Beer: Red Hook - Out Of Your Gourd Pumpkin Porter

RED HOOK  OUT OF YOUR GOURD PUMPKIN PORTER (Woodinville, WA) - 3.5 (good)

Red Hook is a craft beer legend, beginning way back in 1981 -- long before the wonderful beer renaissance we're now blessed with. Having had visited the brewery in Woodinville, Washington many years ago, I can appreciate the history and quality of the brewery's offerings through the years.

In my opinion, there's always room for more pumpkin beers. And while most "Fall" short of perfection, it's always fun to try another warm, spiced ale made with what may be America's favorite squash.

Now, Red Hook has a nice twist on the usual pumpkin ale. Melding pumpkin and Fall spices with a dark and roasty porter (rather than a regular ale), Red Hook’s Pumpkin Porter also adds maple syrup for an added dimension. And at a relatively light 5.8% ABV, this is a drinkable and session-worthy seasonal.

My tasting begins with the pouring, and Out Of Your Gourd pours an opaque black with slight ruby highlights. I get a thick head of tan suds, giving way to cloudy tree-line lacing.

The aroma is definitely heavier Wintery spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice), with only a token touch of pumpkin on the palate. I would’ve liked a little more of the pureed pumpkin to show itself here.

Taste is rich and spiced, with, again, the pumpkin not being as prominent as I’d like. The maple syrup also seems a bit submerged, though I do get a nice roasted element from the porter underneath all the spices. Overall a solid Fall/pumpkin brew, but not one of the best.

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Summer Craft Beer Roundup, Part 2

As the endless Summer (hopefully) winds itself down, I think it best we clear away some of these warm-weather beer reviews I've been hoarding. Here's another batch. Ratings, as ever, range from a lowly 1 to a stately 5. Drink well, but drink responsibly. And drink indie! Just say "No" to corporate beer monopolies!

WIDMER BROTHERS - CITRA BLONDE SUMMER BREW (Portland, OR) - 3.0

This clean golden-amber ale pours with an attractive fine white head of carbonation, and with a light but pleasant lace on the glass. Aroma is fruit-forward. I get nicely-sweet orange. Flavor-wise, this one is citrus-hoppy, but there's no bitterness, as it's all balanced by a prominent sweet malt profile. 

BROOKLYN SUMMER ALE (Utica, NY) - 3.0

The always-dependable Brooklyn's light summer ale pours a clean golden, with wispy lace. The taste is toasty up front, with a subtle hint of citrus hops in the middle, followed by a bready finish. Enjoyable and quite nice for hot summer days.

RED HOOK - WIT (Woodinville, WA) - 2.0

This cloudy pale amber ale pours with a minimal head and lace. The aroma is malty and spicy. Upon hitting the palate, this one hits sweet and candy-like, with a hint of ginger spicing it up. Nonetheless, I found this one to be overbearingly sweet, and tough to finish.

NEW BELGIUM - FAT TIRE (Fort Collins, CO) - 3.0

This easy-drinking amber ale is now available in 16 oz. cans, and it opens with a rich and malty taste. I get toasty bread, with only a faint hint of hops. Fat Tire remains an easy-drinking session beer, and an American craft beer classic.