Beer!

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

going to a pumpkin beer tasting tonight!

So how was it?  Any interesting discoveries?

yeah - stay as far away from the Shipyard Pumpkinhead as possible.  


I did like the Smuttynose and the Buffalo Bill.

I had the Buffalo Bill last year and I thought it was awful.  A decent one I've found this year is Horny Goat Pumpkin Ale.  It's not great but it's one of the better ones I've tried this year.  

So I've been drinking the Buffalo Bill's and I have to agree, it's got the strangest lemon strain mixed with a watery mouthfeel. Also there's not much of a pumpkin/spice hoppiness about it. It's drinkable, but weak. On the other hand, I've been enjoying New Belgium's--I know, it seems to be the only beer I buy anymore--Pumpkickin'. Pumpkin and spice, everything nice mmm.

corplhicks wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

going to a pumpkin beer tasting tonight!

So how was it?  Any interesting discoveries?

yeah - stay as far away from the Shipyard Pumpkinhead as possible.  


I did like the Smuttynose and the Buffalo Bill.

I had the Buffalo Bill last year and I thought it was awful.  A decent one I've found this year is Horny Goat Pumpkin Ale.  It's not great but it's one of the better ones I've tried this year.  

So I've been drinking the Buffalo Bill's and I have to agree, it's got the strangest lemon strain mixed with a watery mouthfeel. Also there's not much of a pumpkin/spice hoppiness about it. It's drinkable, but weak. On the other hand, I've been enjoying New Belgium's--I know, it seems to be the only beer I buy anymore--Pumpkickin'. Pumpkin and spice, everything nice mmm.

you and i seem to be only one's who like Pumpkickin'.

exact33 wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

going to a pumpkin beer tasting tonight!

So how was it?  Any interesting discoveries?

yeah - stay as far away from the Shipyard Pumpkinhead as possible.  


I did like the Smuttynose and the Buffalo Bill.

I had the Buffalo Bill last year and I thought it was awful.  A decent one I've found this year is Horny Goat Pumpkin Ale.  It's not great but it's one of the better ones I've tried this year.  

So I've been drinking the Buffalo Bill's and I have to agree, it's got the strangest lemon strain mixed with a watery mouthfeel. Also there's not much of a pumpkin/spice hoppiness about it. It's drinkable, but weak. On the other hand, I've been enjoying New Belgium's--I know, it seems to be the only beer I buy anymore--Pumpkickin'. Pumpkin and spice, everything nice mmm.

you and i seem to be only one's who like Pumpkickin'.

I suppose it's the tartness that throws people off. I think it accompanies the toasted malt perfectly. And the pumpkin comes through juuuuuust right. 

corplhicks wrote:

exact33 wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

going to a pumpkin beer tasting tonight!

So how was it?  Any interesting discoveries?

yeah - stay as far away from the Shipyard Pumpkinhead as possible.  


I did like the Smuttynose and the Buffalo Bill.

I had the Buffalo Bill last year and I thought it was awful.  A decent one I've found this year is Horny Goat Pumpkin Ale.  It's not great but it's one of the better ones I've tried this year.  

So I've been drinking the Buffalo Bill's and I have to agree, it's got the strangest lemon strain mixed with a watery mouthfeel. Also there's not much of a pumpkin/spice hoppiness about it. It's drinkable, but weak. On the other hand, I've been enjoying New Belgium's--I know, it seems to be the only beer I buy anymore--Pumpkickin'. Pumpkin and spice, everything nice mmm.

you and i seem to be only one's who like Pumpkickin'.

I suppose it's the tartness that throws people off. I think it accompanies the toasted malt perfectly. And the pumpkin comes through juuuuuust right. 

I agree! This Fin City pumpkin is also quite tasty.

Just out of curiosity, what do you beer drinkers spens over a 2 month period on beer ? The reason why I'm asking is that I have a beermeister and buy half barrels of beer about every 2 months and spend now $93.00 on it (and that's the cheap stuff). I just wonder if it's still cost effective to but it that way.

It all depends on your tastes in beer.

I spend a small fortune because I refuse to drink the mass marketed stuff we have here in the US. I typically will spend between $7-$12 for a 22 oz bottle of beer I like. Most Schafly and O'Fallon 6 packs weigh in at around 8.99. So I don't even want to calculate how much I spend on beer each month; let's just say TOO MUCH...  

tohostudios wrote:

It all depends on your tastes in beer.

I spend a small fortune because I refuse to drink the mass marketed stuff we have here in the US.  I typically will spend between $7-$12 for a 22 oz bottle of beer I like.  Most Schafly and O'Fallon 6 packs weigh in at around 8.99.  So I don't even want to calculate how much I spend on beer each month; let's just say TOO MUCH...   

