Pennichuck Backdraft Chocolate Porter

McGrath's had Pennichuck Backdraft Chocolate Porter on their bottle list, so I decided to give it a try as I was in the mood for a chocolate porter. It came in a 22 ounce bottle which I managed to add to my bottle collection at home. The porter is dark brown in color with a dark chocolate aroma. The initial taste consists of sweet milk chocolate, and the beer finished with a bitter dark chocolate taste. I could not track down an alcohol content for the beer, but I would guess it to be around 7.0% ABV. I was very pleased with the multi-dimensional aspects of the chocolate in the beer, both sweet and bitter chocolate. This beer is definitely on my “buy again” list.

Saranac Pumpkin Ale

I picked up a case of Saranac Pumpkin Ale today. I love pumpkin beers, and am really looking forward to trying many different brands this falls. The beer pours a dark amber color with a little head. The aroma consists pumpkin and cinnamon with a backbone of nutmeg. The taste is front loaded with allspice and ginger. It finishes a little dry with cinnamon and nutmeg. The alcohol content is 5.4% ABV. I thought this Pumpkin Ale is pretty decent, but doesn't measure up with some of the better ones I've had in the past. I think the balance of flavors is decent, but there is something missing in the beer, but I cannot put my finger on it.

Beastie Boys- Double Check Your Head

From the guy who brought you Jaydiohead (Jay-Z + Radiohead mash up) comes a new mash up of Beastie Boys' instrumentals and lyrics. Max Tannone has found the only way to make the Beastie Boys better: by mixing them with more Beastie Boys. You can download and/or listen to the album here. I highly recommend downloading this (it's free!), and I have been jamming out to it recently.

Kulmbacher Eisbock

My roommate Adam picked up a case of Kulmbacher Eisbock and I decided to barter for one of them. The beer pour a deep dark brown with minimal head. The aroma is sweet and malty, with a hint of alcohol. The taste is smooth and sweet with accents of dark chocolate. The beer has a bitter finish due to the dark chocolate taste. It also finishes a little bit dry. The taste of alcohol isn't too prevalent even though the aroma hints at it. The alcohol content is 9.2% ABV. I think this beer was excellent and of high quality. The chocolate taste and dark color is getting me in the mood for the winter seasonals, and I think this would be a great beer on a blustery cold night.

Troegs Nugget Nectar

I picked up two bottles of the limited run off-season production of Troegs Nugget Nectar. Typically, I picked up a growler, but this run was bottled days prior to me purchasing it. The beer is golden in color and has a sweet aroma that hints at the hop content. It smells fresher than I remember, which is a good thing. The taste is hoppy and clean, with a hint of citrus and pine. The hops are an excellent compliment to the citrus and pine. The tastes are much more vivid in this special run than I remember, most likely due to the freshness. The alcohol content is 7.5% ABV. All in all, this special run was well worth the money spent and I look to grab more bottles of these while they last.

Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA

At McGrath's, they just tapped a keg of Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA. I have heard a lot of good things about Dark Horse, but have not tried any beers from them yet. The IPA is an opaque gold color with light head. There is a floral aroma, as with almost any IPA. The taste consists of a sweet malty flavor with a bit of a spice. The hops are reserved for the after taste and hit with moderate punch. The alcohol content is 6.0% ABV. I really enjoyed drinking this IPA, as it was not too overpowering and had a delicate balance of hops, malts, and spice. The spice is what puts this beer over the top and makes it more enjoyable.