fall beer

New Beer Blog Goose Island Rambler IPA (2014)

image

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Goose Island Brewery.  It is next seasonal release, which is Rambler IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Goose Island Brewery.  Let us get into this Red IPA.

It has a clear red to amber color with a tan color head. The aroma has an herbal to citrus notes with a slight hint of earthy tones. The taste has earthy to caramel and citrus notes with dry malty hoppy aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Red Ale

A bold ale with a mix of herbal, woody, and citrus aromas from Mt. Hood and Amarillos hops.

6.7% ALC. 65 IBU

Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):

Rambler IPA

Brewer’s Notes

Aroma and Taste:

Herbal, woody, and citrus aroma. Spicy, resinous hop flavors with enough sweetness to balance the Mt. Hood hops.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied, medium carbonation. Spicy hop flavor lingers on the palate with a malty, dry finish.

Recipe Information

  • Style: IPA
  • Alcohol by Volume: 6.7%
  • International Bitterness Units: 65
  • Color: Auburn
  • Hops: Amarillo, Mt. Hood
  • Malts: Special Pale, C-120, Cara Red

Availability

Seasonal (September – December)
Bottles: 6 & 12pks

Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

Closing, I love this brew.  This brew is the best of all the seaonals by far.  I love their Endless IPA but this Red IPA takes it home.  I was pretty impressed with their Ten Hills Pale Ale but after going through the year, it is the weakest of the seasonals.  They did a great job on their Oktoberfest this year.  I can’t wait to retry their Ten Hills Pale Ale. I might need to remind myself of this brew. I know their Christmas Ale will be out.  It is American Brown Ale. This is a nice Red IPA for the fall season.  It is not over hopped but just enough to make you get through the cooler fall days or part of the winter months.  There is some nice malty notes and Amerillo hops just shine throughout this brew.  This is a great brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Lucky Girl Brewery Haunted Pumpkin Ale (2014)

image

In this fall beer blog, we are going to sample a Lucky Girl Brewery and it is Haunted Pumpkin Ale.  This is the first both this beer and brewery is being featured on this blog.  This is the first time these beers are making it out of their brewpub and the southeastern Michigan.  I was pretty interested in this brewery.  Here is a story behind this craft brewery from their website (www.luckygirlbeer.com):

The iconic “pinup” girl was first created for our WWII soldiers as a gesture of good luck for our young men, giving them a little piece of home and comfort on the battlefield.

In the post-war era, she became a symbol of American prosperity as the United States experienced economic growth like never before seen. It was a time when we were all proud to be Americans, and motivated to make this country great.

Today, Lucky Girl Brewing Company represents that same feeling of unity, nostalgia, and the heart of Americana. Enjoy a Classy & Sassy Lucky Girl beer as we toast to our heritage and to our American pride!

I do not see anything saying who the owner and when they opened.  I just found this on their website for their back story on their name and their labeling on their packaging.  If you know something, please, let me know so I can add it to this review.  Let us get into pumpkin ale.

This pumpkin ale has a cloudy bronze color without a head.  The aroma has a heavy cinnamon to a light nutmeg with a touch of pumpkin in background.  The taste has a light carbonated sweet malty notes.  It is pretty faded between all the tasting notes.  It is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

It’s that time of the year. Ghosts and Goblins, and fall’s favorite treat – HAUNTED PUMPKIN ALE. This tasty brew of fresh pumpkin, 2 row malts, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg is frighteningly good to the last drop.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.luckygirlbeer.com

Twitter:  @luckygirlbeer

Closing, I love the packaging and it does stick out from all the rest of the pumpkin beers on the market.  I would say the only package that beats it out is the New Belgium Pumpkick Ale.  As far as the liquid and appearance.  I love the look and the aroma from the beer.  I was getting pretty excited on trying this beer.  I was pretty disappointed with the tasting notes.  There is no pumpkin notes with slight cinnamon and nutmeg notes.  It is pretty weak.  It is pretty dinkable.  If you can get a bottle, I would try it at least.  Here is a example of a beer from Michigan that is not really good.  This beer is from Michigan and it does not make it good.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog New Belgium Pumpkick Ale (2014)

image

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into this year’s limited release from New Belgium and it is Pumpkick Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this employee owned brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this pumpkin ale brewed with cranberries.

