Pumpkin Ale « THE BREWSKI REPORT

December 31, 2012

O’Fallon’s Pumpkin Ale Beer Review 12.31.2012

Filed under: O'Fallon Brewery — Tags: 4.25 Rating, 5.6% ABV, Back Yard, Bottle, Camp Fire, Copper, Dog, Dog Doo, Domestic, Fire, Fridge, Golden, Golden Retriever, Grandfather, Grandpa, Holy Grail, MO, New Year, O'Fallon Brewery, Orange, Papa, Pumpkin Ale, Pumpkin Pie, Puppy, Red, Santa — Tommy Brewski @ 1:25 pm

A pumpkin beer worthy of a try.

TBR Reports on O’Fallon’s Pumpkin Beer
File Date: 12.31.2012

File Name: Santa Brings a Puppy!
The Beer: Pumpkin Beer
Type: Pumpkin Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 5.6% ABV
Brewer: O’Fallon Brewery
Web Site: www.ofallonbrewery.com
State/Country of Origin: MO, USA
Brewer Info: The O’Fallon Brewery was founded by Fran and Tony Caradonna, in 2000. In January they ordered their brewing equipment and sold their first keg on May 6, 2000. The Caradonnas did all the brewing and selling for the first two years, brewing only one style (O’Fallon Gold), selling only kegs and delivering only in St. Charles County. Over the next several years they continued to grow their brands and distribution area. In May 2011 they sold the brewery to Jim Gorczyca, but Fran continues to play a part of day to day operations as the Brewery’s General Manager. The couple has two sons and currently reside in O’Fallon, Missouri.

Brewer Brand Hype: Like pumpkin pie in a bottle…we add 136 pounds of real pumpkin to the three-barley mash and then season
the finished beer with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Available September 1.
Label: Ale brewed with pumpkin and spices.

The Brewski Review: Fall has come and gone but I found this tucked away in the back of the fridge. I’m still on my quest for the best pumpkin pie flavored beer I can get and after drinking this, I’ll still be looking. It was a good beverage with nice, spicy overtones but it just wasn’t the full-on pumpkin pie flavor I’m in search of. The color was a wonderful copper hue and it poured with minimal head. Overall it was a decent beer worth drinking again but to me this wasn’t the holy grail. It would still hold up to any occasion sitting around a fall fire. Which, by the way, I didn’t get a chance to do much this past season. I love an outdoor fire but my schedule and the weather wouldn’t permit. Santa delivered a puppy to our kids over the holiday (thanks Papa!) so I’m sure I’ll have plenty of time to stoke a fire in the spring when I’m in the back yard picking up all the doogie doo. See the sad eye little golden retriever below. Take care and have a wonderful New Year. I could only imagine that your expectation for 2013 are as high as I’ve set for myself.

Drinkability: Would drink again.
Appearance: Nice copper color.
The Buds: Nice spicy flavor.
TBR Cap Rating: 4.25 out of 5 Caps

Isabella is the name....but Chewy would have been more appropriate.

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October 22, 2012

Tommyknocker’s Pumpkin Harvest Ale Review 10.22.2012

Filed under: Tommyknocker Brewery — Tags: 3.75 Rating, 5.0% ABV, Bathroom, Bottle, Broken Bone, Broken Toe, Catholic Elementary, CO, Domestic, Fundraiser, Molasses, Pain, Pumpkin Ale, School Fundraiser, Tommyknocker, Toys, Tuition, Volunteer — Tommy Brewski @ 4:39 pm

Looks and tastes like molasses.

TBR Reports on Tommyknocker’s Small Patch Pumpkin Harvest
File Date: 10.22.2012

File Name: The Toe Knows
The Beer: Pumpkin Harvest Ale
Type: Pumpkin Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 5.0% ABV
Brewer: Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub
Web Site: tommyknocker.com
State/Country of Origin: CO, USA
Brewer Info: Colorado Mountain Town Craft Beer.

Brewer Brand Hype: A hearty brown ale brewed to celebrate the fall harvest season. Brewed with a hint of spice and a touch of molasses, Small Patch has a malty backbone rounded out by an addition of real pumpkin to the mash and brew kettle. Think outside the patch! Pumpkin Harvest Ale is available August through October.
Label: Colorado Mountain Tommyknocker Beer. Small Patch Pumpkin Harvest Ale. A festive seasonal ale with pumpkin and a touch of molasses and spice. Ale brewed with pumpkin, molasses and spices. Tommyknockers slipped into the mining camps of Idaho Springs in the 1800’s with the discovery of gold in our mountains and streams. These mischievous elves, though hardly ever seen, were often singing and working. They guided many fortunate miners from harm’s way and to the gold they sought.

