Weyerbacher - Imperial Pumpkin Ale

ANOTHER pumpkin beer? I admit, there are way too many pumpkin beers out there. But at Tully's in Wells, ME, I spied the Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin. Knowing that I still needed a review for All Hallows Eve or Samhain (Halloween) I figured it would fit the bill, and I wanted to see what Weyerbacher had to offer in the pumpkin beer spectrum.

This pours an inviting orange/dark amber with a real thin head that fades quickly. The smell on it is spicy with a distinct pumpkin note. The taste is something that grows on you as the beer warms. Its smooth and spicy, with a tiny bit of sweetness. I have to say this might edge its way into my top three pumpkin beers. It isn't overblown, but I'd maybe prefer just a tad more sweetness. 

For now, I'm quite satisfied to let the moon set on pumpkin ales for the season. For the 2008 season, I humbly offer the following rankings.

So, the Beer Babe's roundup for pumpkin on this festive eve :

1. Shipyard Pumpkin - sweet, spicy, yummy

2. Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale - spicy but a little less sweet, nice smooth pumpkinness

3. Post Road Pumpkin (Brooklyn Brewery) - a tad more subtle but very likeable

4. Southern Tier Pumpking - quite sweet but refined. One if you're looking for something to sip

Happy Halloween!

Flying Dog - Kerberos Tripel

Maybe its the advancing cold, the bitter whip of Autumn wind that's drawing me to warmer beers, but I've been finding myself seeking the comfort of wheat wines and Belgians. 

The Tripel from Flying dog pours out an amber with suspended sediment, making it partially cloudy. The label features more gonzo-style drawings, this time of a three headed beastie. This three headed hound of mythology seems an appropriate name for this Tripel, having three heads and all. 

On the label: "Greetings, oh god of the barstool. In your hand resides mighty Kerberos Tripel. A Belgian-style ale so cherished that its namesake, the three-headed hellhound, sentinel of the underworld guards thy bottle. So quench thy godly self. Then ask thee barmaid to retrieve ye another. For you are most powerful and this is your bounty"

The smell on this one is of sweet malt. Its light but terribly inviting. The taste, too, is a mix of the depth of a Belgian and the nice light finish of a wit. It reminds me of the flavor of La Fin Du Monde from Unibroue with a bit of lightness infused through it - like the airy delicacy of chocolate mousse given by the introduction of air. This is a really light and crisp - something that isn't typically said of Belgians. Belgians, especially Tripels tend to be heavy and thick, which is part of their character, and makes it difficult to enjoy more than one in a sitting. Flying Dog, though has accomplished something fun here - a Belgian style true to form yet light enough to enjoy several and introduce others to the unique taste. 

I really like the clean feeling that this beer gives - even at 8.5% ABV. It is not nearly as scary as the label would suggest, but it is instead perhaps worthy of being guarded by such a beastie. 

Pennichuck - The Big O Oktoberfest Lager

Pennichuck has been in my fridge a lot late, and I have been pretty satisfied with what I've had from them so far. When I visited their website I noticed that their Oktoberfest (named The Big "O") had taken two medals at the Great International Beer Festival in 2007 and 2006. Pretty nifty if you ask me. So I brought this home when I saw it at Smiley's and was happy to pick a nice fall evening to enjoy it on.

It pours with very little head and is a beautiful rich mahogany color. I have to say that's the nicest color I've seen out of a beer lately. The smell is of subtle hops balanced out by some light malt. 

The taste is preceeded by the realization that the mouthfeel on this one is very silky. It feels like drinking cream on your tongue. The taste, of course, is not creamy but malty, spicy and delightfully balanced. This is the definition of what an Oktoberfest can be. It is tasty, smooth and fills the mouth with joy. I really like the delicate yet spicy balance. 

I finished this glass and immediatley wanted another. This comes in the typical large 22 oz. bottles, and would be a great choice for any fall dinner. I think this is the underdog, not often considered Oktoberfest. I can certinaly understand why it won the awards, and I think it deserves another this year!

