Brew Spew 2015 Part 5: The Traveler Beer Co. Jack-O Traveler Pumpkin Shandy.

At last, we've arrived at the fifth and final part of the Brew Spew 2015. Over the course of the past few weeks, we've analyzed together four different seasonal beers. So far, only one of those beers was a stinker. With tonight's fifth installment, let's hope we find another enjoyable Autumnal beverage.

The final featured beer is Jack-O Traveler Pumpkin Shandy from The Traveler Beer Company of Burlington, Vermont. Traveler is famous for their various fruit-themed beers like the Forbidden Traveler Apple Ale and the Curious Traveler Lemon Shandy. Jack-O Traveler Pumpkin Shandy is a wheat beer that's 4.4% Alc. by volume and available annually during the Fall months. It features genuine pumpkin in the brewing process.

As with the previous reviews, I'll be taking notes live as I drink the beer for the first time. The comments will be broken up into two sections. My comments will be genuine. I'll notate what I like and dislike about the beer. Honesty is key! Let's begin, shall we?

Cold out of the fridge:

• It has a golden yellow color.
• Lots of bubbles and fizz upon pour, with a very thin foam head.
• Has a faint citrus smell, along with some other strange scent that I simply I can't describe. 
• Very sweet, with no bitterness at all.
• Light bodied, but doesn't taste hollow or flat.
• The lemon flavor is the strongest, closely followed by the seasonal spices, most likely cinnamon and nutmeg.
• The pumpkin flavor is almost undetectable.
• Reminds me of a moderately sweet, alcoholic lemonade without any sourness or pucker factor.
• Easy to drink and quite delightful.
• I wish the pumpkin flavor would stand out more.

At room temperature:

• The cinnamon has become very fragrant.
• Conversely, the lemon citrus scent has notably decreased.
• The pumpkin flavor has suddenly appeared, but not where I expected! On the swallow, the pumpkin suddenly strikes all over my tongue and expresses itself.
• Still very sweet and extremely easy to drink.
• Has not gotten thin or flat, with a fair amount of carbonation still present.
• The various spice flavors haven't changed at all, really.
• The lemon flavor has mellowed out and only become sweeter as well.
• Not bitter at all; didn't taste the first note of bitterness throughout the entire beverage.

This was a surprising beer, to be honest. The Jack-O Traveler Pumpkin Shandy is just about one of the sweetest beers I've ever enjoyed. The lemon flavoring was somewhat bold at first, but eventually succumbed to the overall sugary nature of the beer as it warmed. You could almost call this beer bipolar. Drink it cold and you'll enjoy the lemon side of it. Drink it at room temperature and you'll enjoy the pumpkin side. I do wish it had a more dominant pumpkin flavor overall, but was thankful it became detectable after I let the beer sit for a bit. What shocked me is that the pumpkin made itself known on the swallow, which is a rare event when drinking seasonal beers. This isn't to say I disliked it, though. Quite the contrary -- Jack-O Traveler Pumpkin Shandy is a very luscious, flavorful beer that could easily be enjoyed any time of the year. Jack-O Traveler Pumpkin Shandy is yet another seasonal beer that shouldn't be relegated just to Autumn!

Well, that does it for the 2015 Brew Spew. Thanks for coming along with me on this trip. We tried five tasty seasonal beers. Four of them were pleasant and hit the mark. I'd say batting .800 isn't bad at all! If you haven't already done so, be sure to check out the other four reviews. Until next year!

Brew Spew 2015:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Brew Spew 2015 Part 4: Shipyard Brewing Little Horror of Hops.

The fourth beer of my 2015 Brew Spew is the Little Horror of Hops from Shipyard Brewing of Portland, Maine. While I don't normally like India Pale Ales, I decided to give this one a go out of fairness. If I'm going to cover a broad range of seasonal beers for the Brew Spew, then I should at least include one IPA. So, here goes!

Shipyard Brewing was founded in 1994 and was the fastest growing craft brewery in the United States by 1996. Currently, they are ranked as the 25th largest craft brewery in America. Their line of beers has won numerous national and international awards in their twenty year history. Other beers they produce include the Shipyard Blue Fin Stout and the Shipyard Export Ale, with a nearly nationwide distribution. You can probably find one of Shipyard's finely crafted beers with your local grocer or specialty beverage retailer.

The Little Horror of Hops is 5.9% Alc. by volume and available annually between September and November. As with all of the beers I taste test in the Brew Spew, I will provide a real time set of notes divided into two categories. These were written as I was drinking the beer for the first time. My critique will be honest and straightforward, whether I like the beer or not. Let's begin!

