Craft beer and indie brewmaking is alive and bright!

So it's spring at last, birds are twittering, trees are budding, grass is mowing, and beers are brewing! This month, I have a nice selection of beers (and, uh, one 'malt beverage') to drink and think about. Remember, the scale runs from 1 to 5, 1 being worthless pisswater, 2 being fair enough (but i wouldn't buy), 3 is average and drinkable, 4 is excellent, and 5 is amazing enough that i will seek it out in the future. Remember, do your part and support craft and indie beer - don't do the corporate thing (Anheuser-Busch, Coor's, Miller). They are inherently evil and will take your soul and your money.
Enough of my sermon, it's time to imbibe!

KASTEEL - Rouge (Belgium) - 4
An aroma of rich cherries and maybe some woodiness, very reminiscent of a fine wine, but minus the sulfites. With almost no head upon first pour, this Belgian kriek is sweet and strong (8% ABV), but not at all overbearing. Very nice for a fruit-infused brew. Kasteel's Rouge is well-balanced, and a fine beer to sip and enjoy. Tasty and unique!

GOOSE ISLAND - Summertime (Chicago, IL) - 4

Nice. This one's a golden kolsch (German lager) with a smooth and malty taste at first, and a pleasantly hoppy follow-through. One of the better Goose Islands I've had. A smooth and refreshing beer with a complex flavor profile. Quite a treat!

SCHLAFLY - Helles Style Summer Lager (St. Louis, MO) - 3.5

A light, pale lager, this toasty-flavored beer has a nicely-balanced malt/hops combination. I sense a slight citrus zing almost. A good and mellow German-style lager that should please just about anyone, from mainstream consumers to craft beer afficionados. Absolutely no problem here.

BACARDI SILVER SIGNATURE - Mango Guava Lemonade (St. Louis, MO) - 1

Okay, Must keep an open mind here, right? Sweet frou-frou drinks can't all be despicable and stomach-churning, can they? This fizzy soft-drinklike "malt beverage" has a lemonade-meets-artificial corn syrup taste that feels heavy and weird. Nice for a sip, but over the course of a whole bottle, it's overbearingly sweet and manages to completely obliterate all my taste buds. No, thanks.

FLYING DOG - Kerberos Tripel (Frederick, MD) - 4

Flying Dog seldom disappoints. This Belgian-style Tripel Ale is a murky gold/amber with a bold and zesty citrus/coriander/spice taste and a dry finish. It's 8.5%, so expect a kick. Kerberos Tripel is full of rich, full-bodied taste, and is certainly not for beginners. Solid any way you look at it.