   That's just it. That's exactly why I get the cheaper stuff (natural Light almost exclusively) but even it's getting up there in price now. When I got my beermesiter it cost around $60 for a half and the more expensive was about what I'm paying now. I can imagine what the top shelf costs now.

i spent $40 the last time but the beer lasts me 2-3 months. I don't drink all that much...

I'm off and on with beer. Some months, especially during the winter season, I'll splurge on crates of variety packs, other months I'll buy Pabst to save money or just none at all. During the Xmas weeks, though, I'm loaded.

On a side note, I cleaned out my garage last week and dusted off my old Homebrewing books. Thinking I'm gonna get into it this time, maybe have some ready for 12/25.

corplhicks wrote:

I'm off and on with beer. Some months, especially during the winter season, I'll splurge on crates of variety packs, other months I'll buy Pabst to save money or just none at all. During the Xmas weeks, though, I'm loaded.

my favorite time of year is the pumpkin ales and the christmas ales.

Had a six of Saranac Pale Ale over the weekend... one of my faves.

exact33 wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

I'm off and on with beer. Some months, especially during the winter season, I'll splurge on crates of variety packs, other months I'll buy Pabst to save money or just none at all. During the Xmas weeks, though, I'm loaded.

my favorite time of year is the pumpkin ales and the christmas ales.

Yup. All the cinnamon and nutmeg and brown sugar hints by a fire and an old Xmas movie is just brilliant.

exact33 wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

I'm off and on with beer. Some months, especially during the winter season, I'll splurge on crates of variety packs, other months I'll buy Pabst to save money or just none at all. During the Xmas weeks, though, I'm loaded.

my favorite time of year is the pumpkin ales and the christmas ales.

Yeah, next up is Schlafly's Christmas Ale!  And their Culinaria collaboration Old Ale.  Last year I went on a scavenger hunt looking for that second one; it's only carried at one of the major grocery store chains here so I drove around and hit a bunch of 'em looking for it.  Ended up with 7 cases (I sold two to my friend at work).  I still have 4 or 5 22oz bottles left.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Has anyone in the U.S. found Iron Maiden's "Trooper" ale in their neck o'the woods yet? I haven't but I'm still on the hunt.

FINALLY found a bottle of Trooper in the local 'cool' beer store tonight!! They only had one left so I grabbed it. It's chillin' in the fridge right now... and of course once it's been consumed, the bottle will go on the shelf with the rest of my cool rock n roll related junk.  

Fat Freddy wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

Has anyone in the U.S. found Iron Maiden's "Trooper" ale in their neck o'the woods yet? I haven't but I'm still on the hunt.

FINALLY found a bottle of Trooper in the local 'cool' beer store tonight!! They only had one left so I grabbed it. It's chillin' in the fridge right now... and of course once it's been consumed, the bottle will go on the shelf with the rest of my cool rock n roll related junk.  

I look forward to your review...

tohostudios wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

FINALLY found a bottle of Trooper in the local 'cool' beer store tonight!! They only had one left so I grabbed it. It's chillin' in the fridge right now... and of course once it's been consumed, the bottle will go on the shelf with the rest of my cool rock n roll related junk.  

I look forward to your review...

Short but sweet: It's a pretty damn tasty brew... Not as harsh or bitter as some other British ales I've tried in the past. I enjoyed it and would gladly pick it up again.

...and the empty bottle has now taken its rightful place on my rock 'n' roll collectible shelf next to my KISS Pez dispenser set, the Queensryche/Toddryche box, and various other cool junk.

That's cool. I'd like to find some of that Trooper ale around here but haven't come across it yet...and probably won't,unfortunately.

Brewed a Christmas Ale 2 weeks ago, will be ready by Thanksgiving. Last year Wasatch Pumpkin Ale was hard to find, not this year it's everywhere!

Went to my beer store today and they were having a "close out sale" on 12 packs of Shipyard Summer Ale. Never tried it but I've heard good things about it so I gave it a whirl... pretty damn fine stuff.

Cool looking can, too:

That crab is really enjoying the fine life. Wonder what they named him.

My brother picked me up a couple of Maiden's Trooper beers. Drinking it now and not as bitter as I thought it may be.

finished the Fin City Pumpkin ale. Pretty good stuff.

Anyone go to your local Oktoberfest this year? I don't even remember what I drank, it did nothing to me until I got home and put my head on the pillow. Major poundage. One of those creeper beers that gets to you when you settle down an hour after you drink it.

Opening up my last Schlaflys Pumpkin ale.

exact33 wrote:

Opening up my last Schlaflys Pumpkin ale.

I picked up a 6pk of that last night because my fellow beer snob buddy at work was raving about it and I swear it's not the same recipe they had back in September.  This batch is really good!