12 Rye Beers

Here's the next of my themed lists, which I review twelve rye beers. Beers in this category have rye as one of the predominant ingredients in the beer, often substituting for a portion of barley malt. A similar style is the German Roggenbier, which was a style brewed until the 15th century. The addition of rye adds a dry, spicy flavor that can also have sour characteristics. In the United States, the use of rye in beer recipes has spawned a new style called "rye PA", where brewers push the hops so they resemble pale ales and IPAs. I happen to really enjoy the complex, spicy flavors that rye adds to beers, especially to one of my favorite styles, IPAs. You'll find that most of the beers in this review are of the "rye PA" style. Still there are a few others. Without further ado, here are...

12 Rye Beers

Smitten Golden Rye Ale

Smitten Golden Rye Ale, Bells Brewery, Galesburg, MI
(American Pale Ale, Rated 88)

Hazy golden pour with a white head and nice lacing. Aromas of rye, grass, and light citrus hops. Flavor is much of the same, rye spice, an earthy tone, a bit of hop bitterness, and a malty backbone with a resin finish. Definitely more on the pale ale side of hops. At just 6% abv, a solid drinker that leaves me wanting more.

Red's Rye IPA

Red's Rye IPA, Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids, MI
(IPA, Rated 99)

Pours a great crimson red color. Citrus, pine, floral hop aroma with sweetness from caramel malts. Citrus and floral hops well balanced with malted rye giving this great beer a nice crisp, spicy finish. A fantastic rye IPA from Founders and one of their many favorites of mine. 6.6% abv.

Hop Kitchen #5 RyePA

Hop Kitchen #5 RyePA, New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collins, CO
(IPA, Rated 85)

This IPA pours a clear amber with a thick white head. Big aromas of rye and pungent, fruity hops. Flavor consists of citrus and pine hops, little tropical fruit, and resin. Has a great spicy, malty rye backbone. Bit of a bready mouthfeel. Nice balance of sweetness and hops. 7.5% abv. A really great IPA.

Fade to Black Volume 5: Black Rye Ale

Fade to Black Volume 5: Black Rye Ale, Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont, CO
(Specialty Grain, Rated 95)

This rye ale pours a dark brown with a light, off white head. Aromas of dark, roasted coffee and subtle smokey wood. The flavors cover a varying range beginning with a nuttiness and sweet molasses. Sweet turns to spice as the rye spices come through. Bit of a dry, earthy finish. I love dark beer. This black rye ale is pretty special and it packs a 7.8% abv punch.

Rye of the Tiger

Rye of the Tiger, Great Lakes Brewing Company, Cleveland, OH
(IPA, Rated 97)

Another favorite of mine. This IPA pours a golden orange with a small white head. Fruity hop aromas with lemon and an earthy tone. Initial taste is grapefruit and rye. Rye spice isn't as harsh as some others, but it lingers throughout. 7.5% abv is masked well. Nicely balanced and a clean finish. Excellent rye beer!

Rogue Farms Roguenbier Rye

Rogue Farms Roguenbier Rye, Rogue Ales, Newport, OR
(Specialty Grain)

Pours a brownish-red with a foamy, off-white head. Aroma has spices, malt, little caramel, and some smoke. Definitely has the roasted malt flavor with a touch of caramel sweetness. Nice spicy, rye bite with a smoky flavor that lasts through the finish. Medium body and a light, dry finish. 6.6% abv.

RHYE IPA

RHYE IPA, Smuttynose Brewing Company, Portsmouth, NH
(IPA, Rated 97)

Make mine a Smutty! This beautiful IPA has a hazy, orange color with a nice, thick, white head that's long-lasting and leaves nice lacing on the glass. Nice aromas of bread, citrus, sweet grass, and some spicy, rye malt. Fantastic blend of hop flavors and spicy rye malts. Piney, citrus, little caramel sweetness, and rye spice that tingles. Well balanced. Little dry at the finish. Just 6.8% abv. A great IPA!

