Morton's Taste of Tradition - Cincinnati

Got an email promoting a beer tasting event for a good cause. $5 will be donated to Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Morton's The Steakhouse - Cincinnati
Friday, October 24, 2008
$45 per guest

Featuring Chimay Premiere, Chimay Grand Reserve, Chimay Cinq Cents and Morton's Signature Hors d'oevres

"Enjoy tasting three of Belgium's finest brews."

Link: Morton's:: Chimay...A taste of tradition

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About the Make-A-Wish Foundation

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life- threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world.

Saranac Pumpkin Ale

Coming from the Adirondack's, this is probably my favorite of the Pumpkin Ales.

Saranac Pumpkin Ale, pours a nice brown/orange color with a slight off white head. Pumpkin spice is apparent in the smell and the taste, but isn't overwhelming. I think the thing that sets this apart from the other pumpkin ales is the addition of vanilla. It really helps to smooth out the pumpkin pie spice and give you the feeling that you are enjoying a nice piece of pie.

I would love to give this another try before the season is over. Maybe for dessert when we are carving pumpkins for Halloween!

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: $$
Score: 4 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Ageing is not just for wine

Got an email from Jillian over at Culture11.com with an interesting story on "beer geeks" aging their beers.

"But the inner-circle of beer geeks is moving beyond anything on offer in stores to brews less easily acquired, and more rare. They’re learning, like the most dedicated oenophile, that patience is a virtue. They’re aging their beer."

A very interesting and educational read. If you have a chance go check it out.
Link: A Beer for the Ageing | Culture 11

Lagunitas IPA

Lah-goo-knee-tuss...Lagunitas IPA


This was my first experience with Lagunitas Brewing Company, out of Petaluma, California. My brother-in-law Joe brought the beer down from Cleveland last weekend for us to "tailgate" with before the UC vs. Miami (OH) football game Saturday night.

After diving into 3 of the 6 pack he brought, I am wishing this beer was one I could get my hands onto easier. Pours a nice amber color with a slight off white head. The smell isn't as strong as other IPA's but there is a hint of citrus fruit and hops. It was one of the better tasting IPA's I have had in awhile. A very nice blend of the malt, hops and bitter citrus finish. It was full of flavor but easily drinkable. I would very much recommend this beer to any IPA lover.

Who: Joe...Harps was here but wouldn't touch it.
Where: Home
Price: FREE
Score: 5 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Breckenridge Autumn Ale

To me, this was your typical Fall seasonal brew. Dark brown color with a sweet toasty caramel smell.

Breckenridge Autumn Ale tasted about like what it smells like. Toasty, nutty, caramel taste with a slight bitterness at the end. Has a nice smooth malt and hops combo, not too sweet not too bitter. A very drinkable beer but nothing to distinguish itself from the others in this category. Breckenridge puts it into the Oktoberfest category, but it is way to sweet if you ask me. Because of how sweet it was, this is very surpising, but some reason I really liked this beer and would try it again.

Who: the Zlatics and Gramkes
Where: Allyn's Cafe
Price: $$
Score: 4 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Great Lakes Oktoberfest

Round 2 with an Oktoberfest brings us back to Cleveland and the Great Lakes Brewing Company.

This marzan style beer is close to the top of the field when it comes to the Oktoberfest brews. Maybe I am a bit biased, but Great Lakes brews almost all of their beers exceptionally well, and this one gave me the same impression.

Pours a nice light orange with an off white head. A nice mild spicy and earthy smell with caramel subtlety. The caramel becomes more apparent in the tasting. A very balanced combination of malts and hops. A very drinkable Oktoberfest and you could easily have more than a few without much thought.

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: $$
Score: 4 / 5

Brooklyn Brewery - Oktoberfest

Brooklyn Brewery - Oktoberfest

This is the 2nd fall beer that we picked up last weekend and also from the Brooklyn Brewing Company. Not bad, not great. A pretty typical Oktoberfest brew, nothing to distinguish itself among the dozens of German marzan's that come out this time of the year. I really enjoy the Brooklyn Brews but both of their fall beers disappointed me this year.

Nice dark amber color. Smells like a lot of malt. A nice caramel flavor and maybe some nutmeg. Cathy thought it was very earthy and grainy in its bitter finish, but not too bitter. The malt and hops combo is pretty smooth here. All in all it is a very drinkable beer.

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: $$
Score: 3 / 5

Brooklyn Brewery - Post Road Pumpkin Ale

The first fall beer of the year will be Brooklyn Brewery's Fall Pumpkin Ale. This is a pretty solid fall beer, not the best, but certainly not the worst.

Post Road pours a very nice amber color with a light tan head. Pumpkin smell is apparent but not overwhelming, might be a hint of ginger too. Not much malt flavor coming through and a slightly bitter finish. I wish it was sweeter because I was thinking pumpkin pie (spice) when I bought the beer. It was definitely worth a try, but not something to get to excited about, maybe if it had more spice I would have enjoyed it more.

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: $$
Score: 2 / 5