Beer 103 Southampton Pumpkin Ale and Beer 104 Blue Point Rastafa

It is time to get back on the beer blog trail. I will be doing some catch up postings in October, so buckle up your beer helmet with the two cups on top, and get ready for some new beers to consider sampling. We are on the brink of the holiday season, and I do not want any of my beer loving friends under informed as to what would be a good choice for an office party or social gathering.

With so many beers in my “note book of samples”, I am going to try to blog about some that I have particularly enjoyed recently. There have been some less than tasty brews in the mix, so if you don’t find a review here, ask me before you buy. This is not to say that if its not here, its not good. It is quite possible that I have tried it, and just haven’t gotten to the review. If I haven’t tried it, chances are, I may know someone that someone has.

Beer 103: Southampton Pumpkin Ale. Jackpot! This definitely is very a tasty beer. I was going to review it as part of a Halloween Pumpkin Ale series. I have enjoyed the Shipyard Pumpkin Ale previously, as well as tried a few others in the past year. What separates this fine ale from the others, is that it also fits the profile of the ever elusive Christmas Ale I have been searching for since I moved to Florida in 2004.

When I bought this beer I had high hopes. I have enjoyed other Southampton products, and I am happy to say that this brew held up to the high standards of the others. When I opened the bottle, there was a fine pumpkin aroma, as well as an “allspice” like scent.  Weighing in at 5.5% alcohol, this pumpkin infused ale is very flavorful. It is highly drinkable, and has a smooth finish. This is a seasonal beer, so if you want to try it, you will need to do it soon. I found it at 2 places, Dunderbacks at the Volusia Mall, and Andy’s Liquor Store. Click Here to visit the Southampton Website.

Beer 104 Bluepoint Rastafa Ale: This one will knock your socks off! When I first tried this at Boomerangs, I was not sure that it was going to be a good choice. I had tried a couple of other rye beers, with mixed results. In truth, I ordered it as it was to my best estimation, the only beer that they had which I had not tried previously. This is no knock on our local after work meeting spot, as they have over 90 beers according the bar manager Jeff.

When I recieved my pint glass, I gave it my usual unscientific sniff test. You could “scents” it was going to be different. Still unsure, I was hoping that different was going to be good. This Rasta beer has a kick at 7.5% alcohol, and a grainy rye hoppiness, that is sure to catch your attention from the very first sip. It would be interesting if there was a version to try that was more rye than hoppy, as the rye beers I have tried are decidedly hop infused. This is not an every day brew, and is one that you may have one or two, and then change to something else.

I would recommend asking for a sample of it as many taverns will give you a small “taste” if you ask. They want happy customers, and nothing is worse than to stand behind the bar watching your customers make bitter beer faces. If you like the sample, you will order it, and probably leave a decent tip, creating a win-win situation for all involved. Bar owners and managers need honest feedback in order to properly stock their shelves with beers that bring people back.  It is worth sampling, so that you can have the Rasta experience.

The Southampton Pumpkin Ale ranges from $9.99-$11.99 for a 6 pack, and the Rasta Rye can range from $3-$5 depending on the tavern and the happy hour availability.

Beer 101 Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter and Beer 102 Left Hand Milk Stout

I am up visiting with family in Rochester, NY for the weekend. With the cooler weather, I thought that it would be a good time to review some beer for the upcoming cooler weather. Keeping in mind that this is a few months early for Florida, it is right on time for NY. My morning walk today was a bit brisk for shorts and a tank top, but during that time, I decided that it was time to come back from my beer blogging “hiatus”. My Real Estate business exploded over the summer, and I simply have not had the time for some of the important things in life. I was able to hire an assistant to help with my ever expanding business. The Beer Blog is back, and to be truthful, I have a lot of catching up to do, as I have tried a lot of great beers the last few months.

Beer 101 Great Lakes Edmund Fizgerald Porter - I had this incredible beer at McGregor’s in Rochester with my brother Tony. I was looking for something dark, and I will fully admit to being captivated by the name. I had never tried a Great Lakes Product, so this was a convergence of several great ideas.

