Day 31: Blue Mountain Brewery Spooky Ale

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

It’s the day we’ve all been waiting for…  Candy, costumes, cocktails, and the last entry for the 31 Pumpkin Challenge!

I’d like to take a minute to be super cheesy and say Happy Six Years of Knowing You to Mr. Christopher Wayne. 🙂  (Doesn’t everyone celebrate their meetiversary?)  Who knew that Hannah Montana and Paulie Bleeker would grow up and get married?  I’d like to thank a lot of beer for allowing us to meet, get the conversation started, and keep the party going.  To a million more Halloweens with you by my side…but not in couple’s costume because we don’t really care for that. 😉

Without further ado…  The beer I’ve been most excited about all month, purely based on aesthetics.  (What kind of beer comes with a cork?!)

         
Exhibit A: Cruise cocktail waitress Margarita Rocks.  A pint of Spooky Ale, anyone?  Murder Mystery bound!
Exhibit B:  Charlie totally entranced by Spooky.  Never have I ever seen a cat so interested in beer.  (Yes Courtney, I know…  No cats on the counter…)

Blue Mountain Barrel House Spooky Ale
Produced in Arrington, Virginia.  ABV: 8.2%.  Described on the label as: “Has there ever been a better feeling than when you were a kid spiriting around the neighborhood in a white sheet with a bucket of candy bars?  No, not really.  But we figured if we loaded up an Imperial pumpkin ale with natural chocolate flavor from cocoa nibs and stuck in a bourbon barrel for a few months, it might come pretty close.”

My opinion?  I like your style, Blue Mountain.  Hit me with the nostalgia for my favorite holiday.  Since this entire challenge has been spent comparing one pumpkin beer to the previous one, I have a few comments…  For a bourbon barreled pumpkin beer, it’s considerably more tolerable.  It’s the sweetest bourbon beer I’ve ever had, hinting with slight pumpkin notes.  It’s boozy with a thick head.  Is this the best beer I’ve had all month?  Of course not.  Is it just the right amount out of my comfort zone?  Definitely.

Day 30: Schafly Pumpkin Ale

‘Twas the night before Halloween, when all through the house
Every a creature was stirring, except for the mouse;
The cobwebs were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that All Hallow’s Eve soon would be there;
The children were frightened, all hiding in their beds;
While visions of goblins danced in their heads…

Happy Halloween Eve, kiddos!  Let’s drink!

         
“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” — Henry David Thoreau

The Saint Louis Brewery Schlafly Pumpkin Ale
Produced in St. Louis, Missouri. ABV: 8.0%. Described on the website (in MUCH more detail than the label) as: “Our Pumpkin Ale blends the spices of the harvest with full-bodied sweetness for a beer that tastes like pumpkin pie. Pounds of pumpkin form a malty foundation that supports the fall flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. While pumpkin beers were produced in the early days of the American colonies, they were different from the pumpkin beers we know today. Colonists used pumpkin and squash as the fermenting medium, since malted barley was scarce. Once malt became more readily available, it replaced these alternatives to grain. In the 1990’s, American craft brewers reintroduced the style to the delight of pumpkin beer drinkers.”

My opinion?  Can I just say that I love that pumpkin was commonplace for beer fermentation in early America?  So hipster.  Anyway, I don’t know if I’m getting burned out or if I just let this one sit around for too long…  But I loved this ale at room temperature!  Sure, it was good at first pour.  But after it warmed up a smidgin, I could distinctively pick out all the spice flavors.  Let’s make warm beer a thing!  (Ew.)

Day 29: Evolution Craft Brewing Company Jacques Au Lantern

I have always felt strongly about my Halloween costume.  Normally by night’s end on October 31st, I’ve already started planning for next year.  This time around, I have severely failed.  I am…costume-less.  Okay, that’s not quite true.  I am attending a murder mystery party on Halloween so my outfit was essentially chosen for me.  (You can call me Cocktail Waitress Margarita Rocks…  Appropriate?  I think so.)  But for some reason, I’ve let my endeavors learning to tie a waitress-esque tie take me away from picking something real.  So folks, as I drink my nightly beer, I am requesting brilliant costume ideas.  Ready?…  Go!

