Disturbingly acidic Anheuser-Busch castoff besets faint Cascade hops with thin barleycorn outline, dried-out grapefruit contour, and fluctuant buttery malt spine. Diacetyl flow dampers tea-like drift and vegetal accrual.

Caramel malt abundance, sweet barley conduit, and lively citric hop pivot provide enormous up-front appeal. Wicked malt-lacquered finish picks up mint-y tingle and medicinal riptide that never distract pale ale essence. Blows away the competition. Brewery defunct: 2002.

Musty-scented mocha-soured pale ale maintains thick grain-nut bitterness and creamy moderation to piney finish. Sticky maple malts, chocolate notes, and birch undertones sweeten the mesh, curbing grain-embittered depth with no negative setbacks.

Full-bodied cloudy-hued pale ale brings fine barleymalt influx and zesty hop persistence to delicate tangy fruited finish. Crisp water briskness will appeal to amateurs in search of a soft-toned potion. Brewery defunct: 2003.

Initial offering by Michigan brewery counters sweet butterscotch caress, dry fruity appeal, and frugal nuttiness with capricious Cascade hop spicing. Pine notes adorn wheat biscuit spine as mild lemon-grapefruit-apricot bittering and herbaceous floral kick rapidly swell.

Spicy lemon-orange rind frontage routs barley-roasted wheat grass whimper of puffy beige-headed moderate body. Sullen yeast froth softens sinewy pale malting to sharply bitter citric-hop finish.

Buttery smoothness consumes subtle caramel-malted nuttiness and hop-seared barley toasting of moderate-bodied English ale. Sour dried fruits and piquant herbs consume Melba-toasted white-breaded off-dry finish.

Carbolic fizz nearly overwhelms floral-hopped orange-grapefruit rind bittering and drooping apple-peach-tangerine tang. Astringency relegates sweet malt-y finish.

Rich velvety amber thickens resolve as bottle drains. Fresh mountain water softens fecund wood-burnt India Pale Ale-like hop bitterness. As smokiness subsides, slight citric zest lingers to honeyed maple finish.

Special 10th anniversary ‘grand cuvee’ typifies Unibroue’s more uniquely styled brews which are truly in a league of their own. Compares favorably to Belgian white ales with its wheat wine essence, zesty orange wisp, and carbolic hop-spiced clove seasoning. Unexpected cinnamon-nutmeg backdrop adds pleasant holiday spirit. Still, more fluffy than creamy, hurting its persistence.

First impression: lightly pined copper-hazed ale compared favorably to Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Sinewy caramel yeast foundation provides perfect ‘tap beer’ essence while subtle nut bitterness firms up wheat-chaffed floral bouquet. Damp dry-hopped orange rind dankness envelops succinct mineral grain finish.