pumpkin ale

New Beer Blog Liberty Street Brewing Pumpkin Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a fall seasonal from Liberty Street Brewing.  It is their Pumpkin Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on this brewery, you know the history of Liberty Street Brewing.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog post to get to know this young Michigan brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear dark golden color with a creamy white head.  The smell has slight cinnamon and nutmeg.  The taste has a slight cinnamon, nutmeg, and hints of pumpkin notes.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.libertystreetbeer.com

Twitter:  @Liberty_Brewer

Closing out, I was pretty stun to see this beer on draught at my local Buffalo Wild Wings.  I had to order it for two reasons.  One, I am a pretty big fan of this brewery and two, it was on draft.  I  like this beer however, it is not the best pumpkin ale on the market.  It is not the worse pumpkin ale on the market.  I love the bend from the nutmeg and cinnamon.   The pumpkin is there but just enough to make me happy.  It is like drinking a pumpkin pie.  I recommend it, if you can still find it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Blue Point Brewing Pumpkin Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the fall seasonal from Blue Point Brewing.  It is their Pumpkin Ale.  I know it is another pumpkin beer.  This one is a little different.  If you read my earlier beer blogs on this brewery, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blogs to get know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark copper to light amber color with constant white head on this pumpkin ale.  The smell has notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and light pumpkin in this Fall Seasonal.  The taste has cinnamon and nutmeg in the front, however, there is a light pumpkin notes on the back half of the drinking experience.  The pumpkin lives in the aftertaste.  This is a pretty drinkable beer.

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

According to Linus there are 3 things never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin. Our Pumpkin Ale, on the other hand, has made quite a buzz from New Hampshire down to Florida. Every season has its pleasures. Harvest your own with our Pumpkin Ale and reap all that Autumn has to offer. Brewed with pumpkins from only the most sincere patches, this seasonal brew is golden orange, crisp and delicious, with an innocent hint of cinnamon and nutmeg that articulates our favorite season. Gather with friends and family and enjoy the change of seasons while savoring a pint of Pumpkin Ale. Just like the leaves, it’s gone after Thanksgiving.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluepointbrewing.com

Twitter:  @bluepointbrewer

Closing, I know what you are asking.  Why is this pumpkin beer different from the rest on the market?  It is pretty simple.  This pumpkin ale gives you the pumpkin but it is not over the top in your face that goes with the spices.  You taste the nutmeg and cinnamon up front and the pumpkin at the end of the drinking experience.   I love this beer for that because it makes it pretty drinkable unlike most pumpkin beers.  I believe this is the best pumpkin beer on the market or one of the best on the market.  I recommend you trying this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Belgium Pumpkick Fall Seasonal

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the new Fall Seasonal from New Belgium Brewery.  It is their Pumpkick Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their Imperial IPA, you will know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this Colorado brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a light copper color with a constant white head on this fall seasonal beer.  The smell is heavy pumpkin with slight cranberry notes.  The taste of this light to medium body is a cranberry and pumpkin notes with a pumpkin aftertaste.  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 send your taste buds sailing.

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.

Birthdate: July, 2013

ABV: 6.0%
Hops: Target
Malts: Pale, Munich, Caramel
Fruits/Spice: Pumpkin juice, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Allspice, Cranberries, Lemongrass

Here is a video on their website (www.newbelgium.com) about food pairing:

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website;  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Closing, I am not a really huge fan of this brewery, however, the last few new brews that they have release.  They are winning me over pretty quick.  I love their Rampant Imperial IPA and Shift Pale Lager.  This beer that is being feature is really good gives me hope more for this brewery and all fall seasonals.  This pumpkin beer is pretty well balance with the complex favors in it.  There is a ton going on in this brew.  It is not over the top from the pumpkin and cranberry.  I highly recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Arcadia Ales Jaw-Jacker

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to take a look at another Michigan Brewery called Arcadia Ales and the beer is Jaw-Jacker.  Arcadia Brewing Company, which is also known as Arcadia Ales, was founded in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1996.  They brew several different beer styles and they are pretty close to the traditional beer styles.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a hazel dark copper color without a head on the beer. This pumpkin ale has a cinnamon to nutmeg smell to this beer. The taste is a heavy cinnamon and nutmeg with a cinnamon aftertaste. There is really no pumpkin in this beer. It is kind of drinkable but not really to me.

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

This spiced amber-wheat ale is our celebration of the arrival of Autumn. Using the finest malted barley and little wheat for mouthfeel, Jaw-Jacker displays a brilliant orange-amber color, despite the absence of pumpkin in the recipe. The addition of cinnamon, all-spice and nutmeg (in the exact proportions of our brewer’s Grandmother’s pumpkin pie recipe) creates a refreshingly spicy, season brew.

Style

Spiced Beer

ABV

6.0%

IBUs

26

Food Pairings

Boiled Brisket with Root Veggies, Roast Duck or Turkey, Pumpkin Pie or Sweet Potato Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.

Here is their website and  twitter addresses:

Website:  www.arcadiaales.com

Twitter:  @arcadiaales

In closing, this is one of many Michigan Breweries.  This brewery is everything that I look for in a brewery, which means they make traditional styles.  I believe I love the crazy hoppy beers or weird beers so this brewery gives you something of the classic world.  However, I really did not like this beer, I thought it was very heavy with the cinnamon and nutmeg taste and way to sweet.  This beer to me was not drinkable.  I know this brewery could do better.  This is my thought pattern and my word is not the holy grail of beer blogs or craft world and if it was it should not be.  You as a beer drinker might like this beer.  I courage you to try it to get your judgement on this beer.  I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas on this beer.  They are available in many states in the midwest.  Go get some!  Drink it! Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Schlafly Pumpkin Ale

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to take a look at one of my favorite pumpkin ale from Schlafly.  If you read my earlier blog, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, go back and read the first part of that blog post.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear dark copper color without a head on the beer.  This pumpkin has a cinnamon and nutmeg smell to it. It has a huge cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin, which is extremely rare in these beers.  It is very drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Schlafly Pumpkin ale Celebrate the bounty of harvest with this rich, malty ale brewed with pumpkin and flavored with spices to invoke the season of plenty.

Here is a descripation from their website (www.schlafly.com):

Our Pumpkin Ale blends the spices of the harvest with full-bodied sweetness for a beer that tastes like pumpkin pie. Pounds of pumpkin form a malty foundation that supports the fall flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.

While pumpkin beers were produced in the early days of the American colonies, they were different from the pumpkin beers we know today.  Colonists used pumpkin and squash as the fermenting medium, since malted barley was scarce.  Once malt became more readily available, it replaced these alternatives to grain.  In the 1990’s, American craft brewers reintroduced the style to the delight of pumpkin beer drinkers.

Available September-October.

ABV:   8%   |   IBU:   16

  • Appearance: Copper-colored, bright
  • Process: Brewed with pumpkin squash and a blend of spices
  • Hops: Marynka (PL)
  • Malts: 2-row and Crystal malted barley, Munich malt, wheat malt, chocolate malt
  • Yeast: American Ale
  • OG: 18.5
  • SRM: 26.6

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.schlafly.com

Twitter:  @schlafly

Closing, I really love this beer and it is my favorite pumpkin beer on the market.  Every year I have to work the phones to get a few six packs up here in Chicago.  This beer has the sweetness of the nutmeg, cinnaom, and the taste of Pumpkin in it.  Most Pumpkin ales or lagers do not have the taste of Pumpkin or just very little.  It is very drinkable and full of flavor.  I highly recommend this beer.  This is what a pumpkin ale is suppose to be not what is out in the market.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser