown Ale (7/25/03)	Very crisp for a brown ale, with medium body and a slightly bitter, but not at all unpleasant finish. Mild, with hints of caramel and nut.	I was expecting something a good deal heavier, but although I was a little surprised, I was definitely not disappointed. Goose Island Hex Nut Brown is both refreshing and complex - a nice combination. I don't like it quite enough to put it in my regular beer rotation, but it's not all that far off.
Goose Island Oktoberfest (9/25/04)	Very smooth, but lighter-bodied and maltier than I expected. Pleasant enough, but not much going on.	Not at all bad and probably really good for drinking with snacks during a football game (I plan to find out very soon). But it just doesn't have much character.
Goose Island Pere Jacques (6/8/05)	Very sweet and medium bodied, with a touch of alcohol bite in mid-taste. Complex fruit & raisin dominated flavors and an even sweeter finish.	Just a little too sweet for it to be a favorite of mine, but still very nice.
Grant's India Pale Ale (7/7/03)	Very crisp and malty, with a fairly strong and somewhat bitter finish with a touch of sourness.	Tastes much more like a pilsner than an ale, and I'm not a big pilsner fan. Finish is too sour. Not a beer I'm likely to drink again.
Grant's Deep Powder Winter Ale (10/31/04)	Not nearly as full-bodied as one would expect from an ale with such a chocolaty nose and flavor. Fairly well balanced and crisp throughout, but a little too bland for my taste.	Not bad, but because of the chocolate notes, I can't help comparing it unfavorably to the far more robust, full-bodied Sam Adams Cream Stout.
Great Lakes Anniversary Ale (2/2/04)	Very full-bodied and somewhat sweet, with more things going on taste-wise than I could possibly identify. Strong, but without the bitter finish many strong beers seem to have.	A really nice standalone beer that might also work after dinner or with dessert. Definitely not something to be swilled with brats and potato salad.
Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale (11/12/03)	Very strongly hopped, with an initial bite that was much more than I expected. Crisp and somewhat citrusy. Finish is fairly smooth.	I wasn't prepared for the bite of this beer, but once I adjusted I ended up liking it. A beer with a fairly aggressive character that stops just on the right side of too much.
Great Divide Bee Sting Honey (5/3/04)	Light bodied and very crisp, with strong lemon taste. The sweetness hits midway and carries through to the finish, which is very clean.	A quality warm weather beer. High drinkability with enough going on to make it interesting. Just a touch of wateriness keeps it from getting a red review.
Great Lakes Blackout Stout (3/3/04)	Full bodied with a very prominent deep-roasted taste and hints of coffee, chocolate and even a touch of licorice. A great hoppy, alcoholic bite at the finish.	Like most stouts, this is not a beer to pound down, but if you're willing to take it slow, it's very definitely worth the time. Yet another wonderful beer from Great Lakes Brewing.
Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale (3/23/04)	Very clean and crisp throughout with a characteristic IPA hoppy bite that's slightly attenuated. Slight citrus notes with a nice finish.	One day, I may drink something from Great Lakes Brewing that I don't think is worthy of high praise. That day definitely isn't today because once again, I find myself indebted to these people. If I had to drink beer from only one brewery for the rest of my life, I'd choose Great Lakes, hands down.
Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold (3/22/04)	Medium bodied and somewhat sweet with citrus and honey notes. Very smooth and crisp throughout.	A perfect picnic-food beer. Actually, a perfect anytime beer.
Great Lakes Holy Moses (5/14/04)	Light and fairly crisp, with citrus notes and a slight bite on the back end.	Until now, I haven't tried a beer from Great Lakes Brewing that I didn't really like. I'm assuming that Holy Moses - their seasonal wheat beer - is a top-notch representation of the style, so I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and conclude that wheat beers aren't really my thing.
Great Lakes Locktender Lager (7/6/04)	A slightly sweet and malty beer that's light-bodied, crisp and smooth.	A review from beeradvocate.com called it a great 'lawnmower beer", and I definitely agree, though my champ in that category is still Goose Island Summertime.
Harpoon Summer Beer (8/5/05)	Light-bodied, clean, and slightly sweet with a hint of banana oil (also found in Harpoon's really good Winter Warmer). Crisp with a pleasant finish.	Not bad, but the banana taste is sort of strange in a summertime brew. Bell's Oberon is a better choice for summer.
King & Barnes IPA (5/8/04)	Medium bodied and not all that heavily hopped for an IPA. I detected a strong presence of what tasted to me like pipe tobacco, but what a more sophisticated taster might describe as peaty. Some floral notes and an easygoing finish.	Not at all what I'd expect from an IPA, but not bad. An interesting beer that probably wouldn't go too well with food, but might be nice to have around for an occasional change of pace.
