If you have had a good (or bad) beer recently report the results here

[Lucky17]

Yeah, the Southern Tier, from what I hear, is unabashedly a "pumpkin pie" beer. If that's what they are going for, and they nail it, then I have no problem with that. I'd certainly try it out.

Otherwise, I fully agree with IP. To me, they sound like sweet, spiced beers promoted as "pumpkin beers".

See, the 'Pumpkin pie' angle conjures up significant imagery in the mind. That's why theyre great.

Think about your favorite pumpkin dishes; cookies, pies, muffins. All super sweet. I tried a pumpkin and sausage dish once with rice pilaf served under. I literally almost threw up. Literally. Pumpkin can add a flavor, but on its own....nahsomuch.

Pumpkin panang curry from the Thai food cart near campus. Not bad, but the chunked pumpkin itself is pretty bland.

[indeedproceed]

Yeah, the Southern Tier, from what I hear, is unabashedly a "pumpkin pie" beer. If that's what they are going for, and they nail it, then I have no problem with that. I'd certainly try it out.

Otherwise, I fully agree with IP. To me, they sound like sweet, spiced beers promoted as "pumpkin beers".

See, the 'Pumpkin pie' angle conjures up significant imagery in the mind. That's why theyre great.

Think about your favorite pumpkin dishes; cookies, pies, muffins. All super sweet. I tried a pumpkin and sausage dish once with rice pilaf served under. I literally almost threw up. Literally. Pumpkin can add a flavor, but on its own....nahsomuch.

Pumpkin panang curry from the Thai food cart near campus. Not bad, but the chunked pumpkin itself is pretty bland.

Like I said. Pumpkin can add, but cant carry. The Eddie House of flavors. If you have a great memory, maybe you keep him around, but you don't let him play point guard too often.

[thirstyboots18]

Don't know about beer, but pumpkin has a similar taste to squash and can be cooked and served like squash.  Must be the spices and sugar you like.  There is even a combo of spices you can buy to cook with called "pumpkin pie spice" that you can add to pie or cookies.

[Cman]

I'm about to go home and crack open a Smuttynose IPA. Always a good standby. MMMmmmmm.

Had it this weekend. Good, not great.

Agreed -- but a good standby, right?
I can buy it at the Duane Reade (a NYC chain of drugstores) on the way home.

I agree with your take on pumpkin beers ( I feel the same way about most "octoberfest" beers) -- I pretty much avoid them all, although I haven't tried the one from Southern Tier yet. I've got Punkin in my fridge now. Can't really ever go wrong with Dogfish head.

Anyway, two good beers I had recently, both on tap:
Homunculus (a hoppy Belgian, by Smuttynose)
Vendetta IPA (Speakeasy)

[Rondo2287]

Don't know about beer, but pumpkin has a similar taste to squash and can be cooked and served like squash.  Must be the spices and sugar you like.  There is even a combo of spices you can buy to cook with called "pumpkin pie spice" that you can add to pie or cookies.

Hmm, for you brewers out there, can you add the pumpkin pie spice thirstyboots mentioned to a batch of beer and try to make your own?

[Cman]

Don't know about beer, but pumpkin has a similar taste to squash and can be cooked and served like squash.  Must be the spices and sugar you like.  There is even a combo of spices you can buy to cook with called "pumpkin pie spice" that you can add to pie or cookies.

Hmm, for you brewers out there, can you add the pumpkin pie spice thirstyboots mentioned to a batch of beer and try to make your own?

Make sure to call it thirstyboots celticsblog pumpkin ale.

[Lord of Mikawa]

I recently had this UFO Rasberry beer. My god it is my favorite beer so far!

[Redz]

Having a Sam Adams "fat jack double pumpkin" right now.  Pretty good, actually has some pumpkin too it.

I'm trying  my best to enjoy a Sam Harvest Pumpkin.  Not having much luck.  I think I'm just not a pumpkin ale guy, though I did like the UFO one.

I agree Redz, I find most pump,in beers just take like weird beer.  Not  really like pumpkins.  This Sam double jack was 7bucks for a 24 ounce so it's one of their special brews.. Probably one of the best pumpkin beers I've ever had

I picked up a Double Jack (it was $9.99 here).  It was definitely better than other Pumpkins I've tried and packed a nice little wallop.  It was a treat, but I don't think I'd get another. 

I did pick up a 12 pack of Sierra Nevada Summer brew for the same price on clearance.  I pretty much like whatever Sierra Nevada has to offer, so I'm not afraid of a late summer treat.

