Octoberfest

Beer Name: Wachusett Octoberfest
Brewery: Wachusett Brewing Company
ABV: 5.2%
Serving method: 12-oz bottle in a pint glass
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Unknown, best by Dec 2010

It must be almost the end of the Oktoberfest season, so hopefully I'll finish off on a strong note. I found this one in Kathryn's fridge, and it wasn't in there the last time I was here, so it must be pretty fresh.

The Wachusett Octoberfest is a golden orange color and slightly cloudy. Perhaps the color could be described as "coppery." There wasn't much head, and it faded almost immediately. The beer leaves a light lacing on the glass. The aroma here is fruity mostly and maybe a little bit of graininess.

This does not taste like an Octoberfest. It has a quality more like a red or brown ale (I can't remember which one is which sometimes). It's a little sweet, and there's a bready flavor to it as well. There's also a faint fruity flavor in the background. It's very drinkable as there is almost no carbonation here, and the aftertaste is only mild as well. If you are a big fan of it, you could probably drink a bunch of these without issue.

Final thought - Well, it's ok, I guess. It just doesn't feel like I'm drinking an Oktoberfest-style beer. I think this beer would go well with food, although I don't know anything about beer/food pairings. Let's say it would be good with. . . hot wings! Or something spicy. I think the sweetness of the beer would work well with spiciness in food. Go try it, and let me know.

-Jon

Milk Stout

Beer Name: Wachusett Milk Stout
Brewery: Wachusett Brewing Company
ABV: 5.8%
Serving method: 22-oz bottle served in a pint glass
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Unknown, best by Mar 2011

I realized recently that I have frequently written "16-oz pint" in the "Serving Method" section up above, and that's stupid. What other pint size is there? So that ends today. I apologize for the foolishness.

Today is New Beers Day. Or should that be New Beers Eve? You know, because it sounds sort of like New Year's Eve? Right? Get it? Nuh-uh, you're stupid! At any rate, I picked up a nice selection of new beers, as well as some Celebration Ale in order to fulfill my previous post's promise. I am going to kick things off with the Milk Stout because that one is already cold.

First off, this beer is dark. Like solid black dark. It's so dark, that, much like a black hole, it absorbs all the light around it. There is almost no head on the beer, and the little that is there dissipates quickly. We're all about the beer for this one. However, despite the low head level, the beer does leave some lacing. So there's that. . . The aroma has a bit of coffee, and a bit of sweetness, and a bit of chocolate. All signs point to this being a nice, smooth brew.

The beer's flavor matches up with the scent. There's some chocolate and coffee flavors, along with a roasted/burnt malt taste. There is actually a sharper flavor than I was expecting, which is unexpected based on both the beer's style and its smell. Weird. It seems to soften up as it warms, and I prefer it this way. The carbonation is light, and there's a moderately sweet aftertaste.

Final thought - Wachusett Milk Stout is a tasty beer for any stout-lovers out there. It's not the greatest stout I've had, but it's definitely above average and very enjoyable. I like that it has a sweetness without being overly sweet. This beer is a keeper.

-Jon

Country Ale

Beer Name: Wachusett Country Ale
Brewery: Wachusett Brewing Company
ABV: 5%
Serving method: 12-oz bottle, poured into a pint glass
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Unknown because I forgot to check

Wow, it's been a while since I tried a new beer. That's a little bit sad, but it's mostly because I have a backlog of beers in my fridge and Kate's fridge, and I can't buy new stuff until I clear out some space. But I can drink any random ones I find in there, like this one.

Wachusett Country Ale is an American Pale Ale, which I am assuming is different from India Pale Ale and regular old pale ale. It's a golden colored beer with a whole bunch of head. It's darker than a normal pale ale, so there's your first difference right there. It's got a malty aroma and a bit of a fruity smell. I'm not sure which fruit, but I think maybe apple. The head hangs around for a long time, but it surprisingly only leaves a light lacing.

This beer has a confusing taste. I like it, but I can't really figure out what I'm tasting. It's not super hoppy (pale ale difference number 2!), and there's a grainy taste, sort of like bread. And a little bit of apple I think. At first it seemed like there was a lot of carbonation, but only for a few sips. Then it calmed down and was a lot more drinkable. This beer does not have a strong aftertaste.

Final thought - I enjoyed my Country Ale, and I'll be drinking them again next time Kathryn picks up a 6-pack. I don't know if I'd buy them for myself though. It's good, but it's not so great that it sticks in my brain as a new favorite.

-Jon