fall

New Beer Blog Shipyard Brewing Smashed Pumpkin Ale (2014)


image

In this beer blog, we are going to get into Smashed Pumpkin Ale from Shipyard Brewing.  Shipyard Brewing started out as Federal Jack’s Restaurant and Brew Pub at Kennebunk, Maine in 1992.  The brewery kept on growing and open a brewery called Shipyard Brewing at Portland, Maine.  They partner with Sea Dog Brewing Company and Casco Bay Brewing Company and they became the fourth largest brewery in New England.  They are fourteenth largest brewery in the United States.  They opened a brewery in Winter Park, Florida.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a cloudy copper color with a white constant head.  The aroma has pumpkin to slight cinnamon to nutmeg notes.  The taste has a sweet cinnamon to nutmeg with a nice creamy caramel notes.  The aftertaste has dry cinnamon aftertaste.  It is not drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Smashed Pumpkin is a big-bodied beer with a light coppery orange color and pleasing aroma of pumpkin and nutmeg.  The OG and final Alc./Vol. provide the structure and body.  Pale Ale, Wheat and Light Munich Malts combine with the natural tannin in pumpkin and the delicate spiciness of Willamette and Hallertau Hops to balance the sweetness of the fruit.  To fully enjoy all the flavors, this ale is best drunk at 55 degrees Fahrenheit.  Smashed Pumpkin pairs well with sharp cheese, nuts, lamb, hearty stews and desserts like flan or pumpkin pie.  Chefs find this an excellent beer to cook with in dishes such as braised short ribs.  Try adding a little Shipyard Blue Fin Stout to Smashed Pumpkin for a fall warmer.

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

A big bodied beer with a light coppery orange color and pleasing aroma of pumpkin and nutmeg. Pale Ale, Wheat and Light Munich malts combine with the natural tannin in pumpkin and the delicate spiciness of Willamette and Hallertau Hops to balance the sweetness of the fruit. To fully experience all the flavors, this beer is best enjoyed at 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shipyard.com

Twitter:   @shipyardbrewing

Closing, I have been eyeing this beer for the last few fall seasons.  I just finally picked up a bottle.  I figure that I will make it my third pumpkin beer of the season.  It has a nice color and aroma.  I love the taste and the aroma notes.  It has a nice bite for being a big fall seasonal but nice and kind of drinkable beer.  There is a nice balance from the cinnamon and nutmeg notes but I love the nice creamy caramel notes from the malt.  I will be picking up a few more of these beers with some Well’s Banana Bread beer.  This is a great beer and I highly recommend it.  Go get some!  Drink i!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Flying Dog Dogtoberfest


image

In this fall beer blog, the beer that is being feature is Flying Dog Dogtoberfest.  If you read my earlier blog on their Cherry Sour Ale, you know a little something about this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that blog post.  Let us get into the beer.

This fall beer has a nice clear copper color without a head on it.  The smell is a nice malty. The taste is a smooth malty without an aftertaste. This beer is a beer drinker malty delight or dream. It extremely drinkable.

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

alcohol by volume: 5.6%
availability: Fall release
hop bittnerness: 30 IBU
Specialty Malts: Light Munich, Munich 90, Munich 100, Vienna
hops: German Perle, Hallertau
yeast: Proprietary lager strain

Brewed with 100% imported German ingredients, it will cut spice while pulling out sweetness. Flavor notes: Full-bodied caramel sweet with a light toasted and crisp, clean finish Pairs with: Mexican and Pepper Jack cheeses; sweet Asian sauces; spiced desserts; German foods

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.flyingdogales.com

Twitter:  @flyingdog

Closing out, I really love this beer.  There are three breweries that hit home runs on the fall seasonals and they are Flying Dog, Milwaukee Brewing Oktoberfest, and Schlafly Pumpkin Ale.  This beer gives you the nice malty from a traditional German style lager.  It has a nice balance but not boring like most fall seasonals.  I have to say this fall season has been very disappointing and I hoping winter seasonals are not the same way.  I hate fall and winter because the motorcycle is up for the winter.  The beer normally gets me through that problem.  This year fall has been very bad.  I am glad to see a few breweries are stepping up to the plate and Flying Dog Dogtoberfest was one of them.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser