Bad. Very, very bad.

Bad. Very, very bad., originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Awful stuff. Barely got 5 sips out of it!

Newcastle Hops and Glory

Newcastle Hops and Glory, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A summer ale from Newcastle! And it's pretty darn good.

A refreshing, hoppy beer (that makes great shandy's!).

Vinter Varmer

Vinter Varmer, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Vinter Varmer, from Laurelwood
Season: Winter
ABV: 6.4%

A yummy, malty winter ale.

Bifrost Winter Ale

Bifrost Winter Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Bifrost Winter Ale, from Elysian Brewing Company
Season: Winter
ABV: 7.5%

One doesn't think of hoppy when they think of winter ales (or at least, I don't...), but maybe they (I) should, as this bitter treat takes a nip out of the winter air!

Fresh Hop Pale Ale

Fresh Hop Pale Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Fresh Hop Pale Ale, from Great Divide Brewing Company
Season: Fresh Hop
ABV: 6.1%

A seriously delicious pale ale, with a fresh citrusy hop bitterness - which makes sense, as it is a fresh hop ale...

Ill Tempered Gnome Winter Ale

Ill Tempered Gnome Winter Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Ill Tempered Gnome Winter Ale, from Oakshire Brewing
Season: Winter
ABV: 6.8%

A hoppy brown ale with bite!

C-Note Imperial Pale Ale

C-Note Imperial Pale Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

C-Note Imperial Pale Ale, from Lompoc
Season: Christmas/Holiday/ Yule/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Thanksgiving/Black Friday
ABV: 8%

I'm confused. It's an "Imperial Pale Ale" that is, in fact, copper in color. With the color, one would expect an Oktoberfesty-type ale with a mild bitter start and strong malty finish. This copper-colored pale ale starts out with a hugely strong hoppy, bitter taste that stays on through the alcohol finish (that sort of tastes malty, but is more booze than malt).

Don't let my confusion fool you into thinking that I don't like it. I do indeed like it and will most likely indulge in more before the end of "the season."

Rogue Mogul Madness

Rogue Mogul Madness, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Mogul Madness Ale, from Rogue
Season: Winter
ABV: 6.6%

A surprisingly bitter and hoppy winter ale, with a beautifully sweet boozy finish.

Wreck the Halls

Wreck the Halls, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Wreck the Halls, from Full Sail
Season: Christmas/Holiday/ Yule/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Thanksgiving/Black Friday
ABV: 6.5%

A hoppy holiday ale that makes me hoppy - err, happy.

This holiday ale is surprisingly hoppy, with a malty kick in the ass! Seriously. The smell and initial taste is all hops, but then it warms into a strong malt finish. It doesn't leave a strong aftertaste, which always makes me go back for more.

Yummy!

Harvest Wet Hop Ale

Harvest Wet Hop Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

13th Release Harvest Wet Hop Ale, from Sierra Nevada
Season: Fresh Hop
ABV: 6.7%

A beautifully bitter, copper ale with the most amazing head. Seriously. Look at the stuff! It's creamy.

I'd love to try this on a nitro tap!

Snow Cap

Snow Cap, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Snow Cap, from Pyramid
Season: Winter
ABV: 7%

A classic winter ale that's dark and malty.

And at half the price of other craft beers, it fits my budget rather nicely!

Wet Hop Ale

Wet Hop Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Wet Hop Ale, from Rogue
Season: Fresh Hop
ABV: 6.4%

More fresh hop goodness - this time from the ever-wonderful Rogue Brewery who grew their own hops for this beautiful amber-colored ale.

It has a nice balance between the malts and the hops, creating an almost-Oktoberfest-type ale.

Hop Trip

Deschutes' Hop Trip, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Hop Trip, from Deschutes
Season: Fresh Hop
ABV: 5.5%

A wonderful, seasonal treat.

It has a yummy, creamy, fresh citrus hop, without being crazy-bitter.

Wassail

Full Sail Wassail, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Wassail, from Full Sail
Season: Winter
ABV: 7%

A yummy winter concoction full of spices and malts without too many of any.

Something to warm the body after a chilly day.

Oktoberfest

Bayern Oktoberfest, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Oktoberfest, from Bayern
Season: Oktoberfest
ABV: 6%

A well-rounded Oktoberfest-style ale. It starts sweet and malty and ends on a refreshing, hoppy bitter note.

I liked it so much, I forgot to shoot it until the very last sip of the very last beer of the six-pack...

Hop Harvest Ale

Bridgeport Hop Harvest Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Hop Harvest Ale, from BridgePort
Season: Fresh Hop
ABV: 7%

Probably my favorite fresh hop beer. An Imperial Style ale that uses hops "from field to tank in one hour." It's so yummy, it's almost creamy!

Thirteenth Anniversary Ale

Thirteenth Anniversary Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Thirteenth Anniversary Ale, from Stone
Season: Anniversary
ABV: 9.5%

Malty, malty, malty.

If you like your beer malty and boozy, you'll like this. Personally, I don't. It may be the first Stone beer that I really don't like.

Night Owl Pumpkin Ale

Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale #beer, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Night Owl Pumpkin Ale, from Elysian
Season: Fall
ABV: 6.1%

A spicy, but not overwhelmingly pumpkiny beer. I don't like fruity or flavored beers, but I liked this one. I'd drink it again!

O'Brien's Harvest Ale

O'Brien's Harvest Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

O'Brien's Harvest Ale, from Hale's Ales
Season: Fall
ABV: ?

A malty, spicy ale that really isn't my thing. If you're into spicy fall ales, you'll probably really like this.

Okto

Okto, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Okto, from Widmer Brothers
Season: Oktoberfest/Fall
ABV: 5.5%

Another fine brew from Widmer Brothers. An amber ale strong in malts, with a nice bitter, hoppy finish.

Widmer Brothers has yet to produce a beer I don't like (or love)!