REVIEW: Anderson Valley Fall Hornn'

The first pumpkin ale of the year! A truly momentous occasion. Some people don't love the pumpkin beers. Loyal readers will know that I am not one of those people. Today we've got a brand new fall seasonal from Anderson Valley, Fall Hornin'. A 6% ABV 20 IBU beer brewed with pumpkin and spices. Let's get to it. To the beer!

Fall Hornin' is appropriately autumnal in color. It pours a quite clear deep chestnut ruby hue topped by a layer of off-white head. Quite pretty.  

Spicy notes of cinnamon, ginger, allspice and a bit of nutmeg are contrasted by a sweet graham cracker maltiness. Sweet, spicy, very inviting. 

Fall Hornin' is medium bodied with a wonderful creaminess. The flavors mimic the nose fairly closely. Robust graham crackers sweetness is joined by notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. Sweet touches of vanilla come in before an earthy, spicy, balancing bitterness on the finish. 

This is one hell of a good pumpkin ale. Hearty, drinkable, spicy, and just all around excellent. This is one to keep your refrigerator stocked with all through the fall months. 

HD

REVIEW: Anderson Valley Belk's ESB

I've had this beer in the fridge for a couple of weeks. I knew I would get to it sooner or later but the decision was made for me when I snagged that awesome glass you see up there. I'm a fan of Anderson Valley and I always dig an ESB. Let's dispense with the pleasantries and just get right down to it. To the beer!

REVIEW: Anderson Valley Winter Solstice

So, let's get this out of the way right up front. The world is not ending today, the Mayans were wrong. Sorry if I'm bursting anybody's bubble. This reminds me, I remember watching a movie about the Mayans in spanish class in I think it was the second or third grade. There was a bit in there about how the Mayans predicted that the world would end in 2012. All of this was accompanied by this giant stone clock grinding to a halt. It kind of freaked me the hell out. But now I'm older and wiser, well at least older, and I know that the apocalypse is not yet at hand. What today actually is, is the first day of winter, the winter solstice. And what better beer to check out today than the winter seasonal from Anderson Valley, Winter Solstice! It checks in at 6.9% ABV and only 6 IBUs. To the beer!

REVIEW: Anderson Valley Summer Solstice

Another Summer seasonal today. This time from California's Anderson Valley Brewing Company. This is a bit of a different Summer ale. Most Summer beers are wheat ales, pilseners, saisons, and the like. Beers that are lighter, sweet, go down easy and quench the thirst. This one though? On the can it's billed as an ale brewed with natural flavors added. Ale brewed with natural flavors? That's bringing to mind the pumpkin and Christmas ales that are brewed in the Fall with spices added. Very odd. I checked Beer Advocate and they bill it as a cream ale. OK, that makes a bit more sense, but those natural flavors still have me a bit confused and intrigued. Let's see what we have here. To the beer!