Masthead Brewing Co. - Haunted Hayride Pumpkin Ale

We're now into the second week in October and there's yet to be a new pumpkin beer review!?

Time to change that! The pumpkin beers are again out in force and it's time to once again rate a few in my highly scientific Drunken Jackos rating scale. Every Halloween season, I grab any new pumpkin beer that hasn't been rated in previous seasons, pop the cap and see how it stacks up.

First up is Masthead Brewing Co.'s "Haunted Hayride Pumpkin Ale." This one is brewed right up the road in Cleveland and was available at my local grocery store.

Right off the bat, I knew I was in for something good. The 7.3% ABV beer poured a dense, dark copper color with a slight foam head from the tall can and gave off a wonderful, not-too-intense cinnamon pumpkin spice note. 

Upon first taste, I got a nice, subtle pumpkin spice up front. It smoothed out in the middle with a light hint of ginger and finished with the slightest earthy, malt and nutmeg aftertaste.

This beer was smooth, balanced and really delicious all around and is highly recommended for the October season. And because of that great balance of smooth fragrance and taste, Masthead Brewing Co.'s "Haunted Hayride Pumpkin Ale" scores a 4-out-of-5 Drunken Jackos!

This really is one of the better pumpkin beers that I have tasted and was the perfect beer to get the Drunken Jackos scale started off strong. If you can find it on the shelf, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. Cheers!

  

New Holland Brewing - Ichabod Pumpkin Ale

In between freakouts over how much I still have to do for the big night, I still find a little time to stop and enjoy a cold seasonal beverage or two. And I still look forward to putting each one up against my highly scientific Drunken Jackos rating scale!! So let's get to it!!

Up next is New Holland Brewing's Ichabod Pumpkin Ale. After stumbling at the start of this October (habanero and pumpkin??), I was excited to get some delicious pumpkin ales tested. And the Ichabod Pumpkin Ale didn't disappoint!

Upon first pour, I noticed the nice vivid copper orange color and slight head. This beer gives off an immediate, sweet cinnamon/pumpkin pie note, and that same sweetness continues through to the taste. That sweetness is nicely tempered with a slightly dry and malty nutmeg aftertaste. It has a nice complexity in the range of flavor and maintains a smoothness all the way through.

And because of that wonderfully complex balance between cinnamon sweetness and malty nuttiness (all while maintaining its smoothness), New Holland Brewing's Ichabod Pumpkin Ale receives 3.5 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

This beer has been on my local grocery store shelf for a couple of years now, and I'm sorry I didn't pick this one up sooner. I tore through the entire six pack pretty quickly and plan on getting back to the store and picking up some more before the last of the pumpkin beers disappear, only to be replaced with those dreaded Christmas Ales...

I highly recommend this one and suggest a six pack of your own if you can still find it! Cheers!

Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. - Pumpkin Ale

Time for another pumpkin beer to face the dreaded Drunken Jackos rating scale!

Up next is Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.'s Pumpkin Ale. Yes, this one is LITERALLY brewed just around the corner from the cemetery, but this was my first chance to try this seasonal beer.

Upon first pour I noticed the hazy, light copper color and a nice thick, creamy head not usually found in other pumpkin beers. It had a nice sweet pumpkin note due to the inclusion of honey into the brew.

The flavor was rather light yet creamy, with hints of pumpkin and a smooth sweetness of honey, but as I continued to drink it, it began to give off a somewhat earthy spice scent.

The beer went down smooth all the way through, and the transition from sweet pumpkin to earthy spice note was an unexpected surprise. I quickly went through the entire four-pack this weekend and definitely plan on going back to grab another this Halloween season.

And because of that light, sweet, creamy smooth pumpkin drinkability, Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.'s Pumpkin Ale receives 3.5 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

I'm not sure about availability outside of the Northeast Ohio area, but if you can find it, a four pack would be well worth the price! Cheers!

  

DuClaw Brewing - 31 Pumpkin Spiced Lager

The pumpkin beers are out in force and it's time to once again rate a few in my highly scientific Drunken Jackos rating scale. Every Halloween season, I grab any new pumpkin beer that hasn't been rated in previous seasons, pop the cap and see how it stacks up.

