Oktoberfest and Other Fall Beers

It's hard to believe but at least one brand of Oktoberfest is out in the stores. I saw a huge display of Sam Adams Oktoberfest at one of my favorite beer stores today. Usually Lughnasadh at the beginning of August is when I begin transitioning into the Fall beers, but it just doesn't seem right with the temp hovering around 100. In addition to the Oktoberfest, Sam Adams also has their Harvest Collection, Fall Variety 12 pack on the shelves and Blue Moon has theirs as well. Both include a pumpkin ale, Blue Moon's has some sort of apple ale as well. I'll be picking up both before long. Personally I find the Autumn Ales and Lagers to taste the best on a cool evening as the sun is going down, not when the asphalt is boiling! So, in anticipation of another week of scorching thermometer readings, I picked up a mixed six-pack of summer ales & lagers to keep me cool for another week.

Here's a link to Beer Advocate with some ratings of Oktoberfest/Marzens

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/29

Widmer Brothers Spiced IPA

Widmer Brothers sometimes hits the ball out of the park, sometimes it strikes out swinging, but it never lacks for ingenuity. The spiced IPA, part of their Rotator IPA series, is a collaboration with the Quality Ale and Fermentation Fraternity (Quaff) - a Portland home brewers association. This IPA is brewed with Assam tea, ginger, cinnamon, clove, star anise, black pepper and cardamon. Not sure how long this was setting around at The Still, but I would classify it (if classifiable at all) as a winter warmer, as spiced beers often are. I had one bottle of it poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass and just couldn't get past the weirdness of the whole thing. The tea taste is very prominent, distracting from the hops and the beer taste. If it's still around I may try this again in the colder months, but I'm not too optimistic about the prospects of this odd child.

Widmer Brothers Shaddock IPA

Apparently there was a man named Captain Shaddock who brought grapefruit and other citrus fruits from Southeast Asia to the West Indies; Shaddock IPA is Widmer Brothers' X-114 IPA brewed with grapefruit peel. The grapefruit is very evident, tasting like some grapefruit juice was added to the beer, this, combined with the natural grapefruity taste of the hops makes for a very refreshing brew. An interesting concept, but really not a beer for the big kids. Maybe something to drink during a rousing game of beer pong.

Cutthroat Porter from Odell Brewing

I was sure that I'd reviewed this beer before, but i couldn't find a review in the archives, so here I go:

Odell Brewing is another of those 'can't go wrong' brewers; I don't think I've ever had one of their offerings that wasn't above average. Cutthroat Porter pours a deep brown with a small tan head. As I poured I could smell the cocoa aroma before I tasted the beer. In fact the coffee and chocolate aromas mix together like a fine mocha coffee. Very sweet, almost like a milk stout, but a bit drier. Notes of toffee/caramel. I usually don't go for the heavier ales when the weather is this warm, but the two darker brews I've had tonight give me a glimpse into the cold, dark months ahead - my favorite time for beer drinking!

Widmer Brothers Rotator IPA Series - X-114 IPA

Following is a review originally posted last May. I have 3 more of the series in my fridge right now...I hope you enjoy the reviews half as much as I enjoy the beers!

Strong, but smooth, this is one enjoyable IPA. The color is a deep apricot with a small white head. Herbal overtones, some lemongrass, and some apricots and peaches. Grapefruit taste comes out at the back of the palette after taking a good swig!

Widmer Brothers Pitch Black IPA

Almost impossible to see through, dark, dark brown, almost black, with some tan highlights. Pours a three finger mocha head that slowly subsides. Cafe au lait flavor at first, covering up some mysterious citrus. Piney hops evident, but balanced nicely by the coffeeness. Dark chocolate starts to come out about a third of the way through the bottle. Despite the 65 IBU's, the bitterness is not overwhelming, but puts a pleasant bite into the finish. Think dry porter crossed with a standard IPA and you'll get an idea of what's happening here. Great for autumn which hopefully will be here soon.

Scape Goat Pale Ale by Big Sky Brewing

Now that I've finally got my beer inventory from Father's Day and my vacation about consumed, it's time for some new stuff. I seldom go wrong picking up anything from Big Sly Brewing out of Missoula Montana and this is no exception. Pours and amber-y, almost apricot color, with a tall, tall head like a snow drift. Nice hop bite, but not too overwhelming at 40 IBU's. Citrus notes and a whiff of pineapple; a little malty caramel on the back of the tongue. Sessionable to be sure. Could almost make one forget that it's 89° at 10:09PM.