It has a clear copper to bronze color with a white constant head on this fall seasonal.  The smell has a pumpkin to cranberry notes.  The taste has a slight pumpkin but the cranberries take over the taste profile.  The aftertaste is a heavy cranberry notes.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

What’s that bite of tartness doing in a pumpkin beer?  Adding the unexpected kick of cranberry juice to brighten this traditionally spiced seasonal ale.  PUMPKICK is brewed with plenty of pumpkin juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, but it’s the cranberries and touch of lemongrass that’ll have you hunt and pecking for more.

Here is a description from their website (www.newbelgium.com):

What’s that bite of tartness doing in a pumpkin beer? Adding the unexpected kick of cranberry juice to brighten this traditionally spiced seasonal ale. Pumpkick is brewed with plenty of pumpkin juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, but it’s the cranberries and touch of lemongrass that send your taste buds sailing. Available in September and October 2014.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

In the end, this is the beer that brought me back into trying and retrying New Belgium’s beers.  I will be up front and say I did not like their beers or most of them.  I was excited to see this beer coming back for at least one more season.  New Belgium Brewery makes the same seasonal for at least two years and then switch to a new one.  They wanted to see if they could get one more season out of this brew. There is lack of cranberries this season.  The new fall seasonal is Tour De Fall.  I might try to get a review up before the end of the season.  Pumpkick was my favorite fall beer from last season.  This year was a little disappointed.  I felt that my bottles did not have enough of the cranberry notes.  I loved last years more. There was not as much cranberry notes as this year’s brew. It is still a great brew.  I highly recommend this brew.  Go get some before it disappears again.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Buffalo Bill’s Brewery American’s Original Pumpkin Ale (2014)

image

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into the Oringal Pumpkin Ale from Buffalo Bill’s Brewery.  Buffalo Bill’s is one of the oldest brewpub in the United States.  It opened in 1983.  It was opened right after the laws changed.  Bill Owens, who is the founder and owner, wanted to serve homemade food with some great beers.  In 1994, Bill Owens sold the brewery to Geoff Harries.  Geoff worked with Bill in 1987 as the orinigal brewmaster.  Geoff grew the brewerey into 40 states in the United States.  This is information was pulled from their website (www.buffalobillsbrewery.com).  Let us get into this pumpkin ale.

It has a slightly cloudy amber color with a white head at first.  The smell has a light to slight cinnamon notes.  The taste of this medium body beer has a cinnamon notes with a crisp cinnamon finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a descriation from their website (www.buffalobillsbrewery.com):

Pumpkin Ale

Pumpkin pie in a bottle

America’s Original Pumpkin Ale was first brewed in 1985. Made with real pumpkin, it has a golden amber color, and the sweet aroma of pumpkin pie. This brew is perfect for Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving. Pumpkin Ale is available from August – November

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.buffalobillsbrewery.com

Twitter:  No Twitter address

In closing, here is the pumpkin beer that started this mass trend right now.  Every fall, we have a flood of Oktoberfest and Pumpkin beers hit the market.  It is alwasy nice to go back and try the beer that started that trend.  I had this about four or five years ago and loved it.  I wanted to retry it.  I still love this beer.  I have to say it is better than most pumpkin ales on the market now.  There are some really bad pumpkin ales on the market.  It is so disappointed us beer drinkers have not send that message that these beers are not good.  I mean we vote with our wallet or money.  It is a nice message not to buy them.  This one is good and you need to try or retry it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Harpoon Brewery UFO Pumpkin Ale (2014)

image

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another Harpoon Brewery beer.  It is their UFO Pumpkin Ale.  If you read my earlier beer bog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this pumpkin ale.

It has a cloudy amber color with a white constant head. The aroma has a heavy cinnamon to nutmeg notes.  The taste has a nice creamy cinnamon to nutmeg notes with a cinnamon banana clove aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.harpoonbrewery.com):

It’s a simple story; we brew this beer because we like pumpkin (pumpkin pie, really) and thought an unfiltered pumpkin ale would be great, especially during the New England fall. Turns out it is.

Description

Imagine a pumpkin vine wound its way in a field of barley, and a brewer harvested it all to make a beer. Add Northwestern hops and a blend of spices, and you’ve got UFO Pumpkin. The malt combination provides a smooth body and slightly sweet flavor, which balances perfectly with the earthy notes derived from the pure pumpkin. And like all of our UFO beers, UFO Pumpkin is UnFiltered.