Lawson Creek Honey Wheat Lager (7/15/03)	Fairly bland and smooth, with only a slight touch of honey. Watery.	There's nothing wrong with this beer, but there's just not enough going on. Not a beer I'd recommend or drink again.
Lawson Creek Red Ale (8/20/03)	Low carbonation and very little body. Not much flavor at all.	I had to keep on reminding myself that this was beer I was drinking. The best I can say about it is that it's inoffensive. Seems like more of a beer-flavored water than an actual beer to me.
McEwans IPA (10/18/03)	Crisp, with much more maltiness than I'd expect from an IPA. Not all that full-bodied with a somewhat weak finish.	Not a particularly good standalone beer but it might go well with lunch or a light dinner. Not really the taste I associate with an IPA.
Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale (1/30/05)	A sharp, malt-dominated ale with sour apple undertones along with the slightest touch of tobacco flavor. The hops come out a bit in mid swallow, resulting in an intersting, fairly complex, yet not at all heavy beer.	A nicely made English ale that I enjoyed. I'm not a huge fan of the style, but I'd consider buying it again were it not so expensive.
Monkey Wrench Ale (7/7/03)	Crisp, with a fairly unappealing licorice / plum taste. There's some other stuff going on as well, such as some roasted nut flavor toward the finish, but that initial taste - which, now that I have a little more, reminds me of some sort of liquid medicine, predominates.	Bob Klein, author of The Beer Lover's Rating Guide believes that Monkey Wrench Ale is delicious. I just don't get it, and if given a choice between Monkey Wrench and Budweiser, I'd ... well, I wouldn't drink the Bud, but I would probably just ask for a glass of water.
Never Summer Ale (4/9/05)	Smooth and slightly sweet start with a caramely sweetness that hits the roof of the mouth in mid-taste. Hops come along after that, carrying along a piney spiced flavor to the finish.	A very well balanced, medium bodied beer with some interesting things going on. The only thing that keeps it from my favorites list is the sweet punch halfway through that's a little too much.
North Coast Old Stock Ale (4/9/05)	Very rich and full, with a strong malty alcohol presence. A sweet butterly caramel taste suffuses this brew, and sipping is definitely recommended.	A really nice dessert beer. Let it warm a little and it becomes even more impressive.
Pyramid Curve Ball Kolsch Style Ale (5/3/04)	Light bodied and very crisp, with a slightly skunky aftertaste. I think I may have detected a subtle taste of burnt rubber, which is a first for me. And it's watery too.	A very unimpressive beer. Maybe I just got a bad batch, because I have trouble believing that someone would make something that tastes like this on purpose.
Rochefort Trappistes 10 (6-8-05)	Nice body with a not too aggressive malt presence. Very smooth, with a jolt of sweetness halfway through that continues to the end. Allowing this beer to warm a bit results in an even more rewarding flavor profile.	I'm fairly new to the Belgian Ale style, but I can definitely see why so many beer geeks love Belgians. I've really enjoyed all of them I've had to this point, but some, including this one, border on almost too sweet for me.
Rogue Honey Cream Ale (5/14/04)	Very crisp, with a pleasant smoothness accompanied by a nice hit of hops toward the finish. As the name would suggest, there's a subtle taste of honey that develops throughout the tasting.	A nice beer that would be suitable on its own or with food. Light and crisp enough for warmer-weather drinking but complex enough to be enjoyable most any time of year.
Rogue Imperial Stout (3/4/04)	Heavy and full-bodied with roasted hop, chocolate and fruit notes. Very strong right through the finish.	Definitely not a beer for tossing back casually - this is a heavy-duty beer with a great complex taste that should be savored. Would make a horrible starter beer, but for those who appreciate a really full and rich brew, Rogue Imperial Stout is a must try. Fully lives up to the imperial stout "emperor of ales" motto.
Rogue Mocha Porter (3/22/04)	Initial rich, thick mouthfeel with strong taste of dark chocolate and coffee. A pleasant hoppy bitterness kicks in about halfway through, with the flavor trailing off at the finish, leaving a satisfying bite at the end.	I'm not a huge fan of porters, but I can appreciate a really good one, which this certainly is.
Rogue Younger's Special Bitter (8/5/05)	Medium-bodied with a somewhat orangish hop presence and a fairly uneventful finish.	An oddly dull offering from a brewery known for some very interesting (and occasionally over-the-top) brews.