         
Am I the only one who is super annoyed by this picture?  Striped shirt and crooked label.  My OCD senses are tingling.

Evolution Craft Brewing Company Jacques Au Lantern
Produced in Salisbury, Maryland.  ABV: 6.3%.  Described on the website as: “Our fall seasonal is an unfiltered amber ale brewed with pumpkin and spices.  We add roasted pumpkin to the mash and traditional pumpkin pie spices to the kettle, and then ferment with a Belgian yeast strain.”

My opinion?  This beer is earthy.  Is that weird?  It’s yeast-y and pumpkin-y.  Despite the adorable French name (do the French even eat pumpkin pie?), it’s lacking the overall spice I’ve come to look for in a pumpkin beer.  The label says it’s a ‘malt beverage brewed with pumpkin and spices.’  When I think ‘malt beverage,’ I immediately think of hard lemonade.  Unfortunately, this pumpkin ale was missing sweetness in my book.  (Warning: My book is not that of a seasoned beer drinker that can identify hop types.)

Days 27 & 28: Because I’m so lazy…

I let the weekend get away from me.  I say weekend because I lucked out with having Monday off from work and spent the afternoon gallivanting through Charlottesville with old friends.  I’m over the empty usage of ‘blessed’ and ‘thankful…’  So I won’t try to throw buzzwords around to try to explain how elated I was to have a taste of home yesterday.  Forgive me for drinking a beer yesterday and passing out on the sofa.  (Why is adulthood so hard sometimes?…)

I saved the five beers I’m most excited to try for the week of Halloween.  They’ve been staring at me from inside of the fridge, tempting me with their clever labels and hints of the pumpkin bounty awaiting…  Let’s stop talking and start drinking.

         

Weyerbacher Brewing Company Imperial Pumpkin Ale
Produced in Easton, Pennsylvania.  ABV: 8.0%.  Described on the website as: “We set out to make a bold monument for The King of the Pumpkins!  This 8.0% ABV pumpkin ale is the mother of all pumpkin ales.  It is heartier, spicier and more “caramelly” and “pumpkiny” than its faint brethren!  We have added lots of pumpkin along with cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of cardamom and clove, giving this beer a spicy, full-bodied flavor.  This truly is an Imperial Pumpkin Ale.  Perfect finisher on a cool autumn night or match it up with a slice of pumpkin pie and fresh whipped cream.”

My opinion?  I’ve had some bad luck earlier this month with other ‘Imperial Pumpkins…’  So when I took a whiff of my freshly poured beer, I feared that my inclination was coming true.  But thankfully Weyerbacher followed through with all their promises.  I could not imagine anything better than a forkful of pie in one hand and Weyerbacher in the other.  This beer tastes like pumpkin pie in the glass.  It’s not overwhelming and not even remotely bitter.  Definitely worth the wait.

     

New Holland Brewing Company Ichabod Pumpkin Ale
Produced in Holland, Michigan.  ABV: 5.2%.  Described on the website as: “Ichabod combines malted barley and real pumpkin with cinnamon and nutmeg in a delicious and inviting brew.  After dinner, try it with your favorite dessert.”

My opinion?  You had me at Ichabod.  There’s nothing that conjures up feelings of fall and spookiness quite like THE Headless Horseman.  This beer is another straight forward pumpkin ale with just the right combination of pumpkin and spice.  It did leave you with a slight bitter finish but still worth putting in my final week line-up.

Days 25 & 26: The weekend means pints of pumpkin

I always try to save my big beers for the weekends.  Sometimes I’m thankful to save the big ones for my free time…  Sometimes I dread the affects of ‘big beers.’ This weekend is a good example of big beers kicking me in the pants.  They’re worth sharing with friends but also beware of high alcohol content…

                    

Du Claw Brewing Pumpkin Retribution
Produced in Baltimore, Maryland.  ABV: 11.5%.  Described on the label as: “A bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout with rich aromas of espresso and dark chocolate, and smooth roasted malt flavor, aged for 6 months in charred oak bourbon barrels with pumpkin spice to add the natural vanilla and caramelized sugar flavors of the wood, and the cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger essence of the spice to the beer. Not since the spectre of a legendary horseman ruled the night has there been a more righteous form of Justice Pumpkin-fied.”

