Weyerbacher Double Simcoe

This is no ordinary IPA. The Simcoe hops are GENEROUSLY infused into this rich and lovely beer from Weyerbacher. Actually, it's quite amazing how many varieties of hops and recipes can vary from beer to beer. I'm trying to compare this brew to something familiar, but I can't really come up with anything quite like Double Simcoe. You can tell right away that it will be a hop-lover's delight simply from the aroma. It's so inviting--floral yet manly. Does that make sense? Oh, drink it from a wide-mouthed glass so you can stick your honker right up in there. The fragrance seems to hover over the foamy head like a soul leaving its body, looking down from above and seeping into the ether, half in this world, half in that...

Double Simcoe is packed with body for such a bitter, hoppy ale. The consistency is a tad oily, which lends a sinuousness to the fanciful uber-hopping that can leave some IPA's in the playground thinking that hops are enough to make a great brew.

Weyerbacher's stable of big beers shows the average brewer that size matters as long as there is artistry to go along with it. And no catalogue is complete without a killer IPA. Double Simcoe is a serious brew with tons of hops. Is there a touch of sweetness? Maybe a little, right in the middle of the swig. Starts smooth, then sweet, then dry, then bitter. But remember to start with a huge whiff of the fragrant hops, double-plus-good. Not for beginners--the hops may scare them off. And at 9% abv, maybe Double Simcoe is best left to professionals.

Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA:

Representation: 1.0
Accessibility: .85
Style: 1.0
Personal Preference: .95

Total: 3.8

Anchor Merry Christmas

Anchor "Our Special Ale" Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2008:

Those who are close to El Presidente and are familiar with his tastes know that he, um, I wait eleven months out of the year to get my hands on Anchor's Holiday Ale. I've been sampling this special brew every year (I'm pretty sure I didn't skip any) since 1997. It is flavorful without being too extreme. It imparts a holiday feeling without tasting too much like nutmeg. Medium body with a grand bitterness that rewards the palate for all those patient months of waiting.

If you've ever doubted my judgment or impartiality, doubt no further, for this less-than-perfect score tells the tale of true loyalty to the spirit of holiday brewing. In comparison to previous Christmas offerings, the 2008 Anchor brew is just a wee bit less miraculous than its predecessors. It's still spectacular, mind you. This bitterness and body hold hands as they walk the line between ale and stout -- totally intriguing and well balanced. The only flaw I find is that perhaps a little more nutmeg or cloves or something would mellow it out just a tad and a little less piney essence would smooth it over ever so slightly.

It's still stylish and intricate and wonderful and I'll still fight anybody who talks trash on it. And I'll still make all of my friends and family have one. And I'll still attack the 2009 version as soon as I see it a year from now.

Just a little less accessible than its forebears, the 2008 vintage has had a lot to live up to. If you've never tried "Our Special Ale", go for it! Remember that the recipe is slightly different every year and you can look forward to its originality each holiday season. With a tradition dating back to 1975, this ceremonial brew is almost as old as El Presidente himself (the beer, however, is much more distinguished). I can only hope to leave a fraction of the legacy that Anchor has left. We all continue to reap the benefits of Anchor's innovative approach to brewing. Enjoy!

Anchor "Our Special Ale" Holiday:

Representation: .95
Accessibility: .90
Style: 1.0
Personal Preference: .99

Total Score: 3.84 Flags

Victory Golden Monkey

Victory Golden Monkey

There you are, an adventurer holding a golden idol glowing with an alcoholic energy. The monkey has 4 arms and can do the "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" thing while at the same time playing the "you looked at the circle" game. Your sobriety stored in a dusty pouch. You weigh the pouch in your hand. Should be just enough to offset the weight of the idol in an attempt to keep the traps from springing. What will it be? A trap door to a spike-lined pit? Perhaps a giant blade that tries to decapitate you? Rolling boulder? Giant spider?

