Karbach Mother in Lager

Brewery: Karbach Brewing Co.
Location: Houston, TX
Style: Dunkel
ABV: 5.8%

I received this can through a trade and specifically requested a mix of Karbach brews. Mother in Lager is Karbach's Autumn/Winter seasonal that is meant to help calm one who may be spending an excessive amount of time with the in-laws over the holiday breaks.

The commercial description is as follows:

What can you say about the woman who brings a big serving of judgment to every occasion?  Sometimes it’s best to say nothing at all.  Mother-in-Lager recognizes those who have shown glimpses of sweetness through their otherwise bitter exterior and feels for those who have to put up with it.  Brewed with dark malts and German hops, this brew's depth of flavor will allow you to relax and bite your tongue while she reorganizes your entire kitchen.  So grab a 6’er of Mother-in-Lager and be prepared for the next time she comes to visit.  It’s going to be a long, cold night.

I may be one of the fortunate few who has a wonderful Mother-in-Law. I actually don't mind her company; in fact, she just celebrated a birthday this past weekend, which is what prompted this review.

Appearance: Mother in Lager pours a clean and deep brown with a quickly dissipating head. Minimal lacing.

Aroma: Malty-base. Chocolate, cherry, and butter notes. This is rich smelling beer. Very aromatic.

Taste: The flavor profile on this beer begins with strong malt flavors (I get a mix of toasted and chocolate malts). This is followed by fig and dates sugars and finishes with mildly bitter and roasted flavors. The hops are subtle in this beer. Except for a little dryness at the end, I can hardly detect their presence.

Mouthfeel: This is a creamy and smooth lager; it's full-bodied with medium complexity.

Overall: I appreciate Karbach's attempts at rejuvenating the lager. They have released a variety of tasty lagers and proven they can hang in a market that's mostly dominated by craft ales.

Mother in Lager is enjoyable, but may be a tad too sweet for some. Nonetheless, it's approachable, fun, and sweet.

Karbach's Yule Shoot Your Eye Out (2012)

Brewery: Karbach Brewing Co.
Location: Houston, TX
Style: Spiced/Seasonal Ale
ABV: 8%

Yule Shoot Your Eye Out is big beer that shows the brewery's humorous side. It's name is inspired by a Christmas classic and, like the film, it's sure to become a seasonal tradition for many.

Karbach is a brewery that was still in its infancy when I moved out of Houston in 2011. Even at that time, I remember being impressed with their first couple of releases, specifically Sympathy for the Lager and Rodeo Clown Double IPA.

Now that I live in Florida, I no longer have the privilege of tasting their beers on a regular basis, and I was about the opportunity to get my hands on Yule Shoot Your Eye Out (special thanks to @discipleofhops for sending a bottle last year) via a trade.

Appearance: Very dark brown. I thought it was black at first, but realized it's actually a clear dark brown once I held it to the light. There's a nice thick head that forms and remains.

Aroma: Oh, this is a real treat! Lots of fall and winter spices like caramel, chocolate, nutmeg, ginger, and anise. The anise is particularly pleasing to the nose!

Taste:  The flavors are incredibly profound and complex! The dark chocolate, toffee, and molasses stand out on the palate and create a pleasant sweetness with a bitter finish. The holiday spices are prominent but not overpowering. This is one of the few seasonally spiced beers that I could drink year-round. The ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg pair very well with the bitter-sweet flavors of this stout-like ale. And to round everything out, the piny hops make an appearance on the finish and linger nicely on the aftertaste.

Overall: Delicious, complex, big-bodied, bold-flavored, seasonal ale. There's not much I don't like about this beer. Now, this particular bottle has been in my cellar for a year, so I don't know if the beer is this balanced and complex fresh. But judging by how this one performed, I definitely recommend cellaring a bottle or two if you can.

This was a wonderful way to end my Christmas celebrations.

Merry Christmas to everyone and a Happy New Year!

Pumking vs Warlock: A Souther Tier Showdown

Simple question: Warlock or Pumking...which is the supreme pumpkin beer?

Let's find out...

Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Co.

