What I drank 3/25

Another long overdue one!

Cape Ann Fishermans Pumpkin Stout  7% ABV

“It tastes like drinking cinnamon applesauce” ~ Stephen Hitron

This was one of the beers Ashley was kind enough to bring me from home. It’s from the Cape Ann Brewing Company in Gloucester, MA.  It’s their spiced stout/fall seasonal offering and was still hanging on the shelves in MA, so she figured what the hell.  It reminded me of Schlaflys Pumpkin Ale mixed in with Left Hand Milk Stout.  A little dry, but as Stephen says, packed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and all spice.  The nose on the beer is great, very much like a Christmas offering.  The head dissipates quickly and carbonation is pretty low.  For the Fall season, I think this would be a pretty damn good offering, for the Spring…it just doesn’t fit well.  A good beer overall with all the tastes of a seasonal pumpkin beer but with a nice dark smooth stout edge.

    3 out of 5 barrels

Firestone Walker Pale 31-California Pale Ale   4.6% ABV

From their “Passion for the Pale Series”, a beer given to me from Paul at the gym.  Pale 31 is an American Style Pale Ale (California exactly) hopped with Fuggle, Cascade, Centenniel, and Chinook.   As Firestone states

“One of the most award-winning American style pale ales in the country. This is the American beer style that started a revolution in taste. We’ve taken the classic British pale ale and elevated it with a wonderful dose of northwest American hops. A crisp floral hop aroma precedes a medium-bodied clean finishing ale.”

I found this to be a pretty fruityIPA on the nose and taste, very smooth and clean.  I actually had it the first time just after I finished a run and it was gone in about 3 minutes.  A nice IPA to grab a 6 pack of and have in the fridge if you are grilling our working outside.

      3.25 out of 5 barrels

Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale   5.0% ABV

Another beer from their “Passion for the Pale Series” and given to me from Paul.  An English Style Bitter (I didn’t think it was bitter at all)/Amber Ale which is fermented in Firestone Union oak barrels.  Here’s what Firestone says…“ British Pale Ale never tasted so fresh. We challenge our good friends across the pond to match this one. Can’t be done. We’ve honored the traditions of the great British Pale brewers of Burton-on-Trent using our patented Firestone Union oak barrels. You’re left with a mild blend of vanilla and toasted oak flavor touched with an elegant hint of English noble hops. DBA is the flagship of our company and wildly popular.”

I was a big fan of this beer.  Lot’s of good flavors going on and very mellow.  Little bit of hops, but mostly a sweet vanilla and caramel flavor within the beer.  The aroma is almost as good as the beer itself.

    3.75 out of 5 barrels

Arcadia Ales Cereal Killer   9.1% ABV

Ahhh barleywine, how I have missed you.  I snagged this from Old Town the other night and had it promptly after a run (theme here?).  Here is what Arcadia says…

“Brewed in the traditional English style of Barleywines, Cereal Killer is an explosion of full-bodied, malty goodness. Huge syrupy flavors flow over caramel, toffee, molasses and toasty notes. All these rich malt flavors are balanced out nicely by just the right amount of citrus-like hoppy bitterness. A high alcohol content makes this a beer for the cellar. As this brew ages, it will continue to develop more sherry-like flavors and aromas similar to a cask-aged port.”

I don’t follow directions well, no aging just drinking.  Maybe I should have aged though, very warm alcohol burn upon taste, it sticks with the tongue.  Very sweet with a pretty good malt backbone and a bitter hop presence at the end.  Kind of a sticky beer as well.  Most barleywines I’ve drunk, even higher ABV content, don’t have as much a burn as this one.  I liked the beer, but just a little too warm.

     2.5 out of 5 barrels