If anyone wants to trade with me to get this, send me an email at askthebeerbabe@gmail.com

Stone - Ruination IPA

Back in may I reviewed the regular Stone IPA and found it to be a smart, drinkable IPA with enough character but without the wallop of bitterness that would steer a non-IPA lover away. I thought that I'd certainly keep a look out for more Stone brews, so when I saw the Ruination I had to grab it. 

The bottle, like other Stone brews, is silk screened instead of printed on paper, which makes for a different and interesting bottle. The gold on the brown bottle with green text is a great color palate. The Ruination IPA also features the gargoyle that is so familiar for this brand, but puts its head on the neck of the bottle as well. This may make a great pack to bring to Halloween parties. 

I opened and poured it and was deeply satisfied to find that it was that brilliant IPA copper color with a tiny bit of head. The smell of it was absolutely addictive. The hops just beautifully rising up behind the malts, a little tingle in the nose and a bit of inviting sweetness as well. I was certainly not disappointed when I tasted it.

The taste is that of a more refined IPA than the original Stone IPA. If the original IPA is solid, blue-collar workhorse, and this Ruination is the ribbon-winning show horse kept in the stable down the road. This is excellent, refined and not too bitter. I could put this in my top ten of the IPAs that I've sampled as the Beer Babe. It lacks that sweet and sometimes fruity taste that something like a 90 Minute or Hoptimus Prime has, but is nevertheless smooth and drinkable. The finish on this one is more carbonation than the rest of the sip (I'm not sure how else to describe that other than that it tingles more at the end than the beginning) but I quite like that about it. 

This one will really ruin your tastebuds for whatever you were planning to cook (hence, the name ruination) but I'd say that sampling this beer or its own sake is well worth it.

If you're an IPA fan and you haven't sampled what Stone has to say about it, then do yourself a favor and grab one if you see it. I'm surprised at how widespread their distribution is which makes it not too difficult to track down (they're in Escondido, CA).

All and all I'll have to agree to the bottle tag line, this is truly"A liquid poem to the glory of the hop." 

Stoudt's Brewing Company - Triple

Pennyslyvanians really know how to brew beer. I have no idea why, but I'm continually impressed with what comes out of their state. I've never tried anything from Stoudt's (and admittedly the name makes me always feel like I've typo'd the word stout). But I saw this at Oliver's in Albany and decided to expand my tastings to american takes on Belgian styles, since I've seen and tasted some impressive brewings lately that rise above the typical "belgian style" ale. 

This one pours dark amber with little head. The smell is a sweet wheat and distinctively Belgian. The taste is a wonderful warmth and wheat. The smoothness and the almost syrupy consistency of this is a treat. I have to say that this is solid, inviting and delicious. I love the label, too, featuring jolly monks that look like they're up to trouble. I would definitely get this again (though I'm not sure where to find it around here at all.)

Its been a while since I've reviewed anything Belgian-ish and I'm glad I did. This month I also have a few other Trippels in store, a witbier and a Belgian Winter coming up. Sounds like my fall is just beginning :)

Saranac (Matt Brewing Co.) Caramel Porter

The way to my heart may be chocolate, but chocolate with caramel added to it is a whole other layer of bliss. So, when I saw that Saranac had made a caramel porter, I could almost taste it in my head. I eagerly brought it home and took it out this evening to try. 

My face instantly lit up into a smile when I uncapped this because the sweet sugary smell of caramel rose to my nose. It pours the color of home-made root beer with a little brown head. 

The taste is out of this world awesome. It tastes like caramel, creme brulee, dulche de leche, and wonderfulness. The taste of carmalized sugar sweeps over the tongue wihtout being dizzily sweet. You don't feel like you're drinking sugar, just tasting it.

This is a great dessert beer and I'd love to see someone figure out how ot make a cheesecake with it. It is fabulously smooth and never dissapoints, down to the last drop. According to their website they even use a little real caramel in the brew, and I believe it. You can't get that kind of real caramel taste without real caramel!

One of the bad things about buying beer at beverage centers that are far away is that I never know which ones I'll like, and don't know which to buy a six pack of and which to bring home only two. I wish I had more of these because they're a treat. 

