River Horse Hipp-O-Lantern

River Horse Hipp-O-Lantern Imperial Pumpkin Ale:

There are lots of lovely things going on in this Imperial Pumpkin from River Horse. The "Brewer's Reserve " line has been impressing me since the Double Wit a few years back and continues straight through the Hop-a-Lotamus (which I recommend to just about everyone, by the way). Hipp-O-Lantern has plenty of body and a boozy pumpkin essence, yet somehow remains dry at the finish.

I haven't gone completely bonkers with pumpkin brews yet this season so it is with renewed vigor that El Presidente takes on the task of organizing the citizenry's autumnal beverage selection. If you've been following Ferment Nation over the past two years, you will realize the depth of coverage we try to provide: The Ultimate Pumpkin Showdown is worth a look (and a listen, by the way... check out our podcast). And last year, Charlie's Pumpkin Patch at The Institute was fairly epic as well. And so it begins again...

First things first: Pour Hipp-O-Lantern into a nice glass. Perhaps a thistle, tulip, or even a wine glass. This will keep you from chugging this gentle giant from River Horse. Don't lose all the subtle spice notes by greedily pouring it down your gullet. And take a moment to check out the aroma. Fairly mild, but a treat nonetheless.

Flavor: The warm nutmeggy-clovish-allspice-rific essence combined with the fairly potent alcohol content (an imperial 9% if I'm not mistaken) give Hipp-O-Lantern an after-dinner cordial feel without invoking dessert. The spices are first when you take a sip, but the pumpkin is not far behind. This reminds me of Weyerbacher's Imperial Pumpkin Ale, though Hipp-O-Lantern is slightly sweeter with less alchohol bite.

Finally: The beer kicks in and you remember that you are drinking an ale without apologies. Hops and malt make their presence known. The finish is a little dry, which reminds me of Dogfish Head's Punk. Overall, Hipp-O-Lantern is a fine Imperial Pumpkin Ale with a groovy vibe. Oh yes, it is completely appropriate to bring to an Oktoberfest, Halloween party, or even Thanksgiving dinner. Seasonal but not gimicky, River Horse Hipp-O-Lantern delivers a warm pumpkin punch wrapped in a velvet glove.

River Horse Hipp-O-Lantern Imperial Pumpkin Ale:

Representation: .975

Accessibility: .90

Style: .95

Personal Preference: .94

Total Score: 3.765 Flags

River Horse Hop-A-Lot-Amus:

River Horse Hop-a-lot-amus:

The unfiltered double IPA from Lambertville, NJ is just as hoppy as you want it to be. Hidden beneath the tranquil murkiness is a dangerous beast. At first glance, Hop-a-lot-amus looks like a dark hefe-weizen. But the aroma is a tantalizing blend of malty sweetness and floral hops -- perhaps a bit of oak or vanilla sneaks in there as well. So the safari continues.

The taste: There's a rich, malty skeleton holding up the strong body of the Hop-a-lot-amus. The earthy, oaky, vanilla-y flavors come next, but lets not short-change the featured flavor of this double IPA: Hops... A-lot-amus. The bitter blast of floral hops swirls up from the depths of this cloudy beverage, beginning with the foamy head and continuing all the way through the creamy mouthfeel. A little malty up front, then hoppy, then a little more malt, and a lovely bitter aftertaste. It does linger for awhile. The only way to quell the bitterness is to have another sip. And the process begins all over again.


The complexity and balance of Hop-a-lot-amus hold to the standards of other River Horse offerings like Belgian Freeze, Hefe-Rye-Zen, and Double Wit, but I'm of the opinion that Hop-a-lot-amus outshines them by a slight margin. Keep in mind that at 8.5% abv, River Horse Hop-a-lot-amus is not exactly a session beer. Even still, the creaminess and hoppiness make me fantasize about this brew on hand-pumped cask. Please give ol' El Presidente a heads-up if it pops up anywhere. Please. Pretty Please.

River Horse Hop-a-lot-amus:

Representation: .975
Accessibility: .85
Style: .99
Personal Preference: 1.0

Total Score: 3.815 Flags

River Horse Special Ale ESB (Citizen Review)

River Horse Special Ale ESB:

"Interesting nutty layers.
More interesting than conventional,
but not too complicated to be
too much for conventional beer lovers."

Representation: 1.0
Accessibility: 1.0
Style Points: 1.0
Personal Preference: .75

Total Score: 3.75 Flags

--Reviewed by Citizen Cheryl

Read our other [River Horse Reviews]

River Horse Belgian Freeze Winter Ale

River Horse Belgian Freeze Winter Ale:

Brewed "for enjoyment between the December solstice and the March Equinox", Belgian Freeze possesses a smooth malty body with just a touch of warmth. Perhaps it could use just a little more... ever so little...

The balancing act of this Belgian-style winter ale is pretty impressive. It's kind of like a Belgian white ale, only brown. Caramel malts (and possibly candi sugar) add body and a fair amount of flavor. Belgian Freeze is a tasty treat -- sweet but not overly so, and lots of body. Yeasty but tame.

What's missing? Just a hint more malt and booze would be nice to complete this well-rounded brew. Also, just a few extra spicy notes and maybe some bitterness (cocoa, maybe?) would help. Other than that, this winter ale is really holding a spot in my snow-day lineup. I'm not sure I can recall a beer that straddles the line between Belgian white and German bock like this one. Pretty snazzy, and another groovy River Horse offering.

Like other winter beers: Malty, made for warming up by a fire.

Unlike other winter beers: Belgian-style and a bit sweet with a heavy, yeasty base.

Check out other "winter warmer" brews already reviewed like: Gritty's Christmas, Rogue Santa's Private Reserve, Sierra Nevada Celebration.

Keep your eyes open for other "winter warmers" like: Sam Smith's Winter Welcome, Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser, and Great Divide Hibernation.

River Horse Belgian Freeze Winter Ale:

Representation: .925
Accessibility: .95
Style: .97
Personal Preference: .97

Total Score: 3.815 Flags

River Horse Tripel Horse (Citizen Review)

River Horse Tripel Horse:

"Very sweet not cloying

but not a lot of body

or aftertaste -- I expect

more dimensions in a tripel"

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: .25

Style Points: 1.0

Personal Preference: .25

Total Score: 2.5 Flags

--Reviewed by Citizen Cheryl Selah

Riverhorse Hop-alot-amus (Citizen Review)

Riverhorse Hop-alot-amus:

"This beer has good spice to it and nice malt balance. It reminds me of Arrogant Bastard."



Representation: 1.0
Accessibility: 1.0
Style Points: 1.0
Personal Preference: 1.0

Total: 4.0 Flags

--Reviewed by Citizen George Mangini

River Horse Summer Blonde

River Horse Summer Blonde Ale:

Quite a nice summer ale. Super drinkable but not overly stylish. The wheaty flavors are there, but don't stand out too much. Some citrusy notes are there as well, but not overpowering. Basically, this summer brew has all the elements that give summer ales their seasonal flare but they seem blended a bit too well. There isn't too much complexity going on here. Actually, a quick review of the label reveals that simplicity is the intended summertime state that summer drinkers or chillers-out should experience all summer long, especially while maxin' and relaxin' with a summer brew. Take this one to a hot weather tailgater or just right to the screened-in porch.

River Horse Summer Blonde is extremely easy-drinking and light to medium bodied. Could be a go-to for less experimental summer beer drinkers. Kinda like Sam Summer, but not quite at the same level. Very pleasant. Everyone should try it; Most people will like it. Beer snobs will want something just a little sexier.

From experience:
Goes pretty good with dry-roasted peanuts.

River Horse Summer Blonde Ale:

Representation: .85
Accessibility: 1.0
Style: .80
Personal Preference: .90

Total Score: 3.55 Flags

Take Me to the River

River Horse Brewer's Reserve Double Wit:

Had this one on tap at the Grey Lodge Public House recently. Get it if you can.

Not your typical wheat beer. Lots of wheaty and citrusy notes, but something else gives this beer a certain individuality. It's got a Belgian Tripel kind of sweetness and a warming alcohol bump. I first sampled this brew at the Philly Craft Beer Festival and have been awaiting its arrival for some time now. Not disappointed!

Actually, I hope to see more River Horse offerings in Philly, but especially in South Jersey -- I spoke to someone from RH at the Philly Festival and he said that they are looking to expand in NJ to fill the void of some other Jersey beers that are actively courting the Philly scene. I happen to live really close to Philly, so this turf war works out fine for me. Keep it coming, guys.

A newcomer to craft beers may want to sample some wheats first, then Belgian Tripels, so that they can appreciate the elements present in this original offering from River Horse. Yeah, Jersey!

River Horse Brewer's Reserve Double Wit:

Representation: .85
Accessibility: .90
Style: 1.0
Personal Preference: .90

Total Score: 3.65 Flags