The Bruery Rugbrød

Rugbrod, The Bruery, Placentia, CA
(Specialty Grain, Rated 94)

Rugbrod is Danish for rye bread and this offering from The Bruery fits the bill as it is brewed with three types of rye malts. Pours a dark brown with a nice, thick tan head. Aroma is spicy, sweet caramel, a bit earthy, and malty. Taste isn't far from the nose with sweet caramel, bit of dark fruit, and that nice spicy rye. The rye isn't overpowering, but appears subtly at the end. The 8% abv is hidden by the sweetness. Dry finish. A different take than the others. Amazing beer!

Rye Hatter Rye P.A.

Rye Hatter Rye P.A., New Holland Brweing Company, Holland, MI
(Specialty Grain)

Dark orange pour with a thin, white head. Aroma is sweet caramel, citrus, malty, and a bit earthy. Nice mild hop taste with rye spices. Detect a little caramel sweetness as well. Hops are not overpowering. Well balanced with lingering flavor. The rye spice tingles the tongue well after the finish.

Hebrew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A.

Hebrew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A., Shmaltz Brewing Company, Clifton Park, NY
(Imperial/Double IPA, Rated 98)

This 40th anniversary beer pours an amber color with a thin, white head. Very aromatic with strong hops, piney, and sweet malts. Excellent flavors of rye spice, resiny hops, and burnt caramel. Tons of hops and malt flavors. A palate pleaser for sure. Smooth finish for 10% abv.

Rye Dopplebock

Rye Dopplebock, Sand Creek Brewing Company, Black River Falls, WI
(Doppelbock)

Deep brown pour with an off-white head. Nice, rich, full aroma of sweet caramel and malts. Flavors of molasses, dark fruits, and caramel. Spicy rye comes through in the finish. A very flavorful beer. Smooth body. Nice balance. Very enjoyable.

Rocketdog Rye IPA

Rocketdog Rye IPA, Laughing Dog Brewing Company, Ponderay, ID
(IPA, Rated 91)

This rye ipa pours a clear, golden, yellow with a thick, foamy, white head. Aromas of grapefruit, rye, floral hops, and sweet honey. Hops up front but tame. Taste is a tad bready with rye spice, citrus hops, and a malty sweet finish. Smooth and well balanced. Excellent drinker at 6.9% abv.

There you have it, twelve rye beers. Most rye beers are seasonal beers for many brewers. I'll be honest that I wasn't sure that I'd find twelve to review here, but I did. In fact, here are a few more...

2XRye

2XRye, Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, NY
(Specialty grain, Rated 95)

Clear burnt orange pour with a thin white head. Nose of caramel, sweet malts, orange zest, and a rye spice background. Nice carbonation. Taste begins with spicy rye, then sweet caramel malt, finishing with a mild mix of citrus and pine bitterness. Not overly spicy. Complex and balanced at the same time. Way too easy of a drinker at 8.1% abv. Cheers!

Road Warrior

Road Warrior, Green Flash Brewing Company, San Diego, CA
(Imperial/Double IPA, Rated 98)

This is one fantastic imperial IPA! Pours a nice dark, copper color with an off-white head. Aroma is herbal, earthy, citrus hops, and rye bread. Great complex flavors of dark fruits, bitter rye spice, piney resin, and citrus hops. Full mouthfeel and delicious. Has a malty sweetness as well. Flavors are like a roller coaster through the mouth. Nice lingering alcohol burn at 9% abv. This beer surprised me a bit. Excellent!

Sour in the Rye

Sour in the Rye, The Bruery, Placentia, CA
(Sour Ale/Wild Ale, Rated 99)

Ahh the sour ale. A style of beer that has taken a little more time for me to really enjoy than others have. But let me tell you, this style of beer is nothing short of fantastic. This one pours a deep golden orange with a thin white head. Tart acidic aromas of sour cherry with a faint hint of sweet oranges. Taste is funky, sour, a blend of sour with a touch of sweet. Spice from the rye is subtle, but noticeable. Fresh lemony, sour finish. The 2014 year is 7.8% abv.

Reeb Rye'd IPA

Reeb Rye'd IPA, Oskar Blues Brewery, Longmont, CO
(Specialty Grain)

I picked up this delicious offering at an Oskar Blues tap takeover event at Ray's Growler Gallery, which is part of Ray's Liquor, one of my favorite bottle shops near where I live. Pours a hazy, golden orange with a thin white head. Nice aromas of rye spice and citrus hops. Little hint of sweetness. Taste is rye spice up front. A well-balanced mix of rye spices and citrus hops. The hops are tame to the extent that they accentuate the rye spice but do not overpower. Nice bitter, dry finish with 7% abv. An excellent rye pale ale.

