Pumpkin Beer Round-Up

Happy Halloween! No tricks here -- just a little treat for the beer drinkers. A few weeks ago, Brian and I picked up a six-pack sampler of pumpkin beers. We didn't intend to review the beers, but wanted to know which brew to buy more of so we took some tasting notes. Here is the result of the three head-to-head battles with a special bonus beer at the end! (Ideally, we would have tried them all at the same time, but that would have meant drinking six beers in one sitting. No one wanted to called in "sick" the next day.)

Round #1: Uinta Brewing Company Punk'n vs. Blue Point Brewing Company Pumpkin Ale

(consumed with braised beef and roasted vegetables)

Uinta Brewing Company Punk'n
Salt Lake City, UT
4% ABV, 10 IBU

Appearance: A cloudy, light copper.
Aroma: Lighter, more delicate aroma of cooking spices and bread.
Flavor: More like a brown ale, subtle. Better flavor and more spices than Blue Point.
Bonus: Brewed with renewable power, USDA organic and 2010 Silver Medal in World Beer Championships.
Rating: 4/5

Blue Point Brewing Company Pumpkin Ale

Long Island (Patchogue), NY

6% ABV, 26 IBU

Appearance: Clear copper.

Aroma: Pumpkin, stronger nose of the two.

Flavor: Malty, nice yeasty flavor. No bitterness on finish. Pleasant bitter notes on mid-palate.

Bonus: Sustainable practices at the brewing facility and product packaging.

Rating: 3/5

Winner: Uinta Brewing Company Punk'n

Round #2: Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale vs. Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

(consumed with cheeses: Prima Donna and Brie)

Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale
Wilkes Barre, PA
5.5% ABV, unknown IBU

Appearance: A little cloudy, darker amber color.
Aroma: Gingerbread, cinnamon and sugar. From Brian, "You know it's a pumpkin beer from the nose!" (Not all of the pumpkin beers sampled smelled like their namesake.)
Taste: Gingerbread! Yummy. The ginger flavor really lingers. A sweeter brew that is fun, bright and a true seasonal. Lovely spices. Finish reminds me of sweet tea. Coarser mouthfeel; not as creamy as Dogfish Head. I couldn't drink more than two because of the distinct taste; good to sample. Recommend for the folks who like sweeter pumpkin ales.
Bonus: Second largest brewery in PA.
Rating: 4/5

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

Milton, DE

7% ABV, 28 IBU

Appearance: Clear copper color.

Aroma: Toasty with hints of brown sugar and cinnamon.

Taste: Just as toasty as the nose with a strong "toasted popcorn" flavor. Great mouthfeel, a good sipping beer that is not heavy. Complex but subtle flavors. This fall beer could easily stretch into winter drinking, if only it didn't sell out so quickly. Deserves to be classified beyond "seasonal" because it is not overtly pumpkin. Toasty nose and flavor are what set it apart from the other sampled beers. (The "toasted popcorn" flavor became very distracting. Brian was blissfully unaware until I pointed it out and that was all he could taste too. I wonder if our batch received higher than usual toast.)

Bonus: Delaware's first brewpub; also distills vodka, rum and gin. Supports local non-profits.

Rating: 3.5/5

Winner: Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale

Round #3: Schlafly Pumpkin Ale vs. River Horse Hipp O Lantern Imperial Pumpkin
(consumed with pizza)

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale

St. Louis, MO
8% ABV, 16 IBU

Appearance: Clear copper, a little dark than the River Horse.
Aroma: Sweeter nose of pumpkin, very aromatic!
Flavor: Tastes like pumpkin pie! Sweet with cinnamon flavor to start, followed by clove then nutmeg. Very complex flavors. Ideal if you like your pumpkin brews on the sweeter side without going too far.
Bonus: Sustainable practices, food for restaurant is either local or grown on premises.
Rating: 3.75/5

River Horse Hipp O Lantern Imperial Pumpkin

Lambertville, NJ

8.5% ABV, unknown IBU

Appearance: Clear copper.

