1086-1093. The CBC's Great Pumpkin Festival
Published by Unknown on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 9:30 AM.
Jadyn and I went to Cambridge Brewing Company's 2nd Annual Great Pumpkin Festival on Halloween. After dinner at home, we took the T back to Kendall Square and arrived at around 10 PM. There was a fairly sizable line, but turnover was brisk, and we got in about 15 or 20 minutes later.
Entry to the event was $10, but this included a GPF pint glass. They were out of them when we arrived, so we got two CBC pint glasses instead. Luckily Jadyn has good eyes, and on our way back to the T, spotted an abandoned GPF glass on a table in the courtyard of the Kendall Marriott.
Beers were purchased with tickets, which were sold at two locations at the event. Tickets were available in increments of four, and we ended up buying two sets of twelve tickets totaling $30. For most beers one ticket equaled a four ounce pour, but for stronger beers or rarer beers two tickets equaled a four ounce pour. For us it worked out to about $5.50 per pint, about standard for a pint of quality beer in the area.
The CBC had six of their pumpkin beers on tap, Great Pumpkin Ale, Olde Pumpkin Porter, Biere de Gourde, Spinal Pumpkin, Black Magic, and Ich Bin Ein Kürbisweisse. They also had their standard house beers on tap, as well as another non-pumpkin beer. There were also fifteen pumpkin beers available from other breweries such as Allagash, The Bruery, Dogfish Head, and Elysian to name a few. I was pleased with the variety of different styles of "pumpkin beer." In general I tried to taste the beers that weren't the standard spiced, pumpkin ale.
Jadyn and I were lame, and didn't wear costumes. However, all of the staff and the majority of the patrons were dressed up, and the bar was heavily decorated for Halloween. I thought this was a great beer event. The variety of different interpretations of pumpkin ale kept things interesting, and the food menu looked great. I'll definitely want to go next year.
I've included the description on the beer list before my tasting notes for each beer.
1086. Mr. Yuck
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Elysian Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.10%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Wild Ale
"Brewed with pale, Munich, Cara-Hell and 150º Crystal malts and both malted and unmalted wheat, as well as wheat flour. Very lightly hopped with UK Fuggles and aged in fermentation for ten months wwith second-generation sour Belgian yeast blend (a culture we've kept alive for seven years), then in kegs for an additional four months. Pumpkin in the mash and kettle."
Mr. Yuck pours a hazy, copper golden. The aroma is pleasingly acidic with notes of funk, wet blanket, and characteristic Brett hopsack. The acidity is moderate, and the finish has Brett flavors. Nicely crisp and dry. I liked this beer, but thought it could have been a bit more sour.
1087. Heavy Seas - The Great Pumpkin
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Clipper City Brewery
Alcohol: 8.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
"From our Heavy Seas line of extreme beers, our best experiment ever. The secret is in the 3 ounces of spice per barrel for this fall brew. We add the pumpkin during the mash at precisely the right time to create just the perfect balance of malt, hops, pumkin and spice. The crew at the brewery voted on their favorite recipe to bring you the best & biggest pumpkin beer you'll ever have!"
Pours a clear copper color with an off-white head. There are mild pumpkin notes and strong notes of nutmeg and cinnamon in the aroma. Sweet, sugary pumpkin up front move into a cinnamon and clove spiciness in the center and finish. There's a moderate hop bitterness in the finish.
1088. Olde Pumpkin Porter
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
"Olde Pumpkin Porter is our attempt at recreating the pumpkin-infused beers of colonial days. Brewed with pale and roasted malts and fresh organic sugar pumpkins, it has whiled away the past year in old bourbon barrels, where it was inoculated by Brettanomyces and Lactobacillus naturally occuring in the CBC dungeon, er, Barrel Cellar. It was then blended with cinnamon sticks and candied ginger, and finished with new oak. It's tart and roasty palate may just transport you back to 17th Century Boston"
Pours a dark black, and is topped by a brown head. The aroma has notes of bourbon, roast and a light acidity. Initially this porter is mildly sweet with roasted undertones, but moves into a boozy center, and a roasted bitterness in the finish. There are also hints of tartness and Brett earthiness in the finish. I thought this was an interesting beer, I'm always interested in attempts to make beers in a somewhat historic context.
1089. Black Magic
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 3.75%
Serving: Cask
Style: Irish Dry Stout, BJCP Style Guide
"Our Irish Dry Stout, Blackout, has been infused with fresh pumpkin, ancho and chipotle peppers, cacao nibs, and whole cinnamon sticks. No beer is safe from the pumpkin! Going one step further, this little beauty is served on cask for this event!"
BLack Magic pours an opaque black, and is topped by a thin, brown head. The aroma is a peculiar mixture of maltiness and cinnamon that gives the distinct impression of Graham Crackers. There are more subtle aromas of peppery spice and roast, but the Graham Cracker aroma was what really stuck out at me. There's a bit of chocolatey, and pumpkin sweetness upfront, but this is quickly eclipsed by the spiciness of the cinnamon, ancho, and chipotles. This spiciness finishes out the beer, leaving a strong, lingering heat. I thought this was a great beer. I really liked the heat, and thought that the slightly sweetened (pumpkin infusion) Irish Dry Stout backbone provided the perfect base for the spiciness. I wonder if this was inspired by Mayan and Aztec chocolate drinks. This was probably my favorite beer of the evening.