This porter can best be described as awesome. The web page will tell you that it is a roasty, with a bittersweet chocolate cofee taste with a bold hoppy presence. I am not able to go much further than that description. What I can ad is that I enjoyed this incredibly fine brew in a great pub with about 100 beers to choose from. This 5.8% alcohol content brew from their Cleveland, Ohio brewery was one of the best beers I have had in a long time. It was also an added benefit that I was able to enjoy it with my brother Tony, who I do not get to see that often. These are not available in Florida, so if you are traveling, and see it on a beer menu, order it immediately.

Click Here to see their new web page which launches on 9-15-10 

Beer 102 Left Hand Milk Stout – This is a beer that I have passed over many times. It has been readily available at Andy’s for the past year, but I never tried it. Truth be told, I thought that it was a stupid and unmanly strange name, and just chose to avoid it. One fateful day, I broke down and purchase a 6 pack. Boy was I mad when I tried it. It was a great beer and I could have been drinking them for the past year.

I have tried so many beers, for so many reasons, this past year, and somehow missed this one that was right in front of me the whole time. The folks at the Left Hand Brewery got this one right. The packaging they used up until recently was not very appealing, and hence, it was a somewhat reluctant purchase for me. What I discovered was a great tasting stout, and since it was 5.2% alcohol content, I could enjoy a few at a sitting. Now that they have changed the packaging, it will probably attract more buyers, and make it harder for me to find. 

It is a little less chocolately than the Youngs Double Chocolate Stout, and not as coffe-ish as the Dogfish Chicory Stout. A very nice middle ground. This is one of the only beers I have purchased more than once at Andy’s, which is news all by itself. Try one if you get the chance.

Click Here to see their web page

The Edmund Fitzgerald was in the $5 per pint range you would expect when out at a pub. The Milk Stout is $11.99 for a 6 pack.

Beer 99 Magic Hat Unfiltered Ale Spring 10 and Beer 100 Sam Adams Utopia

The journey has now been completed!

This post represents the final beer sampling sessions in my quest to try 100 New Beers in one year. Trying 2 New Beers A Week has provided me with so many great moments that any attempt to capture them in a single entry would prove futile.

That being said, I have made many new friends, discovered that old friends also enjoyed trying new beers, and found that many people were more willing to try new beers than I would have ever imagined.

Beer trades are now common. Party’s now have conversations that are not dominated by politics, money, or American Idol.

Truth be told, I have tried a “FEW” more beers that have not been reviewed yet, and I will be starting a “Fresh” year this week. I have tried some sample 6 packs and 12 packs with friends that may end up being bulk reviews. All of this is in the interest of providing a reference for my friends that don’t want to waste $10 on something they may not like are looking for something new to try.

Beer 99 Magic Hat Unfiltered Ale Spring ’10. Part of the somewhat legendary Burlington Vermont brewery’s vast array of Odd Notion Series, this beer was part of a 12 pack sampler that we were lucky enough to find at Andy’s. He was only allotted 2 cases of this limited product and we eagerly purchased one of the somewhat pricey 12 packs.

By now most of you know that I am not a big IPA fan. I believe that as Bob Dylan once said “The times, they are a changin’ “. Through exhaustive research, I have discovered a few IPA that I really enjoy. With summer on the way, I will be drinking less of the stout and porters that I enjoy soooo much. A good thing has happened.

This Magic Hat creation is  an American Wheat IPA. For my money, and taste buds, it is the best of the 8 Magic Hat varieties that I have sampled. Yes that means that there are 6 that I need to review… It pours wonderfully into a pint glass, and sports a foamy head above its cloudy liquidity. A hoppy flavor to be sure with a smooth texture that is easy to drink and enjoy. At 6.0% alcohol it packs a silent punch, but doesn’t fill you up. It would be a great beer to bring to a party, if you can find it. I have only seen it in 12 packs, not in 6 packs, to this point. If you see a 6 pack, it is a no brainer selection. In fact, buy it for me, and I will pay you. It’s that good.

Click Here To See The Magic Hat Website

Beer #100 Sam Adams Utopia:

I have reached the end of the internet, the final frontier, and found the holy grail all at once.

