Beer bites

As the weather warms up, a review of spring seasonal beers is in order. This includes beers that come out around this time of year, as well as other brews that I think fit better with those sunny days you spend on your porch before the school year ends.

Magic Hat Vinyl
Magic Hat Brewing Company
Vermont
5.1 percent alc./vol.
$9.99 per 6-pack

Magic Hat has been a great brewery over the past few years, and it only gets better as it branches out from its old standby, Number 9. Vinyl is an amber lager, which means it is light in body but dark brown in hue. I certainly tasted the malt, which was fairly heavy but supported with a light hop flavor. Because of the lager nature of Vinyl, you can really suck down a few. This isn't a bad thing, however, as it is a wonderful beer and can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime.

2.5 out of 4 mugs

Ommegang Witte
Brewery Ommegang
New York
5.1 percent alc./vol.
$7.99 per 22-ounce

Ommegang Witte can be found at most bars in Syracuse — the brewery is located in Cooperstown, N.Y. — so feel free to try this beer before you buy it. The Witte is a Belgian-style wheat ale that has spicy and fruity notes to it. You can really enjoy this beer because it's relatively cheap, full-flavored and beats the pants off of a lot of other beers that are for sale at places like P&C Foods. Ommegang Witte has a fulfilling taste, but it really shines with its refreshing balance of hopes and malt. You can also drink a lot of this beer — it's delicious.

3 out of 4 mugs

Saranac Rye IPA
The Matt Brewing Company
New York
5.95 percent alc./vol.
$7.99 per 6-pack

While a rye India pale ale doesn't normally come across as a spring seasonal, I think it could pass just as easily as the rest. The reason is Saranac's Rye IPA has a good amount of hop flavor and is easy to drink, which is the ultimate combination for a sometimes very bitter tasting style. Saranac by no means has the best rye IPA style, but it does a decent job at catering to a bigger market of beer consumers. You will smell and taste hops and citrus mostly, which is nice, but then you get to the feel of the beer in your mouth. A real lack of carbonation leaves this beer feeling kind of syrupy, which is gross. I would still suggest you try it, but don't go out of your way.

1.5 out of 4 mugs

— Compiled by Will Halsey, asst. photo editor, wlhalsey@syr.edu