Romeo’s Real Love

Brewer-Goose Island Beer Company

Beer- Juliet

Style- American Wild Ale

ABV- 8.00%

Description – Juliet pours a deep red raspberry with slight peach-like hues and a wispy white head that dissipates rather quickly and leaves very little lacing.  The aroma is perfect for the style with notes of sour funkiness coming up front backed with tart blackberries, oak, red wine, and berry sweetness rounding out the aroma.  Upon the first sip the Brettanomyces makes its appearance on the tongue with its wonderful tart punch.  The Brett is followed by sweet blackberries and quite a bit of barrel character also comes through with the oak and red wine making a strong presence as well with some very subtle spicing from the rye, but you would certainly not know that this is a rye beer.  The body leans more towards the thin side and is airy with very nice carbonation and Juliet has a very clean dry finish.  This is a top notch sour that competes with some of the best in the world.

Food Pairing – This is a beer that brings a lot of flavor and added complexity to any dish.  However, the thin body of the beer can create pairing combinations that overwhelm the beer so keep that in mind as you explore pairings.  This beer certainly lends itself to salads and is great with goat cheese salad topped with berries and any sweet vinaigrette.  Juliet is also fantastic with a wide range of seafood, try with smoked salmon, mussels, oysters, or shrimp, the bright effervescent characteristics of this beer add amazing layers of complexity and acidity that truly meld into all these seafood dishes.  Also try pairing Juliet with venison in a sour cherry sauce.

The Final Word – Juliet is just a stunning example of what a sour beer can be in the hands of a talented brewer.  The tart notes come through enough to make their presence but do not overwhelm the palate and leave with a very clean and dry finish, just what one wants in this style of beer.  Goose Island has gained a fantastic reputation for stellar beers whether it be Bourbon Country Stout, Matilda, or Sofie, they have an extensive list of world class beers.  Juliet is yet another feather in the cap for this fantastic brewery.

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Where can I get it? -  Goose Island brews Juliet as a rotating seasonal release in limited batches.  It may require some hunting, but is definitely worth your time in tracking down!

The Perfect Pumpkin

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Beer: Southampton Pumpkin Ale

Brewer: Southampton Publick House

Style: Pumpkin Ale

ABV: 5.50%

Description: Southampton’s Pumpkin Ale pours clear rich amber with frothy beige head that dissipates quickly, but leaves very little lacing on the glass. The aroma is simply amazing this time of the year. Notes of pumpkin pie, nutmeg, molasses, brown sugar, cinnamon, caramel malts, and vanilla all meld together and emanate out of the glass. Happily, the taste follows suite with the nose. The first taste to hit the palate is the sweet caramel malts, which are very quickly followed by all spices with cinnamon being the dominant one, followed by nutmeg and clove. In the midst of this, the roasted pumpkin makes a grand appearance, blended seamlessly with brown sugar before a very mild hop bitterness encroaches and wraps up the experience with a long dry finish. The body of the beer is a solid medium with moderate carbonation that leaves the palate invigorated instead of fatigued, as many pumpkin ales can with heavy spicing. This is an absolutely superb pumpkin ale that is a must-have this time of year.

Food pairing: Pumpkin ales are typically most at home at the end of the meal with a wide variety of desserts because of the sweetness and spicing. However, Southampton’s version of the style has created a beer that is perfect with a wide assortment of dishes. The best pairings for this beer are meats that tend to take on caramelized characteristics whilst cooking. Roasted chicken or turkey are obvious choices, so this is yet another pumpkin ale that is perfect with your Thanksgiving day meal. Another great pairing is venison dishes; try with venison stew, but use milder spices, or try Pumpkin Ale with a venison and wild mushroom stroganoff. Desserts are still a must to pair with this beer and the number one pairing would be with pumpkin pie; try making it with a graham cracker crust for an extra delicious match up. Southampton’s Pumpkin Ale is also a great beer to pack up for a night of sitting around a campfire, as the beer is a dream match for s’mores; the cinnamon graham crackers, smooth melted chocolate, and sugary marshmallows flawlessly melt into this delicious ale and at first sip almost seem like they belonged together all along.

