Fin City Captain Jack's Pumpkin Ale

20131123:
Special draft at Charles Village Pub (CVP).

I wrote: "This beer smells like a lightly spiced pumpkin pie. The first taste is more creamy, like a stout, perhaps due to the layer of head. The second taste is less interesting, being mostly fizzy with a light spice flavor. Overall, the beer hardly tastes like pumpkin, but its drinkable and refreshing. I personally enjoy the pumpkin ales with a strong pumpkin flavor more than those with just a hint of Fall/Winter spices."

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Fin City Captain Jack's Pumpkin Ale

Relevant Links:
Captain Jack's Pumpkin Ale - Fin City Brewing (BeerAdvocate.com)
Fin City Captain Jack's Pumpkin Ale (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Seasonal Brew
Pumpkin Ale – 7.0% a.b.v.

Ommegang Gnomegang

20131116:
I wrote: "This beer initially tasted bitter and afterwards the bitterness would come and go. In any case, it's mostly tasty, despite being about two years old." 10:12 PM

On 20131226, I double-checked my claim that the beer is about two years old. To begin, I acquired the bottle when I purchased a gift pack containing this bottle of beer, a bottle of Hennepin, a bottle of Three Philosophers, and an Ommegang cup. I checked my photo record and the oldest picture of the cup being used was taken on 20111201. I also remembered that I bought the gift pack after moving into my new apartment. Finally, being a gift pack, it would have been available to buy in November at the earliest. In conclusion, I would safely assume that I bought the gift pack in November 2011.

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Ommegang Gnomegang

Relevant Links:
Limited Edition Beers (Ommegang Website)
Gnomegang - Brewery Ommegang (BeerAdvocate.com)
Ommegang Gnomegang (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

GNOMEGANG

The cheerful gnomes of Belgian farmstead Brasserie d 'Achouffe dropped by the Brewery Ommegang farmstead brewery in the summer of 2010.

In appearance, Gnomegang is a rich, translucent gold, with a big, fluffy white head. The high-carbonation is readily apparent. The nose focuses on distinctive clove aromas, combined with yeasty fruitiness typical of Chouffe beers. Flavors include ripe fruit, clove, light caramel, non-cloying candy sweetness, smooth maltiness, and well-balanced hopping. Mouthfeel offers a big, round body with full, fine carbonation. The finish is dry and warming, lingering gracefully.

9.5% ABV

Lindemans Cassis

20131116:
I wrote: "This beer has an interesting taste. Having never eaten black currants before, I also initially found the taste quite strange. However, it tasted better as I got used to the flavor." 9:18PM

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Lindemans Cassis

Relevant Links:
Lindemans Cassis (Lindemans Website)
Lindemans Cassis (BeerAdvocate.com)
Lindemans Cassis Lambic (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Cassis

A classic Belgian favorite. Black currants have been used for centuries as an ingredient in beers and liqours in Belgium and Northern Europe.

Taste: Deep reddish-purple color with exceptional aroma, flavor, and complexity. Fuller bodied and soft, while still being refreshing and crisp.

Serving suggestions: Venison, roasted pork tenderloin with rosemary cream sauce, scones, New York style cheesecake, and fresh fruit.

Serve cold at 2-3 degrees Celsius.

Appalachian Jolly Scot Scottish Ale

20131114:
Today I tried the current special draft here at Charles Village Pub (CVP).

I wrote: "[The ale] has a nice malty smell. The taste mostly matches the smell and reminds me of a brown ale. Wait, I guess its not as malty as a brown ale. I suppose it has a slightly toasted flavor. Then the taste eases off quickly. It's not so good after the initial three or four sips." 9:06 PM
I also wrote: "The beer is actually best sipped slowly, letting the taste fade in between sips. Its also quite sweet, almost fruity. The sweetness reminds me of complex beers that often have more alcoholic content. Overall, its a solid drink." 10:17 PM

Originally noting that the beer was called "Scott's Scotch Ale," I was unable to find the beer via Google search. This was a bit upsetting, as I recall double-checking the name of the beer with the server at least twice. Preferring not to publish a blog entry entitled "Unknown Scotch Ale," I called the bar (20131226) and inquired about a special draft I thought was called Scott's Scotch Ale. The person at the other end of the line said she remembered a beer by a similar name by Appalachian Brewing. That, however, was all the information she could give me. After getting off the phone, I did a new search and figured that Appalachian Brewing had a beer named Jolly Scot Scottish Ale. Not only was the name similar to Scott's Scotch Ale, but the color (amber) and flavor profile (malty and sweet) also matched.

