Your Next Pint

Rumpkin Ale - unfortunately more rump than pumpkin

With Thanksgiving Day nearing, what better pint would there be to review than a Rum-spiced Pumpkin Ale? Unfortuantley, it's not exactly the beer treasure you'd expect for a Rum fan.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on the very difficult to find, Rum Barrel Aged Rumpkin from Avery Brewing Company – and like most treasure hunts, this one ended up short on delivery. Like Avery's previously reviewed Beast Grand Cru, Rumpkin's balance between sweet and citrus leaned like a peg leg pirate far too much on the sweet side.

The Washdown:

- dark colored, mild head, more like medicine that's nothing like the grown up kind, Rumpkin Pumpkin Ale (Avery Brewing Co. in Boulder, CO) 15.90% ABV

This pint has lots of fruity notes with Caramel Rum and a mild Sugar tongue. Where Rumpkin goes wrong is in its super high alcohol content, bordering the likes of Triaminic.

Treasure hunts tend to be more about the journey than the result, and in the case of this Pumpkin Ale that fact holds to be true – just like the sailing winds from the west and the star to the north.

Would I buy this beer again? No. Should you get one? Only if you're interested in the hunt.

Happy soon-to-be Harvest Day.

Kern River Pumpkin Ale

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This Hallows Eve, knock back a pint of Pumpkin Ale by Kern River Brewing Company. Like the label says, "this beer is no trick and all treat." It's sweet 'n spice and everything right, whether you're a die hard Pumpkin nut or not.

The Washdown:

- smooth pour, amber color, bready, malty, allspicey, Pumpkin Ale (Kern River Brewing Co. in Kernville, CA) 6% ABV

Just like a jack-o-lantern, Pumpkin Ale is light with fierce spice and just enough pumpkin essence to stave off candy cavities. It's super drinkable too – all the way 'til the howls come home.

Happy Halloween.

New Belgium's Lips of Faith Kicks some juicy booty

My latest Whole Foods pint discovery, Kick, a "Lips of Faith" series from New Belgium Brewery is a genius collaboration with Elysian Brewing Company for the holiday season. Pumpkin meets Cranberry for some juicy fruity goodness that's got a kickin' tart flavor, but also borders on the legs of a sweet Lambic.

The Washdown:

- grapefruity nose, lightly carbonated, cinnamon & tangy taste with a frothy head that fizzles fast, Kick "Lips of Faith" (Fruity Ale by New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado) 8.5% ABV

This beer just might be the next best thing to get you through Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Its high alcohol content & freaky Jackolantern design makes it fit for any poppin' party, and its seasonal pumpkin 'n cranberry flavors makes it fit for your next family gathering.

Pint Advice: Start stockin' up now!

The Ale Sale of the Season!

While Your Next Pint is on a mini month-long Raw Detox – sadly no hoppy, yeasty beer for me – I had to share my favorite sale for you to enjoy, signifying the end of the holiday season.

You just can't beat a box of Samuel Smith Ales from $9.99 to $6.99 at Cost Plus World Market. The box includes THREE 550ml bottles of beer – India Ale, Nutty Brown, Oatmeal Stout – plus TWO coasters, and ONE old-fashioned English style pint glass ALL for just $6.99.

Get it while supplies last at your local Cost Plus World Market, or before I do!

Celebrate the end of 2010 with Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

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Ah, the end of 2010 is nigh. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, and it was the start of Your Next Pints. So let's say goodbye to December too with Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale.

The Washdown:

- very Sierra Nevada, very hoppy bitter, not as merry christmas Celebration Ale (Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico, CA) 6.8% ABV

Cheers to another hoppy beer. This holiday Celebration Ale is not what you think. Made from fresh hops – the first grown, whole cone American IPA hops of the season – it's bitter, it's reddish amber brown but still light, and it has a carbonated finish.

The head pours super frothy. The nose is Pine, Orange, and subtle Dark Chocolate. The tongue is like your typical Sierra Nevada Pale Ale with bitter hops that override mild flavors like Lemon, Coriander, and floral notes (perhaps Poinsettia?). And if you swirl it around in your mouth, a strong alcohol flavor takes over – bottoms up!

The finish is peppy and tangy, leaving you wanting to go back for more and play the flavor profile guessing game.

Follow @SierraNevada to see what they've got in store for the New Year.

Happy New Beer Year!

Ring in the Yuletide with Yulesmith Holiday Ale

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Christmas is here, so let's cheers with some beer – specifically, YuleSmith Winter Holiday Red Ale. This one's not for the ladies. (But I can provide an excellent recommendation for you – Sam Adams Cranberry Lambic – it's like the Cosmo of Beers.)

