Gordon Biersch Amber Ale: 6.5 – It’s got a good hoppiness to it, and there’s certainly a bit more spice there than a custom amber, but it’s overall balanced enough that those are merely additions to the Amber ale, and not overpowering
[Sadly no image because I had this on-site and Google is not helping – it was not the Marzen though]
Google Shop Average: Gordon Biersch Amber Ale $5 for a pint
Website: http://www.gordonbiersch.com/
Allagash Saison: 7.0 – It’s like a nice spicy Allagash White – which is very much not anything against it. This is certainly very drinkable as far as spiced beers go, but it’s not as powerful as some others I’ve had and prefer.
Google Shop Average: Allagash Saison $11 for 4-Pack
Website: http://www.allagash.com/
Collaboration not Litigation: 4.0 – It’s mostly bland, but it’s also got a taste to it that’s not terribly pleasant. You expect collab beers to be more mellow, but even then this just isn’t terribly great.
Google Shop Average: Collaboration not Litigation $9
Website: http://averybrewing.com/our-ales/collaboration-not-litigation-ale/
Prelude: 5.0 – Even Shipyard is not immune to a bourbon barrel aged beer mellowing out whatever taste was there to the point where you no longer enjoy the beer. This is simply mild and lacks any sort of gravitas, which considering this was a Shipyard big beer – I really wanted that.
Google Shop Average: Prelude $15
Website: http://www.shipyard.com/
Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale: 5.0 – Based on how much I really enjoyed their Big Bear Black Stout, I was hoping for another winner here, and while it’s certainly not a loser – it’s mostly just an average red ale. Which is sad.
Google Shop Average: Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale $6
Website: http://bearrepublic.com/
Saratoga Lager: 5.0 – The standard fare from Olde Saratoga Brewing Company flagship beer, which really is trying to beat Samuel Adams Old Fizziwig Ale for most beer-y beer that’s so… beer.
Google Shop Average: Saratoga Lager $10 for 6-pack
Smuttynose Fashionably Old Ale: 6.0 – Sadly much like Ry(e)an Ale, this is another Julio’s Liquors exclusive, even more sad though is that when we went in expecting something as nice as Ryean, we were met with a beer that tried to be so many things, but ultimately failed to live up to what we wanted it to be, or what it could have been
Google Shop Average: Smuttynose Fashionably Old Ale $ (No clue w/o being there again)
Website: http://smuttynose.com/
Honing: 5.5 – Now this is certainly one of the few beers with honey, and even fewer one that actually tastes like honey was actually involved. However while it has a nice taste, it’s just not that magical combination that you would want a Belgian Ale and a Mead to have an amazing baby.
Google Shop Average: Honing $ (We can’t find a price, we’ll update if we learn it)
Website: http://www.tapbrewingcompany.com/
Jack’s Abby Coffee Smoke and Dagger: 3.5 – Sadly while we love the original, this coffee variant just doesn’t hit the right spots, even for a coffee beer.
Google Shop Average: Jack’s Abby Coffee Smoke and Dagger $7
Website: http://jacksabbybrewing.com/
Rogue Beard Beer: 5.0 – Now I’m not 100% sure the story of wild yeast being extracted from a man’s beard and then going into this product is true; however the problem with any wild yeast beer is that some can be downright amazing, whereas others are just bland or skunked feeling. This isn’t as bad – and considering the name at least it’s not an IPA.
Google Shop Average: Rogue Beard Beer $8
Website: http://www.rogue.com/