Pumpking – Southern Tier Brewing – Bi-Weekly Beer Review Episode 11

Pumpking – Southern Tier Brewing (Lakewood, NY) ABV 8.6%

Copper color with a cloudy unfiltered look and a thin white head. The scent is heavy of nutmeg and spices with not much else. Tastes of pumpkin and spices. It reminds me of a pumpkin pie. A good solid pumpkin beer but the spices are overpowering my palate.
I really did like the beer but the spices were a little strong this year so I gave it a 3.5 out of 5. Still my favorite has been Almanac’s heirloom pumpkin ale.

The bottle says: Imperial Pumking – Brewed with Pumpkins, natural flavors, 2 Varieties of Hops and 2 types of malts. Pumpking is an ode to Púca, the mythical Celtic horse beast said to entice careless travelers onto it’s back and take them on a terrifying night ride through the Forrest. It is a Journey from which you will return forever changed. Pour Pumking into a goblet and allow it’s spiced aroma and deep copper color to entrance you. Taste the beer and you are bewitched, powerless to resist the Pumpking. This beer is brewed with a pagan spirit, but should be enjoyed responsibly.

Filmishmish (2014) – The Bruery

Filmishmish (2014) – The Bruery (Placentia, CA) ABV 5.8% 4.5 out of 5
Dark orange color with a white head , nicely carbonated. Sour scent of apricots it reminds me of apricot kerns nectar. Sour Oaky flavor with strong taste of apricots in the back end. This is such a good beer I can drink this all the time

Ramblings of a Beer Runner

Recently I wrote a post about one of my favorite beer blogs and websites The Beer Heads Today I want to write about another of my favorite beer blogs, Ramblings of a Beer Runner. The blog is written by Derrick Peterman. He has been a runner for over thirty years, a home brewer and beer enthusiast. This blog is more then just a beer blog. He writes about running, running events, home brewing, books, breweries, brewers them selfs, and of course beer.

I always find Derrick’s beer reviews very informative. I have tried new beers after reading a review on his blog. The blog posts on brewers and their breweries are detailed and even have interviews with the brewers. I am very impressed by Ramblings of a Beer Runner and it has pushed me to be a better blogger. Anyone can write a beer review, rate the scent, flavor, color, and give the beer a rating but to write about how the beer was brewed, thought up, and general information takes real thought and research.

Since Derrick lives close I got to meet him at a beer event a couple months ago. It is nice being able to talk to other beer lovers in person. I have a big group of friends I drink with at Harry’s Hofbrau in San Jose that are very knowledgable about beer and have a good palate but it’s fun to meet someone you’ve only read and looked up to.

Go to the official blog and look back at the posts and the Facebook always has quick links that aren’t in the official blog.

Ramblings of a Beer Runner’s Official Blog

Ramblings of a Beer Runner on Facebook

The beer Heads – www.thebeerheads.com

The beer heads have a great website for beer lovers, with more information then just a beer blog. Their most popular segment must be their beer review video blogs. They also have news articles on new and upcoming beer releases and other beers news. Sections with beer and food pairings, proper glassware usage, and an online store for their popular shirts and new upcoming merchandise they have a complete beer webpage.

The beer heads team consists of Jaye Specialist, Art and Peter. They are good guys and easy to talk too. I’ve talked with Jaye a couple times and it’s always a great conversation. If you see them at a Bay Area beer event just say hi to them. You’ll catch me wearing their shirts at beer events.

Do yourself a favor a go to http://www.thebeerheads.com

Peralta Porter – Santa Clara Valley

Peralta Porter – Santa Clara Valley I have been really into the Santa Clara Valley brewing company. This is their second beer released. They are a new brewery and I have been happy with their releases. I wrote a blog post about their first beer the Electric tower IPA.

Santa Clara Valley brewing is using local history to name their beers. The Peralta Porter is named after the Peralta Adobe which is the oldest building in San Jose California dating back to 1797 and is names after Luis Maria Peralta.