Location:Lakewood, NY

Style: Pumpkin Beers
ABV: 8.6%
Price: $8.99/22oz

The Back Story: Pumking vs Warlock

According to the label, Pumking is named after a Celtic ghost, Puca, who brings both good and bad fortune to his believers. Pumking is a perfect beer for Halloween and, at 8.6% ABV, it brings its own set of tricks and treats to those who dare to consume the entire bottle solo.

Warlock is a bit more mysterious. Southern Tier doesn't provide information on who or what Warlock is. But judging by the picture on the label, one can surmise that Warlock is far more evil than his Pumking counterpart! Warlock also comes in at 8.6% ABV, so beware and tread lightly!

Let's start with Pumking:

The discussion around the best pumpkin beer at least has to begin with Southern Tier's Pumking. For years, Pumking has made an impact on the market during the fall months. Few pumpkin beers have built a national allegiance like the one Pumking has. Whether you like the beer or not, you can't deny that Pumking, in many ways, has earned the title that's implied by its name.

Appearance: Bright orange, slightly hazy. I swear the beer is glowing in my glass. Has a pure-white head with decent retention. Fades after about 5 minutes in the glass.

Aroma: I don't think you can ask for more. The aromas perfectly capture what you would anticipate coming from a pumpkin beer. This is your traditional pumpkin pie in scent form. Lots of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and sugar. The aroma is so strong and clear, you'd swear someone is baking a pumpkin pie in your kitchen.

Taste: It's pumpkin pie with a bite! Flavors follow the nose precisely and finish with a spiced dryness. This is your grandma's pie all the way. Lot's of pumpkin, cinnamon, and I swear I can even taste some buttery graham cracker crust! The finish is probably the most surprising part of the beer.

With the aroma being what it is, I pretty much knew what I was going to get on the front of the palate. All the spice and sweetness I could want from a pumpkin beer. But the finish is spicy and slightly bitter and boozed. I think it puts an abrupt finish to the pie-sweetness that really makes this beer drinkable. Without that bite at the end of the sip, this beer would just be too sweet to handle. Southern Tier does a nice job of bringing the flavors full-circle and finishing with just enough dryness to make you want to take another sip.

Mouthfeel: This is a medium bodied beer. There's a creamy/buttery texture at times, but the carbonation and finish is a bit more grainy.

I'll comment on my overall impression after I have tasted both beers...

Next up, Warlock:

Appearance: A Pitch black pour with an off-white head that leaves a generous lacing on the glass.

Aroma: Smells like Pumking, only richer (I didn't think it was possible until now). I get a ton of pumpkin pie and a heavy dosage of cinnamon and nutmeg. If a pumpkin pie and a gingerbread cookie hooked up and had kids, Warlock is what they would smell like.

Taste: And here's where the two beers begin to separate. At first, Warlock is pumpkin pie all the way, but the middle of the palate picks up more roast and cream. I get a lot of vanilla and chocolate, which is much different than Pumking. This beer finishes with a nice floral bitterness and leaves a pleasant aftertaste of pumpkin, coffee, and chocolate.


Mouthfeel: This is one full-bodied and viscous beer. It's mildly carbonated and thick as milk. Perfect for cold weather!

Warlock is the stout version of Pumking. There's nothing really fancy about it. The aromas are clones of one another and the flavors are extremely similar, except for the fact that Warlock takes Pumking to the next level with all of the stout characteristics that one would expect from a Southern Tier Imperial.

So, which is better?

Obviously, there isn't really an answer to that question because it's all a matter of personal preference and one's palate. Pumking is probably a bit more drinkable, but Warlock's body and flavors bring the house! Both beers can only be purchased in 22oz bombers, and I think this makes Pumking a bit more appealing to me. Given the ABV and high gravity of these beers, 12oz bottles would be a welcomed option.

Although Pumking is slightly more drinkable, if I had to pick a winner, I would go with Warlock over Pumking, based on the depth of flavors and complexity it added to an already delicious Pumking-like profile. Warlock is an Imperial stout that truly delivers on the roasted malts and chocolate richness. When you add that to the vibrant flavors that are included in Pumking, Warlock runs away with the victory.

Southern Tier, in my humble opinion, is absolutely the king-brewery when it comes to this time of the year. Are they a little on the sweet side? Sure. Do I wish they were in 12oz bottles? Absolutely. But, at $8.99 per bomber, Southern Tier delivers deliciously popular seasonal releases without jacking up the prices like so many other breweries do. Ya gotta love 'em for that!