The Brewski Review: I’m writhing in pain I’ll have you know. I broke a toe over the weekend and it’s a killer to get around. I’m sure the pain will eventually subside but it’s in full force now. It actually hurt less when it happened vs. this point in time - nearly two days later. How did it happen? My wife and I went to a school fundraiser for my daughter’s catholic elementary school (For anyone thinking about sending their child to a catholic school, keep in mind that the up-front tuition is only a fraction of the cost. You also need to consider the fundraisers, volunteer activities and donations which may add up to the full cost of the tuition itself.) I (er, excuse me, WE) had a few beers (the choice was somewhat less than optimal) but I wasn’t drunk. We came home, put the kids to bed and drifted off ourselves. Of course, in the middle of the night nature started to beckon. I walked to the bathroom and stepped on some evil, pointy, molded plastic toy that felt like someone was jambing bamboo sticks in the arch of my foot. Of course, this threw off my groggy stride and I kicked ANOTHER toy sitting off to the side. Ouch-i-mamma! Snap, crackle and pop. There goes the toe. It wasn’t too bad that night so I just naturally thought it was no big deal. Come morning, I changed my mind on the prognosis. Broken toe would have been my indian name. Anyway, I thought this beer would help me out. I was expecting a nice pumpkin beer but was surprised by this molasses concoction. It had a nice appearance, poured with no head and was tasty but wasn’t what I was expecting. Too much on the molasses. Light on the pumpkin pie flavor. Good nonetheless. It went down smooth and worth the time.

Drinkability: Definitely.
Appearance: Nice, dark molasses color.
The Buds: Big molasses flavor.
TBR Cap Rating: 3.75 out of 5 caps

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October 14, 2012

Rivertown’s Pumpkin Ale Beer Review 10.14.2012

Filed under: Rivertown Brewery — Tags: 4.0 Rating, 5.0% ABV, Barn Door, Barn Door Track, Bills, Bottle, Breaking Bad, Domestic, Fall, Fire, Garage, Humid, Laser Level, OH, Pumpkin Ale, Rivertown Brewery, Spices, Sweating, Tools — Tommy Brewski @ 8:29 am

Rivertown's Pumpkin Ale Beer with Maximum Head

TBR Reports on Rivertown’s Pumpkin Ale
File Date: 10.14.2012

File Name: A Fall Barn Door Folly
The Beer: Pumpkin Ale
Type: Pumpkin Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 5.0% ABV
Brewer: Rivertown Brewing Co.
Web Site: rivertownbrewery.com
State/Country of Origin: OH, USA
Brewer Info: Welcome to the Rivertown Brewing Company. We specialize in brewing traditional Handcrafted Lagers and Ales, using only the finest and freshest ingredients available. Be sure to visit us at the brewery in our all new Tap Room! (Wasn’t much info in the way of brewery origin.)

Brewer Brand Hype: Our Pumpkin Ale is a spice infused ale, using dark sugars, real pumpkin, and fresh ground spices. This is how we do pumpkin pie! Best served at 55ºF in a wide pub glass.
Label: Rivertown Brewing Co. Ale brewed with pumpkin, molasses and cinnamon with spices added. Hand crafted in small batches.

The Brewski Review: It was a strange fall day….warm and humid with isolated rain showers. I was working out in the garage after the wife took the kids to her sister’s house. It’s hard to believe but I was sweating out there trying to hang a barn door track inside my garage for the tool room. The door is approx. 11 feet long and just a smidge over 7′. It was a bear to get it together by myself. To install the 22′ of barn door track, I pulled out a new laser level I purchased 3 years ago and never had the opportunity to use. (That’s a pretty slick tool once you get it set up.) Finally, I just had to call it quits. Time to go inside and pay bills. (First, I had to watch the last couple episodes of Breaking Bad on my DVR. (Loved it!) Then, I pulled out a nice fall pumpkin beer. This go ’round was Rivertown’s Pumpkin Ale. It had a nice aroma at the pour and a nice full head. The taste was rather spicy with a hint of molasses. It was a nice flavor but it didn’t remind me of a pumpkin pie. Overall though, it was tasty and worthy of a nice fall afternoon fire outside.

