Clown Shoes Pumpkin Sombrero

I am full on into pumpkin beer season these days, and my taste for the weekend came from Massachusetts' Clown Shoes Brewing.  The 7% ABV Mexican stout pours black with an off-white head and smells of pumpkin, spices, and roasted malts.  The flavor is an earthy mix of said roasted malts and pumpkin with notes of nutmeg and cinnamon.  It's a Fall brew, and Fall is here...kinda, so drink up while watching your team lose on Saturday, or watching your other team win on Sunday.

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The Good, The Bad, and The Unidragon

Last week, an old friend and fellow beer enthusiast came into Austin to visit and to attend the Flying Saucer's annual Beerfeast event.  After an afternoon spent in the sun imbibing beer after beer, sample after sample, the fest was capped off with a little 14% ABV brew from Massachusetts' Clown Shoes Brewery, the lovely titled The Good, The Bad, and The Unidragon.  A Russian Imperial Stout, this beer is dark and black with a brown head and lacing that never leaves the side of the glass.  Aromas and flavors of roasted malt, some dark fruit notes, chocolate, toffee, and alcohol are abundant, but for as strong and intense as the beer is, it actually goes down quite smoothly.  Maybe a little too smoothly.  It's really an amazing beverage, and currently only available here in Texas.  We are special.

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Clown Shoes Pecan Pie Porter

With all the cold weather hanging around central Texas of late, i've been jonesing for darker beers.  And the Pecan Pie Porter from Clown Shoes Brewery out of Massachusetts is a pretty tasty treat to scratch that itch.  This 8% ABV brew pours dark, dark brown with a foamy, tan head, emitting aromas of malts, brown sugar, and plenty of pecans.  The pecans are evident in the taste as well, but not overpowering, blending in well with an additional nuttiness, hints of molasses, and maybe even some dark fruit notes.  I really liked this beer, and it was a wonderful elixir for a chilly evening.

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Clown Shoes Vampire Slayer

Aside from having an excellent brewery and beer name, Clown Shoes Brewery's Vampire Slayer is a very tasty Imperial American Stout.  The beer is a dark brownish black that starts with a nice tan head that dissipates very quickly.  The initial aroma is one of coffee, dark chocolate, dark fruit, and raisins, all of which are represented very nicely with the flavor of the beer.  The hops are there to give it just enough kick that i almost detect a little citrus flavor, though that may just be the alcohol as this brew chimes in at a whopping 10% ABV.  The Slayer is a great beer, perfect for after work, or after dinner, and i recommend using a glass you can sift it in to keep the aromas and tastes booming.  Well done.

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