Just A Taste

Last night, we had our good friends, The Hallions, over for drinks and dinner.  I wanted to try something different and thought that a beer tasting could be a great way to try some of the unique, seasonal beers that seem to pop up everywhere this time of year. Throughout the fall-winter months, you see a mass producing of seasonal beers, and while I always want to try them, I never know where to start.

For our beer tasting, we went to our local liquor store where you are able to purchase individual bottles of beer ($1-$3/beer).  If you want to recreate this at home, I suggest buying the beer this way, as buying 6-packs of several beers (some of which you might not like), will be costly.

We went with all pumpkin flavored beers because this is the closest thing I can think of to grown up Trick-Or-Treating, and I genuinely like anything pumpkin flavored this time of year. Other options could be Octoberfest or Christmas Ales (in month or so)...or you could always use only locally brewed beer, or beers by your favorite brewer. 

Here are the beers that we tasted (in no order):

• Smutty Nose Pumpkin Ale
• Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat
• Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale
• Shipyard Pumpkin Ale
• Rivertown Pumpkin Ale

We agreed as a group that we had to vote on our favorites and rank them in order as went.  Things we were "tasting for": best pumpkin flavor, drinkability (could you have more than one), most unique taste, best smell. 

The results: 

Honestly, it was really fun. And engaging.  It was a great way to try new beers for little to no cost, and to hear what everyone looks for in their drink of choice. Plus, we had Cory's awesome guacamole to eat and Justin's enchiladas in the ovens (the boys really are the better cooks).  Overall it was something different to try and a fun way to enjoy staying in with friends. Now for the rankings...

1. Shipyard Pumpkin Ale (brewed in Portland, Maine)-- Best overall taste and drinkability, and the most creative bottle
2. Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat (brewed in St. Louis, Missouri)-- A very close second.  Probably the best pumpkin taste, but could be a little strong for some people
3. Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale (brewed in Golden, Colorado)-- Pretty similar to the traditional Blue Moon taste that people love, just with more spices
4. Smutty Nose Pumpkin Ale (brewed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire)-- Great smell, very drinkable, but slightly bitter
5. Rivertown Pumpkin Ale (brewed in Lockland, Ohio)-- Voted last by the group; this beer was still a good beer, but lacked the overall flavors that the others who topped it had