Tap 79 Brewing Co. Double IPA. 8% abv. 80 IBU. Hazy straw color. Finger of white foamy head. Excellent retention and lacing. Nose of citrus, tropical fruit, juicy, floral. 

Front taste of grapefruit rind, sweet light fruit, bitter floral hops, bitter botanical end note. Flavors of pine emerge as the temp rises. Aftertaste is grapefruit, candy sugar, bitter fruity hop bouquet. Light-medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, carby, dry, sticky, resiny.

This is one of those contract house beers made for and sold by good ol' Trader Joe's, this one brewed by Golden Road out of Los Angeles, CA. TJ's house beers run the gamut from swill to gold, and this DIPA is somewhere in the middle, leaning toward gold. It's clearly modeled after the famous Pliny The Elder, with its bundle of floral hops and plenty of juicy tropics, coming across as a moderately successful clone.

At it's very friendly price point, its definitely worth your time, particularly if you enjoy citrus taste in your IPA. It may become on of your go-to low-price beers, or you may never have it again. Either way, you may be pleasantly surprised. Recommended.

Josef Belgian Blonde Ale. 6% abv. Gold-yellow color with white head. Head is a finger thick off the pour, shortly receding to a thin scattered surface. Low-moderate retention. Decent lacing. Aroma is bready, floral. Front taste is mild sweet hoppy, malty. Aftertaste is grain, crackers, with the sweetness falling to a dry finish. Thin body. Mouthfeel is sticky, clingy, but brief.

This is one of those beers brewed on contract for Trader Joe's, which is hit-and-miss with its house beers. This entry was more enjoyable than expected, definitely a good value, but far below most other blonde ales or Belgian beers. I probably won't buy this again. However, I would encourage you to try it if only to compare to other Belgian beers you’ve enjoyed. Mildly recommended.

From the brewery:

"In this bottle is Belgian brewery know-how dating back to 1867 - the year the recipe was created. It’s a crisp, golden ale brewed using only water, malted barley, hops, and yeast. The dry-hopping procedure, in which uncooked hop heads are added after the brewing process, gives this beer its unique floral aroma and taste."

Kennebunkport Brewing Co. Pumpkin Ale. 4.7% abv. Gold-yellow color with a half-finger of white head that drops alarmingly fast. Very low retention, no lacing. Nose is tangy sweet, caramel, nutmeg, an overtone of citrus-orange. Front taste of light brown sugar, pumpkin, spice. Syrupy sweet. Tropical fruit on the back end. Aftertaste is brief, with notes of orange candy, faint pumpkin notes, distant hops. Thin-medium body. Mouthfeel is thin, slightly sticky with a faint carb.

This beer was a disappointment, particularly in comparison to other superior pumpkin beers out there. This brew does taste like spicy pumpkin pie at first, but further focus reveals odd combinations of fruits, candy, and an overall sugary sweetness that doesn't fit well. Rather than tasting like fresh pumpkin was added to the mash, it tastes like a pumpkin-flavored fruit punch was poured into an average ale. Pass on this one.

From the brewery:

"Kennebunkport Brewing Company (KBC) Pumpkin Ale is a pale ale with hints of pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg, as crisp and refreshing as the season itself.  The seasonal seasonings deliver the promised profile, which enhances rather than distracts from the overall ale experience.  This beer is available only through the autumn, and only while we can keep it in stock – demand is high and supplies are limited due to the limited production capability of the brewery.  So enjoy it while you can, because when it's gone, it won't be back until next year, when you can be sure we'll be waxing prosaic once again."

The head fell to this thin collar in less than a minute. A minute later, there was no trace of it

Stockyard Oatmeal Stout. 5.2% abv. Dark brown in color. Thick tan head with good retention and lace. Nose of oat grain, coffee, notes of chocolate. Front taste of roasted sweet malt, oat, chocolate, raisins, distant vanilla. Aftertaste of malt, bittersweet chocolate, notes of coffee. Medium body. Mouthfeel is creamy, silky, with a dry finish.

This is an excellent beer, better than some oatmeal brews at higher prices. Recommended.

This beer is a product of Josephs Brau (Trader Joe’s) but was actually brewed by Gordon Biersch. Prior to this, it was brewed by Goose Island.

From the brewery:

"Stockyard is a meticulously crafted stout, positively brimming with oats, chocolate and roasted malt flavors. This is a hearty, creamy stout in the Irish tradition, with a deep, dark color and rich, tan head. Its chocolate, roasted oats and coffee flavors make it incredibly smooth and just a touch sweet. It's an excellent match for our Huntsman Cheese or pretty much anything made with dark chocolate. We'll also confess that it's quite delicious on its own."

[source: traderjoes.com]

Simpler Times Lager. 6.2% abv. Gold honey color. Nice bubbly head that's sadly gone in a minute flat. Decent lace from the thin lingering ring. Sweet candy aroma. Tastes of syrupy caramel and faint grain. Mild hop detected in the brief aftertaste. Sticky mouthfeel coupled with a thin, watery body.

This is one of those cheapie house brand beers (Trader Joe's) that is clearly made extra sweet to hide its shortcomings. That being said, the beer is drinkable and better than expected. However, I won't be buying it again.

This beer is made by Minhas Craft Brewery exclusively for Trader Joe’s.

From the brewery:

"Simpler Times Beer is maybe the most accurately named beer we’ve ever encountered. To us, the name harkens back to a time when things moved a little more slowly, when ingredients were a little easier to pronounce, when what you ate and drank were pretty, well, simple. Simpler Times is made for us (Trader Joe’s) in small batches by a family-owned craft brewery in Wisconsin. They use old-world recipes and ingredients like all natural hops and barley. And just like in simpler times, they never add any of the fillers found in some beers. Those fillers are generally added to keep a beer’s alcohol content up, while lowering costs. Problem is, by using fillers like corn or rice, the flavor is seriously compromised, and with Simpler Times, flavor is the number one priority. Simpler Times Lager is a crisp clean, dry beer that’s pretty much perfectly balanced. Light in color and body, this is a wonderfully refreshing and thirst quenching everyday beer. Simpler Times Pilsner is a classic, old-world style pilsner. Straw-colored with a brilliant hop bitterness throughout, this is an excellent beer to enjoy with a meal."

[source: traderjoes.com]

Whatever you do, do not confuse these two beers.