Tag Archives: sweet potato pie

Bourbon Barrel Aged Smashed Pumpkin by Shipyard Brewing

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541363_10101405104176930_1311754114_n 1234765_10101405104127030_803219720_nRating: 5/5

Bourbon Barrel Aged Smashed Pumpkin by Shipyard Brewing is a 12% ABV Pumpkin Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels

Label: 
Our Bourbon Barrel Aged ales are brewed and carefully cellar-aged in small batches in dedicated bourbon barrels at our brewery in Portland, Maine.

Hops: Willamette, Saphir
Malts: Pale, Whole Wheat, Munich
Yeast: Top-fermenting English
Color: Honey
Aroma: Oak spiced, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon
Body: Light to medium
Finish: Warming, smooth, and velvety
IBU: 35
SRM 14.85

Recommended Serving temperature is 55 deg. Fahrenheit in brandy-style stemware. Aged over 100 days. Unlimited shelf life
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As an added bonus last year, Shipyard released this hard to get beer along with their awesome smashed pumpkin yearly release (which to me is the “best common” pumpkin beer ever). Unfortunately, I was never able to pick this release up until recently. One of the local places had it in stock for a limited time. So as pay back for last year of missing out on this beer to review, I will spend no time wasted and get on with the show.

Aromas are of rich vanilla, whiskey, bourbon, oak, pumpkin, dulce de leche caramel, honey, squash, brown sugar, pilloncillo sugar cone, maple, cinnamon, sweet potatoes, toasty coconut, chocolate hints, flan, pecans, nutmeg, coriander and citrus.

The flavors are of oak and whiskey. Vanilla, coconut, pumpkin pie, pecans, nutmeg, cinnamon, whipped creamed flan, dulce de leche caramel, sweetened condensed milk, maple, sweet potatoes, marshmallows, chocolate notes, graham crackers, pumpkin flesh in pilloncillo sugar cone syrup, milk, brown sugar, cloves, coriander, citrus and ginger pumpkin bread.

The aftertaste is oaky and sweet with pumpkin and bourbon whiskey lingering. This beer is boozy and is definitely a sipper. Do not let the moderate body fool you. The mouth feel on this is close to syrupy. YUM!!

Overall, this is way better than the original smashed pumpkin. I think I drank this way too fresh as the booze was not well hidden. It is not a problem at all as I rather enjoyed those sweet oak and whiskey notes. They compliment the pumpkin very well. This, however, needs sometime to sit in a cellar for a while in order to become exquisite or exceed expectations. Nevertheless, An awesome beer that has become on par with some of my other Barrel aged and non-barrel aged pumpkin beers I have reviewed here. 

Original Smashed Pumpkin Review:
https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/smashed-pumpkin-by-shipyard-brewing/

Cuádruple 2011 edition by The Bruery

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1010684_10101265117436480_2062014029_n 1013963_10101265112845680_1263655758_nRating: 4.8/5

Cuádruple 2011 edition by The Bruery is a 10% ABV Provision Series Belgian Quadruple brewed with Agave

Label: 
Cuádruple is our spin on the classic Belgian-style quadruple, brewed with a heaping amount of dark agave nectar. It will age gracefully for several years. 

Description (beeradvocate):
Cuádruple combines elements of Belgium with elements of Mexico, hence the name, meaning “quadruple” in Spanish. We blended a classic Belgian quad recipe by removing the standard Belgian candi sugars and replacing them with dark agave syrup. The resulting beer is a luxurious tribute to two very different parts of the world. 
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Was able to find this bottle at the Bruery tasting room for a decent amount. Interesting for them to sell a beer that has not been seen for several years. Oh well, when the opportunity rises. This beer has been aging for 2 years so I wanted to get a review going. There are not of agave beers out there or Tequila barrel aged beers for this matter. This one is unique since it is one of my favorite styles but made with agave instead. I have had agave juice by itself on several occasions as many of the local Mexican super markets sell the little bags of juice. As a kid, this was my version of Hi-C 

Aromas of this beer are of agave juice,lots of candi sugar, dulce de leche caramel on pecan pie, a sweet potato like fragrance, raisin bread pudding, plums, dates, rich figs, toffee, cinnamon, brown sugar and molasses.

The flavors are of definitely of a quadruple with the dulce de caramel, raisins, figs, plums, candi sugars, dates, ripe banana notes and spicy cloves followed by agave juice, dark chocolate, vanilla, dried apricots, sweet potato pie, pecans, walnuts, molasses and Tequila notes.

The flavors stay consistent through and through always bringing out rich quad notes with agave sweetness. After taste stays sweet with apricot bitterness and raisin sweetness. The beer hides the 10% ABV well making it of decent drinkability. An amazing beer with great flavors. Belgian beer lovers will find this one a bit different. The agave nectar really does the job taking the Belgian quad into more of a Mexican approach on delicious flavor.

Antigoon by Robert Wiedmaier, brewed at Brouwerij De Musketiers

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Rating: 4.7/5

Antigoon by Robert Wiedmaier, brewed at Brouwerij De Musketiers is a 6.5%ABV Belgian Pale Ale. For those who do not know what this beer is about, there is a Belgian legend behind this artwork. The story goes that there used to be a mythical giant who lived in Antwerp Belgium by the name: Druon Antigoon whom guarded a bridge on the river Scheldt. This Giant would require a toll for those who would dare cross it. Those who refused the toll would get one of their hands severed and tossed into the River. However, once upon a time came a Roman by the name of Silvius Brabo. Silvius faced the giant and was able to slay him. The Roman severed the Giant’s own hand as seen in this artwork and the hand was flung into the River. In the town hall of Antwerp, there is a monument to pay tribute to the legend.

Label: Commissioned for Restaurants by Robert Wiedmaier. 

Total Wine in Redondo Beach is about the only place I have ever seen this beer. Passing it up multiple times for other sought out beer until one day I was like screw it, I’ll pick it up. Aside from being a delicious BPA, the art work is awesome. The best part is the story too :P. The flavor of this beer does range as most awesome Belgium beers do. It is somewhat floral like a saison as well though. This one has flavors of sweet biscuit bread, caramel, grass, banana clove, apples, sweet potato pie, lemon citrus, honey, and graham cracker. This beer must pair great with some type of foods. Maybe Pizza or certain fancy cheeses. LOL fancy huh? It is indeed a Belgium worth trying out. I have had others that lean more toward a hoppy Pale Ale but this one is more tamed and more into Belgium complexity. Quite a nice pick up if you do end up getting it at Total Wine :P.