UPDATED: DEC 27, 2021 Pours reddish brown with compact head that holds well; spicy aromas of citrus on the nose; rich palate with crisp, hop finish.

UPDATED: JUL 22, 2021 This beer is undrinkable. Purchased six-pack through Trader Joe's, marketed as Boatswain H.L.V. Ale. A bizarre, spoiled-fruit aftertaste. Decent mouthfeel. No detectable hops (not that this style should have much). Just about zero head put up, not surprising from the lack of hops. Looks okay, but frankly crankcase oil looks good just sitting in a clear glass. Nothing taste-wise to recommend it. The fruity-in-a-bad-way taste completely overpowers any maltiness that might be there. A friend who will drink just about anything also barely plowed his way through one. I'll try to mix it with acceptable beers to not waste the remaining four. (It's been two months and I still haven't the desire to try the mixologist approach.)

UPDATED: JUN 30, 2021 Brown with an offf white head - Malt and dark fruity aroma - Dark malt body with soem fruity hop bitterness - The malt goes into the finish with some hops - This was nice

UPDATED: MAY 22, 2020 12 ounce can labeled as Boatswain H.L.V. Ale. Orange copper pour. Large frothy beige head. Clinging lace. Toasted malt aroma hints at toffee. Earthy toasted malt flavor has a big bitter component mid taste. Black pepper finish is less than stellar.

UPDATED: FEB 28, 2020 Bought from Trader Joe's as 'Boatswain HLV Ale.' This is a cheap beer but it still isn't worth a revisit. Aroma of primarily lemony hops, appearance golden brown with an inch of off-white head after a hard pour, taste is essentially just one note hops (not my thing in the first place), it is light on the palate, and the aftertaste is bitter hops. Not a bad beer. Just nothing interesting happening and the hops are not for me.

UPDATED: AUG 17, 2019 12 ounce can from Trader Joes as Boatswain HLV Ale. The beer is a clear amber color with a beige head of foam. The aroma has notes of earthy pine and spearmint. Sort of a sugary sweet aspect in the taste. Some spice as well. Carbonation is a bit high for my expectations. Medium to high body. Sticky mouthfeel.

UPDATED: AUG 9, 2019 This is a backlog rating from 2011 from a bottle shared by Tmoney99, from notes. When I had this beer it was average to below average for the style and not something I wanted to have again or I just didn't get back to my notes because of my technology at the time. Words to describe this beer are toasted malts, earthy, caramel, light nutty, thin.

UPDATED: FEB 28, 2019 Brick red colour. Fruity and sweet in smell, oddly like bubble gum. Crisp, almost apply flavour. Hop after taste

UPDATED: FEB 8, 2019 2/7/19. 12oz bottle from Hy Vee. Rhinelander “version.” You know how you can tell I’m a ticker (will rate anything)? Because I keep getting these garbage Rhinelander/Minhas beers for the state ticks and ticks in general. *shiver* one whiff and methinks I’m in for another garbage beer. Floral aroma, perfumey, cream corn. Weird flavor... floral, minerals, bitter, pennies, burnt caramel, dough, fusel. Garbage juice.

At a tasting, thanks, as Rhinelander Boatswain, small stable bubbly head , quite clear deep oxidized orange color, bready flavor with hints of cake, oxidation, jam and wood, malty flavor, light to medium and a bit coarse bitterness. Drinkable but nothing too exciting.