Okay...so let's not be over dramatic. But Victory gets it right again. This Belgian style tripel ale has the sweet exotic taste of a brew from faraway lands but it's brewed right here in the good old U.S. of A. Downingtown, PA, in fact. It's dynamite if you like tripel ales brewed in the Belgian style.

It might be the worst (but just maybe the best) tailgating beer of all time. Never finish the night with the Golden Monkey if you're already golden yourself. Actually, let's cut the crap and just make the words "Golden Monkey" into a verb; some examples may be: "I really Golden Monkeyed myself into that embarrassing situation" or "What are you doing tonight? I'll probably just watch a movie and Golden Monkey myself to sleep." It's every bit of 9.5% abv with a little extra mystical sump'n sump'n that allows for some out of body experiences. A little too delicious if you ask me.

Victory Golden Monkey:

Representation: .95
Accesibility: .95
Style: 1.0
Personal Preference: 1.0

Total Score: 3.85 Flags

Sierra Nevada "Harvest" Wet Hop Ale

Sierra Nevada “Harvest” Wet Hop Ale

Sierra Nevada weaves a fine tale. The story of the one day turnaround of “wet” hops to make this Harvest Ale gives us beer lovers hope. I try to find the brewers who care about their products and go the extra mile (and then some) to produce something inspired. Sierra Nevada never disappoints. This ale is hoppy in a way that few brews can boast—not so much bitter as tangy. And flowery. And a little sweet. With a nectary-like finish that dries out at the end. Oh, that's delicious.

I gotta warn you... watch your pour doesn't go too fast because the head can be fairly outrageous. Maybe I poured it into the wrong glass, but I think it was appropriate. It's more of a hefeweisse glass but the flowery aroma and sharp zest proved well-suited for the large flute-style glass. Of course you could roll gangsta and drink this brew straight out of the 24oz. Bottle but some of the intricacies of the flavors might be lost if you don't allow this beer to open up and breathe.

I love this smooth, sweet, and bitter gem of a beer. Of course, I couldn't resist anything freshly released from Sierra Nevada. They could produce a Harvest Badger Pee Ale and I'd pick it up with the quickness. Of course BPA may not receive scores this high, but I'd drink it anyway.

Sierra Nevada “Harvest” Wet Hop Ale:

Representation: .99
Accessibility: .95
Style: .95
Personal Preference: .95

Total Score: 3.84 Flags

Devilishly Good T-Shirt

Our new Ferment Nation T Shirt Design. Ever have a beer so delicious that you know the Devil must have had something to do with it? Check out the "Damned Good Beer" Devil Shirt Ringer Tee with Ferment Nation logo on the back.

Pumpkin Round-Up

If you haven't received our Pumpkin Showdown Newsletter, here is your chance to view it and check out all of the individual pumpkin reviews, the final results, and hear the podcast!

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Blue Moon Harvest Moon

Blue Moon Harvest Moon:

Pretty smooth and very drinkable. This is the least exquisite of all the pumpkin ales, but that is NOT a bad thing. In fact, I would consider Blue Moon Harvest Moon to be a "gateway" beer that could lead the way to the festive and spicy world of pumpkin brews. It was, in fact, my "gateway" beer.

Harvest Moon was my very first pumpkin ale all those years ago. Oh, I fell for its seasonal stylings but have since let my tastebuds wander. Just as Blue Moon's white ale is a nifty introduction to the world of unfiltered ales, so is Harvest Moon a cool first step toward Halloween madness. Very accessible but I'm afraid not very stylish. If you've never had a pumpkin beer, start with Blue Moon's Harvest Moon. When you start to wander through the pumpkin patch, you will be spirited away to a darker, more mysterious world. Beware.

(Click HERE to see the results of the Ultimate Pumpkin Showdown!)

Dogfish Head Punk

Dogfish Head Punk:

Rich and punkiny with a truly groovy warming quality which lends itself to maxin' on a chilly rain-soaked night. Medium to full-bodied. That's what a lot of pumpkin beers lack: body. Dogfish Head, however, throws down the gauntlet and unleashes their usual assault on our tastebuds. The fruity essence of pumpkin with stern yet mellow spicing gives a wine-like quality to this beer that Dogfish lovers have come to find as one of the signature features of their off-centered ales.

Not like pumpkin pie at all. Totally off-centered, as usual, in the lineup of pumpkin ales up for review in the weeks approaching Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Just a little dry while maintaining fruity goodness, Punk is a blood relative of Raison D'etre and Aprihop in presentation and spirit. Playful yet serious. Classy but on the edge. The kinda beer ya take home to mom...

(Click HERE to see the results of the Ultimate Pumpkin Showdown!)

Southern Tier Imperial Pumpking

Southern Tier Imperial Pumpking:

Great Googly Moogly. Southern Tier has never been known to pull punches (check out the Jahvah and Creme Brulee). They maintain a hard line on flavor and take an aggressive stance here on pumpkin. Imperial? I'll say. This ale is brimming with body and captures the essence of a pumpkin dessert better than any I've tried. Might it be too big for the average beer drinker? It might. Powerful pumpkin aroma and dreamy pumpkin flavor mask the 9% abv. Kinda. You can't really taste the alcohol, but it is so rich that you may not be able to sit and go to town on it. Not exactly a "session" beer.

The label recounts the story of Puca, a Celtic folklore critter who absconds with wayward travellers. This Pumpking is not for the faint of heart. But give yourself over to it and become one of the haints in your neighborhood. Go haunt the sober people. Just don't drive.

P.S. The aroma is JUST LIKE a pumpkin spice candle!

(Click HERE to see the results of the Ultimate Pumpkin Showdown!)

Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale

Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale:

Extremely even. Medium-bodied but on the larger side of medium. Super smooth ale. An exceptional beer even without the pumpkin. But add the spicy flavor of everyone's favorite gourd, and a true legend emerges. This beer could be brewed and enjoyed all year round, but of course it's perfect for the Halloween holiday. Take this bit of advice: This beer is so elegant, classy, and solid that it is NOT a gimmicky Halloween beer. Save some for Thanksgiving and take it to the in-laws' house (if you don't mind sharing your private stash with them). Smuttynose has all of the lovely traits that I found in the Buffalo Bill's offering. Smuttynose takes them to a slightly higher level. Very impressive.

Everything I've ever tried from Smuttynose has been excellent. The Pumpkin Ale is no exception. It's an awesome beer, first and foremost. It's an awesome pumpkin beer, too. Don't miss it this fall. Anyone who says they like beer must try this one before it goes away for another year.

(Click HERE to see the results of the Ultimate Pumpkin Showdown!)

Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale:

This would be superfly on a camping trip on a cold night sitting around a campfire. Need to warm up? Weyerbacher's Imperial Pumpkin Ale does the trick with a warming alcohol kick. 8%abv is no joke so be careful how many of these you take down while you attempt to assemble those s'mores.

This Imperial Pumpkin is a medium to full-bodied ale with lots of spices. Yes, they hit your tongue but really go through the nose when you exhale. Then that spiciness stays a bit in your chest. That's part of the mysterious alchemy of this nice brew. I had this on my beercation last fall and remember it being a little less imperial. But now, make no mistake: Weyerbacher soes make a fine rendition.

You know, Weyerbacher isn't always hanging around your local liquor store so grab it if you see it. Take the Imperial Pumpkin Ale to a Halloween party and make some waves. But only if you're going to a party with beer nerds. There are cheaper and less challenging pumpkin ales out there if you are strictly after a novelty beer. Weyerbacher doesn't make novelty beers.

(Click HERE to see the results of the Ultimate Pumpkin Showdown!)

Wolaver's Will Stevens' Certified Organic Pumpkin Ale

Wolaver's Will Stevens' Certified Organic Pumpkin Ale:

Got a straw? Stick it in a pumpkin and take a pull. This brew is extremely fresh tasting and with certified organic ingredients, it his the mark for authentic pumpkin flavor. Not a ton of body, but actually fairly thirst-quenching as it exhibits some Flemish sour qualities. Not overbearing, but not uber-smooth, either.

Again, I'm a fan of the big beers with rich spicy notes and smooth, creamy bodies. The spices in Will Stevens' Ale are earthy and pungent so style is not an issue. Different from the rest by virtue of its natural demeanor. It's a little light in the body for me, but may be too much on the tongue for others. Overall, a really nice fall treat. Definitely bring this one to a party where you might find nature-lovers and green folks. I'm trying to be more green and organic, so I would always appreciate receiving this beer as a gift or finding it in a fridge somewhere whilst picking pumpkins.

(Click HERE to see the results of the Ultimate Pumpkin Showdown!)

Buffalo Bill's Original Pumpkin Ale

Buffalo Bill's Original Pumpkin Ale:

Gee, that's a really special pumpkin brew. Medium-bodied ale (on the lighter side of medium) with a little pumpkin flavor and a little spicy flavor and a little beer flavor and it tastes exactly like pumpkin ale should taste. Extremely even-tempered and assertively subtle. Ok, no one really knows what that means but I guess what I'm trying to say is: "Gosh, that's just right."

My tastes lean toward a bigger beer with more body, more style, more sexiness. But Buffalo Bill's gives just enough. Really smooth and drinkable despite a tell-tale pumpkin flavor. Not overdone at all. I really think that most pumpkin ales (not all, mind you, but most) are shooting for a certain something. Most brewers miss that mark. Buffalo Bill's Original Pumpkin Ale does not.

Buffalo Bill's Original Pumpkin Ale:

Representation: .95
Accessibility: .95
Style: .90
Personal Preference: .95

Total Score: 3.75 Flags

Read ALL OUR PUMPKIN REVIEWS

(Click HERE to see the results of the Ultimate Pumpkin Showdown!)

Post Road Pumpkin Ale

Post Road Pumpkin Ale:

Pale and pumkiny with a dry finish. This was my fave pumpkin brew at one time, though these days I prefer the bigger beers with a richer body and creamier mouthfeel. The pumpkin aroma is really nice and a light body makes it extremely drinkable. If you don't like pumpkin ales or pumpkiny stuff, stay away from this one. The pumpkin is a pretty prominent feature. I think its a little thin for my tastes but not bad. Not sweet at all, Post Road is practically the opposite of Saranac with a dry approach. Almost as if the pumpkin was the goal from the outset, and the beer was reverse-engineered to produce that signature aroma and flavor.

This fall brew falls in the middle of the pack on the scale of introductory pumpkin beers. Try the milder ones first, move on to Post Road, and then head toward a fuller-bodied brew. That's what I did. When I tasted Post Road Pumpkin Ale I became a fan of the style. I've since taken a fancy to the slightly more... well, fancy. But Post Road is a solid choice for anyone who enjoys Shipyard but needs more pumpkin goodness.

(Click HERE to see the results of the Ultimate Pumpkin Showdown!)

Saranac Pumpkin Ale

Saranac Pumpkin Ale:

An interesting take on the fall classic pumpkin ale. Brewed with vanilla in addition to the old standbys cinnamon, allspice, and cloves, Saranac has a little zip to it but manages to remain pretty mellow. Pretty nice body and a dessert-like finish. Not too terribly sweet but I'd say its the sweetest of the pumkins I've tried. Saranac's Pumpkin Ale maintains the beer-like qualities of an ale while gettin' kinda pumpkiny at the same time. If some of the more pumpkinier and spicier brews could steal some of Saranac's body, the field would be narrower.

Overall, this beer has a lot of positives but doesn't topple the sexier pumkin ales out there these days. Definitely worth a try, but get some singles if you can before investing in a 6, 12, or a case. The taste is cool but not necessarily a "session" beer. The pumpkin flavors are more subtle and the vanilla really stands out. Conversation piece, no doubt.

(Click HERE to see the results of the Ultimate Pumpkin Showdown!)