194. Warsteiner Brauerei – Warsteiner Oktoberfest
I got home from work tonight and reached into the beer fridge for another beer for my Oktoberfest Challenge. Unfortunately, after a dozen days into the challenge, I’m running short on seasonal beers. Fortunately, I still had an authentic German Oktoberfest. The label says it’s 5.9% ABV and 11.2 fl. oz. It was very clear, and was dark golden with a slight bit of an amber tint to it. There was a creamy head on it, and...
193. Spoetzl – Shiner Marzen Style Oktoberfest
I’ve got an ABNormal Homebrewers club meeting tonight, so I wanted something a little bit light before going to the meeting to try some barleywines. In all honesty, I didn’t have a while lot of hope for this one, it just happened to be one of the few Oktoberfest beers in the mix-a-six area, so I grabbed it. It was crystal clear and amber in color when I poured it in the glass. The head was very thick and creamy with some...
192. Clipper City Brewing – The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale
This was one of the pumpkin beers I picked up the other day when I went to the liquor store looking for beers for my Oktoberfest Challenge. I figured with it being called an Imperial Pumpkin Ale and at 8% ABV, it could be good. The label said, “The Mutiny Fleet was ‘berthed’ by Heavy Seas brewers who were discovered secretly brewing small batches of big beers to amuse the pallets of their fellow crew. Since most...
191. Shipyard Brewing – Smashed Pumpkin Ale
While I was picking up pumpkin beers at the liquor store, this one stood out because of the 9% ABV. I thought I’d give it a shot after reading the label… “Smashed Pumpkin is a big bodied beer with a light coppery orange color and pleasing aroma of pumpkin and nutmeg. The OG and final ABV provide the structure and body. Pale ale, wheat and Munich malts combined with the natural tannin in pumpkin and the delicate...
190. Hoppin’ Frog – Frog’s Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale
After going to the Great American Beer Festival, I looked to see the medal winners from the festival. I saw that Hoppin’ Frog Brewery had won a GABF Gold medal for the “field beer” category for their Frog’s Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale. So, when I saw this one on my recent trip to the liquor store, there was no doubt I should get it. The bottle says, “There’s a place just South they call Frog’s...
189. Buffalo Bill’s Brewery – America’s Original Pumpkin Ale
After a break from pumpkin beers for the last couple of days, I thought I’d get back to it with an original. Even six or 7 years ago when I started brewing pumpkin beers at home, Buffalo Bill’s was available. I’m not quite sure how long it’s been around, but it’s pretty much considered the original pumpkin beer – as you can see that it calls itself, “American’s Original” Pumpkin...
188. Boulevard Brewing – Bob’s 47 Oktoberfest
I went tot he liquor store and picked up a mix-a-six so that I could get a variety of Oktoberfest and pumpkin beers. This was one a friend from Kansas City had recommended, so I thought I’d pick one up and give it a try. The bottle says, “A tribute to our friend Bob Werkowitch, master brewer and graduate of the US Brewers’ Academy, class of 1947.” It was very clear and copper in color. It initially had a...
187. Hofbräu München – Hofbräu Oktoberfest
After four straight days of pumpkin beers, I thought I’d break it up a little bit with an Oktoberfestbier. My picture from my post announcing my Octoberfest Challenge is from a couple years ago when I had dinner at the Hofbrau Haus in Las Vegas and had a huge glass of this beer. Much like the Spaten Oktoberfestbier I had last week, it doesn’t get much more traditional Oktoberfest than this beer. I only felt like I should...
186. O’Fallon Brewery – Pumpkin Beer
Another St. Louis brewery with a pumpkin beer is O’Fallon Brewery. Theirs has been around a few years longer than Schlafly’s Pumpkin Ale. I’ve found O’Fallon’s beers to be a little hit or miss, as I wasn’t a huge fan of their Hemp Hop Rye Amber Ale or their Chocolate Cherry beer, but am a fan of their 5 Day IPA and Wheach. It had a reddish copper color, and was fairly clear. it had a creamy, foamy...
185. New Holland Brewing – Ichabod
I was at the liquor store looking for different pumpkin beers and came across this one. I’ve had a few of New Holland brews, including their Mad Hatter IPA and their Pilgrim’s Dole Wheat Wine, and after those, I was willing to give Ichabod – their pumpkin beer – a chance. Besides, I liked the creativity of associating their pumpkin beer with something surrounding a Halloween story, and not just calling it...
184. St. Louis Brewery / Schlafly – Pumpkin Ale Special Release
I heard about Schlafly’s pumpkin beer about 4 years ago, and while in St. Louis for a friend’s wedding, we stopped by the Schlafly Tap Room specifically to try this beer. Due to the high alcohol (my memory tells me it was around 9% ABV back then), it was served in an 8oz snifter. I think they started bottling this last year, and I’m sure they lowered the ABV when the started bottling it. This beer will always...
183. Dogfish Head – Punkin Ale
I’m kicking off my Oktoberfest challenge with a pumpkin beer from Dogfish Head. Their site says it’s a “full-bodied brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar. We brew our Punkin Ale with pumpkin meat, organic brown sugar and spices.” The bottle says it’s “brewed with real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon & nutmeg.” It also says it’s 7% ABV. It was clear and...
