Harpoon Octoberfest

I am trying to get into the spirit of Octoberfest, so I decided to try this Octoberfest beer from Harpoon. I knew I was taking a big risk since I was trying actual beer (not cider) and buying a 6-pack. I can't say that I tasted any kind of pumpkin or spice flavor to the beer, but this beer is made in the traditional manner of Octoberfest beers. That means that there is a hint of chocolate and it's not quite as bitter. I can definitely taste the chocolate notes, but I am more of a fan of the pumpkin and spice notes person. I guess I am not the ideal Oktoberfest participant, but I would love to go sometime and am sure I would be a huge fan of the food. I probably won't buy this again, but there are tons of seasonal October beers right now, so get them before their gone.

Pumking Beer

It's that time of year where all the pumpkin recipes are beginning to emerge and you should start to feel a bit of crispness in the air. I won't be experiencing a temperature change for a while, but I am trying to get in the fall spirit with foods. I was lucky enough to get my first pumpkin beer recently. Southern Tier Brewing Company is located in New York and surprisingly has only been around since 2002. However, they are taking the beer world by storm. The Pumking Beer from Southern Tier Brewing Company tastes exactly like pumpkin pie. I didn't believe it at first, but I assure you it does. There is a subtle spiciness to it from allspice, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg (the quintessential spice mix for pumpkin pie). Vanilla and a nutty aroma help round out the flavor and create that pumpkin pie in a glass taste. I am not a huge beer person, but this is definitely a seasonal treat that I might indulge in. If you haven't tried it, be sure to pick up a few to try before they're all gone!

Saint Arnold, A Summer Staple

If you live in the Houston area, there is a very good chance that you have tried or know of the Saint Arnold Brewing Company. Located just outside of downtown, Houston's oldest craft brewer is a great place to beat the summer heat. They offer brewery tours Monday thru Saturday that are both informational and interactive. The tour is a mere $7 dollars and includes a souvenir glass and four samples. These are not one sip samples, so it's definitely a great deal. They usually have about six beers on tap, including the seasonal Summer Pils.

The brewery currently produces about 50,000 barrels a year in the facility. The unique thing about Saint Arnold is that they adhere to the German beer making standard of Reinheitsgebot, which only allows beer to be made with water, barley, hops, and yeast. This allows them to create deeper aromas in the beer, but it is also a more expensive production method.


I don't want to give away all the fun facts about Saint Arnold or where the name came from, so grab a pair of closed toe shoes and head on over to this wonderful little brewery!