Score: 88

Margaux poured a cloudy, straw yellow color with a finger width, small bubbled, white head. The nose is huge, with tons of sugar, spices, citrus, and pale malt. The body has medium to high depth. A pale malt base with lots of sweetness up front, there is some citrus before spices come in strong and stay all the way through the finish.  Overall, a nice beer.  The alcohol content is hidden well and there is a lot to like but it could use a little dryness to balance out the sugar and malt up front.  A Tripel is perfectly suited to age but this year old bottle might have been better to drink fresh.

Style: Imperial or Double IPA

Score: 91

Too Kind poured a clear, golden orange color with a finger width, small bubbled white head.  The aroma is bright, malty with piney and citrusy hops.  The body has thin to moderate depth up front and gets a little thicker on the back end.  Pale malt up front with some sweetness, notes of chamomile, and some balancing hops. The finish brings about a dry, hoppy bitterness.  Overall, a very good beer.  Drinking more like an IPA, it is relatively thin for an imperial. 

Defiant Brewing Company
6 Dexter Plaza

The Defiant Brewing Company opened in the Fall of 2006.  Owned by head brewer Neill Acer, the 15 barrel brewhouse produced 2,000 barrels in 2012.  Defiant’s beers are available on draft and also 750 mL bottles.    

Beers
Pilsner
Summer Ale
Christmas Ale
Little Thumper
Porter
Tripel

Three Heads
http://www.threeheadsbrewing.com/
@3HeadsBrewing

Three Heads Brewing Company is a contract brewery based in Rochester.  Owned by Dan Nothnagle, Todd Dirrigl and Geoff Hale, the first beer was released in 2010.  All of the beer is brewed locally by Custom Brewcrafters.  

Beers
Year Round
Blimey
Skunk
The Kind
Java Sutra

Specialties
Ontario Coast
Bromigo
Loopy
Common Man
Cobbs Hill
Big Head
Third Party Candidate
Too Kind
Rochestefarian

Owner Jennifer Hill opened 508 as a restaurant in 2008 and it became a brewpub in July 2011.  Chris Cuzme is the head brewer and brews on a 2 barrel system.  

Beers
Year Round
Spraytan (The Unpale Ale)
Sea Witch Wit

Hair Dye Series
Naturally Blonde
Pink

Pillow Talk Series
Bangin Berliner

Brollaboration Series
Ale Street Honey Nut News

Score: 87

Chile Lime Stout poured a dark brown, blackish color with a pen width tan head. The aroma is mild, with dark roasted malt, some heat and plenty of lime.  The mouth feel is smooth, with low levels of carbonation.  The body has some dark malt before a little citrus, and sharp heat comes in on the middle before intensifying on the finish.  Overall, a well made, very interesting beer.  There is a ton of heat here but the malt and citrus seem to balance it out.  It does well on its own but begs for a creative chef to work a food pairing around this.

Peekskill Brewery
47-53 South Water Street

Peekskill Brewery opened in 2009 and is owned by Kara Berardi, her husband Keith Berardi and Morgan Berardi. In December 2012, the brewery moved to a new location down the street from the old location.  The new building is four stories and 13,000 square feet.  Currently the first floor houses a tasting room and bar along with the brewing equipment with a restaurant on the second floor.  Head brewer Jeff O’Neil was hired in 2012 to oversee the brewery’s expansion from a 3.5 barrel brewing system to the new over sized 15 barrel equipment.  Peekskill brewed 500 barrels in 2012 but hopes to increase that production to 3,000 barrels in 2013.

Beers
Year Round
Zeitgeist
Skills Pills
C.R.E.A.M. Ale
AMAZEballs
Eastern Standard IPA
Shotgun Willie
Double Standard
Simple Sour
World’s End

No Longer Brewed
Tropic Thunder
Hop Common
Vanilla Bourbon Stout
Rosemary’s Baby
Paramount Pale Ale
Dunderberg Dunkelweizen
Sally Sweeney Stout

Score: 89

Dusseldorf Altbier poured a semi-hazy, light brown color with a finger width, off white head.   The aroma is inviting, lots of malt balanced with some hops.   The body has nice depth, malty up front with faint sweetness that leads to a dry finish that is almost smokey.  Overall, a very nice beer.  Plenty of distinct flavors, it is balanced and the finish is great.

Style: American-Style Pale Ale

Score: 91

Live poured a hazy, golden orange color with a two fingered width, froth white head.  The aroma is bright, with a few hop notes, yeast, and citrusy grapefruit.  The body is delicate with pale malt and more citrus and grapefruit.  The beer finishes with a mild, yeasty dryness.  Overall, a very good beer.  Easy drinking, it is lighter but has plenty to offer.  It is a little thin in the middle but the finish is nice and the nose and front of the body are brilliant.  A great Summer beer.

Style: American-Style Pale Ale

Score: 93

Long Ireland’s Pale Ale poured a semi-hazy amber color, with a finger width, off white head.  The nose is very nice as strong malt aromas work well with plenty of hops.  The body is all malt before a huge amount of hops leads to a bitter, bone dry finish.  The glass was left coated with hanging lace.  Overall, an amazing beer.  Simple, and extremely well made, it is incredibly fresh which is a hallmark of great IPAs.  Some may think the monster finish is a little harsh but there is enough malt to keep the body balanced.