Pumpkins and Pigskin

L ast week was pretty much a boring weekend for football. This weekend the football gods changed things up. Also, for only the second time this season the gods allowed Auburn and Michigan to play at different times….. although this week the Auburn game will overlap the end of the Michigan-Michigan State game by an hour or so.

I bought about 5 different pumpkin based brews (actually 6 I found out later) that I wanted to have the guys sample and review this weekend but that didn’t work out. I picked out 2 brews that I knew I had 2 cans/bottles of so I could later share them. Time for the Michigan game to start.

Here are the brews I’m trying:

1. Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Pumpkin Ale
2. 21st Amendment He Said

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Pumpkin Ale | Lexington, Kentucky

This one is very interesting. It has a very strong bourbon barrel flavor. Their regular brew does as well. The head dissipates pretty quickly. Smooth. The pumpkin and cinnamon spices are much milder than in this brew compared to others. These flavors combine with the bourbon to ,make more like a sweet pumpkin pie rather than the harsh baking spices of similar brews. Dark gold to amber in color. Not much effervescence. I had it with some of Mrs. Dan’s chili. Nice combo. The bourbon cuts through and the pumpkin sits back. After trying it with the chili It seems more effervescent. The bourbon oak really stands out with the spicy chili.

I took a look at the label and it says it contains pecans. That’s the flavor I was trying to pick out. I like this brew. Now I don’t think I could drink more than one in one sitting and I can’t tell you exactly why. I like this brew but I don’t love it. I think this is a brew to savor and then let it go.

I have a second bottle. I will keep it for when Brett and Mark can drop by.

I found this press-release from Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company‘s parent company Alltech.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – The first seasonal beer ever produced by Alltech’s Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co. will soon hit the market and signal the beginning of the fall season, conjuring up images of falling leaves, pumpkin carving and football. The new Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale will hit the market in limited quantities this week on draft, with bottles following shortly.
Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale is a barrel-aged ale brewed with Kentucky-sourced pumpkin, richly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. As the ale is aged in fresh bourbon barrels, the sweetness of caramel and vanilla are imparted upon the brew and complement its spicier base. At 10 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), this robust, limited release seasonal makes for a flavorful sipping beer to slowly warm up with as the weather cools. Some retailers will be offering collectible jack-o-latern snifters along with the ale. — August 26, 2013
I paid $3.49 for a single bottle of the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Pumpking Ale.
Now another news flash… Michigan just had their asses handed to them by Michigan State.

21st Amendment He Said | San Francisco, California
Auburn just kicked off and Arkansas is marching down the field easily. I’m worried. ….. One interception and fumble later (and 14 points) I feel better. Time to try this second brew. Some of the same flavors at the Kentucky Ale …. the pumpkin and maybe a hint of spices but no so much cinnamon. The biggest difference is this has that West Coast bitterness at the end. This is labeled as a Baltic-Style Porter Lager brewed with pumpkin and spices. No pecans here. The bitterness belies any malty smoothness. Second taste is sweeter than the first. This is a canned brew. I poured some out and it very dark with a dark brown head.

If you think about it you can conjure up some malty smoothness. But it slams shut with a slightly bitter finish which after a few sips isn’t so strong. I’ve let it warm up some and this is starting to be more Baltic Porter. Toffee flavors are starting to pop up. The pumpkin and spices are taking a back seat. So, I’m curious, what’s in there. Better check their website”
Lager brewed with pumpkin and spices. This box is a collaboration with Dick Cantwell of Elysian Brewing and contains two cans of He Said Baltic-style Porter and two cans of He Said Belgian-style Tripel, both brewed with pumpkin and spices. That much we know is true. Here’s what Dick said about the collaboration:
The story starts in 1999 when Shaun O’Sullivan walked into my Seattle pub. He’d heard about my massive pumpkin fest and wanted to get together and brew a pumpkin beer like no other: a Balticstyle Porter brewed with pumpkin, caraway and cinnamon. In a light colored can.”

I didn’t even realize I had bought actually two brews. I just happened to pull out the Baltic Porter. I guess I’ll have to wait to try the Tripel.

I did find what I was looking for. Here’s the “Special Ingredients”: Pumpkin Puree, Pumpkin Juice, Vietnamese Cinnamon, Caraway Seed.

I finished the brew 2 quarters ago and now Auburn has finished Arkansas. Next up Tennessee. That will be a noon kickoff. Maybe I can get the boys over to help finish the rest of these.

Even though Halloween is over and Christmas is fast approaching there are still lots of the pumpkin brews to sample. I bought the He Said in 4-pack for $9,99 at Vineyard Wine Market.