6 Scary Good Beers

 

With Halloween upon us and all the pumpkin and Oktoberfest beers consumed, it seems like a good time to discuss some Halloween-themed beers. These beers are not simply scary because they are produced to be kitschy, centered around the holiday beers that have no substance; rather, they’re scary because they are so good, not to mention that each has a very spooky name.

1. AleSmith Brewing Co. - Evil Dead Red: AleSmith is widely known for their world-class Speedway Stout - and with good reason. It’s an amazing beer (though it must be said that AleSmith produces many amazing beers), and Evil Dead Red shows the brewery’s talents in spades. Not only is the bottle eye-catching this time of year with zombies galore, the wonderful biting hop aroma and the fact that the beer pours a deep blood red makes it perfect for the Halloween season. Not to mention that the 6.66 percent ABV also makes for a nice touch of evil to ponder while enjoying this fantastic red ale.

2. Three Floyd’s Brewing Co. - Zombie Dust: Unfortunately, this amazing imperial IPA is very tough to track down due to its cult status and brewery’s limited distribution. However, this does not detract from the sheer amazingness of this world class beer. The aggressive hopping can be overpowering for some new to the style, but those who frequently enjoy the hoppier side of their beer will find it a truly eye-opening experience. Be warned though that indulging in too many of these will quickly turn you into a mindless zombie of sorts, and all other IPAs may quickly fall short in comparison.

3. Rogue Brewing Co. - Dead Guy Ale: Easily the most widely available beer on the list and also available year-round. Rogue’s take on the classic Maibock beer has created a brew with a cult-like following, and helped transition us into the craft beer-loving consumers we are today. The sweet malt backbone combined with the mild hopping makes Dead Guy a wonderful beer to indulge in on these cool fall evenings. This is also a great beer for craft beer newbies to indulge in.

4. Clown Shoes Brewing Co. - Vampire Slayer: Clown Shoes may have a ridiculous name for the company, but they are putting out seriously wonderful beers. Vampire Slayer is one of the darkest and richest stouts out there. The aroma of roasted chocolate malts explodes from the glass and the full body gives the beer a chocolate milk-like quality, also making it the perfect vessel for a delicious beer float with a favorite ice cream. The 10 percent ABV also makes this one a bit scary, as it can quickly sneak up on you and terrorize your dreams.

5. Mikkeller Brewing Co. - It’s Alive!: Mikkeller is widely regarded as one of the best breweries in the world, despite not having a true brewery to call its own. Mikkeller manages to produce fantastic beers throughout the world and It’s Alive is no exception. This Belgian ale is aged in white wine barrels to produce ale that has slight sour notes with the delicious fruity esters from the Belgian yeast strain. It’s Alive! is a very complex, and enjoyable, ale.

6. Avery Brewing Co. - Mephistopheles: This 18 percent ABV behemoth will quickly conjure up your inner demons if you do not show it the respect that it deserves. Avery has perfected the craft of high ABV beers that hide the alcohol very well, which makes for a delicious drinking experience - though it can easily lead to a rough morning. Mephistopheles is an imperial stout with a huge amount of complexities, making it perfect to sip on during an all-night horror movie marathon.

Fresh Pumpkin from the Patch

Beer: Pumpkin Patch Ale

Brewer: Rogue Brewing Company

Style: Pumpkin Ale

ABV: 5.60%

Why is this just hitting the stores now?The reason this pumpkin beer may seem “late” this year is because Rogue grows their own pumpkins and waits for them to be at their ripest before picking them, roasting each pumpkin before adding it to the beer. This is a process which involved nearly everyone at the company. Many other breweries that have had pumpkin beers available early can do so because they either use canned pumpkin or produce more of a spiced beer rather than pumpkin ale. This extra attention to freshness is what makes Pumpkin Patch Ale a truly world-class pumpkin beer.

Description: Rogue’s Pumpkin Patch Ale pours a deep caramel copper color with off-white head that does not linger long, but does leave a heavy lacing on the glass. Pumpkin spice is definitely present in the aroma of this beer. Notes of cinnamon, clove, all-spice, and caramelized roasted pumpkin are the leading aromas with background notes of sweet malts and just a hint of vanilla to round out the experience. Thankfully, the taste follows the nose and this beer is as good as you would imagine, judging by the aroma. The sweet malt and spices hit the palate first and leave a lovely coating before a hint of bitterness washes over from the roasted pumpkin before the very long dry finish. The body is in the medium-full range, with moderate carbonation that is able to hold all of the wonderful spices and deliver a superb pumpkin beer.

Food pairing: The sweetness of this beer backed with the spices and roasted pumpkin make it an absolute dream pairing with desserts. Pair this pumpkin beer with your next cheesecake, especially of the pumpkin variety, as the creaminess of it will be enhanced by the sweet malts and the spices will combine to add another layer of complexity to the pairing. Pumpkin Patch Ale is also wonderful with cinnamon raisin ice cream; again the creaminess enhances this beer and the spices certainly complement one another. This beer is definitely not limited to desserts, though, and pairs very well with all of the courses for a rich Thanksgiving dinner. While this pumpkin beer may be “late” to market when compared to some others, it has certainly arrived right on time to be fully enjoyed with all of your favorite fall dishes.

The final word: Rogue is a world class brewery and has undoubtedly put its time and dedication into making a fantastic pumpkin ale. Their attention to freshness and details shine through in this beer. While the price tag may seem a bit hefty when compared to others on the market, you can be assured that it’s worth it due to the high quality product that is waiting inside. Also, the bottle itself is worth a bit more in the price for the bright, fall-like orange color. Whatever your stance is on pumpkin ales, I cannot recommend getting your hands on Rogue’s Pumpkin Patch Ale enough, so get out there and grab a bottle while you still can.

Rating: W W W W V

Where can I get it? Currently available in bottles at: Wegmans, Dickson City and Wilkes Barre. However, call around for this one, as many stores are just now getting it in stock.

Fallin' for it

 

Beer: Fall Hornin’

Brewer: Anderson Valley Brewing Company

Style: Pumpkin Ale

ABV: 6.00%

Description: Anderson Valley’s Fall Hornin’ pours clear dark reddish amber with a foamy light beige head that dissipates, leaving a thin lacing behind. The smell is just what you would expect from a pumpkin ale with the aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, and allspice, all making its presence known, backed by sweet caramel malts and brown sugar. The taste of this beer follows the nose perfectly with the spices hitting the palate first, cinnamon being the most dominant. Nutmeg and pumpkin add a bit off bitterness before the malts wash over and leave a very long, dry finish. The medium body holds the spices and pumpkin perfectly, and the moderate carbonation scrubs the palate clean. Fall Hornin’ is a very well-balanced and not overly spiced beer, making it another wonderful pumpkin ale to enjoy this fall season.

Food pairing: The spices and sweetness of this beer make it perfect for desserts, but the caramel sweetness also makes it great for rich meat dishes as well. Try Fall Hornin’ with wild boar, pheasant, or duck dishes; the caramel in the beer will highlight the delicious fattiness in the meat, making it feel like it’s melting in your mouth. Another fine bird to try with Fall Hornin’ is roasted turkey, so be sure to keep some of this brew around for Thanksgiving. This is also a fantastic beer to have with a wide variety of desserts, particularly those that we enjoy during the fall season, such as rich spice-heavy cakes, pumpkin pie, ice cream, cranberry scones, or pecan pie. It must be said that this beer is perfect to have on hand for all of Thanksgiving, although it may be difficult to resist the temptation to drink it by then!

The final word: This is the first year that Anderson Valley has brewed Fall Hornin’ and the brewery has certainly hit the ground running in the pumpkin beer category. Fall Hornin’ makes a bold statement as a fantastic pumpkin ale in a very over-saturated market. Pumpkin ales have a tendency to be overly spiced or too sweet, but Fall Hornin’ has the perfect balance of both. Anderson Valley is a world class brewery that has produced some of the best beers available on the market today, and Fall Hornin’ continues to expand this fabulous portfolio.

Rating: W W W W

Where can I get it? Currently available in bottles at Krugel’s Georgetown Deli, Wilkes-Barre; and Wegmans, Dickson City and Wilkes-Barre.

