Red Hook "Out of Your Gourd" Pumpkin Porter

From August 16th, 2015
Last of the pumpkin ales currently in my fridge, Out of Your Gourd pumpkin porter is a surefire winner. Pours a chocolate brown with a frothy tan one-finger head, this isn't one of those ales where the flavoring overwhelms the beeriness of the beer...if you know what I mean. Solid roasted malt foundation, sweet, but not cloying. Lots of spices floating around but not clamoring for attention: nutmeg, cinnamon, even a little cranberry. If you're a porter guy or gal, if you're a pumpkin ale aficionado, then this gourds for you!

Notes added September 6, 2016
My appreciation for this porter increases every time I taste it. The head poured a lot deeper this year, four fingers easily with that reverse waterfall effect that characterizes a porter or stout pour. One thing that I did not notice last year was the maple syrup, which evidently gave Out of Your Gourd  its sweetness, but did not seem overly mapley this year, even when I knew it was there. This is by far one of my favorite pumpkin ales and one of my favorite porters.

Wasatch Black O'Lantern Pumpkin Stout

From October 2015
I was looking for Red Hook's Out of Your Gourd Pumpkin Porter, but sadly they were out, but the helpful beer store guy suggested this pumpkin stout from the Utah Beer Collective: Black O'Lantern. It poured a deep mahogany, with scarlet highlights and a brief tan head. The mouthfeel was very thick and creamy, there was pumpkin and spices, but not overmuch, mostly nutmeg. It had an almost eggnogy taste to it, if that makes sense. Pretty decent stout, but if you're looking for a great pumpkin ale, this isn't it.

Updated September 6, 2016
I've changed my opinion since last year. While the words I used to describe the beer are pretty spot on, I think I must have been disappointed that I couldn't find any of the Red Hook pumpkin porter last year. Trying one now, I'm much more impressed than I was last year. Even without the pumpkin this would be a very good stout, the pumpkin spices just add to the seasonal feel.  I'd upgrade my opinion to "this is an outstanding pumpkin stout"

Rubus Black Blackberry Porter

Despite the 90° temperature outside, it is time for the Fall beers, the glorious stouts and porters, the upstanding Oktoberfests and all those other Autumn brews. I've tried a few Brau Brothers beers, but this is my first porter. Rubus Black pours a deep dark brown, almost black. The head is scantier than I expected from a porter, about a half finger that quickly disappears. What you can't help but notice is the blackberry aroma. It's very blackberry-ish, extremely blackberry scented and blackberry flavored. Not that blackberry is a bad thing - I like blackberry, but maybe a bit too much. In addition to the blackberry, there's a 8.9% ABV, and even though there's no mention of barrel aging, there seems like there's a bourbon edge to it. I would guess that some spicy barbecue or Mexican dishes would complement this beer very well. Overall, pretty decent, but an outlier in the taste department.

Brickway Coffee Vanilla Stout

Another offering in the "Session Series" out of Omaha's Brickway Brewery. Using cold-pressed coffee (look it up, I don't know what that is!) from Grey Plume added to their oatmeal stout with a bit of vanilla thrown in. As I poured it from the can I was immediately aware of the strong coffee and vanilla aromas. I'm not always in favor of adding flavorings to beer, as it sometimes distracts from the "beeriness" of the brew; but chocolate, coffee and vanilla consistently add to the quality a well-brewed stout or porter. This stout pours a mahogany brown with a "reverse waterfall" four-finger head which slowly recedes to a thick, tan coating. Aside from the flavorings, this appears to be a dry, that is non-sweet, stout. The ABV is a very sessionable 5% and the hop character that is sharp, but not overwhelming. I can definitely see myself enjoying a few of these on a chilly autumn night.