Sierra Nevada Organic Estate Homegrown Ale

I can't say "No" to Sierra Nevada, especially in such an awesome, wax capped bottle.  The label is beautiful, a green garden vine wrapped around a little prairie house growing barley.  It says it's wet hopped, as opposed to dry hopping which lends itself to higher alc., and this one does come in at 6.7%, so on the medium side.

Look/Smell - Orange Amber slight Red, hazy but not opaque.  The head is super light and white.  Sweet hops and barley make up most of the aroma.  Smells sweet, like orange or persimmon or peach.

Taste - Yes peach, and maybe persimmon...ooohhh and lemon.  What a Wam-Pow! of great fruitiness subtley hidden behind well mannered hops.  The hops are like the guy/girl at the party you notice who's cool even by themselves.  The barley is that same person, only a little smarter and more flamboyant.  If barley were a guy he'd be stronger and have a little hair on his chest.  As a women she'd wear a succulent dress, very classy 1930's look.  Mouth feel is light, never going beyond a wheat beer feel.  After taste is barley and hops, the fruit's up front.

Rating - 10 WOW!!! DELICIOUS!!! Man this is what I needed after a long night of studying.  Cheers!

Real Ale Brewing Company Brewhouse Brown Ale

Last one from my friends stash....Brown Ale

Look/Pour/Smell - Warm malt, very brown, not too dark....easy pour not too much head.

Taste - Warm malt...hops under the malt, the malt is cooked just right.

Rating -7
This one is a brown that everyone can enjoy.

Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest

Fresh Hop Ale...that's the gist.  I'm celebrating the International Beer Drinking Day w/ this one.  I do have another 30th Anniversary from them but I want to wait on that one.  It says on the bottle the hops are from New Zealand, picked fresh in season, then brewed here.  FTW "Zealand" was not in my Firefox's dictionary...interesting.

Look/Pour/Smell - Amber!  I like it.  Strong head, lasting awhile but the bubbles seem light.  HOPS!!!  HOLY HOPS!!!  The second one I said for my own amusement.  Everything you'd ever think about hops is all packed into this one.

Taste - I waited about 5 min for the head to settle.  Well...so I assumed and you know what that does.  I was ready for a strong punch in the face from hops, but surprised to find a hop profile that only by a few inches exceeded the malt.  The hops compliment the sweet malt.  The sweetness is fleeting at the beginning, with the strong, gentle hops stepping in quickly.  It rolls down easily.

Rating - 10
This one takes the cake mostly because it's in a class of its own.  Is it an IPA?  Well they didn't call it that (although I'd suspect it is), or is it a traditional Ale w/ extra hops?  Since it is class defiant it deserves a rating fit for a king.

Chimay Ale Grande Reserve

I hadn't been to a beer store in a while, so when I got there I wanted to splurge.  This is a Trappist style ale from Belgium.

Look & Smell - Warm nutty brown, rich vanilla head.  Belgian pine hops with warm rich malt smell.

Taste - I had it chilled pretty cool so I poured and then let it sit for ~5 min.  Warm, spiciness underneath.  Warms you up, great for a cool day (or any day for that matter)

Rating - 8
This one will blow you away with its fullness.  Be prepared it's strong, but it will make your day.

St. Bernardus Abt 12

I wanted something that might be true to an earlier time, so I chose this ale to satisfy my historic needs.

Pour, Look, Smell - Dark brown, light head, carbonated well, sweet malt, will wet your pallet.

Taste - Awesome full hop and malt taste, spice like a wheat beer, easy to drink for how dark it looks.

Rating - 8

This is a beer everyone should try.  If it's truthful to it's roots, I almost wish I lived in the 12th century.

Ommegang Abbey Ale

Slightly strong head, malty and fruity smell, apricot or apple maybe.

Great amber color.
Malty flavor, slightly hoppy with a good amount of fruit flavor.  Refreshing, with a lighter mouth feel.
8.5% alcohol.

Rating = 8, especially satisfying.