Drinkability: Would drink it again.
Appearance: Nice amber color.
The Buds: Spicy flavors abound.
TBR Cap Rating: 4.0 out of 5 caps.

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October 8, 2011

Dogfish Head’s Pumpkin Ale Pass Muster? 10.08.2011

Filed under: Dogfish Head Craft Brew — Tags: 3.5 Rating, 7.0% ABV, Allspice, Bottle, Cinnamon, Copper, DE, Dogfish Head, Dogfish Head Brewery, Domestic, Mortgage, Nutmeg, Pumpkin Ale, Pumpkin Pie, Refinance, Struggles, Taxpayer, Underwater, Underwater Mortgage, Vehicle — Tommy Brewski @ 5:53 pm

Dogfish Head's try at my seasonal favorite - pumpkin ale.

Dogfish Head’s Pumpkin Ale Just Won’t Cut It For This Frustrated American
File Date: 10.8.2011

File Name: The struggles of being underwater.
The Beer: Pumpkin Ale
Type: Pumpkin Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 7.0% ABV
Brewer: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Web Site: www.dogfish.com
State/Country of Origin: DE, USA
Brewer Info: The story of Dogfish Head began in June of 1995 when we opened Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, the first state’s first brewpub opened in the resort beach community of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The plan was to bring original beer, original food, and original music to the area. With the popularity of the pub growing, it was quickly apparent that the 12–gallon brewery would not keep up with demand. We built a new brewery and underwent a thirty-fold expansion of the brew house! We outgrew our distributing brewery in a couple years and in the summer of 2002; we moved our entire production brewery up the road to Milton, Delaware into a 100,000 square foot converted cannery. Around the same time (just to keep thing interesting), we built a distillery on the second floor of our Rehoboth Beach brewpub, so we could make vodka, rum and gin.

Brewer Brand Hype: A full-bodied brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar. We brew our Punkin Ale with pumpkin meat, organic brown sugar and spices. This is the perfect beer to warm-up with, as the season cools. Punkin Ale is named after a locally-famous and seriously off-centered event here in southern Delaware - Punkin Chunkin (check out some of these Discovery Channel videos of Punkin Chunkin, you gotta see it to believe it!). In fact, Punkin Ale made it’s debut as it claimed First Prize in the 1994 Punkin Chunkin Recipe Conest - yes, that was a full 6 months before we even opened our doors for business. Punkin Chunkin has grown in size and scale with pumpkins now being hurled more than 4,000 feet through the air! If you come down to see if for yourself - come by and visit us. Since then, we’ve brewed Punkin Ale each and every fall. It is released right around September first each year. When you find it, grab some extra because it’s usually gone by Thanksgiving.
Label: A full bodied brown ale brewed with real pumpkin, brown suger, allspice, cinnamon & nutmeg.

The Brewski Review: I’m not ranking this pumpkin ale high on my list of favorite pumpkin ales. It has a gorgeous copper color and pours with a sumptuous head but it doesn’t have that pumpkin pie flavor I’m looking for. Others may not care for the pumpkin pie flavor but, to me, that’s what these beers are all about. This one just didn’t do it for me. The allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg weren’t as bold as I would have liked them to be. But then, of course, there are many things that aren’t as good as I’d want them to be. Take, for example, my finances: I don’t have nearly as much as I’d like. In reality, it’s less than ‘nearly as much’ and closer to ‘I drive a 15 year old car and can’t afford to upgrade because I’m under water on my mortgage’. But wait, it’s even worse than that! This taxpayer could save thousands if we refinanced our house, which we can’t do, because as you may have guessed, we’re under water on our mortgage! So, like so many of you out there, we struggle to get buy each and every day. Drinking an occasional beer is just a small reward that keeps me hanging on - day in and day out. And, by golly, if I want pumpkin pie flavor, dang it, I won’t settle for anything less!