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Rye certainly adds some distinct and sometimes complex flavors to beer. Being a lover of IPAs, the added spicy, rye flavors to an already bitter and spicy just enhances my enjoyability. That being said, the "rye PA"s have been my favorites, though the Rye Dopplebock was very tasty. If I had to pick a #1 from this list, it has to be Green Flash's Road Warrior. Thankfully, I still have a few more of those in the fridge.

I think I say this after each and every themed list I do. These are a lot of fun. The search for the beers for the list and then drinking and reviewing each one are great. These are educational opportunities for me as I research and learn more about the distinct styles or the special ingredients used. Being a craft beer lover is like being a foodie, only with alcohol. The brewers that create these fantastic recipes are not only chefs, they are artists. I am definitely looking forward to my forthcoming adventures.

So what's next? Another pumpkin list? A second barleywine themed list? How about a pepper beer list?  Do you have any suggestions?  If you do, I'd like to hear them. Until next time, Cheers!

12 Barley Wines

Barley wine is a 200-plus year old beer style that originated in England and only introduced to America in the 1970s. It is called barley wine because it has characteristics of wine such as alcohol strength, smell, and even taste, but since it is brewed with grains and not grapes, it is in fact a beer. I mentioned the higher alcohol content and that can be anywhere from 8 to 12% or higher. English versions tend to be traditionally less hoppy and less bitter, while American versions can be very hoppy and bitter and some even introduce barrel aging. It's definitely a complex and intense beer and can range from fruity and sometimes sweet to sometimes bitter. The barley wine style has become a favorite of mine. I don't know that a lot of breweries brew this style of beer. Some make it a seasonal while others brew it once in a while as part of a special series. Maybe this is because of its complexity. I actually think this is a great beer to introduce to those friends who are strictly wine lovers and say they don't like beer. Give it a try, you just might like it.

I've been doing a series of themed lists where I sample and introduce at least 12 of a particular beer, depending on the theme. Let me present to you my most recent themed list. If you haven't figured it out yet, here are...

12 Barley Wines

Whole Hog Barleywine Style Ale

Whole Hog Barleywine Style Ale, Stevens Point Brewery, Stevens Point, WI 

Commercially described as an English barley wine, this one has a deep reddish, purple pour. Aroma of dark fruits, plums, raisins, some caramel sweetness, and a bit of an earthy quality. Taste is roasty, a little bitter, but not a lot of sweetness. The alcohol (10.2%) is warming at the finish.

Thumbprint Series Barley Wine

Thumbprint Series Barley Wine, New Glarus Brewing Company, New Glarus, WI
(Barley Wine, Rated 97)

Nice hazy, bright orange pour with a light head. Aroma has a definite citrus tone to it with some sweet orange and caramel. Taste hits you with sweet malts, strong citrus hops, followed by lightly bitter finish. This one hides the alcohol well. You would never know it is a 12% abv beer. Another fantastic offering from one of my favorite Wisconsin breweries!

Blithering Idiot

Blithering Idiot, Weyerbacher Brewing Company, Easton, PA
(Barley Wine, Rated 96)

Three barley wines in and each with a distinctly different color. This one pours more of a dark, rosy, amber and clear. Aroma is more fruity and sweet from dark fruits and raisins. Sweetness in the taste as well as light maltiness and lightly bitter. Nothing overpowering. A very smooth drinker with a warming finish at 11.1% abv.

Noir Black Belgian Barleywine

Noir Black Belgian Barleywine, Sand Creek Brewing Company, Black River Falls, WI
(Barley Wine, Rated 96)

A different take on the barley wine style. A dark black/mahogany pour with a creamy brown head. Aroma has licorice, sweet malts, and a hint of citrus. Taste of dark, roasted malts, molasses, and sweet dark fruit. Smooth up front with a lightly bitter, hop finish. Excellent barley wine!

