Pumpkin Beer Taste test

Bon appetit did an 11 beer taste of some pumpkin beers.  They have an interesting choice for number 1.  What are your thoughts...???

http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/inside-our-kitchen/article/the-best-pumpkin-beers-taste-test?mbid=drnk_20130928_12500604&crlt.pid=camp.JFZ0Aj50Ecjh

Amarcord Brewery - Bruna

Amarcord Brewery

Bruna - Dubbel

The color of this beer is a wonderful rich hazelnut brown.  It's a wonderful color with some slight reddish hues around the outside.

The aroma of this beer is sweet, roasted malt with hints of fig and toffee.  The sweetness of this beer is the first thing you notice, and then it is followed by a hit of alcohol.  The other scents come after the alcohol gives way.

On the palate this beer is a little bit of an in you face at first.  Alcohol is the first thing you notice.  The beer is 7.5% abv and it makes the most of it.  After that you notice the wonderful balance of toffee and fig.  It's actually the best part of the beer.  As the beer rolls back on your tongue and in between sips, the layers of the flavor really come out.  If the alcohol was as strong up front I would like this beer even more.

To be honest, I didn't mind the alcohol being the first thing I noticed, but I know it isn't for everyone.  I am a fan of beers like this and this one didn't disappointment me.  Being that I never heard of this beer, or brewery, I got it while out with no information given.  I thought it had a lot of flavor, nice aroma and color.  Worth a try if you are up for something different.

Beers to try this fall

Here is a list of beers that some one smarter than me says you need to try this fall.  I have had a bunch of them either this year or last.  Which have you had???

http://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/falls-best-beers

River Horse - Hipp-O-Lantern

River Horse Brewing Co.

Hipp-O-Lantern - Imperial Pumpkin Ale

The color of this beer is a nice rich light brown with a slight copper/orange hue.  

The aroma of this beer is gives off a nice nutmeg, cinnamon and molasses scents.  I don't get any of the pumpkin puree the beer is supposed to be brewed with.

On the palate the beer has a nice amount of nutmeg and cinnamon.  There is a mild sense of the pumpkin puree on the backend of this beer.  This is a little bit of a stronger beer at 8.5% abv, and it makes sure you know the alcohol is there.  Overall, the most potent flavor of this beer is the molasses.  It's a little over powering.

Overall this beer is just ok to me.  I think there is too much molasses, and not enough pumpkin.  I also wouldn't mind a little more of the cinnamon.  I love the color of this beer though, it's really nice.  This isn't a bad beer, and you can't please everyone all the time, and that is me with this beer.  If i had to give it a rating it would be a 5.5/10. 

24 best beers in America - by Men's Journal

http://www.mensjournal.com/expert-advice/the-24-best-beers-in-america-20121026?page=1


Check out this list of beers!

I have had 11 of these.  The Ommegang, Russian River, Victory, and Stone are my favorites on this list.

Pumple Drumkin

Cisco Brewers Nantucket

Pumple Drumkin - Ale brewed with pumpkins and spice

The color of this beer is a bright, and shiny burnt orange.  No cloudiness, and no depth to the color, you  are able to see right through this beer.

The aroma of Pumple Drumkin fills the nose with nutmeg, cinnamon, all spice, and some raw pumpkin.           The spice is paramount with very little bit of the pumpkin scent.

On the palate this beer is a very different kind of pumpkin beer.  Flavors all kind of muddle together, nothing stands out, not that it is a bad thing, just a different thing.  The beer's prickly carbonation hits the tongue first, then follows the flavors appear, but are hard to make out.  There are hints of meat pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon and a slight tartness.

This is an interesting brew.  The flavor of this beer is not to bad, it just doesn't have layers to it like some beers do.  Instead of the flavors appearing one after the other, they kind of come at you all at once.  A unique approach to a seasonal pumpkin ale.

John Henry - Colonial Cream

John Henry Beverage Co.

Colonial Cream & Brown Ale aged in brandy oak spirals

The color of this brew is a deep mahogany.  It has a nice layer to it, going from a deep mahogany to a lighter brownish red.

The aroma of this beer is sugary sweet, with hints of cherry.  There is also a sense of creaminess on the nose that does appear in the taste.

On the palate the beer has a sweet flavor, and a hit of alcohol.  You do get a nice sense of the brandy.  the beer also has a smooth creaminess that coats the tongue a little bit.  The beer also gives off flavors of toffee, and roasted malt.  There is plenty of flavor in this beer.