Rolling Rock (1/19/04)	Very mild, with no discernible bite or aftertaste and a crisp finish. Watery and bland.	Extremely drinkable and goes great with spicy foods, when opening a more interesting beer would be a waste. Better than Budweiser and the like, though that's not saying much.
Sam Adams Boston Lager (8/5/05) (7/7/03 - original review date)	A long-time favorite of mine that I revisited on the 4th of July while watching 1776 (one of my favorite movies, and something I watch every Independence Day). In my initial review, I described is as being "crisp, with a spicy hoppiness" and "fairly full-bodied with good balance". The crisp thing still holds, but it really isn't all that hoppy and it certainly isn't more than medium-bodied. I caught a bit of macro-brew maltiness (not a good thing).	In my first review I wrote: It's certainly not the most interesting beer around, but it's got a flavor I really enjoy, and it goes with just about everything. Plus, it's one of the few good beers available at almost every supermarket. A great beer for fans of Budweiser, Miller and the the other mega-brewery products who are interested in trading up. All absolutely true, but even so, I can't really call Sam Adams Boston Lager one of my favorite beers.
Sam Adams Cranberry Lambic (11/28/04)	A light bodied beer with a strong initial sweet cranberry pop that develops a mild bite in mid taste leading to a smooth, sweet finish.	The sweet cranberry flavor makes it extremely approachable, but it's almost more of a malt beverage than an actual beer. Were it not for a slightly tart edge, this would be far too sweet. I can't quite call it bad, but I was certainly hoping for something far more robust than this.
Sam Adams Double Bock (3/29/04)	Very rich and smooth, with a fairly strong alcohol presence that kicks in mid taste. Nicely balanced with an almost velvety mouthfeel (which may not be as noticeable if it's served right out of the refrigerator). Strong finish with caramel and maple sugar notes.	Definitely a sipping beer, and something that's better served a little warm. Reminds me of Bell's 3rd Coast Old Ale, but with less of a kick.
Sam Adams Holiday Porter (1/8/05)	A rich, full-bodied taste with strong notes of roasted malt. Smooth, almost creamy finish.	A very drinkable porter that's just the thing for a cold winter afternoon. Unfortunately, it's only available as part of a six variety holiday 12 pack.
Sam Adams Octoberfest (9/14/04)	Full bodied and malty, with sweet caramel notes. Definitely benefits from being left out to warm a little. Very smooth, with a slightly nutty finish.	A flavorful Octoberfest beer that doesn't overwhelm. Probably not the beer of choice for aficionados, but it's a very pleasant early fall choice.
Sam Adams Pale Ale (3/23/04)	Pronounced hoppiness, though without the bite I expected. Dry and crisp, with citrus notes.	A very mild pale ale that very drinkable. Nothing all that exciting, but certainly an entirely respectable (if somewhat underwhelming) beer.
Sam Adams White Ale (3/23/04)	Light, crisp and well carbonated, with citrus notes and slight maltiness.	This is a seasonal ale made for Spring, and the taste definitely reflects this, Drinking it,was like all the windows in my house on a warm, breezy early April afternoon. Very refreshing.
Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale (2/9/04)	Light for a nut brown, with much more maltiness than I expected. Very crisp, with a hint of caramel and a clean finish.	A utility infielder-type beer - unspectacular, but a solid choice in many settings. (Note: it's bottled in clear glass, which may affect the taste - see here for more on why bottling in clear glass is a bad idea)
Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome Ale (1/8/05)	Very malty throughout and medium-bodied with a pleasant smooth mouthfeel that emerges if it's allowed to warm somewhat. Slight hint of spice at the finish, which has a nice sharpness but is fairly short.	I don't much care for beers with a strong malt character,so my initial reaction to Winter Welcome Ale was somewhat negative. But once I allowed it to warm up, I found the maltiness balanced somewhat by an almost buttery smooth body. There's too much malt presence to really interest me, but it would probably be a good gateway beer for Budweiser and Miller drinkers looking to move up.
Schlafly Summer Kolsch Ale (7/31/03)	Fairly crisp, with a malty sweetness. Strong, clean and dry finish. Slight citrus notes.	A very nice, refreshing summer ale - maybe not quite enough going on to stand on it's own, but would go great with barbecue or picnic type food.