Brewers Reserve Bourbon Barrel Kosmyk Charlie's Y2K Catastrophe Ale 2012

Brewers Reserve Bourbon Barrel Kosmyk Charlie's Y2K Catastrophe Ale, Central Waters Brewing Company, Amherst, WI
(Barley Wine, Rated 99)

Dark ruby pour. Nice aroma of caramel, dark sweet fruits, roasted malts, and bourbon. Taste welcomes you with caramel sweetness, malts, fruit, an earthy quality, and a nice bourbon warming to the finish. Very well balanced! Very nice barley wine!

Bigfoot Ale 2013

Bigfoot Ale, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA
(Barley Wine, Rated 99)

Nice red amber pour. Hoppy aroma with malts, and dark fruit. Taste is of strong hops in the beginning followed by a lot of malts. Rich blending of raisin and toffee flavors. The after taste is amazing. Extremely well balanced and delicious!

Pugsley Signature Series: Barley Wine

Pugsley Signature Series: Barley Wine, Shipyard Brewing Company, Portland, ME 

Dark, reddish-brown pour with a light flaky head. Aroma is malty, some fruit sweetness, and alcohol (8.5% abv). Taste is a complex mix of malts and hops with an earthy quality. Not a lot of flavor like I like my barley wines. I've definitely had better.

Altus Gravitas

Altus Gravitas, Finch's Beer Company, Chicago, IL 

This one pours a burnt orange, copper color. Nose is piney, citrus, and a little sweetness. Tastes of sweet malts, citrus peels, hoppy bitterness and an earthy quality. Aftertaste was a little strange. Doesn't have the barley wine qualities that I prefer. More like a malty pale ale. 9% abv.

Old Blarney Barleywine

Old Blarney Barleywine, Moylans Brewery & Restaurant, Novato, CA
(Barley Wine, Rated 97)

Getting a little better with this offering. Nice deep reddish-brown pour with a cakey white head. Aroma is subtle with sweet malts and a little nuttiness. Taste is similar with malts, some nut character, and a slightly bitter finish. Hides the 10% abv well. A nice barley wine.

Killer Penguin Barleywine

Killer Penguin Barleywine, Boulder Beer Company, Boulder, CO 

I like the name, "Killer Penguin". Wax covering adds a little something. Dark ruby red pour with a nice off-white head. Sweet malty aroma with caramel, and dark fruit. Taste is very malty but not overpowering. Has a smoothness to it. Slightly sweet, caramel, raisins, and some citrus. The alcohol is there at 10% abv. A decent, average barley wine. Something was missing for me.

Freudian Slip

Freudian Slip, Evil Twin Brewing, Copenhagen, Denmark
(Barley Wine, Rated 97)

The first international barley wine for this list and a good one too. Cloudy reddish amber pour with an off-white head. Aroma has sweet malts, caramel, and raisins. Aroma carries through in the taste. Plenty of sweet caramel, dark fruit, little bit of an earthy tone, and a light spicy hop finish. Hides the 10.3% abv well. Smooth drinker...sipper. Most of these big beers are though.

Lakefront My Turn #004 - Chad - Barley Wine Style Ale

My Turn #004 - Chad - Barley Wine Style Ale, Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee, WI 

Just released in February 2013, just in time for me to include in this themed list. This big beer (12.5% abv) pours a dark, reddish amber. Malty aroma with caramel and dark fruit. Taste is rich with malts, caramel, toffee and a nice, boozy, warming finish. This is a fantastic barley wine!


There you have it my fellow beer lovers, 12 barley wine style beers. But if you haven't figured it out by now, then let me remind you...I never stop at twelve! Let's do a couple more...

Behemoth Barleywine

Behemoth Barleywine, Three Floyds Brewing Company, Munster, IN
(Barley Wine, Rated 100)

I absolutely saved this one to be one of the very last in this list. I have never met a Three Floyds beer that I haven't loved! Dark amber pour. Great big piney, citrus, hop aroma. Big complex and delicious flavors with a sweet full body. Kind of sounds like I'm describing a woman...oh but she's a beauty! Taste is malty, caramel sweetness, raisins, and plums, followed by big hops and finishing with a 12% alcohol warming. Absolutely fantastic!

