Friday Night Beer Party

Sometimes you need help with getting through your beers.  OK, well YOU probably don't, but I do.  I have too damned much!  And stupid breweries keep deciding to brew cool shit all the time, so I buy it.  What's their deal!?

So I called a few friends over for a small beer party - they bring the food, I share beers.  Of course I don't share the really good stuff, but then again, I don't stock the bad stuff either!

Starting off - Woodstock Inn Brewery - Autumn Ale Brew.  A 4.6% ABV take on the two best things about Autumn - Cider and pumpkin beer.  I sampled this at the inaugural Cape Cod Brew Fest a few weeks back and was pleasantly surprised..  Nice amber/brown pour, light fluffy head.  The nose is pure brown sugar/cinnamon-rimmed Pumpkinhead, amped up.  Tons of cinnamon, very sweet aroma, touch of fresh cider.  Damn, this is smooth and sweet!  Light, tons of caramel and brown sugar, big cinnamon punch..  The great part of this is it tastes like Pumpkinhead and the best cider you've ever had made a beer love-baby.  The spice sorta takes over from here and then finishes totally sweet.  It has its moments of genius, but it just a touch too sweet and over-the-top with the spice to be through and through great.
- - 7 Hops

Next in line.. a little slice of heaven that I have been holding onto since it was first released..

Backlash - Convergence (Super Saison)  A 7.5% ABV 22 IBU Backlash take on a Saison..  This is Batch 1 from Sept 2011 - let's see how it holds up...

Hazy golden orange/yellow pour, gigantic fluffy head.  Slighty tart to the nose, as would be expected after 14 months, hints of spice, coriander, orange peel, Belgian yeast and a touch of floral hops. This definitely aged a bit awkwardly, not nothing unexpected.  Yeast and a tart wheat flavor hit up front, followed soon by a citric funk.  Grassy and floral, rye spiciness..  still mildly sweet.  The flavors are all still there, somewhat muted, with the citrus and a nice funk coming forward.  Still delicious!

- - 8 Hops

Next in line - Hayride Autumn Ale from Baxter Brewing Co.  6.6% ABV and in a sweet lil plaid can!  Mahogany brown pour, cute little head sticks around a while.  Rye Ale brewed with ginger, black peppercorns, orange peel and aged on fresh American oak.. um WHAT!?  Citrus and rye on the nose for sure, with touches of heavier malts and a little spice.  Honestly, smells like a big ol' pile of autumn leaves!  Rye spicy and wonderful rich malts are up front with the citrus and earthy oak coming in soon after.  This is incredibly crisp in the heaviest way possible with citrus and a nice ginger note.  Complex yet straightforward (see: autumn leaves), this is what an Autumn Ale should be!
- - 9 Hops

Finally, Uncommon Brewers - Baltic Porter.  A 7.8% ABV Baltic in a tall boy can!  Brewed with whole licorice and star anise, this one pours used motor oil black with a huge tan head.  The licorice and bitter black chocolate come through huge in the nose with a touch of booze.  It's slick, smooth and boozy.  The alcohol is not very well hidden beneath the roasted malts, but that's ok!  It's quite a welcome change at the end of the night.  Bitter chocolate, faintest grassy hops but with some dark fruits and black coffee.  A bit thin and bold for the style (probably doesn't help that I despise black licorice) but solid
- - 7 Hops