Southern Tier Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale

I grew tired of waiting for McGrath's to add Southern Tier Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale to the draft list, so I picked up two 22-ounce bottles at Wegman's. The beer is orange in color with a ginger aroma. There is a sweet pumpkin flavor with heavy ginger accent. I think that it tastes just like pumpkin pie. The beer is a little dry on the finish with cinnamon and vanilla. The alcohol content is 9.0% ABV. This is by far one of my favorite pumpkin beers. The flavors in the beer are excellent, and none of them are overpowering. Each flavor accents the others nicely and provides a round flavor. If you only select one beer this fall, try this one. I am going to make a trip back to Wegman's just to get more bottles of the Pumking.

Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale

I stopped by Wegman's and picked up a four-pack of Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale. I am currently in my pumpkin beer phase, so Weyerbacher was a must try. The beer is an orange-tinted amber color with a delicate cinnamon and nutmeg aroma. The taste is slightly sweet at first with pumpkin flavor. The beer then hits with allspice and finishes slightly dry with a cinnamon taste. The clovers are slightly detectable as well on the finish. The alcohol content is 8.0% ABV. While the alcohol wasn't too detectable drinking the beer, it is definitely noticeable after drinking the first glass. I enjoyed the Weyerbacher version of pumpkin beer and I suggest you give it a try.

Troegs Dead Reckoning Porter

When I picked up a six-pack of the most recent Troegs Scratch beer, I also picked up a six-pack of Dead Reckoning Porter. The beer is black in color and has a decent head on the pour. There is a sweet hoppy aroma that results from the pour. The beer tastes of chocolate and roasted malts with a slight caramel undertone. There are hops are present but they are not overpowering. The alcohol content is 5.8% ABV. I think that the Dead Reckoning is an excellent porter and is one of my favorites. It is easy to drink, but multi-dimensional due to the hop content.

Appalachian Brewing Company- Obbie's Barrel Aged Grand Cru

I stopped by Appalachian Brewing Company over the Labor Day weekend and the had Obbie's Barrel Aged Grand Crew on cask. The beer has a frothy head and is amber in color. It has a light hop aroma. The Grand Cru is creamy and very malty with a slight alcohol kick. The bourbon is definitely detectable on the front end of the taste. The beer then finishes with a vanilla and jamocha taste. There are so many flavors included in this beer that it was difficult to detect them all (The phrase tongue orgasm was muttered during the taste explosion). The bartender estimated that the alcohol content to be about 9.0% ABV. I really enjoyed the Grand Cru and all of the flavors that come with it. My only caveat is that you don't let the beer get too warm, because the bourbon will overpower all of the other flavors in the beer and it is not as enjoyable.

Dale's Pale Ale

At McGrath's in Harrisburg, they recently tapped a keg of Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale. The beer is amber in color with a light hop aroma. There is a slight malt taste at the front of the beer, and it finishes with a strong accent of hops. The after taste is dry and hoppy, but clean and fresh. The alcohol content is 6.5% ABV. This beer has been dubbed one of the best canned beers in the world, winning several awards, but I had it on draft. I would like to try it in a can as well and see if there is any difference. Overall, it was a really decent pale ale and worth the purchase.

Mendocino Eye of the Hawk

I had previously had the Mendocino Bock and I saw the Eye of the Hawk on McGrath's bottle list, so I decided to give it a try. The beer is red-amber in color with a malty and caramel aroma. The taste is sweet and malty, with an undertone of caramel. The alcohol content is 8.0% ABV. I thought that the Eye of the Hawk was excellent overall. The caramel taste was sweet enough to make the beer enjoyable, but not overpowering to limit the consumption. I really like the beers that I have had from Mendocino so far, and I look to try a few more if possible. Upon my return to McGrath's, I ordered another bottle. Please note, it is that good.

Troegs Scratch 23- Kellar Fest

I stopped by Troegs to pick up a six-pack of Dead Reckoning (review soon!) and a six-pack of Scratch 23- Kellar Fest. The brew was made in honor of Oktoberfest. The beer has an orange tint and is cloudy and unfiltered. It pours with almost no head and smells sweet and malty with a slight sour undertone. The taste is smooth and sweet at first with sublte hint of lemon. The Kellar Fest is a little bitter on the finish from the hops included in the beer. The alcohol content is 5.1% ABV. The fruity hint of lemon makes this beer slightly different than your run of the mill Oktoberfest beers, but it accents the malts used nicely. Go pick up a six-pack, or a growler, and enjoy this beer as fall approaches.