XS Old Crustacean Barleywine 2012

XS Old Crustacean Barleywine 2012, Rogue Ales, Portland, OR
(Barley Wine, Rated 97)

I certainly saved the biggest one for last, in terms of bottle at least. This one comes in a 750ml ceramic-like bottle with a topper. At 11.5% abv, I guess they don't expect you to drink it all in one sitting. Nice red amber pour with a fluffy, off-white head. Aroma of sweet malts, dark fruit, and caramel. Big, flavorful, unfiltered taste. Caramel and toffee come through in the taste. Finishes on the boozy side. Excellent beer from Rogue!

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Barley wines are a favorite style of mine. Such a different style than beers you get year round. Being a Winter seasonal, and often short run releases due to their complexity, these big beers are treats for me. Some others I've had before include: Alaskan Pilot Series: Barley Wine Ale (2011), Sam Adams Griffin's Bow Oaked Blonde Barleywine Ale, Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Barleywine from Delafield Brewhaus, and the one that is said to be the first barley wine brewed in America, Old Foghorn Ale. If you haven't tried a barley wine yet, I highly recommend.


These themed lists are fun. It's just as much fun to find beer for the list as it is to drink them and review them. Now to think of what my next list will be.  Until next time, Cheers my friends!

Lakefront 25th Anniversary Series

Lakefront 25th Anniversary Series

To commemorate and celebrate their 25th year, Lakefront Brewery from right here in Milwaukee, WI, will release 4 special beers. The first beer was released on the brewery's actual birthday, December 2nd.

25th Anniversary Series #1: Imperial Stout, Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee, WI
(Imperial Stout, Rated 97)

What a way to start this 4-beer series. This imperial stout pours pitch black. Aroma hits you with cocoa and cherries. Full creamy body with a robust flavor that starts with the cocoa, followed by the cherries, and finishing with a touch of vanilla and finally a bit of roasted coffee. So very smooth.  A really excellent stout!

25th Anniversary Series #2: Belgian-Style Apricot Ale, Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee, WI
(Fruit Beer)

The second of the 25th Anniversary beers pours a nice golden, orange. Has a nice fruity, apricot, wheat aroma. Taste has an apricot sweetness mixed with a mild hop spice and a slight tart finish. The Belgian qualities are evident. Very smooth, refreshing, and delicious! This one could be a definite Summer drinker!

25th Anniversary Series #3: Imperial Pumpkin, Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee, WI
(Spice/Herb/Vegetable)

When I heard that the third beer in Lakefront's 25th Anniversary series was going to be an Imperial Pumpkin, I was excited. Lakefront's Pumpkin Ale is one of their most popular seasonals and one of the better pumpkin beers that I've had. So what did they do? They took their pumpkin ale, added additional spices and vanilla, then aged it in brandy barrels. This beer pours a dark orange. The aroma is spicy, caramel sweet, with a subtle notion of the brandy. The taste is spicy, sweet pumpkin pie with cinnamon and nutmeg that is followed by vanilla sweetness and finishes with a nice brandy warming. This is my first pumpkin beer this season and already going to be tough to beat. Amazing!

12 Beers of Christmas (Redux)

The very first themed beer list I have ever done is being done again. In 2010, I presented to you the 12 Beers of Christmas. Friends had asked me this year if I was going to do a holiday themed list again. In my travels, I had found a few Christmas/Holiday beers that I had not tried the first go around. Soon, I had the requisite number of Christmas beers (at least 12) to bring this list back.

12 Beers of Christmas (Redux)

Christmas Ale

Christmas Ale, Abita Brewing Company, Abita Springs, LA
(Amber Ale)

Many breweries change the recipes for their Christmas/Winter seasonals each year. The 2012 version of Abita's Christmas Ale is definitely different. Pours a nice, dark, reddish, brown. Aroma is of roasted nuttiness, nutmeg, and what smells like juniper. Taste isn't far off the aroma. Roasted malt and nuts, a hint of sweet caramel, and juniper hops. Very reminiscent of Abita's Jockamo IPA, which I am not a fan of.