Drinkability: Probably not. Would seek out another pumpkin ale.
Appearance: Visually appealing.
The Buds: Not very pumpkin pie-ish.
TBR Cap Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

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October 29, 2010

Michelob’s Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale Beer Review 10.29.10

Filed under: Anheuser-Busch, Michelob Brewing, Tap Handles — Tags: $50 Billion, 20% Increase, 3.75 Rating, 5.5% ABV, Anheuser-Busch, Bank, Budweiser, Contested Values, Copper Color, Copper Paint, County, Den Walls, Education, G-Man, General Rate Increase, Hurricane, Increase Rates & Taxes, Industrial Brew, Insurance, Insurance Agent, Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale, Little Guy Gets Squeezed, Lower Property Values, Metalized Paint, Michelob, Michelob Brewing, MO, Mortgage, Obama, Paint, Property Taxes, Pumpkin Ale, Schools, Southern States — Tommy Brewski @ 4:20 am

You know Jack? Maybe you should become friends with the Jack I know. Anheuser's entry into the Pumpkin Ale category.

The Brewski Report Reviews Michelob Brewing Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale
File Date: 10.29.10

File Name: The Little Guy Gets The Shaft - Again.
The Beer: Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale
Type: Pumpkin Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 5.5% ABV
Brewer: Michelob Brewing Co. / Anheuser-Busch Inc.
Web Site: www.anheuser-busch.com
Country/State of Origin: MO, USA
Brewer Info: Anheuser-Busch traces its origins back to the Bavarian brewery, which was established in 1852. Eberhard Anheuser acquired the Bavarian brewery in 1860 and renamed it E. Anheuser & Co. In 1864, his son-in-law, Adolphus Busch, joined the company that would later become Anheuser-Busch. While the company’s early years were demanding, Adolphus Busch proved up to the challenge. His keen vision, bold initiative, marketing savvy and passionate commitment to quality were his legacy to those who followed, and the high standards he established have been adhered to by each succeeding generation. Today, Anheuser-Busch produces the two best-selling beers in the world, Budweiser and Bud Light, and operates 12 breweries in the United States.

Brewer Brand Hype: Our fall seasonal is a subtle, well-balanced ale, copper in color, offering rich, full flavors and aromas of pumpkin and spices. This all-malt ale is brewed with golden delicious pumpkins and select seasonal spices, including nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and clove. Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale complements dishes such as turkey dinners, pumpkin bisque, teriyaki chicken and mild Italian sausages. Enjoy Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale in a tall, fluted glass.
Label: Our fall seasonal draws it’s rich copper color from two-row Caramel and Carapils barley malts. Brewed with Golden Delicious pumpkins and select seasonal spices to produce a balanced, truly flavorful taste. All malt ale brewed with pumpkins and select seasonal spices including nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and clove.

The Brewski Review: I recieved my mortgage statement the other day in the mail. It was higher than I’m used to seeing to I phoned the bank to see what’s up. Apparently, my insurance company and county of residence decided I wasn’t paying enough. After hearing this I found myself in a state of confusion. About 6 months earlier I contested my property value and a decision came down in my favor. So, naturally, I called the county tax department and they said, ‘Oh yeah. Your property value was reduced but your taxes went up.’ ‘Perfect’ I said to myself. This could only happen to me. I pressed a little further and the helpful woman on the other end of the phone also noted that there was a local school levy increase (Didn’t Obama just give Schools/teachers $50B?) that was unknown to my wife and I. It must have been a double secret ballet that only the school officials knew about and voted in favor of. This makes me happy. Then, I call my insurance company. My agent’s response was ‘There was a general, across the board rate increase to pay for hurricane claims in the Southern States.’ I responded with ‘Twenty percent?’ ‘Yes’ he said. Arrrg! Nothing makes me happier than paying more than my share to help keep someone else’s premiums affordable (people, this is sarcasm.). It seems that whenever a company, organization, or G-man agency needs money they just raise rates and taxes while my slice get’s smaller and smaller. Is this a great county or what? Now that I’m in a terrific mood, I’ll spill the bean on this seemingly not-so-bad industrial brew. There is some decent spice flavor and some malty taste. The beer poured out as a rich copper tone - one of my favorite colors (see pictures of my den walls). I enjoyed this beer but It just didn’t measure up to some of the other pumpkin beers I’ve tasted. Nonetheless, it was still a drinkable beverage. This brand has been available since 2005.

Drinkability: Would drink it again.
Appearance: Rich copper color.
The Buds: Decent showing for an industrial brew. Nice spice taste.
TBR Cap Rating: 3.75 out of 5 caps.

Pumpkin Chunkin Ammo.

