Cherry Wheat

Again, Sam Adams is a pretty reliable brewer. They're not likely to produce anybody's favorite beer, but when you open a Sam Adams beer, you're not likely to get swill, either.

I remember clearly the first time I bought Cherry Wheat. It was late 2007. The rain was turning to snow, and I was driving the Volkswagen. Dinner was spaghetti. I stopped into the sleazy corner liquor store looking for something a little different. This was what they had. I also picked up some free Budweiser posters with Latin flair to send to Nog.

When I got home and opened up my first bottle, the sweet smell rose into my nostrils and I looked into the mist at the top of the bottle, I was struck by the thought that it would be cool to always be opening a new, untasted beer. "More happy love! More happy, happy love!" And it was probably in that moment that the first seeds of this 300 beer year began.

Having tried it a second time, it was still a pretty OK beer. Swheat and tart. If you like mild fruit beers, this is a good one for you. Otherwise, I wouldn't go out of your way to try it.

Purple Haze

This is the first beer I've had from Louisiana. Not terribly impressed. A wheat lager with raspberry puree added late in the process. This ought to give it a good fresh flavor, but it all kind of muddles together. Not a great fruit beer.

Sunshine

It used to be I couldn't stand this wheat beer from New Belgium, but now it doesn't seem so bad. A decent wheat beer.

Blue Moon

A beer that has long been among my least favorite of the commonly available options. I think I first tried it on a brewery tour at Coors, and I didn't like it then. Still don't like it now.

It's always one of the ones they pick up at work, and, though I know beggars can't be choosers, I think I'll take about anything over a Blue Moon. Another Belgian style ale.

Pumpkinhead

Another really good pumpkin beer, probably the best of the three I've tried--Highly recommended. And really a delightful surprise after the terrible Export Ale

Summerbright

As the summer is winding down, I'm trying to catch all the summer seasonals before they disappear. I really do like some of the beers Breckenridge produces. This one, though, is just OK.

Franziskaner Weissbier

Franziskaner

Paulaner Hefeweizen

Paulaner

Santa Fe Hefeweizen

Santa Fe

Vitus

Weihenstephaner

Easy Street Wheat

Odell. At this point, my favorite wheat beer.

Blackberry Wheat

Samuel Adams

Mothership Wit

New Belgium