Overall I thought this beer a pretty good.  The alcohol kick is there, and at 9.3% you can understand why, so that will turn some people away.  This is a sipping beer, you shouldn't drink it to quickly.  Let this beer warm up a little bit too before you drink.  The flavors a aroma really come out then.

Good JuJu - Ginger Ale

Left Hand Brewing Company

Good JuJu - A Ginger spiced ale

The color of this beer is a wonderful orange/gold color.  

The aroma of this brew is in your face ginger.  But I also get a small hint of lemon.  

On the palate the first thing I get is ginger, obviously, it is a ginger beer.  There  is a small hint of lemon, but is a small hint, and completely of overpowered by the ginger.  The beer also feels a little watery, not a lot of body.  On the backend there is a slight bit of bitterness, which actually does a little to balance out the ginger.

Overall I feel this beer is just ok.  There is ginger, a lot of ginger, but the body of the beer isn't there.  I like the fact there is a little bit of lemon flavor, or at least I get a lemon flavor, but the wateriness of the beer is a bother.  A beer worth a try, if you like trying different things.

I love the art on this bottle!  It's one of the reason I wanted to try this beer.   

Breweries by state

Check this out!  Make it a goal to try at least one beer by every single one of these breweries.  I made it a goal of mine!

http://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/americas-50-best-craft-breweries-state-by-state

Sierra Nevada - Ovila

Sierra Nevada Brewery

Ovila - Abbey Saison

The color of this beer is a wonderful burnt orange.  The color of this beer is really nice and inviting.

The aroma of this beer give off a wonderful citrus scent of orange and a little bit lemon.  There is also a wonderful pepper aroma that Ovila gives the nose. 

On the palate this beer has a slight creaminess, it's slight and works well with the citrus/orange taste in Ovila.  The pepper provides the beer with a little punch and balances out the citrus.  The pepper sits on the tongues a little while, so if you take your time drinking beer like I do you will notice.  

I have had this beer for a while, and I have had it a few times.  Each time I have it I enjoy it a little more.  I can honestly say though that it is not a beer for everyone.  I enjoy beers with some interesting flavors, and this is one.  Make sure you drink at the proper temperature, it can't be ice cold.  This beer definitely needs to warm up a little before drinking.   

DuClaw - 31

DuClaw Brewing Co.

31 - A pumpkin Spiced Lager

The color of 31 is a rich copper color with hints of mahogany in the center of the body.

The aroma of this beer is mild and a little bit sneaky.  There is a mild pumpkin spice, and a note of seasonal spice like nutmeg.  

On the palate DuClaw 31 delivers a nice meaty body of actual pumpkin.  The spice in this beer is well done, and not over powering.  Nutmeg is most present spice in the beer and there is also a nice hint of cinnamon.  The beer finishes with a nice classic lager backend.  

DuClaw 31 is a different kind of pumpkin beer.  It has a nice pumpkin flavor with a well balanced spice.  The lager feel to this beer gives is a different kind of finish than the pumpkin ales that are out now.  Overall a nice beer by the Maryland based brewery.

Grieskircher Weisse

Brauerei Grieskirchner

Weisse

This is more of a summer, I know, it was in the back of my fridge, so I figured I better drink it before the end of september, and it was 90 degrees the last few days, so I think I am allowed.

The color of this beer is nice light yellow-orange.  There is a nice cloudiness from the yeast that adds a little depth to the color.

The aroma of this beer gives off nice notes of cloves, banana and a hint of grass.  The fruit smell is mild compare to the clove.  

On the palate the beer is light, with some crisp carbonation.  The flavors of banana, and clove come together nicely on the tongue.  There is also a hint of lemon, that wasn't there in the smell.  The beer feels a little watery, but it's not too bad.  

This is a beer best drank on a hot day.  It is crisp, refreshing, and easy to drink.  It has a decent amount of flavor but could use a little more body for me.  A pretty good beer. 

Some new beers!!!

Here are some new beers that I will be reviewing soon!!! Keep a look out!

Evolution Craft Brewing Co. - Jacques All Lantern

Arcadia Ales - Jaw-Jacker pumpkin spiced ale

DuClaw Brewing Co.  - Sweet Baby Jesus chocolate peanut butter porter

New Holland Brewing - Dragon's Milk bourbon barrel stout

Starr Hill Brewery - BoxCarr pumpkin porter

Cisco Brewers - Pumple Dunkel ale brewed with pumpkin and spice

Dogfish Head Punkin

Dogfish Head Brewery

Punkin Ale - A seasonal pumpkin brew

The color of this beer is a wonderful rich copper.  Has a nice burnt orange hue to it.