1090. Ich Bin Ein Kürbisweisse
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.30%
Serving: Tap
Style: Berliner Weissbier, BJCP Style Guide
"Possibly the world's first pumpkin Berliner Weisse! Infused with autumn spices and fresh sugar pumpkin and, well, a secret ingredient to turn this beer a bright orange. Sweet upfront, tart in the finish, pumpkin-spicy in the middle."
Pours a cloudy, golden, orange color, and is topped by a light, white head. The aroma is grassy and grainy with mild spice aromatics, and a sour apple undertone. The initial maltiness leans towards sweet with hints of grassiness. The finish is pleasingly tart with a dry, and earthy character. The pumpkin pie spice is mild, but present throughout. This was another favorite of the evening.
1091. Jack O' Bite
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Elysian Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.40%
Serving: Tap
Style: Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy, BJCP Style Guide
"Brewed with pale, 77º Crystal, Munich and Cara-Hell malts, and bittered lightly with Glacier hops. Pumpkin in the mash, kettle and fermenter; aged in Jack Daniel's and wine barrels for 6 weeks, inoculated with yeast from Rodenbach."
Pours a hazed, amber-red. It's topped by an off-white head with good lace. The aroma is boozy with woody, acidic and funky notes. A pumpkin and malty sweetness upfront moves into a tart bite. The finish is dry. I thought this was an interesting blend of pumpkin, Scotch Ale, and sour.
1092. St. Alphonso
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
This was the one non-pumpkin beer I had all night. It's sort of a cross between a Belgian Pale Ale and a hoppy APA. Their description:
1093. Hansel and Gretel
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Elysian Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Czech Pilsener, BJCP Style Guide
"Brewed with organic pale, Weyermann Munich and Cara-Hell malts, with pumpkin added in the mash, kettle and fermenter. Spiced with peeled and pureed gresh ginger in the boil and bright tank and hopped with lots of Czech Saaz hops (otherwise it wouldn't be traditional)."
Pours a clear, golden color. Ginger and pumpkin notes beat out the Saaz in the aroma. The pumpkin contributes a distinct sweetness to the style. This sweetness moves into a ginger-spice center, and through to a nice, hoppy bitterness in the finish.
Entry to the event was $10, but this included a GPF pint glass. They were out of them when we arrived, so we got two CBC pint glasses instead. Luckily Jadyn has good eyes, and on our way back to the T, spotted an abandoned GPF glass on a table in the courtyard of the Kendall Marriott.
Beers were purchased with tickets, which were sold at two locations at the event. Tickets were available in increments of four, and we ended up buying two sets of twelve tickets totaling $30. For most beers one ticket equaled a four ounce pour, but for stronger beers or rarer beers two tickets equaled a four ounce pour. For us it worked out to about $5.50 per pint, about standard for a pint of quality beer in the area.
The CBC had six of their pumpkin beers on tap, Great Pumpkin Ale, Olde Pumpkin Porter, Biere de Gourde, Spinal Pumpkin, Black Magic, and Ich Bin Ein Kürbisweisse. They also had their standard house beers on tap, as well as another non-pumpkin beer. There were also fifteen pumpkin beers available from other breweries such as Allagash, The Bruery, Dogfish Head, and Elysian to name a few. I was pleased with the variety of different styles of "pumpkin beer." In general I tried to taste the beers that weren't the standard spiced, pumpkin ale.
Jadyn and I were lame, and didn't wear costumes. However, all of the staff and the majority of the patrons were dressed up, and the bar was heavily decorated for Halloween. I thought this was a great beer event. The variety of different interpretations of pumpkin ale kept things interesting, and the food menu looked great. I'll definitely want to go next year.
I've included the description on the beer list before my tasting notes for each beer.
1086. Mr. Yuck
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Elysian Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.10%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Wild Ale
"Brewed with pale, Munich, Cara-Hell and 150º Crystal malts and both malted and unmalted wheat, as well as wheat flour. Very lightly hopped with UK Fuggles and aged in fermentation for ten months wwith second-generation sour Belgian yeast blend (a culture we've kept alive for seven years), then in kegs for an additional four months. Pumpkin in the mash and kettle."
Mr. Yuck pours a hazy, copper golden. The aroma is pleasingly acidic with notes of funk, wet blanket, and characteristic Brett hopsack. The acidity is moderate, and the finish has Brett flavors. Nicely crisp and dry. I liked this beer, but thought it could have been a bit more sour.
1087. Heavy Seas - The Great Pumpkin
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Clipper City Brewery
Alcohol: 8.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
"From our Heavy Seas line of extreme beers, our best experiment ever. The secret is in the 3 ounces of spice per barrel for this fall brew. We add the pumpkin during the mash at precisely the right time to create just the perfect balance of malt, hops, pumkin and spice. The crew at the brewery voted on their favorite recipe to bring you the best & biggest pumpkin beer you'll ever have!"