Tasting Notes

  • Appearance: Amber and orange with a slight haze
  • Aroma: Malty with hints of pumpkin and spice
  • Mouth feel: Slightly sweet and smooth
  • Taste: A solid malt backbone highlighting German Vienna and Munich malts with a nice dose of pumpkin and spice, reminiscent of pumpkin pie
  • Finish: Easy drinking with a lingering pumpkin aftertaste on the back of the tongue

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.harpoonbrewery.com

Twitter:  @harpoon_brewery

In the end, I was looking to try this beer for many seasons when they made it to the Chicago market.  It is average beer.  There is better pumpkin ales on the market.  I will say this beer is so much better than Blue Moon Pumpkin and Brooklyn Pumpkin Ale.  I did enjoy this beer but I just feel it could be a lot better.  I will try it again next season.  I recommend it at least once.  Go get some!  Drink it! Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Harpoon Brewery Octoberfest (2014)

image

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into Harpoon Brewery and the beer is their Octoberfest.  This is the first time this beer is being featured on this blog.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this northeast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this 1980’s craft brewery.  Let us get into this Octoberfest.

It has a clear amber color with a white constant head.    The aroma has a sweet malty to nutty notes. The taste has a slight sweet malty to nutty notes with a dry malty finish for the aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This rich, full-bodied, malty beer – perfectly balanced with a generous dose of hops – calls out for lederhosen, dirndls, and oompah music!

Roll out the barrels!

And keep them coming, because this is going to be one festive, malty fall.  Come to the brewery and celebrate Octoberfest with us!  Prosit!

Here is a description from their website (www.harpoonbrewery.com):

The original German Oktoberfest was brewed with one celebratory festival in mind. Harpoon Octoberfest is brewed with TWO festivals in mind; our Octoberfests at our breweries in Boston, MA and Windsor, VT. We love the style and it’s a great beer for the fall season. In true Octoberfest tradition, we threw our first festival here at the brewery in 1990. There were a couple thousand people here celebrating amidst the brewing tanks. We can’t quite fit everyone in the actual brewery now – last year nearly 18,000 revelers attended our Boston Octoberfest and nearly 7,000 joined us at our brewery in Vermont the following weekend. Prost!

Description

Harpoon Octoberfest is a malty tribute to fall, balanced by a gentle hop bitterness. In keeping with tradition, it is a Marzen-style beer, brewed with abundant quantities of Munich, Chocolate, and Pale malts. Those malts provide a solid, full body and create the beer’s deep color. It is a rich, flavorful beer.

Tasting Notes

  • Appearance: garnet-red color with a firm, creamy head.
  • Aroma: hop aroma, (not overpowering but present)
  • Mouth feel: full-bodied, smooth, and malty
  • Taste: gentle bitterness to balance any residual sweetness
  • Finish: soft and malty with a mild bitterness

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.harpoonbrewery.com

Twitter:  @harpoon_brewery

Closing, I like this beer.  This beer gives you something different then the rest of the Oktoberfest on the market.  Most Oktoberfest are very sweet with a heavy caramel notes. There is some with a heavy malty notes.  This one is like this year’s Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest.  This beer is true to the classic beer style.  I love how it echoes the fall season which it should.  I will be picking up some more bottles before the end of the season.  I wish I could get this in cans.  I would to take this out to cook outs or tailgating.  This is a great beer and I recommend it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Shipyard Brewing Pumpkinhead Ale (2014)

image

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another pumpkin beer, which is Pumpkinhead Ale, from Shipyard Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this northeast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this pumpkin beer.

It has a clear golden color with a semi white head on this pumpkin beer.  The smell has a cinnamon to nutmeg notes.  The taste has a heavy cinnamon notes but turns to water notes with a cinnamon to slight pumpkin finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shipyard.com

Twitter:  @shipyardbrewing

Closing, I loved their Smashed Pumpkin Ale.  I wanted to try the normal seasonal in their everyday six pack line of the fall from this brewery.  I have been pretty curious on this craft brewery.  I do not know this brewery because most of their packaging does not help sell their beers.  It is pretty boring but most cases that means the beer is really good.  I have to say in this case with this Pumpkinhead Ale it is pretty average.  I was pretty disappointed and I have to say this is the weakest fall and pumpkin beer this season.  I will be searching out for their other beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Autumn Ale (2014)

image

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into the fall seasonal from Short’s Brewery.  It is their Autumn Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us fall beer.

