16 oz. can
7.0% ABV
Date: 04/28/26 - There is no indication as to what the date pertains to, but I'm going to assume that is the "Canned on" date.
$14.19 4-pk @ Publix

AROMA: Moderately sweet, with moderate scents of tangerine followed by mild scents of juniper. I find it to be quite nice with a touch of a tropical feel. As the beer warms the juniper becomes a bit more prevalent.

APPEARANCE: Pours a cloudy gold color with a two-finger, white, tight-frothed head that dissipates very slowly with excellent lacing. And when I say cloudy, I mean CLOUDY! In a clear glass, even though the beer is light in color, you can not see more than about 1/4 of an inch into the glass. I know this is a hazy IPA, but I've never had one that is this opaque. Still, even with that level of cloudiness, I am finding the beer to have an alluring look. But a lot of that has to do with the tidy head that seems to persist for eternity.

TASTE: The first thing I am hit with is mild bitterness that is then followed by light flavors of sweet citrus and pine. The finish is just more of that mild bitterness. Honestly, based on the aroma, I was expecting a little more citrus flavor than I got. Update: As the beer is warming, I am definitely getting more citrus flavor (predominantly tangerine and some orange peel), but the bitterness level is rising too. For me, the perfect balance between citrus and bitter was achieved right around 55º F. At that temperature I found the taste to be fairly enjoyable.

MOUTHFEEL: Medium-bodied with a slightly "grabby" texture. Carbonation is above average. Which probably explains why the head lasted so long. Finish is mildly dry. As I drank this, my first inclination was that there needed to be a bit more smoothness to the texture. However, the more I drank, the more I realized that the texture of the beer, really was a good match for the flavor and carbonation level.

OVERALL: As a cold beer, even though it is a perfectly fine beer, I would probably not purchase this again as it really doesn't have any outstanding qualities. It is just a good beer in a market that is flooded with good beers. However, as a slightly warmed beer, I find this to be a much more enjoyable beer that I would happily buy again. My only critique would be that even as a slightly warmed beer, I don't find it to have its own identity. What does that mean? Well, it means that if you handed a glass of this to me, I would drink it and say that I liked it a lot (and could you please bring me another). However, I wouldn't be able to tell you whether or not I have had this beer before, only that I liked it. For me, that's not necessarily a bad thing. But for the brewer, it makes it more difficult for them to become "popular" via word-of-mouth. Suffice it to say, that this is the first beer I have tried from this brewer, and (even though it didn't start off that way) my experience has been very positive, which means that I will be trying more of their other brews, in the future. Hopefully, I find their other quaffs to be just as enjoyable!

16 oz. can
5.5% ABV
Canned on: 04/16/26
$10.29 (on sale) 4-pk @ Publix

AROMA: Moderately sweet, with moderate scents of orange/tangerine and lime, followed by mild scents of juniper. All-in-all it has a quite refreshing nose that is bright and inviting, without being overpowering.

APPEARANCE: Pours a cloudy gold color with a three-finger, white, tight-frothed head that dissipates somewhat slowly with excellent lacing. For my tastes, I find it to be a bit too cloudy. In a clear glass, the level of cloudiness, gives me the impression that something accidentally got mixed into the beer. Even though that is clearly (pun intended) not the case.

TASTE: At the beginning of a sip, I get mild sweetness that then transitions to some crisp, mild bitterness. There are light flavors of citrus and pine. Oddly enough, the finish transitions to a touch of citrus sweetness, at the very last second. Normally, it is the bitterness that finishes things off.

MOUTHFEEL: Medium-bodied with a slightly "grabby" texture. Carbonation is slightly higher than average. Finish is mildly dry.

OVERALL: It's crisp and refreshing, has a nice balance of sweet and bitter, and has a nice aroma. All while still having enough uniqueness to maintain its own identity, and not fall into the trap of being another "me too" beer. Couple that with a mild ABV and you have a nice "porch-sitting" beer. Astoundingly, as the beer warms, I really don't detect any change in nose or taste, which is a rarity in my book. Although, to be fair, the texture does become less "grabby" (which I prefer).

11.2 oz. bottle
4.6% ABV
Best by: MAY2027
$11.79 (on sale) 6-pk @ Publix

AROMA: Mildly sweet, with light scents of bread, malt, and honey. Inviting but not alluring.

