The Mystery 5-Pack, Part 2

OK, I'll try to wrap this up quickly.

I'm not expecting much.

First up, by virtue of its likelihood to be as bland as I remember, is...

Alaskan White (ABV ?%)
It pours a cloudy, pale gold, gives off hints of a very faint spiciness, and exhibits light carbonation and a slight head. The first sip revealed more flavor than I was expecting. The light malt is balanced nicely by a judicious use of spices. There is, of course, no hop character to speak of. It's not overly sweet, and is quite refreshing. The problem that I have with most of these Alaskan and New Belgium beers (OK, add Red Hook and many other Macro-microbrews) is that they end up watering down everything to a point where the aftertaste is a sharp tang, likely brought on by the carbonation. A beer that has sufficient mass of ingredients (hops and sugar) can overcome this because those components contribute noticeably to the aftertaste as well as to the main flavor. So this White, while tasty, has that tangy aftertaste that compels one to take another sip, if only to cleanse their mouth of the metallic burn. Which doesn't exactly make me excited to settle into a night of drinking such a beer. Verdict: Who am I kidding? For around $6 per 6 pack, I'd totally buy this on the way to a party.

Finally...

Scuttlebutt Gale Force IPA
Poured caramel-colored, rather heavy-bodied and with minimal head. The predominant aroma is floral hops. Hmmm. Definitely a Pacific Northwest IPA. Just the hops, please. Not nearly enough sweetness to balance the onslaught of hops (ABV 5.25%). It's not terrible, but it's a one-note affair. Verdict: Exactly what I was expecting. I could be tempted to drink another, but my options would have to be rather dire.

Thanks for playing along. I'll have to include some nice beers in the future.