Pumpkin Beer Bingo - A comparison of Pumpkin Ales

Battle of the Pumpkin Ales 2015

We were trolling around on the interwebs recently (instead of doing the work that needed to be done) and stumbled across this article with the audacity to judge the best pumpkin beers available this year (http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/pumpkin-beers).  Quite a bold statement, and since we are quite fond of our own opinions, we thought we would test their findings.  Thus we went to the local beer purveyor and purchased a couple of the selections from their top 5 that are readily available here in Tampa as well as choosing a sample of pumpkin ale from one of our well respected local small craft brewers.  We then set up a blind taste test and had the tasting panel taste, rate and comment on these pumpkin beers. 

The beers that we chose (seen at the bottom of the photo above) were Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale by Southern Tier Brewing (ABV 8.6%) which was rated as the 4th best pumpkin beer.  Good Gourd Imperial Pumpkin Ale (in the middle of the photo above) by local favorite Cigar City Brewing (8.5% ABV) which received the nod as the second best in the country.  And lastly, Six Ten Brewing's Pumpkin Ale (5.0% ABV) one of brewer Chris Johnson's creations is only known locally (seen at the top of the above photo).

First to be reviewed is the Southern Tier Pumpkin Ale which was received very mixed reviews by the Snobs.

   - "Pumpkin spice flavor, less pumpkin, well balanced, thin".

   - "Tastes like medicine, boozy, don't like at all".

   - "Too much spice, cereal tasting".

   - "Boozy, too much spice aftertaste".

   - "Boozy, vanilla, no pumpkin really".

   - "No pumpkin flavor but lots of booze.  Sweet with strong vanilla, good beer, though".

Good Gourd from Cigar City was the second to be reviewed by the snobs and had mixed reviews.

   - "Sweet front end, almost cloying, slightly medicinal".

   - "Well balanced, good pumpkin flavor".

   - "Way too sweet".

   - "Vanilla, syrupy flavor at the end".

   - "Odd mouthfeel, subtle pumpkin".

   - "Soapy mouthfeel, noticable pumpkin flavor, cloying aftertaste".

And lastly was our local underdog Pumpkin Ale from Six Ten Brewing and the reviews should not be a surprise.

   - "Light pumpkin flavor and spices, flavor builds as you drink".

   - "Spices, pumpkin, by far the best of the three".

   - "Perfect amount of pumpkin, not too sweet".

   - "Not overly spiced, good pumpkin flavor".

   - "Warm spiced, identifiable pumpkin".

   - "Rich and malty, nice carbonnation, noticable pumpkin, easy drink".

The panel was also asked to rate the beers from first to worst.  To make it easy, first place received 3 points, second 2 points and third received 1 point.  The score was:

1. Southern Tier Pumking - 9 points

2. Cigar City Good Gourd - 9 points

3. Six Ten Pumpkin Ale - 18 points

Interesting results.  Everyone on the panel chose Six Ten Pumpkin Ale as the best pumpkin ale with Southern Tier and Cigar City in a tie for second.  Thus our results should tell you that you should seek out Six Ten's Pumpkin Ale and we heartily recommend that you try this beer.  See for yourself how going local is always the best choice

Six Ten Brewing 

7052 Benjamin Road

Tampa, FL 33634

http://www.sixtenbrewing.com/

Cigar City Brewing

3924 West Spruce Street

Tampa, FL 33604

http://cigarcitybrewing.com

Southern Tier Brewing

2072 Stoneman Circle

Lakewood, NY 14750

http://www.stbcbeer.com/

Battle Sweet Stout - Angry Chair Fudge Bucket vs. Barley Mow Cocoa Maven

We recently compared sweet stouts created by 2 of our local breweries and though both are technically sweet stouts, they are very, very different.

                         Barley Mow Cocoa Maven (left) vs Angry Chair Fudge Bucket (right)

Angry Chair Brewing Fudge Bucket (9% Abv). This is a powerful brew, viscous, with a milk chocolate colored head.  It is quite sweet with a substantial coffee presence.  You can imagine yourself drinking an espresso fudge brownie.