Pours a clear copper color with an off-white head. There are mild pumpkin notes and strong notes of nutmeg and cinnamon in the aroma. Sweet, sugary pumpkin up front move into a cinnamon and clove spiciness in the center and finish. There's a moderate hop bitterness in the finish.
1088. Olde Pumpkin Porter
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
"Olde Pumpkin Porter is our attempt at recreating the pumpkin-infused beers of colonial days. Brewed with pale and roasted malts and fresh organic sugar pumpkins, it has whiled away the past year in old bourbon barrels, where it was inoculated by Brettanomyces and Lactobacillus naturally occuring in the CBC dungeon, er, Barrel Cellar. It was then blended with cinnamon sticks and candied ginger, and finished with new oak. It's tart and roasty palate may just transport you back to 17th Century Boston"
Pours a dark black, and is topped by a brown head. The aroma has notes of bourbon, roast and a light acidity. Initially this porter is mildly sweet with roasted undertones, but moves into a boozy center, and a roasted bitterness in the finish. There are also hints of tartness and Brett earthiness in the finish. I thought this was an interesting beer, I'm always interested in attempts to make beers in a somewhat historic context.
1089. Black Magic
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 3.75%
Serving: Cask
Style: Irish Dry Stout, BJCP Style Guide
"Our Irish Dry Stout, Blackout, has been infused with fresh pumpkin, ancho and chipotle peppers, cacao nibs, and whole cinnamon sticks. No beer is safe from the pumpkin! Going one step further, this little beauty is served on cask for this event!"
BLack Magic pours an opaque black, and is topped by a thin, brown head. The aroma is a peculiar mixture of maltiness and cinnamon that gives the distinct impression of Graham Crackers. There are more subtle aromas of peppery spice and roast, but the Graham Cracker aroma was what really stuck out at me. There's a bit of chocolatey, and pumpkin sweetness upfront, but this is quickly eclipsed by the spiciness of the cinnamon, ancho, and chipotles. This spiciness finishes out the beer, leaving a strong, lingering heat. I thought this was a great beer. I really liked the heat, and thought that the slightly sweetened (pumpkin infusion) Irish Dry Stout backbone provided the perfect base for the spiciness. I wonder if this was inspired by Mayan and Aztec chocolate drinks. This was probably my favorite beer of the evening.
1090. Ich Bin Ein Kürbisweisse
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.30%
Serving: Tap
Style: Berliner Weissbier, BJCP Style Guide
"Possibly the world's first pumpkin Berliner Weisse! Infused with autumn spices and fresh sugar pumpkin and, well, a secret ingredient to turn this beer a bright orange. Sweet upfront, tart in the finish, pumpkin-spicy in the middle."
Pours a cloudy, golden, orange color, and is topped by a light, white head. The aroma is grassy and grainy with mild spice aromatics, and a sour apple undertone. The initial maltiness leans towards sweet with hints of grassiness. The finish is pleasingly tart with a dry, and earthy character. The pumpkin pie spice is mild, but present throughout. This was another favorite of the evening.
1091. Jack O' Bite
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Elysian Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.40%
Serving: Tap
Style: Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy, BJCP Style Guide
"Brewed with pale, 77º Crystal, Munich and Cara-Hell malts, and bittered lightly with Glacier hops. Pumpkin in the mash, kettle and fermenter; aged in Jack Daniel's and wine barrels for 6 weeks, inoculated with yeast from Rodenbach."
Pours a hazed, amber-red. It's topped by an off-white head with good lace. The aroma is boozy with woody, acidic and funky notes. A pumpkin and malty sweetness upfront moves into a tart bite. The finish is dry. I thought this was an interesting blend of pumpkin, Scotch Ale, and sour.
1092. St. Alphonso
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
This was the one non-pumpkin beer I had all night. It's sort of a cross between a Belgian Pale Ale and a hoppy APA. Their description:
St. Alphonso pours a pale, straw color, and is topped by a white head. The aroma is primarily hoppy: lots of resin and grassy hops, and a bit of citrus. A distinct citric flavor accompanies a light, grainy maltiness upfront. This moves into resiny and leafy hop flavors in the finish, which contribute more to flavor than to bitterness. This one seems insanely drinkable.Brewers have long held a tradition of naming beers after patron saints. We wanted to do the same, but which saint to choose?
All of the good ones being taken – St. Arnold, St. Bridgette, St. Augustine, etc., etc. – we were left with old Saint Alphonso, patron saint of church pancake breakfasts.
What’s he got to do with our newest beer? Nothing, really. Like I said, all of the good saints were taken.Inspired once again to abuse our position and mess up the mainstream, we’ve created an “American” take on the Belgian single, or table beer. Created for consumption on a daily basis while at the meal table, as opposed to the richer and stronger doubles and triples reserved for festival times, bière de table in Belgium is a lower alcohol beer with plenty of spicy, yeasty, malty flavors.
Our spin involves our house Belgian yeast strain and bucketloads of American hops. Brewed with pale and aromatic malts, its primary flavors and aromas are big, floral, grassy and citrusy thanks to Glacier, Amarillo, and Centennial hops. Glacier hops were added at first wort, and combined with Amarillo and Centennial at the end of the boil and in the whirlpool. Additionally nearly 1.5 pounds per barrel of dryhops were added for that bit of something we call “extra.” No bittering hops were used, but the flavors and residual dryness from the hops, combined with a very well-attenuated, super-dry, light-bodied beer, create a perfect balance on the palate.
