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
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
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