A UFO on my patio on a Sunday Afternoon

Harpoon Brewery - Harpoon's Unfiltered Offerings

UFO Pumpkin - 5.9% ABV

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon the Mr. and I wanted to kick back, fend off the mosquitoes, and enjoy a nice fall brew.  We decided on an unfiltered gem produced by Harpoon Brewery.  Typically I am not a unfiltered kinda gal but Rob swore to me that this was not like the others.  I do not say this often, and I am sure he is not going to read this blog entry, so I will say...he is right.  There I said it,  and I shall never speak of it again.

As soon as I flipped off the cap, the bottle released a subtle, yet inviting aroma.  It was of pumpkin and sweet malts. Ahhh, my lovely Munich malts, how I love thee.  I poured the beer with total reckless abandonment primarily because I was thirsty and did not want to waste any more time!  Beer does get warm in August pretty fast.  Just sayin.  

Since the beer was poured into the glass with no caution it produced a rather high foamy head.  It did not grace the top of the beer for long so it was not a disaster.  What the head did leave behind was a gorgeous amber colored beer with a slight haze.  The smell of spices and pumpkin were now more prevalent but still not overwhelming.  

The taste and feel of the beer was just as it looked and smelled.  It was smooth and had a mildly sweet start with a perfect finish of pumpkin pie spices.  Again, it was not overwhelming in the spices or as bold as the Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin, but it worked for what I was expecting and wanted to drink.

This is going to definitely remain in my fall line up and I am sure there are a few more pumpkin beers left for me to discover.  So, until then...I will leave you with a little song to get you all in the pumpkin mood. 

Cheers!!!!

~K~

A preview of our Fall Reviews!

 Weyerbacher - Imperial Pumpkin Ale

8% ABV

Kath - It has been a long time since the weather was actually nice enough to sit outside and not have your skin spontaneously combust, so Gab and I celebrated with a little sampling of some fall beers.  Gab's Dad took the journey to Easton, Pa. and returned with liquid love!  I so mean that too!!!  We first opened the Imperial Pumpkin.  As soon as I popped the cap the smell of pumpkin spices filled my kitchen.  Once poured into a glass the color was dreamy.  A perfect amber color and the aroma was dancing all around my nose.  I took a quick picture and then...the first taste.  It was...PERFECT! It had the balance of spices, pumpkin, and malt.  I wish I could describe it better for you, but words would not do the beer justice.  I was in love with a beer.  Sad, but true.  It was not only tasty it gives you a sweet buzz! 8% ABV is not shabby, in the least.  If you want to give this a chance act now because it is seasonal and it may be all gone by October!  Weyerbacher also notes that this particular seasonal brew ages very well...if you can have some self control to save it for the holidays. 

Gab - I cannot think of a better fireside beer.Think chiminea, cozy sweaters, great company and even better conversations. Gorgeous color, equally satisfying taste. I am not one to prefer fruits and veggies mixed with my beer, but this is an absolute must-buy for Fall and Winter. The spices are an after-note, NOT overwhelming, but perfectly complimentary to this fantastic beer. We will be trying this again with cinnamon and sugar-coated glasses!



Weyerbacher - Old Heathen

Russian Imperial Stout

8% ABV

Gab - Those of you who know me, know that this is my #1 favorite kind of beer. It is malty, a little heavy yet soft in the mouth, completely delicious. Old Heathen is fabulous, but I must say that Heresy is my all-time favorite. It is the delicious Old Heathen (Imperial Stout), but Weyerbacher ages it in Maker's Mark oak barrels to create a flavor that is beyond rich and satisfying. It blows my mind, no joke! I am beyond thrilled that Old Heathen is available year-round! And Heresy is my go-to beer, when I can get my hands on it!

Kath - Ahhhh, the good ole' Russian Imperial Stout.  I love these kinds of beers.  I love the richness and how smooth these beers pour and just roll over my tongue.  I would certainly recommend this stout and I would get it again.  I had a beautiful dark color with hints of chocolate and malt scents.  This is available all year and it is not bad on a cool night in either April or November.  There is one beer a step above this made from this Russian number - Heresy. Heresy has a rich oak flavor mixed with vanilla and a dash of bourbon.  Simply amazing.  Heresy is available from February to March.



So there you have our initial preview of fall beers. We may be taking one brewery at a time, or jumping around, so please bear with us. We will have a long list of brews to review and if you have a Fall/Winter fave...PLEASE give us a shout! 