Shiner Holiday Cheer

Shiner Holiday Cheer, Spoetzl Brewery, Shiner, TX
(Fruit Beer)

Pours a reddish, brown color, almost like wine and very clear. On first smell, I actually thought this was fruit juice. Huge sweet peach aroma. Taste was disappointing. Not nearly as much fruit coming through the flavor as in the aroma. Kind of bland. Too much fruit and not enough beer for me.

Ebenezer Ale

Ebenezer Ale, BridgePort Brewing, Portland, OR
(English Strong Ale)

Reddish amber pour. Not a lot to the aroma with some malt and spices. Taste is underwhelming. Some mild spices and caramel malt notes. Little bit of fruitiness. Hops come out in the finish. All in all, I felt this one Scrooged on the aroma and flavor.

Christmas Ale

Christmas Ale, Breckenridge Brewery, Denver, CO
(American Strong Ale)

Darker brown in color with a nice malty nose. Aroma has some caramel. Taste of sweet malts and caramel with a spicy bitter finish. So far I've been disappointed with my initial choices.

Winter Ale

Winter Ale, Weyerbacher Brewing Company, Easton, PA
(Brown Ale)

Dark brown pour with a quickly fading light brown head. Malty aroma with some brown sugar and floral notes. Taste is malty with a little caramel. Not a lot of flavor.

Our Special Ale 2012

Our Special Ale 2012, Anchor Brewing Company, San Francisco, CA
(Spice/Herb/Vegetable, Rated 95)

Nice dark burgundy pour. Aroma of spice and dark fruitiness. Taste of roasted nut, spices, and dark fruit, raisins. Very smooth and creamy.

Santa's Private Reserve

Santa's Private Reserve, Rogue Ales, Newport, OR
(Amber Ale, Rated 93)

Pours a nice amber color with a reddish tint and a cakey head. Floral hop aroma with a touch of sweet caramel and an earthy quality. Flavor starts off with hops and spice. The bitterness fades to a smooth malty, caramel finish. Excellent! Thanks for sharing, Santa!

2XMAS

2XMAS, Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, NY
(American Strong Ale, Rated 93)

Nice deep, reddish-amber pour. Spices are abundant in the aroma, with cinnamon, nutmeg, and others. Those same spices come through in the flavor along with a mild maltiness. The alcohol comes through in the finish, warming the throat. Excellent seasonal from Southern Tier!

Christmas Ale

Christmas Ale, Great Lakes Brewing Company, Cleveland, OH
(Spice/Herb/Vegetable, Rated 93)

This offering from Great Lakes Brewing Company has become a seasonal favorite of mine. Nice light, copper pour. Great aroma of spices with cinnamon at the forefront. Taste of sweet roasted malts, cinnamon and spices. Very well-balanced.

Christmas Ale

Christmas Ale, Goose Island Brewing Company, Chicago, IL
(American Brown Ale, Rated 93)

Brown pour with a thin, frothy head. Nice nutty aroma with hints of spices and raisin. Taste is a nice balance of toasted malts, dark fruit, and a welcomed hop bitterness that warms your throat. Nice big flavor.

Krampus

Krampus, Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, NY
(Strong Pale Lager/Imperial Pils, Rated 96)

Saving the big beers for last and Southern Tier does big beer well! This beauty pours a hazy copper color and has big aromas of citrus, pine, and caramel. Taste is much of the same...citrus hops, pine, caramel sweetness, bit of malt, and a nice bitterness to the finish. A definite Winter warmer at 9% abv. If this beer is what Krampus gives to those who are naughty, then I don't want to be nice.

Christmas Ale

Alpha Klaus, Three Floyds Brewing Company, Munster, IN
(Imperial/Strong Porter, Rated 100)

Only fitting that the 12th beer be a big imperial porter from Three Floyds. Extremely dark, black pour with a nice foamy, tan head. Aroma begins with sweet chocolate, coffee and roasted malts. The smell if very enticing. The taste contains flavors of sweet chocolate, dark espresso coffee, and roasted malts which all leave behind a slight hoppy bitterness normally found in an IPA. Very well balanced. Excellent hopped-up porter!

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If you remembered the first 12 Beers of Christmas, as well as my other 12 Beers lists, you will remember that I never stopped at twelve. I have one more special holiday beer for you...