Aroma: Distinct pumpkin.

Flavor: Enjoyable hoppiness (I'm not an IPA drinker), caramel finish, and toast that doesn't overpower (unlike Punkin). Brian really liked this one and couldn't imagine what he'd change to make it better. He said he would order more than one at a bar and, the true testament, would not tire of it if we got a six-pack.

Bonus: Unfiltered, vegan-friendly beers (with some exceptions like the Oatmeal Stout).

Rating: 4.5/5

Winner: River Horse Hipp O Lantern Imperial Pumpkin

Bonus Round: Iron Hill Great Imperial Pumpkin Ale
(consumed with veggies and dip, Cheddar and Brie cheeses)

Iron Hill Great Imperial Pumpkin Ale
9% ABV, unknown IBU

Appearance: Beautiful deep golden amber color, good foamy head.
Aroma: Gingerbread and nutmeg.
Taste: Malty sweetness with a solid body; good toast, long finish with pleasant bitterness. Cooking spice aftertaste. Not sweet. Great average of all the "best" pumpkin beers above.
Bonus: The Great Imperial Pumpkin is a bottled reserve for dine-in or take-out. Iron Hill was the site of our wedding's rehearsal dinner!
Rating: 5/5

Overall winner: Iron Hill Great Imperial Pumpkin Ale (subject to further taste testing)

We are by no means beer afficionados. Tell me, what pumpkin beers should we have tried? What are your favorite fall beers??

I need this!

While out to dinner last night at Orillas Tapas Bar with the new husband, I spotted a wine poster I'd never seen before. Throughout dinner, I kept craning my neck to get another look at it. I was smitten. Wine, data and a beautiful graphical display - I'm sold!


source: De Long's Wine Grape Varietal Table
Now I just have to find an empty wall with enough space to display it.

Chilean Syrah & Red Blends

This is the second part (long overdue) of our guinea pig tasting with a concentration on syrahs and red blends.

Syrahs


Falernia 2006 Syrah Reserva
Elqui Valley, Chile - $11.50
Dusty red fruit, blackberry, hints of barnyard. More rustic aromas and rougher all around initially. Light body. Green, herby aroma somewhere between green pepper and eucalyptus (hay, pot?) faded in/out quickly. Light tannins for just enough structure. Dominated by earthy and green notes.
Note: Elqui Valley is a cooler climate than Colchagua.


Montes Alpha 2007 Syrah
Colchagua Valley, Chile - $20
Sour cherry & leather aromas. Richer, deeper nose than Falernia with darker berry fruit. Smooth, grippy with tip of tongue spices. Dark chocolate joins sour cherry and dark berry flavors. Long finish. Syrupy, condensed aroma. Similar to Cousino-Macul (see below). As a whole, less fruit forward than California syrahs (a relief). Best on its own.

Nose: Montes
Flavor: Falernia (after drinking the heavier wines, Montes edged out the Falernia)
Finish: Montes
Wild card: Falernia
Favorite: Falernia

Blends


Seña 2005
Aconcagua Valley, Chile - $28.50
Blend of Cab Sauv (57%), Merlot (25%), Carmenere (9%), Cab Franc (6%) and Petit Verdot (3%).
Greener, more fruit forward than Montes. Bold with spicy, condensed port-like flavor. Long finish with lighter body. Bolder nose than flavors. Didn't care for the finish as the wine opened up, became bitter. This is a wine for drinking on its own or with food. You're able to continue drinking it after you finish a meal. Brainchild between Chadwick (Viña Errázuriz) and Robert Mondavi, hence the fruit forward approach. Produced by Viña Sena, imported by F. Wildman.


Cousiño-Macul 2007 Finis Terrae
Maipo Valley, Chile - $26
Blend of Cab Sauv (60%) and Malbec (40%)
Unfiltered. Softer nose with lots more everything. Complex! Spicy (cooking spices) with smoother mid-palate. More elegant than the Sena. CS focuses on the US export market. The Finis Terrae label, while tasty, is still not the top label available at CS.