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October 4, 2010

Blue Moon’s Harvest Pumpkin Ale Beer Review 10.4.10

Filed under: Beer Labels, Blue Moon, Coors Brewing Co. — Tags: 3.75 Rating, 5.7% ABV, Autumn, Blue Moon, Catching Up, CO, Coors Brewing Co., Deer, Domestic, Fall, Harvest Moon, Ice Station Zebra, Kids Toys, Outdoor Fire, Outdoor Tasks, Pumpkin Ale, Raking Leaves, Seasonal, Traveling, Winter, Winter Prep, Wood Crib, Yard Work — Tommy Brewski @ 7:04 pm

Blue Moon's Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale Seasonal Beer.

The Brewski Report Reviews Blue Moon’s Harvest Moon and
File Date: 10.4.2010

File Name: My Time Of Year
The Beer: Harvest Moon
Type: Pumpkin Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 5.7% ABV
Brewer: Blue Moon Brewery/Coors Brewing Co.
Web Site: www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com
Country/State of Origin: CO, USA
Brewer Info: We started Blue Moon and began brewing our first beers back in 1995 at the Sandlot in Denver, Colorado. The goal was to create uniquely-flavored, highly-drinkable, handcrafted beers. (And, of course, have a little fun along the way.) Well, it didn’t take long to strike gold. One of our first creations, Belgian White, made an immediate splash at the World Beer Championships 3 years in a row. More than a decade later, word has started getting around. But otherwise, not much has changed. Still just a bunch of friends having making great beer. What’s not to love about that?

Brewer Brand Hype: Amber colored ale brewed with a bounty of fall flavors like vine-ripened pumpkin, allspice, cloves and nutmeg. Together with a touch of wheat Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale has a smooth, slightly spiced finish.
Label: This amber-colored, naturally flavored ale is brewed for the autumn & combines the flavor of vine-ripened pumpkin & spices with traditional crystal malt. With its clove, nutmeg and allspice flavors, this amber-colored ale is perfect for fall’s crisp, clear days. Serve this hearty brew with all of your autumn meals.

The Brewski Review: I’m blown away by how fast the year is moving. It’s been a tough year on my family and me. With all the sojourns I’ve been going on (which, by the way, are starting to thin out these last month or so) there is much catching up to do. Since it’s fall I’ve turned my immediate focus on the yard and getting the house ready for an ‘Ice Station Zebra’ type winter. Again I find myself wrapping a select group of trees with deer netting, building a larger wood crib and filling it up, raking leaves, covering my A/C condenser and putting the kids’ toys away. These are just a few of the tasks on my list. Believe me, there are several more. Perhaps one of my most favorite autumn pastimes though is building a fire and drinking some nice, tasty seasonal beer. Blue Moons Pumpkin Ale was a good beer but there didn’t seem to be as much spice as I’d like in my Pumpkin Ale. It definitely has it’s place on the shelf but I’d have to say that I’ll by trying other Pumpkin Ales before I crack open one of these again.

Drinkability: Definitely drinkable. Will try others before having this again.
Appearance: Amber colored with large head.
The Buds: Spicy and crisp. Low bitterness.
TBR Cap Rating: 3.75 out of 5.

Fall Harvest Moon Up Close And Personal.

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November 28, 2009

Brooklyn Brewery’s Post Road Pumpkin Ale Beer Review 11.28.09

Filed under: Brooklyn Brewery — Tags: 3.75 Rating, Brooklyn Brewery, Christmas, Colonialists, Domestic, Fall, Holiday Decorating, Kids, Microbrew, New York, Post Road, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Ale, Seasonal, Thanksgiving, Wife — Tommy Brewski @ 7:14 pm

We Review Post Road Pumpkin Ale Beer

The Brewski Report Reviews Brooklyn Brewery’s Post Road Pumpkin Ale Beer and Decorating the Christmas Tree.
File Date: 11.28.09

File Name: My Christmas Decorating Timeline Gets Shortened.
The Beer: Post Road Pumpkin Ale
Type: Pumpkin Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 5.00% ABV
Brewer: Brooklyn Brewery
Country of Origin: NY, USA
Brewer Info: Brooklyn Brewery was started in 1987 by former Associated Press correspondent Steve Hindy and former Chemical Bank lending officer Tom Potter. Hindy learned to brew beer during a six year stay in various Middle Eastern nations such as Saudi Arabia and Syria, where possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages were forbidden. Upon his return to his home in Brooklyn in 1984, he and Potter, his downstairs neighbor, quit their jobs and founded the brewery. Originally all their beer was brewed by contract by Matt Brewing Company, and the pair started their own distribution company and personally transported and marketed their beer to bars and retailers around New York City. Later, they acquired a former matzo ball factory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and converted it into a functional brewery. Although the brewery is looking to expand its brewing capacity in the City, at present most of the production, including all Brooklyn Lager and all bottled products, are brewed by contract in the upstate New York city of Utica, due to the limited ability to meet demand at the Williamsburg brewery, its lack of a bottling line, and the cost benefits of contract brewing.

