Oxford Class Amber Ale

Beer score: 6.2
Web site: Heavy Seas Beer

The Oxford Brewing Company (formerly of Utica, New York and Linthicum, Maryland) brewed this when I tasted it, but now the label is owned by Heavy Seas Beer. The label fools you into thinking this is an English ale because there is a Union Jack on the label, but in all probability a new brewer probably means a new label. Has a fruity flavor but only a little sweetness. The taste doesn't stay around long. Has a somewhat complicated taste/texture that true beer snobs will appreciate.

Oxford Class Ale

Beer score: 6.7
Web site: Heavy Seas Beer

The Oxford Brewing Company brewed this stuff when I tasted it, but they're no longer around. They got bought out by the Clipper City brewing folks which then became Heavy Seas Beer. So, lots of changes, and I believe this particular brew is no longer on the market. But oh boy did it have some flavor! A little harsh going down. That bitter flavor is pretty strong for a drink that's not a porter or a stout or even a black and tan. Still, quite enjoyable. I could easily spend an afternoon hoisting a few of these to my lips. The bitterness doesn't really lessen as you drink more, but at least you become a little more used to it.

Otter Creek Pale Ale

Beer score: 7.5
Web site: Otter Creek Brewing
Much like this brewer's Copper Ale, this one is extremely smooth. This is one of the best American pale ales I've had. The taste is somewhat reminiscent of Samuel Smith's Pale Ale (which in my opinion is about the closest there is to a perfect beer).

Otter Creek Copper Ale

Beer score: 5.9
Web site: Otter Creek Brewing
A fairly weak amber ale with a strong bitter aftertaste. I never thought I would say this about a beer, but this one goes down too smooth. Craftbrewed in Middlebury, Vermont. Thank you Otter Creek folks for allowing me to use your logo when I had it on my old Web pages.

Orval Trappist Ale

Beer score: 7.4
Web site: Orval
This Belgian brew has a lot of carbonation and a strong alcohol flavor, almost as if you're drinking a weak Scotch whiskey instead of an ale. Some sweetness here and very unique flavoring. Not something I'd want to drink often, but worth tasting from time to time. Leaves a bitter flavor in the back of the throat. Very pricey. Hard liquor drinkers would like this. One of the most unique beers I've ever tasted.

Original Flag Porter

Beer score: 7.9
Web site: Darwin Brewery
The Darwin Brewery of England brings this fine drink to us. Of interesting note: the recipe for this porter is apparently from the 19th century, but even more interesting is the fact that the yeast used to make this brew was "salvaged from a sunken vessel in the English Channel" and the vessel was sunk in 1825, or so says the bottle. This drink has a smooth burnt-syrup flavor and a nice, frothy head. Smooth enough for regular drinking. Give it a try.

Oregon Original Nut Brown Ale

Beer score: 7.9
Web site: Samuel Adams
All of the Oregon Original beers were craft brewed by the Oregon Ale and Beer Company of Portland, Oregon, when I tasted them, but more recently these beers are owned by the Samuel Adams folks, so I'm not so sure. This brew has an excellent bitter taste and it goes down wet and smooth. One of the best nut brown ales I've ever had.

Oregon Original India Pale Ale

Beer score: 8.0
Web site: Samuel Adams
I often don't like India pale ales because they sometimes have a slight sour aftertaste - but not here. This is quite easily the best India pale ale I've ever had. Very wet and frothy with a smooth bitter taste. Gets sweeter as you drink it. Brewed by the Oregon Ale and Beer Company when I tasted it, but lately the Samuel Adams folks have taken over this brewery.

Oregon Original Honey Ale

Beer score: 7.6
Web site: Samuel Adams
This would be a good beer for novice beer snobs to start with because it is smooth with good taste and texture and not too heavy. The touch of sweetness here is just right - not enough to be annoying. Originally brewed by the Oregon Ale and Beer Company of Portland, Oregon, more recently the Samuel Adams folks have taken over the Oregon Original line of beers, and unfortunately I believe this here beer was retired. If anyone knows different, please let me know. And yes, the photo is of a beer tap handle shaped like a honey dipper.

