Scotch Wee Heavy Ale: 6.0 – It’s got a lot of flavor and it’s definitely ‘heavy’ instead of just a scotch ale. However it’s not particularly stellar though which is unfortunate.
Price Average: Scotch Wee Heavy Ale $10 for mixed 6-pack
Website: http://www.atlanticbrewing.com/
Bar Harbor Real Ale: 3.5 – It is a first an otherwise unremarkable brown ale. The only thing that sets it apart is what they call ‘hints of caramel’ which is code for – we burn some sugar when we make this, but keep going. It’s kind of like a sauce that has burned to the pan – as long as you don’t eat the burnt part it’s still ‘fine’, but not at the same time.
Price Average: Bar Harbor Real Ale $10 for mixed 6-pack
Website: http://www.atlanticbrewing.com/
Le Freak Ale: 2.0 – It’s a combo of a Belgian Tripel and an American Imperial IPA (AIIPA?). Which is actually a good description of this beer. It’s got a strong taste, and I’m sure if you liked it would find this amazing. However I can attest that in my small sample size of a few people (damn you p values!) it’s unliekly you will enjoy this beer. It’s hoppy in all the wrong places, has gravity in all the wrong places – it’s a bastardized combo that shouldn’t exist.
Price Average: Le Freak Ale $9
Website: http://www.greenflashbrew.com/
Liliko’i Kepolo Witbier: 6.0 – Ive likely not had many beers where passion fruit is the main taste, and while I’ve likely had it as part in other beers I can agree with the concept. However because this is a flavored beer I can’t get picky with the niche and have to rate this against all flavored beers in which case this isn’t super stellar. It’s certainly quite good though.
Price Average: Liliko’i Kepolo Witbier $11 for 4-pack
Website: http://averybrewing.com
Maredsous 6 Blond Ale: 7.0 – It’s definitely an incredibly complex beer, even more so for being an abbey blonde ale instead of a quad or tripel. That aspect though might be what kills it, because while it has complexity it lacks the depth and power you would hope it to have, that alone would take it from an admittedly great level into near-perfection.
Price Average: Maredsous 6 Blond Ale $12
Website: http://www.maredsousbieres.be/
Oskar Blues Goodnight: 8.5 – This was listed for high octane and it’s a bit more alcoholic, but this solves the issues where some reds are a bit too tart. This though has gravitas, and quite frankly it’s fuckin delicious. I got this at a bar, and quite frankly I’m glad that we do this site. I feel like others would see the can, and dismiss it out of hand – which is sad for who great the beer is.
Price Average: Oskar Blues Goodnight $13 for 6-Pack
Website: https://www.oskarblues.com/
Editor’s Note: So this is not a challenge post. We are still doing the challenge, but having passed the halfway point the finds are now much harder.
Old Engine Oil Black Ale: 6.0 – That tastes exactly like you would expect a beer called old engine oil to taste like. It goes down easy – there’s a bit of porter flavor, it’s nearly flat in carbonation, and the color is exact. If honest I am not actually a huge fan of the beer drink wise, but I admire the honesty in the name to bump it up a point.
Price Average: Old Engine Oil Black Ale $4
Website: https://harviestoun.com/
McEwan’s Scotch Ale: 4.0 – So there was a scotch ale (which is a beer type I adore) that we mostly hated – called Wet Willy. Now that was actually hated simply because it was so basic and average. However this is more like Old Chub, not only is it a not good scotch ale – it’s actively bad. However take that 4 score with the mindset that even a bad scotch ale is still just a supbar beer.
Price $4
Website: http://www.mcewans.co.uk/
Count: 34/71
Imperial Steel Rail: 6.0 – A more booze-y Steel Rail? Sure. While it maintains the same level of easy drinking – the potency here isn’t limited to the ABV. The flavor and taste have a much more weighty feel to them. I think at the end of the day I’d rather have the standard though…
Price Average: Imperial Steel Rail $8
Anchor Liberty Ale: 4.0 – Not sure why I’m surprised another west coast ale was a bit too hoppy, gotta feed that silly hipster beer crowd. Overall it’s an okay beer I guess, but not likely one I’d get again
Price $10 for 6-Pack
Website: http://www.anchorbrewing.com/
Count: 30/71