Call it a hoppy Belgian session beer if you like.
We call it St. Alphonso.
1093. Hansel and Gretel
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Elysian Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Czech Pilsener, BJCP Style Guide
"Brewed with organic pale, Weyermann Munich and Cara-Hell malts, with pumpkin added in the mash, kettle and fermenter. Spiced with peeled and pureed gresh ginger in the boil and bright tank and hopped with lots of Czech Saaz hops (otherwise it wouldn't be traditional)."
Pours a clear, golden color. Ginger and pumpkin notes beat out the Saaz in the aroma. The pumpkin contributes a distinct sweetness to the style. This sweetness moves into a ginger-spice center, and through to a nice, hoppy bitterness in the finish.
Labels: American Porter, American Wild Ale, Beer Fests, Belgian Pale Ale, Berliner Weissbier, Czech Pilsener, Irish Dry Stout, Pumpkin Ale, Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy
David and his wife Megan stayed at our place on their way back to New York on the night of Ocotober 9th. We started the evening with the latest batch of home brew, an IPA that Matt and I brewed. We followed up with dinner and wine at Gran Gusto, an excellent Italian restaurant in our neighborhood. After dinner David and I broke into some of the beer that he'd brought from New Hampshire, as well as some of the beer that I had in the fridge.
1081. 6288 Stout
This is one of the beers that David brought down from New Hampshire.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Tuckerman Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.90%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: American Stout, BJCP Style Guide
6288 Stout, named for the elevation of Mt. Washington, pours an opaque black color. It's topped by a brown, half-inch head that fades to a sudsy layer. The aroma is roasty with notes of chocolate and coffee, as well as hints of dates.
The flavor profile is similar to the aroma. A chocolate sweetness greets the palate, moves into a center with notes of dark fruit and a mild sharpness, and finishes with a roasty bitterness. 6288 stout is medium-bodied with moderate carbonation.
I thought that this was a decent stout. The balance between sweet malts and roasted malts was good.
1082. Kennebunkport Pumpkin Ale
We had this in the fridge. Jadyn and I picked it up at Trader Joe's.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Federal Jack's Brewpub
Alcohol: 4.70%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a very pale orange. It's topped by a thick, off-white head. The aroma is pretty one-dimensional: pumpkin-pie spice overwhelming any hints of pumpkin. The flavor is much the same: heavy spicing, with a mild pumpkin undertone. This Pumpkin Ale is light-bodied. I thought this beer was disappointing. There was way too much spice, completely overwhelming any other characters.
1083. Boathouse Brown
David brought this one down from New Hampshire.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sebago Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.80%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: American Brown Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Boathouse Brown pours a clear brown, and is topped by a sudsy, brown head. The aroma is malty with notes of caramel, chocolate, and roasty accents.
The palate is malt heavy as well, though surprisingly well attenuated. Dark chocolate notes upfront move into dark fruit in the center, followed by a roasty bitterness in the finish.
I thought this was a very nice brown ale. It's malty, but not too sweet.
1084. De Dolle Oerbier Special Reserva 2005
I'd had this beer in my fridge for at least two years, perhaps longer. I originally picked this up at Downtown Wine & Spirits, but I don't remember when.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers
Year: 2005
Alcohol: 13.00%
Serving: Bottle, 330 mL
Style: Flanders Oud Bruin, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 4.3
De Dolle Oerbier Special Reserva pours a cloudy, brown color with orange tints at the edges. It's topped by a full, light-brown head that fades to a continuous film, leaving moderate lace. The aroma is dominated by two characters, acidity and a boozy, aged maltiness. The acidity is the more dominant of the two caracters, but when combined with the aged out malts give the impression of sour fruit. All overtly sweet, malty aromas have been aged out. There are notes of orange peel, alcohol, and a slight woody aroma.
This beer greets the tongue with a strong, acidic sourness, which mellows, but never disappears. All malt sweetness is attenuated and aged out, leaving the malt flavors, but none of their sweetness. This results in a mildly boozy impression, which melds well with the earthy and woody notes in the finish. This Oud Bruin feels surprisingly light on the palate. The mild carbonation, and relatively light body really accentuate the dryness of this beer.
I was very happy with this beer. I was expecting an aged, malt heavy brew, but instead got a nicely acidic and dry beer. Fantastic. I'll definitely pick up some more of these vintages if I see them.
1081. 6288 Stout
This is one of the beers that David brought down from New Hampshire.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Tuckerman Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.90%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: American Stout, BJCP Style Guide
6288 Stout, named for the elevation of Mt. Washington, pours an opaque black color. It's topped by a brown, half-inch head that fades to a sudsy layer. The aroma is roasty with notes of chocolate and coffee, as well as hints of dates.
The flavor profile is similar to the aroma. A chocolate sweetness greets the palate, moves into a center with notes of dark fruit and a mild sharpness, and finishes with a roasty bitterness. 6288 stout is medium-bodied with moderate carbonation.