The final word: While many pumpkin ales are heavy-handed on the spices and sweetness, Southampton has managed to brew one that delivers a lot in the aroma, but also has a perfect balance in the taste. The pumpkin and spice are certainly present, but do not hit you upside the head to make their appearance. This showcases the true talents of the brewers at Southampton Publick House. The seasons are changing now and stores are already stocked to the ceiling with Christmas items, so pumpkin ales may be starting to leave your fridges, but I cannot think of a better way to end the pumpkin beer season than with a pint or two of Southampton Pumpkin Ale.

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Where can I get it? Currently available in bottles at: Exit 190 Beer & Deli, Dickson City; Krugel’s Georgetown Deli & Beer, Wilkes-Barre; Backyard Ale House, Scranton


http://theweekender.com/news/WK_Food/961328/ID-TAP-THAT:-The-perfect-pumpkin

Fat and Juicy!

Brewer- Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Beer- Fat Jack

Style- Pumpkin Ale

ABV- 8.50%

Description – Fat Jack pours a beautiful dark amber color with beige head and slightly orange highlights that doesn’t linger long but leaves a thin wispy lacing on the glass.  The aroma absolutely explodes with spices and roasted pumpkin; all the usual suspects are on display here: nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, a hint of ginger, and roasted caramelized pumpkins cut through with toasted caramel malts and molasses serving as background notes.  The taste is subdued at first but really opens up and shines one it warms a little in your mouth.  The spices really come through with cinnamon being the most dominant but the clove, nutmeg, and ginger are certainly present as well.  The caramel malt backbone blends perfectly in with the roasted caramelized pumpkin to create an extra layer of pleasure in an already enjoyable beer.  The medium body and moderate carbonation are perfectly in balance and Fat Jack does finish a bit more on the wet side with a lingering stickiness of sweetness and spice on the palate.

Food pairing –Fat Jack is certainly a beer that is complex and hearty enough to blend with most dishes on any Thanksgiving Day table.  This is a beer that is perfect with candied yams, with the yams highlighting the sweetness and spice profile of the beer, and Fat Jack adding a bit of dryness to the yams.  Fat Jack is also a dream pairing with cranberries and roasted turkey, the sweetness and tart of the berries add another layer of complexity to an already complex beer, while the roasted and caramelized skin of the skin mimics the caramel malt beer of Fat Jack and seemingly melts into the beer.  The pairing with any pumpkin desserts also goes without saying and do not be afraid of any rich and hearty desserts as well, this is a beer that can undoubtedly hold its own against them!

The Final Word – Sam Adams may be one of the largest craft breweries today, but it is still a brewery that is creating award winning beers and Fat Jack is yet another great beer in a long list of great beers from this brewery.  Fat Jack bills itself as being a “Double Pumpkin” ale with a boasted “28 pumpkins per barrel” use of the ingredient to create an imperial pumpkin ale that is a cut above the rest.  Pumpkin ales have existed far back into history, but the imperial pumpkin ale is a relatively new beer and comes from the bigger is better mentality that Americans tend to have, not that I am complaining at all!  Fat Jack certainly belongs at the table during Thanksgiving or any gathering that involves friends and loved ones and helps create a festive atmosphere and is to be enjoyed by all!

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Where can I get it? -  Warlock is available where ever Sam Adams products are sold, however it is available in limited quantities and many shops are already sold out.  So call around for this one to ensure you have it on your table this Thanksgiving!

7 Must-Have Pumpkin Beers

There are a plethora of pumpkin beers on the market now, so much so that it can be overwhelming when deciding which ones to choose. There are many great go-to standards, like Southern Tier Pumking, Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale, and Dogfish Head’s Punkin. These are all wonderful pumpkin beers, but if you are like me, you want something more - more intense flavor, more body, and even more ABV. This list contains pumpkin beers with ABVs of at least eight percent that are incredible that you should definitely be drinking.