This beer was provided by David, who received it as a Christmas Gift from Stacey. This is beer on steroids, with a price tag to match. The Mad Scientists at Sam Adams chose to brew the most insane beer on the planet. The resulting brew is complex to say the least. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to share some of this incredible brew with my friends. Quite honestly, as much as I had wanted to try it, the cost of this brew is significant.

Picture a beer that is best served in a snifter glass. No head, and amber in color. It has the appearance of a fine cognac. It is meant to be sampled in the tinyest of measures. The first sip is simply intense. I immediately noticed 3 things: a bourbon like flavor, a significant malty overtone, and the 27% alcohol content. It is overwhelming to say the least, and it comes in what looks like an ” I Dream Of Jeanie bottle”.

After taking a few minutes to savor, as well as ponder the experience, I had my second sip. Having some idea what to expect, this syrupy sip revealed carmel and molasses flavors, along with a brown sugaryness. Keep in mind, I am in now in full “drinking cognac mode”, swirling the contents of my glass as if I am some world class connoisseseur of wines and cognacs.

Sip after sip, I discovered a new flavor. No two sips seemed to be the same, yet they were from the same snifter. Suffice it to say, that you may have to practice drinking this to get the full flavor into your mind before being able to even consider describing it somewhat accurately. It was a great tasting experience to be sure. It is fitting that I saved this experience for the highly coveted Beer #100.

Click Here to visit the Sam Adams Website

Both of these beers will be hard to find. The Magic Hat 12 pack Sampler was $17.99 at Andy’s, and he sold out the day we bought it. I have not seen it anywhere since. The Sam Adams Utopia comes in a beautiful 750 ml decanter and is very expensive. If you look it up on the internet, you will see prices ranging between $150-$500. I  have no idea what Stacey paid for it, but I would venture a guess that she could have filled a refrigerator with “guest beer” for the same price.

Beer 97 Primo Island Lager and Beer 98 Rogue Mocha Porter

Being only 4 beers away from my goal of trying 100 new beers in one year, I can say that it has been a great experience. First and foremost, I got to try a lot of beers that I had never even heard of. I learned that a lot of people I know enjoy a similar pursuit of the unknown. Most importantly, I got to share a lot of them with some very good friends. I look forward to reaching the goal very soon, and maybe setting a new one.

Jason, Jen and Maya, came to visit us last week. We had not seen them in almost 2 years. We used to see each other all the time back in Rochester, but moving to Florida 6 years ago has made our visits less frequent. The good news is that we remain great friends, and we always seem to “pick up where we left off” when we do get together.

In honor of their visit, Jason and I went to the store for some milk for Maya. Naturally, we rushed straight back home squeezed in a quick trip to Andy’s and Walgreens to pick out a few beers to try during their visit. Jess and Jen would have thought something was wrong with us if we didn’t do this.

Beer 97 is Primo Island Lager. It was chose chosen simply due to the fact that it is from Hawaii…and also because it was on the Walgreens make your own 6 pack shelf. Not much risk in buying 2 bottles at 1.50 each. As the saying goes, ” if you don’t like the beer you are drinking, drink it fast and get a different one”. When we opened our bottles, they poured into our pint glasses in much the same way as any regular domestic beer. Golden in color, and with a medium head, it looked like…well…beer. It’s taste could be described as…well…beer. It wasn’t great, it wasn’t awful. Just a middle of the road beer. I wouldn’t rush out and grab one, but if you see one, pick one up to try. When you are in Mexico, you would try Modelo, and if you were to be in Hawaii, you would try Primo. For now, I will simply have to imagine that we were in Hawaii when we tried it. Actually, hanging out with friends on our pool deck, was pretty close to paradise that night. Click Here to check out their website.

Beer 98 Rogue Mocha Porter was “discovered” at Andy’s. Jason’s look of disbelief was worth the trip to Andy’s. He did remind me that Wegmans and Beers of the World joined forces back in Rochester to have a World Beer section in all of their stores. Still, the wall of beers can be intimidating on a first visit. So many beers to choose from. We agreed to try the Rogue beer as it seemed “different but good”. Since we both liked porters, “how wrong could we be?”.

