Fall Beer Update

The days of fall are passing, and it's getting colder. And that's fine, because to stay warm I am opting to drink more beer and use less oil this year. Actually if you do the math on this you end up needing to drink absolutely punishingly horrible beer for this to make financial sense. But who cares.

In truth I must admit that the Woodstock Inn fallT liquor is growing on me. It took a big dent in the 6er to come around, but I think I am a fan at this point. I am moving from 'recommend' to 'strong buy' on that commodity.

So as we get into October, we're all finding ourselves in the same boat with Pumpkinhead. We've sort of moved on from it for the time being, still holding it in our hearts somewhere, maybe a little burned out of it, might get back to it when the season wraps up. Alright to be honest, you can't get drunk on this beer and it's the fall. Alcohol is your only weapon against seasonal affective disorder.

I have been offered this concoction several times, but Friday night was the first time I caved in and tried it. Pumpkinhead + shot of Vanilla Stolichnaya Vodka + frivolous cinnamon sugar rimmed glass. Say what you will about it on paper, but I have to say, this is money in the bank. Technically it's about $7 money out of bank, hair splitter, who cares. If you drink two of these I guarantee you will run for president or solve a crime.

It's The Great Pumpkinhead Debate, Charlie Brown!

Personally, I hate the stuff, but there are a lot of people out there who can't wait for this to hit the shelves. It's become a welcome harbinger of fall like changing foliage, pumpkins and better beer. Ok, that was a pot shot. I'd like to hear what everyone thinks of this divisive brew.

Woodstock Inn Autumn Ale Brew 4.4% ABV

I have no idea. I figured I'd give it a go. It has a spooky label. And we just plowed through a case of Pumpkinhead so I thought it would be good to take a little reprieve.

Then I get it home in my fridge, and there under refrigerated illumination I notice this is...a malt beverage? How did this little nugget of information elude me at Gary's Discount Beverage this afternoon? And then I see it - deceptively advertised I might add - Autumn Ale Brew. Malt Beverage with Natural Flavor Added. Oh.

I don't know exactly what this is. It's kind of like a flat, malty Pumpkinhead. Allegedly it has some apple flavor. It's not awful, it's just not what I expected. I was hoping for something beer-y-er. This really isn't. Who am I kidding. I'm just disappointed that I couldn't find any Halloween Ale, which is what I really wanted. This is worth trying I guess. And at 4.4%, you'll be full of wisdom after two bottles. -cp

Treasure Chest

YARRRRRRRR! Fight high prices and buy in quantity. This box of booty was only $20 at Gary's Discount Beverage. At 83 cents a pop, this is a home run. This will get you through the next week while you evaluate your next move in the complex joy of autumn beer selection.

Really?

This is wicked retahded.

Samuel Adams Devil Mountain

I have tasted beer glory and it is located in Jamaica Plain. A special offering only for Samuel Adams select accounts, this slightly sweet and hoppy masterpiece rests comfortably on tap at Doyle's Pub, awaiting release into the glasses of patrons with the most discerning of palates. It is a masterpiece; a libation of the true hero of the day that Metallica thus spake in 19 hundred 96. Don your flak jacket and make your way to the intersection of Washington and Williams where destiny awaits, for it is atop DEVIL MOUNTAIN!

Red, White and Blew.

There has been a lot of buzz lately in regard to Pabst being the new American brewery since Anheuser Busch sold their soul to the Nazi's. In respose Pabst sales have skyrocketed and the black framed glasses community couldn't be more content. Here are my thoughts...
There is an inherent need within some humans to identify themselves with trendy subculture, in order to compensate for gaping insecurities. Case in point, Pabst, the Blue Ribbon Beer. As every card carrying hipster knows, there is no better form of street cred than guzzling down a PBR, after a hard night of emoting over teenaged themed rock. Instead of taking the beer at face value, on its merits, the hipster lets others decide for him, the emperor is naked and everyone agrees those clothes look great. For anyone who's actually enjoyed beer beyond a 7th grade level (I'm talking you JW Dundee Honey-Brown drinkers), you'll know that Pabst tastes like piss, and the horse it rode in on. The only reason anyone would subject themselves to the hateful taste of PBR is to fulfill a clause in the hipster handbook.
Growing up my next door neighbor, a die hard Blue Ribbon man, would occasionally drop by and drink a few with the old man. He was affectionately known in the neighborhood as "DumbDumbDickie," which as the name suggests, is the reason why he drank what he did. Sometimes DumbDumb would leave a few extras in the fridge at our house, and they would stay there for months until my mom had to empty them - amazingly surviving the old man's pass through the fridge time and time again. The point to all this, is what trust funder hipsters can't grasp; their desperate attempt to relate to the common man through materialism grossly underestimates the fact that blue collar joe actually exercises personal choice in his drinking preferences! It comes down to a simple fact. PBR tastes like sh*t!

Switchback Ale

As a general rule you shouldn't buy anything from hippies, mostly because of their substandard hygiene and shaky general cleanliness ethics, but moreso because you're probably just going to end up getting screwed over and arrested. But I found myself at Peter Christian's Tavern, the hippie epicenter, and figured any decision I made was probably no better or worse than another at this point. Anyway, speaking of the point, lets get there - Switchback Ale is pretty good. Apparently it was made by some extremely happy Vermonter in flannel (probably redundant who cares). The end. Is it PUMPKINHEAD time yet?

Fly Fishing and Brew

What the hell is going on here? Will the real Cutthroat Pale Ale please step forward? Anyway, here's an old-ass article about fly fishing and beer.

Springtime

Balmy and agreeable weather has finally struck New England. After a relentlessly long winter which brought snow to my doorstep at least once a week, I'm ready for Spring's rewards; chief among those being short shorts on willowy yet well proportioned co-eds attempting to enjoy the sun with as much of their skin as possible.

Spring also brings some of the more unique varieties of beer to market. One of my personal favorites is Smuttynose's Maibock. I'm not going to wax connoisseur on this one other than to mention that it's a big malty bruiser. AK and I once ordered some pints of this on Easter Sunday at the brewpub. That was, until, the bartender realized that our conviviality had gone beyond what might be considered appropriate for the celebration of the Lord's resurrection. By some stupid law they were supposed to serve this beer in their dainty, smaller glasses to mitigate intoxication. Realizing the error, she, being the excellent bartender that she was, didn't cut us off, but instead just made sure that our subsequent servings were poured in the smaller glasses. We forgave her and tipped her well, it was Easter after all.

More Sinning in Salt Lake

Uinta Brewing Company's Cutthroat Pale Ale is chock full of hoppy goodness with some fruity background from the esters. I am not sure of the AC but after more than a couple of pints, I didn't even care that I was in Salt Lake anymore.

Sinning in Salt Lake

At 4.0% Wasatch Brewing Company's Polygamy Porter makes it easy to follow their slogan of Why have just one? This light creamy porter has some chocolate background and a clean finish. My only real complaint is that I had to be in the stepford city to enjoy this beverage.

JR

Rogue Chipotle Ale 5.5% ABV

Yahoooooooooooooooo doggy! Finally on tap at Shorty's, my only regret is that I tanked up on chips and salsa prior to my first sip. As such, I can't honestly tell you what it really tastes like. That more or less makes this review worthless. So buy some and give it a go. All I can tell you is that I drained two of these and didn't regret it.

I have a problem

100%ALCOHOLIC

It's been awhile since I or anyone eles has posted, but as you can see by my rating I'm still in the booze game.

-qrash