This beer has a wonderful aroma.  Nutmeg and cinnamon are paramount on the nose, with a hint of sugary sweetness.  

On the palate the spices are the first thing you will notice.  They dance and play on the tongue.  Cinnamon, all spice and nutmeg slightly linger as the presence of a  meaty pumpkin then take over.  The flavors of this beer are not overpowering but well balanced.  

All and all this a quality pumpkin ale.  It is a well crafted ale from a reliable brewery.  The bottle doesn't lie!  This beer is definitely worth stocking in the fridge for the fall season.     

Football season

Now that football season has started, don't forget to get a beer to go with whatever game you are watching.  Here's a fun little trick to help you expand your beer palate.  With every game you watch, try to have a different beer.  Don't sit there with a regular old 30 pack in your fridge.  Go out, and find a place that let's you make your own six packs and make one!  Don't over do it though, remember part of enjoying your beer is doing so in a responsible way. Half the fun of drinking good beer is remembering it, so you know what you had, how it tasted, so if you want it again you know what to get.  
Enjoy the season!!!  And if you play fantasy football, may no injuries effect your team!

Punk'n

Uinta Brewing Company

Punk'n Harvest Pumpkin Ale - Seasonal pumpkin ale

The color of this beer is a littler copper color.

The aroma of this beer gives off a mild roasted sense with a hint of honey, and seasonal spice.

On the palate this beer has a wonderful job of balancing the roasted pumpkin flavor with the spices.  The roasted pumpkin flavor is the first thing you notice, then you will get a little bit of that honey flavor.  The nutmeg and hop bitterness come together on the backend of the beer.  It's a beer that in between sips will play on your tongue and let you notice all the flavors.  

It's a very good seasonal brew. A little bit different than other pumpkin beers.  This organic ale might not be for everyone, but what beer is?  I know I enjoyed, and if you try it I hope you enjoy is as well.

Ichabod Ale

New Holland Brewery

Ichabod Ale - Seasonal pumpkin ale

The color of this brew is an awesome copper that this picture doesn't do justice too.

The aroma of this pumpkin beer is subtle but filled with cinnamon and nutmeg.  The smell is sneaky an makes you wonder if this beer has enough flavor, but don't worry Ichabod delivers.

On the palate Ichabod has a nice cinnamon and nutmeg hit on the front end, it is then followed by a more roasted pumpkin flavor.  It's a nice change of pace, considering a lot of pumpkin beers go for the more pumpkin pie taste than actual pumpkin itself.  Lastly on the very backend of the beer there is a little bit of bitterness that creates a nice overall balance.

This is a quality pumpkin beer, definitely worth a try.

The bottle art is pretty cool too.

It's Pumpkin Season!!!

It's pumpkin beer season!!!  Here are a few types that I bought this season.

Uinta - Punk'n Harvest Pumpkin Ale

River Horse - Hipp-o-lantern Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Dogfish Head - Punkin Ale

New Holland - Ichabod Pumpkin Ale

Reviews coming soon!!!

Red & White

Dogfish Head Brewery

Red & White - Witbeir aged in Pinot Noir barrels

The color is a nice copper color, with a hint of red

The aroma of this brew gives off a balance of coriander and orange.  A classic smell for witbeirs, but this one has a little more to it.  

On the palate the spice and fruit of this beer balance out very nicely.  There is a hint of wine flavor and a nice kick of alcohol, which makes sense since this beer is 10% abv.

Overall I was very impressed with this beer and found it very enjoyable to drink.  If you see it, you should get it and try it.

Honey Amber Rose

Beer Diva Brewing Company

Honey Amber Rose - Amber Ale

The color of this beer is a wonderful rich copper.  It produced a delicate head that went down rather quickly.

The aroma of this beer was mildly sweet with a nice floral scent.  

On the palate this beer gives off a slight sweetness from the rose hip, and the honey.  This beer also give off a nice floral essence which was my favorite part of this beer. 

My issue with this beer is that is is lacking a body.  There isn’t much bitterness to balance out the mild sweetness.  So, while there is some flavor, I don’t feel there was enough.  

An okay beer.  I feel if you like a good pilsner, you will like this beer a lot.

La Terrible

Unibroue Brewery 

La Terrible - Quadrupel

The color of this beer is a nice mahogany, a nice rich color that reflects the well on the beer.

The aroma of this beer gives off scents of fig, plums, grapes and there is a slight wine smell.

On the palate the fruit flavors bounce on the tongue.  There is a feeling that this beer has is similar to wine.

I really like this beer, it is NOT Terrible!  I want to buy a couple more bottles and let it age!!!