Yeah, I agree with this.

Not a big fan of Dogfish Head's Punkin either, I just consider it ho-hum. Now Southern Tier's Pumpkin, that's a great one, pretty awesome aftertaste too. Perfect balance, you wouldn't know how strong it is without looking at the bottle.

Pumpkin beers are actually pretty old. They were very popular in New England in the 1600-1700's because they were able to be made into beer, so were a great substitut.e for a lot of the normal ingrediants. They aren't a proper fruit beer.

Speaking of Pumpkin Beer, had Cape Ann's Fisherman Pumpkin Stout last weekend. Could have been an interesting hybrid of styles, but it just ended up trying to be too many things and ended up being a little on the dull side.

Also tried Dogfish Head's Midas Touch. Now that is a strange one, more like a mix betwen a beer and a mead, but if you like sweet beers without hops, it may be something to try. Pretty strong too, 9% ABV, no way the original recipie found in Turkey was that strong.

I had Dogfishhead's Red and White at the Extreme Brew Fest in Boston a year or 2 ago (can't remember) and thought it quite tasty. I then picked up a six pack of it some time later at a package store in the area and it was borderline repulsive.

I'm wondering if they fiddled with their recipe in the interim. Either way dogfishhead is a very experimental brewery and most of their beers can not be labeled one style or another. The exception to that of course is their IPA's which are very true to the style.

I think that is part of the reason most of their other beers just don't appeal to me. They get a little too crazy. I also do not like IPA's since I don't like hoppy beers so I tend to stay away from anything made by them.

If you can find it, Dogfish Head's Palo Santo Marron is really, really good. It's a brown ale aged in wood casks, and the result is really rich and full-tasting-- definitely a sipping beer. It reminded me a bit of Avery's Mephistopheles, but without the strong alcohol aftertaste. (I did like Mephistopheles, but the super-high ABV gives it a sort of cough syrup characteristic that I can't get around).

I agree on the Dogfish pumpkin though-- not very exciting, and their Raison D'etre is kinda wacky too, though not bad.

Also, as a follow-up, later in my 12-pack of Spaten Oktoberfest I got the bottled-penny taste someone else mentioned. They seemed really inconsistent, so I doubt I'll get any more this year.

With Oktoberfest around, I didn't see anyone mention Blue Moon's Pumpkin Ale. I find it's pretty good for a pumpkin beer, also I had a huge bottle of a Belgian Brown Ale called Nostrodomus, in a word delicious. Also if you live around Charlotte, NC I simply must recommend The Waldhorn link http://www.waldhorn.us/ awesome German food, Oktoberfest parties, and a Beer list to die for. As I manage to only afford one to two visits a year I would still highly recommend this place. Ayinger is phenominal beer as well, we also have a local brewery in Asheville called Highland Brewing Co. I think, they make pretty good ale's n stuff. I don't know how far they distribute tho.

And if you're not paying attention, the 12% alcohol will really sneak up on you...that was a fun night.

I've now had their Palo Santo, 90 Minute, and the Midas Touch, and I must say that I'm a bigger fan of the 90 minute. I'm out here on the left coast, so it's a rather difficult item to find. Though I moved to Dogfish after having the Lagunitas Sirius Summer Ale, when it was discontinued for the season. I'm looking forward to finding more of their ales.

I don't know how far they're distributed outside Seattle, but the Elysian Night Owl pumpkin beer is really tasty. Most of the times pumpkin beers taste like they're screaming "hey look at me I'm pumpkin!" and are just all spice with nothing else underneath. This one is a proper beer on its own with just enough pumpkin flavor and spicing.

Night Owl Pumpkin Ale

Thanks to Elysian formign a partnership with New Belgium, there stuff is getting better distribution. We even get some of their stuff up here in NJ now! Any yeah I full agree on the Night Owl. Very nice beer that one.

If people in the rest of the US want to find it, try your local Whole Foods, they are carrying a lot of Elysiums stuff now. Whole Foods actually has a pretty okay beer selection, only stuff I buy from them is beer.

I live in Fort Collins, CO where New Belgium is based, and they do indeed brew some fantastic stuff. I actually think Fat Tire is a bit overrated, but almost everything else they make is delicious. If you like Belgian-style beers, look into their Trippel and Mothership Wit. They also get very experimental; for example, they have a "Giddy Up Ale" out right now that's infused with espresso. It literally tastes like you're drinking coffee, very interesting sensation.

As an aside, if you're ever in town, drop by the brewery for a tour and free samples. It's the most interesting brewery tour I've been on, and even if you aren't that interested in brewing, there's a lot of cool info about their environmental practices (they're 100% wind powered, have their own water treatment plant, etc).

The other craft breweries in town (Odell and Fort Collins Brewery) also make really excellent beers, and I recommend both. The Fort Collins seasonal this year is a Dopplebock that would taste fantastic alongside a plate of BBQ, it's rich and smokey. From Odell, I'd recommend their IPA or 90 Schilling Scotch Ale. It's a great town for a beer lover

I'm the opposite. I prefer Fat Tire over most of their other stuff. And I think I've mentioned it before here, but it's worth saying again - 1554 is some great stuff.

Speaking of which, tonight I had some Fireman's #4 on tap from these guys, with a BBQ bacon cheeseburger, and it seemed really similar in taste to Fat Tire. I asked the waitress beforehand, and she described it as a PA which it definitely was NOT (lack of bite from hops). I'd drink it again though.

A good friend of mine flew into town a month or 2 a go, from Boston. He insisted that I try Smutty Nose chocolate (lager?), perhaps it was an ale. I'm not sure, to be honest. I must say, however, that it was incredibly tasty. While it didn't have much of a chocolate flavor, the aftertaste was incredible. It was like I had a brownie in my mouth. If any of you are near/around the Boston, MA area, or this stuff hangs out in your local beer distributors, pick up a sixer and have a go at it. You won't be dissapointed.