My Top 3 Beers of 2012, So Far.....

It's June already! So I thought I'd list my 3 fav beers that I've tried (so far) this year that I haven't had previously.
In no particular order they are:
Timothy Taylor Landlord - still amazed at how good this is and can't wait to try it again!
Schneider Hopfen-Weisse Tap 5- Hoppy sweet and deceptively high in abv.
Hitochino Nest White Ale - some much better than I anticipated.

That's two wheat beers and a English Pale Ale- not an IPA in sight, although the Hopfen Weisse Tap 5 is of course quite hoppy. I had the Stone 15th Anniversary Ale this year too, but it wasn't for the first time so it didn't make the list.

Schneider Weiss Tap 6

Style:Weizenbock
Alc %:8.2
Brewery:G Schneider & Sons 
Country:Germany
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, 500ml
Where/When:Home, April 2012
Cost:$8.5
Rating:6

Pours dark with off white head. Lots of head bubbling over.
Rich currenty fruits on the nose with a bit of alcohol.
Spicey (but not hot) clove, a nice touch of wheat- it is a wheat beer after all. It reminds me of a Xmas beer I had once- it's got that about it.
Something about this reminds me of wine also.
This is pretty unique for a wheat beer in my experiance- although I do admire it for it's uniqueness it's also  got traits that just don't appeal to me, namely clove. So I give it 6/10.

Schneider Weisse Tap 1 Mein Blondes

Style:Hefeweizen
Alc %:4.9
Brewery:G Schneider and Sons
Country:Germany
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, 500ml
Where/When:Home, March 2012
Cost:approx $6.50
Rating:5

Big fluffy snow white head, cloudy lite gold colour body.
Clove and herbs on the nose.
Pear, wheat and clove with a little zing at the end- the clove is little strong. As it warms a bit of banana comes thru but then so does the clove come forward, which turns me off it a little. Also a slight watery note too which spoils it for me too. I'm kinda struggling to enjoy or even finish this beer- it's key features just arn't doin it for me.
I struggle to give it 5/10 and that's being generous.

Schneidaer Hopfen-Weisse Tap 5

Style:Weizenbock
Alc %:8.2
Brewery:G Schneider and Son
Country:Germany
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, 500ml
Where/When:Home, March 2012
Cost:$11
Rating:8.5

I didn't take notes when I had this but I loved it- a nicely (great) balanced beer-just the right amount of hops and wheat at all the right places- hits all the right spots!!

It's delicious and very easy to drink, the abv didn't seem apparent until I finished this brew- a little too quickly!
I'd get this again and would love to try a dark version.
8.5/10