Cold out of the fridge:

• Deep orange color with a moderate amount of foam.
• The odor was fragrant and smelled like bitter, unripened fruit.
• An extremely bitter beer, much like biting into a grapefruit.
• The carbonation is almost undetectable upon the tongue. I know there's fizz in it, but I can't feel it because of the overpowering grapefruit flavor.
• Light-bodied and easy to swallow, thankfully.
• The bitterness is all on the front and sides of my tongue. Not too much bitterness upon swallowing.
• Surprised at how non-peppery the flavor is considering it's an IPA.
• The fruity taste somehow shines through the bitter nature, helping to make it more enjoyable.

At room temperature:

• The bitterness has mellowed slightly.
• Still foamy on top.
• The citrus-like grapefruit flavor has also calmed down a bit. It's not so in-your-face.
• Has not developed any weird, funky aftertaste.
• Overall, it still tastes fairly similar as to when it was cold. The change in temperature hasn't altered the taste too much.

As I stated previously, I do not like India Pale Ales. They're simply too bitter and unpleasant for my personal taste. That being said, if I did like IPA's, I would without a doubt enjoy Little Horror of Hops. The bitter flavor rests on the front of the tongue as you begin swallowing and not in the back of your throat. That's the key element here -- bad beers taste terrible when they're going down. The Little Horror of Hops did not have that wretched back-of-your-throat taste at all. Surprisingly, I did greatly appreciate the grapefruit quality that the beer presented. If I could find a beer that had this grapefruit essence without being so bitter, I'd probably really enjoy it! Overall, if I were an IPA fan, I'd look forward to drinking Little Horror of Hops every year. If you like IPA's, then I definitely suggest you give Shipyard's extra hoppy seasonal beverage a spin. Considering I have zero vested interest in drinking IPA's, this verdict should really be taken as genuine.

Brew Spew 2015:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 5

Brew Spew 2015 Part 3: Big Boss Brewing Harvest Time Ale.

In this week's installment of the Brew Spew 2015, I'll be featuring a beer from a local brewery located right here in North Carolina. The third beer in this series will be the Harvest Time Ale from Big Boss Brewing. Big Boss is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. They've been in operation since 2006. While still a relatively young brewery, they've achieved a fair amount of success in North Carolina. Almost every bar or restaurant I've visited in my travels throughout the state has had at least one of their beers on tap. They host many events at their brewery throughout the year, as well as sponsor numerous outings like their run club. The Big Boss Tap Room (open daily), is a popular social spot located at the brewery where you can taste all of their beers fresh from the source.

The Harvest Time Ale is 5.5% Alc. by volume and available annually during September and October. As with all of the beers I taste test in the Brew Spew, I will provide a real time set of notes divided into two categories. These were written as I was drinking the beer for the first time. If I like the beer, I'll tell you. If I don't like the beer, I'll tell you that as well. Let's get started, shall we?

Cold out of the fridge:

• Nutmeg and cinnamon smell is quite fragrant the moment after I poured the beer into a glass.
• Has a murky golden color.
• I can readily taste the pumpkin flavor with the first sip.
• It is not bitter and has an easy finish.
• There is no strange aftertaste whatsoever.
• Very little foam with a light level of carbonation.
• I don't readily taste the spices, but can detect their fragrance in my nose after I swallow.
• Even though this is an ale, it tastes much like a light lager mixed with pumpkin flavor.
• An easy to drink, refreshing beer that doesn't try too hard.

At room temperature:

• The pumpkin flavor has become a great deal stronger.
• Not bitter at all, thankfully.
• Still very easy to enjoy as I swallow.
• Much to my delight, the beer tastes a great deal like a slice of pumpkin pie. In fact, after swallowing, I could swear I'd just eaten a piece!
• The smell of the spices has somewhat softened.
• Alternatively, the taste of the spices has gone up dramatically. I can readily detect the nutmeg and cinnamon on the tip of my tongue the moment it hits my mouth.

All in all, the Harvest Time Ale was a particularly satisfying seasonal beer. It delivered just what a seasonal pumpkin-flavored beer should, with no added flair or gimmicks. I'm quite impressed with the Harvest Time Ale. It provided a memorable taste whether cold or at room temperature, which is a signifier of high quality in my opinion. It's a shame Big Boss doesn't produce Harvest Time Ale year-round!

If you happen to live in the Raleigh area, visit the brewery and partake in the Big Boss Harvest Time Pumpkin Festival on October 29, 2015 between 4 and 10 PM. They'll be hosting a pumpkin carving contest, as well as debuting a bourbon barrel aged version of Harvest Time. I've got to get me some of that!

Brew Spew 2015:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 4
Part 5

Brew Spew 2015 Part 2: Boulevard Brewing Funky Pumpkin Spiced Sour Ale.

Here we are, the second Friday of October. That can mean only one thing -- the latest installment of the BREW SPEW 2015!

