A Pumpkin Ale that is a Beer and not a Dessert

 Lately we have been enjoying some great beers from Portsmouth, New Hampshire's Smuttynose Breweing Co., as they are now distributing in Cleveland. We have been hooked after sampling the goods at this year's Blues & Brews (see our recap from a couple years ago) at Stan Hywet Gardens and continue to see what Smuttynose has to offer by purchasing a variety of their creations at Heinen's.

(picture courtesy of Smuttynose Brewery)

This evening, after finally seeing Inception, we stopped by Heinen's and amoungst the many offerings of pumpkin ales and/or Octoberfest styles, ultimately deciding to purchase the Pumpkin Ale from Smuttynose ($8.99 for a 6-pack) - because we have not had a less than superb beer from them yet.  Thus far, we have quickly and gleefully gulped down Smuttynose's Big A IPA, Finestkind IPA (highly suggested!), and Farmhouse Ale.

We love the fact that Smuttynose's Pumpkin Ale resisted the urge to be over-powering, tasting of sweet things like molasses or coriander.  Instead, the beer encompasses a savory element - a nice balance between cinnamon and the smoothness of pumpkin pureee.  Atypical of what one might expect from a  Pumpkin Ale, this is not a dessert where the essence of the pumpkin it not taken literally, where the beer does not slug your tastebuds like some of the others.

Basically, this pumpkin ale is what we hope our autumn months will feel like - calm, serene, welcoming, and far from overwhelming* 

Bonus: What is better than having music to enjoy while drinking some fall-inspired brews?!  So, here you go  ;)


[Mp3] Land of Talk - Quarry Hymns
[Mp3] Villagers - Becoming a Jackal
[Mp3] Menomena - Queen Black Acid

Have a wonderful Holiday Weekend everyone!

O'Fallon 5 Day IPA: Proof that a Smooth Drinking IPA is not an Oxymoron

It's always difficult when you have your favorite seller of beers and you see a different one that sounds great and tempts you, but if you never heard of the brewery you might be skeptic like us, but so is true with indie rock often the best bands (er, beers) are yet to be discovered.

Case and point: O'Fallon 5 Day IPA.  Smooth IPA might seem like an oxymoron, but that's what this is - nice amber color, very drinkable, nice with cheese (we're enjoying with a Savoie from Heinen's), lighter style, winning best St. Louis beer in 2008.  Much better than some other brewery also based in Missouri, whom we won't mention.

For those not fans of the hop, embrace a local jam maker - for us, we purchased a lovely "Train Wreck Everyberry Jam" via Lyons Market (located in Garrettsville, OH yet can bet purchased at your local Heinen's) that adequately balances and compliments the bitterness.

When served closer at room temp, the IPA tastes closer to something more familiar - these hops are never going to knock you out like something from Hop Devil, Hopslam, or Hopback.  However, this is most definitely the perfect beer to introduce somebody to hops with*

Bonus: While creating this post, in addition to being fueled by the ingredients above, the soundtrack was provided by (the pretty much always amazing) Arcade Fire. We strongly endorse this track from their new album, The Suburbs, out NOW.

{mp3} Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

Enjoy!  And have a wonderful weekend  :)