Oh, and good morning, Joe. GFY!
Hello, Steve.
Did you say you've tried the Pumking? What about the Warlock?
I have tried both, courtesy of Scott. The Pumking was certainly a good expression of pumpkin beer. Very pumpkin-y, with a graham cracker taste that reminded me of pumpkin ice cream. I preferred the Warlock, though. Pumpkin flavors weren't as intense and the sweeter stout base seemed to compliment it more. Pumking would be nice once or twice a year, but I'd put Warlock in my 'rotation' of peanut butter, coffee, and chocolate stouts that I love.
I had a feeling you'd prefer the Imperial. Both good though.
Yeah, I tend to prefer the heavier stuff. But not TOO heavy - those bourbon barrel beers tend to be a bit much for me. Just WAY too sweet most of the time, and too boozy. Which is weird, because I drink bourbon all the time, but for some reason in beers it's overpowering to me. I've had a few recently where barrel influence wasn't very heavy, but they're usually an easy pass when I see some sort of limited release on the shelf. They're more expensive, too, so the decision to not buy them is even easier.
Know what you mean about some of this stuff. I tried a Dragon's Milk, think it was New Holland. 10+abv barrel aged stout. Had some difficulty finishing the 22, but finally downed it. Very boozy, and felt every bit of it. I recently re-visited with the 12oz versions. Easier to finish, but still very potent brews. Really got the bourbon flavor as well. You should give it a try if you haven't already... just to say you did. Ha!
I'll look for them at the shop. Another brand that I haven't noticed but also haven't searched for. I had an Epic Brewing "Big Bad Baptist" a few weeks ago that was good. Bourbon barrel finished but wasn't over the top and I could easily make it through a 22oz bottle. But when I first had Stone's WootStout 2.0, it took me 4 hours to make it through a bottle, haha.
It's probably an easy pass given the variety of brewers in your area, but I think you'd appreciate it.
There is a new Sierra Nevada brewery going in Carolina. The BIL has set me up on a few limited releases because of that. Just not enough others in the area to get many of the options available out there. And if options do turn up, they are usually super limited. Talked to the shop owner when I picked up the Left Hand Octoberfest (which he only got 2 cases) about how he never has the shit I want that everyone is talking about... He's a good guy. We had a nice laugh which ended in, "no seriously".
