Virtual Happy Hour (Brews & Spirits, Pics & Reviews)

Should have bought more beer.


Rail lines cut and they're filling sandbags lower down in the city.

Iron Hill Brewery's Pumpkin Ale is really solid. The spice doesn't dominate and it is a pleasure to drink (got a four pack to go). I was skeptical about getting cinnamon on the rim, and so only did half. Will get it all the way around next time.



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My current pumpkin rankings from over the past several years, sorted within category by the beer advocate ratings (in parentheses) when available. I'll update this one through 2024 as needed:

My Favorites (would order any time):
Cigar City Good Gourd (95/4.26)
Clown Shoes Gordo (91/4.14)
Southern Tier Pumking (90/4.05)
Southern Tier Warlock (89/3.99)
King Don's Pumpkin Ale by Catawba (86/3.83)
Big Muddy Brewing's Pumpkin Smasher (84/3.73)
Thirsty Dog Pumpkin Ale (83/3.68)
Iron Hill Pumpkin Ale (-/-)

Solid Pumpkin Choice:
Elysian Great Pumpkin (92/4.13)
Great Divide Pumpkin Spice Yeti (91/4.14)
Southern Tier Pumking Nitro (90/4.01)
Elysian Night Owl (88/3.95)
Rogue Pumpkin Patch Ale (87/3.85)
Sycamore Pumpkin Latte Blonde (87/3.83)
Voodoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin by New Belgium (84/3.77)
Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale (84/3.71)
Left Hand Brewing Pumpkin Spice Latte Nitro (83/3.60)
Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Ale by Smokey Mountain Brewery (-/3.66)
Sugar Creek Pumpkin Blaster (-/-)

Drinkable:
Elysian Dark O' The Moon (88/3.94)
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale (87/3.89)
Captain Lawrence Autumn Blaze Pumpkin Fall Ale (82/3.6)
UFO Journey to Planet Pumpkin! (82/3.6)
World Court Pumpkin Spice by Legal Remedy (-/-)
Steel Hands Pumpkin Spice Ale (-/-)

Pass:
Elysian Punkuccino (92/4.14)
Southern Tier Caramel Pumking Pumpkin Ale (90/4.4)
Gordgeous by NoDa (88/3.94)
Dogfish Head Punkin Ale (88/3.92)
Samuel Adams Jack-O Pumpkin Ale (74/3.20)
Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale (70/3.02)

No Rating (IPAs, Sours, and super Hi-Grav):
Kickin' Knowledge Milkshake Pumpkin by Barrier Brewing (91/4.17) <- was expecting a stout... I need to read cans better!
Avery Brewing Rumpkin (91/4.08) <- wow that's boozy
Pumpkin Kerfuffle by Prairie Artisan Ales (89/4.03) <- reminded me of a cider

Cadence said:

Avery Brewing Rumpkin (91/4.08) <- wow that's boozy

Click to expand...

I had a Rumpkin without checking the ABV at my fantasy football draft one year. It was 11 am and I hadn't had more than a light breakfast. I poured a pint like it was a session beer. By the third round, I was confused as to why I felt so buzzed. Good beer, but "wow that's boozy" is right.

I had a 8% Filipino beer gifted to me recently. 3.2 standard drinks in the can. That was a boozy one. At least it didn't taste like vodka shot in a nasty 4% NZ beer.

Fo a strong beer one of the better one. Might take 4 camping.

Mates laid down another batch of beer. Reasonably sure I'll get another bottle to sample.

He gets 23 liters for $18 USD. Hmmnn.

Think that's around 7 gallons.

Visit to one of our big stores today was depressing. Two shelves of wheat bears were all American style (Including Blue moon), the three shelves of stouts and porters were part empty with lots of barrel aged, and the three entire sets of shelves of seasonal/special release didn't have many Pumpkins and I think the ones they did have were sours or IPAs. Found one stout single I wanted to try - but to make it worth bothering at the register they were out of Maisel Original (only had the Dinkel) and Weihenstephaner Dinkel (only had the Vitus). So left with nothing.

I assume IPA fans would have found plenty based on the shelf space it got.

The unsweetened tea is probably better for my health anyway.

Cadence said:

Visit to one of our big stores today was depressing. Two shelves of wheat bears were all American style (Including Blue moon), the three shelves of stouts and porters were part empty with lots of barrel aged, and the three entire sets of shelves of seasonal/special release didn't have many Pumpkins and I think the ones they did have were sours or IPAs. Found one stout single I wanted to try - but to make it worth bothering at the register they were out of Maisel Original (only had the Dinkel) and Weihenstephaner Dinkel (only had the Vitus). So left with nothing.

I assume IPA fans would have found plenty based on the shelf space it got.

The unsweetened tea is probably better for my health anyway.

Click to expand...

IPA are almost the one true way. I don't mind them but they're popular.

Been sober since January. Sudden urge to get drunk.

D&D player gifted me one of his homebrews. Kind of a hazy lager. Was quite nice.

4 ciders in the fridge. Wife's lolly water.

Might be some wine hiding somewhere. 6am to early to start?

Christmas. Wife said I'm allowed two or 3 glasses of beer.

Glass number 1.

One of my players new hobby. Homebrew.

30 beers for camping.