Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo.....the last four of the challenge

Tonight is Halloween.  What a better way to spend the evening, passing out candy and drinking pumpkin beer while I eat pizza and watch Dracula--the one with Jack Palance.

The last four beers for the challenge are, Dundee Octoberfest, (also not really a pumpkin but very nice).  Jacque Au Lantern, Crown Valley Imperial Pumpkin Smash and the last, Cisco brewers Pumple Drumkin.  

First let us tackle the Dundee Octoberfest.  A rich hearty beer.  Tangy, light and crisp, very little after taste and no bitterness.  Ready to go and enjoy. 

Second, Jacques Au Lantern.  fuller and richer with a longer finish.  Malty with just the right amount of spice for the season.  I could enjoy this all year round.  

The third round tonight was the Pumple Drumkin by Cisco.  This has about the right amount of spice, pumpkin flavors and rich, creamy body.  Easy to drink and very enjoyable.   Like having pumpkin pie with whipped cream on top. 

The very last offering of the challenge goes to....Crown Valley Imperial Pumpkin Smash.  This stout is such a departure from the previous.  What can I say.  I was surprised and excited to have this.  The rich dark black liquid gives off such wonderful fragrances and such a light crisp flavor. full of dark chocolate and coffee with , is that cedar?  Not at all what I was expecting.  To top it off ....is that pulp in there.  Yes, I think it is, what an addition to the flavor.  A little extra protein to go with it.  Definitely the winner of the evening  Maybe not to every one's desire, but something I would like to try again.  Smash it up buddy..

Look at that rich dark color.  

Enjoy

Third time is the winner, or so they say.

So last night was the third round of my pumpkin beer challenge.  I was by myself  and it was late so I was only able to sample two.
I was not able to write about them last night as it was after midnight and I was very tired.  But here I am tonight, Halloween, with nothing better to do than watch old horror movies and drink and talk about beer.  Ha.

So to finish last night.   My two offerings were Harpoon Pumpkin Cider and Buffalo Bills Original Pumpkin Ale.
I enjoyed both of them but I must say the pumpkin cider was the surprise.
First lets talk about Buffalo Bills.  A fine example of pumpkin beer.  Smooth and easy, but with a tendency to the bitter side.  The pumpkin flavor was mild at best, especially after having some of the over spiced items from the first few nights. Still a very nice easy beer.
The second of the night was the Harpoon Apple cider.  Very nice surprise, but I have to admit not a pumpkin.  The flavor was so much of apple cider all of the correct spices.  A reminder that apple pie is also one of the top flavors of the season.  I would definitely enjoy this brew again.  Not really in a pumpkin challenge though.
Enjoy

a not so bad way to end an evening. 

Another round of trick or treating Pumpkin Beer round 2

Joy, Joy, Joy.  Tonight I had not 2 but 4 pumpkin beers.  Each of which were very different in character and a great divide from last night too.

The first one was Shipyard Pumpkin Head, then on to Dogfish head Punkin Ale.  That finished round 1, then on to round two.  Long Trail Pumpkin Punk'n .

The Shipyard was so soft and smooth, absolutely no bitterness at all.  Semi sweet with lots of pumpkin juice.  Very small hint of spice, not like last night which were total spice bombs. 

Dogfish had the least of the pumpkin flavor actually.  The flavor reminded me more of a pumpkin souffle not a pumpkin pie.  Lovely, light and soft.

The Longtrail offering was also lite and elegant. Just hints of spice, cinnamon, and brown sugar.  More hints of a brown sugar pop tart with hints of pumpkin. 

The Uinta pumpkin was also soft and elegant.  No bitterness and easy to drink. The beer had very small hints of pumpkin with just the right amount of spice.  Easy to drink with a rewarding mouth. 

Enjoy them all and let me know what you think.
By the way, my wife helped me drink through these tonight!  So if you were thinking I finished all four myself,  well.....

Dogfish Head

The Shipyard 

Longtrail and Uinta.