Barley Mow Brewing Company Cocoa Maven (6.5% ABV).  This milk stout poured more like a tradtional stout with a medium body and a creamy tan head.  It has a coffee presence, but not so overpowering and not nearly as sweet. There is an odd aftertaste that we could not quite identify, but it is not unpleasant.




Our results:  In a split decision the panel of tasters mostly agreed on the outcome.  Fudge Bucket is obviously crafted to be a monster beer.  The flavors explode in your mouth with such intensity that your raise your eyebrows in surprise and delight.  However, it is so massive that it is a bit difficult to drink and it was not at all easy to finish even one glass.  Cocoa Maven is sweet enough to be interesting and the coffee does not destroy the palate and is an easy drink.  By a 4:1 margin the tasting panel chose Cocoa Maven over Fudge Bucket.

Beer Review - St. Bernardus Abt 12 Oak Aged

St. Bernardus Abt 12 Belgian Abbey Ale - Oal Aged - 11% ABV

I like big beers and I cannot lie .... now let's see you get that out of your head.

Now where was I?  Oh yeah, big beers.  If you have read our blog at any time in the past you are surely aware that we love big beers.  Huge beers.  Massive beers. Belgian quadrupels are those kind of beers.  Rich, thick and powerful.  The very pinnacle of huge beers.  And which beers are bigger than the Belgian quads?  Beers that have been aged in booze barrels, that's which beers.  So what if you age a Belgian quad in a booze barrel?

Shortly after the Second World War, the Trappist Monastery of St. Sixtus in Westvleteren licensed the St. Bernardus Abbey to comercialize their beers. The brew master from Westvleteren, Mathieu Szafranski became a partner in the brewery and brought along the recipes, the knowledge and the St. Sixtus yeast strain and founded the Brewery St. Bernard.  Their beers are considered to be amongst the finest in the world and their quad is rated by the Snobs to be in the top 5 best beers that we have ever tasted.  Early last year they announced that they would be releasing an oak barrel aged version, and that news had us drooling with anticipation.  Could it possibly be as good as we hoped?  Yes, oh yes.

Have you ever tried Calvados?  Calvados is an apple cider brandy distilled from brandy made from specially grown and selected apples.  It is not uncommon for a Calvados producer to use over 100 specific varieties of apples.  The fruit is havested and pressed into a juice that is fermented into a dry cider.  It is then distilled and aged for at least 2 years in oak casks.  It is, in a word, sublime.

The creative geniuses at St. Bernardus decided to create this heaven inspired brew by aging their already nearly perfect quad in emptied Calvados barrels for 6 months creating something magical.

The beer pours slightly cloudy dark brown with a surprising white head.  The smell, oh the smell, is rich with apples, dates and sugars and a bit of alcohol ethers in the background.  We were a bit surprised that the smell of the brandy didn't bury the smell of the beer, but we must remember that the beer is quite hearty on it's own and stood up nicely.  The flavor is so amazingly complex and wonderful.  We should have known that brewmasters like those at St. Bernardus would let their wonderful beer be overpowered by the barrell aging.  They have achieved a balance that is quite nearly perfect.  The apples from the brandy are there along with the dark fruits from the beer.  Silky and rich.  Unbelievably delicious.

We are going to recommend that you search for this beer and find it.  Buy as many bottles as you can and horde them like your crazy aunt hordes cats.  Drink a few, age a few.  Do not miss out on this.