The Washdown:

- super frothy head like root beer, creamy, nutty brown YuleSmith Winter Holiday Ale (Alesmith Brewing Company in San Diego, CA) 9.5% ABV

On the way to the 'rents house for Xmas, the hand model and I made a stop at one of my favorite liquor stores ever, Hi Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa. They've got a whole separate section dedicated to beers, including a Beer "locker" that's 4 aisles wide to keep their specialty beers, like YulseSmith, cold.

The nose is hoppy 'n malty. The tongue is brown bready 'n creamy, and the finish is peppy. It seriously has one of the frothiest heads I've ever seen. I was tempted to plop a scoop of vanilla in it.

This one will go great with some Apple Cheddar Pie.

Hoppy Holidays!

 

Kick off December with Apple, Fig, Coffee & Pine in Deschutes Jubelale

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Baby, it's cold outside. So cozy up to the month of December and all it's holiday cheer by unwrapping a bottle of Jubelale – more like a Winter Porter – from Deschutes Brewery.

Pour this one in a special snifter glass and let the scents brew:

The Washdown:

- apple, fig, coffee & pine Jubelale (Deschutes Brewery in Bend, OR) 6.7% ABV

This beer is definitely not for chugging. Slip on your robe, sit by the fire, grab a slice of Apple Pie or Fine Dark Chocolate, then let the sipping begin. The nose is Apple & Winter Pine, perhaps even a Fir Tree. The tongue is Bitter Dark Chocolate with a hint of Citrus tang. The finish is Strong Coffee with strokes of Kahlua. Isn't that how every warm winter meal should end?

After a glass, you'll forget all about that daunting Figgy Pudding, and be happy you drank your calories instead – 216 per 12 oz serving, to be exact. And just in case you were wondering, it's not too filling, but rather full of flavor.

Follow @DeschutesBeer for brew news on this Seasonal Ale available only from October – December.

Hoppy Holidays!

A Thanksgiving Spicy Pumpkin Ale to go with your Pumpkin Pie

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If you're looking to add a little spice to your meal this Thanksgiving Day, grab a 6-pack of Indian Wells Brewing Co. Spicy Pumpkin Ale. It's super light, not filling, so there's no need to change into your stretch pants. It has that extra pep to keep your tastebuds talkin'. And it's easily accessible since it's sold at Whole Foods.

The Washdown:

- fizzy, gingery, almost apple cider seltzer-like Spicy Pumpkin Ale (Indian Wells Brewing Co. in Inyokern, CA)

I'm almost inclined to say that this one's for the kids. So toss that bottle of Sparkling Martinelli's Apple Cider out – but don't get me wrong, this one's not sweet as sweet as you think.

It has a strong nose, smelling like Ginger Ale and it tastes like it too, but with all the sugar sucked out. Layers of Spicy Gingeriness are accompanied by faint Whiskey, Apple Cider, Nutmeg & Cinnamon with a Pumpkin finish. It's golden brown in color, and super carbonated too.

Made from Pure Artesian Water, this Ale is seriously bordering on Soda Water, making it probably the best tummy-pleaser after stuffing your face with all that Turkey 'n Potatoes.

Feel free to drink this one with your meal or alongside a slice of pie (or two).

Happy Pinting!

Introducing the 2010 Sierra Nevada Harvest Northern Hemisphere

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Like last week's Juggernaut Fall Seasonal "wet hop" Red Ale, newly released Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest Ale shares the same fresh-picked, un-dried "wet" Cascade hops from Yakima Valley, but with Centennial hops too for a brawnier beer with no frou-frou.

The Washdown:

- lemon scented, bold 'n hoppy, super crisp 'n bitter with a touch of pine Northern Hemisphere Harvest Ale (Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico, CA) 6.7% ABV

This beer is "hop" off the presses, literally. Introducing Sierra Nevada's 2010 – and freshly renamed – Northern Hemisphere brew ripe from the prime 2-month Yakima hop picking season.

When you uncap the bottle, the first thing you smell is lemon. Bring it to your mouth and the crisp carbonation slaps you in the face, followed by a Bitter Hoppy hit, and a Pine pinnacle. Swirl it around on your tongue and you may catch a Loafy flavor, but the Sweetness doesn't last more than a second.

The head is fluffy and the color is a stunning burnt orange red. Pair it with a block of cheddar and call it a night.

(Consider this your bold beer to get you through the sugar-soaked holidays.)

Follow @SierraNevadaCA for more breaking brew news.

Bob for apples with Juggernaut Fall Seasonal Red Ale

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Juggernaut Red Ale, usually available August through September, may smell like a red, but tastes & looks more like a brown. This less-than-festive beer – i.e. more apple than apple pie – comes up rich and washes down smooth.

The Washdown:

- tangy apple 'n orange nose, yet malty 'n bittersweet taste Juggernaut Red Ale (Pyramid Brewing Company in Seattle, WA) 5.6% ABV

The nose on this ale is a bit misleading. Think sour Granny Smith Apples, Oranges, and a hint of Caramel. Drink it up and malty, burnt brown bread comes through, then ends on a sweet Roasted Barley Groat. The color matches the bottle. The head is thin. The carbonation dies fast.  And yet it goes down so easily.