1. Avery Brewing Company - Rumpkin: This 18.53 percent ABV imperial pumpkin beer that has been aged in rum barrels is not for the faint of heart and should be enjoyed slowly. The rum adds a lot of complexity and is also the perfect complement to the huge amount of pumpkin and spices in this full-bodied beer. This is truly a pumpkin explosion and is perfect for the fall season.

2. Souther Tier - Warlock: Sure, we have all enjoyed Southern Tier’s wonderful imperial pumpkin beer Pumking, but Warlock is really where this brewery’s talents shine. Warlock is the perfect blend of a full imperial stout and a delicious pumpkin ale, making for a thick and creamy stout with a wonderful pumpkin aroma and flavor we crave this time of year.

3. Weyerbacher - Imperial Pumpkin Ale: This is a personal favorite of mine and is just an amazing example of the style. It’s also made very close to home here in Pa. The aroma explodes with pumpkin spices and the full body holds a wonderful pumpkin taste. Not to mention the eight percent ABV makes it a great beer to warm you up on a cool fall night.

4. Elysian - The Great Pumpkin: Elysian is a brewery that has set the standard for what pumpkin beer should be with its amazing Night Owl pumpkin ale. It’s only natural that their imperial pumpkin ale, The Great Pumpkin, now sets the standard for imperial pumpkin ales - not to mention that it was the first imperial pumpkin ale ever.

5. Long Trail - Imperial Pumpkin: This perfectly balanced imperial pumpkin explodes with pumpkin spice aroma and taste, but still manages to leave a lingering dry finish on the palate. Also at eight percent ABV, this is certainly one pumpkin ale that is not only delicious, but provides a wonderful bang for your buck.

6. Sam Adams - Fat Jack: This delicious “double pumpkin” ale fits in nicely with all the standard pumpkin ales this time of the year. The abundance of spices and hefty body makes this ale a real sipper. This is one that is a bit tougher to find though as the quantities released are very limited, but it is certainly worth tracking a bottle down to enjoy.

7. For number 7, there are two choices, but fortunately for us, these two wonderful beers come in the same package. These collaboration beers have been released in four-pack cans with two of each style made available.

(a) 21st Amendment/ Elysian Brewing - He Said Baltic Porter Pumpkin: 21st Amendment teamed up for this delicious Baltic porter seasoned with pumpkin. The thick and creamy body is the perfect vessel to deliver that wonderful pumpkin flavor. The aroma just explodes with roasted malts and hints of pumpkin spice. I could easily drink this beer every night this fall.

(b) 21st Amendment/ Elysian Brewing - He Said Belgian Tripel Pumpkin: The duo also created a delectable Belgian tripel seasoned with pumpkin. The initial taste is a bit odd, only because it is such a new blend, but after the first couple sips your palate adjusts and this wonderful Belgian tripel delivers subtle hints of pumpkin spice and makes for a very relaxing evening.

While some of these beers may be too extreme for the novice pumpkin beer drinker, for the experienced folks it is just another delicious walk in a pumpkin patch. However, if you are a longtime fan of the pumpkin ale style and have never tried imperial versions, do yourself a favor and get one from this list. The pumpkin beer season will be over before you know it and, unfortunately, so will these beers, so get out there and get drinking!

It Will Cast A Spell on You!

Brewer-Southern Tier Brewing Company

Beer- Warlock

Style- American Double/ Imperial Stout

ABV- 8.60%

Description – Warlock pours a deep pitch black with a thick tan head that doesn’t linger too long but still leaves behind a nice lacing on the glass.  The aroma is very similar to Pumking but with added roasted malt backbone which gives it more of a rich roasted pumpkin note as opposed to the sweet pumpkin aroma of Pumking.  The taste is also similar to Pumking but with a lot more complexities and creaminess on the palate.  The pumpkin spices hit the palate first before the roasted malt washes over delivering a creamy malt texture that allows the pumpkin flavors to linger long on the palate for a not so dry, but delicious finish.  The mouthfeel of Warlock is certainly full with a thick chewy malt profile, but is still extremely smooth and goes down very easy with very moderate carbonation.  Warlock is truly the perfect combination of Pumking and an imperial stout, but make no mistakes Warlock still delivers a beer that is amazing on its own even without Pumking’s existence.

