#9 not quite Pale Ale

I think this might have been the Magic Hat that I had before but disliked. It is thin, watery even, and bitter. But it's not bad. I've grown to like the variety pack I picked up from this brewer, and even went back for another. This would be my least favorite, but totally drinkable and much better than any mass-produced junk. I'm so glad I live in the era of craft beer! ID

3/4 pint bottle, 5.1% ABV
Magic Hat Brewing Company
South Burlington, VT
purchased at Costco

Séance Saison

A bit of the "farmhouse" flavor that I was expecting. That has got to be a yeast thing. But that doesn't make this bad at all. This is nicely flavorful, as always, sooo much better than American light beer. How does that shit have such a massive share of the beer market?! Anyway, this is dark in color, but light enough to pound 'em down. A nice fall beer! I've been impressed enough by these Magic Hat offerings that I'm gonna go back to Costco and see if I can't pick up a couple more cases for upcoming Fall events. They have the perfect ambiance (great bottle and case art) and flavor to comfort me as Summer slips away! I can't quite go "must buy" on a saison, but this gets as close as one could possibly get. Deserves an ID+, but let's not start polluting the simplicity of the 3-point scale.

3/4 pint bottle, (yeah 12oz, but I like how they think in pints!), 4.4% ABV
Magic Hat Brewing Company
South Burlington, VT
purchased at Costco

Domaine DuPage French Style Country Ale

Slightly sweet. But pleasantly so. And with enough bitter on the finish to make this a good one. Easy to drink. Has a very slight sourness as well, but not at all unpleasant. A good solid ale to make a refreshing complement to all the IPAs I drink. ID

12oz bottle, 24 IBU, 5.9% ABV
Two Brothers Brewing Company
Warrenville, IL
purchased at Costco

Short Straw Farmhouse Red Ale

I see "farmhouse" I think, ooh, bad sweet flavors. But this was part of a sampler, so I'm drinking it. Some funkiness is there. Yeah and that sourness too. They are minor, and the rest is pretty smooth. So it is not all bad. Still drinkable, but ehh, not something I'm gonna pick off the shelf on purpose. ID

12oz bottle, 5.8% ABV
Blue Moon Brewing Company
Golden, CO
purchased at Costco

DeVEILed

This a nice amber ale, a style I find to be touch and go. This is rich in malt flavor in the perfect sort of way, but that is followed up by a full hand of bitterness. I am oh so pleasantly surprised by how great this beer is! Glad I took another chance on the Magic Hat, after really disliking one of their mainstays years ago. This is a fine brew truly deserving my MB rating. Life is so good with great beer!

3/4 pint bottle, 5.2% ABV
Magic Hat Brewing Company
South Burlington, VT
purchased at Costco

Pumpkin Ale

Another canned beer left over from the block party. And the first pumpkin ale of Fall. And it is a good one too! Soft, and pumpkin spices hit right from the first part of the sip. The rest is just a well rounded beer. And the spices are not overwhelming, so this is a pumpkin that you'll know is a pumpkin, but that shouldn't freak anyone out. MB

12oz can, 5.4% ABV
Wild Onion Brewing Company
Lake Barrington, IL
purchased at Kenwood

Prairie Path Golden Ale

A golden is generally a bit boring for my tastes, and this is. Don't get me wrong, I'll drink this over mass-produced slop all day any day. I just crave more flavor! This is light with a true grain flavor. I'll buy this when I want my cheap, adventureless friends to try something a little bit better. ID

12oz bottle, 29 IBU, 5.1% ABV
Two Brothers Brewing Company
Warrenville, IL
purchased at Costco

HI.P.A

Went on a sampler pack binge at Costco, so I've got like ten new beers to rate. Tonight? Ha, we'll see. Anyway, this feels like a mass-produced version of an IPA. the head seems too white and the beer over carbonated. The taste is good, just the right bitterness and good flavor. Maybe it feels wrong cause I'm drinking it too cold. Let me warm it to proper ale temp. Actually not bad at all. A happy drinking IPA! ID

3/4 pint bottle, 6.7% ABV
Magic Hat Brewing Company
South Burlington, VT
purchased at Costco

Enjoy by 09.13.13 IPA

Had forgotten I'd picked this up, and it almost spoiled!! Not sure it really needs to be that fresh, but why chance it. Even with a cold, I'll give rating it a shot. Thin, citrusy, fresh, and bitter. That is how it presents itself, in order. The citrus flavor is pretty unique, from hops not fruit, I'd guess. Oh, that hoppy citrus makes this beer! So many others claim they have it, but miss. This is good and I'd like more. But fuck, it goes bad or will just be gone in 3 days. Stone, though one of my favorites, is giving me a big middle finger by hooking me into this, then promptly pulling the plug. Get working on another batch. MB but you probably won't get the chance!

22oz bottle, 9.4% ABV
The Stone Brewing Company
Escondido, San Diego County, CA
purchased at Kenwood

Evil Power Imperial Lager

This is a light refreshing lager. A standard beer, but so much better than a Bud or that shit. Supremely smooth, but with some sort of crazy fresh spice on the back of the tongue. Ordinary and wild at the same time. Well done FFF! MB

22oz bottle, 7.2% ABV (beeradvocate.com)

Three Floyds Brewing Company

Munster, IN

purchased at FFF Brewpub

Ethos IPA

Block party special, IPA in a can. Hands down better than any light beer bullshit everyone else is drinking. Anyway, the party is long since over, so I'm drinking the one remaining can out of a glass, though it was great right out of the can as well. This is a very good IPA. Well balanced, bitter but not obnoxious. Easy drinking for a late-summer night. Need beer in a can? This one is MB.

16oz can, 110 IBU, 6.8% ABV
Tallgrass Brewing Company
Manhattan, KS
purchased at Kenwood