wave goodbye

So, it's off to another holiday, one with fewer obvious monsters associated with it - but still pumpkins!  Well, pumpkin pie at least.  So, a nice pumpkin stout seems like a good fit for the time.  Drunken Bros. and La Quince have prepared Misfit Pumpkins, and Imperial Stout at that, almost as if they were psychic.

Oh yeah, right out of a horror movie

There's a certain amount of pressure in the can and I get a little spray of beer when the tab finally pops the top.  No real explosion, though.  It's a good looking beer, very dark brown, and despite the initial shot of bubbliness, not much head.  It smells pumpkin-y, with that hint of cinnamon and a little vegetable earthiness.  The flavor comes through in stages: first I get a normal stout bitter, followed by a disappointing amount of licorice, and finally some light sweetness to finish.  It's a sugary kind of sweet, not like pumpkin spice or Reese's (peanut butter and chocolate stouts, come to me!).  The feeling is an odd combination of lightness and spikiness, like a little candy that's full of crystal shards as soon as you get ready to swallow it.  It's not awful, by any means, but it isn't the smooth drinking stout I expected from the pumpkin.  That isn't really a disappointment though, if there's anything I would even think of complaining about, it's the licorice.

Supplier: La Cervecista

Price: €5.50

no need for repellant

So it's the first day of February, what would be appropriate for the occasion?  Something chocolatey?  Maybe save that for a little later.  Ah, a red IPA!  Happy and bright, it was just Chinese New Year so there was red stuff all over the metro station in the Chinese neighborhood, seems like a good start.  Not to mention Red Moskito sounds like the way the disappointed would think of the focus of the month.  It's "xtreme" hopped too, so just as bitter as any recent heartbreak.  Or not so recent I guess.

While it looks a little light pouring out, once in the glass it does have a nice caramel color.  Bright, citrusy hop aroma.  Head is fluffy, off white, foams up nicely at first, but dies back quickly.  The first impression is one of typical IPAs, a lot of fruit, in particular tropical, with a touch of mandarin.  But, a heavier bitterness lurks just in the background, leaving the edges of the drink not completely smooth.  It's really much smoother and friendlier overall than one might think from the name, or even from an "xtreme hopped" ale.  Although lighter than other red beers, it does have a rusty essence and a warmth that make the title a fitting one, and a subtle sweetness that fit the month. 

Supplier: La Buena Cerveza
Price: €3.79

mmm, cake

Oh boy, oh boy, I got the last bottle on the shelf of the so-called Mugcake Stout!  Now, I wonder if it's supposed to be "mudcake", or if they're making a pun of that and "mug".  Either way, the shop guy praised my selection and said it was a fantastic, full flavored, sipping beer.  Lots of chocolate, he said.  Good enough for me!  I am not familiar with Drunken Bros, but I'm willing to give Ripley a shot.

In honor of a new movie out, maybe?

Yep

It comes out beautifully, rich and dark in color.  The scent isn't very heavy, but stouty beyond a doubt.  I get licorice before chocolate at the first sip, but only a whisper of it.  Then there's a smoky dark chocolate flavor, wrapped in bitter.  There's another snap of sweet licorice at the end, but again just a teasing hint.  Not being a fan of licorice, this is about all I would want.  It does add a nice twist to the overall flavor, lightening it when one might expect a heavier, cake-y mouthful.  It's not as substantial as some stouts are, but has a presence, and feels like a beer that wants to go with something.  Brownies or actual cake would be nice.  The just-sweet-enoughness of the beer could make it a good companion for a meaty main course, too.

Supplier: La Buena Cerveza
Price: €4.48