This is the first Saranac brew I've reviewed. I also picked up their Imperial IPA which I'm hoping to try soon. I am impressed at how well this was executed. 

Allagash Black - Belgian Style Stout

Allagash is one of those breweries I've been seeing more of lately. They've been creeping into my favorite bevys, showing up on tap at my favorite pizza places. I've had their white and thought it was great, and then I saw the bottle of black. Simple black label. Simple name. Simple dark beer.

This one pours, well, black! The head is chocolate brown in color, and nice and thin with tiny bubbles. The smell is malty and chocolatey and maybe a tiny bit of vanilla. 

The taste is deliciously smooth and deep. The malty chocolatey roasty taste just washes over you like a wave. The finish isn't the least bit bitter, nor is it drying. It is smooth and silky. It isn't your typical stout because its made with belgian hops, and I think that adds to its character signficantly. 

This is making the list of my favorite dark beers, that started with Heresy from Weyerbacher. I think this is a fabulous offering from this brewery. I need to get up there to visit their brewery. They're not that far from me over there in Maine. 

Rogue - Smoke Ale

Somehow I don't think I'll ever catch up to all the different kinds of brews Rogue comes out with. But, I'm happy as a clam to try to keep up. The Smoke Ale caught my eye at Oliver's in Albany... one of 10 different brews I bought home this weekend. 

I decided to have chili for dinner tonight. Not the type of chili that sends you running for water, but a nice sweeter chili with a bit of smoke. This beer seemed a great sidekick to the hearty fall meal I was enjoying.

It pours cloudy and orange/amber. It is technically a Rauchbier which is a beer style that features malts which are actually roasted before brewing, which Rogue does here authentically. That's pretty cool if you ask me. So much better than adding some smoke flavoring at the end or worse, adding something artificial. There is a lot of sediment in the bottle, which I usually make sure to stir around to taste. I know there's differing opinions on this, but I like seeing what the sediment does to its taste. 

The smell is a bit malty and slightly smoky, and smells absolutely delicious. The smell temps me and begs me to taste it, so I do. This is a really great brew. It has a solid ale taste with a little pleasant sweet smokiness at the end of it. It doesn't dry you out like their Chipolte does, but relaly falls into the category of being a savory smoky beer. I like this one a lot and I'd certinaly get it again. It would go great with anything smoky, anything on a barbeque and a lot of hearty meals this winter. 

I also appreciate the stories and dedications Rogue brings to the game. This one is dedicated to the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. What a better thing to celebrate now than a triumph against opression. Maybe that should be Rogue's new slogan. Fight for something. Go Rogue.

Rouge - Double Dead Guy Ale

There I was, standing in line at Smiley's with pumpkin beer in my arms. Their line, of course, has to go past the nice selection of their big bottles. Sometimes I swear they planned that for the beer geek like me who can't turn down something new and interesting! Then, my eye catches one bright red bottle. Rogue? Double Dead Guy? Awesome. Of course I added it to my armful!

So this one has, as I mentioned, a great red bottle. I think they dipped it in a coating which is neat, and their logo for this is their typical rogue logo with two skull/crossbones on it. This is great packaging and an interesting concept. It is also dated so I'm tempted to get another to age and try next year.

This one pours a dark copper color with very little head. I smelled it and it reminded me very strongly of the Dead Guy Ale - a little bit sweeter than most ales, a little bit maltier but no bitterness, and only a pleasant alcohol note.

This one is smooth as anything and balanced. I like that the sweetness isn't overpowering, nor is the alcohol content. I think that almost anyone could like this beer, and I really wonder what this would taste like after a year of aging. This could be a great beer to go with dinner or to share with friends. Its refined and smooth with the alcohol taste being blended seamlessly into the ale. 

I approve, big time. I would suggest that anyone seeking a nice smooth ale should go grab this one because it's probably one of the pleasantest things I've tried above 7% ABV.

Peak Organic - Maple Oat Ale

I admit, though being a huge fan of organic food, I didn't chose this because it was organic, I saw the words 'maple' and 'ale' on the label and thought, "mmmn. mapleyummybeerness"

So, after wiping up the drool from my imagined taste of maple beer, I brought this one home. It is made with organic Maine oats and local organic Vermont Maple syrup - a kudos to these guys for using local ingredients, also a plus in my book.

