The Field Beers are Here!

Autumn is just two weeks away. With it comes some of the most loved beer styles from all cultures. Over the next few weeks we'll try to profile some of the best - locally made - seasonal offerings to help you ease into the cooler months.

Today we're talking "Field Beers". In particular Pumpkin Beers. Field beers are any beers using vegetables as an adjunct in either the mash, kettle, primary or secondary fermentation.

Our first beer is Uinta's Oak Jacked Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Pours a dark copper orange. The nose is of sweet malt, pumpkin pie spices, vanilla, and some wood notes. The taste is of sweet malt and pumpkin puree up front while nutmeg, allspice vanilla and Bourbon round out the finish. The spices add a sight earthy bitterness that lingers on the palate after each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is an incredibly delicious pumpkin ale with a nice balance of all the flavors. One of the best pumpkin beers, in the Universe.

Our next option is Epic's Fermentation Without Representation, a collaboration beer made with DC Brau Brewing Co. Pours an extremely dark brown color with a small tan head. The nose is huge with pumpkin, squash, ginger, cinnamon, chocolate, roasted malt, clove and caramel. The taste of big with chocolate, roasted malt, pumpkin, caramel, cinnamon, ginger, light coffee, clove, and spices. Fair amount of bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of pumpkin, chocolate, caramel, roasted malt, clove, and spices on the finish for a bit. Medium carbonation and body; with a nice creamy mouthfeel that drinks easily for 7.5%. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming after the finish. Great balance of flavors and bitterness. Overall this is an excellent pumpkin spiced porter.

Next up is Wasatch's Pumpkin Ale. Pours a clear copper hue with a small cap of white foam. The nose was spicy with nutmeg, allspice and malt. The taste starts malty and nutty with great cinnamon and nutmeg essence. The pumpkin pie flavor is right on. the end is clean with a slight hopiness. The finish was slightly sweet. (grocery/convenience stores)

And finally another from Uinta Brewing, Punk'n. Pours a dark, amber color with a thick white head. The nose was spicy with cinnamon and nutmeg. The taste jumps right into a complex spiciness of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and allspice. The end was light and dry with slight cascade hops coming through. The finish was dry and spicy. (grocery/convenience stores)

All of these beers are now available at the respective breweries,  grocery/convenience stores, better beer bars and soon to your local liquor stores.

And a quick note: Radius is now on tap at Desert Edge. This is a golden ale that is wet hopped, with a light, simple malt flavor to emphasize the fresh hop  flavor. Wet hop beers are made when you pick the hops and then pitch or use them right away without drying them. This will go quickly.

Cheers!