Aeronaut Brewing Company: Double Hop Hop 8.4%

When I hear people say juice bomb my ears always perk up a little bit. Well that's exactly what Double Hop Hop is. It's a super juicy juice bomb that pack the flavor from the first sip to the last. When I poured it from the 16oz can into the new double hop hop can glass that Aeronaut came out with just for this release it was a hazy yellow orange. You start to pick up aromas of citrus as soon as my nose hovers over the glass. The first sip hit you with that amazing orange citrus flavor that you were expecting. It has a medium bitterness with a very smooth finish. I just want to keep drinking Double Hop Hop. This was the second time Aeronaut has released Double Hop Hop and I hope that they release it again some time soon so I can keep my fridge stocked with it.

Weihenstephan: Original Premium 5.1%

When your slogan is, "The World's Oldest Brewery" you must be doing something right. Weihernstephan has been brewing beer since 1040. This Munich Helles Lager comes out of the one pint glass bottle a golden yellow color with a small white head. It has a grassy aroma with a light and smooth taste. I start to pick up a little lemon flavor as I get a deeper Into this Helles. They have the right combination of malts, barley and hops down to a tee and they should with over 900 years of experience. Overall this was a very smooth and clean tasting beer that would be perfect on a spring night.

Bissell Brothers: Reciprocal 7.3%

Once again Bissell Brothers hits another one out of the park. This Australia double dry hopped double IPA is just pure greatness. It pours a thick hazy orange with a frothy white head. From the first pour out of the 16oz can into an 18oz stem glass you pick up an amazing smell of tropical fruit. The first sip hits you with that same tropical fruit notes that you just want more of. I would say it almost tastes like mango with some peach, papaya and passion fruit. A medium bitterness finishes off this DIPA. This will be one I will definitely be going back up to Portland for.

Night Shift Brewing: Trifecta

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Night Shift was bringing back some of their old beers that they stopped brewing. Trifecta is a Belgian-style pale ale with vanilla beans added, fermented with three Trappist yeast strains. Poured into a can style glass you get a nice fluffy head. It comes out of the 16oz can amber in color and it comes in at 6.9% ABV.  When I take a sip I pick up notes of bubblegum with a little apple and pear. There is a decent amount of spicy notes with some coriander. Trifecta finishes off smooth with very little lingering taste. Overall this was a pretty decent Belgian style beer.

Royal Castle Brewery: Friedenfels Hefe-weissbier

When you go to a packie and see that they are doing a tasting, if you are anything like me you will go over and test some beers. That's just what I did a couple of days ago at my local packie. After sparking up a conversation with the guy in charge of the tasting, I found out that he worked for Night Shift Distribution. Now there's a difference between Night Shift Brewing and Night Shift Distribution. Night Shift Distribution is the company that is distributing all of Night Shift Brewing's beer, and they have decided to bring some beers over from Germany and let me tell you this ... they are some gems. Friedenfelser is a hefe-weissbier that will make you want to travel all the way to Germany. This beer was absolutely amazing and it might have taken over the top spot for my favorite hefe. Friedenfelser comes in a one pint bottle and it's 5.2% ABV. It is a deep golden color with a white fluffy head when poured into a weizen style glass. On first sip you pick up notes of banana, caramel, and a little citrus. Everything blends together well, without being too overpowering. The crisp and smooth nature of this beer makes it an easy drinker. I enjoyed this one so much that I will definitely be going back to pick up some more. 

14th Star Brewing Company: Tribute

Where to start with this one ... truthfully, I was kind of disappointed with Tribute from 14th Star Brewing. It was off a recommendation from one of the guys that work at the packie I frequently visit. I'm usually a big fan of double IPAs, but Tribute just wasn't doing it for me. It might have to do with the fact that I am picking up a major grapefruit note in Tribute. I happen to not be a fan of grapefruit. As I delve deeper into Tribute I start to pick up a little mango, lemon and pine. There is also a crisp malty base. I would say this is a slow sipper with the big bitterness that is left on my tongue. At 8.4% ABV, the more you drink Tribute the more you know that it's a high percentage beer. Overall I will give Tribute a second chance to see if it can win me over.

Allagash Brewing Company: White

Time to switch it up and go with Allagash White. A Belgian-style wheat beer with 5.1% ABV. It pours out of the tap a cloudy golden yellow color with a small white fluffy head. At first taste I start to pick up notes of light orange and lemon. It's a light beer but also a very flavorful beer with just the right amount of spice. As I run my nose over glass I can smell some citrus and cloves. Overall a very refreshing and enjoyable beer. In 1998, 2010, and 2012, Allagash White won gold at the World Beer Cup. It has also won gold three times at the Great American Beer Festival. When it comes to this beer, it seems like Allagash has perfected it ... so go get one today and try it out for yourself!