Kane Brewing Co. Growlers

Single Fin and Afterglow

Growler View

Biking back from Spirits on Rt. 35 with two full growlers.

Tap List @ Point Beach Spirits

Kane Brewing Co. Single Fin

I introduced Kane Brewing Company here a few weeks ago and talked about how great their IPA is. After a 14 mile bike ride from Monterey Beach to the Spirits in Pt. Pleasant and back, I now have two more growlers of Kane beers ready for review.

First, I'll start off with their Summer seasonal, Single Fin, a Belgian-style Blond ale. If you're a loyal B2B follower then you know that I really prefer hoppy bitter beers that pack a lot of punch, however I also enjoy finding lighter, easier to drink beers that are perfect for summer. Kane's Single Fin is definitely one of those. It poured a beautiful golden blonde color into my pint glass with a head that stood for a minute or two before fading out. The aroma was sweet malts with a slight wheat smell that seemed fitting for a warm day by the beach. Taste was a bit fruity at first with the malty sweetness being the strongest taste coming through. It finished with some surprising slight hops and was very dry, different from many other Belgian ales I have had. Overall a very solid summer beer that even gives hopheads like me a little love.

It will probably be hard to find this beer since Kane only made 20 barrels of it due to it being late in the summer, but it will bx available again early next summer. Stay tuned for my review of Kane's Rye Pale Ale, Afterglow.

Guinness @ Aztec Bar in Seaside

Where do I start? Pour was all at once with no break to let settle. Glass was skinny and tall, not even a pint. Taste was way off. Similar to how it is out of a can or bottle. This is probably the worst I've had, but Rich Meyer is coming on so it makes up for it. One man, one guitar, one good time.

Southern Tier Brewing Co. Imperial Pumking

I received a 22oz bottle of this pumpkin ale from my sister-in-law Jill. To start, the label is frightening. It looks like a picture of an evil jack-o-lantern with bats hovering above, which blew me back to start. The aroma is all malty with strong smells of caramel (its made with caramel malt), vanilla, nutmeg and some other spices. Head faded very quickly after pouring. Taste is pumpkiny at first (pumpkin puree was used), then moves to nutmeg and other spices before finishing with a mix of butterscotch, vanilla and alcohol. Its an 8.6% abv beer so I expected to taste some alcohol, but its a very strong and unbalanced taste. This beer is lacking hops and that really kills it for me. If they put more hops in, it wouldve balanced out the malty sweetness and covered up the strong alcohol taste. Not a bad pumpkin beer, but not as drinkable as I wouldve liked. Shipyard Pumpkinhead still rules.

Shipyard Brewing Company Pumpkinhead Ale

Now that September is upon us, its time for the pumpkin brews to start flowing! With a little under two months till I name my favorite pumpkin beer, I decided to start with one of my favorites, Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale. I drank this one out of a bottle while sitting on the beach, blurring the line between Summer and Fall. To start it has one of the sickest labels I have ever seen. Its not really true pumpkiny, but rather has a strong aroma and taste of nutmeg, cinnamon and possibly whipped cream. It both smells and tastes almost exactly like a delicious pie. To pumpkin beer purists who want a beer that's brewed with and tastes like real pumpkin, it disappoints, but as someone who loves pumpkin pie I take it for what it is and thoroughly enjoy it. A seasonal beer is intended to fit the season its for and this one definitely makes you feel Fally. A great pumpkin pie ale that will be tough to beat.