Schlafly Pumpkin Ale – Oh it’s that time of the year.  One of my favorite times.  Pumpkin Ale time.  This year it seems that a lot of breweries put out their Pumpkin Ales early.  St Louis Brewing being one of them.  The night I had this brew I had a Williamsburg Alewerks Pumpkin Ale first which  I think is one of the best out there period.  So going against that beer was probably a bad thing.  This one just didn’t do much for me.  It was lacking in any real punch when it came to what I like in Pumpkin Ales.  Not a lot of spice and pumpkin but instead those ingredients are there but subdued.  Highly drinkable though and I would easily drink one again.  But try Williamsburg Alewerks Pumpkin Ale if you can find it and you’re local of course.

Rating:B

Deschutes Obsidian Stout – Picked this up as an extra in a beer trade.  Love Deschutes and I really enjoyed this brew.  Not an overwhelming over the top kind of stout but the stuff that was in there comes through nicely and makes for a really good almost sessionable stout.  Nice amount of roasted malt, chocolate, and a bit of coffee.  Could easily drink 2-3 of these and be happy. 

Rating:B+

Schlafly Reserve Barleywine Style Ale Aged On Oak 2007 - I’ve stared at this beer a million times when I go to reach in for a brew but just never opened it up.  A few weeks ago I was looking for something to share with my girlfriend and I reached for it.  Glad I did.  Even with this much age on the beer it was still tasty and I loved every sip.  It has an almost candy like smell and taste to it.  Butterscotch, vanilla, toffee, caramel, and the oak barrel come through really nice here.  I remember this stuff was on clearance around me forever.  Very cheap.  Wish I would of snagged a bunch of them.  Oh well.

Rating: A-

3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze – These guys make great beer period.  So I was psyched to give this brew a try.  I walked away happy with this brew but I also walked away with not knowing what one of the tastes were and to this day I can’t pinpoint it.  Anyway, so what I could pick up was great.  Funk, apple, lemon, and a good bit of sourness and tartness.  There was an also a bit of grain in the backbone.  A good beer but damn I wish I could pinpoint that one taste.  It gave it a bit of an off taste but still a good beer.

Rating: B+

BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien Grand Cru 2009 (Spirit Barrel) – Don’t get me wrong here.  This was a good and decent beer.  But for 25 dollars for a 375ml it wasn’t worth it.  As soon as you pop the bottle open, hold this one over the sink with your glass ready.  It’s a gusher and everytime you lose a drop of this beer you see the $$$ signs dropping down the sink.  So get ready.  You’re welcomed with a woody aroma and taste.  The barrel comes through here.  You’re also going to get some fruits.  Cherries and raisins.  Toffee with a slight funk and sourness to it.  It’s honestly a weird beer that I didn’t find worth the money.  Decent but damn expensive for what you get.

Rating: B+