Nose: Cousiño-Macul
Flavor: Cousiño-Macul
Finish: Cousiño-Macul
Wild card: doesn't matter
Favorite: Cousiño-Macul

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

All 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with about 14% alcohol, $15-22 range

(We are guinea pigs and have no qualms about it. We've been helping Brian's dad and step-mom taste, review and select the final wines that will be presented at an upcoming wine group event. It's hard work but we're up for the challenge.)

1. Santa Rita 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva estate grown D.O. Maipo Valley, Chile
First sip revealed juicy red fruit, green pepper (barely there) and a flatness/bitterness that resembled lead pencil. Light body, light tannins. Aroma was nothing outstanding, just expected red fruits. Not steak-ready, better with lighter meats. Priced at $10, this was wasn’t expected to stand up to the wines to follow. For the price, it makes a nice house red but don’t bring it to a BYOB.

2. Cousino-Macul Antiguas Reservas 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo Valley, Chile
Better nose than #1. Great mouth feel. Stronger flavors, more body and tannins. Flavors of brambly red fruit and mocha with pleasant tongue-coating tannins. Lovely on its own, softens with food. Not a tannic monster. Lightly perfumed. Tartness develops as it opens: cranberry flavor, but mostly aroma. This wine was priced at the low end of the range and does well for a $15 bottle. Rated 90 points by Wine Advocate (Parker).

3. Lapostolle 2008 Cuvee Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile
Softer aromas and flavors, cedar, red fruits (not brambly), light spice and finely integrated tannins. Really like the tannins in this wine! Better than #2. Subtle and elegant! Balanced, smooth and still powerful. Personality-wise , it is a blend of #2 and #4 (see below). Pleasant to sip on its own. The most expensive bottle of the group at $22 but really delivers. This is the second highest “level” for Casa Lapostolle; top tier wines in this approach $60-70. Normally rated 91-92 by Wine Spectator & Enthusiast, this vintage was in the high 80’s (2008 was not a “great” year).

4. Marques de Casa Concha 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon D.O. Puente Alto, Chile
Amazing nose, very strong. Similar to Lapostolle initially but bolder, more tannins, and a little more heat (less balanced, alcohol). Medium tannins. More like a CA Cab (out of the 4) but still not as tannic. Better suited for steak and heavier meats. Lots of personality. A portion of their Puente vineyard is sourced for the higher tier Don Melchor; Casa Concha is the third highest tier in the Concha y Tora line-up. Price varies by a few dollars if you shop around: $17 at Costco, $20 other retailers. Rated 90 points by Wine Advocate (Parker) and 91 points by Wine Spectator.

The results:
-No one liked the Santa Rita against the others but fine on its own. Not fair to compare.
- Cousino-Macul isn’t bad but wasn’t anyone’s favorite; in third position.
- The ladies preferred Lapostolle. The guys liked it as an alternative to the bolder Marques.
- For lamb/steak dinners, go with the Marques de Casa Concha. It’s heavier in body and style.

Pour me some of that "Steve" wine...

Our buddy Steve loves a good Zin. So much so that I've started calling (red) Zinfandel "Steve" - partly in honor, partly in jest. While I was at Moore Bros. Saturday, I made sure to pick up a bottle. We opened it last night. Yes, Steve was in attendance. It was a hit because the contents disappeared pretty quickly.


Three 2007 Old Vines Zinfandel - California, $18

What I sampled I liked: great berry aromas, full body, decently long finish, fruit-forward flavors, spice (but nothing nearly as spicy as Wilson's Tori) and easy drinking. A buy again. Produced by Cline (Matt Cline). Shhhh.

We also opened a great wine from last October's Finger Lakes trip: Ravines 2008 Sauvignon Blanc. Perfect with guacamole!

Terrain at Styer's birthday dinner

Brian and I dined at Terrain last night for my real birthday dinner. Uncorked a wine from our 2008 California trip: Arista 2006 Longbow Pinot Noir. We were so relieved it was better than we remembered and had yet to peak. After our first sip, we just sat there with eyes closed savoring it and the memory of the trip.