Oh, but there is just one thing that I think would make Pumking and Warlock better. Two very simple words: Bourbon barrels.

Cheers!

Anchor Bigleaf Maple Autumn Amber

Brewery: Anchor Brewing Co.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Style: Amber Ale
ABV: 6%
Price: $8.99/6pk

Anchor Brewing is no amateur when it comes to season beers. In fact, their 'Our Special Ale' (Christmas Ale) is one of the best seasonal releases out there. So, when I saw this Autumn Amber, I was intrigued.

Appearance: Pours a nice amber color, clean and filtered. This really is a great color. The head is quite fluffy and leaves a nice lacing on the glass. Great retention.
I also really enjoy the label on this beer. The maple leaf is fittingly the center of attention, and the design gives a retro and rustic feel to the bottle. Well done!

Aroma: Spiced malt, mild hops, caramel. There's also an earthiness to the smell that is quite nice.

Taste: Toasted and caramel malts, dried hops, mild fruit-sweetness, piney finish. No maple. The flavors are a bit all over the place to me. I don't really know what the identity of this beer is supposed to be, and I'm just not sure about the flavor profile here. I would have liked to see more of the toasted malt come through with a maple finish. Instead, the beer has a little bit of everything (except maple), but nothing really stands out. It's a mess, really.

Bigleaf Maple doesn't look like it tastes, and doesn't taste like it looks. And with maple in the name, you'd think it would be somewhere in the flavor profile. This isn't a bad beer, it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. The best part of this beer was the appearance and aroma. It's a beautiful beer; it's just too bad the flavors didn't come through as I had hoped.

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale (2013)

Brewery: Dogfish Head Brewery
Location: Milton, DE
Style: Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 7%

Price: $9.99/4pk

Pumpkin beers come with a lot of hype and excitement. Unfortunately, a lot of them end up being a bust. Too often, pumpkin beers are over or under spiced and lack complexity and depth.Unfortunately, there are a lot of breweries that take advantage of savvy marketing schemes to get their mediocre beers in the hands of innocent and unsuspecting pumpkin-loving consumers.

Dogfish Head Punkin is not one of those beers.

Appearance: Copper-orange in color. Nearly perfect in terms of capturing the essence of the season in color. Frothy white head that coats the glass. The carbonation continues to dance well after the pour.

Aroma: There's a nice grainy smell to this beer that comes along with the pumpkin spices. The seasonal spices don't come off too strong. I also smell bread and yeast and maybe a bit of booze. You can almost sense that even without the pumpkin spices, this would be a good-smelling ale.

Taste: Dry pumpkin flavors hit the palate first, followed by a caramel-malt sweetness, and then finished with a slight dried bitterness from hops and alcohol. There's a balance to this beer. There's spice, bread, pumpkin, booze (rum), and malt. It's everything you could want in a Fall beer.

Mouthfeel: This is a medium-bodied beer that has a creamy feel at first, but ends with a crisp finish.

Overall: This beer drinks more like a really good amber or brown ale that happens to have some pumpkin spices, rather than the alternative. Maybe that's what makes this beer stand out among other pumpkin beers each year. This beer is an excellent example of how a brewery can participate in a seasonal lineup, give the consumers what they want, without compromising the quality of their product. I could drink Punkin year-round.

Punkin Ale is one of the beers I link to me getting into the craft beer scene. In fact, it's one of the first (and only) beers I have ever bought an entire case of. As someone who works in the non-profit world, cases are a big commitment, and I don't approach them lightly.

Dogfish Head is known for a bit zany at times with their "off-centered" ales. But there's nothing "off" about Punkin. In fact, I think it's one of the best pumpkin ales out there...if not the best.

Cheers!

Brooklyn Dry Irish Stout

Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Style: Dry Irish Stout
ABV: 4.7%
Price: $9.99/6pk

Brooklyn's Dry Irish Stout is brewed using a traditional recipe that is meant to render a sessionable beer that is light in both alcohol content and calories. Brooklyn has done a solid job in that respect as this is one of the lightest beers the New York brewery produces seasonally.

