To start off this post I must let you know that I realize that it is not exactly pumpkin beer time of year anymore.  Over the holiday season The Wife and I did a flight of four pumpkin beers and I am just now getting around to passing along the results.  All of this will still be useful (at least for me) since three of the four beers will be brewed again this year and the fourth is my home brew, which I will want to make again later this year.

With that out of the way I can let you know that today will be the first of four consecutive days that I will post the reviews for the pumpkin beer flight that we did.  I can also let you know that all but one of the images from the occasion was lost in a hard drive crash so you will see that single image over and over.  Take that as a warning for those who don’t back up their photos, I know we learned our lesson.

I reviewed each beer individually, but I gave The Wife a blind flight of the four to see where she would put my home brewed version of pumpkin ale (Blueprint Brewing) among the others.  I will reveal her final rankings in the last of these four entries.

Let’s get started . . .

Brewery: Blueprint Brewing (Winter Park, FL)

Name: Gourdeous One

Style: Vegetable Beer

ABV: 4.13% (+/-)

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass.

Aroma: Smooth pumpkin spices noticeable (mostly nutmeg) with some slight sweetness underneath (brown sugar?).

Appearance: Deep amber to brown color.  Two finger (plus) cream color head that is thick with good retention and laced trail.  Clear with tons of bubbles visible.

Flavor: Low maltiness with a hint of sweetness.  The flavors of real pumpkin are noticeable.  No real bitterness and a clean finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with high carbonation that leaves some bite.  Crisp and slightly creamy.

Overall Impressions: Pretty darn good, though other bottles from the batch have been a bit tastier.  Will make again with some slight tweaks to the recipe.  Definitely good enough for a revisit.

Grade: B+

The Wife enjoy her pumpkin flight.

As I mentioned on Saturday reaching out to the Twitterverse has worked well in the past, so I again asked for some help picking numbers before leaving home.  I still think that is a great way for me to get random selections, though I will take suggestions for other ways if anyone has another idea.  A big thank you to those who helped me out this time!

The first number that I was given (via @jcarlin) was 77 and turned out to be a good old Sam Adams Boston Lager (Boston Beer Company).  It is surprising that with so many Sam Adams options on the list, that this is the first one I have crossed off.  It pours crystal clear and amber in color (with a bit of orange tint).  Both the aroma and the flavor have a good malty base that is slightly sweet and has a bit of toasted character.  The best part of it for me is the good amount of hop bite and bitterness that comes through from the middle to the finish.  That character does linger a bit, which makes me thirsty for the next sip.

They should stick with these labels.

Sam Adams Boston Lager

We were both (Bill and I) in agreement when giving it a 4 since it is just a solid beer to enjoy at a bar and a good value at 4 bucks per each.  Though I would drink this one with just about anything, I would say if you stick with chicken dishes (including wings) or burgers you will have a really good beer pairing.

The second beer of the afternoon was again via @KegWorks, who gave me number 49 that was a Lobster Ale (Belfast Bay Brewing Co. – Belfast, ME).  Though I have never tried it, I seem to remember seeing this one a fair bit during our travels in Maine.  It pours a crystal clear amber color and has a clean, light malt aroma with some sweetness.  The flavor has a nice malty character that is somewhat dark caramel-like with a light burnt/smoky quality.  The hop bitterness comes through toward the finish that is abrupt and somewhat dry.

A lobster you can drink!

A better look at the color of the Lobster Ale.

I did like this one with its bit of smokiness in the flavor, though I am not sure how often I would be in the mood for it again.  It seems that Bill had some of the same thoughts since we both landed on a 3 for it.  I am very glad to have tried it where I likely otherwise would not have without the Beer Club incentive.  Because of its smoky, dark caramel characteristics I think it would go really well with strongly flavored cheeses and good steaks.  A nice burger with bleu cheese would probably be the perfect accompaniment.

Since the beer that was number 10 (via @kwidrick) was out of stock that afternoon we gave @jcarlin’s second number (9) a shot, giving us a Honey Raspberry Ale (Spanish Peaks Brewing Co.).  The bottle indicated production in Saratoga Springs, NY though I am not certain that is the main brewery location since it was founded in Montana.   It poured an amber (to copper) color that was pretty clear, though with a slight haze.  The aroma had a prominent berry profile with an underlying brown sugar-like maltiness.  The flavor of the berry comes through strongly up front then fades quickly and (to me) is noticeably artificial.  It is smooth with a slight bite at the finish.

A closer look at the dog.

Honey Raspberry Ale

There seems to be a distinct pattern developing with the wheat and fruit beers on the list that I have crossed off so far because this one lands at a 2 for me.  Bill could not get himself to even finish his and did not hesitate to give it a 1.  It likely would be more enjoyable when outside on a warm day (as I have said with fruit beers before), but it certainly should be consumed cold because it does not get better as it warms.  This is another beer that has a light overall profile and would be fine with salads or maybe lightly flavored fish or chicken dishes.

As a closing note to this post, I must say that I was surprised and pleased to have no chilled glasses this time.  I did not ask why on this visit as I am waiting to see what the situation is on my next visit.  I know that some people prefer the ice-cold glass, but I am not one of those people.

For those keeping track, that is now 11 down and 88 to go!

Stay tuned . . .

Sometimes I need to prove to certain friends of mine that I still drink some Samuel Adams products now and again.  This is one of those times.

I still tend to go into drinking fruit beers with a little hesitation, as I don’t expect to like them that much.  The warmer days in Florida do seem to help out their case as the outdoor air and sunshine somehow changes how I feel about them.  Then again, being barefoot with my toes in the sand alone makes a lot of beers taste better to me.  So since I was not close to the beach when I evaluated this one, I was a bit surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did.

I should not have been too taken aback since it was a Boston Beer Company brew.  I may not love them all, but there is a consistent level of quality that I know will be there regardless of how my palate accepts it.

Brewery: Boston Beer Company (Boston, Massachusetts)

Name: Blackberry Witbier

Style: Fruit Beer

ABV: 5.5%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pilsner glass.  $8.69 per 6-pack

Aroma: Noticeable fruit nose (though not sure that I would have guessed blackberry).  Light wheat character with some slight spiciness (coriander) in back.

Appearance: Light gold (almost to full/deep gold) color.  Three finger, off-white head that is thick with good retention and leaves a trail.  Mostly clear with a slight haze and many bubbles visible.

Flavor: Nice sweetness with a hint of berry (just enough) and the slightest note of hops.  Well balanced with nothing overpowering.  A bit dry at finish, though not lingering.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body with high carbonation.  Smooth and slightly creamy with the slightest bit of dryness.

Overall Impressions: Refreshing and easy drinking.  Definitely glad I tried and was as good or better than expected.  I would drink again as a good summer beer.

Grade: B

Boston Beer Company - Blackberry Witbier