Its the Great Punkin Charlie Brown, Punkin Beer that is

My favorite time of year. The fall, all the leaves changing color, a little nip in the air.  All the fall seasonal beer comes out. The Pumpkin ones especially. Makes me all warm and fuzzy.  Pumpkin beer time is special.  This is the biggest season for specialty beer.  A few years ago, pumpkin beer was something extremely rare.  Very few had it and those that did, did not taut it so much.  Now, every one and their dog has a pumpkin beer.  Some are magnificent and some do not need to be mentioned.  

My Halloween this year will consist of handing candy to a bunch of youth as they migrate through the neighborhood -trick or treat.  I will of course be enjoying some of my favorite beer, pumpkin of course.  

So that brings me to the challenge, 12 beers to be consumed and discussed before Halloween.  I think I am up to the challenge, so follow along.  Maybe even tell me about some of your favorites. 

So now let's go.

The first beer tonight is Pumking by Southern Tier.   A well known and very well liked beer.  One of the best selling of all seasonal beers. 

The aroma is enticing to say the least. Spice hits you straight out.  Allspice that is.  Reminding me of the Thanksgiving pies and the pot-pouri that my wife sets on the stove every holiday.  The flavor is slightly sweet and again very all spicy, with hints of cinnamon.  A very delightful beer, easy to drink and enjoyable. Like drinking down the pumpkin pie.

The second beer tonight is the Pumpkick by New Belgium.  This is the first time I have tried this beer and what a nice addition to my repertoire.  Again, nice spices,cinnamon, nutmeg all the traditional holiday spices, the aroma reminds me again of pumpkin pie (I see a trend already starting).  This one though also adds a little zest, in the form of hints of citrus.  A nice addition.  The review suggests cranberry, I did not pick this up, so if it is there it is very slight, adding to the dimensions.  A nice kick in the pants to get the Halloween week started.  

Enjoy. 

The Pumpkick by New Belgium

Pumking by Southern tier

A quick look at the challenge.  

Damn Fine Wine

Yes I have written about #Chateau De Nage Buti Nage before. But damnit I can't help it this a a damn fine wine.  Winemaker and owner #Michele Gassier offers this opulent
Beauty.  Folks I can't tell you how fantastic this wine is.  Bountiful nose with floral notes, the mouth is fruit forward and soft. Hints of cherry, deep ripe red fruits, licorice and finished off with soft supple tannins. Just wonderful.
Enjoy one of my favorites and right at 10$ what a bargain.
Enjoy

CH Casyera 2008 Hot Damn I Hit the Hackpot

Baldacci IV Sons and the Outer Body Experience....

So continuing on this journey of higher end Cabernet, I have found the Baldacci IV Sons 2009. 

What an extraordinary wine.  The wine is actually a blend selected from the very best juice.  Baldacci winery is situated in the heart of Stags Leap, just to give you a reference and an idea of the quality we are talking about.  A small family owned winery producing high quality wines under the guidance of winemaker Rolando Herrera.  Yes that Rolando.  Owner of Mi Sueno winery and  well known in circles that follow Paul Hobbs.  I was lucky enough to visit the winery a couple of years ago and was given a barrel tasting of their much in demand cabernet. YUM.  Anyway, the IV sons does not disappoint on any level.  The rich aromas that rise from the glass, dark rich ripe fruits and a floral bouquet.  Cherry, and plum fill your senses.  When you fill your mouth with this liquid you think you have died and gone to heaven.  What a deep rich wine with so many levels.  Again, the deep red fruits, followed with hints of licorice, chocolate and then when you thought is was over...pop, slight hints of a garni bouqet. The wine just keeps on giving too.  The finish is long, but no undesireable vicious tannins to overtake.  This wine is made to enoy NOW, with or without protien to bind it.   What have I just done to myself, moved into another dimension of course.  This type of wine is only produced by a winemaker  who is reaches for the stars in the farthest galaxy and provides us a little pleasure as we enjoy the trip too.    At $45, not bad for this kind of experience.  The best ladies of Vegas cannot offer this much pleasure for the price.  Yep, I went there.   Oh my you must try this outer body experience.

Enjoy