Brewer Brand Hype: Available from August through November. Early American Colonialists seeking natural ingredients for brewing ales, turned to pumpkins, which were plentiful, flavorful and nutritious.

Label: In the 18th Century, colonial Americans brewed wonderful and interesting ales by using local ingredients. Barley was the principal ingredient but pumpkins were also used. Pumpkins were favored by brewers for their rich, spicy flavors which melded perfectly with the malted barley. Post Road brings you a delicious rendition of this traditional American classic.

The Brewski Review: Two days after Thanksgiving and I still don’t have any decorations up. I told my wife that if I didn’t get them up today they weren’t getting up. There are too many projects around the house to spend a week decorating for Christmas. Yes. It’s my favorite time of year but let’s face it, who has the time to go all out? Lottery winners and stay at home mothers? Or, maybe the guys who have nothing to do at home because it’s too cold to golf? Please. One fortunate circumstance that’s helped me reduce decorating time are my two young kids. The upside: 95% of the tree ornaments don’t come out of the box. We only try to put up unbreakables at this stage. The downside: I figure, since the house will kill me before the kids know better than to pull them down and break ‘em, I won’t live to see us put my childhood ornaments on the tree. Maybe my kids will enjoy them after I’m gone. Riiiight. By the time they’ll appreciate such simple things, they’ll have their own kids. So, in order to get something done today I was racing around like a trucker jacked up on caffine and chocolate milk. The outside decorating was finished and the tree was up (with the help from my wife). As a reward I skipped the fridge in the kitchen (which has a few English Ales tucked in the back) and headed out to the fridge in the garage for a nice seasonal Pumpkin Ale. Post Road is what I pulled out amongst the group. As with the other Pumpkin Ales I’ve tried, it was rather good. The spice flavor is enjoyable to my taste buds. Although I didn’t think this was a fabulous brew, it was good none-the-less. It’s hard for me to rate a beer very low since, well, I like beer. Some types more than others. When I rate a beer excessively low figure that I probably puked or got very ill.

Drinkability: Decent beverage. Would drink it again.
Appearance: Pale to medium amber in color.
The Buds: As noted, I enjoy the spicy flavor of Pumpkin Ale.
TBR Cap Rating: 3.75 out of 5.

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November 8, 2009

New Holland Brewing’s Ichabod Pumpkin Ale Beer 11.08.09

Filed under: New Holland Brewery — Tags: 4.0 Rating, Daughter, Domestic, Fall, Fire, Ichabod, Ill, Kids, MI, New Holland, New Holland Brewing, Outdoor Fire, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Ale, Seasonal, Sick, Sinus, Son, Spices, Swine Flu, Wife — Tommy Brewski @ 12:23 pm

New Holland Brewing's Seasonal Ichabod Ale

TBR Reviews New Holland’s Ichabod Pumpkin Ale Beer
File Date: 11.8.09

File Name: Fall Is For Seasonal Beer and Fireside Drinking.
The Beer: Ichabod Ale
Type: Pumpkin Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 5.5% ABV
Brewer: New Holland Brewing Co.
Country of Origin: MI, USA
Brewer Info: Established in 1996, NHBC has grown from a scrappy two-man start-up to a thriving regional microbrewery, recognized for its creativity and artistry. All of our beer is brewed in Holland, Michigan at one of our two locations. We brew, cellar and package the main brands for distribution at our production facility on the north-side of Holland. In response to our considerable growth, we opened the new brewery in October of 2006, replacing the original headquarters. We also brew beer and distill spirits in our pub. The pub is a great place for us to explore new ideas, meet our customers in a comfortable setting and provide a place of community for all who visit. The beers made here are typically special brews that rarely see their way outside of the friendly confines of our pub.

Brewer Brand Hype: Ichabod combines malted barley and real pumpkin with cinnamon and nutmeg in a delicious and inviting brew. A rewarding complement to many dishes, Ichabod pairs well with autumnal foods such as poultry and root vegetables. After dinner, try it with your favorite dessert!

