Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot (8/10)

Weyerbacher Brewing Co. is located in Easton, Pennsylvania.  Blithering Idiot is their Barleywine style beer.

The color is a cloudy reddish brown. Weyerbacher's web site calls it copper, and I can't argue with that.

The head is thin, white, and doesn't last long.

The aroma is sweet, caramel, and pleasant.

The flavor starts with a very slight touch of hops, a stronger caramel sweetness, and a bit of alcohol warmth.  The finish is warming and reminds me of molasses. All in all, it's very pleasant.

Rate Beer gives this one a 96 overall and an 83 for the style.  Beer Advocate is much tougher, with the "Bros" giving it a 65 (poor) and the others giving it an 83 or "good".  I would imagine this has something to do with Weyerbacher intentionally trying to brew a British style balanced barleywine where hops doesn't overwhelm the rest of the flavors. They've achieved that goal here.

I usually don't like Barleywine ales.  They tend to be very strong, unpleasantly hoppy, and not to my taste.  This one, however, is actually very good.  I would happily drink more of this.  Given that, I'm rating it 8/10 because it's what I'd like more barleywines to be like.

ABV: 11.1%
IBU:  Unknown, but I'd rate it about 19
My Rating: 8/10

Ommegang Witte (9/10)

Ommegang Witte pours a barely cloudy pale yellow with a thin white head that lingers for a while.  It's a Belgian White or "witbier" style.

The aroma is a little bit of pine and citrus.

Flavor starts with a lemony note which continues through.  Hops presence takes a definite back seat here, and is just noticeable in the flavor.  Finish is clean and the orange flavor makes an appearance.  There's a hint of spice as well.

This is everything I like in a Belgian white beer.

Beer Advocate gives it a 78-85 (average to good).  Rate Beer gives it an 88.

I tried this beer at The Daily Growler.  I've not seen it on the shelves at any of the local retailers I've visited, though Ommegang's other products are well-represented at most retailers.

ABV:  5.2%
IBU:
My Rating: (9/10)

Fort Collins Major Tom's American Wheat (4/10)

Fort Collins Brewery, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, produces Major Tom's American Wheat, a pomegranate wheat beer.  It won the fruit beer category at the 2009 U.S. Beer Tasting Championship.

The beer is brewed with real pomegranates and filtered after brewing.

It pours, as you can see at the left, a slightly cloudy yellow with a thin white head that leaves behind rings of lacing.

The aroma is hoppy, and that's pretty much it.

The flavor follows the aroma, which is hoppy at the start and finish, with a hint of pomegranate and wheat in the middle.  Overall, it's not what I expect or like in a wheat beer.  I found it somewhat unpleasant overall, which is unusual for me when it comes to a wheat beer.

Rate Beer gives Fort Collins Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat a 29 overall and a 54 for the style.  Beer Advocate rates it a 74 (or "average").

I tried this beer at The Daily Growler, and haven't seen it for sale anywhere else.

ABV: 4.8%
IBU: 34
My Rating: 4/10

Hoof Hearted Chipotle Permafrost Wheat Porter (7/10)

Hoof Hearted Brewing is a relatively new Columbus area brewer (located in Marengo, Ohio).  Their Permafrost Wheat Porter is brewed with coffee and chipotle peppers.

It's coffee colored with an off-white head that doesn't last long.  The aroma is that of very strong coffee.

The flavor is that of a very rich coffee, with some hops presence that's offset by the coffee and the mild chipotle pepper burn.  Overall, I like the flavor a lot but can't imagine drinking more than one of these in a single sitting.

Beer Advocate and Rate Beer don't have enough ratings yet for this beer to quote their numbers.  The few comments there, however, indicate that people like the beer and consider it very drinkable.

I sampled this beer at The Daily Growler in Upper Arlington in early March 2013.  As far as I know, Hoof Hearted doesn't offer their beer in bottles yet, as I've not seen any on store shelves.

ABV:  6.66%
IBU: unknown, but I'd guess in the mid 20's
My Rating: 7/10