Weekly Beer Reviews

Alltech Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

The ever popular Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. This stuff flies out of the store in 4-packs, which is why I usually tend to leave it off draft. However, with the hot weather rolling in and bourbon drinkers seeking a refreshing alternative, I decided to squeeze it on and make it one of the featured beers. The nose has with hints of vanilla, cream, corn, and hay. However, those lovely hints are almost immediately drowned out by an overwhelming bourbon aroma. The taste is sweet up front with hints of cream and clover. The finish has light flavors of corn, vanilla, and honey. Light, refreshing, and with a high ABV should appeal, but the flavor is just not there. Almost like a domestic light beer aged in a Kentucky Gentleman barrel.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 4.5/10


Bell's Oberon

We now move on to everyone's favorite Summer beer. This Pale Wheat Ale from Bell's is the perfect amount of flavor while still remaining refreshing. The nose is light with soft hints of half and half, honeysuckle, peach, corn, and wheat. It certainly reminds you of Summer with the nose on this brew. The taste is light and floral with hints of lemon and clover blending well. The finish is more diverse with flavors of lemon, honeycomb, cream, and minerals. This smooth and refreshing Summer Wheat is sure to delight as it does every Summer.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.25/10


Rivertown Hop Bomber

This American Pale Ale comes to us from across the river in Lockland, Ohio right outside of Cincinnati. The nose is slightly sweet with aromas of caramel, brown sugar, fresh linen, and pine. Softer hints of soap and minerals was also present. The taste is very pleasant with flavors of orange, lemon juice, and soap up front showing off those hops. The finish is intriguing with flavors of pears, soap, and nutmeg with woody flavors also present. While not my favorite APA, it drinks more like an IPA while remaining refreshing. It seems we loaded up on refreshing beers this week to help you all deal with those blazing temperatures.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7.75/10


Rivertown Roebling Imperial Porter

This Imperial Porter is labeled as a Vanilla Espresso Imperial Porter. That should delight the growler customers that enjoy those rich, sweet dessert beers. However, whereas I find the Southern Tiers a little too sweet and one-sided, this beer is well-balanced. The nose is rich with aromas of fudge brownies, chocolate covered raisins, espresso, cream, vanilla, and hot chocolate. It was like a plethora of desserts smashed into one. I expected it to be incredibly sweet when I tasted it, yet it had a body similar to a Young's Double Chocolate Stout, except with tons more flavor. Chocolate covered raisins, cinnamon, cream, and roasted coffee were present up front. The finish was noticeably different with flavors of espresso, vanilla, and whipped cream. This should delight the Porter, Stout, and Sweet beer fans.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9/10


Southern Tier Compass Imperial Sparkling Pale Ale

I was told about this beer just a day before we tapped it. An American Pale Ale with a Sparkling Yeast strain brewed with Rose Hips. So, going into this beer, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Let's just say that it certainly impressed. The nose was light and floral with hints of freshly cut grass, hibiscus, lavender, rose, and citrus. The flavor is intense, with a large bitter flavor hitting your palate. Flavors of lavender, lemon verbena, and soap were present up front. The finish tones down the bitterness and keeps those lovely lavender flavors. Additional flavors of lemon oil and coriander make for another refreshing beer to our wall, with a 9% ABV to boot.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9/10