The Bruery Tart of Darkness. Sour Stout aged in oak barrels. "Sauerstaut." Orange County, California. 7.2% ABV. 

Served semi-chilled from a 750 mL bottle and poured into a snifter. Also could be poured in a tulip or wine glass. Pours a dark purple color with literally no head. Smells are very tart and acidic, with hints of dark fruits. Carbonation is relatively light with a medium body. Taste is sweet, tart, and hints of roasted malts from the stout.The fruits are somewhat difficult to distinguish, though I have read there might be currants, sour cherries and others. There is somewhat of a chocolate or roasty flavor as well. Aftertaste is puckering and tart. Wow this stuff is incredibly sour!

Overall this is an amazing beer. I had the chance to share with a few friends, and it got rave reviews. I tried this a few weeks ago at The Bruery night at the Ginger Man, but only had a 2 oz pour in the flight. It was nice to be able to try a full glass, and I would love to get another bottle of this. I still have one more bottle of the Sour in the Rye, and cannot wait to open that. Bravo Bruery!

98/100
$25/750mL bomber (buy a bottle with friends!)

Now I realize that the fall is only a week and change in. However, I have had the chance to try many fall special releases and seasonals. Naturally, that means a lot of pumpkin beers and "harvest ales" (whatever that actually means). Thus far, I would like to declare my favorites from Part One of fall beer season.

Gold: Southern Tier Warlock
Silver: Southern Tier Pumking
Bronze: Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin

Note that Oskar Blues Ten Fidy is a Russian Imperial, which I consider more of a winter-style beer. Otherwise this would rival Warlock for the top spot.

Warlock is an intense imperial stout with pumpkins added, and serves as an almost segue between summer and winter. It has the stout piece, which in my opinion is a winter-style beer. However, pumpkin is very fall, and in today's society, we are moving up the seasonal releases more and more every year. Therefore, in late August, I begin craving pumpkin. I would say this beer is perfect for early November, as it will ease non-stout drinkers into the winter beer season. 

Pumking is another favorite, though I will admit I did not like this year's batch as much as last year's or other prior years. However, it still stood way ahead of many of the other pumpkin beers.

Southern Tier did not have a full sweep, however, as Weyerbacher's Imperial Pumpkin snuck into the third spot (just ahead of Dogfish Punkin). It was such a great beer, and perhaps my perception was clouded by the crummy pumpkin beers I had before and after. I have another bottle in the inventory, and look forward to trying this again.

I definitely will be trying and reviewing more fall beers in the coming weeks, and have some great ones picked out. If anyone has suggestions, however, I would love to hear them, and will do my best to try them. Additionally, I am always looking for new writers for the website, so give me a call if interested.

Finally, check out this other fall beer-blog.  http://ratemypumpkins.com. They are going to try 61 pumpkin beers in 61 days. Many overlap with ones I have tried, and their findings are actually quite similar! (except for the Smuttynose Pumpkin which they actually liked). 

Cheers!
Scott

Oskar Blues Ten Fidy Imperial Stout. Lyons, Colorado. Russian Imperial Stout. 10.5% ABV.

Served chilled from a 12 oz can and poured into a snifter. Pours a black color with a one finger tan foam head. Smells are of coffee and chocolate, with a roastiness apparent. Carbonation is moderate to light with a very full body. The taste is of bitter dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans, roasted malt, and lots of booze. This is one intense beer, and I love it.

Overall, there is a reason this gets a 97 and 100 split on Beer Advocate. In terms of canned beers, there are very few (ahem Heady) that sit above it. If you ever have the opportunity to buy this, definitely purchase out the whole store. I had the opportunity to try this on tap last year at Upright Brew House, and was thrilled to find a can of it at my neighborhood grocery store a few weeks ago. I immediately went out an bought another can, and will buy more (if they reduce the price a bit-definitely overpriced but thats another story). 

I bet you could find this for about $2.50-3 per can. I paid $4 for one can, but for a beer this highly regarded, it was worth it.

96/100
$3.99/12 oz can

Unfortunately I have been sick since Tuesday, so I have gone a few days without any new beers. Figured it was not a good way to fight any germs and why waste good tasting beer when I can't taste anyways? In any case, it has given me some time to write up reviews for beers tried in the past month, update my beer Excel list, and pick out some upcoming selections for the coming weeks. I figured it would be interesting to report about my current inventory of beers.


1. The Bruery Tart of Darkness: 750 mL bomber. Hoping to open this in the next week or so (purchased it two months ago!)

2. Southern Tier Pumking: I currently have three bottles of this

3. Southern Tier Creme Brûlée: This is a bottle from January of 2014, and I may wait until the 2015 comes out to do a side by side comparison

4. Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break: Another beer that I have reviewed before, but only on tap. I will have this in mid-October when it begins getting cooler out

5. Lagunitas NightTime: A nice gift from Jack C. for my birthday a few weeks ago. Will have this very soon.

6. Firestone Walker Walker's Reserve Porter: I bought this beer earlier this summer, though it was bottled last fall. It has since been discontinued, so I want to hold on to it for a bit (but not too long!)

7. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout: One bottle of the 2013 still here in NYC. Waiting for the Black Friday release of the 2014s!

8. Goose Island Bourbon County Barley Wine: 3 bottles left of the 2013

9. Goose Island Pere Jacques 2012: Didn't care for it aged 2 years, hopefully it gets better since I have 2 more bottles...

10. Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee 2014-one more box left of this

11. Ipswich Ale 1084 Barleywine: This beer is from 1998 (and may not be good anymore-I spoke with the brewery-more to come on this). The 16th anniversary is in October-will try it then.

12. Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin: Two more bottles-savoring this as long as I can. WOW!

13. Oskar Blues Old Chub Nitro Scotch Ale: Chris H. reviewed this a few weeks ago-sounds amazing. Will have next week probably.

14. Bell's Hopslam 2014: Bought a whole case of 24 in February (ended up trading a bunch, giving some as gifts) but heard it's not great aged. Figured I had to keep at least one for a year. I am hoping the honey mellows out into a cordial-like beverage.

15. Laguintas Sucks: Bought this probably 6 months ago-hoping to put some age on it since I've had it fresh plenty of times

16. Dogfish Punkin: One bottle left

17. Founders Mosaic Promise: Brand new release from Founders-I have one bottle and will have it next week

18. Ommegang Scythe and Sickle: one bottle

19. Anderson Valley Fall Hornin': Looking forward to this one

20. Founders Double Trouble: This one is always good. Will hold up well for a few months

21. Stone Coffee Milk Stout: Two left. This is what Greg Koch drank when I met him

22. Goose Island Oktoberfest: One bottle

23. Post Road Pumpkin: Hated it last year, but wanted to do a review. Hopefully it does better this time. Fortunately it is one of the cheapest pumpkin beers out there

24. Bluepoint Pumpkin: One bottle

25. Founders Devil Dancer: Bought this in July-looking forward to trying it again soon

26. Sierra Nevada Narwhal: One more bottle

27. Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin: I didn't lie during my review-I really did go out and buy another!

28. Lagunitas A Little Sumpin Extra: I loved this beer so much I wanted to save one for the late fall

29. Victory Moonglow: One bottle

30. Warsteiner Oktoberfest: 99 cent special at Pioneer for a big time Germany beer. Sold!

31. Lagunitas Hop Stoopid: Gets great reviews, though I rarely buy it. Can't wait to try again

32. Oskar Blues Ten Fidy: This stuff is strong

33. Nebraska Wick for Brains Pumpkin: One can

34. Three Coors Lights and two Natural Lights: Why not?


This will serve as a sort of preview for the fall. I am sure I will try some others during that time frame, especially since many of these will go into the cellar for a long while. What's in your current inventory?

Cheers!
Scott

Coffee Bender. Surly Brewing Company. Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. American Brown Ale 5.1% ABV.

Served chilled from a 12 oz can and poured into tumbler glasses. Pours a dark brown to almost black color with a thin white foam head. Smells are of coffee and pretty much nothing else. There is a slight roasted maltiness but the coffee is overpowering. The carbonation is moderate with a medium body. Taste is of coffee coffee coffee! They make this beer by steeping in Guatemalan coffee for 24 hours, so you get a nice roasted flavor. Aftertaste is bitter from the coffee yet slightly sweet and funky. 

I tried this twice during my visit to Minnesota a few weeks ago. The first time was late in the evening, and the second time was tailgating for a football game. I must say it tasted much better in the evening versus earlier in the day...

I was shocked to see how highly this beer was rated on Beer Advocate. Still good, but I would rate a bit lower. Looking forward to trying again. 

80/100
(Hope you enjoyed the famous Chris H. stove picture!)

Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin (Pugsley's Signature Series). Shipyard Brewing Company. Portland, Maine.  Pumpkin Ale. 9% ABV.


Served chilled from a 12 oz bottle and poured into a snifter (due to the higher ABV and strong pumpkin aroma I wanted to have a wider mouth glass.) Pours an almost orange color with a one finger white foam head. Smells are of pumpkin, nutmeg and cinnamon. Carbonation is moderate with a medium body. Taste is of pumpkin, though it tastes quite artificial to me (much like Pumpkinhead). Additionally, there are some spices but the pumpkin flavor really overwhelms. Aftertaste is more of the same.

