Friskier phenol hops are just about all that separates this from Weinhard’s Pale. Vacuous.

Fantastic Irish-styled pure malt ale is thicker, creamier, and cloudier than nearly all its Great White North competition. Caramelized molasses richness retains blood-thick yeast sinew, milk chocolate sweetness, and idyllic sour mocha bitterness, settling to resplendent maple sugar finish. Citric hop scurry relegated to backdrop. Moderate mocha warmth comparable to excellent Mc Ewan’s or Mac Andrew’s Scotch Ales.

Nearly unscented, brownish so-called ‘Legacy’ has cheerful red ale nuances (peppy hops, roasted malts, cracked wheat) countering minor sour fruiting. But second-rate finish lacks fortitude. Brewery defunct: 2002.

Stirring rocky tan-headed amber-hued dazzler plies sugary spruce overtones to resounding orange-grapefruit-pineapple-nectarine tang countering pine needled spice-hopped bittering. Dry rye and buttery almond jot crisp cracked wheat base of savory moderation.

Flimsy pearly-headed straw-hued light body remains astringent and lacks grit. Earthen pale malt sterility, minor citric candied tartness, slight vanilla-banana wisp, and barren herbaceous mist deride arid floral hop spicing.

Complex dry Irish-styled red ale musters busy bock-like chocolate-y raisin impulse atop woody hop bittering and high-spirited carbonation. Berry notes dot heavily grained malt finish.

Pleasantly carbolic boozy-scented medium body maintains chewy caramel malting. Sweet honeyed modesty and delicate English India Pale Ale characteristics (dry hops, smoked barley) provide depth. Brewery defunct: 2009.

Roasted barley richness and bitter hop pungency entangle heavy caramel malting to firm lager-grained finish. Not as sweet-spiced as archetypal red ales, but frothy and bold enough for wide-ranging drinkers. Brewery defunct: 1998.

Spiced candy tongue tingles trite peppery hop bitterness and barren grain tease before acidic alcohol acridity disrupts citric quince stint. Mainstream bowling league fodder.

Deep amber Irish-styled ale opens with raspy fruited hop bitterness, but weak grain foundation and soapy finish obstruct buttery malt seduction.

So-so sunset red medium body counters roasted barley-oats frontage with woody Cascade hop bittering, mild brown chocolate variance, and blanched honey nut dab. Sweet caramel malting usurps flimsy spicing ’til metallic finish drains backend appeal.

Well-hopped full body with refreshing Minnesota spring water, malt-thickened richness, and placid grain bitterness barely provides enough momentum to make it a bargain over mass-produced American ales.