Brouwerij St. Bernardus, NV
Trappistenweg 23
8978 Watou (Belgium)
http://www.sintbernardus.be

Proper Beer Serving Temperatures

From the American Homebrewers Association

You have heard that Europeans, the English in particular, drink their beer warm.  Not true.  They serve their beers at the proper temperature for the style of beer that you order.  Contrary to popular belief, at least here in the U.S., not all beer should be served so cold that it hurts your teeth.  The fine folks at the AHA have actually done the research so please read and learn. - Bon

Ditch the frosty mugs and listen up!
Drinking beer ice-cold may sound like the perfect thirst quencher, but you are potentially missing out on much of a beer’s nuances that make it so worthy of your palate in the first place. But wait! Don’t warm it up too much or you’ll end up with the unenjoyable task of choking down lukewarm beer.
So what is the perfect beer serving temperature?

Temperature’s Effect on Beer

Before jumping into temperature suggestions, it’s important to understand the effects that incorrect serving temperature can have on beer.
Too Cold
Chilling beer below ideal serving temperatures enhances some qualities of beer, while masking others. Sure, anything ice-cold is going to come across as refreshing on a hot day, but beer is to be enjoyed for its flavor, especially if you spent weeks making and managing homebrew!
The biggest issue with beer served too cold is the way the temperature masks many flavors and aromas. The cold temperature slows the volatilization of aromatic compounds causing them to linger in the beer. When these compounds are not released, it dramatically changes the apparent flavor and aroma of the beer, sometimes to the point where it may come across as thin and tasteless.
The cold also enhances qualities like bitterness, dryness and carbonation, which can enhance the “quench” quality, but if paired with a “thin, tasteless” beer can make for a very unpleasant drinking experience with harsh texture. Overly-chilled beer can also exhibit haziness in a usually-clear brew.
Too Hot
Warm beer, on the other hand, does allow for more of the flavors and aromas to come to the forefront, but as beer approaches room temperature the sensations from hop bitterness and carbonation can decrease, which can lead to an almost flat-tasting experience.
It’s also usually pretty obvious you don’t want to drink too warm of beer (unless you’re making a flip, of course).
Just Right: Suggested Beer Serving Temperatures
So that leads us to the million dollar question: what is the proper serving temperature for beer so that it is refreshing and thirst-quenching while still allowing you to enjoy the bouquet of flavor that makes drinking high quality beer so great!
Unfortunately, there’s not one temperature that is perfect for all beers, but instead it depends on the beer style, brewing process and a little bit of tradition. However, using a few rules basic rules, along with the handy table below, you can make informed decisions on the temperature to serve your next beer. Remember, these are general suggestions and some styles may bend the rules a bit!
For exact serving temperature suggestions for specific styles, visit the CraftBeer.com Style Finder.

Beer	Suggested Temperature
American Mainstream Light Lagers	33° – 40° F
Pale Lagers, Pilsners	38° – 45° F
Cream & Blonde Ales	40° – 45° F
Nitro Stouts	40° – 45° F
Belgian Pale Ales, Abbey Tripels	40° – 45° F
Wheat Beers	40° – 50° F
Lambics	40° – 50° F
Dark Lagers	45° – 50° F
American Pale Ales & IPAs	45° – 50° F
Stouts, Porters	45° – 55° F
Strong Lagers	50° – 55° F
Real & Cask Ales	50° – 55° F
Belgian Dubbels	50° – 55° F

Data from Tasting Beer by Randy Mosher.

General Serving Temperature Rules:

• All beers should be served between 38-55° F.
• Lagers are served colder than ales.
• Stronger beers are served warmer than weaker beers.
• Darker beers are served warmer than lighter beers.
• Macro lagers are served as cold as the Rockies.
• Serve beers a few degrees colder than the target temperature, to accommodate for warming from the glass and the drinker’s hands.

SAVOR 2015 Review

SAVOR an American Craft Beer & Food Experience 2015

Like the Swallows making their annual flight to Capistrano, we make our annual flight to swallow some great beers in Washington D.C..  This event is one of the most prestigious events that a brewer can be invited to attend.  The 76 brewers are chosen by lottery (yeah, right) and each is allowed to showcase 2 beers (though some may have a special beer hidden belowe for their fans to try) which are pairded with a specific food dish created by a well known chef.