Best When Shared

Brewer-Odell Brewing Company

Beer- Isolation Ale

Style- Winter Warmer

ABV- 6.00%

Description – Odell’s Isolation Ale pours a clear reddish orange hue with a huge rock off white head that sticks around for a long time before disappearing and leaving a very nice lacing on the glass.  The aroma is absolutely perfect for long winter evenings with notes of sweet malts, an almost sugar cookie like note cutting though, hints of spices, and just a touch of fruity hops.  The taste is dominated by malty sweetness of the biscuit and bread variety with a good amount of hop bite cutting through as well with some residual sweetness and herbal hop taste on the finish.  The medium body and mild amount of carbonation leaves a very clean, crisp, and refreshing taste on the palate.  This is a very well balanced and less heavy version of traditional winter warmers that tend to be very heavy and filling and can be difficult to drink more than one, however Isolation Ale is great to have on hand in larger quantities.  Isolation Ale is another world class example of a style brewed by Odell.

Food pairing – The wonderful body and malty sweetness of Isolation Ale make it a perfect companion for a wide variety of desserts.  Try pairing it will gingerbread cookies to highlight the subtle spices that cut through in the beer and the caramel sweetness will grab onto the sugar and never let go.  Isolation Ale is also great to have with a rich decadent German chocolate cake or pineapple upside cake with highlight both the malty sweetness and the hops within the beer.  Isolation Ale is also a perfect beer to cook with, try making some hearty spiced holiday bread or add it to your favorite steak topping for a wonderful reduction and flavor bonus.

The Final Word – Odell has garnered a reputation as a phenomenal brewery by producing fantastic beers such as Isolation Ale.  They also make unique statements on traditional styles and somehow make adjustments that create very drinkable versions of otherwise heavier beer styles.  Winter Warmers are traditionally very heavy and not for everyone in that the overly malty style can put many off.  However, Odell truly created something exceptional with Isolation Ale in that it is not only extremely approachable for everyone, but the malty sweetness is still present, just more well-balanced.  Isolation Ale is an absolute must try during the cold winter months.

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Where can I get it? -  Odell beer can be found in: AZ, CO, ID, KS, MN, MO, NE, NM, SD, and WY

A Spring of Flavor

 

Brewer-Odell Brewing Company

Beer- Wellspring

Style- Saison/ Farmhouse Ale

ABV- 6.60%

Description – Wellspring pours a hazy straw yellow orange color with a very fine wispy white head the does not linger too longer but leaves a decent lacing on the glass.  The aroma emanates with lemon, banana, pepper, and mild citrus hops along with a bit of wet malt aroma as a background note and balanced out by the funky Saison yeast.  The taste is very enjoyable with citrus and tropical notes from the hops hitting up front followed by banana, clover, and bready malts that are standard with the Saison style.  The dry hopping added a good deal of complexity to the Saison style and gave it more of a bite to balance out with the crispness.  The body is more on the full side with a little less carbonation than the effervescent amount usually attributed to this style.  Wellspring is a fine example of a Saison and Odell has yet again taken a style of beer and made it their own with their usual flair.  Overall just as advertised, a very nicely hopped and enjoyable Saison.

Food pairing – The Saison style lends itself for lighter fare and despite the nice hopping addition, Wellspring follows suite.  Saisons also go perfectly with cheeses, try Wellspring with Humbolt Fog for an absolutely mind blowing experience.  The earthiness of the cheese melds seamlessly into the Saison while the hops pick up on all of the sweetness locked within.  Wellspring is also great to have with salads, especially those that have a nice citrus twist whether it is topped with shrimp or just delicious citrusy vinaigrette, Wellspring is perfect!  Also try this with light seafood or chicken dishes.  Wellspring is best when enjoyed with light foods that do not have a lot of heavy spicing.  Whatever you pair this wit though, you will certainly have the experience enhanced!

The Final Word – A very refreshing Saison that is worth trying if you are a fan of the style.  The dry hopping used in this version adds a great deal of hoppiness not usually found in Saisons, but does not create any off flavors or affect the overall balance of the beer.  The hop notes only go to enhance an already well made Saison, which goes to show that a well-made beer should be the base of any experimenting.  Odell just never ceases to amaze in the amount of quality beers that one brewery can produce.  Fans of Saisons and hoppier beers should certainly seek out Wellspring, it is an extremely approachable beer for any craft beer enthusiast.

