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/