APPEARANCE: Pours a transparent pale gold color with a one-finger, bright white, tight-frothed head that dissipates somewhat slowly with moderate lacing. It looks fairly nice in my clear glass.

TASTE: At beginning of a sip, I get mild sweetness that then transitions to some crisp, mild bitterness. There are light flavors of malt, bread, and hops. As the beer warms, the sweetness level rises just a bit, which I find to be a better match with the bitterness level.

MOUTHFEEL: Medium-bodied with a slightly smooth texture. Although, due to the slightly higher-than-average carbonation level, there is a bit of "grabbiness" on the tongue during the finish. Finish is mildly dry.

OVERALL: I find it to be an enjoyable beer to relax with. It's crisp and refreshing, has a pleasing aroma and flavor, and goes down easy. It's low ABV means I can have a few without worrying about getting snockered.

It's not a beer that's going to "wow" anyone, but it is a solid European lager that I think most beer drinkers would find pleasant. For me, it's the type of beer that I want when I'm going to spend the day on the porch sipping beer and relaxing after a long week. In that situation I want a beer that I don't think about as I drink it. It should just go down easy and make my brain say "Mmm, good!". Additionally, my palate shouldn't get fatigued if I drink a few of them. This is one of those beers.

12 oz. can
5.0% ABV
Best by: JUN 2026
$14.99 6-pk @ Publix

AROMA: Mildly sweet, with scents of coffee and a hint of caramel, at the end. Oddly, I find the coffee scent to be more like used coffee grinds, rather than fresh beans.

APPEARANCE: Pours an opaque black with a 3-finger, tight-frothed, dirty-tan head that dissipates very slowly with excellent lacing. It looks very nice!

TASTE: At beginning of a sip, I get moderate sweetness with a fair amount of espresso that is followed by some light notes of cream and a touch of caramel. Sadly, other than a bit of coffee flavor, it doesn't really have much else to offer. And I find that the sweetness doesn't really mesh with the rest of the flavor profile.

MOUTHFEEL: Thin-bodied with a slightly coarse texture. Carbonation is below average. Finish is mildly dry.

OVERALL: Appearance is great. Aroma and Flavor are just okay. Mouthfeel is lacking. While I find the idea of the beer to be compelling, the actual execution leaves me flat. I'm glad I tried it, but I won't be buying again.

2026 vintage
12 oz. bottle
9.6% ABV
Packaged on: 12/12/25
$13.49 6-pk @ Publix

Note: The brewer states that this beer will continue to develop in the bottle for years to come. Which is why I indicated the vintage that I am reviewing.

AROMA: Mildly sweet, with mild floral scents, bread, spice, and hops.

APPEARANCE: Pours an deep amber with a 4-finger, tight-frothed, tan head that dissipates very slowly with excellent lacing. Very inviting!

TASTE: As the beer first touches my palate, I get a brief sense of sweetness that is immediately overcome by moderate-to-high levels of bitterness. Individual flavors are somewhat masked by the bitterness, but I get faint flavors of grass, malt, and caramel.

MOUTHFEEL: Full-bodied with a smooth, creamy texture at the beginning of a sip and then it transitions to a much coarser texture. Which is probably due to the bitterness level and the ultra-dry finish. Carbonation is average.

OVERALL: I've only had a few barleywine beers over the years, so I am certainly no expert on them. But I find this one to taste nothing like the others I've tried in the past. This one is very hoppy and tastes more like an or American strong ale than a barleywine beer. I was genuinely excited to try this beer because I haven't had a barleywine beer in ages, and thought this would be a nice change of pace. But I found myself disappointed because, to me, this was just another hop-forward ale .

The beer is actually a well made beer. It just wasn't what I expected for a barleywine beer, nor anything I would have bought had I known what it was truly like. I've tried many other beers from this brewer, and have enjoyed the vast majority of them. However, I won't be buying this again. Simply because it doesn't fit the barleywine style, or at least not my interpretation of the style. I have a few bottles left so I will let them develop in the bottle, for a year or two, and give them another try. But I'm not holding my breath.

12 oz. can
6.0% ABV
Date: 10/23/25 - Note: There is nothing to indicate what the date refers to (packaged, born-on, best-by, etc.)
$13.99 6-pk @ Winter Springs Liquors

AROMA: Mildly sweet, with mild scents of milk chocolate and malt. As the beer warms, I start to get notes of ground coffee and cocoa.