Our second bottle should be beautiful in about six months.

Birthday dinner

Sampled at Dom. Hudson on 9/27/10 at a true "wine with friends" dinner.

Praxis Pinot Noir Monterrey, CA 08
Great nose. Lots of rich berry. Smoky nose. Slow start but stronger mid-palate pulls through to long finish. Bittersweet chocolate flavors barely there. Reserved fruit. Strong aroma was my favorite part of this wine, best of the three here. 7 of 10

Le Cadeau "Red Label" Pinot Noir willamette valley, OR '07
More delicate nose. Restrained. Odd bitter mid-palate but not unpleasant. Fades slowly. Better with food. 5 of 10, 6 of 10 with food

Daniel Rion Bourgogne, Burgundy, FR '08
Vegetal, sweet nose. More vegetal and definitely more tannic than the le cadeau. Sour cherry flavor. Light body. Probably too light for food; nuances disappear.

Food:
1st: Polenta with shirred egg and truffle oil
2nd: Wild mushroom risotto
Dessert: Poached peaches (plus fourth drink - a lovely tawny port)

The unofficial drink of Dewey

Orange Crush (because you know you want one)
Fill pint glass with ice.
1 part Vodka
1 part Triple Sec
Fill up 3/4 full with Sprite (or lemon-lime beverage of your choice)
Top with juice of 1 freshly squeezed orange.
Shake or stir.

Be prepared. Buy a crate of oranges in advance. You're going to need it.

- Brian

Hot hot heat calls for white, crisp wine

Poured myself a big glass of Ravines Dry Riesling moments after getting home. Less steely than I remembered. Absolutely fine on its own. Waiting on the sweet potato fries to finish baking and then all will be good. Or at least better than it was before the wine happened.

Random Summer Beer #1 (found in cooler)

So we had an idea for a last minute 4th of July weekend BBQ. Apparently none of my friends had plans, because about 25 people showed up. The plan? BYOB + side dishes and we'll provide the main course as well as fresh Orange Crushes. The results, a good night with friends and a cooler full of 10 different types of summer beers. The benefit for Nic? Summer beer taste-off for the blog!



Spaten Franziskaner Weissbier
Hefe-Weissbier
Munich, Germany
$1.99/bottle, $39/20-pack

Appearance: Cloudy with amber hue
Aroma: Yeasty sweetness dominates with light herbal hints
Flavor: Mild & mellow, yeasty, touch of sweetness and citrus notes. No bitter bite.
Mouthfeel: Light body. Fine carbonation/no discernable bubbles. Texture is a little too "Miller High Life champagney". Wouldn't reach for this as a thirst quencher because of the carbonation and yeastiness. Would be a good food beer.
Overall: An easy pick when paired against domestics. Not as much personality as locally produced Hefeweizens.

- Brian (first guest post!)

We interrupt this wine blog...

Have to apologize for being MIA again! My goal of a post/week has been difficult with extremely busy work load, vacation, visiting family, wedding planning and all things summer. Even my photos still haven't been downloaded from my camera so you know it's nuts around here.

Good news! The boy will be out of town for a few days so I am hoping and planning on getting caught up on posts.

Rose Month

As the temperature and humidity climbs, we're naturally reaching for something refreshing. To kick off the week-long Italian Festival, we stocked up on a few rose wines (plus a case of Modelo Especial and a Smuttynose summer six pack). The first few bottles of rose have been poured and consensus is in. It is a tad difficult to remember wines in a social setting, so the notes on these bottles are a little spare.


Jaboulet Parallele 45 Rose 2008
Cote du Rhone, $12
Favorite rose wine of the summer - so far! Lovely salmon color. Bright, intense fruit aromas. Fresh, light and easy drinking with pleasantly long finish. Half grenache (plus 40% cinsault; 10% syrah).










Bonny Doon 2008 Vin Gris de Cigare
Santa Cruz, CA, $11
Strawberry aromas dominate. Dry and lean with light body. More grenache in blend than cinsault or roussanne.

