October 23, 2007
Fall Beers and Woodchucks
Crazygonuts for fall beer
No, it’s not National Too Many Beers Week.
I’m stocking up so when friends com ‘round this fall, they can help me decide which is the best fall beer.
This picture reminds me of the time Maggie and I went to the marketing research station they used to have at the Galleria Mall. They would ask you questions about your consumer preferences and pay you cash. We’ve always been suckers for nearly free cash.
While the lady was paging through the possible surveys, one of the for-pay surveys she mentioned was a beer survey. Margaret blurted out something like “Oh - James drinks a lot of beer!” Great - now I’m an alcoholic!
I agreed to do the survey, but 3 questions in, the woman ended the session. I didn’t drink nearly enough beer to even be considered a beer drinker for this survey. To them, a beer drinker was someone who consumed large quantities of one or two brands of beer. I was someone who drank very small quantities of many different types of beer.
In any case, as you can see here, I’m gearing up for some sort of comparison. In house we currently have the following beer.
- Abita Turbodog
- One of my favorite beers ever, now available at nearby Somerset Liquors!
- Abita Pecan Harvest
- Sara picked this up for me from Trader Joes so I could try it. Notes later.
- Otter Creek Oktoberfest
- Untried
- Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale
- An old favorite, but I’m afraid it doesn’t stand up to some of the more recently available, bolder pumpkin ales.
- Harpoon Octoberfest
- A local standard
- Post Road Pumpkin Ale
- Untried
- Woodchuck Cider - Dark and Dry
- I like variety, and nothing says “fall” like a decent hard cider. Strongbow is my favorite, but I have a soft spot for the Woodchuck Dark and Dry. More NewEnglandy. And I like the picture of the woodchuck, so sue me.
- Dogfish Head Punkin Ale
- It’s pretty much the best pumpkin ale I’ve tasted, which is why it probably won’t last to the weekend. I picked it up on a recommendation by Ryan. It was a very good recommendation. But it ain’t cheap — 4 of these cost what 6 of something else does.
I have a few other beers in the house
- Sam Adams Boston Ale
- George Washington Porter (From last year’s Sam Adams Brewer Patriot Collection)
- 1790 Root Beer Brew (From last year’s Sam Adams Brewer Patriot Collection)
- Bass Ale (I always seem to have at least a bottle of this)
- Cans of Bud (Beer Can Chicken ingredient)
- Some assorted Sam Adams from the winter assortment
A few notable beers are missing from my fall brews.
- Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen
- One of my all-time favorite beers, this one is imported from he home of the actual Oktoberfest and bears the name “Marzen” — the actual name for what an Oktoberfest beer is. I have to find some of this.
- Sam Adams Octoberfest
- It’s a decent beer every year.
- More Dogfish Head Punkin
- It’s that good.
- Buzzards Bay Octoberfest
- Buzzards Bay Weizen Doppelbock
- I know they aren’t making this right now, but I missed it last time around and still haven’t forgiven myself.
Any recommendations from the peanut gallery? What beer complements fall eating and festivities? What’re you going to drink to watch the Sox compete in another World Series victory? I will accept non-alcoholic answers, as well as more beer recommendations.
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.drmomentum.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.cgi/1911
Well as you know my beer drinking days are over (well mostly, I was very bad on vacation) but I would recommend Woodpecker cider (from the UK) over Woodchuck. I find Woodchuck to be too sweet. I like Strongbow and Magners as well.
On the beer side. Nobody makes a better pumpkin ale than Cambridge brewing (or most other beers for that matter). If someone is really nice maybe they'll get you a growler.
Posted by: B.O.B. (bob) at October 23, 2007 9:37 AMLOL B.O.B., for the longest time I was confused by the Woodpecker vs. Woodchuck. "Gee, this is a lot sweeter than I remember." Finally I saw the two side-by-side and the mystery was solved. (I don't have a preference - it just depends on whether I want something sweeter or not.)
Posted by: Julie at October 23, 2007 9:50 AMI tried Blue Moon Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale over the weekend and gave it a solid "Eh." That's a purely subjective and uninformed opinion, of course.
I'm still crazy about Left Hand Milk Stout but that's not specific to autumn. I'm the weird exception who will drink heavy beers like that in mid-summer.
Posted by: Mike at October 23, 2007 10:07 AMCanned Bud is also really good for slug traps.
Posted by: Patti M. at October 23, 2007 10:16 AMI'm cheered to hear there's someone else who likes a milk stout--not that common.
