Murphy's Stout

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 4%
Brewery: Murphy Brewery Ireland LTD
Country: Ireland
Beer Type: Irish Dry Stout
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Jet black color, beautiful nitro pour, two finger creamy tan head.  Same recipe since 1856!    Creamy mild sweet roasted caramel malt flavor.  It would be interesting to do a comparison vs. Guinness - I may do this around St Pat's Day.

Hopivore Harvest Ale

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 6%
Brewery: New Holland Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Pale Ale
2012 Rating: B+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a clear dark copper color with  1 finger white head, nice lacing.  Nice hop aroma.  Taste starts with some malt sweetness and ends with a bitter hop finish.  Very good!

Barktoberfest

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 6%
Brewery: Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Märzen
2012 Rating: B & I
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a deep copper color with a 1 finger white head that disappears quickly, no lacing.  Caramel malt aroma.  SWEET roasted  bread malt & caramel taste.  Unusual - Interesting - very good unique Märzen.

Ichabod Pumpkin Ale

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: New Holland Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Pumpkin Ale
2012 Rating: B+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a clear amber color with a 1 finger off white head.  Cinnamon, nutmeg & pumpkin aroma.  Taste is similar to the aroma, a  smooth blend of spices & pumpkin.  This is not a "pumpkin pie in a bottle" like the Schlafly.  You could drink this beer all night.

Steve's Pumpkin Ale

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: n/a
Brewery: Steve's Homebrew
Country: USA
Beer Type: Pumkin Ale
2012 Rating: B+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a cloudy copper color with a 1 finger white head, some lacing.  Cinnamon & nutmeg aroma.  Cinnamon, nutmeg & pumpkin taste.  Smooth & easy to drink.  Excellent!

Rat Tale Ale

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 6%
Brewery: Cellar Rats Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Pale Ale
2012 Rating: TDTR
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  at this point in the evening…just another beer.

Looking Glass Hoopla Pale Ale

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 5.7%
Brewery: Boulder Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type:  American Pale Ale
2012 Rating: C+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a beautiful  light copper color with a 1 finger head.  Slight caramel malt aroma.  Smooth & balanced caramel malt & hop taste.

Mt Carmel Harvest Ale

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 8%
Brewery: Mt. Carmel Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: ESB (Extra Special Bitter)
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a nice copper color with a thin white head, no lacing.  Caramel malt aroma.  Taste starts with toasted  caramel malt and ends with a nice hop bitterness.  A good ESB.

Post Road Pumpkin Ale

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Pumpkin Ale
2012 Rating: C+
2011 Rating: C+

Comments:  Orange amber color, with a 2 finger head, no lacing. The aroma is malt, spice & pumpkin  Malt, spice / cinnamon taste with pumpkin in the background.  Smooth - easy to drink, the pumpkin taste is not overpowering. 

Pumpkinhead Ale

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 5.1%
Brewery: Shipyard Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Pumpkin Ale
2012 Rating: C+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a clear straw yellow color with a 1 finger white head that disappears quickly; no lacing.  Cinnamon & nutmeg  aroma.  Nutmeg, cinnamon & a slight pumpkin taste. 

Tröegs Dead Reckoning Porter

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 5.8%
Brewery: Tröegs Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Porter
2012 Rating: B+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a dark brown - almost black color with no head (at least, that's how my beer was poured).  Nice lacing.  Roasted malt & chocolate aroma.  Taste; there is a nice hoppiness upfront, followed with a smooth malt & chocolate flavor.  Very nice.

Horny Blonde

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Horny Goat Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Lager
2012 Rating: C+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a clear yellow color with a two finger white head, nice lacing.  Slight malt & grain aroma.  Taste is primarily sweet malt, but I did taste some hop bitterness at the end (after the beer warmed slightly).  Average.

Punkin Ale

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 7%
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Pumpkin Ale
2012 Rating: B & I
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a copper color with a nice 2 finger head that disappears quickly,  I think you predominantly smell & taste cinnamon & nutmeg spice. The pumpkin taste is subtle compared to the Schlafly.  If you want a beer that tastes like Pumpkin, buy the Schlafly, but if you want a beer you can drink all nite - order a Punkin Ale.

Franziskaner Weissbier

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Hefeweizen
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: A

Comments:  Pours a cloudy yellow / orange color with a foamy 2+ finger white head.  The aroma is wheat, banana, clove & spice. The taste is sweet wheat ,malt, fruit (banana & clove) and spice. EXCELLENT! 

Bitburger Premium Pils

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 4.8%
Brewery: Bitburger Brauerei
Country: Germany
Beer Type: German Pilsener
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a clear golden color with a 1 finger fluffy white head.  Crisp hop, grain and malt taste.  Well balanced.  A good German Pilsener.

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 8%
Brewery: The St. Louis Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Pumpkin Ale
2012 Rating: A & I
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a dark amber color with a 2 finger head.  Smells like a pumpkin pie!  Tastes just like the label states: nutmeg, cinnamon & clove. - just like a pumpkin pie! EXCELLENT, but you could not drink this beer all night unless you are a pumpkin fanatic.

Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale

Reviewed:  October 2012
ABV: 5.7%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type:  Pumpkin Ale
2012 Rating: C
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a dark reddish brown color with a two finger tan head.  Cinnamon & pumpkin aroma.  Malt, cinnamon, nutmeg spice taste with some pumpkin in the background.  There are better pumpkin ales out there.