This week I have five pretty damn fine brews that I'm looking at. But first a quick note -

Bacon is a wonderful thing. The best thing pigs have ever gifted us with. Vodka one the best things that Russia has given the world. The two together? I have my doubts.

On to the Beer. Like last week - from best to worst...

Three are Pennsylvania brewers, one brews in Massachusetts but is headquartered in Maryland, and the other is out of Louisiana.

There were to that scored out at a nine on my scale. Both were hop-heavy brews...on to it...

Victory Hop-Devil Ale
Victory Brewing Co.
Downingtown, PA
Grade: 9.0

Victory's Hop-Devil starts with a strong hop-heavy aroma, complimented with a nice hoppy flavor with a bitter finish, typical of the better hop brews. The beer pours slightly cloudy, as though unfiltered, but has an attractive golden-amber color.

With even carbonation, the beer drinks smoothly. I highly recommend this to any fans of hops.

Imperial Amber Nugget-Nectar
Troeg's Brewing Co.
Harrisburg, PA
Grade: 9.0

The Troeg Brothers entrant into the hops arms race has a stronger, bitter, hoppy aroma than the Hop-Devil, and starts with slightest, almost innocuous sweetness, but finishes with the strong bitterness of the hops in the back of the mouth.

The beer pours clear, but with a similar golden-amber as the Hop-Devil. It pours nicely, with good, even carbonation and holds a nice head.

Winter Warmer
Lancaster Brewing Co.
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Grade: 8.0

Most winter warmers tend to be spicy beers with the flavors of pumpkin and ginger. This is a heartier beer with a malty, caramel infused aroma that nicely compliments its flavor. The beer tastes of malt and with caramel overtones.

The warmer has a beautiful, deep ruby color. When poured the beer looks somewhat like a soda, however it settles nicely.

Turbodog Abita Ale
Abita Brewing Co.
Abita Springs, LA
Grade: 8.0

This beer doesn't exactly attack the olfactory when poured. The scent has an indeterminate metallic undertone with the light odor of an American brewed stout. Oddly, it has neither a metallic nor a very stout like flavor, drinking more like a nut brown with a hint of chocolate. The one nod to the stout-like aroma is the fact that the flavor finishes with a distinct coffee note like certain stouts.

When poured, the beer is well carbonated with a nice head and a deep ruby-brown color.

Golden Ale
Hook & Ladder Brewing Co
HQ - Silver Spring, MD
Brewed - Ipswich, MA
Grade 7.625

This beer has an unusual, though pleasant aroma with a vague malt afterthought in the smell. It has good flavor for a lighter beer, and finishes on a pleasant, smoky note.

While the beer pours with a nice, even carbonation, I would say that the color is a little pale for a golden ale - leaning more towards the color of a good pilsner or pale ale.

The perfect time to have a Hook & Ladder would be with a hot dog on a hot, sunny day at the ballpark.