I'm a Mackeson's fan, so I'll try Left Hand. Where did you find it?
I'm guessing I'll be able to get it at Downtown Liquors in Davis Sq. That place is akin to a bag of holding--it looks small on the outside, but inside, they have what appears to be an endless a selection.
I have to agree with Bob: CBC makes the best pumpkin.
mmm... milk stout. Try Mackeson's if you can find it (they have it at Downtown liquors in Davis Square for those of you in the Boston area.
Dark ales are actually generally lighter than other ales. I used to be able to drink Guiness all night without any buzz whatsoever.
Posted by: B.O.B. (bob) at October 23, 2007 10:23 AMI think it's perfectly reasonable to enjoy a stout in the summer. I like nothing better than whatever good stout is handy to accompany a serving of summer fish and chips. Unbeatable. Mike, you simply have good taste.
My tastes for cider run a little sweeter than Bob's, and we don't tend to see much Woodpecker around this area. Strongbow can be had in a number of places now, though. And Magners is common.
Any other non-barley drinks out there that are tickling people's fancy?
The trendy teas and other malt beverages market has exploded, but I haven't thus far encountered anything to write home about. many are refreshing, but I've not had one that I really craved afterwards.
CBC Pumpkin Ale? Sounds intriguing.
Speaking of growlers, I really should try to arrange a lunch field trip this week out to Buzzards Bay Brewing and get my growler filled with whatever they recommend.
Posted by: James at October 23, 2007 10:48 AMYou say alcoholic, I say enthusiast.
Anyways: Newport Storm Octoberfest
Sam Adams Double Bock (this has been hard for me to come across)
Pabst Blue Ribbon (it has a blue ribbon, therefore a grand prize)
I'm a Vitamin G girl through and through. I pretty much only drink Guinness, red wines and whisky, unless stranded at a barbecue here overrun with naught but the ubiquitous and watery bud light. And I really and truly have a deep dislike of all things pumpkin, from coffee to beers to pastries and pies. yick.
Posted by: leslie at October 23, 2007 12:15 PMDerek is similarly pumpkin-averse. Luckily, fall presents us with the malty marzen.
I love Guinness, but I am not a beer monogamist. :)
Posted by: James at October 23, 2007 12:36 PMThe Sam Adams Hallertau Imperial Pilsner is good. Loads of hops.
Posted by: Jim at October 23, 2007 2:57 PMI just had an Abita something (darkis and malty-ish) with my vegetable Cuban sandwich today at the All-star Sandwich Bar. 'Twas pretty good (the beer and the sandwich).
http://www.allstarsandwichbar.com/
Darkish and malty-ish? Could have been Turbodog.
It's classified as an altbier.
Posted by: James at October 23, 2007 4:00 PMYou HAVE to get the Paulaner Marzen. I had some this year and it was VERY tasty.
Also another fall beer I like (and unfortunately you can only get it at teh source) is the Woodstock Inn Apple Brown beer they make for the fall... It's their Pig's Ear Brown brewed with some spices and apple. It's FANTABULOUS! :)
Posted by: jay at October 23, 2007 6:58 PMDrooling on my keyboard now.
Apple Brown Beer? Woodstock Inn is only 3 hours from Providence, so about 3.5 hours from here. If I started driving now, they'd probably still be open and I could be home by 2 AM.
It would almost be worth it to be able to write a blog post saying I'd done that. But I hit my head earlier today, so I have to be extra careful for about 24 hours with the things that sound like "good ideas." Impaired decision making, dontchaknow.
Posted by: James at October 23, 2007 7:16 PMI've never had the Apple Brown, but Woodstock makes some great brews. If you ever head up, stop and pick me up on the way!
Posted by: Jim at October 23, 2007 8:07 PMI promise!
Posted by: James at October 23, 2007 8:13 PMI recently saw a multipack of Magic Hat in the supermarket that intrigued me. It was a Halloween mix that included "Night of the Living Dead", "Hocus Pocus", "Jinx" and "Mystery Beer" ... I think. We were in CT, and it was Sunday, so I couldn't buy it. I plan to look for it tonight to try this melange out.
Posted by: Kitten Herder at October 24, 2007 8:53 AMThe magic hat is a little disappointing (IMHO) it just so happes that we got to go to the Magic Hat brewery this summer on vacation. Their lines were SOOO chilled that you could hardly taste the beer.
Posted by: jay at October 24, 2007 6:51 PMFunny - the idea of a beer commitment has come up on this blog before: See this Chocolate Bock post.
Posted by: James at October 26, 2007 11:42 AM