Game Day Beer Review: Anderson Valley Fall Hornin' Pumpkin Ale

Fall Hornin' was poured from the can into a pint glass on a recent autumn weekend. The beer was a brilliantly clear, tannish-red color with a mocha-colored head that was composed of bubbles of mixed sizes.

The fall offering from Anderson Valley smelled mostly of unidentifiable pumpkin pie spices, but we did discern cinnamon and just the a slightest hint of Band-Aid. Pumpkin spices dominated the upfront taste, as well, and we tasted the cinnamon and perhaps some nutmeg, as well.

The sweetness of the malt was a little more than we would have liked to have seen -- this is not something that we would choose to session.  The beer had a medium mouthfeel with average carbonation. B

Game Day Beer Review: Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout

(6.9% ABV). Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout was poured from a bomber-sized bottle into a tulip glass at a recent celebratory affair.  The beer poured a thick, dark chocolate color with a massive tan-colored head composed of millions of bubbles of mixed sizes.  As the beer's name implies, this offering from Anderson Valley was aged in bourbon barrels from famed Wild Tuurkey distillery.  The first version of this partnership to be produced is an aged version of the brewer's Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout.

The beer's smell was primarily composed of the malt flavors up front, with just a mild hint of bourbon on the back end. The taste was a luscious chocolate, with the bourbon very mild and saved for an ultra smooth finish -- a finish that was complemented by the rich taste of dark chocolate. The beer's mouthfeel is medium, as is the carbonation. Recommended: A-

Game Day Beer Review: Anderson Valley Brother David's Triple Abbey Style Ale

(10.00% ABV) Brother David's poured a cherry reddish brown, with a delicate, fizzy head that dissolved almost instantaneously. Thee beer was poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a chalice at the corporate office during a recent after-hours Friday night boozer.

The beer smelled primarily of yeast and light fruits. Upon tasting, it leads with a banana sweetness that was ultimately followed and smoothed over by a slight maltiness. It's an incredibly smooth offering from one of our favorite -- underrated, as well as understated -- American breweries. A-

Game Day Beer Review: Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale

It was a little difficult to see the color of this beer, as it was poured into a plastic Solo Cup, but it offered a luscious off white head, and was drunk at The Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Arnold Palmer's home golf course, located in Orlando, Florida.

Boont Amber smelled primarily of malt and caramel, with a slight chocolate undertone.

It wasn't as sweet on the taste as one might have expected. Boont's taste was nicely balanced and restrained: a caramel malt flavor with a medium body and good carbonation. B+

Game Day Beer Review: Anderson Valley Brewing Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

Barney Flats pours a deep, dark chocolate color with a massive head of mixed-size, mahogany-colored bubbles.

We found a pleasing combination of malt and hops on the nose. The beer smells like coffee.

The roasted malt flavor dominates the first sip -- it tastes a bit like coffee, too, or maybe a rich espresso. The beer has a medium mouthfeel, and a luxuriously silky, dry finish.

This beer is very approachable, and a great version of a style that most people don't drink very often. After having one of these from Anderson Valley Brewing, a favorite here at the corporate office, we ask "Why not?!" A-

Game Day Beer Review: Hop Ottin' American IPA

Poured from the bottle at home, Hop Ottin' was a deep reddish-gold color, almost purple in nature, with an absolutely massive off-white head. As the head receded, some decent bit of lacing was left behind.

The dominant smells of the beer were mild pine and citrus.

The malt was barely noticeable on tasting, as the hops dominated -- but in a very nice way. This particular beer is a bit sweeter than most IPAs, and doesn't have the ultra bitter finish that turns me off from a lot of its brethren. Hop Ottin' was nice and mellow, and exceptionally well balanced, with an oily mouthfeel testifying to the fact it's a true IPA.

Hop Ottin' -- from Anderson Valley Brewing in Northern California -- could well be my favorite IPA on the market. This is a "run out and get yourself some today" type of recommendation: A

Game Day Beer Review: Anderson Valley Brewing Summer Solstice Cream Ale

Summer Solstice poured a warm caramel color with an off-white head that disappeared before I was able to properly appreciate it.

The beer's smell was sweet toffee, with some tart apple notes also apparent. As it warmed I got a faint whiff of rum.

Solstice's taste was way different that most other summer beers. The taste of heavy, sweet caramel flavor lingered on the palate, while some lively carbonation kept it interesting.  A very pleasant way to while away a hot summer day....  B

Clueless

photo by Tambako the Jaguar	via PhotoRee

Manchester United travel to Molineux, on a weekend full of goals, to take on a Wolves side that is notoriously tough to beat at home. United channel Los Blancos today in their all white kits, but it's doubtful they'll remain unblemished for long, as the pitch more accurately resembles a muddy cow pasture than an EPL-worthy playing field.

United open in typical fashion, with another early goal helping to settle the nerves.  This time it's Nani, not Rooney, putting the ball in the back of the net to give the visitors a quick 1-nil lead, as George Elokobi gives Nani more than the inch of space he needs, and the Portuguese hit man beats Wolves 'keeper Wayne Hennessy on the near side.

In fact, in the early going Wolves' defensive plan today seems to involve giving United as much space as they desire, with both Rooney and Nani testing the keeper with stinging efforts before the ten minute mark.
Elokobi eventually makes up for his error at the other end, though, as on ten minutes the game is back to square, with United switching off yet again on a set play. Elokobi steers Jarvis' corner into the back of Vandy's net, and it's game on.