Tioga-Sequoia Brewing 'Firefall Red' American Red Ale. 5.2% abv. 20 IBU. Red-orange color. Two fingers of ivory foamy head. Superb retention and lace. Nose of amber malt, light herbal, round grain. Front taste of mellow bitter berry, brown sugar, smooth bitter fruity hops. Aftertaste is balance of bitter fruity and herbal hops, finishes dry. Medium body. Mouthfeel is cool, dry, clingy.

This is an excellent red ale, expertly crafted and firmly within category. There are few flavors here but they strike well, with a nice bitter balance and a round taste of light fruity and herbs. The wrangling of the hop bill makes for a refreshing easy beer without sacrificing flavor.

Red and Amber ales are often overlooked in our modern craft beer world of extreme IPAs, barrel aged behemoths, and imperial everything. What we have here is a simple red that nails a bullseye and is better than most in its category. If that remotely sounds good to you, seek out this brew. Wonderful beer. Very well recommended.

From the brewery:

"For a few weeks in February in the heart of Yosemite National Park, if conditions are just right, the setting sun sets the Horsetail Fall ablaze with reds and oranges; like a fire falling down the cliffs of El Capitan. Photographers and park visitors gather from all over just to grab a glimpse of this natural phenomenon. Our American Red Ale features a bright malt profile with a crisp and refreshing hop balance. The texture from malt and blend of Columbus and Crystal hops complement each other perfectly creating a balanced red ale that anyone can enjoy."

[source: tiogasequoia.com]

Anderson Valley 'Fall Hornin' Pumpkin Ale. 6% abv. 20 IBU. Deep ruby color, nearly black. Two fingers of foamy tan head. Good retention, excellent lacing. Nose of sweet bread, pumpkin, cloves. Nutmeg emerges in the aroma as the temp drops. Front taste of caramel, pumpkin, nutmeg, herbal back end. Aftertaste of bright bitter spice, cinnamon, herbal hops on the sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, creamy, carby, with a dry finish.

This is an excellent pumpkin beer. It's not as tall and complex as its premium brethren, Pinchy Jeek Barl, but it is easily more flavorful and delivers more pumpkin taste than most beers in this seasonal category. The aroma is fully supported by the taste, offering bright pumpkin pie spice, thick layers of pumpkin and malt, with herbal hops in the background. Very good stuff. Try it while you can, as this is a fall seasonal treat. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"With a brilliant, deep copper hue and creamy beige-colored head, our Fall Hornin’ Pumpkin Ale has inviting aromas of caramelized malt and baking bread with highlights of cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin and seasonal spices. The pleasantly creamy mouthfeel and silky body embrace the sweet caramel flavors and tang of spices (with just hint of hops) that ends in a smooth, round finish."

[source: avbc.com]

Thick foamy, bubbly head stays with you a while, releasing that sweet spicy aroma.

Samuel Adams 'Fat Jack' Double Pumpkin Ale. 8.5% abv. 25 IBU. Black in color. Finger of tan thick creamy head. Outstanding retention and lacing. Nose of nutmeg, allspice, pumpkin. Front taste of sweet dark malt, heavy pumpkin, cloves on the sustain. Aftertaste is pure pumpkin pie, nutmeg, cinnamon, nutmeg. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, creamy, sweet finish.

This is an outstanding beer. The aroma is spicy, sweet, promising plenty of pumpkin. The taste delivers with a ton of pumpkin and a dark warm spice bouquet. Most pumpkin beers are lacking, but this is one of the few big bold pumpkin beers that offers a rich, complex autumn beer. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Pleasantly plump and satisfied. This rich and luscious brew indulges in flavor with over 28 lbs. of pumpkin per barrel, for a full bodied sweetness and deep russet color.  Classic pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice ignite a warmth and spark that’s deepened by an undercurrent of roasty smoked malts.  The result is a delectable brew full of enveloping layers of flavor and spice."

[source: samueladams.com]

Samuel Adams OctoberFest. 5.3% abv. 16 IBU. Seasonal brew. Deep copper color. Finger of white foamy head that gradually falls to a thick collar. Good retention and lace. Nose of toffee, roasted malt. Front taste of sweet malt, caramel, biscuits, nutty. Aftertaste of warm brown sugar, dark fruit, nutty, distant herbal. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, smooth, creamy, coating the tongue.

This is an excellent beer, one of the better Oktoberfest brews to come out each fall season. The taste from beginning to end is high malt, sweet, rich, smooth, with a creamy finish. I love trying the many different Oktoberfest beers offered each year, but this one is a reliable standard. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"In 1810, the Oktoberfest tradition was born when Munich celebrated the Crown Prince’s wedding with a special beer and 16-day party. Our version of this classic style blends rich malts for a hearty, smooth flavor with notes of caramel creating a brew that’s perfect for the season, or whatever you’re celebrating. Cheers!"

[source: samueladams.com]

New Belgium 'Tour de Fall' Pale Ale. 6% abv. 38 IBU. Amber in color. Clear. A solid finger of head off the pour. Good retention and great lace all the way down. Nose of faint malt and hops with notes of citrus. Front taste has a touch of caramel, grapefruit. Aftertaste is where the hops finally come out, with a malty background and a strong citrus-grapefruit sustain. Thin body. Mouthfeel is watery, low carb. 

This is a decent pale ale. Good and worth a try, but there are far better bottles to be had within this category. Mildly recommended.

From the brewery:

"New Belgium's love for beer, bikes and benefits is best described by being at Tour de Fat. Our love for Cascade and Amarillo hops is best tasted in our Tour de Fall Pale Ale. We're cruising both across the country during our favorite time of year. Hop on!"

Sierra Nevada 'Flipside' Red IPA. 6.2% abv. 60 IBU. An alternative summer beer. Red-amber color with off-white head. Low retention. Nose of herbs and citrus peel. First taste is hops and bitter fruit, like grapefruit. Balanced hop aftertaste. Thin-medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, small-bead carb.

This is a good beer that tries to strike a middle ground between different styles. It’s got the easy drinkability and citrus notes of a summer beer, but with the slightly malty back of an amber. It’s not as good as many IPAs, but better than most red ales. I could certainly have a couple of these in one sitting. That being said, it is far from the best that Sierra Nevada has to offer.

From the brewery:

"A hop-forward fix for the first days of fall. Just when it feels like the dog days will never end, suddenly, the switch is flipped, the air gets cooler and it’s clear that autumn is on the way. Featuring a ruby-red hue and abundant tropical fruit and citrus hop flavors, Flipside Red IPA is the perfect beer for the final flash of summer."