Food pairing – Warlock is a dream pairing with rich and heavy desserts.  The creamy smooth body of this beer absolutely lends itself to decadent chocolate cake and the pumpkin spices add an extra layer of deliciousness to the pairing.  Another dessert pairing is a bit more obvious, pumpkin pie, or pumpkin anything really, will highlight the pumpkin flavors in this beer and blend seamlessly with the dessert and add some extra depth with the roasted chocolate malt.  For an unbelievable treat this fall season, try Warlock in an amazing beer float pairing with your favorite vanilla bean or pumpkin ice cream.  This is certainly a stout that is made to be paired with ice cream, however I do recommend picking up 2 bottles so you can try this beer on its own and also with the ice cream.

The Final Word – Southern Tier’s Warlock is the perfect marriage of Pumking and a thick and creamy imperial stout to create a creamy pumpkin dessert beer that is perfect for the fall season.  Pumpking has garnered a reputation as the true king of pumpkin beers and with good reason; however Warlock certainly deserves its recognition as well as a fantastic pumpkin beer.  It needs to be said though that this beer really gets more enjoyable as it warms up.  The aroma and flavors truly open up and the temperature rises.  So be sure to find this wonderful imperial stout this fall season and be ready to have a spell cast on you!

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Where can I get it? -  Warlock is available where ever Southern Tier products are sold, however it is available in limited quantities and many shops are already sold out.  So call around and hunt this one down, if you are a fan of Pumking than the time spent searching for this one will absolutely be worth it for you!

The Dead are Rising and Tasty!

Brewer- AleSmith Brewing Company

Beer- Evil Dead Red

Style- American Amber/ Red Ale

ABV- 6.66%

Description – Evil Dead Red pours a deep ruby red with beige head that last for quite some time and leaves a hefty spider web like lacing on the glass.  The aroma has a huge hit of piney hops balanced with grapefruit as well, the caramel and bready malts also make a background appearance and showcases the wonderful balance that this beer has in store.  The taste is a quick hit from the hops up front mainly pine and grapefruit, followed shortly after by the burnt caramel and bready malts rush through and then disappear leaving a very long and dry finish.  The body leans towards the medium side with moderate carbonation to create a very clean and smooth sipping beer.  The dead may be evil, but this is one good beer!

Food pairing – This hoppy red ale is a perfect pairing with spicier dishes.  Try Evil Dead Red with Indian vindaloos, the hops with devour the spices for a wonderful spice explosion while the malts will wash over to create a clean and dry finish between bites.  If you are more of a fan of chicken than try this will a Jamaican jerk chicken or Cajun blackened chicken for a truly delicious pairing.  Evil Dead also pairs well with roasted turkey, try to find a side that compliments the hops such as garlic mashed potatoes.  If you are more of a red meat eater than an absolute must try is a pairing with a hanger steak, don’t use too many spices on the steak though and just enjoy this flavorful cut and how the hops in the beer along with the malt character pair perfectly with the beer to compliment one another’s flavors perfectly.  This also pairs well with a wide variety of candy, but stick more towards caramels, and of course your favorite horror movie is a dream pairing!

The Final Word – Evil Dead Red is a great beer to enjoy any time of the year but the bottle, 6.66% ABV,  and blood red color make it an extra enjoyable treat around Halloween.  This is the time of year that many breweries roll out their pumpkin ales to celebrate the fall season and it is always enjoyable to see breweries go a different route for an autumn seasonal.  This hopped up red ale is extremely enjoyable, as are all of the beer produced by AleSmith, and is certainly worth the time it may take to find.  So be sure to hunt the evil dead down, crown the tops open, and enjoy every last drop of the red liquid inside!

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Where can I get it? -  This is a beer that needs to be hunted down.  I found no one in the immediate area with it in stock, but I am sure if you request it you will be able to find some, but hurry it is a seasonal after all!

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.