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September 26, 2012

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Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin

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Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

Easton, PA

Imperial Pumpkin Ale

8% ABV

Another one of the sleeper pumpkin beers widely available come from Weyerbacher, again, one of those “I see them everywhere but never buy their stuff, even though I’m always impressed when I do” breweries for me. (See: Double Simcoe, Insanity, Heresy, etc.)

Coming in at 8%, Imperial Pumpkin is another imperial-style beer that really comes out as a well-rounded and solid example of the style. Standard ingredients – pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg – but Weyerbacher adds cardamom to the brew with theirs, giving it a bit of a different note.

The pour is an almost blood orange, with hints of ruby and copper. Much darker than other pumpkin beers. There’s barely a head to speak of, really weak lacing, and just some mild alcohol legs.

There are big notes of nutmeg and cardamom on the nose. Definitely a bite from the cloves and a richness from the pumpkin, and a bit of heat from the cinnamon. It’s definitely heavy on the spice with a nice sweetness from the pumpkin on the back to balance it out.

The beer is really mellow and rich on the tongue. It’s got an almost creamy mouthfeel from the pumpkin. But as it warms up a bit, the spices really begin to shine through more. There’s a blend of the nutmeg and cinnamon on the end and a big allspice note. The cardamom is also noticeable and a nice addition. The spices work well to compliment the alcohol and the pumpkin does a nice job of keeping it balanced.

I do pass over Weyerbacher beers a lot, but I’ve come to keep an eye out for Imperial Pumpkin. Imperial-style beers really do seem to compliment the pumpkin beer style better, and Weyerbacher does a nice job of keeping that trend going.

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September 11, 2012

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Ommegang Scythe & Sickle

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Brewery Ommegang

Cooperstown, NY

Scythe & Sickle Harvest Ale

5.8% ABV

Fall is easily my favorite time of the year. The weather and scenery in the South are (generally) fantastic, the god-forsaken humidity finally breaks and I get to celebrate another birthday. Fall also means the re-emergence of pumpkin, my favorite flavor, and fall seasonal beers.

When it gets cooler, I’m much more inclined to enjoy heavier and richer beers, so seasonals and pumpkin beers hit the spot. One of the newer fall beers is Scythe & Sickle from Ommegang. “Harvest ale” is a fitting name for the beer as it blends wheat, oats, rye and barley, which is supposed to give it a rich and smooth yet biting taste.

The beer is a brilliantly crystal clear pumpkin orange. There’s about finger of a really fluffy, bubbly head that sticks around. There’s some strong lacing and just some slight alcohol legs

On the nose is a really great sweet bready note. The barley and wheat are certainly noticeable and there’s just a very slight hint of pumpkin and spice, possibly from the rye. I got only a slight hop note as well. But the biggest, most noticeable character comes from the wheat. It’s a really rich and delicious-smelling beer.

There’s a good bit of carbonation on the front of the tongue which gives way to a very smooth and creamy mouthfeel. The sweetness of the wheat pops on the back, and again there’s a slight pumpkin and spice note. The hops are very mild, which is good, since nothing overpowers the slew of grains that go into making it. There’s a big bready yeast note (certainly from the Ommegang yeast), a hint of sweet caramel and just a bit of graininess.

I was really impressed with Scythe & Sickle, as I am with most Ommegang beers. It’s sweet, but not cloyingly so. Bready, not just a touch yeasty. And spicy, but in a sweeter, more mellow fashion. I held off on fall beers until September hit, but after trying this one, I’m glad they’re back.

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September 7, 2012

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SweetWater Motor Boat

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SweetWater Brewing Co.

Atlanta, GA

Motor Boat ESB

5.6% ABV

It’s no secret that I love SweetWater. They’re the reason I started this blog in the first place and the reason I got into craft beer. And as the seasons change, the Atlanta brewery puts out a new entry in its rotating Catch & Release Series.

Motor Boat (what a great name) is their fall seasonal – “Leaf Season,” as they call it – and one of my favorites. It’s an Americanized ESB that takes the traditional British style and gives it a dose of dry-hopping, preserving the malty backbone and finish but with a bigger and more bitter bite.

Motor Boat pours a crystal clear copperish brown. (Fallen leaf brown, maybe?) There’s a finger and half of head that sticks around for a while. Some very mild lacing and alcohol legs.

There’s a very floral and juicy nose. The dry-hopping is extremely prevalent as you get a big, crisp hop bite. There’s a lot of tropical fruit on it, too. Big orange, mango and papaya notes. There’s a very slight pine to it. The sweet caramel maltiness is also prevalent.

On the front of the tongue is a very slight hop bitterness. It’s followed with a medium body mouthfeel but a big, wet, juicy fruit finish. The tropical fruits really pop on the end. That slight pine is also there. The malt backbone adds to the very smooth taste and a hint of caramel on the finish. It’s all incredibly smooth and really easy to drink.

Motor Boat is one of those beers that really fits the season. The ESB style gives it a really clean, mellow taste, something accentuated by the fruit notes from the hops. But the dry-hopping gives it just the right amount of bite, but not so much to mask the sweeter notes.