Holy crap, it’s Wednesday AGAIN? Where does the time go?! With that, Happy Winesday Wednesday, friends!

So last week I headed over to a local craft beer market (Hops and Barley- they don’t have a website..WHAAAAAT). The shop was a bit boutique-y and they didn’t have an abundance of beer as I was expecting, but they still had a decent new-to-me selection AND a bunch of brews on tap for growler fills. Ahh, if only I were local. Anyhoo, I was in a pinch for time and threw together a mix and match 6 pack:

I’ve yet to try the Southern Tier Harvest and the Brown’s Brewing Co Cherry Razz, so I’ll let you know about those next week. Of the ones I DID try..

Uinta Brewing Punk’n Harvest Pumpkin Ale

 From the website: 

DESCRIPTION

This sessionable pumpkin ale is brewed with fresh pumpkin and seasonal spices.

TASTING NOTES

Malt and hops accented with roasted pumpkin and spices of the season. A subtle hint of vanilla and honey. Punk’n is a wonderful compliment to foods with nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove flavors. Try it with roasted turkey, squash or pumpkin ravioli, peach cobbler, or pumpkin cheesecake.

I was excited to find a pumpkin ale I’ve not yet tried, BUT….womp. I am sad to report there is approximately ZERO trace of pumpkin in this brew. However, it wasn’t a bad tasting beer! Just tasted like a typical harvest/fall beer. I wouldn’t cross it off my list, I just wouldn’t add it to your pumpkin beer tasting list.

Angry Orchard Summer Honey

(source)

From the website: Our Summer Honey cider is a light and refreshing cider with subtle notes of wildflower honey, perfect for those warmer months.

It must’ve been the wildflower honey that did it, but I did not care for this seasonal flavor from Angry Orchard. It just had a different (an unpleasant to me) aftertaste. I’d still with their original because it is the nice sweet and crisp taste you’d expect from a hard cider.

Shipyard Brewing Company Pumpkinhead

To my fellow New Englanders, you know this beer so there is no description necessary. It’s not fall until you can order one of these puppies at a bar with a cinnamon sugar rim (SO MANDATORY). This is my favorite pumpkin beer of all time..I only wish I could have another…with aforementioned rim. So cinnamony and delicious I can’t even stand it!

Abita Pecan Harvest Ale

From the website: 

Abita Pecan® Harvest Ale is brewed with pale, Munich, biscuit and caramel malts and Willamette hops. Real Louisiana roasted pecans are added in the brewhouse and give the ale a subtle nutty flavor and aroma. Crack one open for yourself.

This ale is excellent served with both red meat, seafood and, no surprise here, it’s also great with nuts! Try Pecan® Harvest Ale with Gouda cheese.

MIND= BLOWN. This beer was SO good and SO different. At first, it tastes like your standard fall/harvest beer but it has the most unbelievable toasted pecan finish! I need to get my hands on another one of these before I go home, because I have never come across a beer with this flavor. Maybe a brewery up in Alberta will catch on and make something similar??? wink. wink.

Oh guys…there’s also a wine a tried this week. (Read: One sip. But I can get all I need to know in that one sip! Plus, my mom likes it. It’s a smooth red that’s an easy drinker and would pair well with many foods.)

Chateau La Paws Red Wine Blend

From the website:

A medium-bodied mixed-breed with dark cherry and raspberry notes.