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Appalachian Jolly Scot Scottish Ale

Relevant Links:
Flagship & Specialty Beers (Appalachian Brewing Company Website)
Jolly Scot Scottish Ale - Appalachian Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)
Appalachian Jolly Scot Scottish Ale (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

“Jolly Scot” Scottish Ale
OG 14.5 | ABV 5.9 | IBUs 18
Available in Draft & Bottles – 24/12oz per case
Our Scottish Ale has a rich amber color which is pleasing to the eye. We use a complex bend of distinct caramel style malts and light hop additions giving this beer a sweet and malty flavor. “Jolly Scot” is a great session beer and a brewpub favorite.

Yards IPA

20131113:
I wrote: "This Yards IPA doesn't have much of a smell. The taste is also pretty light for an IPA but it tastes good." 7:24pm
I also wrote: "Overall, by the end of the beer, I would summarize by saying it is a light IPA and tastes sweeter than most." 8:10pm

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Yards IPA

Relevant Links:
India Pale Ale (Yards Brewing Website)
India Pale Ale - Yards Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)
Yards IPA (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

INDIA PALE ALE

ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE

Standing firmly on the east coast end of American IPAs, our India Pale Ale emphasizes balance. An insistent malt character from traditional floor-malted English barley harmonizes with a generous amount of Chinook and Amarillo hops. Fruity and aromatic, our IPA is perfectly balanced.

KNOW YOUR YARDS:
YEAR INTRODUCED: 1998
STYLE: India Pale Ale
ABV: 7.0% / IBU: 62 / PLATO: 17.5
MALTS: Pale and Crystal
HOPS: Amarillo and Chinook
FORMATS: 12oz bottles, draft
AVAILABILITY: Year-round
PAIRINGS: IPA is a robust beer that needs robust flavors. Pair with sharp cheeses like aged cheddars, grilled lamb chops, and tomato pie
CALORIES (12oz): 235

Brooklyn Pennant Ale

20131106:*
I wrote: "Brooklyn Pennant Ale. It is nice and crisp. It seems more or less on par with a Natty Boh. Actually, it's worse than a Natty Boh, because I wouldn't have this Pennant Ale again. It tastes bitter by the end. Blah. (Wednesday)"

*This should be the correct date from the following evidence:
(1) The notes are written on the back of a document I wrote dated to 20131103.
(2) The closest existing version of this same document is dated 20131108.
(3) As detailed above, the notes are for a Wednesday
There is other convincing evidence which I decided to omit.

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Brooklyn Pennant Ale

Relevant Links:
Brooklyn Ale (RateBeer.com)
Brooklyn Pennant Ale '55 | Brooklyn Brewery (BeerAdvocate.com)

Brooklyn Pilsner

20131102:
I wrote: "The Brooklyn Pilsner was alright. I personally don't drink this type of beer, but figured it was worth a try." 10:18PM

(The actual bottle, but not from the actual day.)

[20131124]

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Brooklyn Pilsner

Relevant Links:
Brooklyn Pilsner (Brooklyn Website)
Brooklyn Pilsner (RateBeer.com)
Brooklyn Pilsner | Brooklyn Brewery (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

Brooklyn Pilsner is a refreshing golden lager beer, brewed in the style favored by New York’s pre-prohibition brewers. In the 1840’s, the pilsner style emerged from central Europe to become the world’s most popular style of beer. Like its ancestors, Brooklyn Pilsner is traditionally brewed from the finest German two-row barley malts. German-grown Perle and Hallertauer hops provide a crisp, snappy bitterness and fresh, floral aroma. The flavor of the malt comes through in the finish. We ferment Brooklyn Pilsner at cool temperatures, and then give it a long, gentle maturation (lagering), which results in a beer of superior complexity and smoothness. We believe that you will find there to be none finer. Unlike mass-marketed so-called pilsners, Brooklyn Pilsner does not contain cheap fillers such as corn or rice, nor does it contain any preservatives or stabilizers. Brooklyn Pilsner is the real thing.

Style: German-style Pilsner
Malts: German Pilsner
Hops: Challenger, Perle, Saaz, Hallertauer Mittelfrueh
Alcohol by Volume: 5.1%
Original Gravity: 12.5° Plato
Food Pairings: Fish, shellfish, cheering crowds, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, mixed company, confetti, pizza, sausages, unnecessary parades, and goat cheese.
Availability: Year-round
Format: 15.5 gal kegs; 5.2 gal kegs; 24/12oz bottles

Russian Standard

20131102:
I wrote the following: "The Russian Standard has a nice spice to it." 10:28PM

[20180609]

Amarula

20131102:
At just 17% ABV, this cream liquer goes down easy.

I wrote: "The Amarula was tasty. It tasted like Kahlua." 10:19PM ET

While I compared Amarula to Kahlua, it probably tastes more like Baileys Irish Cream. While Baileys Irish Cream uses Irish whiskey, Amarula comes from the marula trees in South Africa.

[20131225]

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Amarula

Relevant Links:
Amarula Website
Amarula (Wikipedia.org)