I thought that this was a decent stout. The balance between sweet malts and roasted malts was good.
1082. Kennebunkport Pumpkin Ale
We had this in the fridge. Jadyn and I picked it up at Trader Joe's.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Federal Jack's Brewpub
Alcohol: 4.70%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a very pale orange. It's topped by a thick, off-white head. The aroma is pretty one-dimensional: pumpkin-pie spice overwhelming any hints of pumpkin. The flavor is much the same: heavy spicing, with a mild pumpkin undertone. This Pumpkin Ale is light-bodied. I thought this beer was disappointing. There was way too much spice, completely overwhelming any other characters.
1083. Boathouse Brown
David brought this one down from New Hampshire.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sebago Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.80%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: American Brown Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Boathouse Brown pours a clear brown, and is topped by a sudsy, brown head. The aroma is malty with notes of caramel, chocolate, and roasty accents.
The palate is malt heavy as well, though surprisingly well attenuated. Dark chocolate notes upfront move into dark fruit in the center, followed by a roasty bitterness in the finish.
I thought this was a very nice brown ale. It's malty, but not too sweet.
1084. De Dolle Oerbier Special Reserva 2005
I'd had this beer in my fridge for at least two years, perhaps longer. I originally picked this up at Downtown Wine & Spirits, but I don't remember when.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers
Year: 2005
Alcohol: 13.00%
Serving: Bottle, 330 mL
Style: Flanders Oud Bruin, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 4.3
De Dolle Oerbier Special Reserva pours a cloudy, brown color with orange tints at the edges. It's topped by a full, light-brown head that fades to a continuous film, leaving moderate lace. The aroma is dominated by two characters, acidity and a boozy, aged maltiness. The acidity is the more dominant of the two caracters, but when combined with the aged out malts give the impression of sour fruit. All overtly sweet, malty aromas have been aged out. There are notes of orange peel, alcohol, and a slight woody aroma.
This beer greets the tongue with a strong, acidic sourness, which mellows, but never disappears. All malt sweetness is attenuated and aged out, leaving the malt flavors, but none of their sweetness. This results in a mildly boozy impression, which melds well with the earthy and woody notes in the finish. This Oud Bruin feels surprisingly light on the palate. The mild carbonation, and relatively light body really accentuate the dryness of this beer.
I was very happy with this beer. I was expecting an aged, malt heavy brew, but instead got a nicely acidic and dry beer. Fantastic. I'll definitely pick up some more of these vintages if I see them.
Labels: American Brown Ale, American Stout, Flanders Oud Bruin, Pumpkin Ale
210. Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale
This is another six-pack that I purchased when Susan and Christian came over for dinner. The last bottle sat in the fridge for a week or two because I thought I hadn't had it before, but this must have been one I had sometime my first two years in grad school.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.95
Pours a hazed copper, and is topped by a fluffy, one-inch head that retains well. The aroma is pumpkin flesh and accompanying pumpkin pie spice. Definitely strong cinnamon and nutmeg. Smells like pumpkin pie, which is what I like in a pumpkin beer.
Sweet pumpkin starch upfront, moving into a spicy center with the sweetness of the pumpkin as an undercurrent. There's a bit of toastiness as well. The finish has more hop bitterness than most other pumpkin ales that I've had. Light-bodied, high carbonation, smooth.
Pretty spicy, so not something to have a lot of.
This is another six-pack that I purchased when Susan and Christian came over for dinner. The last bottle sat in the fridge for a week or two because I thought I hadn't had it before, but this must have been one I had sometime my first two years in grad school.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.95
Pours a hazed copper, and is topped by a fluffy, one-inch head that retains well. The aroma is pumpkin flesh and accompanying pumpkin pie spice. Definitely strong cinnamon and nutmeg. Smells like pumpkin pie, which is what I like in a pumpkin beer.
Sweet pumpkin starch upfront, moving into a spicy center with the sweetness of the pumpkin as an undercurrent. There's a bit of toastiness as well. The finish has more hop bitterness than most other pumpkin ales that I've had. Light-bodied, high carbonation, smooth.
Pretty spicy, so not something to have a lot of.
Labels: Pumpkin Ale, Smuttynose Brewing Company
David came up to Boston the weekend of October 18th. As usual, we had a weekend of drinking scheduled. David arrived at around 10 PM on Friday night, had a bite to eat at our place, and then we went to the oddly named pub, "Joe Sent Me", for a few beers.
David had found a small Beer/Mead/Wine fest in Salem on Saturday, called the Salem Harvest Fest. We had a particularly nauseating ferry ride to Salem, but managed to walk most of it off before having lunch at Upper Crust.
The Fest itself was small. Initially it was very crowded and a bit hard to move around, but people ended up leaving relatively early and it got much better. There was pizza from Upper Crust, and some cheese and crackers for snacking. There were beer booths from Magic Hat, Harpoon, Mercury Brewing, and Fisherman's. I managed to try all of the beers that I hadn't had yet (only 9). I was particularly impressed with what Fisherman's was offering, and I'll have to try them again.