Old Scratch Amber Lager

Beer score: 5.9
Web site: Flying Dog Brewery
Broadway Brewing, LLC, out of Denver brewed and bottled this beer for Flying Dog Brew Pub in Aspen, Colorado, when I tasted it last, but more recently I've read the Flying Dog folks are working out of Maryland. The taste here isn't real strong but the fizz is. Not a bad beer, just not an exceptional one. If you drop in Flying Dog Brew Pub, tell them about this blog.

Old Peculier

Beer score: 7.0
Web site: Theakston
Made by Scottish & Newcastle Breweries when I first tried it back in the mid-1990s, but nowadays this beer is back among family of the original brewers, thus it's now made by T&R Theakston. Goes down pretty smooth. Fairly sweet at first but not very strong. The sweetness doesn't keep growing to the point of annoyance.

Old Milwaukee Light

Beer score: 1.8
Web site: Old Milwaukee
The smell isn't as bad as the non-light version though there is a gasoline tinge to it. The taste is watery with a bare touch of sweetness. This stuff is hard to swallow due to all the bubbles.Stay away. Far away.

Old Milwaukee

Beer score: 2.1
Web site: Old Milwaukee
I haven't even tasted this stuff yet, but it looks green and smells nasty. Okay, I've had a sip and the verdict is ... weak, watered, a little sweet. Thank goodness it doesn't taste as bad as it smells. This beer would go good with a meal at any restaurant that serves battery acid.

Oldenberg Raspberry Wheat

Beer score: 6.2
Another decent brewery that's no longer with us. Too bad, because they had some decent brews. This here beer definitely had a fruity zing, but it's not overpowering. Stronger than the color would lead you to believe. Too much carbonation. The raspberry overpowers any beer taste, but it's not awful.

Oldenberg Premium Verum

Beer score: 5.9
Not a bad beer but not as good as I expected. Beginning beer snobs could work their way up with this; it's on the same level as St. Pauli Girl Dark or Beck Dark. More carbonation than I like. The taste is a delicate mix of bitterness with a touch of sweetness. The first taste is slightly fruity. All that being said, the Oldenberg brewing business is no more.

Oldenberg Pious Pale Ale

Beer score: 6.9
As was common with all the Oldenberg brews, a little too much carbonation. A sturdy drink that goes down a little rough due to the fizz. A slight fruit taste with lots of strong bitter, but not nearing stout levels. Not for beginning beer snobs, though it really doesn't matter because this brewery is closed.

Oldenberg Holy Grail Nut Brown Ale

Beer score: 6.5

For middle rank beer snobs who are working their way up. Strong for a brown ale with a little too much fizz. The company that put this stuff out, Oldenberg Brewing Company, was in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, just a few minutes south of Cincinnati, Ohio, but it is now out of business. The brewery was "part of a larger complex which includes a gift shop and the American Museum of Brewing History" - or so says the back of the box this beer came in when I bought it (it was a sampler pack that included a beer mug). Thanks to Oldenberg folks for giving me permission to use their logo when I had it on my old Web pages about beer.

Oldenberg Crosley's Red

Beer score: 6.3
Has a strong but smooth bitter flavor. The first drink or two goes down a little harsh, due to the strength of the bitterness, but after that it's smooth sailing. Was on tap at some Cincinnati Red's home baseball games before the Oldenberg Brewing COmpany wne out of business. This beer had a frothy head in a glass.

Oldenberg Blonde

Beer score: 7.8
Smooth and frothy. Good for you folks who like lighter beers, but interesting enough for those of us with more complex tastes. Similar in texture to Pete's Strawberry Blonde, without the strawberry flavoring, of course. Unfortunately the Oldenberg Brewing Company that made this fine beverage is no longer in business.

Olde Frothingslosh

Beer score: 2.6
Web site: Iron City Brewing Company
This drink originally came from the Pittsburgh Brewing Co., now known as the Iron City Brewing Company, the same folks who bring us Iron City Beer. Supposedly, from my Internet research, this beer is some sort of joke that goes back as far as 1954 or 1955 when it was first made. The joke apparently is focused around fat women and there's always a picture of a fat woman on the can, and just for kicks, the can's style changes every few years. Anyway, this stuff tastes like a sweetened version of Bud Light without as much beer flavor. It's a novelty item and nothing more. The can's label calls this drink a "pale stale ale," and that's about right.