My opinion?  Pinch my nose, close my eyes.  This another one of those way-out-of-my-comfort-zone-beers…  (Clarification: I like my espresso with lots of milk and I haven’t eaten chocolate since I was about 5 years old…yes, I know I’m not a real girl.)  This beer is DARK and the foam is thick and smooth no matter how slow I pour it.  I’m forcing myself to finish this pint (and 6 ounces) because it cost me $25… Yes, I paid $25 for one, albeit large, beer.  You’re getting the play-by-play, WordPress.  I’m trying to drink it fast to just be done with it.  But then it’s making me feel ill.  I taste no pumpkin or spices, only bad decisions reminiscent of freshman year. 

                   

Wild Wolf Brewing Company Howling Pumpkin
Produced in Nellysford, Virginia.  ABV: 7.0%.  Described on the label: “A wonderfully spiced nose and a beautiful orange color lead into this perfectly balanced fall beer.  Just the right around of molasses and pumpkin pie spice make this a must have for the pumpkin beer lover.”

My opinion?  Yay for another local beer!  It’s a little bitter for my pumpkin lovin’ taste but the spice notes are definitely there.  The more I think about it, the more I remember how bitter molasses can be in it’s pure form.  For the ‘real’ beer drinkers, this is probably the pumpkin beer for you.

Day 24: Epic Brewing Fermentation Without Representation Imperial Pumpkin Porter

Phew.  Did you get through that title in one breath? 

There are certain scents we associate with every season.  The smell (or maybe lack there of if you suffer from allergies) of flowers coming back to life in spring.  The sweetness of freshly slathered sunscreen and cut grass during summer time.  The stench of burning dust when you turn on the heat for the first time during fall…  And the sharp scent of pine when you cut down your Christmas tree when you crack open a porter during winter.  Yes folks, I’m drinking another porter much to my chagrin.

                  

Epic Brewing Fermentation Without Representation Imperial Pumpkin Porter
Produced in Salt Like City, Utah and Denver, Colorado.  ABV: 8.4%.  Described on the label/website (since neither said much): “An Imperial Pumpkin Porter to celebrate the season.  You are holding something special — one of only a few thousand bottles released.  Intrigued?  Visit http://www.epicbrewing.com to explore this limited brew’s precise details.”

My opinion?  I knew exactly what I was getting myself into with this beer.  (I feel tipsy just talking about it.)  I always try to smell the cap after it’s popped to get an initial idea of how it’ll taste.  I could pick up very slight pumpkin notes and then the hoppy pine smell was overwhelming.  It’s still overwhelming.  It poured dark.  It’s very bitter.  I can’t write detailed sentences.  Avoid…  Unless you’re a porter person.  But really, who’s a porter person?

Day 23: Alewerks Pumpkin Ale

There are a handful of things I know about Williamsburg, Virginia…
1.  Fun fact…  It was the former capitol of Virginia until the Revolutionary War.
2.  House Dressing.  ‘Nuff said.
3.  Actors dressed in historically accurate Colonial garb always make for educational fun.
4.  Alewerks Pumpkin Ale is the definition of fall in a glass…

         

Aleworks Pumpkin Ale
Produced in Williamsburg, Virginia.  ABV: 7.3%.  Described on the website as: “This amber colored ale is loaded with Pumpkin pie aroma and flavor. It actually does taste like Pumpkin pie! At 7.3% ABV, it will keep you warm on a cool Autumn eve.”

My opinion?  If it wasn’t already obvious, I’m infatuated in this beer.  It smells sweet and tastes sweet (with a slightly hoppy finish).  The pumpkin and spice flavors aren’t shy and I like that in a beer.  I often feel like beer descriptions are full of fluff but this one is short, sweet, to the point, and spot on.  I’m on a new quest to find this beer on tap (’cause everyone knows anything on tap is better) and it’s fairly local to me.  Go give Alewerks a try!  It’s an 8.