Our 1st round of these dark brews poured nicely into our pint glasses with a rich head. The reddish brown Oregon brewed beer looked very inviting as we took a moment to admire its”majesty”. From the first sip, it was obvious that there were no “fruited plains” to be found. Rather, we found a great blend of interesting flavors. Roasted grains, malts, and coffee were noticeable at once. A chocolate aftertaste at the finish was similar to that of the chocolate baking powder my Mom used to keep in the cupboard. It is not a sweet chocolate, and has sublety to it. We both agreed that we liked the combination of the flavors, and were very pleased that we had bought a 6 pack, so we could enjoy it again later. At 5.3%, it won’t get you tanked, and it makes for a good sipping beer to have while catching up on things with friends. It improved as it gained in temperature, and new flavors presented themselves, which was a bonus. A highly recommended beer to try. Click Here to Check out their website.

The Primo can be found for $1.50 a bottle, and the Rogue Mocha Porter was $9.99 for a 6 pack at Andy’s.

Beer 95 Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale and Beer 96 Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale

Since I am ever so close to reaching the highly sought after 100th Beer, I am hoping that my last few rungs on the ladder were Tastey. It took 2 visits to Andy’s to make a firm purchase decision for this entry. Am I overthinking things, or am I merely giving the proper amount of consideration to the options available as I confront a challenging decision. It may very well be that it gets increasingly difficult to find a beer that is different than the many I have tried in the past year…let alone taste good.

Beer 95 – Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale is a Barleywine Style Ale. I have had several Sierra Nevada products and enjoyed them all. I have experienced some very unique and flavorful barleywine brews, so I thought that this would be a good combination that would be worth trying. It is not a cheap beer by any means, so if you can get one in a trade, or find one available as a single, I would take advantage of the opportunity.

The pouring of this reddish brown brew into a pint glass was a delight. It looked great as it filled the glass, and formed a proper foamy head. It has a malty, carmelized flavor with an infusion of fruit flavoring. A hearty beer to be sure, and one that performs well as it gains in temperature. It is most certainly a complex beer, and has a bit of a hoppy finish. So much going on all at once, that you may need a 2nd bottle to figure it all out. At 9.6% alcohol, you may not be able to easily take on the entire 6 pack, unless you have your beer muscles on you are in the comforts of your own beer sanctuary. A great pick, and a beer that I will certainly look forward to having again. Click Here To Visit Their Website.

Beer 96 – Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale was found a few days after the Bigfoot purchase. It was a new arrival, and I took only a few moments to take some home. It pays to be patient, as there always seems to be something new the week after it seems that there is nothing that you have not tried. Its an interesting dynamic that perhaps needs a Yogi Berra type of quote to explain it. Maybe he would say something like “I have tried everything, so it goods to find something new to try”. In any event, I was ready to try this new beer.

A cross between a scotch ale, a brown ale, and an India Pale Ale, it had all the makings of a carmel and hop influenced brown brew. After a quick pop topping release of its pent up beer energy, I proceeded to begin what would become a lively pour into my Buffalo Bills Pint Glass. A couldy brownish red liquid filled my glass with a certain thickness. A cloud like head rested firmly on top of the glass, that looked as if it should be removed with a spoon. The roasted nuts, carmel, and hoppy aroma were inviting to say the least. My first taste was a delectible blend of coffee, carmel, molasses flavors with a somewhat biscuity texture. Each sip revealed a new layer of flavors. Fruits, hops, brown sugar, the list goes on. It is safe to say that 2 bottles of the 7.2% alcohol brew is the minimum sampling size. It disappears far too quickly to get the full effect in on 12 ounces. Try the 2 bottle sample method by taking both out of the fridge at the same time as the temperature change will bring out even more of the flavors that are concealed at lower temperatures. A great brew that everyone should try. Click Here To Visit their webite.

Both beers are a bit pricey, but worth it. The Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale was $14.99 for a 6 pack, and the Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale was $11.99 for a 6 pack. That means that you pay $2 – $2.50 for a bottle of these quality beers, which is the price of a cheap domestic brew at a bar.

Beer 93 Smithwicks Irish Ale and Beer 94 Harp Lager

In honor of St Patrick’s Day, I felt it would be appropriate to write about a couple of Irish Beers. I will admit to enjoying “more than 1 Guiness Stout” last night at Mc K’s, but didn’t feel that anyone really needed to read about the World’s most popular Stout. Instead, I thought that it was a better idea to review 2 of the lesser known products from the Brewers of Guiness.

