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

[Cadence]

I'm gradually trying some sours to see if there is a flavor I like besides key lime. Pumpkin and jalapeno weren't great in a sour for me before, adding orange to that list. (All three were drinkable, but they aren't ones I'd reach for).

Edmund's Oast Brewing Sun Kissed - "[W]e have dumped far, far too much citrus puree into a golden ale, and for an added kiss of flavor, blended in a touch of our sour base beer. Refreshing on hot days and when you are recovering from flying too close to the sun, Sun Kissed – a citrus experience in a can."



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Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant's pumpkin ale was one of my all time faves last year, both draft (made there) and can (made elsewhere). This year the first batch of the draft one they made has a lot more pumpkin, as opposed to pumpkin spice, It was really disappointing. Will ask for a taste when they do the next batch, and I guess I can get some cans to see if the change was just at this one batch/location or if it was for the whole chain.

 

[Zardnaar]

Tui Strong

Tui is one of the main macro beers here in NZ.

It has a bad reputation. I had some in 2018 and it was drinkable. Best of the worst.

That was 7 years ago. Tui Strong is 7.2. Golden Lager. Initial taste was surprisingly pleasant somewhat sweet. Got mildly worse more you drunk it. Towards the end didn't care.

Reminded me a bit of some of the nastier eastern European beers. Better than Baltika 9 though. Its roughly on par with Steinlager
which is like a kiwi Heineken. Prefer Baltika 7, Baltika 5 is probably a rough equivalent or one of the average Obolons.

Drinkable almost enjoyed it. Heineken a 6/10 beer for me so this one's getting a 6.5. Better than expected so that's a win. WI can drink Budweiser. Weak flavor but not unpleasant so would probably give that a 6.5 as well.

Tui. Best of the crap Macro lagers so far eg Speights, DB Export, Lion Red, Double Brown etc. Hot summers day getting plonked 7.2% would get a thumbs up. Better than NZ Strong lager as well. Not a good beer but drinkable and better than expected.

High class NZ marco beer review. With an Aussie. Pure class. More or less agree with them. These are our crap beers.


Few F bombs don't think they use the C word. Hence classy.

 

[Zardnaar]

I'm gradually trying some sours to see if there is a flavor I like besides key lime. Pumpkin and jalapeno weren't great in a sour for me before,, adding orange to the list. (All three were drinkable, but they aren't ones I'd reach for).

Edmund's Oast Brewing Sun Kissed - "[W]e have dumped far, far too much citrus puree into a golden ale, and for an added kiss of flavor, blended in a touch of our sour base beer. Refreshing on hot days and when you are recovering from flying too close to the sun, Sun Kissed – a citrus experience in a can."

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Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant's pumpkin ale was one of my all time faves last year, both draft (made there) and can (made elsewhere). This year the first batch of the draft one they made has a lot more pumpkin, as opposed to pumpkin spice, It was really disappointing. Will ask for a taste when they do the next batch, and I guess I can get some cans to see if the change was just at this one batch/location or if it was for the whole chain.

Pumpkin in beers there acre like Oysters in beer here.

Mate gave me a 750ml of home brew mead. Used 5kg (11 pounds approx) of honey.

 

[Cadence]

Tis the season. Five new (to me) pumpkin beers at one of the four big stores in town.

Cautionary Tail Pumpkin Ale by Fat Orange Cat Brewery in North Haven, CT. 8% ABV ale with Pumpkin, Vanilla, and Spices.

Lots of spice to start, and then a bit more pumpkin than I would choose. A solid pumpkin choice though.

A 3.96 = 87 Very Good on Beer Advocate.



Current rankings - sorted within category by beer advocate rating if available, and updated here til spring.

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 (-/-) <- can, the first batch of 2025 on tap is more pumpkiny than last and only comes in as drinkable

Solid Pumpkin Choice:
Elysian Great Pumpkin (92/4.13)
Great Divide Pumpkin Spice Yeti (91/4.14)
Southern Tier Pumking Nitro (90/4.01)
Hi Wire 10W-40 Pumpkin Spicewalla Latte (89/4.05)
Elysian Night Owl (88/3.95)
Cautionary Tail Pumpkin Ale by Fat Orange Cat (87/3.95)
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

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Tis the season. Five new (to me) pumpkin beers at one of the four big stores in town.

Shipyard's Smashed Pumpkin is much better than Pumpkinhead, if you can find it. It's not great, and it's been a few years since I had it, but it was good.

If you can find Pump[KY]n or Rumpkin from Avery Brewing in Colorado, they're really good beers. Very strong (15-18% ABV). I didn't look at the label and cracked one for a fantasy football draft when I was much younger. Poured it like it was a session ale. Mistakes were made.

 

[Cadence]

Shipyard's Smashed Pumpkin is much better than Pumpkinhead, if you can find it. It's not great, and it's been a few years since I had it, but it was good.

If you can find Pump[KY]n or Rumpkin from Avery Brewing in Colorado, they're really good beers. Very strong (15-18% ABV). I didn't look at the label and cracked one for a fantasy football draft when I was much younger. Poured it like it was a session ale. Mistakes were made.

I have the Avery one listed at the bottom - could definitely tell it was hi grav!! I don't rate the IPAs, Sours, or HiGravs since they aren't in my usual wheel house.

 

[Zardnaar]

I've basically stopped drinking craft beers.

Buying the higher priced/imported eurolagers occasional ale.

NZ has some decent premium beers eg hopped pilsners which are good for macro beers.

Last couple I bought were Ukrainian Obolon and a Czech lager last week. Same place sells some good German ones.

I don't mind adding hazy PA still or amber lager.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

I have the Avery one listed at the bottom - could definitely tell it was hi grav!! I don't rate the IPAs, Sours, or HiGravs since they aren't in my usual wheel house.

So you do! No idea how I missed it. HiGravs are not in my wheelhouse either. I don't mind imperials here and there, but too much of a good thing is still too much.

 

[payn]

A friend of mine is 1/3 owner of a microbrew here in the Twin Cities. Im trying to talk them into whipping something up with NZ hops @Zardnaar

 

[Zardnaar]

A friend of mine is 1/3 owner of a microbrew here in the Twin Cities. Im trying to talk them into whipping something up with NZ hops @Zardnaar

Idk enough about hops tbh. I stick beer in mouth and thumbs up or down it.

The did rediscover some hops in the bush they thought went extinct.

Im going to sample a few bad beers that I haven't drunk since the 90s in some cases. Best of the worse.

One of my players is brewing now. He made some meat. Small glass was nice but to sweet fir larger servings imho.