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Where can I get it? -  Odell beer can be found in: AZ, CO, ID, KS, MN, MO, NE, NM, SD, and WY

For the Brave at Heart

Brewer-Odell Brewing Company

Beer- 90 Shilling Ale

Style- Scottish Ale

ABV- 5.30%

Description – 90 Shilling pours clear dark amber with a foamy deep beige head that settles out slowly leaving a thick persistent lacing on the glass.  The aroma is dominated by malts with caramel being the strongest with hints of toffee and brown sugar cutting through as well, very little hop aroma coming through.  Malts are also the first taste to hit the palate, standard for the style. Notes of caramel, chocolate, bread, brown sugar, and ever so subtle hints of oak wash over the palate creating a lovely malt sweetness that lingers long.  The body of 90 Shilling is a bit different that many traditional scotch ales in that it is much lighter and this combined with the moderate carbonation creates a very sessionable beer.  The subtle complexities and easy drinkability of 90 Shilling makes it obvious why this is Odell’s flagship beer.

Food pairing – The malty character of this beer make it a great accompaniment for a wide variety of meat dishes.  90 Shilling is absolutely perfect with lamb especially lamb chops covered with olive oil, rosemary, cracked black pepper, and a sprinkle of sea salt.  Also try with an assortment of game birds such as pheasant, partridge, and quail are all perfect companions.  Being that Scotch ales have the British tradition behind them they are perfect for many traditional English dishes and the heartier the better. Try with dishes such as braised rabbit, grouse, venison steak medallions, guinea fowl, quail,  or even a hearty Scotch egg, all of these dishes will pair perfectly with this delicious malty Scotch ale. 

The Final Word – 90 Shilling is another world class example from a world class brewery.  The Scottish Ale style is one that many breweries have on their roster, but is for the most part a forgotten style amongst breweries.  Odell has capitalized on this and produced an absolutely striking example.  While the malty character of this beer may put off the IPA diehards that have come to dominate the craft beer market, do not be mistaken that this beer is just amazing.  The complex character within this beer and the lingering malty sweetness combine to produce a beer that can be enjoyed for long hours as the depth of character continues to evolve within 90 Shilling as it warms up.  Bottom line: try this beer!

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Where can I get it? -  Odell beer can be found in: AZ, CO, ID, KS, MN, MO, NE, NM, SD, and WY

A World Class IPA

Brewer-Odell Brewing Company

Beer- Odell IPA

 Style- American IPA

ABV- 7.00%

Description – Odell’s IPA pours a somewhat hazy semi-orange golden hue with a thick frothy white head that dissipates and leaves a great amount of cobweb like lacing on the glass.  The aroma is a masterful showcase of hops with notes of grapefruit, orange, pine, resin, and tropical fruits out front with caramel and honey malts providing a strong backbone.  The pine and grapefruit cut through the malts and hit the palate first with the grainy malts clinging to the hops and taste buds and linger for a long dry finish of malt sweetness and piney hops.  The body is in the medium range with a moderate amount of carbonation that cleanses the palate very well in between sips.  Odell’s IPA does tend toward the hoppier side but still maintains a fantastic balance for yet another amazing Odell beer.

Food Pairing – The hop bite from Odell IPA makes it the perfect selection to have with spicier dishes.  Try pairing with your next curry dish or spicy Thai food.  The hops with dance in circles around the spices and the sweet malts will cool and cleanse the palate impeccably.   This is also a perfect beer to have with shellfish or any seafood dish in general and be sure to include some lemon in the dish to enhance the hop presence.  The perfect carbonation in this beer enables it to stand up to heartier and spicier dishes that some of its IPA compatriots may fall apart against.  So do not be afraid to pair this IA with very spicy dishes, it can handle whatever you throw at it!

The Final Word – Odell IPA is a true standout in a marketplace that is very oversaturated with India Pale Ales and where many tend to taste similar to the next. The balance of the beer with the hop choices made create a beer that can be enjoyed in large quantities without the slightest hint of palate fatigue while still delivering a great hop bite.  This IPA certainly belongs on any top 10 list for IPA’s and ranks up there with the best of them both in hop presence and overall enjoyment.  This is an absolute must try for any fan of IPA’s and craft beer in general.

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Where can I get it? -  Odell beer can be found in: AZ, CO, ID, KS, MN, MO, NE, NM, SD, and WY