Years ago in college, when Pumpkinhead was one of the only accessibly pumpkin beers to me, I was a big fan of the beer. Now that I have had the opportunity to sample so many different ones, Shipyard has quickly fallen near the bottom of the ladder for me when it comes to their flavored beers. I had heard that this one was much better than the flagship Pumpkinhead (and the BA reviews justify it.) However, I was very disappointed by  the beer, and would not buy this one again. Perhaps good for those trying to get into craft beer, but I feel my inner snob coming out here when I say it tastes much too fake for me.

75/100
$3.49/bottle

Sierra Nevada Narwhal. Russian Imperial Stout. Chico, CA. 10.2% ABV.

Served chilled from a 12 oz bottle and poured into a snifter. Pours a deep black color with a thin tan foam head. Smells are of chocolate, coffee and booze. Carbonation is light with a full body. First sip is of chocolate and coffee and tastes very rich. The next few sips are not as good, and almost tastes like a shot of vodka dropped into a stout. Still seems very Russian. The last sip is quite nice however. This is one dark bitter beer that makes the alcohol presence known. 


Overall a good Russian Imperial from Sierra Nevada, and affordable as always. I have one more bottle, but will wait a month or two before cracking that.



87/100

$2.99/bottle

Maine A Tiny Beautiful Something. Freeport, Maine. American Pale Ale. 5.5% ABV

Served chilled from a 16.9 oz bottle and poured into a pint glass. Pours a straw gold to light copper color with a frothy, two finger white foam head. The smell is citrusy and of oranges. Carbonation is moderate to high with a medium to light body. Taste is of bready malt, orange and bitterness from the hops. Aftertaste is slightly bitter but does not linger.

This is the first Maine Beer Company beer that has disappointed me. Up until now, I have batted 100% with them, but this missed for me. Though it got an 89 on Beer Advocate, I would rate this lower. Still a good beer, but not worth the price in my eyes.

80/100

$7.99/16.9 oz bottle

Guinness Blonde American Lager. Latrobe, PA. 5% ABV.

I first heard about this new Guinness offering back in early August, and have been eagerly anticipating the official release. I believe this is one of the first retail batches, as there are only 10 or so ratings on Beer Advocate so far. Happy to be one of the first to officially review.

Served chilled from a 12 oz bottle and poured into a Guinness pint glass. Not the correct serving vessel for a lager, but it's clear why I chose this one. Pours a beautiful orange-copper color with a frothy one and a half white foam head that dissipates rather quickly. Smells are sweet and malty. Carbonation is moderate to high with a light body. Taste is sweet and crisp. The malt is like a cracker, and there are hints of fruit. Aftertaste is almost nonexistent.

Overall I liked this beer a lot more than I thought I would. I was not a fan of their Black Lager a few years ago, but this was quite good. Depending on what price you get it for, this is a good low cost, every day drinking beer. 

79/100
$1.79/bottle

Written by: Scott Holbrook, adapted from "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke 1823

Oktoberfest: Twas the Night


Twas a night in Oktober, and all through the pub,

The taps were a-flowin’, and so was the grub;

The glasses were hung on the bar shelf with care,

In hopes thirsty patrons soon would be there;


The bottles were nestled all snug in the fridge,

Away from the growlers and potential damage;

The barkeep in his skullcap and I on my stool,

Had just settled in for a Friday night Yule;


When out on the street there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my stool to see what was the matter;

Away to the front door I flew like a flash,

And out to the street I made a mad dash;


The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below;

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a delivery truck and 8 kegs of fresh beer;


With a hipster-esq driver with tie-dye and beard,

I knew in a moment he’d probably be weird;

More rapid than chugging the kegs out they came,

And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:

“Now Dogfish! Now, Founders! Now Westbrook! And Rogue!

And Alesmith! And Wormtown! Jack’s Abby! And Stone!

To the top of the taps! To the top of the wall!

Now drink away! Drink away! Drink away all!"


There were rare beers that at tap takeovers fly.

When they meet with a beer snob, quickly go dry;

So up to the barstools the cicerones flew,

With a beer trade upcoming to a select few;


And all of a sudden I heard the door close,

With footsteps behind him and precious cargoes;

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

In the front door hipster driver came in with a bound;


He was dressed all in tie-dye from head to his foot,

And his clothes were all ripped, and covered in soot;

A palate of six-packs he dragged from his back,

And looked like a peddler just opening his pack;


His glasses-so thick rimmed! The t-shirt iconic,

His argyle socks were mismatched-how ironic!

His earplugs hung down to his neck to and fro,

And the beard on his chin was dark like cocoa;


The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and tight skinny jeans,

And dressed like somebody still in their teens;


He was skinny and tall, a lanky old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;


He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And hooked up the taps; then turned with a jerk;

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, the taps did freely flow;


He sprang to his beer truck, the deliverers did whistle,

And away they all ran like the down of a thistle;

But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight--

“Happy Oktoberfest to all, and to all a good night!”

 

-Written By: Scott Holbrook, September 2014