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.

Landlord

Style:English Pale Ale
Alc %:4.1
Brewery:Timothy Taylor
Country:UK
Tap/Bottle?:500ml, bottle
Where/When:Home, May 2012
Cost:$8
Rating:8

Pours a nice light pale gold with a nice white bubbly head.
Slightly perfumy nose.
A nice malt backbone, creamy but still sharp in the mouth, the hops are understated.
This is an incredibly easy and enjoyable pale ale to drink- refined, delicate, balanced and flavourful.
This has been brewed since the 1950's and is still a family owned brewery from what I can tell. Next time I go to the UK I would hunt out this brewery to try this on cask.
It's my opinion that this ale is an example of what English Pale Ale's are all about- understated, flavoursome and sessionable.