DuClaw Brewing's 31 Pumpkin Spiced Lager is the first pumpkin lager I have ever tasted, and I was excited to try it out. I was interested to see how much pumpkin could be blended into a lager style beer...

Upon first pour, I was surprised at the beer's dark copper color. It only had the slightest note of pumpkin, but had a nice spice fragrance. That spiciness was also present in the taste, finishing with a slight malty dryness of nutmeg. While the sweet pumpkin flavor wasn't really noticeable, the great mix of spices made up for it nicely. And even with that, the lager style beer kept it light enough and very drinkable, especially on those busy nights in the garage, hammering away at this year's props.

Because of the lager-styled lightness and drinkability coupled with the complex spice flavors, DuClaw Brewing's 31 Pumpkin Spiced Lager earns 3.5 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

On a side note, I would really like to sample their 62 Imperial Pumpkin Ale in the near future, because twice as much of a good thing couldn't possibly be bad, right?

  
  

Sam Adams - Pumpkin Batch

You can't have an October countdown without the seasonal pumpkin beers, and you can't have the seasonal pumpkin beers without the official Highbury Cemetery Drunken Jackos rating scale. A highly scientific review system that I put all season pumpkin beers through, presenting the rankings and results with the rest of the Halloween community.

To start the season off, we have Sam Adams Pumpkin Batch.

Upon opening this seasonal saison beer, I was hit with a pungent, earthy note. A strong initial scent versus any of the other pumpkin ales that I've tried this year. The beer itself pours a nice, light copper color and holds a creamy head. At first taste, this beer has a malty, dry, spicy flavor, but finishes with a secondary flavor that reminded me of hop (true to the saison style of brewing).

Because of the saison-flavored uniqueness of this beer versus the standard selection of pumpkin ales you'll find in the stores, Sam Adams Pumpkin Batch gets 3 out of 5 Drunken Jackos. 

I highly recommend this beer as a change of pace from the rest of the pumpkin beer aisle. Not too heavy and a nice, spicy flavor. Definitely pick up a six if you come across it!

 

Harpoon - UFO Pumpkin Ale

So it's only mid-August and the pumpkin beers are already infiltrating the local shelves. I usually hold off on the pumpkin beers until about September, but a beer that I hadn't tried before caught my eye. And with an impulse purchase, it's time to break out the annual Drunken Jackos rating system!

Harpoon UFO Pumpkin caught my eye, as it is an unfiltered pumpkin ale. I expected a lighter pumpkin beer (more aligned with an unfiltered wheat) and I wasn't disappointed.

It poured a light, cloudy amber hue and was capped with a nice foam head. It started with a slight caramel note, and had a malty caramel flavor with a hint of pumpkin and spice. It finished smooth with a slight malt aftertaste.

This pumpkin beer has a nice light flavor, as opposed to other heavier, spicier pumpkin beers and is highly recommended to start off the fall season. Overall, a very solid release to get the season going, and because of this, Harpoon UFO Pumpkin gets 3.5 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

 

New Belgium - Pumpkick

The seasonal pumpkin beers are flowing fast and furiously around the Cemetery as we count down the final week until Halloween. It's the rocket fuel that propels me through the remaining builds for this year's yard haunt. Today, I'm sipping on some New Belgium Pumpkick. And like all pumpkin beers this season, it must face the dreaded Drunken Jackos rating scale!

When I first heard about New Belgium's seasonal beer, I made sure to keep an eye out, as I really wanted to try it. New Belgium's beers have only been available in this area since February, and Pumpkick, like all of the New Belgium beers, have been flying off the shelves.

Upon pouring the Pumpkick, I noticed a subtle, sweet, spicy aroma as the medium copper-brown beer filled the glass. With the first taste, I noticed the spicy, pumpkin flavor, but was pleasantly surprised by an aftertaste of this beer's special ingredient: cranberry. What a nice surprise! It had a tart, sweet aftertaste that really sets it apart from any of the other pumpkin beers that I have reviewed this year. Honestly, while drinking this beer, the flavors reminded me of Thanksgiving dinner! The balance of the spicy pumpkin followed by the sweet cranberry make this one of the favorite beers of everyone in the Cemetery, and I hope to score a few more bottles before the season ends.

