The Hangover: Homecoming Edition

This past weekend was my little college's homecoming. That means there was a lot of school spirit, a few lacrosse games, and a hopping beer tent. The beer tent was especially noteworthy this year because we only had Michigan craft beer—which was a first. I took full advantage of drinking as much Michigan beer as I could on Saturday, and had the hangover on Sunday to prove it.

The theme of the afternoon.

The beer tent opened its flaps to the public at 1 pm, but offered a special sampling an hour early. AKA—I was drinking by noon. Don’t worry, I had alumni and other beer nerds drinking right alongside me so there was no judgement whatsoever. Even the president of my college was there at high noon tossing 'em back with me. He's the best. All in all, I sampled six very different Michigan craft beers hailing from the East Side to the West. Bear with me as I try to describe them, the details are a little hazy. I may have pre-gamed the beer tent Jamaican Style:

Nothing like a few Red Stripes before noon.

  

Here's what I can remember about the six Michigan beers that we sampled:

Perrin's Golden Ale: This was the first beer of the sampling. It was super light and little bit malty. Some of the drinkers at my table found the Perrin Golden Ale to be comparable to Bud Light...and I can't disagree. But if you like your macro-brews, definitely try this out and support the little guys too.

Rochester Mills' Milkshake Stout:I was initially excited to see this sweet treat on the selection list because I love stouts, a lot. The Milkshake Stout was sugary with an obvious chocolate presence and coffee flavor. It was fairly thin though, which was fine for binge drinking on a Saturday afternoon, but outside of the beer tent this wouldn't be my first choice for a stout.

Arcadia's Jaw-Jacker: It was more like a shot of Fireball mixed into apple cider than a pumpkin beer. Don't get me wrong—it was good—but the immediate taste of cloves, sweet cinnamon and allspice dominated the overall flavor. Although, most of the drinkers at my table thought this was the best beer of the afternoon. It definitely was memorable.

Right Brain's Will Power Pale Ale: I'm pretty sure I liked this one. From what I remember it had a light burst of hops, which was welcome after all of the spice from the Jaw-Jacker. The Will Power was a solid version of the English Pale Ale—a little bitter,  hoppy, citrusy and a teeny bit sweet. 

Frankenmuth's Oktoberfest: I'm not sure what was going on here, and I'm not trying to start anything...but this wasn't very good. At all. And I'm 50% German, so it's not personal. Maybe the beer truck just had a bad batch, or maybe my palate isn't sophisticated enough to appreciate this style of beer. All I know is that my table thought this tasted like bready, dirty water. That's all that I'm going to say.

Petoskey's Mind's Eye PA: My beer drinkers were divided on this one. A few thought it was too bitter or too dry. However, I've been diggin' IPAs lately. Personally, I thought the assertive hoppy flavor was a good addition to the Michigan beer line-up.

Long story short: my hangover was definitely worth it. Sure, all the beers weren't home runs but that's what sampling is about. You find out what you like and then you know what to look for in the future. Plus, this style of sampling exposed me to microbreweries from all over Michigan, some that I had never tried before, and it only cost me $10. But, the shining moment of the beer tent was simply getting to day drink with my college prez. If you knew him, you'd understand.

Where My Ladies At?

Light a candle. Draw a bath. Listen to Lay, Lady, Lay on repeat. This Friday Favorite is like champagne/wine mixed with beer. Go buy Soft Parade by Short’s Brewing and have some “you time.” I know it sounds creepy, but bear with me. My dad thinks this beer isn't “beery” enough, but I love it, and so will you. 

Lately, I've been clogging up my blog with hoppy IPA’s or dark, rich, porters. It’s great that I love them but I need to branch out. I have an infinite amount of room in my heart for various  types of beers because I'm single—let's not bring it up again. It’s time to slow it down and class it up. 

Soft Parade is a great mix of both worlds. The fruit isn't artificial tasting—which often happens in blueberry or cherry beers. Instead, it incorporates an odd combination of blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries into a high gravity ale. In case you’re like me and don’t know what a high gravity beer is: it pretty much means that the final alcohol content or gravity is higher. Soft Parade clocks in at 9% ABV. The only problem is: you can’t taste the high level of alcohol. After one of these mamas, I’m feeling it without realizing that it is highly alcoholic. I love that level of bang for your buck—am I right?

My roommate Gabi took this. She's pretty talented. 

So, I poured it into a tulip-ish glass and it looked like blush wine, ruby pink in hue, slightly bubbly with barely any head. You can immediately smell the fruits of the forest. By then you'll want to take a drink. It tastes like sleeping in late on the weekends and watching “Gilmore Girls” until noon. It tastes like every Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks romance movie ever made. If those details aren't descriptive enough, or you’re a man that needs more convincing—I’ll tell you the real sensory details. It’s immediately sweet but there is a significant taste of rye beer—which makes it worthwhile. The fruit flavor isn't overwhelming but the beer finishes like champagne: crisp and sweet. It’s almost like a wine cooler without the guilt of actually buying and enjoying a wine cooler.