Day 22: Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat

Tonight’s post will be short and sweet because it is time for celebration.  I added another notch to my ‘auntie’ belt tonight with the birth of my newest niece.  Sending lots of love to the West Coast tonight…  Can’t wait to be home next month to pinch some cheeks!

                 

Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat
Produced in St. Louis, Missouri.  ABV:  5.1%.  Described on the label as: “Belgian-style wheat ale brewed with ripe pumpkins, citrus peel, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves.  Pour down side of glass until 1/2 inch is left in bottle.  Swirl and pour remaining brew to properly blend spices and release the aroma and flavor.  Enjoy!”

My opinion?  I’ve never had such a high maintenance beer…  ‘Swirl to blend?’  C’mon…  I might as well be pouring a Guinness right now.  Regardless, this beer reminds me of Woodchuck Pumpkin Cider.  It has a definite pumpkin tang that I’m not quite enjoying.  If I had to pick a grocery store pumpkin staple, I’d definitely choose Blue Moon over Shock Top.

Day 21: Devil’s Backbone Pumpkin Hunter

I think my tastes have matured.  Last year, I started to play with the idea of ‘I-love-October-so-much-I-should-learn-to-drink-seasonal-beers.’  It went a little something like this…  #insta #throwbacktuesday

I didn’t know what I was doing or where to find craft beers outside of Martin’s Build-A-Pack section.  Thankfully this year I searched high and low for new brews.  (Okay, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, and Hagerstown don’t qualify for an extensive search but I was able to muster up 31 pumpkin beers in only three cities.)  Regardless, I’ve learned a lot about what I like and don’t like when it comes to beer in general.  I’ve been grateful to take this time to share my opinions with the blog-o-sphere and hope you’ve enjoyed this journey so far.  Before I get too mushy, let’s dive into tonight’s beer…

         

Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company Pumpkin Hunter Ale
Produced in Lexington, Virginia.  ABV: 5.1%.  Described on the website as: “This frighteningly delicious ale is orange amber in color with subtle pumpkin sweetness. Enjoy the warming flavor and aroma of pumpkin pie in a glass. You’ll lose your head over this one!”

My opinion?  I’m always pleased to drink a local beer and this is no exception.  This pumpkin ale is light and crisp, making it very drinkable.  The pumpkin and pumpkin spices are minimal but it still makes for a nice seasonal beer.  Nothing super special about this one but I would drink again given the opportunity.  It’s a 7.

Day 20: Anderson Valley Fall Hornin’ Pumpkin Ale

Although I’m a Seattle girl at heart, there’s nothing I love more than fall in Virginia.  The colors are brilliant and the chill in the air calls for sweaters.  (But really, who needs an excuse to shop for new sweaters?)  This pumpkin beer challenge has helped embody the true tastes of fall for me and the 21 and over crowd.  What is your defining moment for fall?  Have you bookmarked the entire 13 Nights of Halloween schedule on ABC Family?  When did you go pumpkin picking?  Have you stocked up on candy for trick or treaters?

         

Anderson Valley Fall Hornin’ Pumpkin Ale
Produced in Boonville, California.  ABD:  6.0%.  Described on the website as: “With a brilliant, deep copper hue and creamy beige-colored head, our Fall Hornin’ Pumpkin Ale has inviting aromas of caramelized malt and baking bread with highlights of cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin and seasonal spices. The pleasantly creamy mouthfeel and silky body embrace the sweet caramel flavors and tang of spices (with just hint of hops) that ends in a smooth, round finish.”

My opinion?  I found myself drinking this beer quickly.  I don’t know if it’s a case of the Mondays or if it’s just that easy to drink.  It poured a dark brown and I was initially concerned.  But there were obvious pumpkin spices, especially cinnamon, with a sweet, malty finish.  I’m pretty smitten.  What this beer lacks in pumpkin, it makes up in a charming image of a moose-bear drinking from a mountain-esque stream.  This is exactly how I’d imagine fall in the mid-west…although this beer is from California. If you favor spice over pumpkin, then go find this beer.  It’s a solid 8.