Brew Review: RAM Restaurant Barefoot Wit and Capital Brewery Pale Ale

It's brew review time and today's a double!

First up...
RAM Restaurant - Barefoot Wit
Barefoot Wit is a season brew at the RAM. It's an unfiltered Beglean wheat beer brewed with coriander and orange peel.

Ali's Rating: **** My favorite beer at the RAM is the 71 Pale Ale and I rarely stray from my favorite. The Barefoot Wit was a nice change of pace from my usual. It's an easy drinking beer and I enjoyed the light citrus flavor. I'd say this one is a perfect beer for a summer afternoon on the patio.

Beer Advocate Rating: A

Another round please...
Capital Brewery - US Pale Ale
US Pale Ale is an American Pale Ale. It's medium-bodied with 5.0% ABV.

Ali's Rating: *** 1/2 US Pale Ale is a standard pale ale as far as I can say. I was in Wisconsin last weekend with friends and thought it was appropriate to order a Wisconsin brew while in WI, and I really didn't want a Miller. Its not a stand out beer that I'll remember a year from now (thank goodness for this blog!), but its an easy drink. If I am across the border again, will I order again? Yeah, probably so, but I won't be searching the local stores in hopes of finding it for my next cookout.

Beer Advocate Rating: B-

Cheers!

Brew Review: Commodore Perry

Another one already?

I'm a fun lovin', beer drinkin' gal, what can I say. In all seriousness, as serious as beer reviews go, I tried something new tonight and I want to make sure to get it on the books.

Here goes...

Great Lakes Brewery - Commodore Perry

Commodore Perry is another IPA, an English India Pale Ale (IPA). It's medium bodied with 7.5% ABV.

Ali's Rating: ***1/2 This one is tasty, but with a stronger alcohol % I can only drink one or two. Its a good summer beer, but most IPA's are. I mentioned in previous posts Burning River Pale Ale from Great Lakes is my favorite at the time. Having tried Commodore Perry from Great Lakes, I am intrigued to try some other beers from this brewery. For an IPA, I'll drink Mr. Perry again but it won't be a regular buy for me.

Beer Advocate Rating: B+

Cheers!

Brew Review: New Holland Mad Hatter IPA

Take one.

If you've read below, you understand, a little, what led to this post. Jake and I hit up the local wine and beer shop this weekend (plug: Wine Knows in Grayslake) to pick up some beer and it occurred to me that I've tried all these microbrews lately but I can't recall how I felt about each one. Was it great (hopefully if it was great, I'll remember)? It was ok, I'd pick it up again. Was it gross and I dare take another sip?

Lightbulb! New idea and use of the blog! What a great idea to write about the beers I try and rate them. I am not an expert in this area, so I am going to lean on Beer Advocate for help. But, I will give them a score ala Yelp or Yahoo. Now, you too can try them and see what you think. We're friends, surely you like what I like.

That said, here is the first review!

New Holland Brewery - Mad Hatter IPA
Mad Hatter IPA is a light-medium bodied American IPA 5.25% ABV.

Ali's Rating: **** (out of 5, just to clarify :)) I've had before and I will have again! Great for a sunny day on the deck. Very drinkable as far as IPA's go.

Beer Advocate Rating: B+

At the start, these reviews will be short. Will I or won't I drink again? The only thing I know about hops is that's how bunnies get around. Like a fine wine, I'll get better with age. Or by drinking more beer? I think more beer.

Cheers!