Saturday, October 31, 2015

Alltech's Lexington Brewing Company Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Alltech's Lexington Brewing Company Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale. I picked up this bottle at Lonestar Beverages (here) in Carrollton, TX.

From the Alltech's Lexington Brewing Company website: “Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale – A barrel-aged ale brewed with Kentucky-sourced pumpkin, richly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. As the ale is aged in fresh bourbon barrels, the sweetness of caramel and vanilla are imparted upon the brew and complement its spicier base. At 10 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), this robust, limited release seasonal makes for a flavorful sipping beer to slowly warm up with as the weather cools.

Other details
Launched in Fall 2013, Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale was the first beer in the barrel-aged seasonal program and returned in Fall 2014.”
Let’s get started!
Appearance: Pours a clear golden honey color with a thin bone colored head and good lacing.
Aroma: Sweet caramel malt, bourbon, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, vanilla and a slight scent of pumpkin.
Taste: Bourbon is upfront with caramel malt followed by vanilla, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, oak and slight pumpkin flavor.
Overall: I am a BIG fan of Alltech's Lexington Brewing Company Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale and wish I had brought more home with me.  This 10% ABV offering drinks much lighter than the ABV and is a masterfully balanced barrel aged Ale.  I highly recommend this for fans of the style.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Friday, October 30, 2015

Texas Big Beer Brewery BIG! Pumpkin Pie Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Texas Big Beer Brewery BIG! Pumpkin Pie Ale. I picked up this bottle while in Texas at Hall’s Wine & Spirits (here) which is a must visit bottle shop if you find yourself in or around Dallas.

Commercial description: “A rich malty Pumpkin Ale brewed with pumpkin and spiced like Grandmaw’s pumpkin pie.”
Let’s get started!
Appearance: Pours reddish brown with a thin off-white head and leaves nice lacing.
Aroma: Toasted malts, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, molasses, nutmeg and allspice.
Taste: Toasted malts, pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, ginger and allspice), brown sugar, vegetal notes from pumpkin and boozy.
Overall: Smooth and thick, Texas Big Beer Brewery BIG! Pumpkin Pie Ale is a nice pumpkin ale. It doesn’t have the drinkability of some other pumpkin ales, but this 7.8% ABV offering is certainly worth a try if you’re a fan of the style.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Thursday, October 29, 2015

Wicked Weed Brewing Xibalba Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Wicked Weed Brewing Xibalba Imperial Pumpkin Ale With Cacao Nibs, Chiles And Spices. I picked this bottle up at Stella Brew (here) in Winston-Salem, NC. They have an excellent selection and we’re very helpful helping me pick out some local “must have” beers to bring home.  If you find yourself in the area stop in, buy some beverages and tell them that Mark from NorCal Beer Blog sent you!

Commercial description: “For everything there is a season and tradition. That’s why our pumpkin ale, brewed with cacao nibs, ancho, serrano, and habenero chiles with fall spices, is brewed once a year during the onset of autumn. Inspired by the mythos of the ancients, Xibalba (she-bahl-bah) is an otherworldly reminder that seasons are fleeting and to be celebrated.”
Let’s get started!
Appearance: Pours a dark reddish brown color with a tan head and leaves lots of lacing.
Aroma: Roasted malts, cacao, pumpkin, chilies, brown sugar and light cinnamon, nutmeg and other pumpkin pie spices.
Taste: Chilies and chocolate up front followed by cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin and slight caramel and vanilla notes.  Slight heat in the finish.
Overall: If you’re a fan of peppers and chocolate, Wicked Weed Brewing Xibalba Imperial Pumpkin Ale is for you.  Executed very well, this 8.2% ABV offering is worth a try.  It is mole meets pumpkin beer.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

If you haven’t already, please like the NorCal Beer Blog on Facebook (here)

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Boulevard Brewing Company Funky Pumpkin

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Boulevard Brewing Company Funky Pumpkin - Spiced Sour Ale.  I picked up this bottle at Lonestar Beverages (here) in Carrollton, TX.

From the Boulevard Brewing Company website: “Our entry in the very popular pumpkin ale market is an eccentric one, with pumpkin flavor scarcely present, upstaged by cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and ginger. A pleasant tartness prevails, with barrel aging providing a mellow roundness, and Brettanomyces putting the "unk" in Funky.”
Let’s get started!
Appearance: Pours translucent golden orange color with a nice off-white head and left some good lacing.
Aroma: Pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and ginger), funky Brett and just a slight pumpkin scent.

Taste: Tart, sour and funky with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice leading the way to a slightly dry finish with pumpkin flavor somewhere in the distance.
Overall: Pumpkin sour…yes, I enjoyed Boulevard Brewing Company Funky Pumpkin.  This 5.8% ABV offering is funky, quite drinkable and worth a shot. I’d certainly pick this one up again.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

If you haven’t already, please like the NorCal Beer Blog on Facebook (here)

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

October Silence...

Hello beer lovers,

I've taken some time off from posting here, but will be back soon with brew reviews.

In the meantime since it is October my other blog, Mark Harvey's World (here) has a post a day.

Check it out if you're seeking some October fun.



Cheers!

Mark Harvey