I’ve been excited for the Dogfish Head Punkin Ale since last year, considering it’s the first time I’m trying it. Fall seasonals have to be one of my top three styles of choice, that is, if you’ll let me group Pumpkin Ales and Märzen/Oktoberfest into one category. Dogfish’s take on the Pumpkin Ale style puts theirs at a higher 7% ABV for the style.
Beer drinkers, prepare for the fall brews! The Fall seasonals have started infiltrating bars, beer distributors and now, my fridge. I’m excited to get to the Fall Märzen/Oktoberfest and Pumpkin seasonal flavors bouncing around on my palate. The only thing out of place is the weather; it’s still warm. This week, I grabbed a “mixed six-pack” which included the Southampton Pumpkin Ale.
Summer is quickly coming to a close which means that soon it will be time to trade in your refreshing wheat beers for some filling and warming Stouts. But that’s not for a few more weeks, so drink up while the beer is still seasonal. In this spirit, I have the Holy Moses White Ale, a 5.4% ABV Witbier from Great Lakes Brewing Company.
Being a huge fan of Founders, there was no doubt in my mind one of my favorite new styles, Scotch Ale, would make my palate dance. This bottle, 10/5/2009, has had some time to age and mellow out, and undoubtedly will change certain aspects of the flavor profile.
The final review of the four beers from Penobscot Bay Brewery is the Half Moon Stout, a 5.5% ABV Stout in, what else, a 220z bottle. The brewery’s website says that the Half Moon Stout is based on an old Porter recipe described as brave, proud, or “stout.” The beer is named after the vessel that Henry Hudson was in when he entered the Penobscot Bay in 1609. Enough history, time for the beer.