There were also several booths serving wine and a booth serving mead. There were three very nice Danish meads , one made with ginger, one made with hibiscus, and one made with caraway. We also had a bit of wine towards the end of the fest.
We also witnessed an heroic effort to get sloshed by an overweight, middle-aged, white guy. We would stand next to a booth, get a sample and quickly sip it, all the while manufacturing his best attempt at a contemplative face. After he finished the sample he would simply hold his glass out waiting for a refill. He would repeat this until he was denied service at the booth, and would move on to the next.
Rather than taking the ferry back to Boston in our inebriated states, we opted to take the much smoother commuter rail back into Boston.
899. Roxy Rolles
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.80%
Style: American Amber/Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear amber-copper. Topped by a sudsy film. The aroma is resiny hops. There's a nice toasty malt backbone and a strong hop bitterness.
900. Stone Cat Octoberfest
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Mercury Brewing Company
Alcohol: ?
Style: Märzen / Oktoberfest, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a lightly hazed copper color. The aroma is toasty with light, sweet, caramel notes. The flavors are much the same with a bit of bitterness in the finish.
901. Ipswich Harvest Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Mercury Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.90%
Style: American Amber/Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a cloudy brown with a sudsy, beige ring for a head. The aroma is toasty and bready with a bit of hops and caramel. Hoppy, with a lightly sweet backbone that's best described as bready.
902. Ipswich Oatmeal Stout
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Mercury Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.00%
Style: Oatmeal Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Pours an opaque black. The head is a brown ring. The aroma is very roast: notes of coffee, chocolate, and a boozy quality. The backbone is nice and roasty. Sweet chocolate upfront moves into a nice coffee bitterness.
903. Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cape Ann Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.75%
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours an opaque black, with a sudsy beige head. There's pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice in the aroma, over a background of roasted malts. Sweet pumpkin flesh upfront that melds well with the spices. Roastiness appears in the center along with a sharp note. The finish is lightly bitter. Very smooth. This is the first pumpkin ale that I've had that doesn't stick to the standard pale/ale, amber ale format, tasty and interesting.
904. Fisherman's Dunkelweizen
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cape Ann Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.00%
Style: Dunkelweizen, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a cloudy amber. The head is a sudsy ring. Strong notes of banana and clove in the aroma with undertones of malt and other nondescript fruit. Sweet banana with clove and peppery spice.
905. Stone Cat Pumpkin
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Mercury Brewing Company
Alcohol: ?
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a reddish-brown with no head. The aroma is malty, notes of caramel, pumpkin, and a light spice. A bready character moves into sweet pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices. The finish has a light hint of roasted malts.
906. Magic Hat Odd Notion (Winter 08)
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.00%
Style: Braggot
Pours a clear golden with a fluffy, white head. The aroma is initially grassy, followed by notes of honey, and a bit of grape fruitiness. Grassy upfront moving into a honey sweetness in the center, followed by a peppery finish.
907. Glacier Harvest '08 Wet Hop Beer (100 Barrel Series #24)
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Alcohol: 6.00%
Style: American Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear, light copper with a sudsy head. Light caramel maltiness in the aroma with lots of floral and resiny hops. Light sweetness upfront moves through to a neutral breadiness with a surprisingly mild hop bitterness in the finish.
David had found a small Beer/Mead/Wine fest in Salem on Saturday, called the Salem Harvest Fest. We had a particularly nauseating ferry ride to Salem, but managed to walk most of it off before having lunch at Upper Crust.
The Fest itself was small. Initially it was very crowded and a bit hard to move around, but people ended up leaving relatively early and it got much better. There was pizza from Upper Crust, and some cheese and crackers for snacking. There were beer booths from Magic Hat, Harpoon, Mercury Brewing, and Fisherman's. I managed to try all of the beers that I hadn't had yet (only 9). I was particularly impressed with what Fisherman's was offering, and I'll have to try them again.
There were also several booths serving wine and a booth serving mead. There were three very nice Danish meads , one made with ginger, one made with hibiscus, and one made with caraway. We also had a bit of wine towards the end of the fest.
We also witnessed an heroic effort to get sloshed by an overweight, middle-aged, white guy. We would stand next to a booth, get a sample and quickly sip it, all the while manufacturing his best attempt at a contemplative face. After he finished the sample he would simply hold his glass out waiting for a refill. He would repeat this until he was denied service at the booth, and would move on to the next.
Rather than taking the ferry back to Boston in our inebriated states, we opted to take the much smoother commuter rail back into Boston.
899. Roxy Rolles
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.80%
Style: American Amber/Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear amber-copper. Topped by a sudsy film. The aroma is resiny hops. There's a nice toasty malt backbone and a strong hop bitterness.
900. Stone Cat Octoberfest
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Mercury Brewing Company
Alcohol: ?
Style: Märzen / Oktoberfest, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a lightly hazed copper color. The aroma is toasty with light, sweet, caramel notes. The flavors are much the same with a bit of bitterness in the finish.
901. Ipswich Harvest Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Mercury Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.90%
Style: American Amber/Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a cloudy brown with a sudsy, beige ring for a head. The aroma is toasty and bready with a bit of hops and caramel. Hoppy, with a lightly sweet backbone that's best described as bready.
