Fall Seasonal Beer Review - Part 2

So here we go again - the long awaited part 2 of the beer review. We've got some good ones and some different ones "on tap" this time. Look for more over the weekend when I have an entire panel of guest tasters lined up!

Left to right: Flying Fish, Star Hill, Shipyard, Weyerbacher and Southern Tier

Flying Fish Brewing Co. Oktoberfish

So I give it points for a clever name. Other than that, though, this one is not my favorite. It's not a bad beer, but the flavor seems a little weak for a seasonal. Pretty hoppy, but I don't get the spicy flavor I expect from an Oktoberfest. And the carbonation is not that heavy - this is completely a personal preference but I like my bubbles.


Starr Hill Boxcar Pumpkin Porter
This is really delicious, even if you're not necessarily a porter fan - which incidentally I'm not. The reason is that I often find them too heavy and bitter. I wonder if it is the noticeable heavy dose of pumpkin flavor that actually mellows out this porter? Now I have to say it is still not light at all. A friend and I dubbed it "dessert in a glass" because even though not sweet it is substantial - a course on its own. Still, you ought to try it.


Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin Ale
This is another one of my favorites from my New England trip a few years ago. It has a pretty heavy pumpkin flavor but also a lot of carbonation and a hint of spice, so it doesn't get weighed down or too sweet. Honestly the only real downside to this one is that it comes in the large liter bottles - so once you open it, you need to drink the whole thing fairly quickly lest it lose its punch.


Weyerbacher Harvest Ale
This one is from Easton, PA, and let me just say I hope you're into hops, really into hops. Personally I'm not that into a really hoppy flavor so at first it was a bit overwhelming. Sipping with food brought out a few more spices which improved it for me, but it's not my favorite. If you're a big fan of hops though, have at it!

Southern Tier Special Harvest Ale
Ok, so I may be a little slow but eventually I catch on. I'm obviously wondering why I'm not tasting the spices I expect in some of these harvest ales and why many are very hoppy. I suddenly realize that this is true of the harvest ales, vs the pumpkin or oktoberfest brews. I get it, the harvests are a different genre! This one, true to form, is pretty hoppy but smoother than the Weyerbacher so I prefer it. And I actually learned something today from this beer. I was about to make fun of a brewery in Lakewood, NY calling itself "southern," when a colleague informed me that this part of NY is known as the "southern tier." Well, you live and learn.