The event is the highlight of the year for us snobs and we always appreciate being a part of the fun.
There were highs and lows of this year's Savor, so let us give you a rundown of our impressions and observations.

- By and large the beers were superb, however, the brewers are no longer stretching their creative wings to inttoduce or showcase new beers.  In years past, many of the brewers would create special or one of a kind brews specifically for Savor, but this year they seemed to be satisfied with presenting their typical brewery releases.  Nothing special.

- The food pairings by Chef Adam Dulye were amazing.  Chef Dulye has been working with well respected brewers and award winning restaurants for many years.  Imagine a brown ale paired with a Roasted Pork Shoulder with a Smoked Pecan & Parsely Vinigarette.  How about a strong American ale paired with a Bacon Wrapped Date with Rosemary & Current Gastrique?  Cardamom and Clove Rice Pudding .... Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake ... Steak Tartar w/ Soubise, Sea Salt, Cocao Nibs & Caper Berries ... these creations would be outstanding dishes at any restaurant.  All perfectly paired with the beer selections and often the better part of the pairings.

- Boy were these beers potent.  Many high gravity offerings that had us staggering like ... well ... like a bunch of drunks.

- Highs and Lows - Impressions of some of the beers:
   - Best Beer Name:  Bat Shit Crazy Coffee Ale from Mob Craft Brewing.  It is too bad that the     beer wasn't as good as the name, nonetheless it was nice seeing a beer named after my wife.
   - Best Brewery That We Have Never Frigging Heard Of:  Kuhnhenn Brewing from Warren, Michigan.
   - Best Brewery Name:  Fat Bottom Brewing from Nashville, Tennessee.  Been to Nashville, the name is appropriate.
   - Most Famous Person Serving Beers:  Sam Castiglione from Dogfish Head Brewing.

   - Most Interesting Brewery Concept:  The aforementioned Mob Craft Brewing allows you to suggest a concept for a beer and then uses popular vote of their patrons to determine what style of beer they will produce.  We said an interesting concept, not good idea, however.
   - Best Food Paring:  Grave Robber Fraud Quad (Belgian style Quadruppel) from Lost Highway Brewing in Denver, Colorado paired with Loin of Venison w/ Fried Parsnips, Pomegranate & Red Eye Gastrique.  Boooiiinnggggg!
   - Biggest Brewery Disappointment:  Funky Buddha Brewing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Fuckers ran out of beer half way through leaving us unable to try their much talked about offerings.
   - Gaaaaaaakkk!:  Maple Chipotle Pineapple Black IPA from St. Lawrence  Brewing Company of Canton, New York - Gaaaaaaaakkkkkk!
   - Biggest Hop Head Challenge:  Blimey That's Bitter TRIPLE IPA by Rueben's Brews from Seattle Washington.
  - Best Dessert Beer:  Choklat Oranj by Southern Tier Brewing Company from Lakewood, New York.
  - Best 'I Am Happy That I Can't Get That Here' beer:  Wulver Wee Heavy Scotch Ale Aged in Bourbon Barrels by Thirsty Dog Brewing Company from Akron, Ohio.  'Nuff said.

We hope that you will be able to join us for next year's Savor.  Cheers - Bon

Beer Review - Spencer Trappist Ale

Spencer American Trappist Ale - 6.5% ABV

We are beer snobs.  You probably know that by now.  And what beers do we consider the best beers made?  C'mon, you know, the snobbiest of the snobby beers.  That's right, the Trappist beers, which are produced by the 11 Trappist breweries.  6 in Belgium, 2 in the Netherlands, one in Austria, one in Italy and the last in ..... Spencer, Massechusetts!?!  Who knew their was a Trappist brewery in the frigging U.S.?!?  Knot eye.

