Breakfast Stout (Founders Brewing Company)

Yet another beer from founders worth talking about, or just one worth trying. This offering from founders is made sporadically throughout the fall/winter months. It was easy drinking despite the 8.3% ABV and the 60 IBU's. Like everything else I have tried from Founders, this one is also pricey. So if you are looking for a sweet mellow stout like a chocolate or coffee, this isn't the one for you. This stout lands in between on sweetness and punch(like an Old Rasputin).

With a little experience in the stout category you will learn to pair your beer with food, desert, or even a cigar. For the type of cigars I like this beer was a little dry. It is that dryness that would lead me to believe this would pair well with something sweet. It probably would also go well with red meat, helping to enhance the flavor profile of smoked/grilled beef.

Stouts are a big category. So try one, try them all. I promise to give more reviews on these, stay tuned . . .

Dutch does Octoberfest!

It's that time of year men. The sun is getting short, the temperature has dropped to nearly 80 degrees. Well, about the only thing that really is starting to feel like fall is the arrival of the Octoberfests! I think we had a few new comers to the category this year which made the fellas and I decide to have a real definitive tasting, in the mountains! I did preview quite a few before settling on the four pictured above, which turned out to be a good idea. Magic Hat brewing out of Vermont tried to enter the race with their Halloween inspired octoberfest, HEX. I knew what I wanted in an Octoberfest and this wasn't it. Like all beers that Magic Hat makes, they put their own twist on this. I'm not a fan.
Local(Va.) brewers Legend brewing company out of Richmond, and Starr Hill brewing company out of Charlottesville had two fairly similar, but solid entries. The malty flavor in both of these beers is very subtle not to distract from the underlying sweetness. The main difference between these two is slightly sweeter finish to the Starr Hill. Most people who tried both chose the Starr Hill over Legends. I prefer the earthy natural taste of Legends Octoberfest, reminds me more of the season. I did have a chance to taste Legends cask conditioned Octoberfest on ferkin at Benedictine's Octoberfest celebration. It is always a treat to experience beer brewed with such care. THESE KIND OF THINGS ARE WORTH SEEKING OUT. I just got lucky.
Clipper City brewing, out of Baltimore Maryland makes their Marzen year round in limited runs. Marzen is actually the type of beer that is usually drank at Octoberfest celebrations in Germany. The tradition is actually to reap the ingredients at the end of the growing season to make beer to be drank in March(Marz) to celebrate the seeding of new crops. I have no clue how it came to be a fall thing for americans but I'm not complaining. This marzen is a malted to the degree of tasting it a lot more. The subtle floral notes don't quite come through in this one, probably a little bit more like the traditional recipe. Heavier malt contents seem to make the beer seem warmer when drinking. You may notice this with some heavy malted or west coast IPA's also.
Brooklyn brewing, out of New York also had an entry in this category this year. I do not recall an Octoberfest from these guys in the past, but with Brooklyn I am seldom disappointed. This brewery has become common for placements on the east coast but they are as crafty and innovative as a dogfish head or a stone brewing. I would closely compare this to the Legend selection, very similar balance and flavor.
In summary, we drank all four around the fire in Shenandoah National park system in October. After the first two our palettes were pretty assaulted. I like the simple but rich flavors of Legends, and Brooklyn brewing, but my other two taste testers prefered Starr Hill.
Go check these guys out for yourself at . . .
www.legendbrewing.com
www.starrhill.com
www.brooklynbrewery.com
www.hsbeer.com

Pumpkin Ale (Williamsburg brewing)

This is the season for beer. The volume of light beer sold during the warmer times of year have spring and summer labeled as beer season. As a lover of crafts, this is very sad fact.
The arrival of Pumpkin beers marks the beginning of flavorful fall seasonals, octoberfests, and darker hearty beers. Every brewery has their own rendition of these autumn favorites. This one by local Williamsburg brewery is definately very complex in flavor. This amber colored ale is loaded with pumpkin flavors for the tongue and nose. at 7.3% ABV, This beer will sneak up on you.
Personally I like a Pumpkin beer with more subtle flavors. This one really smacks you in the face with seasoning. It taste more like a gourmet pie than a pumpkin. I like to support local breweries and this is only one of the seasonal selections available from nearby, Williamsburg.

Stay tuned for more seasonal observations. We have an Octoberfest sampling scheduled for October 6th!

Devil Dancer (Founders brewing company)

This Nasty little number is from Founders brewing, out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. This triple IPA is the type of beer that some seek. Big beer does not begin to give you idea of what to expect with this beer. It is no doubt a triple at 12% ABV and 112 IBU's. There is a whole group of beer snobs who are all about the persuit of IBU's.
I had heard a lot of good things about this beer, so paying six dollars for this one bottle didn't bother me. I was disappointed in the flavor profile. This is not the beer to introduce someone to. The alcohol is so high and the flavor so over taken this beer taste more belgian that hoppy to me. This beer is limited special release, not seasonal but just produced every once and a while. It's this technique of distibution that creates the buzz around certain small brewery products.
If you are curious always try it. I hope you can find it in individual servings. I would imagine that this beer would age well, and may be more mellow on draft. Founders is a great company, but I think this beer is for a small niche of enthusiast.
I know I'll be reviewing more of their beers, but you can check the full lineup at http://www.foundersbrewing.com/

Milk Stout (Lancaster brewing company)

Lancaster Milk Stout is thick selection from Wilkes-Barre, PA. This old world brew comes in six pack 12 ounce bottles, kegs, and is available in a twelve pack variety. The ABV for this brew is 5.3, but the complex flavor profile hides it well. The chocolatey goodness hits your nose and the beer is mellow on your tongue. You can definately taste the richness in the cocoa. The bitterness familiar with some stouts, is very mild in this case, a 3 or 4 on a scale of 10.

Lancaster is a brewery in dutch country and they draw on that old world charm. They keep things simple, and provide quality beers for a smooth drink. I would tend to describe this beer as a craft because of the care and way it is made more than the brewers tinkering.

You can find the the rest of the Lancaster offerings at . They have fun merch, like my set of Got Milk Stout glasses. I'm just a sucker for a beer company that puts their variety pack in a box that looks like a barn.

GUBNA (oskar blues brewing company)

Gubna Imperial IPA is a top notch beer from the Oskar Blues Brewing Company out of Longmont, Colorado. Gubna comes in 4 packs of 12oz cans, occasionally specialty shops will sell them as singles, or really get lucky and find it on draft. You get what you pay for with this one; at over five dollars a can in some markets, delicious. This IPA doesn't disappoint at 10% ABV, it surprisingly drinkable. Enjoying this beer is a three part experience. The piney/floral bouquet is very pure, and sets you up for a clean experience on your tongue. The finish is what you expect out of a typical IPA but it's bitterness is mellow like a well aged ale.

I enjoy Oskar Blues take on craft beers. They are one of the original craft brewers to use cans. The stamp of the bottom of the can often has a fun message from your friendly canning line worker. They have a sweet GUBNA mechanics jacket by dickie's and lots of other fun things at www.oskarblues.com.