Brooklyn Brewery has always been one of my favorite micro-breweries because I've been a fan of what they've been able to do in the market. I believe Brooklyn is one of the more recognizable labels out there and they've done a respectable job creating a national presence for themselves. Plus, they are the creators of Black Ops, which may or may not exist.

This review, however, turns the spotlight to one of Brooklyn's less notable brews--Dry Irish Stout. There's nothing gimmicky or fancy about this one. It's a light(er) craft beer trying to appeal to folks with an appetite for roasted malts, chocolate, and espresso in their beer.

Appearance: Pitch black with a rusted-cream head.

Aroma: Sweet malts and bitter chocolate. Not a very appetizing smell, to be honest. Saying I smell chocolate might even be misleading. The nose is faint and stale.

Taste: There's a blend of bitter-sweet tartness that hits the palate first. I faintly pick up on the roasted malt, coffee, and hazelnut flavors before the beer transitions into something very unexpected. The finish is overwhelmingly tart and fruity (raisins and dates). I say this is unexpected because I was waiting for the bitterness from the chocolate and coffee to take over, but it never does.

Mouthfeel: The body of this beer is medium to heavy. There's more carbonation than one might assume and, like the flavors, I don't think it completely works.

Overall: Something just seems "off" with this beer. The beer smells flat. The flavors don't mesh well. And the amount of carbonation doesn't fit with the heaviness of the body. It's as if this beer is going through an identity crisis. And honestly, I have enough problems of my own to be dealing with its drama right now.

Sorry, Brooklyn. I love ya, but this one just didn't do it for me.

Slainte!

Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale

Brewery:  Alltech's Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co.

Location: Lexington, KY
Style: Pumpkin Ale/Seasonal
ABV: 10%

Price: $14.99/4pk

Autumn is my favorite time of the year. There's cool weather, football, and pumpkin-flavored everything! I have a few staples during this time of the year when it comes to pumpkin beers: Dogfish Head Punkin, Cigar City Good Gourd, and Southern Tier Pumking. But each year, there are newbies that find their way on the shelves, and I am always a sucker for trying new pumpkin beers.

Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale is one that I have been excited to try and eagerly anticipated its distribution here in Jacksonville. Beer:30 was the first place that I saw with the Pumpkin Barrel on the shelves, and I was eager to bring it home and give it a taste.

So why was I eagerly anticipating this beer amidst the many other pumpkin ales that one can buy this time of the year? Well, for starters, anything aged in bourbon barrels gets my attention, and Alltech has proven themselves with their other releases. Combine that with an ABV of 10% and a limited release and I am all but salivating. Ok, I lied. I was definitely salivating. 

After a few hours in the fridge, I cracked one open and indulged. Here are my tasting notes: 

Appearance:  Nice copper color. Clear and rusty. The head is pretty too. It's a quarter-inch in size and sticks around for a bit, but not long enough in my opinion.

Aroma: This is Fall in a glass. I can pick up on some cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin, oak, and bourbon. These scents liven as the beer warms. I was able to identify a new ingredient every other minute or so. It's like an aromatic candle that keeps on giving...except you can drink it too!

Taste: Smooth is the first thing that comes to mind. Before I mention the various flavors, I think it's important to highlight how smooth this one is. The bourbon and vanilla stand out to me, which blend to create a well-balanced drink. Of course, the pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon are easily tasted as well. The bourbon is blunt, which I appreciate. The finish is boozy and slightly bitter, possibly from the oak.

If you have had the standard Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, you'll recognize a lot of the same flavor profile. Only this one is complimented with the harvest spices. Like the standard ale, the pumpkin variation is sweet, but it's not overwhelming. It seems to fall somewhere in the middle. 

Mouthfeel: This is a medium bodied beer with an appropriate amount of carbonation that is easily forgotten due to the overall creaminess of the beer.

Overall: I enjoyed this one when I first sipped it and I liked it even more after about 20 minutes of letting the beer warm in my glass. The aromas and flavors really blossomed after about 15-20 minutes. The 10% does have a warming effect, which isn't a bad thing. 

The only complaint I have with this is the price-point. $14.99 is steep. I know it's 10% and barrel-aged, but it still feels a bit overpriced for a 4pk. Nonetheless, Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale has earned itself a spot on my annual list of pumpkin beers I can't wait to come out each Fall.