Shipyard Export Ale (6-8-05)	Light - medium bodied and crisp, with a somewhat buttery malt character. Finishes a little weak.	An entirely respectable ale, but nothing all that special. At 5% ABV (alcohol by volume) wouldn't be a bad choice for a session beer. (By way of comparison, the absolutely horrible, but very popular, Bud Light is 4.2% ABV)
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (12/23/03)	Medium bodies, very hoppy flavor. Crisp. Very subtle spiced flavor.	Not bad, but more reminiscent of an IPA than a Christmas / holiday ale.
Spanish Peaks Monterey Pale Ale (6/8/05)	Starts smooth and mellow with a pleasant hop presence that quickly develops. Somewhat sweeter than I'd expect from a pale ale, with citrus notes and a slightly acidic finish.	A solid pale ale that's a fine choice for summer drinking. I was really tempted to put this one on my list of favorite beers, but it didn't quite make the cut.
St. Peter's English Ale (6/8/05)	Somewhat thin-bodied with pronounced maltiness. Noticable skunkiness. Seemed to me somewhat more characteristic of a lager than an ale. Leaves an unpleasant bitter aftertaste.	Great looking bottle, but a very disappointing ale.
St. Peter's Golden Ale (6/8/05)	A medium-bodied, undercarbonated brew that's fairly well-balanced. Seemed just a little skunky to me. Slightly weak finish.	At 4.7% ABV this would be a reasonable choice as a session beer, but there are plenty of better (and less expensive) choices.
St. Rogue Red Ale (7/7/03)	Fairly hoppy and overly bitter. Flavor stays fairly constant to the finish, but fades quickly thereafter. Somewhat thin mouthfeel.	I don't much care for really bitter ales (bitter porters and stouts are another story, as they're typically richer, more complex and full-bodied, a context in which a greater degree of bitterness can work very well). It's presented in a 22oz. bottle, which to me is just way too much of a not so good thing.
Three Floyds Pride & Joy Mild Ale (7/25/03)	A little flat with a not altogether pleasant bitterness that lingers. Fairly strong finish.	I'm no foe of bitter beers, but when there's not much else going on, bitterness isn't a plus. Three Floyds Pride & Joy isn't a beer I plan on drinking again.
Tommyknocker Maple Nut Brown Ale (1/30/05)	An interestingly flavored but somewhat light-bodied ale that's absolutely ruined by low carbonation and lack of any real pop.	When I first tried it, I thought that maybe I'd gotten hold of a flat bottle, but after reading a number of reviews, I realized that the lack of carbonation is intentional. It's really too bad, because the sweet, maple dominated flavor is sort of nice - but not nearly enough to make me forget that I'm drinking what is, for all intents and purposes, flat beer.
Unibroue Trois Pistoles (8/5/05)	Slightly sweet with some pleasing slightly sour notes as well. Full bodied and very flavorful - I picked up on cherry and raisin flavors, and there's other spicy stuff going on as well. An agreeable fizziness in mid taste and a nice, slightly warming finish.	A fine beer with all sorts of character, but the cherry / raisin flavors are just a little bit much for me.
Victory Prima Pils (7/24/04)	Reasonably malty with a little bit of hops kicking in at some point, but nothing much really going on here. At least that was what I initially thought. But then I waited a little while for it to warm up some and was rewarded with a pleasant and slightly floral sweetness that made a big difference.	Not bad and very drinkable, but just not all that special. I suppose I'm just not much of a pilsner guy (aside from Goose Island Pils, which has unfortunately been discontinued).
Westmalle Dubbel Trappist Ale (6-8-05)	Light to medium bodied, robustly carbonated, with a sweetness that develops at the back of the throat. Crisp and slightly dry going down, with a carmelly sweet aftertaste.	A taste profile that's different from anything else I've encountered to this point, but not at all weird or in any way off-putting. Came out too carbonated for my taste – letting it sit and warm for even a short while makes an already worthwhile beer a good deal better.
Wild Goose India Pale Ale (11/15/03)	Doesn't really have all the bite of a classic IPA, which in this case isn't really a bad thing. A clean, crisp beer with light to medium body and a very nice finish.	A very drinkable IPA that would almost certainly go well with a number of foods (something I can't really say about many other IPAs)
Young's Special London Ale (8/5/05)	Medium-bodied and dry, this malty but well-balanced ale has slight floral notes that move into an interestingly sharp peppery taste. Crisp effervescence and a hoppy finish.	A nice change of pace and well worth trying out.
Young's Waggledance Honey Ale (11/28/04)	A well-balanced,slightly hoppy, medium-bodied beer with a honey-tinged sweetness that I found very enjoyable.	An interesting change of pace, but not good enough to be worth the trouble of tracking it down (and buying it in single pint bottles, which I believe is the only way it's sold here in the US).