Ommegang Abbey Ale (8/10)

Ommegang Abbey Ale is usually not as heavily cloudy as it appears in the photo at the left. I think that draft may be from the bottom of the keg, where it picked up more yeast and sediment than usual.

In any case, it's a brown beer with a very mild aroma which is barely noticeable. The head is off-white, thin, and tends to dissipate quickly. The flavor has a touch of bitterness to it, but mostly is malty and just barely tangy.

This cloudy glass notwithstanding, Ommegang Abbey Ale is a definitely one of the brewery's better products. Beer Advocate rates it 92/100 or 100/100.

You can find the bottled version of Ommegang Abbey Ale at a number of local retailers, including Whole Foods Market in Upper Arlington  and Giant Eagle Market District at Kingsdale.


ABV: 8.5%
IBU: 20
My rating: 8/10

Rinkuskiai Before and After (8/10)

Before and After is a high-alcohol (12% ABV) lager from Lithuania. It pours into the glass an orangey, cloudy liquid with very little head. The little head it has tends to dissipate quickly. The aroma is pleasant, and slightly yeasty.

The flavor is sweet and malty, with a strong warming alcohol presence. There is little or no hops presence. It has a very thick mouth feel to it, which will make it a brew you will drink slowly. Given the 12% alcohol content, that may be a good thing.

The Before and After label is amusing, implying that the drinker will develop beer goggles. Held upright, the label depicts an old woman with a sour expression. Turned upside down (the "after" view), the image becomes a beautiful young woman with a bow in her hair.

I like this beer. It has a lot going for it. It has a sweet, non-hoppy flavor. Its high ABV makes it a beer you'll tend to savor slowly. And the price tag is quite reasonable (I paid $2.49 for the 1 pint, 0.9 fluid ounce bottle reviewed here). It isn't a beer I would drink every day, but it is one I drink perhaps monthly.

Apparently, my taste varies quit a bit from the major beer review sites like Beer Advocate, at least on this brew. Most rate it low, claiming it has little flavor and aroma.

I've found this beer pretty consistently at The Andersons General Store, but haven't noticed it elsewhere.

ABV: 12%
IBU: unknown
My rating: 8/10

Left Hand Brewing Polestar Pilsner (7/10)

At the Columbus Beer Fest in January 2012, I had the good fortune to meet Left Hand's Brewmaster "Boner" Gibbs. He treated me to a sample of their peach-infused beer that was absolutely excellent.  I've made it a point to try all the Left Hand products I've bumped into since then.

Left Hand Brewing Company's Polestar Pilsner pours from the bottle a clean, clear amber color.  There is minimal head to it, and very little lacing as you drink it.

The flavor is fairly standard for a pilsner, with mild to moderate hoppiness to it.  It isn't my favorite pilsner, but it isn't bad.

Beer Advocate seems split on it, with site visitors giving it an 82 ("good") and the site owners rating it a 96 ("world-class").

Although I tried this beer at The Winking Lizard Tavern on Bethel Road, I have seen it for sale at Kenny Road Market.

ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 33
My rating: 7/10

Victory Golden Monkey (8/10)

Victory Brewing Company's Golden Monkey is a Belgian style Tripel, one of my favorite beer styles. It pours into the glass a rich amber color, with virtually no head.

The aroma delivers a traditional tripel spiciness. The flavor offers hints of banana and spice.  Overall, I really enjoyed it and look forward to ordering it again.

Beer Advocate gives it an average to good rating, and didn't seem to enjoy it as much as I did.

Although I sampled this beer at The Winking Lizard Tavern on Bethel, I've also seen it available for purchase at Cost Plus World Market and occasionally at other retailers.

ABV: 9.5%
IBU: 25
My rating: 8/10

Great Lakes Eliot Ness (6/10)

Great Lakes' Eliot Ness is an amber Vienna style lager that pours a slightly reddish brown with a thick off-white head that dissipates relatively slowly and leaves behind considerable lacing on the glass.

The flavor is mildly hoppy. There is a slight sweetness and rich malty flavor hiding behind the hops. The aroma is hoppier than the actual beer.

I like it, but it's probably one I would not have as often, as it comes across a bit hoppier than I care for.

Beer Advocate rates it 91/100, or "exceptional".

Great Lakes beers are available at several local retailers. I've specifically seen Eliot Ness at Kenny Road Market, Cost Plus World Market, and Whole Foods Market in Upper Arlington.


ABV: 6.2%
IBU: 27
My rating: 6/10

Southern Tier 422 Wheat Ale (6/10)

Southern Tier Brewing's 422 is described as a wheat ale. It's pale yellow in color with a thin white head that dissipates quickly and leaves no lacing on the glass.

The aroma reminds me of Dogfish Head Ta Henket, without the musty note that beer has. The flavor is a good balance of citrus sourness and hoppy bitterness. It's probably right "at" my limit of bitterness. WIth the juice of the provided lemon slice, the balance is just perfect for me.

Beer Advocate rated it only 79/100.

It's a beer I look forward to having again.

I've seen this available at Kenny Road Market, and other Southern Tier products at Whole Foods Market in Upper Arlington.

ABV: 5.8%
IBU: 23
My rating: 6/10 (but 8/10 with the juice of the lemon slice added to it)

New Zealand's Epic Lager (5/10)

New Zealand's Epic Brewing Company's Epic Lager pours as an amber color with a thin head, and almost no lacing in the glass.

The flavor is a fairly standard lager.  Nothing really jumped out at me.  The level of hoppiness would certainly exceed a Budweiser but probably below a Samuel Adams Boston Lager.  That is to say that you'll notice the hops but they don't overwhelm the flavot.  It's a decent beer, but not a favorite.

Beer Advocate gives it an 83, describing it as "good" (certainly not "epic").

I tried this at The Winking Lizard Tavern on Bethel Road, but haven't seen it available at local retailers.

ABV: 5%
IBU: 25
My rating: 5/10

Left Hand Fade to Black Volume 3 (7/10)

Left Hand Brewing Company makes some great products.  Their Milk Stout and Milk Stout Nitro are excellent.  The peach infused beer that brewmaster Boner Gibbs let me sample at the Columbus Beer Festival in January was delicious (and this from a guy who is indifferent toward most peach products).  It is no surprise, then, that I enjoy Fade to Black.

Fade to Black Volume 3 is described on the label as a Pepper Porter.  It is a very dark brown beer, typical for a porter.  The flavor is malty at first, then turns slightly bitter at the end.  There is a touch of peppery spiciness in the aftertaste.  I'm looking forward to my next bottle.

Left Hand Fade to Black is available at Kenny Road Market and perhaps other local retailers.

ABV:  7.2%
IBU:  unknown
My Rating: 7/10