It pours a cloudy mahogay with a little head with big bubbles. The smell is of maple syrup and a tiny bit of hops.. it reminds me of smelling something cooked with maple syrup, or maybe just the smell of a saphouse in spring. 

The taste was quite interesting. It had a few layers. The first layer was all beer - nice and balanced ale, the middle and end were of almost a roasty maple syrup (dark amber instead of light amber). The finish on this leaves a really pleasant maple taste. I like this, its not fake nor is it too sweet. It is a gentle reminder of fall, maple, and the saphouses that make Vermont famous. You could marinate meat in this and get a nice maple flavor out of it. Or better yet, have it with a wintry/fall meal. 

If anything, this beer is kind of a testament to the New England way of life. To sip gently, enjoy your beer, and be proud of your heritage and your own hand-harvested, family owned and boiled maple syrup. 

The Great Pumpkin (Reviews) Blue Moon, Smuttynose, Southern Tier & Shipyard!

The leaves have changed and the season begs for spices, sweetness, and earthy flavors. In my beer travels I have searched for the "Great" pumpkin beer. One that I can give anyone who loves fall and they'll sip it through the season. So, without further adieu, I give you The First Annual Great Pumpkin Review - featuring 4 Pumpkin brews that I haven't reviewed on The Beer Babe before:

Blue Moon - Harvest Moon 

This one is amber and has a little head, the smell is slightly pumpkin at the end, but not exceedingly strong. The taste, though, is quite light. It is difficult to pick out the pumpkin flavor in this ale and there's a bit of thinness to it. It isn't a bad harvest ale, but to really have the title of being a pumpkin ale, it falls a little shot of the mark. 

Smuttynose - Pumpkin 

Ale (Portsmouth, NH)

This one is also a rich orangy amber and poured with almost no head. The smell on this one is hard to place. I definitely detect some cinnamon. Tasting this one is actually quite interesting. It has the little sweetness that most pumpkin ales share, but there's almost a bit of the pumpkin's vegetable taste in it. Its interesting, but makes it more savory than sweet. I think this is a good one for those who don't like it sweet. More on the earthy side of the spectrum.

The Shipyard Brewing Company's Pumpkin Ale (Portland, ME)

This one is the lightest color, a little more on the yellowy amber side than the orange. The aroma on this has got to be one of my most wonderfully pleasant odors that i've come across. Maybe its just because I like fall, but the smell on this one is nutmeg, brown sugar, pumpkin, sweetness and malt. I have to say, though, I noticed that this year's incarnation of this seems a little thinner than I remember it. I like the taste - it's spicy and pumpkin pie-ish. This is what I think of when I think of a classic pumpkin beer. If such a thing exists!

Southern Tier Pumpking

This one came to me from several of my beer friends on Twitter insisting that I need to taste this. I saw it when I was on Long Island, and snatched it, waiting for the right moment to drink it. After uncapping it I was knocked over by the smell. Brown sugar, spices, pumpkin in a sweeter and deeper note than the others in this round. This one has a smell almost like pumpkin pie... crust? Butter cookie? Its not wheaty but somehow starch smelling, like a sweet bread. This one is the only one in the bunch that's a 9% ABV. The taste is smooth, not overwhelmingly sweet but completely unique. It isn't maple-syrupy like the shipyard could be, but more of a new taste. I would recommend that if you're not offended by lots of flavor(ing) in a beer, try this. I like this one a lot but I don't know if I can have more than one serving in a sitting. But who would want to? This is a beer for curling up on a porch and watching the leaves change.

So where does this leave us? Still seeking the perfect pumpkin ale. Of the group, Southern Tier had the most personality and originality. Smuttynose had the most "real" pumpkin taste, Blue Moon was the most drinkable, and Shipyard was the most nicely spiced. I'm not sure if I can say that there was one that embodies all the qualities of the elusive 'Great' pumpkin beer. But... I'll keep my eyes peeled the next time I'm in a pumpkin patch.