Frosted Frog Christmas Ale

Frosted Frog Christmas Ale, Hoppin Frog Brewery, Akron, OH
(Spice/Herb/Vegetable)

Nice dark, reddish-amber color. This one has the most amazing aroma of spices of the Christmas beers I've had this year...blends of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Reminds me of hot, apple cider. Strong gingerbread doughy flavor with cinnamon, nutmeg, and apples. Lots of spices in this one.

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The Christmas/Holiday beers, like pumpkin beers, are fun to try. Very interesting how each brewery has their own special take on the holiday beer. Some base their recipe on ambers, some brown ales, some use porter, many use fruits and spices. I've enjoyed trying them all and I do have a few favorites. Great Lakes Christmas Ale will definitely be an annual staple. Alpha Klaus is another because I love a good porter and Three Floyds is one of my favorite breweries. SO be adventurous and give some of these a try. Maybe you have holiday beer in your area that I can't get here. Regardless of where you are, I'm sure you'll find one you like. Cheers to you all!

Merry Christmas!

Twelve Pumpkin Beers

For my third themed list, I decided to tackle another seasonal beer, the pumpkin beers. Of the very many fruit/spice/herb/vegetable beers out there, pumpkin beers are a favorite. Arguably one of the very first seasonal beers, pumpkin beers have a long history in the U.S., dating back to the early 1700's. Of course, back in those days, it was deemed a health tonic. Today the pumpkin beer has become a staple in many brewer's recipe arsenal, with many giving their personal spin on this Fall craft beer classic. So I was able to easily find at least twelve examples of pumpkin beer and I happily sample and share them with you here. In no particular order, I present to you...

The Twelve Pumpkin Beers

Pumpkin Ale

Pumpkin Ale, Wild Onion Brewing Company, Lake Barrington, IL 

Starting with my only option from a can, this Pumpkin Ale pours a nice dark orange color. It has a nice, subtle aroma of pumpkin pie and cinnamon spices. Unlike the aroma, the taste was a bit weak. Flavor was a bit thin and nearly bland. Hints of some spice made their way toward the finish. This one falls short on flavor.

America's Original Pumpkin Ale

America's Original Pumpkin Ale, Buffalo Bill's Brewery, Hayward, CA 

Lighter orange pour. A bit of pumpkin in the nose, but no spices. Little bitterness up front followed by the pumpkin flavor. No spice whatsoever and not sweet at all. This one is a drinker.

Pumpkinhead Ale

Pumpkinhead Ale, Shipyard Brewing Company, Portland, ME 

Pale orange pour with a nice spicy, pumpkin aroma. Light body. Subtle spice in the flavor that last throughout, not too strong.  More like pumpkin pie than pumpkins.  Very smooth and drinkable.

Harvest Pumpkin Ale

Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale, Coors Brewing Company (MillerCoors), Golden, CO 

Though not highly rated, Blue Moon's Harvest Pumpkin Ale is actually better than a couple of the others I've tasted. Very nice pumpkin pie aroma with the spices, pumpkin, and sweetness. Those same very characteristics come through in the taste as well. A good 'pumpkin pie in a glass' beer. 

Pumpkin Beer

Pumpkin Beer, O'Fallon Brewery, O'Fallon, MO 

This one is a little heavier and filling. Not sure I could drink more than one or two. Aroma is not strong, but there is a subtle smell of spices. Taste is a little malty, mild with hints of pumpkin and spice. A little bland at the finish.

Pumpkin Lager

Pumpkin Lager, Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee, WI 

Six beers in and my first Wisconsin brew. Amber, orange in color. Spicy aroma with nutmeg and cinnamon.  Tastes of pumpkin pie and spice with malty sweetness. A really well-balanced beer.

Pumpkin Ale

Pumpkin Ale, Smuttynose Brewing Company, Portsmouth, NH 

A little something different this time. Burnt orange color. Nice aroma of nutmeg, spices and a slight pumpkin. I certainly wasn't expecting this one to taste like it did. Definitely more pumpkin and a mild bitterness that lingers. Spices are subtle. Little woody. Very good example of a pumpkin beer instead of a pumpkin pie beer.

