King of the Case: Philadelphia Brewing Company

Wherein I will buy a variety case and decide what the best beer in it is.

Philadelphia Brewing Company

Kenzinger
A very straightforward session beer that is uncomplicated, yet not boring. Incredibly crisp. Could easily drink several in a row. There's a nice little floral kick in the finish. Probably the Noble hops that are stated in the recipe. I'll give it a slight downgrade for a bit of an aftertaste, but would give it high grades as a good craft-beer intro piece.

Pennsylvania Pale Ale
Crisp flavor with sizable hops. More floral punch, almost (but just short of) a little musty. A nice combination of light and hefty.

King of the Case: Saranac Beers

Wherein I will buy a variety case and decide what the best beer in it is.

Saranac Beers (Matt Brewing Company)

Big Moose Ale
A fairly refreshing amber. The hops jump out to a decent extent, but so does the malt. The two elements come off almost equally, resulting in a character that falls short of distinction. There is a little bit of a harsh aftertaste. In the end, it is enjoyable, but not outstanding.

India Style Copper Ale
Doesn't have the feel you would expect from an IPA, but then again I think its recipe looks to fall a little heavier on the malty side. I believe they are going for an IPA/brown mixture. As a result, the mostly aroma-free beer falls more into the hoppiness of a pale ale than an IPA.

Vanilla Stout
I'm not a big stout person at all, but this one had an immediate coffee kick and hints of vanilla bubbling up from beneath. It's neither overly hefty nor undersized, and features a very agreeable scent to go along with a surprisingly smooth finish. It is extremely layered and rewards slow, focused sipping.

King of the Case: Samuel Adams

Wherein I will buy a variety case and decide what the best beer in it is.

Samuel Adams

Sam Adams Light
I'm just not a fan of light beer. I understand that you have to make something like this when you are a high-profile beer brand with commercials on TV and stuff. You need to appeal to the people who like Budweiser because they think the Clydesdales are kick-arse! This being said, I don't think this had any business in a variety pack. It's low on flavor and a must-skip for beer sophisticates.

King of the Case: Smuttynose Brewing Company

Wherein I will buy a variety case and decide what the best beer in it is.

Smuttynose IPA
A crisp, hoppy offering with a fine finish. One of the best IPAs outside of the West Coast elite.

Robust Porter
I'm not a huge fan of porter beers, so I was a little disappointed when I found out that this was the "Brewer's Selection" on this particular occasion (no summer beer?). But the thing was pretty smooth despite its distinctive coffee flavor. I don't drink coffee and would rather my beer did not taste like it.