The only downside is that after two beers, the cranberry became a bit overpowering. But honestly, that is a very minor ding. The subtle aroma coupled with the spicy pumpkin flavor and that wonderful finish of cranberry earns New Belgium Pumpkick 4.5 out of 5 Drunken Jackos. This really is a nice change of pace to all of the other pumpkin beers on the market right now. This one will definitely be in the Cemetery cooler on Halloween night!!

 

Tommyknocker - Small Patch Pumpkin Harvest Ale

Straight from the mountains of Colorado comes the next pumpkin beer to face the Drunken Jackos scale. Tommyknocker Small Patch Pumpkin Harvest Ale pours nice and dark for a pumpkin beer, due in part to the molasses that it is brewed with.

After pouring the rich, dark beer into the glass, I noticed a subtle, spicy, earthy aroma. Not so much pumpkin as much as nutmeg. The taste was surprisingly light and somewhat sweet with a hint of cinnamon. Again, I think the molasses plays a part in sweetening the overall flavor of this beer. The pumpkin flavor, although very subtle too, stays with you in the aftertaste. And, at only 5.0% ABV, I was able to drink a couple of these in a sitting.

Overall, a nice sweet and flavorful beer. It might not have the straight forward pumpkin taste that our other reviewed beers have, but the sweet molasses flavoring gives it a nice change of pace. And because of that, Tommyknocker Small Patch Pumpkin Harvest Ale gets 3 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

 

 

Dogfish Head - Punkin Ale

The next pumpkin beer to face the Drunken Jackos scale is our reigning champ of pumpkin beers, Dogfish Head Punkin Ale. A refreshing and clean blend of pumpkin and brown sugar, the Punkin Ale pours a nice brown/copper color and has a slight note of cinnamon spice. The taste isn't overwhelming, but is a very pleasant, balanced and clean pumpkin flavor.

This beer hit the local grocery store shelves later than many of the other pumpkin beers this season, but my patience has once again paid off. Punkin Ale is still my go-to pumpkin beer because of its perfect balance and subtle, sweet pumpkin flavoring. And because of this, Dogfish Head Punkin Ale gets an astounding 4.5 out of 5 Drunken Jackos!!

(As a side note, this beer is even better when it is served on tap at our local watering hole, as they coat the rim of the pint glass in brown sugar. Sweet pumpkin heaven!!)

 

Smuttynose - Pumpkin Ale

The next pumpkin beer up to face the Drunken Jackos rating scale comes from Smuttynose Brewing Company in New Hampshire. 

The Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale pours a light, hazy, copper color with a nice head. It greets you with a spicy, earthy scent right out of the bottle. The pumpkin flavor is pretty subtle, but there are definite hints of nutmeg, leading to a malty, dry finish.

Another recommended selection on this year's pumpkin beer shelf. A clean taste with spices and a malty finish earns the Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale 3 out of 5 Drunken Jackos!

Southern Tier - Warlock Imperial Pumpkin Stout

The pumpkin beers are reaching the local shelves, so it's time to stock up the Cemetery fridge and roll out the infamous "Drunken Jackos" rating system for 2014!

First up is Southern Tier's Warlock Imperial Pumpkin Stout.

This beer is no joke. It poured a thick, rich black with a nice brown head. And at 8.6% ABV, it gave just enough kick. This beer started with a really nice aroma of spicy pumpkin and nutmeg. It was almost reminiscent of their Pumking Ale. The real difference was in the taste. This beer had a rich, dry roasted malt flavor with a dash of coffee. There was a slight hint of pumpkin, but the standard stout malt was definitely the predominant flavor.

I really liked this beer and it only took one glass to get me feeling all toasty inside. I'm definitely going to pick up another bottle or two and save them for the colder days of fall. This one would be perfect for a chilly fall evening by a fire, and because of that, Southern Tier Warlock Imperial Pumpkin Stout gets 3.5 out of 5 Drunken Jackos!

