LiveBlog of a Beer Event

At a fall-tasting event for a beer club... thought it might be a nice return to the blog to liveblog the tasting. It looks like we'll be tasting 9 different beers.

#1) Spaten Oktoberfest

It looks like one of two actual German Oktoberfests on this evening's menu. Very sweet, but more sting on the front than I'd expect from an Oktoberfest with the kind of acclaim that usually accompanies this beer. Nice honey in the nose. I'm NOT an Oktoberfest guy, but if you are, this one's a solid example of the style.

#2) Paulaner Oktoberfest

Actual German Oktoberfest numero dos. A mellower nose, and a mellower flavor as well. The sweet isn't quite as overwhelming, and the beer has an almost distilled quality to it. It's very clean, but maybe a little too clean. Or maybe I just don't like the sickly-sweet Oktoberfestiness.

#3) Otter Creek Oktoberfest

My concerns with Otter Creek are well-documented elsewhere on this blog. This beer does NOTHING to alleviate my problems with them. Someone at Otter Creek missed the memo suggesting that Oktoberfests be smooth... it's the one positive trait of the style, and this beer's got enough front-side carbonation to prevent the word "smooth" from entering the conversation.

#4) Brooklyn Oktoberfest

Another Oktoberfest. My cup runneth over. Or something. Less sickly sweet than the Otter Creek--still an inappropriate amount of front-end carbonation, and definitely some clear notes of syrup once the carbonation recedes... but still, altogether too sickly. The nose isn't bad--it reminds me a bit of Otter-San, the Otter Creek sake-lager... not sure if that's what you want in an Oktober, but there it is.

#5) Berskshire Oktoberfest

Barleywine on the nose. Or maybe taffy/toffee. Haven't tasted it yet, but it may be the beer with the shot to redeem Oktoberfests... Here goes the taste. Completely and totally hopless, but a fair bit of acid, especially on the finish. It's very sweet, but not as syrupy as the others. I like it the most of the bunch, but that's probably because it's really not an Oktoberfest. Apparently 6.8% ABV... but it's not hidden at all. Al and I both suspected it would be higher, higher, higher.

Now we move to the pumpkins. Nick would be sad to know that Shipyard's Pumpkinhead isn't here, and there's only one beer here that I haven't had before, but the three I have had are all excellent pumpkins.

#6) Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale

This beer just smells like autumn. The Australian next to me just said, "this is my first pumpkin beer. I kind of like, sort of a strong aftertaste. Crazy pumpkin beer." Thank you Australia. "Pumpkin is not a dessert fruit. It is a vegetable. And while I'm at it, what the hell is the difference between pumpkin and butternut squash?" Apparently in Australia, butternut squash are called "butternut pumpkins." Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi.

Back to the beer: really nice nose. Lots of spice going on... nutmeg and cinnamon for sure. The pumpkin's overwhelmed in the beer, but it's still a nice beer--it's just not much of a pumpkin. Good spice--it would actually be a pretty nice winter.

#7) Post Road Pumpkin Ale

This is the pumpkin offering that I've never had before. It's apparently Brooklyn's pumpkin beer. Pumpkin on the nose, but still dominantly spices. Similar flavor to the Smuttynose... same spices, more pumpkin, but the spices are largely identical. I'm definitely in the minority on this, but I've never been crazy about Brooklyn's stuff in general--this is no exception. It's good, but it's far from great.

#8) Dogfish Head Punk

A good one. I'm pretty sure I've talked about it before... so I won't bore you again.

#9) Southern Tier Punking

Readers, you know Nick's and my feelings on Southern Tier. That is to say, our feelings on EVERYTHING the brewery produces. This beer is no exception. With no offense to Nick's favorite beer, the ever-delicious Pumpkinhead, this beer is far and away the finest of the pumpkins. End of story. I will admit, for what it's worth, that it's tough to drink on the tail-end of eight other beers. The vanilla and coconut are a little overwhelming if you're not drinking it earlier in the night.

Sadly, must run to another meeting. Adieu, readers. Adieu.