pumpkin ales

New Beer Blog Flying Dog The Gourd Standard Pumpkin IPA

In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Flying Dog Brewery.  It is their new fall seasonal, which is The Gourd Standard Pumpkin IPA. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Flying Dog Brewery.  Let us get into this pumpkin IPA.

It has a amber like color with a white constant head. The smell has a cinnamon to nutmeg notes. The taste has a heavy cinnamon notes without any hop bitterest. The aftertaste has a cinnamon and nutmeg finish. It is pretty drinkable.

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

ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 6.7%
AVAILABILITY: Fall seasonal
HOP BITTERNESS: 60 IBU
SPECIALTY MALTS: Rye, Biscuit, Cara Brown, Oats
HOPS: Hallertau Hersbrucker

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.flyingdogbrewery.com

Twitter:@flyingdog

Closing, I am getting really burn out on pumpkin beers.  It is not as excited as it was before.  I really did not like beer at all and normally I like just about everything that this brewery puts out on the market.  I was very disappointed.  It might have been something that I ate or drink before.  I will not know until next season.  I recommend you to try this beer once.  Please, let me know that you think.  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 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 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 Arcadia Ales Jaw-Jacker

image

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 Blog Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale

image

In this blog, we are sample out last beer from this Samuel Adams Fall pack. We are going to get into one of my favorite beer styles in the Fall Season.  Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale is going to be feature in this beer blog.  If you read my earlier blog, you know a little something about this brewery.  Samuel Adams are pretty well-known and I know you about this brewery before you reading this beer blog.  If you do not, please, go back to one of the earlier blogs and read the first part of it.  Let us get into the beer.

Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale is available in their Fall Sampler Pack.  It has a dark amber color without a head on the beer.  It has a cinnamon to nutmeg and a little pumpkin.  This pumpkin taste like a cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin.  This is not a well balance beer. There is a point in the beer drinking experience that the drinker will get a little water hint. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Early New England colonists were nothing if not resourceful.  Lacking traditional malts, they added pumpkin to their brews, & the first pumpkin ales were born.  This modern adaptation uses 4 different malts, and over 17 lbs of real pumpkin per barrel, for a rich depth of flavor & unmistakable character.  Cheers!  Jim Koch

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

A perennial favorite at our brewery Halloween party, Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale is brewed with over 17 pounds of real pumpkin per barrel, adding a full body and sweetness to this dark reddish amber brew.  Deep roasted malts, including a smoked malt, lend a distinct roasted character while traditional pumpkin pie spices give the beer a subtle spice note.

Pumpkin Ale is one of the oldest beer styles that originated in America.  Early colonists lacked some of the classic beer ingredients, so in place of malt other fermentable sugars such as molasses or pumpkin were used.  Pumpkin beers were not as popular at first since the pumpkin was used for its sugar alone rather than its flavor.  More recently, pumpkins have been used in addition to malt and other spices to create flavorful pumpkin ales.  For our take on the style we’ve used a large portion of real pumpkin to give it a natural richness of flavor.

To brew our version of this fall favorite, we used a significant portion of real pumpkin.  The pumpkin is added to the mash to meld with the malt flavors, bringing out its true flavor in the final brew.  In addition to our classic two-row pale malt and Caramel 60, we’ve added Special B and Smoked Malt for a deep roasted and nutty character that perfectly complements the pumpkin.  Once in the kettle we also add clove and the classic pumpkin pie spices of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg.  The spices subtly enhance the character of the pumpkin and malt without overpowering it.

Flavor: Smooth and roasty, real pumpkin adds to a full body and sweetness while deep roasted malts lend a toasty finish to this subtly spiced brew.
Color: Dark reddish amber, 33 SRM
Original Gravity: 15° Plato
Alcohol by Vol/Wt: 5.7%ABV – 4.4%ABW
Calories/12oz.: 199
IBUs: 14
Malt Varieties: Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, Caramel 60, Special B, and smoked malt
Hop Varieties: East Kent Goldings and English Fuggles
Special Ingredients: real pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice
Yeast Strain:Samuel Adams ale yeast
First Brewed: 2010
Availability: Seasonal (Sept. – Oct.) and in the Harvest Collection Variety pack

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.samueladams.com

Twitter:  @samueladamsbeer

Closing, this pumpkin ale is one of the best one in the market.  I am pretty stun since it is coming from Boston Beer Company.  They found the classic American style and did it up right.  It has a nice balance unlike most pumpkin ales in the market.  Most Pumpkins ales have too much cinnaon or nutmeg in the beer. This beer is also in six pack bottles this year.  I recomment this beer and you can take your time with it.  This is because most of the smaller batches will be gone first.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser