Berkshire Brewing Company Holidale: 7.0 – The barleywine style makes this as rich as a porter without the middling flavor that most atypical porters have. It’s the kind of beer I can see myself drinking on Christmas eve watching the football game. Which is mostly likely what I am currently doing.
Google Shop Average: Berkshire Brewing Company Holidale $6
Lost Abbey Devotion Ale: 6.0 – It’s hoppy but it’s not a sharp hoppy taste, and I quite like it. Compared to what I see other beers of theirs going for, this is well worth it.
Google Shop Average: Lost Abbey Devotion Ale $9
Website: http://lostabbey.com/
Abita Amber Lager: 3.0 – This is one of the most tasteless beers I’ve ever had, it’s not bad – but I get more taste from bud light.
Google Shop Average: Abita Amber Lager $9 for 6-pack
Website: https://abita.com/
Rapscallion Honey: 6.0 – The honey doesn’t bring a lot of sugar to the party, and cuts the hoppiness making this a very drinkable beer, but not very tasty.
Google Shop Average: Rapscallion Honey $6 Draft (hence image)
Website: http://drinkrapscallion.com/
Berkshire River Ale: 6.0 – It’s a nice dark ale, but it’s just missing something. Like they could have gone in a few directions to make a better beer, and just didn’t.
Google Shop Average: Berkshire River Ale $5
Fleur: 5.5 – Fairly good belgian ale, nice bit of sweetness to it. Again though it’s gone the route of a Belgian style ale, but it lacks the real gravitas that most belgians have in terms of taste.
Google Shop Average: Fleur $8
Website: http://www.gooseisland.com/
Cool Your Jets: 5.5 – We’d actually tried this back at a Weekly Wine tasting a few weeks back. While there is a nice amount of flavor – it lacks impact and it feels weak. Not watered down, just the flavor needs a bit of a kick.
Google Shop Average: Cool Your Jets $6
Website: http://www.bentleybrewing.com/
Shipyard Pumpkinhead: 8.0 – While we have reviewed formally the Smashed Pumpkin from Shipyard, we never actually gave a review of Pumpkinhead – mostly because we were too busy drinking it. We often get things to review as sort of an extra – whereas Pumpkinhead was always just a staple – why review it? Well I felt we should, because this is without a doubt the perfect blend of pumpkin, drinkability, and beer that you can get for a pumpkin beer. Are their better pumpkin beers – yes? But not that many, and those are on occasion – pumpkinhead isn’t meant to be a Ferrari, it’s your dependable Saab, and you wouldn’t change that.
Happy Thanksgiving folks, enjoy it with a Pumpkinhead.
Google Shop Average: Shipyard Pumpkinhead $8 for a 6-pack
Website: http://www.shipyard.com/
Blue Moon Rounder: 7.0 – Here we come to the really good outing from Blue Moon’s sampler – enough that it’s still in their fall collection (we got summer on sale recently). This is the perfect beer to see all your other distinct beers in the fridge, and go – okay, but I’ll take this first/last. It’s certainly not a great beer, but like a Boston Lager of Guinness – when the time is right it’s all you want.
Google Shop Average: Blue Moon Rounder $18 for a 12 Pack Sampler
Allagash Nancy: 7.0 – Considering the other short batch I’ve been able to buy like this was FV-13, I was a little expectant. No while this is certainly one of my favorite cherry flavored beers – it’s sadly not as good as it’s older brother. Still though if you can find this, and you’re a fan of cherries – do pick it up.
Google Shop Average: Allagash Nancy $14 (If you can find it.)
Website: http://www.allagash.com/