Octoberfest Hits The Shelves

I went to the local grocery store to pick up some beer for tonight's prop building session and I was greeted by a nice surprise. The first batch of Sam Adams Octoberfest had just been put out on display! Sorry Fat Tire, but I couldn't pass up the first six pack of the season. Because we all know that as soon as the Octoberfest hits the shelves, the myriad of new pumpkin ales aren't far behind!

 

Samuel Adams - Fat Jack Double Pumpkin

I finally had the opportunity to pick up a big bottle of Samuel Adams Fat Jack Double Pumpkin this weekend and now we put it up against the Drunken Jacko Rating Scale!

This one poured a rich, deep copper color with a nice amount of head. I immediately had a scent of pumpkin with hints of spice. 

This beer drinks very smooth and is very flavorful. A nice bit of pumpkin complimented by touches of earthy spice and a bit of a dry, malty end note. It's big on warm, rich fall flavors and is a great bottle to have on hand to get you through to winter.

Samuel Adams Fat Jack Double Pumpkin receives 3.5 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

Epic Brewing - Imperial Pumpkin Porter

Time once again to review another pumpkin beer from the Cemetery fridge. Up this time is Epic Brewing's Fermentation Without Representation Imperial Pumpkin Porter. This one got me excited, as I had never had a pumpkin porter before. The cool thing about this beer is that you could see which release you had, identified by the sticker on the side (I had #10). I went to their site and saw when the beer was brewed, bottled and what ingredients were used. Cool!

Upon opening, the beer didn't have the spicy or sweet pumpkin scent that other pumpkin beers had. It poured thick and dark like a typical porter with a nice, light brown head.

The taste was that of a typical porter, too. No real pumpkin presence, but it had a nice chocolatey coffee flavor with a malty aftertaste. There was a hint of spice, although I really couldn't determine what it was.

I would definitely recommend this beer for the late fall/early winter season due to its hearty coffee flavor, but based on a scale with that of other pumpkin beers, this one didn't feel very "pumpkiny." The beer is brewed with a few spices, but they got masked by the forward flavors of chocolate and coffee.

Epic Brewing's Fermentation Without Representation Imperial Pumpkin Porter gets 2 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

Hoppin' Frog Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale

Next up to face the Drunken Jackos rating scale is Hoppin' Frog's Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale. This one may have a bias right off the start because it is brewed literally down the street from Highbury Cemetery. I honestly hadn't tried many of their beers before, but if they are as good as this pumpkin ale, I'll be frequenting their tasting room in the very near future!

This one surprised me on first pour, as I wasn't expecting such a light coppery colored beer. You can also see in the picture that there was no real head with it. I was half-expecting a bad, flat bottle, but that wasn't the case at all.

Right off the bat I got a nice, spicy cinnamon/nutmeg aroma. The beer was very smooth without the usual up-front sweet pumpkin flavor that you get with most other pumpkin ales. This one had a really great spicy and nutty flavor with a hint of clove. I would almost describe this beer as having a flavorful, earthy taste.

Hoppin' Frog's Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale was a nice change of pace from the rest of the pumpkin ales that I have tried. The flavors seemed to be more spicy, earthy and complex and made for an enjoyable beer that will be back in my fridge soon! This is a highly recommended purchase and receives a 3.5 out of 5 on the Drunken Jackos Rating Scale.

Chatoe Rogue Pumpkin Patch Ale

The first batch of pumpkin ales have just hit the shelves! I had gone to the local store to pick up some new Sam Adams Octoberfest, but my eyes lit up upon seeing this season's first bottles of pumpkin ale.

First up is Rogue Ales' Chatoe Rogue First Growth Pumpkin Patch Ale. It's really hard to miss this big orange bottle on the shelf.

On first pour, I got a nice sweet cinnamon scent from the velvety smooth, dark amber ale.

From the bottle:
Dedicated to Farmers and Fermenters. GYO is a Rogue Ales term for Grow Your Own. We made this ale with our own hops, barley and pumpkins.