Beer 93- Smithwicks Irish Ale. Made by Guiness- check. Green label – check. OK its St Patricks Day approved.

In the spirit of fair play, I decided to actually DRINK the beer, as opposed to giving it a free pass. I wasn’t sure if I was being lured by the greatness of the stout, or if the beer was going to stink would actually hold up well in a taste test. This 5% alcohol Irish Ale poured nicely into a pint glass and formed a better head than I would have imagined. Reddish in color, it has the look of a good Irish Ale. Turns out that it tastes pretty good too. It was an enjoyable sample, and I could see having a number of these over the course of an evening. A good discovery that won’t fill you up too much, and won’t render you useless the next day.

Beer 94 Harp – I found this one at Publix on a holiday display. It has been several years since I had one of these. The light green label is much different than the bottles that use to be stocked at The Lookout in my past life. Weighing in at 5% alcohol, this light golden colored beer is an almost sweet lager. It has a malty after taste that is mildly bitter. It is quite often mixed half and half similar to the way Bass Ale is used to make a Black and Tan. I almost think that it had more flavor when it was in the old packaging. Maybe they tweaked the recipe a bit. Is there such a thing as Classic Harp or New Recipe Harp like the Coca Cola people have? I didn’t see any little Green Lucky Charms fellows after finishing my pint, so it leads me believe that I didn’t drink enough of it to get the full effect.

I was able to get the Smithwicks from the $1.99 a bottle shelf at World Market, and the Harp was on Special at Publix for only $6.49 a 6 pack.

Beer 91 Old Speckled Hen and Beer 92 Lagunitas Censored Copper Ale

It’s very exciting to be in the home stretch of my 100 beer journey. Truth be told, I may have tried a few extra along the way, but who’s counting? Oh thats right, I am…Perhaps my counting is a bit like some of those golfers that selectively count their shots. A trip to World Market unearthed a few single beers that I deemed worthy of trying.

Beer 91 – Old Speckled Hen. Described on the label as English Fine Ale, it smacked of a bit of arrogance. It wasn’t so much the claim of being Fine, as it was the pinkish label. (that made the beer look pink as well)  The pride of the Morland Brewery, which was established in 1771, was taunting me from the shelf. I hoisted the Pre-Revolutionary War Brewers Ale and set about to attack it like a true American.

It smelled good enough when I opened the bottle. It had a decent head when I poured it into a pint glass. Most fortunately, it was amber in color and not pink. It turns out the flavor was a bit malty, but acceptable. The 5.2% alcohol content was nice but not over bearing. The beer was actually brewed in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the MG car factory in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It was named for an Old MG car that was used at the factory. Regardless of why it was brewed, or how I decided to try it, it was ultimately a good decision to try it. There is interesting reading at their website. Click Here to visit it.

Beer 91 – Lagunitas Censored Copper Ale. I decided that I would try this beer strictly because it has the word Censored on the label. So much for deep thinking. I had heard that the Lagunitas Brewery had some pretty fine beer and thought it was high time that I had some of it. The Censored label was a balancing of sorts for grabbing the pink labeled Old Speckled Hen. I immediately wanted to skip through the daiseys felt tougher by simply holding the bottle. Never underestimate the Man Factor involved in the enjoyment of beer.

The Lagunitas label is a bit plain at first glance, and could easily be overlooked. It does not compete with some of the flashy shelf mates very well in the eyeball test. Censorship made all the difference. Opening the bottle produced a fine mist dominated by a malty aroma. Reddish Amber in color, it poured well into my awaiting pint glass. Its flavor is initially a bit bitter, followed by a toffee like flavor. There are hints of some citrus flavors among the maltyness. The folks at the Petaluma California put 5.9% alcohol into this brew to give it a little punch. Overall it was a decent selection that lived up to most of the Lagunitas reputation. Click Here to visit their website.

