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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Field Day IPA

So, i feel like i shouldn't be promoting "corporate beer" or whatever, but last night i tried the new and limited Field Day IPA from BJ's Brewhouse...and it was pretty damn good.  The beer is a nice gold with a good and foamy head that doesn't stick around too long.  As far as IPA's go, the Field Day is pretty mellow and smooth.  The hops are there and spicy, and overall the beer had a citrus thing going for it in both aroma and taste.  According to the beer info sheet at the restaurant, the hops that are used are added in on the same day that they're picked.  I guess that's good.  So, kudos to you BJ's Brewhouse.  I approve of your beer.

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Thor's Sunstone

Odin Brewing Company out in Washington state have a perfect track record with me so far, their latest offering that i've been luck enough to sample being Thor's Sunstone, an abbey Belgian-style tripel.  This tasty beer pours a dark and golden amber with a medium and quickly dissipating head.  A good mix of yeast and fruity aromas give way to an almost earthy flavor, possibly from the spelt (a kind of wheat) the beer is brewed with.  And it finishes with just a subtle hint of bananas.  As far as tripels go, the Sunstone is a little more bitter than i would have expected, but pretty damn tasty all the same.  I would recommend this as a pretty dinner beer.

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Quilter's Irish Death

Dark and smooth ales can be very dangerous if you don't tread lightly, thought they can also be awesome and delicious.  And so we have the Quilter's Irish Death from Iron Horse Brewery out of Ellensburg, Washington.  The brewers refer to this ale as "beer candy," and they're not that far off.  Aromas of oats and fruits give way to light carbonation, flavors of fig and cherry, and a rich alcohol flavor that packs a punch at first, but subsides as the brew settles in the glass.  It's got a 7.8% ABV and is a perfect post-meal/dessert beer.  Good stuff.

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