Label: Ichabod. Ale Brewed With Pumpkin. Delicious beer delivered with painstaking consistency, that’s our philosophy. We’ll give you a while to drink it in.

The Brewski Review: Yes. Fall is for seasonal beer and fireside drinking. Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to have a nice outdoor fire all season. If it wasn’t windy, we had someplace to be. And, if we didn’t have someplace to be, we were probably home sick. The last four weeks have been a challenge. My son and daughter had the swine flu and my wife and I both had sinus infections. Needless to say, I wasn’t in the slightest condition to give any objective beer reviews. But, the Brewski is back in the saddle. This time around I went to the fridge for Ichabod Ale. It’s a rather pricey Pumpkin Ale that I thought would hit the spot. It was tasty. The overall subtle spice flavors were, let’s say average. There are plenty more to try so I’ll keep at it until I find the perfect Pumpkin Ale beer for Mr. Brewski.

Drinkability: Nice spicy flavor. Goes down smooth.
Appearance: Pale to Medium Amber in color. No head retention.
The Buds: Decent beverage. Could have a more bold spice taste to it.
TBR Cap Rating: 4.0 out of 5.

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September 20, 2009

Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale Beer Review 9.20.09

Filed under: Buffalo Bill's Brewery — Tags: 4.25 Rating, Buffalo Bill's Brewery, California, Domestic, Fall, George Washington, Microbrew, Pumpkin Ale, Pumpkin Pie, Seasonal, Thanksgiving — Tommy Brewski @ 7:23 pm

Buffalo Bill's Seasonal Pumpkin Ale Beer

The Brewski Report Reviews Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale.
File Date: 9.20.09

File Name: Carve Out A Place For Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale
The Beer: Pumpkin Ale
Type: Pumpkin Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 5.2% ABV
Brewer: Buffalo Bill’s Brewery
Country of Origin: Hayward, CA USA
Brewer Info: In the early 1980s, beer enthusiast and famed photojournalist Bill Owens envisioned opening an authentic brew pub similar to those that existed in England. It would serve up homemade, hearty libations with character and integrity. At the time, California law prevented the joint operation of a brewery and pub, and true beer lovers had few alternatives to watery, mass produced beers, unless they could figure out how to make their own homebrew. But the law changed in early 1983, giving brew pubs the green light to draft their own beer on the premises. Owens, a pioneer in the early brewpub movement, poured himself into making his dream a reality, and opened Buffalo Bill’s Brewery in Hayward California. It would be the second oldest brewpub in the country (the first had opened just a couple of weeks earlier), and the oldest in the Bay Area. Today, Buffalo Bill’s stands as a shrine to microbrew lovers worldwide, and a gem of Hayward’s local entertainment scene. This year, we toast to 25 years on the microbrew frontier, quenching the thirst and soothing the souls of those who truly appreciate great beer.

Brewer Brand Hype: Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale is the most sought after seasonal beer. It is believed that George Washington brewed beer using this bright orange squash. In modern times, Buffalo Bill’s ‘Pumpkin Ale’ is a true original microbrew that uses baked and roasted pumpkins. Cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg are added to create what has been described as, “pumpkin pie in a bottle”.

Label: Ale Brewed with Real Pumpkin and Natural Spice Flavor.

The Brewski Review: If I haven’t written it before, I’ll state it now: I love fall. This year it came faster which makes me wonder if we’ll skip right through fall and head into winter, which I don’t really care for. But fall is cozy to me. It’s great to have an outdoor fire in the fall. Smoke is in the air. Leaves crunch under every step and the crisp air is refreshing. And who doesn’t like Thanksgiving? All the food and drinks? Yum. Nothing like laying on the couch with a full belly and the only ambition you have it to try and get up to eat more. That what was driving my desire to find my perfect fall beer. Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale comes close. It’s tasty, just like a pumpkin pie. I’ve read other reviews on it and many don’t have good things to say. I disagree. Perhaps there are better versions of Pumpkin Ale available but this one is pretty darn good. It’s the closest taste to fall I’ve had so far.

Drinkability: Goes down smooth. No aftertaste. Not bitter.
Appearance: Dark golden in color. Almost an amber color.
The Buds: It does taste like pumpkin pie. Yum.
TBR Cap Rating: 4.25 out of 5.

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