It has a slightly cloudy amber to bronze color with a semi white head.  The aroma has a floral to nutty notes with some hazelnut.  The taste has a slight carbonation malty with earthy hop bitter aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.shortsbrewing.com):

Autumn Ale is a true-to-style London Extra Special Bitter (ESB). It has a medium body, amber color, and full flavor. This beer exhibits a wonderful balance of malty sweetness and floral hop bitterness. The result is an ideal bridge between malty and hoppy beer styles. Autumn Ale is a silver medal winner from the 2006 Great American Beer Festival.

6.5% ABV

45 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

In the end,  I did not like this beer.  It just seems like it is missing something.  I love my ESB’s.  I love the old country-style of it.  This one is true to the classic beer style.  I do not know if maybe it threw me off because the flood of Oktoberfest and Pumpkin beers.  This was the first beer I had for the day.  So it was not like I was a few beers in and started to drink it.  If it was a normal price craft beer but not higher than the rest, this beer would be worth the price.  I recommend you trying it and this beer is better than most of the beers Short’s release in the market.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:   djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale (2014)

image

In this fall beer blog,  we are going to get into the second beer from Sierra Nevada Brewery’s Fall Pack.  It is former fall seasonal and it is their Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this brown ale.

It has a clear dark brown color with a white constant head.  The smell has a malty to nutty notes.  The taste has a slight sweet malty to nutty notes with a peanut butter finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description  from the beer bottle:

Tumbler is our take on the classic brown ale – full of roasted malt flavor but delicate on the palate and perfect for crisp fall days.  Layered with notes of chocolate and toasted bread and a hint of smoke.  Tumbler is the ultimate autumn beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.sierranevada.com):

TumblerRoasted, rich, and perfect for an autumn afternoon.

Tumbler is our take on the classic brown ale – full of roasted malt flavor but delicate on the palate and perfect for crisp fall days. Layered with notes of chocolate and toasted bread and a hint of smoke, Tumbler is the ultimate autumn beer, so grab a seat and watch as the leaves come tumbling down.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

Closing, I love this beer and I wish I could get it in a 12pk again.  I love Flipside but it is not like Tumbler Brown.  It is a nice relaxing beer to have in a nice fall day.  It is not overly dry malt to nutty notes.  It has a nice balance that you can enjoy it during the Saturday or Sunday football games.  This brown ale can fit perfectly with any tailgating food.  They kept this true to the classic beer style.  There is nothing more to say but it is a great beer.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest (2014)

image

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into Oktoberfest that I did not know that Sierra Nevada Brewery made.  This beer came out of their new Fall Sampler Pack twelve pack bottles.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Sierra Nevada Brewery.  Let us get into this Oktoberfest.

It has a reddish-brown color with slightly off-color white head.  The aroma has a sweet malty, toffee to nutty notes.  The taste has a sweet malty to nutty notes with a slight burned caramel notes for the aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable fall beer.

Here is a desecration from the beer bottle:

Everyone loves a great party, and there are few quite as famous as Germany’s Oktoberfest.  Inspired by that rollicking celebration, we bring you our version of this classic festival beer.  Oktoberfest is medium bodied and rich with malt flavor, but maintains a crisp finish marked by floral hops.

Here is a description from their website (www.sierranevada.com):

Oktoberfest

Our take on the classic, malty festival beer.

Germany’s Oktoberfest celebrated a royal marriage and the health of the fall harvest—which in Bavaria, means brewers, barley and hops! Today, Oktoberfest is considered one of the world’s greatest parties, and in honor of that rollicking bash we bring you our version of the classic festival beer. Oktoberfest is medium-bodied and rich with bready and toffee-like malt flavor but maintains a crisp finish marked by floral and spicy hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @sierranevada

Closing, I love this brewery and I hope one day to make a trip to see this craft brewery.  They make some awesome beers and I am always looking for any and all new beers to hit the market.  I never had one bad beer from this west coast craft brewery.  I was happy to see them put out a sampler packs.  They released their 4-way IPA, Beer Camp, and now this one, which is Fall Pack.  This Oktoberfest keeps the awesome season roll going for the fall beers.   I have to say this is my favorite Oktoberfest.  It is not like Goose Island and Great Lakes Oktoberfest where it has a sweet caramel notes.  This one has a sweet malty notes to nutty but I love the aftertaste, which is like a burned caramel notes.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13