Please don’t think you have to be a lady to drink this. This is not a feminine beverage. I am not sexist and I am not adhering to gender stereotypes, I am simply saying I like this beer, I’m a girl and other girls and guys should try it too. This is 2013, let’s start acting like it. 

Beers. Bikes. Battlestar Galactica.

Hilarious.

Let's be honest: I don't know anything about Battlestar Galactica. I had no intention of connecting beer and biking to Battlestar Galactica. Real talk: I had no title for this blog. But, I love the episode of The Office when Jim impersonates Dwight and says "Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica." I'm sorry if I've digressed into oblivion. I'm getting back on track rigggghht now.

The title is at least 2/3 correct. Beer and biking is starting to be a "thing" in the world of craft beer. Basically, beer drinkers will tour various breweries by cycling to each one. There are an increasing number of companies planning these trips. Right here in Michigan, you should check out Motor City Bike and Brew Tour, which let's cyclists experience the beer industry of Detroit as well as the city's history of alcohol in general.

Some trips only bike for 20 miles and stop at 2 or 3 breweries. Other trips cover dozens of miles and last almost a week. Usually the beercycling (I love that this is an ACTUAL term) is lead by a guide who has an "in" at the breweries. The focus of these trips is not JUST drinking, it's supposed to be educational too. Once your bike gang arrives to the brewery Hell's Angels style, you usually get a tour of the taproom, tasting of the beer, and maybe even a chitchat with the brewmaster. Then you pedal off the calories and repeat the process at the next stop.

I know what you're thinking: "can I get a DUI biking while drunk?" I'm 72% sure that you can, at least in Michigan. Driving is driving, so the bike tours usually have a back up plan in the event a cyclist get Alabama slammered. Actually, some beercycling companies have a DD on standby for the longer treks, just in case a biker gets wasted—as sometimes bikers do. As I said earlier, this is not a booze cruise; it's tasting and riding and learning, which is how it remains legal. But, as long as you can limit your drinking and deal with a sore ass afterwards, I think this would be a perfect weekend trip for anyone who likes to day drink.

Now I just have two questions to ask:
1. Who wants to go on a beercycle ride with me?
2. Who has a bike I can borrow?

It's Impossible to Turn Down Half Off Pints.

I know that I wrote about Founders last week when they reopened for ArtPrize. But that was all from word of mouth. Tonight, I actually checked out the expansion for myself, and it was impressive. I’m talking two open fire-pits impressive, and a whole lotta extra seating.

You may think that Founders is paying me for all of the publicity on my blog. But they are not— yet (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). I would be happy one day to try their beer and get paid for my inebriated ramblings about it, but that day is not today. But, I can still appreciate $2.50 pints on Mondays; it’s almost as good as free beer.

Tonight, my roommates wanted to celebrate a hard day of classes. I had a rough weekend of watching “The I.T. Crowd” on Netflix and drinking. Then today, I had one 75 minute class, so yeah; I was ready to cut loose for a night, keep your judgments to yourself. Plus, I have a few papers that I still have to write for tomorrow and drinking is one of the most effective means of procrastinating. What have I said before about “writing drunk and editing sober?” That it’s genius, and guarantees success.***

We found a DD for the night (god bless her) and headed down to the new and improved Founders Brewing Co. It’s beautiful. The porch now stretches almost to the road, with brick tiles, high top tables and two glorious fire pits. The ceiling is equipped with massive heaters that would scare the shit out of even the largest birds. Now the outdoor porch has its own bar, complete with an attentive bar staff, tall chairs and beer—duh.

The all-season eating/dining area has blossomed as well. The inside used to seem cramped, as though unless you arrived at an off time you couldn't find a table. Now the seating stretches past the kitchen and into a whole new alcove. Founders has managed to keep the cozy microbrew vibe all the while expanding to fit the booming industry. I know that Founders rushed to complete the project in time for ArtPrize, but they did a phenomenal job.

That's me, with the Inspired Artist Black IPA. I am absolutely feeling the 7.5%.

Speaking of ArtPrize, I finally drank the Inspired Artist Black IPA in the most delicious form: draft. I’m warming up to IPAs, and this one was gooooood. It wasn’t too bitter—as I always fear IPAs will be—but had a strong citrus flavor that mixed well with a hint of smoky pine. It was a 7.5% ABV, but it disguised the alcohol content a little too well for a Monday night (again, this is not a place to judge me). I ended up getting a Centennial IPA too. The Centennial IPA was  hop-heavy with more citrus and honey flavors than I was expecting. As my second beer of the night the flavors had the dangerous ability to hide the high alcohol content, which was a smooth and unassuming 7.2%. Although it was a Monday night and I have a long list of things to do this week, it was so worth it. Beer is always worth it.






***This is also a very good way to flunk out of college if you’re not an English major. Even if you are an English major, please don’t follow this advice.