Small Patch Pumpkin Harvest Ale

Small Patch Pumpkin Harvest Ale, Tommyknocker Brewery, Idaho Springs, CO 

Pouring a dark brown/deep orange color, this ale has an aroma of faint pumpkin with mild spices. The taste is sweet and smooth with cinnamon and nutmeg spice. Nothing special here.

Painted Ladies Pumpkin Spice Ale

Painted Ladies Pumpkin Spice Ale, Tyranena Brewing, Lake Mills, WI
(Spice/Herb/Vegetable, Rated 90)

One of my favorite pumpkin beers from a great Wisconsin brewery! This amber ale is infused with pumpkin and spice. Pours a burnt orange color. Malty, nutmeg, and cinnamon aroma. The taste matches the scent with heavy spice, sweet, malty, and mid pumpkin. Great pumpkin ale!

Pumking

Pumking, Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, NY
(Spice/Herb/Vegetable, Rated 98)

Now this is a pumpkin beer. In my opinion, one of the very best pumpkin beers that I have ever had. Golden orange color. Sweet, buttery, pumpkin and spice aroma. Taste is pumpkin pie all the way. The pumpkin is not overpowering and the spices linger through the finish...nutmeg, cinnamon, brown sugar. It packs a punch too at 8.6% abv. Fantastic pumpkin beer!

Ichabod

Ichabod, New Holland Brewing Company, Holland, MI 

This pumpkin beer pours a burnt orange. Definitely more pumpkin and a lot of nutmeg through the nose. Smooth taste. Mild spices. Taste more cinnamon where I thought I'd taste nutmeg. A drinkable Fall beer.

Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale

Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale, Hoppin' Frog Brewery, Akron, OH
(Spice/Herb/Vegetable, Rated 91)

Clean, clear orange pour. Wonderfully spiced aroma with lots of nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove. Spices come through in the taste as well. Very crisp pumpkin pie flavor with a spicy, hop finish. A surprising 8.4% abv too. Amazing pumpkin beer!

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There you have it folks...my Twelve Pumpkin Beers. As I mentioned, many breweries are making their own pumpkin beer recipes. So why am I stopping at twelve?  Here are a few more that I found...

Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale

Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale, Stevens Point Brewery, Stevens Point, WI 

Surprisingly delicious pumpkin ale. Meaty pumpkin and spice aroma. If I closed my eyes, I would have thought there was a large piece of fresh pumpkin pie in front of me. That pumpkin pie comes through in the flavor, but with some hoppy bitterness. Very well balanced. Great pumpkin beer.

Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Imperial Pumpkin Ale, Weyerbacher Brewing Company, Easton, PA
(Spice/Herb/Vegetable, Rated 96)

I can't believe this beer is so highly rated. I actually think it's terrible tasting. The smell is right on the money with other pumpkin beers with cinnamon and pumpkin. The taste is something else though. There's some kind of metallic taste, which is strange coming from a bottle. Not a fan.

Wasatch Pumpkin Seasonal Ale

Wasatch Pumpkin Seasonal Ale, Schirf Brewing Company, Park City, UT 

Mild allspice and pumpkin aroma. Little more pumpkin coming through in the taste, but the spices are evident. Feels like its missing something. Just average.

Sam Adams Fat Jack Double Pumpkin

Sam Adams Fat Jack Double Pumpkin, Boston Beer Company, Boston, MA
(Spice/Herb/Vegetable, Rated 93)

What a great way to finish this pumpkin beer themed list. Pours a darker orange-red. Lot of great pumpkin and spice in the aroma. Classic pumpkin pie spices come through in the taste...cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin, ginger. Nice malty pumpkin pie flavor that warms your throat at the finish. The 8.5% abv helps too.



There are a lot of similarities with the sixteen pumpkin beers I've sampled here. The ingredients for one. They all use pumpkin and spices, though in varying amounts. They can't all be the same, right? I enjoyed the more flavorful pumpkin pie beers over the traditional pumpkin ales. I'm just glad there are so many options to choose from. That way each person can find the one that they like best and enjoy it every year around this time. It's sampling many of them that I like best. Sure, I do have my favorites from this list...Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale, Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale, Sam Adams Fat Jack Double Pumpkin, Painted Ladies Pumpkin Spice Ale, and Pumking are definitely up there. What are some of your favorites?