902. Ipswich Oatmeal Stout
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Mercury Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.00%
Style: Oatmeal Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Pours an opaque black. The head is a brown ring. The aroma is very roast: notes of coffee, chocolate, and a boozy quality. The backbone is nice and roasty. Sweet chocolate upfront moves into a nice coffee bitterness.
903. Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cape Ann Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.75%
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours an opaque black, with a sudsy beige head. There's pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice in the aroma, over a background of roasted malts. Sweet pumpkin flesh upfront that melds well with the spices. Roastiness appears in the center along with a sharp note. The finish is lightly bitter. Very smooth. This is the first pumpkin ale that I've had that doesn't stick to the standard pale/ale, amber ale format, tasty and interesting.
904. Fisherman's Dunkelweizen
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cape Ann Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.00%
Style: Dunkelweizen, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a cloudy amber. The head is a sudsy ring. Strong notes of banana and clove in the aroma with undertones of malt and other nondescript fruit. Sweet banana with clove and peppery spice.
905. Stone Cat Pumpkin
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Mercury Brewing Company
Alcohol: ?
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a reddish-brown with no head. The aroma is malty, notes of caramel, pumpkin, and a light spice. A bready character moves into sweet pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices. The finish has a light hint of roasted malts.
906. Magic Hat Odd Notion (Winter 08)
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.00%
Style: Braggot
Pours a clear golden with a fluffy, white head. The aroma is initially grassy, followed by notes of honey, and a bit of grape fruitiness. Grassy upfront moving into a honey sweetness in the center, followed by a peppery finish.
907. Glacier Harvest '08 Wet Hop Beer (100 Barrel Series #24)
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Alcohol: 6.00%
Style: American Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear, light copper with a sudsy head. Light caramel maltiness in the aroma with lots of floral and resiny hops. Light sweetness upfront moves through to a neutral breadiness with a surprisingly mild hop bitterness in the finish.
Labels: American Amber/Red Ale, Beer Fests, Märzen / Oktoberfest, Oatmeal Stout, Pumpkin Ale
740. Southampton Pumpkin Ale
I had this sometime around Halloween at Jadyn's house. I have a nice picture, but that's on her camera. I'll add it when she gets back from California.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Southampton Publick House
Alcohol: 6.00%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a slightly hazed orange-amber. The head is foamy and beige and fades to a thin film.
Smell (4.0): Malty. Pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices.
Taste (4.0): Sweet pumpkin flavors upfront that quickly moves into a pumpkin pie spiciness and finishes with some alcoholic spice. Toasty malt backbone and a light bitterness in the finish.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (3.5): Tasty, but a tad sweet.
Overall (3.95)
I had this sometime around Halloween at Jadyn's house. I have a nice picture, but that's on her camera. I'll add it when she gets back from California.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Southampton Publick House
Alcohol: 6.00%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a slightly hazed orange-amber. The head is foamy and beige and fades to a thin film.
Smell (4.0): Malty. Pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices.
Taste (4.0): Sweet pumpkin flavors upfront that quickly moves into a pumpkin pie spiciness and finishes with some alcoholic spice. Toasty malt backbone and a light bitterness in the finish.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (3.5): Tasty, but a tad sweet.
Overall (3.95)
Labels: Pumpkin Ale, Southampton Publick House
Dinner at Cambridge Brewing Company
Published by Unknown on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at 1:02 AM.
A few Fridays ago I went to the CBC to have dinner and some beer.
120. Charles River Porter
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.90%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours an opaque black with a thin beige head.
Smell (4.0): Roasted coffee and chocolate in the nose.
Taste (4.5): There's a nice roasted bitterness that dominates. There's also some dark fruit sweetness and a mild sourness. The aftertaste is roasted and hoppy bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4): Medium-bodied with mild carbonation.
Drinkability (4.5): Nice and roasty and very drinkable.
Overall (4.25)
581. Pisser Mauvais
I had two or three glasses of this. From the website:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Wild Ale
Appearance (4.0): Pours an opaque brown-black with a two-finger, brown head that fades to a film leaving patchy lace.
Smell (4.5): Lambic-like tart aroma, medicinal phenols and a mild earthiness.
Taste (5.0): Tart with a light cherry like sweetness, though the tartness is still eveident. There's a medicinal character with a light, woody roastiness that contributes character, but not bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied. Low but prickly carbonation.
Drinkability (4.5): A delicious sour ale.
Overall (4.55)
122. Great Pumpkin Ale
I'm not ashamed to say that I like pumpkin ales to be sweeter, rather than balanced and to have spicing that really reminds me of a pumpkin pie. CBC's Great Pumpkin Ale fits the bill.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.20%
Serving: Tap
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a clear amber with a thin head that fades to a ring.
Smell (4.5): Very strong aromas of pumpkin with secondary nutmeg and cinnamon aromas.
Taste (4.5): Sweet pumpkins upfront, with nutmeg and cinnamon spices. The finish is lightly bitter.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, smooth.
Drinkability (4.0): Sweet, but not overly so, though my opinions on the style may differ from others.
Overall (4.35): A great pumpkin ale!
