Long Trail - Pumpkin Ale

Long Trail Brewing Co.

Pumpkin Ale

The color of this brew is a reddish copper.  It had a mild white rad that dissipated at a moderate pace and left a little residue in the center.  The brew is translucent, the color and body only let light through.

The aroma is mildly spiced.  There are hints of cinnamon, and nutmeg.  The beer also gives off a slight bit of meaty pumpkin.  Nothing about this aroma wowing but there is a decent aroma that you have to get close to to notice.  

On the palate the extremely mild carbonation gives way to a beer that to me is blah.  The spice is just like the aroma, mild and not really appealing.  The pumpkin flavor itself is blah and not an impact on this beer.  The beer finishes with an out if nowhere bitterness that leaves a metally taste on the tongue for a few seconds.  If you are wondering if this is a fresh beer, it is!!!  

Ok, I bought this beer because I had to try it.  I have actually not liked a single beer Long Trail has made that I have had.  I didn't want to be close minded and figure all their beers are bad, but this is another to add to the list.  I simply don't like it.  Will I ever by a Long Trail again?  Yes, only cuz I have to believe they make a good beer, but this isn't it.  I give this a 1.5 out of 5, only because the aroma isn't horrible.

DuClaw - Misery

DuClaw Brewing Co.

Misery - Wheat Wine Ale

The color of this brew is a miz depending on the light of gold and light copper.  The brew is slightly transparent, but with a slight cloudiness that doesn't make it to easy to see through.  The head was light and disappeared with easy.  The beer has a look of champagne with the way the bubble rise to the top, straight lined and evenly spaced.

The aroma smells like a sweet wine.  Tons of fruit, mainly a grape smell, but there is also a caramel essence and a slight bite on the end, but you really need to take a deep breath to notice it.  

On the palate the light carbonation gives way to a heavier beer than it looks.  There is a ton of body to this brew.  The flavors are different than the smell, while the aroma gives you sweet, wine sense, the grape/wine flavor is the second thing you notice.  The first is a smooth candied sugar, that is slightly heavy.  Then you get some of the grape/wine flavors.  It finishes creamy smooth, with a slight bit of bitterness.  There is a pleasant blanket of all the flavors left as an after taste.  There is also a decent sense of the alcohol, but nothing too strong.  It's just enough to remind you that this beer is strong and should be respected.  There is just a ton going on here!  You have to taste it to understand!

Overall this beer is right in my wheel house.  It has a lot of good flavor, nice alcohol presence, and an aroma that plays tricks on you.  The color is nice and inviting, the beer tastes good, looks good, and has some things about it that are different from a lot of other brews.  I give it a 4 out of 5!  Go get some!

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Dogfish Head - Burton Baton

Dogfish Head Brewery

Burton Baton - Oak aged Imperial IPA, a two thread blend that is fermented together in oak barrels

The color of this beer is a rich copper, with a nice orange glow at the edges.  It is a translucent beer, which has a nice looking body to it.  The head had a little bit of beige in it, it was quick to dissipate, but left a tiny little ring around the beer edge.

The aroma gives off nice citrus notes.  There is a nice malty backbone hidden in the aroma.  There is a little bit of a sweetness too.  There is also a great and enticing alcohol smell.  Some people might not like that smell, but it draws me in.

On the palate the slightly prickly carbonation leads way to a smooth, flavorful beer.  The flavor I get first is of caramel and a creamy vanilla.  Then I notice the citrus and hops.  This beer leads you in with it's smoothness and flavor of caramel and vanilla, then it hits you with a nice citrus and piney hop flavor.  There is a little bitterness that lingers on the back of the tongue.  The oak aging definitely masks the strength of this beer and keeps everything in line.  

This is a fantastic beer that should be tried by everyone alive.  The color, aroma, and flavor are all awesome.  It is a strong beer, so please don't guzzle, and if you do, you will miss out on how good this beer is.  I give this brew a 4.5 out of 5!

The Pike Brewing Co. - Monk's Uncle

The Pike Brewing Co.

Monk's Uncle - Tripel

The color of this beer is a golden straw color.  The head is a pure white, that is light and goes away pretty quickly.  No lacing is left on the glass.  The beer has a nice haze to it that makes it translucent.  The color is nice and rich in the middle and fades nicely towards the edges.

The aroma of this brew gives off a sweet fruity smell.  The is a slight clove spice and a bit of breadiness.  The aromas a light and well balanced, they are not overbearing.  It's a nice overall aroma, but nothing special about it.

On the palate the mild carbonation gives way to a mildly sweet beer, that has notes of banana and some spice.  The beer finishes with a slight bitterness that ends dry.  The spice is very mild, barely gives off any warming sensation.  The bitterness lingers for a while and sits on the middle of the tongue.  For a beer with an abv of 9% there is no alcohol flavor which is surprising.

Overall this small time brewery produced a decent beer.  It has a nice aroma, and decent flavor.  I wish there was more spice, and that the bitterness didn't last as long.  Even with all that said, it is a refreshing beer that tastes pretty good.  I give it a 3 out of 5.

Lazy Magnolia - Southern Pecan

Lazy Magnolia Brewery

Southern Pecan - A nut brown ale

The color of this beer looks like a rich mahogany.  The red and brown tones play off this translucent brew to make a nice looking beer.  The beige head comes and goes so quickly you barely notice it is there.  

The aroma of this beer gives off some nice scents.  There is a sugary sweetness, caramel, a nuttiness, and a slight breadiness.  The smell is not overpowering, and nicely done.  There is enough to it to entice you to drink.  

On the palate the caramel sweetness is what I notice first.  Then I get a sweeter nut flavor.  There is. It taste of the breadiness that I got in the aroma.  The malt, nut, and very , much so the caramel.  The caramel is the most dominate flavor.  The nut brown flavor is in the background and is what I feel finishes off the taste.  

Overall this is an easy drinking brew.  It's is maybe too easy to drink,but with an abv of 4.3% you can have a couple.  The aroma is pretty good, with some nice enticing scents.  The beer has a lighter body, and a sweeter taste than I am used to with nut brown ales, but I still like it.  Definitely a beer worth a try.

I give this beer a 3.5 out of 5.

Breckenridge - Agave Wheat Ale

Breckenridge Brewery

Agave Wheat Ale - Agave Nectar Wheat Ale

The color of this beer is a wonderful golden orange.  The beer is translucent, with a nice glow to it.  The color has some depth to it.  The head went away fairly quickly, but left a slight ring around the edge of the beer.

The aroma of this beer gives off a bready earthiness.  There is a slight sweetness to it.  That is about all it gives off.  The aroma is pretty much just the bready scent and a slight sweetness.  

On the palate this beer is smooth with a mild carbonation.  There is slight sweetness from the agave.  The overall flavor I notice is the bread body.  It is rather dominate, but not in a bad way.  The beer ends leaving the palate slightly dry and wanting more.  The bread and agave play well with each other.  It makes for an interesting beer.

Overall I enjoyed this beer.  So people think it is ok, but I think it is pretty good.  It's smooth, drinkable, refreshing, and has a nice flavor.  It could have a little more to it in the flavor department but it's not a bad brew at all.  I give it a 3.5 out of 5.