Lopez de Heredia - Gran Reserva Rosado 1998

A trip into NYC usually means a show and dinner. We were in town this time to see Amy dance in a ballet. Caught a light dinner at Buceo 95 with nine of my future in-laws and had a tasty (and unusually colored rose) with our assorted tapas. The running list... mushroom croquettes (good, but a touch salty), grilled asparagus, roasted mushrooms in sweet sherry sauce, grilled calamari, garlic shrimp, bacon wrapped dates (always good and everyone's favorite), chicken kabobs with cumin, skirt steak, chorizo and grilled duck breast.

Lopez de Heredia - 1998 Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva Rosado
Rioja Alta, Spain

Honeyed nose with dried apricot and a richness reminiscent of sauternes. Insane orange color! Color comes from extended aging (4 years) in oak. Great acidity, light body. Light dusty strawberry flavors with vanilla finish. Tempranillo, Garnacha (Grenache), and Viura grapes. Lots more info here.












Polished off a bottle quite easily between the three of us.

Canary in the coal mine

Just read a great article on climate change and winemaking. The takeaway for me is which winemaking regions will emerge as the new standard as the temperature climbs in historical wine-making regions (Champagne, Napa, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer)? Also, which varietals will become the new workhorses and darlings when adaptability is key?

I'm very interested in what the future holds for our local Brandywine Valley as well as the Finger Lakes, Oregon and Washington state, in the revised wine world.

Restaurant Week: Domaine Hudson

Four of us dined at Domaine Hudson (or Wilmington) last night to kick off Wilmington's Restaurant week. Since the reservation was later in the evening, I had a chance to look over the prixe fixe menu online and research any wines ahead of time. Sadly, the favored main course, short ribs, was not available when we were seated which left us in a lurch for a second choice. Happy to report that whatever course we chose was well paired with one of the 40+ by the glass wines thanks to our server's recommendations.

My appetizer choice of spiced carrot soup presented a bit of a pairing challenge: red or white. I tried the Domaine Corsin "Vieilles Vignes" Saint-Veran Burgundy 2007 (Chardonnay). This French Chardonnay is a refreshing change from being bonked over the head with oak and vanilla anytime Chardonnay is involved. Balanced flavors, good acidity and restrained use of oak. It seems I need to seek out smaller production French wine if this is to continue. That said, I preferred Brian's light red choice - a fruity Rhone blend (grenache, syrah, carignan, mourvedre) from Chateau Signac ("Cuvee Tradition" Cotes du Rhone Villages 2007").

Main course was the flat iron steak, an easy out when I took too long deciding between entrees. Initially tried the Chateau Viella "Tradition" 2007 from Madiran, France simply because I'd never had a wine with the Tannat grape before. This is a blend of 80% Tannat and 20% Cab Franc. Enjoyed it, though not a do again when I have all the other wines to choose from. I was searching for something with a touch more fruit and fewer tannins. Sampled my way through most of the glass before the steak arrived. I told our server I was open to suggestions and didn't mind being surprised. With that, he disappeared into the kitchen then returned with our next round. My glass was missing its usual number marked on the foot - a true surprise then! It was a big red that took some investigative sips to pin down. By the third sip, I had picked up the characteristic roundness of the Merlot grape but needed him to confirm what it was. Turns out it is the current house favorite, the Merlot that doesn't feel like a Merlot, the Code Noir Merlot 2007 from Rattlesnake Hills, WA.

The Zin Man dining partner raved about his big, bold, juicy red simply described as "the bomb." The Carl Roy “East Side Cuvee” Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Napa Valley was tasty and an easy read, but not overly fruited. I was relieved to drink a Cab that wasn't a tannic monster. I felt the use of oak was a little heavy-handed due to the strong vanilla note with a persistent finish. I bet it went well with the flat iron steak!

