Coronado Brewing 'Punk'in Drublic' Imperial Pumpkin Ale. 8% abv. 35 IBU. Orange-honey color. Finger of beige small-bead head. Good retention, nice lace. Nose of caramel, pumpkin, slight cinnamon. Strong honey aroma emerges as the temp rises.

Front taste of honey, pumpkin, nutmeg, sweet tangy citrus notes, brown sugar underneath. Aftertaste is where the bright spices shine, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, ending in a earthy sweet honey finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, thick, sticky, lingering alcohol trail.

This is an excellent pumpkin ale that sets itself apart by emphasizing sweet honey flavor with a bright bouquet of fall spices. Pumpkin beers usually aim for a flavor of pumpkin pie. The flavor in this beer is more of a sweet malty ale that happens to have a ribbon of vegetal pumpkin, held in place by brown sugar and citrus peel. A very enjoyable big autumn ale. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"Here in the land of eternal sunshine, it can be difficult to differentiate between seasons. Palm tree fronds don’t change color and fall to the sand, though the mercury does drop a few degrees, it’s still as paradisiacal as Southern California lore would have you believe. So, from now on, count on this imperial pumpkin ale heralding in the fall season. Brewed with brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and a heaping helping of would be jack-o-lanterns, Punk’In Drublic delivers autumn’s trademark flavors along with a hint of West Coast character, whether enjoyed in a pumpkin patch or on the beach."

[source: coronadobrewing.com]

Coronado Brewing 'Stupid Stout 2015' Imperial Stout. Crown Series. 9% abv. 42 IBU. Black in color with a finger of thick rich mocha head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of coffee, dark chocolate, earth. Front taste of bittersweet chocolate, dark fruit, vanilla on the back. Aftertaste of cocoa powder, bitter plum, raisins, dank earthy hops on the sustain, with a dry finish. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is hot, creamy, sticky, silky.

This is an outstanding imperial stout that sits firmly and shiny in its category. The aroma promises chocolate and coffee, delivering with deep rich flavors all the way through. Ribbons of bitter fruit and vanilla sit under each sip, helping to create a round taste and feel that can only improve with age if you choose to sit on a bottle. Wonderful brew. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"This deep, dark, viscous brew stands up to other imperial stouts as well as the test of time, delivering defined, robust, chocolaty notes with a hint of hop freshness. As this beer ages, those big flavors mellow, leaving behind a smooth, balanced sipper. It's the perfect beer to warm up with as winter cold sets in, or as part of a vertical tasting session many years from now."

[source: bottle]

Coronado Brewing 'Mermaid's Red' Amber Ale. 5.7% abv. Dark ruby color. Two fingers of tan foamy head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of bright herb, mild caramel malt, with floral spice becoming more fragrant as the temp drops. Front taste of bitter herbal hops, light caramel, dank citrus. Aftertaste of cloves, herbal hoppy bite, earthy notes on the sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is foamy, tangy, musty.

This is a good amber ale with a flavor profile unique to its category. The usual malty taste takes a backseat to herbal and floral hops with bright notes of cloves. The aroma starts mildly herbal and malty but becomes quite spicy in time, with the cloves emerging well. They set out to make a different amber ale and they have succeeded. Whether or not this is a good thing is up to you. Personally, I enjoyed this beer, but I prefer less spice and more of a malt backbone in my ambers. Mildly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Mermaid's Red bucks the shallow mid-range red ale stereotype. Loaded with Cascade hops, it delivers a fresh floral aroma and sharp bitter notes, all while delivering a solid kick of roasted malts that fades seamlessly into a rich, chocolaty finish with hints of clove and caramel."

[source: coronadobrewingcompany.com]

Coronado Brewing 'Blue Ridge Coffee Stout'. 5.4% abv. 27 IBU. Black in color. Finger of thick creamy head. Good retention, superb lace. Nose of ground coffee. Front taste of roasted coffee, dark malt, dark chocolate. Aftertaste is smoke, black coffee, cocoa. Thin-medium body. Mouthfeel is carby, bitter sting on the back end.

This is a nice coffee beer. The aroma and taste have plenty of coffee flavor, along with notes of chocolate and some smoke. Compared to non-coffee dry stouts, this beer offers more flavor and character. However, compared to other coffee beers, the flavors here do not impress. The coffee in the aroma does not smell fresh ground, and the taste does not bring to mind a newly poured cup of joe.

Perhaps I'm spoiled by other notable coffee beers, such those from Kona Brewing, Tioga-Sequoia Brewing, and House of Pendragon. Next to those beers, this one is merely adequate, but still yummy. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"Just as the iconic Coronado Bay Bridge connects our island home to the mainland, this java-tinged dry stout, brewed using dark roasted coffee beans from a local San Diego artisanal roaster, provides a bridge uniting craft beer drinkers with CBC’s rich, flavorful SoCal brewing traditions."

[source: coronadobrewingcompany.com]