Pennsylvania - Pumpkin Roll Ale

Pennsylvania Brewing Co.

Pumpkin Roll Ale - seasonally spiced ale

The color of this brew is a nice chestnut brown.  The head came up white and fizzy, made up of very tiny bubbles, it was not fluffy at all.  The head disappeared very quickly and left pretty much nothing behind.

The aroma smells like a sweet peice of candy, or like vanilla cream soda.  There is no spice in the smell of this beer.  It is all sweetness.  

On the palate the sharp carbonation leads you to a very sweet beer, it actually tastes more like a bitter cream soda.  There is no spice at all in this beer.  I also don't really get any pumpkin either.  The beer is very creamy, and strong on the tip of your tongue.  There is a slight bitterness mixed in, it helps with the sweetness a little bit, but not enough.  It is one of the strangest tasting beers I have ever had.  I guess you could say it tastes like a  cake with mild pumpkin flavor and a vanilla cream icing.  There is some spice on the very backend after a few seconds after the taste.

Overall it is an interesting beer.  I am not sure if I like it or not.  It doesn't have the spice I was looking for, until you wait a few between sips, then you notice some spice.  It's just a weird beer, go get it and decide about it for yourself.  I give it a 3 out of 5. 

Sam Adams - Honey Queen

Samuel Adams Brewery

Honey Queen - An Braggot Ale brewed with honey, orange blossoms and camomile

The color of this beer is a completely translucent.  The golden straw color is clear with fine carbonation bubbles.  The foams up a pure white that slides down the glass and leaves a ring around the edge of the glass. 

The aroma smells musty, and bready.  There is a little bit of sweetness to the smell, along with hints of straw.  To me, it is not really a pleasant aroma.  It doesn't really entice me to drink this beer.  

On the palate the very mild carbonation gives way to a beer that is smooth and almost creamy.  You definitely get the sweetness of honey, but there is more to it than that.  I honestly have no idea what camomile tastes like, but I do know what oranges taste like and that citrus flavor is layered in very nicely.  There is mild malt essence along with a biscuit feeling to this beer. This beer finishes nicely with a hint of honey sweetness.  The brew leaves the middle of the tongue feeling a little dry.

All I have to say is thank god I am ok with this beer... My wife picked it out, and likes it.  I am happy the beer tastes nothing like it smells.  The aroma to me if off putting, but the flavor is bad.  The honey and orange work well together and actually quite pleasant.  I will gives this beer a 3 out of 5.

Deschutes/Distelhauser - Doppel Dinkel Bock

Deschutes Brewery 

- collaboration with Distelhauser 

Doppel Dinkel Bock - Weizenbock

The color of this brew is a cherry brown.  There are hints of red mixed in with the base brown color.  The brew is a dense beer, but still translucent.  The head came up nice and foamy, with a khaki color to it.  The head went away slowly, leaving a pleasant looking ring around the edge of the glass.

The aroma of this beer comes off sweet.  Notes of candied sugar, bubblegum, some tasted malts, and a mild spice that is barely noticeable.  The smell gives you a hint that this beer will have a strong sense of alcohol and be sweeter than most beers.  

On the palate the slightly prickly carbonation sets the stare for a smooth and sweet brew.  The maltiness is very evident when you drink this beer, you notice under the sweet bubblegum and banana flavors, a nice toasted malt.  This flavor combination creates a brew that goes down way to smoothly.  The mild spice helps to balance out a sweetness a little bit.  On the very backend of this beer you can get a hint of hops.  You notice it when you take some time between sips, which I highly recommend.

This is a pretty good beer.  I really like the smooth sweetness of this beer, with a slight hop on the finish.  The sense of alcohol isn't as noticeable when drinking as it is when smelling the beer, but at 10.5 abv, you don't want to throw this beer back to quickly... But why would you want to?  It's to good to drink to fast.  I give this brew a 4 out of 5.

Round Guys - Dead Souls

Round Guys Brewing Co.

Dead Souls - Chocolate Pumpkin Porter

The color of this brew is a nearly solid chestnut.  The slightest bit of light gets through.  There is a slight bit of red on the edges of the glass.  The head bubbled up to a foamy beige color, that goes away at a medium pace. 

The aroma of this brew boasts roasted malts, and a nice sweet/bitterness of chocolate.  There is also a mild spice on the backend of the aroma.  The spice smell has a cinnamon smell to it.  It's a well balanced aroma.  As soon as I cracked the can I got a nice hit of the aroma, but the aroma is actually not overpowering.  

On the palate prickly carbonation bouncing down the tongue to deliver the flavor.  The roasted malt and chocolate flavors hit you first.  What follows is a nicely done balance of meaty pumpkin and spice. Then lastly you get at chalky finish that is common with porters and some more chocolate.  A little bitterness hits the tongue as you finish your taste, but that goes away and leaves a pleasant after taste.

Overall this is a really good pumpkin porter from a nice microbrew.  I like the color, it is very fitting for a porter, without being too dark and solid.  The aroma has body to it and delivers a nice balanced smell. Finally the flavor is well done and balanced with a ton of layers.  The chocolate, pumpkin and spice all mix well together.  It's a nicely done porter.  I give it a 4 out of 5.  Go get some!

DuClaw - Cocoa Fuego

DuClaw Brewing Co.

Cocoa Fuega - A stout brewed with chocolate and chipotle peppers

The color of this beer is like a 72% dark chocolate bar.  Brown, nearly black in color beer, with a light brown head that came and went with ease.  Obviously this beer is completely opaque, no light gets through at all.

The aroma of this beer is malty, with hints of chocolate and a slight bit of spice.  The chocolate aroma is thick and rich, it's very pleasant.  The spice is very mild, barely even there, but it adds a little bit to the backend of the aroma.

On the palate this beer has a mild carbonation that is barely there.  The chocolate flavor is nice and smooth on the front of this beer.  There is also a little bit of maltiness.  On the backend is where the fun really begins.  This brew smoothly, and in a sneaky way gets spicier and spicier.  The beer's spice warms the back of the mouth and lingers for a little while.  This is not a beer you can drink quickly.  The two different flavors balance well together, but it does have more spice flavor for a longer period of time.

Overall this is a pretty good brew.  Spicy beer isn't my favorite kind of beer, but I actually enjoyed this one.  It has a nice balance of flavors, great aroma, and great look.  This beer is spicy without burning your throat and making you wish you had a glass of milk.  I would definitely try this beer if you are in the mood for something different.  I give it a 3.5 out of 5!

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!