Created with pumpkins grown on Rogue's Micro hop and pumpkin yard in Independence, Oregon. Fresh pumpkins are picked, loaded into our truck, driven immediately 77 miles to our brewery in Newport, Oregon, quickly roasted, and pitched into the brew kettle.


The beer starts with a smooth, subtle hint of sweet pumpkin and ends with a dry, caramel aftertaste with the slightest bit of hop.

Really a great way to get the pumpkin beer season underway! Chatoe Rogue First Growth Pumpkin Patch Ale receives 3 out of 5 Drunken Jackos!

 

 

Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Time to review another of the many pumpkin beers that have made it to my refrigerator shelf during this Halloween season.

This time up, from Easton, Pennsylvania it's Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale.

This 8.0% Ale poured a nice deep brownish red and gave off a warm, earthy cinnamon pumpkin scent. The taste, while light on pumpkin, did have a very nice spice flavor with a smooth caramel aftertaste. 

Overall, I liked this beer because it didn't have the typical, sweet "pumpkin" flavor. The earthy, sweet scent was a nice introduction, the spicy flavor was smooth and the caramel aftertaste wasn't overpowering. So with that, Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale rates 3.5 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

 

Southern Tier Imperial Pumking Beer

For me, a big part of the Halloween season is enjoying the vast amount of delicious, seasonal pumpkin beers. Last year, I reviewed a handful of beers and this year I've decided to continue the fine tradition.

First up for 2012 is the 22oz. Southern Tier Imperial Pumking.

This copper-colored beer starts off with a dry, caramel taste followed by a hint of spicy, sweet pumpkin. The big surprise came after I allowed the beer to breathe for a few minutes in the glass, rewarding me with a wonderfully sweet cinnamon cherry fragrance. I spent more time marveling at the incredible smells coming from the glass than actually enjoying the taste of the beer itself, and because of that fragrance alone, I give Southern Tier Imperial Pumking 4 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

I really enjoyed this beer and I highly recommend it if you can find it. I'll be heading back to the local grocery store to stock up on a few more bottles soon.

 

The Fall Season Has Officially Begun!

It's here! The best season of all, marked by the best beer of all! I finally procured my first 4-pack of Dogfish Head Punkin Ale of the year. I waited patiently as other Octoberfest and Pumpkin beers made their way to the shelves, but for me, only one beer has come to celebrate the beginning of the fall season and the exciting countdown to Halloween...

And as always, the first sip was delicious! This beer is going to get me through the next 6 weeks of building and preparation for the big night. So much to do and so little time. Having a new little one in our ranks is presenting a new series of challenges to my home haunt prop building this year, and this little bottle of deliciousness will surely help me get through it all...


And speaking of the new little one, we all went out for our first family outing to the Halloween store today. The entire Highbury family traveled to the local mall to visit the seasonal Halloween USA store. Unfortunately, we were pretty disappointed by what we saw. Not one animated prop display to be found throughout the row and rows of cheap costumes and even cheaper static props. We ended up walking through all of the aisles in about 15 minutes and then walked right out. I was very disappointed that my new little haunter's first experience was such a letdown (although he seemed content as he slept in his car seat the entire time). Today's trip really reminded me why as a home haunter I do what I do. I'd rather build just one home made prop in my basement this year than go and buy any of the overpriced junk filling the rows at a shop like that.

But as we all know, those home made props don't build themselves. Time to grab a cold one and head to the basement. We only have 45 days left...

 

The Fall Beers Are Coming!

Attention, attention beer drinkers! I realize that tomorrow will only be August 1st, but thoughts are already turning to October. Octoberfest, that is! While walking through the beer section at the local grocery store tonight, I spied the first seasonal 6-packs of Sam Adams' Octoberfest. So naturally, I picked one up!

Beautiful new packaging art for this season with the usual hearty, malty flavor that has become the traditional start of the fall season.

Cheers!

Only 92 more days until Halloween, home haunters!! It will be here before you know it... Time for me to get cranking in the garage, because these new props won't be building themselves!!