Postby biegaman » Tue Sep 30, 2014 8:22 pm
Agree more or less with Jordan. I'd put them: Hofbrau, Barn Door, Black Oak, Sam Adams/Lederhosen, Beau's, Mill Street, Creemore.
Trying them side by side I was really impressed with the Bard Door (have a few bottles in the fridge so looking forward to full and multiple samples). But from what little I initially tried I was really impressed. Originally, going back a couple of years, I found the HB too pale and understated but now I love it as a simple quaff (though as a rule I prefer maltier, deeper Marzens). The Black Oak is solid through and through, as you'd expect from that brewery. The Rickard's Lederhosen, much as I kind of hate to admit it, was unexpectedly decent. Actually, to be fair, more than that. It's good. I liked it enough to buy it (though proper review is yet to come). Beau's and Mill Street I always find very serviceable, albeit nothing world-beating, and the Creemore, having had it now on more occasions than I can count on one hand, I just think is really more in line with their Pilsner and UrBock (sub-par, maybe mediocre at best) than it is with their Kellerbier and Altbier (remarkable renditions).
But hey, those are just my thoughts at the moment...