APPEARANCE: Pours an opaque black with a 2-finger, tight-frothed, tan head that dissipates down to a pencil thin collar, moderately fast. The collar, on the other hand, lingers for quite a while. Lacing is minimal when I finish the pour and just let the beer sit and the head dissipate on its own. However, there is moderate lacing after taking a sip and letting the beer settle back into the glass. Overall, a nice looking beer.

TASTE: Mildly sweet, with moderate coffee flavor and mild notes of cocoa nibs. The coffee flavor reminds me of the bulk, commercial coffees like Maxwell House and Folders. While it's not bitter, it doesn't have any real depth of flavor like more expensive coffees do. During the finish I get more of a coffee grounds flavor, rather than coffee itself.

MOUTHFEEL: Medium-bodied with a somewhat loose texture that gives the sense of wateriness but with more heft/body than water. Carbonation is about average.

OVERALL: In general, I love coffee porters. I do not love this one. However, I don't hate it either. For me, it just has some oddities in the flavor and texture, that would keep me from buying in again.

12 oz. can
8.7% ABV
Best by: 09.19.26
$11.49 (on sale) 6-pk @ Publix

AROMA: Mildly sweet, with mild scents of raisins, cinnamon, and a bit of booze. As the beer warms, I start to pick up on other scents like, fresh-baked oatmeal cookies, vanilla, and dark-roast coffee.

APPEARANCE: Pours an opaque black with a 4-finger, loose-frothed, tan head that dissipates very slowly with excellent lacing. To be honest, it reminds me of a freshly poured Guinness from a tap. Very inviting!

TASTE: Sweet, with solid flavors of cinnamon, raisins, vanilla, and dark chocolate. I also get hints of coffee, milk, and booze during the finish. While the cinnamon is fairly evident, it is not in-your-face. In fact, none of the flavors really dominate. Instead, there is a nice balance between all of them. And even though the beer is on the sweet side, it is not overpowering. Especially with the coffee bitterness coming in during the finish, which helps to counter-balance some of the sticky sweetness you get at the very beginning.

One thing to be aware of is that as the beer warms, the raisin, vanilla, and milk flavors get a bit more prevalent, while the cinnamon lessens a skosh. While this does change the flavor profile a bit, it is not a big change, yet it is noticeable. And I'm okay with that.

MOUTHFEEL: Full-bodied with a smooth, silky texture at the beginning of a sip and then there's a bit of "grabiness" at the very end. Carbonation is a little above average.

OVERALL: I've had mixed experiences with beers from this brewer. Some I like, some I don't. This is one that I do like, and will buy more of it in the future. However, it is fairly sweet. So it's not going to be a beer that I buy on a regular basis. Still, I would probably buy it a few times, each year, for those times when I want something sweet with a well-balanced flavor.

12 oz. bottle
8.6% ABV
Best by: 10/09/26
$11.09 (on sale) 4-pk @ Publix

AROMA: Sweet, with strong scents of caramel and butterscotch. I also get a very slight hint of bubblegum at the end. It is a very delicious smelling beer!

APPEARANCE: Pours a clear medium-amber with a 2-finger, tight-froth, white head that dissipates slowly with moderate lacing. It looks very inviting in my clear glass!

TASTE: Sweet, with big flavors of caramel, butterscotch and vanilla. I do get a bit of the nut flavor on the back-end, but you really have to "wait" for it. I do wish the nut flavor was more pronounced. But to be fair, chestnuts don't have a whole lot of flavor, on their own, to begin with.

Yes, the beer is sweet, but I find it to be at a tolerable level. Meaning, I can drink an entire beer without my palate becoming fatigued. However, I'm not sure I would want to drink 2 of these, in a row.

MOUTHFEEL: Full-bodied with a smooth, silky texture. Carbonation is a bit below average. The finish is long and smooth. This a very luxurious feeling beer with a body that is deceptively thick.

OVERALL: I'm kinda diggin' this beer. I find the aroma, flavor, and body to be very alluring, and its style fits nicely with the holidays. There are a lot of seasonal beers that I've tried that I think to myself, "why don't they make this year-round?". This is not one of those beers as it, definitely, would not be as enjoyable at any other time of the year. Mostly, because of the sweetness factor. However, as a "holiday" beer, I find it quite enjoyable and would gladly buy it next year, if it is available.