Both beers were obtained at the Bargain Rate of $1.99 per bottle at World Market

Beer 89 Terrapin Dark Side and Beer 90 Rogue Chocolate Stout

It continues to be a busy time in my Non-Beer World. I am happy to say that I am officially entering the “Green Work Force” and will be accepting a position with the Top Rated Solar Company in the area.  I will continue to be working at my growing Real Estate business, and each business should add value to the other. In celebration of this decision, it was only fitting that I make a trip to Andy’s for some Big Bottles of Beer.

Beer 89 is from the Terrapin Brewing Co. They have a Side Project Series and Volume 9 is called the Dark Side. The brewers at Terrapin have created their version of a Belgian Style Imperial Stout with an amped up 8.5% alcohol content.  Quite honestly, the Green label with the Turtle on it was what initially attracted me to this 22 ounce bottle. Upon careful inspection of the label, I learned that this beer was brewed with “Evil Intentions”. I was sold.

As I prepared for the opening of this One Time Release from Terrapin,  I tried to imagine what would be in store for me. Popping off the cap of the gold foil topped bottle released a mild ground coffee aroma. Pouring the majority of its contents into my pint glass revealed the darkest beer I have seen in some time. My first taste was dominated by the sensation of a strong coffee influenced stout flavor. There hints of chocolate and molasses with a noticeably bitter aftertaste. Make no mistake, this is a strong, thick, dark beer. It is, however, lightly carbonated and reasonably smooth drinking. The flavors of malt and molasses increased as the beer approached room temperature. I did not notice the “Belgian influence”, and if there was a fruitful undertone, I missed it. I really enjoyed the beer, but would only recommend it to women and children first dedicated stout drinkers.I commend the Terrapin folks in Athens GA for “thinking outside the bottle”. Click Here to visit their website.

Beer 90 Rogue Chocolate Stout was my complimentary stout pick to the Terrapin selection. The white painted, brown bottle common to Rogue offerings, was calling me from its spot on Andy’s Big Bottle Shelf.  I have become a Rogue fan over the last year, and have enjoyed several of their creations. I will admit that I am nearing my tolerance level for trying any more “mocha infused brews”, but the fact that it was from Rogue sealed the decision to buy it.

I wasted no time in opening this bottle after work on the day following my 89th beer epiphany. In an instant, a chocolate aroma propelled itself out of the hastily opened 22 ounce bottle. The imported chocolate that is used by the Rogue gang produced its desired effect, and would clearly announce its flavor identity in a blind taste test. It poured thinner than the “used motor oil like textured Terrapin” and had a lovely tan head. My first sip had an inviting roasted “grainy-ness” upfront followed by the mocha that was anticipated. A very pleasing sensation to my taste buds that improved as it gained in temperature. Dark beer fearing individuals can safely order this offering. While not as chocolatey as Youngs Chocolate Stout (its unlikely anything could be), it more than makes up for it in its overall presentation. Coming in at 6% alcohol, and great flavor, the Rogue stout will appeal to a wide section of beer lovers. Another great Rogue Beer. Click Here to visit their website.

The Terrapin Dark Side and Rogue Chocolate Stout Were both $9.99 for a 22 ounce bottle.

Beer 87 Magic Hat #9 and Beer 88 Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin Ale

As we approach the end of the quest to try 100 new Beers in one year, I find myself looking for truly unique brews to tantalize my taste buds. Many of the creations that I will be reviewing in the posts ahead have come highly recommended, while a few will be chosen strictly because they have cool labels. My beer searching prowess has improved immensely since I began my journey, and I look forward finding a few more gems to pass along to you.

Beer 87 is the much hyped Magic Hat #9. Andy had been telling us for some time that he would be one of the few distributors of Magic Hat products in the area. He was not sure which products he would be receiving from them, only that they were extremely selective as to which stores would be able to sell their beer. With so much hype, I was a bit skeptical. Still I knew that I would be trying some when it came in, if only to say that I had tried it. When it finally did arrive, Andy did not have his same enthusiasm. The price of $3.99 for a 22 ounce bottle, gave me cause for concern, as it did not seem expensive enough to merit the hype.