120. Charles River Porter
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.90%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours an opaque black with a thin beige head.
Smell (4.0): Roasted coffee and chocolate in the nose.
Taste (4.5): There's a nice roasted bitterness that dominates. There's also some dark fruit sweetness and a mild sourness. The aftertaste is roasted and hoppy bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4): Medium-bodied with mild carbonation.
Drinkability (4.5): Nice and roasty and very drinkable.
Overall (4.25)
581. Pisser Mauvais
I had two or three glasses of this. From the website:
Inspired by the famous Mannekin Pis, Brussels’ fountain statue of a young boy urinating. The name translates very loosely as “Wicked Pissah.” Brewed in Autumn, 2004, this black beer was aged in oak barrels which previously held the funky-yet-famous Benevolence. Fermentation ensued spontaneously in the barrel from the various wild yeast and other organisms residing in the porous wood, and after fermentation it rested for twenty-four months. Following this extended quiescence, the beer was racked and blended, conditioned, and chilled for your pleasure today. The nose features an obvious lactic tartness, notes of hay and horse blankets, and an underlying maltiness with hints of chocolate and burnt oak (in a good way). The palate has a nascent sharp sourness leading to flavors reminiscent of a lambic beer, finishing dry with plenty of oak and a clean roasty finale. Initially challenging, this beer becomes quite accessible, and opens up considerably as it warms in the glass.Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Wild Ale
Appearance (4.0): Pours an opaque brown-black with a two-finger, brown head that fades to a film leaving patchy lace.
Smell (4.5): Lambic-like tart aroma, medicinal phenols and a mild earthiness.
Taste (5.0): Tart with a light cherry like sweetness, though the tartness is still eveident. There's a medicinal character with a light, woody roastiness that contributes character, but not bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied. Low but prickly carbonation.
Drinkability (4.5): A delicious sour ale.
Overall (4.55)
122. Great Pumpkin Ale
I'm not ashamed to say that I like pumpkin ales to be sweeter, rather than balanced and to have spicing that really reminds me of a pumpkin pie. CBC's Great Pumpkin Ale fits the bill.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.20%
Serving: Tap
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a clear amber with a thin head that fades to a ring.
Smell (4.5): Very strong aromas of pumpkin with secondary nutmeg and cinnamon aromas.
Taste (4.5): Sweet pumpkins upfront, with nutmeg and cinnamon spices. The finish is lightly bitter.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, smooth.
Drinkability (4.0): Sweet, but not overly so, though my opinions on the style may differ from others.
Overall (4.35): A great pumpkin ale!
Labels: American Porter, American Wild Ale, Cambridge Brewing Company, Pumpkin Ale
446. Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale
The appearance of Pumpkin Ales and Oktoberfest beers signifies the begining of fall. I picked up a four-pack of Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale along with a bottle of Cantillon St. Lamvinus at Downtown Wine & Spirits tonight on my way home from lab. I served this chilled in my NERAX pint glass.
The bottle says:
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Alcohol: 7.00 %
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a clear, orange-copper color with a creamy, fluffy, white head that thins to a persistent film, leaving patchy lace on the glass.
Smell (3.5): The pumpkin pie aromas are definitely present, but not overpowering. There's a toasty whiff of malts and alcohol and notes of pumpkin pie that become stronger as the beer warms: pumpkin, cinnamon and sugar.
Taste (4.0): There's a little bit of malt bready sweetness upfront. Savory pumpkin appears in the center and is followed by the sweet and spicy flavors of pumpkin pie: cinnamon and brown sugar. The finish is sweet with some lingering spiciness as well as a light graininess. The pumpkin pie flavors come out much more as the beer warms.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied and creamy with moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (3.5): Nice, but I wouldn't want more than one in a sitting.
Overall (3.85): Flavorful and pumpkin pie-ish without being a spice overload. A nicely done Pumpkin Ale.
The appearance of Pumpkin Ales and Oktoberfest beers signifies the begining of fall. I picked up a four-pack of Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale along with a bottle of Cantillon St. Lamvinus at Downtown Wine & Spirits tonight on my way home from lab. I served this chilled in my NERAX pint glass.
The bottle says:
A full-bodied brown ale brewed with real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon & nutmeg.Beer Stats:
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Alcohol: 7.00 %
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a clear, orange-copper color with a creamy, fluffy, white head that thins to a persistent film, leaving patchy lace on the glass.
Smell (3.5): The pumpkin pie aromas are definitely present, but not overpowering. There's a toasty whiff of malts and alcohol and notes of pumpkin pie that become stronger as the beer warms: pumpkin, cinnamon and sugar.
Taste (4.0): There's a little bit of malt bready sweetness upfront. Savory pumpkin appears in the center and is followed by the sweet and spicy flavors of pumpkin pie: cinnamon and brown sugar. The finish is sweet with some lingering spiciness as well as a light graininess. The pumpkin pie flavors come out much more as the beer warms.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied and creamy with moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (3.5): Nice, but I wouldn't want more than one in a sitting.
Overall (3.85): Flavorful and pumpkin pie-ish without being a spice overload. A nicely done Pumpkin Ale.
Labels: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Pumpkin Ale, Reviews