Tonight, I'll be highlighting a rather strange fall seasonal beer from Boulevard Brewing Company of Kansas City, Missouri. The Funky Pumpkin Spiced Sour Ale is the inaugural release from Boulevard into the booming pumpkin ale market. Founded in 1989, Boulevard Brewing is currently the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest. They are most notably known for their GABF® Gold Medal-winning Unfiltered Wheat Beer, which is a high volume seller throughout the Midwest.

Funky Pumpkin Spiced Sour Ale will be available in September and October annually. It is 5.8% Alc. by volume. As with my first article in this series (which you can read here), I will evaluate the beer in two parts. My comments will be recorded in real time. My opinion will be honest, direct and I will tell you exactly what I think, good or bad.

Cold out of the fridge:

• Has the faint smell of nutmeg and cranberries.
• When they said it was sour, they weren't kidding.
• It has a light yellow color.
• Not frothy, with just the right amount of carbonation.
• Leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste in your mouth.
• The nutmeg and allspice is somewhat present when you first begin to drink.
• As you continue to drink, the sourness really begins to take over.
• The pumpkin flavor is very light and totally overpowered by the sourness.
• Reminds me of a piece of very sour hard candy without any of the sweetness.

At room temperature:

• The cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices are more easily detectable by the tongue.
• The sourness, though still present, is only slightly less bold.
• A sweetness has developed where there wasn't one before.
• The aftertaste retains the sour flavor, but also some of the spices.

I can't accentuate enough just how sour this beer was. After drinking it, I did some digging into what made it so twangy. Apparently, Boulevard relied upon an old traditional method used in some Belgian ales that employs Brettanomyces for the yeast element. Brettanomyces is a non-spore forming Genus of yeast. It is generally not wanted in beer because it can influence the flavor in some unsettling ways. One such manner is that it will make a beer taste extra sour, as with the Funky Pumpkin Spiced Sour Ale. Boulevard purposefully added this particular Genus of yeast to make the Ale pucker your mouth.

My final thoughts? You should definitely not drink Funky Pumpkin Spiced Sour Ale cold. It's just not pleasant. I wouldn't buy this beer at a bar for that very reason. If I were in the mood for something different, I might consider buying another bottle in the future. Might.

Brew Spew 2015:
Part 1
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Brew Spew 2015 Part 1: Anderson Valley Fall Hornin' Pumpkin Ale.

Whilst beer shopping at my local Total Wine retail establishment in Greensboro, North Carolina, my better half Crystal had one hell of an idea.

I should write an article every Friday night for the month of October featuring a seasonal beer.

Completely floored at her keen insight, I immediately agreed. Throughout the month of October, I will review one seasonal beer every Friday. That's five tasty reports in an effort to bring you, the committed reader, the best in top notch seasonal beer information. My critiques will be fair and honest. If I like a beer, I'll tell you why. If I dislike a beer, I'll also tell you why. No matter what, you'll get the truth.

In reality, this was also a fantastic excuse for me to drink guilt free and then get to write about it... but I digress.

The inaugural beer of what I'm calling JARED UNZIPPED'S 2015 BREW SPEW is the Fall Hornin' Pumpkin Ale from Anderson Valley Brewing Company. Based in Boonville, California, Anderson Valley Brewing has been in operation since December 26, 1987. At the time, they were one of only twenty known craft breweries in the United States. They've expanded from a meager ten barrel brew house to a state of the art three-story Bavarian style brewery. Over the years, they've been awarded time and time again for various beers, ranging from their Boont Amber Ale to their Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale.

Fall Hornin' Pumpkin Ale is available every year between August and October. It is 6% Alc. by volume and available nationwide through most major specialty adult beverage retailers. So, how did it taste? Well, I'll break my analysis up into two different stages. Keep in mind that I'm writing this article as I drink the beer, so the points I make will be in real time.

Cold out of the fridge:

• The fragrance is somewhat strong and spicy, but not overpowering.
• It is dark chestnut colored.
• The immediate taste is not bitter.
• This ale tastes like a dark stout beer, but not as bold in flavor.
• I could smell the spices more than I could taste them.
• Not frothy or foamy.
• Not necessarily a unique seasonal taste, but very smooth and easy to drink -- perfect for all year round.

At room temperature:

• The various seasonal spices, especially the nutmeg, are much more apparent.
• The fragrance has also improved and become more assertive, much to my enjoyment.
• Still not bitter.
• No funky aftertaste like some other stouts.
• Sweetness has gradually risen.

All in all, this was a fantastic seasonal ale that only improved after letting it come to room temperature. Fall Hornin' Pumpkin Ale is a beer that doesn't need to be refrigerated to taste great. It has just the right amount of spice to let you know it's Fall, but not so much that you get tired of the taste. This is pleasant and quite effortless to drink, honestly. I highly suggest you give Anderson Valley's Fall Hornin' Pumpkin Ale a try!

Brew Spew 2015:
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5