The brothers from the St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massechusetts, which just released it's first beer, spent 2 years touring the Trappist breweries in Europe, learning the craft of craft beers from their European brethren.  The last, and longest, stop on their tour was at the Abbey of Sint Sixtus, where the acclaimed Westvleteren ales are produced and if this beer is even close to what Westvleteren produces then we have us a big win.  Our opinion is that there is not a single beer produced by Trappists which is not incredible.  Well, up to now that was our opinion.

Their website says that their recipe was inspired by the traditional refectory ales known as patersbier in Belgium.  These beers are session beers for their dinner table and are typically only available at the monastery.  This one is .... interesting.  The overpowering flavor driver to the beer is the live yeast, whose flavors overpower everything else.  Being unfiltered and unpasteurized the yeast continues to add flavor and aroma even after bottled.

The beer is a cloudy golden/orange with yeasty aroma and a substantial fluffy white head,  The brewers describe the flavor of the beer as full bodied with fruity accents, light hops and dry finish.  We can agree with that to an extent.  All of the panel of tasters describe the flavor as a yeast bomb with the yeast drowning out the accompanying flavors needed to make it a great beer.  It is quite one dimensional.  The fruity accents are much like that of a person born in a foreign land that has lived in the U.S. for most of their life.  You kind of hear an accent in the background when they speak but are not really sure what you are hearing.  Perhaps it is just a speech impediment, and you are afraid to bring it up.  The fruit flavor is their, but hard to identify, or even locate.  It is mildly hoppy and as described, it has a dry finish.  All of the 5 panelist describe the beer as 'something is missing'.

While the beer is pretty good it does not come close to the magnificence that we have come to expect with other Trappist beers.  We will give it this caveat, it is a great first try.

Spencer Trappist Ale is produced by the St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Mass.
http://spencerbrewery.com/

European Beer Tour With the Snobs

European Beer Tour

We have a very exciting offer for all of you snobs. We are partnering with Go Tours to offer you an affordable option to visit all of the places that we love to visit while drinking our way through Europe. 

Belgium?  Of course!  We'll tour the ancient city of Bruges and partake in traditional Belgian beer tastings as well as sampling the delicious Belgian foods.  Because Belgium is such a beer drinkers wonderland with so, so many beers to try, we will have lots of personal time for our own explorations or join in on optional tours of a few Abbeys (Maredsous Abby anyone?).

We'll stumble through the streets of Brussels, pinballing from pub to pub, stuffing Belgian chocolates and frites in our faces as we go.  Heaven.

Let's see ... is there another country where we can partake of wonderful, traditional beers?  Maybe .... Germany?  Hell, yes!  We'll visit Cologne where we will tour the town and then partake in a  Kölsch tasting.  You may stroll around the town for a bit, stretching your legs and exploring pubs then on the bus and off to Wurzburg, for a bit of a change of pace.

While Germany is justly famous for it's beer, the German wines are also quite lovely.  We'll travel down the Rhine valley and stop in the ancient town of Rudesheim am Rhein and partake in a wine sampling then on to Wurzburg, where we will tour the Residents Palace, a UNESCO world heritage site.  Next stop .... Bamberg.

Ah, Bamberg, the German City of Beer.  Ask any Germany which city is best know for beers and they will tell you Bamberg.  There are literally hundreds of breweries in this small city and while we can't visit them all, we can try, can't we?


Last stop on the tour is Munich.  We have spent many a drunken night stumbling around the beer halls of Munich.  As a group we will visit Andechs Brewery and tour the town.  You may have the fortitude to visit the Big 6 Breweries on your own.

We would love to share our love of beer exploration with our beer snob friends.  Please visit http://beersnobs.grouptoursite.com/ for all of the pertinent information and please share this offer with your friends.  That is 12 glorious days with people that you know that share your passion for fine beers and exploration.  There are opportunities to add on side tours or extend your trip to visit Prague as well.

The minimum needed for the tour is 16 brave souls, but we will happily entertain as many as 28.  Please email us with any questions at tampabeersnobs@gmail.com.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers,
Bon