Finished the meal with chocolate mousse and the Sauternes-like Domaine du Petit Paris Monbazillac 2007. I'm always a sucker for a dessert wine bring back the memories of the once sampled, now unattainable Chateau d'Yquem. This blend of botrytized Semillon, Muscadelle and Sauvignon Blanc grapes was an acceptable substitute and worth seeking out for the price (~$15).

(No photos as is dark inside the restaurant. If we can locate some of the bottles locally, there will be an extended review with photos.)

Wilson Wine on its way

Placed an order of three of Wilson's 2007 Tori Zinfandel this evening as part of a group order. We've gone through all our bottles of older Tori vintages. Looking forward to opening the first bottle soon after the shipment arrives to assess how long we'll hold the other two.

Currently sipping

Glazebrook Sauvignon Blanc - Great buy ($11) from Costco. Love it with guacamole; could be a favorite summer wine.
Ravines Meritage 2006 - a Finger Lakes trip wine, $25. Great on its own, but held up to prime rib and horseradish mashed potatoes thanks in part to the acidity and restrained fruit flavors.
Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 - a "ready to drink" California trip wine. Not as good as I remembered, but that means nothing since I build up anything from that trip. Paired it with a nice tenderloin last night. (We are eating well lately.)
Goats do Roam Rose - tasty little $10 gem from South Africa. The weather was beautiful mid-week around the beginning of the month so we had an inspired, unplanned dinner of cured meat, cheeses, olives, bread and olive oil. I felt a rose was needed to celebrate the warming weather and unconventional dinner al fresco. Enjoyed it more than the French rose that was poured second.

Signs of Spring

Over the weekend, we grabbed an afternoon bite at Harry's Seafood Grill on the Riverfront. It was one of those days where I was craving seviche and a crisp, white wine. A glass of 2008 Buitenverwachting Beyond Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa was the perfect foil for the scallop and poblano seviche. Lunchmate/fiance felt it worked well with his oysters from Oregon and British Columbia. Pleasant, grassy aroma and fresh lemon and lime flavors dominate with glimpses of green pear and lemongrass to create a bright, clean wine with balanced acidity with a medium range finish. At $7.50 a glass, it is one of the less expensive white wine options on the menu and still delivers. (Wine Enthusiast gave the 2007 vintage 90 points.) It retails for around $11 so next time I'm out with my wine shopping list, you can bet it will be on the list.

Finger Lakes - Best of the Whites

Best Whites
1. Anthony Road
2. Atwater












Best Riesling
1. Ravines 2007 Dry
2. Wiemer 2007 Dry
3. Lamoreaux Landing 2008 Dry
4. Atwater 2008 Dry

Best Gewurztraminer
1. Anthony Road 2008
(Lamoreaux Landing 2007, Penguin Bay 2007)

Best Chardonnay
Ravines












Best Pinot Gris/Grigio
Anthony Road Pinot Gris 2007

Best Sauvignon Blanc
Ravines 2008













Best Sparkling
1. Swedish Hill (Penguin Bay) - "Blanc de Blanc"
2. Weimer - "Blanc de Noir 2003"

Best Dessert/Sweet
1. Anthony Road - "Sweet Dream"
(Standing Stone - "Vidal Ice" or "Chardonnay Ice", Wiemer - "Late Harvest Riesling 2008", Wagner - "Vidal Ice")

Best White: Other
Lamoreaux Landing - "Estate White"

Finger Lakes in the news

In celebration of Wine Spectator's recent article highlighting the Finger Lakes ("Single Vineyard Craze in the Finger Lakes" by James Molesworth, 3/31/10 issue), a bottle of Heron Hill's Ingle Vineyard Cab Franc '06 is decanting for dinner tonight. I was beside myself with giddiness when I read the article last week. Some of my favorite Finger Lakes wineries were mentioned (Wiemer, Ravines!, Lamoreaux Landing) and the publicity makes me oddly proud (and excited for their well deserved publicity).

The best thing about opening a bottle from a wine trip is the memories that resurface. Conversations with winemakers and winery staff, visuals of the countryside, connections with fellow wine lovers and, of course, thoughts of all those bottles you wish you could have brought home.

Cheers!