Monday - Solid beer, bad name...

I never understood why Dogfish named their Pumpkin Ale, Punkin' Ale. Doesn't it sound stupid? It does. Disagree? let's hear it. Anyhow, that was the big beverage for Monday.

It's actually delicious. I don't get any brown sugar or pumpkin. I smell a bit of spices, but can't make it out to be cinnamom. But the maltiness and crispness of this beer make it an idea session ale (in the American sense that a 7% ABV could be session-worthy). And it would accompany most meals nicely.

Found what? not a liking for this beer

A friend recently relocated to New Jersey.  Yes, some people do this (from Beer Capital of the Northeast - Williamsburg - Brooklyn).  Anyhow, one perk, maybe the only perk is he has access to Founder's Brewing, from Grand Rapids, MI.  As I know, one of the cult beer makers well sought after throughout the land. 

Anyhow, it's not local to me, but I'm including the Founder's he provided in the big week.  Sunday brought out Red's Rye.  To me, this is an unbalanced beer with a thin, white head.   It's bitter but not bitter enough to make you feel like "wow, this is hoppy bitter."  It's malty, but not a malt bomb that makes you chew on each sip.  Just disappointing.

Saturday - welcome my old friend...

There are two defining beers that brought me to love beer. Sure, I drank plenty during high school and some during college.  By senior year of college, we were fixtures every Thursday at Raleigh's.  One Thursday, they poured Pyramid Hefeweizen.  This is enough years ago that, Pyramid was making excellent, excellent beers.  I was in awe and drank about 10 of these. 

Anyhow, what was does that have to do with Saturday?  I returned to Brooklyner Weisse, which I drink about once per year and is the only Brooklyn "core brand" beer I enjoy.  So...

It pours with an amazing, big, aromatic head.   The flavors open up as is warms a bit - citrus, malt, and just crisp.  Every sip begs more food (local corn with a sandwich) and every bite begs another sip.  Just delicious.  See you next year.

Thursday - What happened.

sadly, there was no ale on Thursday.  i failed you.

Friday - Hopfen Magic!

Brooklyn Brewery and G. Schneider released a collaborative beer for the second straight summer - Hopfen Weisse.  It's a hoppy wheat ale that pours with an amazing head and not too strong of a lemon/citrus nose.  That lemon aroma is what bothers me in many renditions of weisse.  I feel like it's taken over!  

Well, this ale is magic. It went perfectly with leftover pepper+corn chowder.  I enjoyed the last bits - at room temperature - as much as the beginning. The beer has a perfect level of carbonation as well - enough to cleanse the palate but not too much to fill the belly.

Too bad I'm a fast drinker and this 16.9 oz beer is $6!