Made from Simcoe & Cascade hops, and 2-Row and Carared malts, this pint tastes best paired with some Strawberries & Cheese – I'm doing so myself right now and it's blending fantastically – or a hearty Meat Stew.

Keep up with more of the label's seasonal ales @PyramidBrew.

Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale is more Punk than Pumpkin

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'Tis my favorite season of all, Fall, primarily for all things Pumpkin. While last week's pint, Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale, totally embraces true Pumpkin flavor, this week's pint, Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, tricks you with a Nutty Brown attitude.

The Washdown:

- spicy, bready, malty, creamy 'n bitter Punkin Ale (Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Delaware) 7% ABV

Punkin Ale first made its debut in a recipe contest at the 1994 Punkin Chunkin – a crazy event in which serious Pumpkin throwers hurl the squash 4,000 ft plus to compete for a grand prize.

While the Ale is brewed in Pumpkin Meat, Organic Brown Sugar, and Spices, it doesn't taste as Pumpkiny or sweet as others I've had.

The nose is spicy Nutmeg. The tongue is nutty, malty, and resembles burnt Bread. And only at the finish does the hint of Pumpkin arrive along with bitter Citrus. What I like most about this beer is its creaminess – which you can see displayed in the giant thickness of its pumpkin-size head and cloudy orange amber color. It helps balance out the bitter, soothing your tongue all the way down.

Pair this Nutty Brown Ale with some Roast Duck, Lamb, or Apple Pie a la mode.

Follow @dogfishbeer for more incredibly complex pints with some at ridiculously high ABV's!

It's the Great Pumpkin Ale, Buffalo Bill!

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Good news – Fall is here and so is the end of your search for the perfect Pumpkin Ale.  For 25 years Buffalo Bill's Brewery has been brewing their Pumpkin beer the same way George Washington did – apparently the apple doesn't fall far from the tree – with real Baked & Roasted Pumpkins and Natural Spices.

The Washdown:

- truly pumpkin flavor, spicy cinnamony, slightly citrus Imperial Pumpkin Ale (Buffalo Bill's Brewery, CA) 5.2% ABV

It's literally described on Buffalo Bill's website as "Pumpkin Pie in a Bottle". So if you're a Pumpkin freak like me, and wait all year long for everything Pumpkin to come in season – lattes, pasta, beer, you know, the "essentials" – then you'll love this Ale.

For those of you turning your nose thinking it might too sweet, I've got news for you. The nose is spicy & malty. The tongue has an immediate rush of Clove, Nutmeg & Cinnamon spices followed by a yeasty, Hefeweizen-like Pumpkin Puree flavor. And the finish is all about the citrusy tang.

Made with Pale & Crystal Malts and Nugget Hops, I could drink this beer, and only this beer, all night long (and I have). It's filling, it's nutritious, and even at 5.2% ABV, just one bottle is all you need to get your spirits up.

Buffalo Bill's Brew Pub – "one of the nation's oldest" – is based in Hayward, CA. But you can find their Pumpkin Ale seasonally at your local Whole Foods Market.

Drake's Hopocalypse Ale is a revelation in flavor not bitterness

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While its name touts otherwise, Drake's Hopocalypse Ale is a lot fruitier 'n spicier than most hoppy bitter beers – and has a whopping 9.3% ABV to back it up.

The Washdown:

- creamy orange 50/50, spicy nutmeg, caramel malt, cloudy rusty color Drake's Hopocalypse (Drake's Brewing Company, San Leandro CA) 9.3% ABV

I liked Drake's Hopocalypse so much, I had to blog about it again (see review on The Golden State Cafe at YourNextBite.com), but this time in more detail.

This Seasonal Fall Ale has such a complex flavor profile, it should be celebrated year round. Described on the brewing company's website as an "orange monster," Hopocalypse is made from a wide variety of hops – equal parts American two row & English pale, 2 types Munich malt, Chinook, Cascade & Amarillo.

The nose is full of grapefruit and pine. But the tongue has something much sweeter, creamier and spicier going on – like an old-fashioned Orange 50/50 bar with chunks of sour grapefruit inside, then sprinkled with Nutmeg.

Each sip brings a new flavor to the table, making you wonder and question what else could be inside. "Is that apricot? Nah, I think it's more tropical like Pineapple. Wait a second, that is totally caramel!" And round and round you go.

Hopocalypse went smashingly well with my Burger, Curry Ketchup & Jalapeno Slaw at the Golden State Cafe. But I also recommend enjoying it with a nice bowl of Curry, Sweet Potato Fries, or perhaps in a Beer Float with Horchata (vanilla cinnamon sugar) ice cream.