Cheers!

~ G & K ~

Easton's Littlest Known Secret...

On Saturday we had nothing better to do, so we jumped in the car and zipped up to Easton, Pennsylvania to visit the small but mighty Weyerbacher Brewing Company. Upon entering we noticed that the tasting area was packed and took our place at the bar. We were greeted by volunteers working the bar and were told that most of their visitors hail from the Philadelphia area, woohoo! Growlers are available for purchase, as well as mixed cases starting at $32.00. And if you are a Weyerbacher fan, there are plenty of sassy t-shirts and hats to choose from, as well as some very nice barware.

As for the beer itself, our favorite available for tasting was Old Heathen Russian Imperial Stout (8% ABV). Rich, velvety, and delicious with a roasty nose and a flavor of chocolate, espresso and dried fruits with a moderately dry finish. YUM-O.

Gab also enjoyed Double Simcoe IPA (9% ABV) which is described as a "crotch-grabbing beer", and we agree 100%! If you are a hophead, this is your next favorite beer.The first sip delivers an explosion of juicy, luscious hop-iness. This is going to be a staple in my fridge!

If you ever find yourself on the Southside of Easton, PA, please stop in to Weyerbacher for a tour and tasting. We cannot wait to sample their Fall/Winter Imperial Pumpkin Ale (8% ABV), and pick up a case of our favorite, the bourbon barrel-aged Heresy (8% ABV).

We hope everyone is enjoying the Philly Beer Week festivities! Did you know that Philadelphia is the biggest beer-drinking city? Uh, you better believe it!

Cheers!

~K & G~

Blue Monkey Springfest 2011

Well, we made it! Ready for some highlights?

(Photo courtesy of Cory Dunsmuir)

We loved meeting the folks from Weyerbacher. Natalie DeChico was super-friendly and we both enjoyed tasting Verboten Belgian Pale Ale, 5.9% APV and 30 IBU. Gab likey'd, Kath - not so much.   BUT, my (Gab) favorite beer of the evening was Weyerbacher's Tiny, which I closely guarded and kept to myself. It is a Belgian inspired Imperial Stout weighing in at 11.8% - Not so TINY!!. You’ll find big chocolate and roasted notes, balanced with the Belgian flavors from the Abbey yeast strain. 

Nicole, Gab, and Kathleen

Brooklyn Brown Ale - 5.6% APV, was a fave of Kath's. Had a nutty, chocolate color, for what it's worth. Don't really know what color means for craft brews. Guess we have to drink some more to find out, huh?

Blue Point Blueberry Ale from Long Island was another fave of Kath's. Light on the APV (4.39%) with an equally low IBU, it smelled of blueberry lusciousness from the first sip. It is a nice, light, summer-drinking beer, perfect for outdoor parties.

Gab: Not my favorite, and an unexpected taste. I'm not a fan of mixing fruitiness and beer. I feel the same about wine, too! Give me pineapple in my vodka any day, though!!!

Mark Weinmann from Great Lakes Brewing Company was also extremely cordial and took time to talk to us as well. When he heard we were beer bloggers, he did not hesitate to top us off, blah ha ha! His lovely wife sent him to Springfest with wildflower seed packets, love it! Great Lakes Brewing Company is an environmentally-respectful and socially-conscious company. Their Edmund Fitzgerald Porter was another of our faves. Malty, Nutty, with a hint of coffee. 5.8% APV.

BOTTOM LINE: Our one overall favorite was Dogfish Head's Indian Brown Ale. Complete lusciousness! Described as "the original hybrid, a cross between a Scotch Ale, an India Pale Ale, and an American Brown. Our Indian Brown Ale is well-hopped and malty at the same time (magical)". 7.2% APV at a 50 IBU.  For me (Kath) I am so surprised I liked this beer.  I am a Hop-Hater from way back but I really liked this beer. I actually went out today to get a 6 pack. 

Gab: I LOVED Dogfish Head's Indian Brown Ale, but my #1 fave was Weyerbacher's Tiny. I was very privileged to have tasted it "under the table", I definitely owe my sister for not sharing. Thank you so very much, Natalie! 

One thing I was wondering about, though - where was Flying Fish???? I was so looking forward to sipping some Exit 9, and any Exit, for that matter!

What were your faves from Saturday night? Let us know in the comments, and tell us what you ran out to buy post-hangover on Monday!

Be back tomorrow for Wino Wednesday!

XOXO

K & G