Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale

It's almost October, so it's high time i post about one of my favorite kinds of beverages ever concocted by mad scientists and beer brewers, the mighty pumpkin ale.  Southern Tier's Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale pours a lovely, orange-ish copper, with little head, but a lot of aroma.  There is an overarching floral smell that combines with pumpkin, vanilla, and hints of alcohol.  The flavor is heavy on the aforementioned florals and pumpkin, but there are also aspects of yam and an almost cream-like feel (the vanilla maybe?), and the finish is sharp and spicy.  The ABV comes in at a respectable 8.6%, so this brew does not mess around.  Enjoy it.

Visit the brewer.

Black Wit-O

No Label Brewing Company continue to support my belief that they are the only good thing to ever come out of the city of Katy, Texas (for any of you non-Texans out there, Katy is a suburb of Houston).  The latest concoction of theirs that i've been lucky enough to enjoy is the Black Wit-O, a dark wheat ale.  The beer is very dark with a light, quickly dissipating head.  The aroma is light, malty, and vaguely toffee-ish.  As for the taste, the beer is a smooth mix of the aforementioned toffee, caramel, coffee, chocolate, and malts, with a slight hoppy kick to remind you that you're drinking a beer after all.  It would go great with steak, and porter fans will enjoy.

Visit the brewer.

Ninkasi Believer Double Red Ale

Oh Oregon.  You and your many, many, many breweries.  We love you.  And, i love that i was able to try the Believer Double Red Ale from Ninkasi Brewing Company.  This guy is tasty.  A mix of caramel, fig, other dark fruits, some chocolate, and hoppy, floral finish makes this beer a great post-meal treat.  A dark, coppery color and thick head add to the dessert-like feel.  I should warn you though, that even though the beer only comes in at 6.9% ABV, it feels like it could pack a wallop.  I wholeheartedly recommend this beer.  Get your ass to Eugene and try it.

Visit the brewer.

Koperen Ketel Belgian Style Pale Ale

Here's another beer from Washington (thank you John) from the seemingly infallible Sound Brewery.  The Koperen Ketel Belgian Style Pale Ale has all the aroma and flavor you could want, a hodgepodge of citrus and caramel and toffee and and some tart yeast.  The beer pours a darkish, murky amber with a fast dissipating head.  It was amazingly easy to drink, and only a 5% ABV, so nothing to devilish.  It's the perfect kind of beer to close the summer out or to bring in the fall.  Well done.

Visit the brewer.