It turns out that #9 is an apricot ale. I did what I said I would do, and bought one. I had very low expectations for this beer. When I opened this this thing of beauty fruity concoction, it gave off an aroma that reminded me of orange kool aid. It poured it into a pint glass and witnessed a short lived head with a bit of lacing, during an uninspired pour. Hazy, and golden in color, this 4.6% alcohol beer was living down to my expectations. The first taste was rather bland, with a hint of apricots. Hardly the type of beer I would want to bring to a beer trade event with the guys.  You might just as well buy a 6 pack of domestic light beer and have extra liquid to consume. The Magic Hat fell way short of the hype, and is not recommended.

Beer 88, Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin was a no brainer selction. I was very impressed with their Pumpkin Ale, so why wouldn’t I want to try their 9% offering from their Pugsley’s Signature Series. Boasting a 9% alcohol content, and a Halloween influenced label, it was easy to find, and easy to make a quick purchase decision.

Upon opening the bottle, a fresh spiced aroma rises from the 22 ounce bottle. Pouring it into a pint glass reveals a small temporary head above its copper like color. My first taste revealed a nutmeg flavor that was more prominent than the pumpkin flavor. The alcohol content was noticeable, as was a malty richness as the temperature increased during the tasting. I enjoyed the entire bottle as I am a big pumpkin fan. It was worth the price to try out the high octane brand of Shipyard Pumpkin. After sampling both, I would most often opt for the slightly more flavorful, and less expensive option the regular Shipyard Pumpkin Ale.

The Magic Hat was $3.99 for a 22 ounce bottle, and the Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin was $7.99 for a 22 ounce bottle.

Beer 85 Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar and Beer 86 Franziskaner Dunkel Hefe-Weisse

In an effort to clear a bit more space on my desk, I am forging ahead with a review of 2 of the larger brown beverage containers that are perched upon it. Super Bowl Sunday is a great day to sit back and think about beer. We are going to have a few friends over later today to set into motion the visions I am having this morning. In all likelihood, I may just need a new desk to hold the bottles in line for review. It seems that my sampling of new beer continues to occur at a pace not met with my blogging efforts.

Beer 85 Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar: At first glance, you may very well pass this beer by. The large brown bottle features a bespectacled man making a not so cool white guy fist in the air. That may be be one reason. The hazelnut flavor might be another reason. It almost looks like a bottle of home brew that was made in this man’s basement. After passing on this brew numerous times, I finally decided to purchase one along with a mixed 6 pack at Walgreens. Even after I brought it home, it sat in the fridge until the 6 pack was gone. When I finally opened the bottle, it gave off a nutty, malty aroma. It poured into my pint glass with a brownish burgundy color and a rich head. I was not expecting much from this beer given my previously mentioned reservations. The first sip was clear evidence that I can predict the future sometimes looks can be deceiving. This beer has a great flavor! I simply had no idea that it would be good. It is an easy drinking brown ale with a nutty quality to it. Mixed in are pale chocolate malts and some choice hops to boot. I could go on and on about the beer, but suffice it to say that I bought another one to share on Super Bowl Sunday. I do believe that no matter what kind of beer you like, you will like this one. Click Here To Visit their website.

Beer 86 Franziskaner Dunkel Hefe-Weisse . I found this 25 ounce bottle at World Market when I was looking for treasures in the beer section. Quite often I can go in there and find something that is not at Andy’s or any of my other beer buying haunts. The Monk on the label, along with the fancy lettering drew me in for a closer look. The combination of dunkel and hefe-weisse in a malt liquor intrigued me. The fact that it was brewed by the good people at Spaten sold me on this one. I poured this reddish brown brew into a pint glass and was rewarded with a reasonable head. Although it faded after about a minute, it was buyoed by a pleasant aroma. The flavor was a bit a malty and had a little sweetness to it among the blend of nuts, banana, and wheat. It was not as thick as it might sound, so it was not overly heavy and it was relatively easy to finish the large bottle. It was an interesting beer to try, given the mulitple flavors that are brought together as one taste experience. This brew is slightly above average, but is not a rush out and buy it beer. Given the choice, I would choose the Spaten Dunkel over this one. Click Here to visit their website.

The Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar was only $5.99 for a 25 ounce bottle, and the Franziskaner Dunkel Hefe-Weisse Dunkel was $4.99 for a 25 ounce bottle.