I also grabbed a pint bottle of Dogfish Head's "Theobroma" which I'm really looking forward to trying (not tonight!).

I'm currently enjoying a nice Long Trail Pale Ale to lighten up after the Pumpkin meal.

[Lucky17]

Almost bought a bomber of the Southern Tier Pumpking this afternoon while at the store, but for only a few bucks more, I opted for the Sammy Fall Sampler instead.

Like Cman, I don't care much for Octoberfest beers, as I'm usually not a big fan of malt-forward beers. My reaction to the Sammy version was pretty much what I expected.

I did, however, enjoy the Latitude 48 IPA. I'd assumed the hops were Cascade, Fuggles, and Hallertau, but in fact they're Simcoe, East Kent Goldings, and Ahtanum. Not aggressively hoppy at all, a nice beer.

Looking forward to trying out the Harvest Pumpkin and the Hazel Brown later tomorrow. Will report back then.

Redz, did you say you got a 12 of Sierra Nevada for $10? If so, nicely done.

[indeedproceed]

Almost bought a bomber of the Southern Tier Pumpking this afternoon while at the store, but for only a few bucks more, I opted for the Sammy Fall Sampler instead.

Like Cman, I don't care much for Octoberfest beers, as I'm usually not a big fan of malt-forward beers. My reaction to the Sammy version was pretty much what I expected.

I did, however, enjoy the Latitude 48 IPA. I'd assumed the hops were Cascade, Fuggles, and Hallertau, but in fact they're Simcoe, East Kent Goldings, and Ahtanum. Not aggressively hoppy at all, a nice beer.

Looking forward to trying out the Harvest Pumpkin and the Hazel Brown later tomorrow. Will report back then.

Redz, did you say you got a 12 of Sierra Nevada for $10? If so, nicely done.

The Hazel is just really good. I'd buy a 12 of that ahead of anything Sam makes besides the IPology mixer.

[Redz]

Redz, did you say you got a 12 of Sierra Nevada for $10? If so, nicely done.

Yup.  They were clearing out the summer brews.  It came with a little key chain / bottle opener, though I'm not really sure how well it would open a bottle without breaking a finger or two in the process. We shall have to see about this!

[indeedproceed]

Redz, did you say you got a 12 of Sierra Nevada for $10? If so, nicely done.

Yup.  They were clearing out the summer brews.  It came with a little key chain / bottle opener, though I'm not really sure how well it would open a bottle without breaking a finger or two in the process. We shall have to see about this!

Sound marketing. There are a million bottle openers in the world, but how many really make you take notice when you use is? Everytime you look at the mangled wreck of your hands, you'll think of Sierra Nevada.

[Redz]

Almost bought a bomber of the Southern Tier Pumpking this afternoon while at the store, but for only a few bucks more, I opted for the Sammy Fall Sampler instead.

Like Cman, I don't care much for Octoberfest beers, as I'm usually not a big fan of malt-forward beers. My reaction to the Sammy version was pretty much what I expected.

I did, however, enjoy the Latitude 48 IPA. I'd assumed the hops were Cascade, Fuggles, and Hallertau, but in fact they're Simcoe, East Kent Goldings, and Ahtanum. Not aggressively hoppy at all, a nice beer.

Looking forward to trying out the Harvest Pumpkin and the Hazel Brown later tomorrow. Will report back then.

Redz, did you say you got a 12 of Sierra Nevada for $10? If so, nicely done.

The Hazel is just really good. I'd buy a 12 of that ahead of anything Sam makes besides the IPology mixer.

I do love the Hazel Brown.  I was rummaging through the fridge the other night looking my last one then I realized they come with just 2 to the 12 pack.  I wish they'd stop putting the standard Sam Lager in the mixers. 

I don't think I can bring myself to buy another 12 pack of the fall mixer just to get more of the Hazels (though I did like the Latitude 48 too). 

The Weizen is just yucky to me too, and the Octoberfest is kinda watery.

[indeedproceed]

The Dunkel is like drinking a filtered banana smoothie, but without all the texture.

I don't like the idea of Oktoberfest beers. It would be like if America had a festival where all the brewers make 'Independence' beers that are watery and tasteless, but we all agree to drink a crapton.

[Lucky17]

Considering the state of my fantasy teams this weekend, plus the Pats loss, I figured it perfectly a propos to drink the Fin du Monde that's been in my fridge for the past month.

Our local Trader Joe's is selling these at under $6 a pop. Well worth it, and highly recommended. A boozy but balanced trippel.