The beer: ABV 6.1% Black liquid with the whitehead but not much of a head. Very thin lacing but washes away quickly. The scent is of cream and prunes. Taste is a strong burnt malts but not over powering a sours strong send Spicy. It has low carbonation and smooth, It is a lighter thiner liquid then I thought. 4 out if 5

Bois – 5 year anniversary ale – The Bruery

Bois – 5 year anniversary ale – The Bruery ABV 15% Ale aged in bourbon barrels – Cloudy dark brown color almost black. Scent of raisins and oak. The scent is very strong. Very thick liquid. A very strong bourbon flavor with very sweet malty flavor. This is a great bourbon barrel aged ale but is so thick and strong it demands to be drank at a slower pace. I got 1 bottle in my Bruery Preservation Society quarter 2 allocation. Which I was very happy about since a bottle goes for about $39.99 in stores.

I have had two bottles so far the one of got in my allocation and the other Beer Jesus opened in a bottle share which we had side by side with the Fruet (The Bruery’s 4th year Anniversary ale) which was very nice. I thought the Bois was better. I wrote about it in The Silicon Valley beer week Wednesday post.

Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout

Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout ABV 13% I was looking forward to this beer for a while. Stone released the information and pictures of the bottle art work way before then beer was released. I have been a big fan of stone for about 5 years and they have really done great work and innovating amazing beers since the craft beer scene has boomed again. When I heard Stone was making a been in colaberation will Wil Wheaton I was very excited.

I have been a fan of Wil Wheaton like most people from the Star Trek: The Next Generation. When I became a real Wil Wheaton Fan was when I started fallowing him on social media and reading his blog. He is the funniest celebrity for me to read being a techie geek and a beer geek. He’s just someone that I could sit with have a few beers and talk with about stuff we’re both into. I don’t write this blog to be cool or to become a well known beer writer I do it for myself and those of that actually do read this thank you. The only thing that would be really cool would be having beers with great beer heads like Wil Wheaton and Dr Bill.

Black in color with a thick tan head and a thick consistent tan lacing. A very sweet scent of roasted malts and nuts. w00tsout has a thick consistency in the mouth. Sweet malts and pecans on the first taste and the backend has a warm alcohol burn in the throat. A very good stout I like the pecans so I give it 5 out of 5 I’ve had two bottles so far and been very happy. I hear w00tsout on tap is far better so I will be on the look out for that.

Alchemy Ale – Widmer

Alchemy Ale – Widmer ABV 5.8% – Untappd has this beer as two Badges under the special section. The alchemy badge you get for drinking one Widmer Alchemy Ale and the Alchemy Gold is for drinking 4 of them. I tried finding this beer for over a month before I found a 6 pack and it happened to be at Royal Liquor across the street. Dark golden orange color with a thick white head and consistent white lacing. A very hoppy floral scent. Sweet hoppy flavor with elegant taste. I put this in that small category with Pliney the elder and Tree Floyd’s gumball

Ebony and Oak – The Bruery

Ebony and Oak – The Bruery ABV 8% – Stout Aged in oak bourbon barrels – This was one of three beers in my allocation for the first membership of the preservation society membership I go for Father’s Day. This is a true great one amoung the barrel aged stouts. Black in color with a white head and lacing. Scent if oak and malts. Taste of sweet vanilla, oak and roasted malts. Having this stout aged in oak bourbon barrels gives it a whiskey aftertaste and a heat all the way through the mouthful. I will be buying this again when I get my reserve society membership.

Pluot – Lips Of Faith – A true hero for the lips of faith series

Pluot – Lips Of Faith ABV 10% – Ale brewed with pluot juice – It is a clear golden yellow color. The scent is of fruit, Belgian yeast and I am getting a herbal scent like cloves. This has an amazing tart fruit flavor that hits you first then tapers off and mellows into a fruity Belgian ale. The pluot is a hybread between plum and apricot. It seems to be the perfect mix of tart and sweet for a great beer. I rate this 4.5 out of 5