Milk Stout Nitro

It shouldn't be a surprise to learn that I love my beer dark. Lately, I can't seem to drink enough java porters, imperial stouts, and milk stouts. Left Hand Brewing does great variations on the milk stout. They have their traditional and roasty Milk Stout and then the sweet, gentle, creamy, Milk Stout Nitro.

Is that my Blunderbuss vinyl hiding behind the beer? How did that get there?

Ignore the crazy glass, my mom stole it from a bar in her youth. I would just recommend putting it in a pub glass and skipping the larceny altogether, but I'm not here to judge. Anyway, you can see this beer is Guinness-caliber dark. It has a fluffy two-finger head—or it would have if I didn't drink it so fast in utter delight. I'll note that this beer does require a different pour than a slow, loving pour of non-nitro brew. Because this beer is jacked with nitrogen it has to have a "hard pour." The best way to pour to get a whipped cream-ish head is by watching this guide: http://milkstoutnitro.com/ (first you'll have to confirm that you're of "drinking age"). 

Once the beer slooshes into the glass it's beautiful. The whole beer is thick and creamy. There are hints of roasted coffee, chocolate, and brown sugar. I couldn't believe the quality of this beer for only $2.19 per bottle at Siciliano's, I'm sure other craft beer stores will sell it for around the same price. If you're trying your hand at dark beers or milk stouts, I would definitely recommend starting right here with Left Hand. 

Hopefully more breweries will use this fancy nitrogen process in their porters and stouts. The nitrogen has a clever way of cutting the bitterness of a stout and leaving behind a decadent product. Left Hand Brewing has perfected the nitro-infusion, which is why they currently hold the key to my heart (whether or not they want it...).

Get Some Good Juju

People are starting to get sick. It's all around me: coughing, sneezing, itching, crying. I'm terrified of getting sick this year. Last year I caught some strand of the Bubonic Plague and I was dead for a week.Well, I got better...but I refuse to get sick this year. However, in case my body does betray me I have a "get well soon" beer on standby:

If you have a stomachache, or a headache (hangover), or you stubbed your toe, or you have a cough, or someone was mean to you at school, I would drink Good Juju by Left Hand Brewing. It's ginger ale-not like Vernor's, but the real kind, the alcoholic kind. Ginger is naturally associated with healing, so no one will judge you for drinking a beer when you're sick. Even if you're not sick, this beer is light and sweet, like an adult ginger ale. It has hints of lemongrass and malt that blend well with the obvious presence of ginger. Plus, the name Good Juju is just compelling your body to get rid of the bad vibes. 

If you are unfortunate and get sick this year. First, make sure your life is not endangered. Ginger Ale will not cure any medical emergencies. But, if you're in the clear and just feel a little under the weather, get some Good Juju going by drinking this ale.Unfortunately, this beer is seasonal, and not available at this time. Stock up next summer when Left Hand brews a batch, and save it for the sniffles of fall and winter.

ArtPrize and Beer

Founders just finished a massive expansion project —on a Monday, the day of $2.50 pints. It FINALLY reopened after closing its doors September 5th. It’s only been a week and a half, but it’s felt like forever.

Founders closed down recently to quickly finish construction before ArtPrize kicks off this Wednesday. This year the first official beer of ArtPrize is from Founders. The Inspired Artist Black IPA is a hoppy, malty, citrusy—if that doesn’t describe it well enough, than you’ll just have to try it for yourself. The 7.5% black IPA will sport the ArtPrize logo and be available throughout the event. As you can see, it was essential that Founders finished its expansion in time for the annual art extravaganza. Our city loves ArtPrize. It’s kind of a big deal.

After months of caution tape, limited parking, and orange barrels, Founders is ready to accommodate their many fans. Now the brewery on 235 Grandville Ave. is 40% bigger. They expanded the taproom to make room for more brewing. They added an educational viewing area for beer tourism. They expanded the patio to hold the growing number of cool people who all drink together and discuss art, music and movies (seriously, the people who frequent Founder’s are so hip). I can’t wait to go see it. There’s probably so much room for activities.

Founders is the golden child brewery of Grand Rapids. They have great food, an awesome atmosphere and some of the best beer in Michigan. Now is the perfect time to go to downtown Grand Rapids. You’ll be free to meander through the 1,500 pieces of art that have taken over our city. Once your brain hurts from trying to decipher what the artist “is trying to say,” keep wandering towards Founders. Order an Inspired Artist Black IPA, and I guarantee everything will make sense.*

*disclaimer: it won’t help you understand art. But, it’ll taste good. That should be enough.

Beer Makes You Fat?

No. Bread makes you fat…at least according to Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World. But there is a slight caveat that Ramona Flowers does not mention: pretty much anything is okay in moderation.

Some girls think of beer drinkers as smelly, middle aged men with beer bellies protruding from their wife beaters. I’m just gonna squash that stereotype right now—I don’t even own a wife beater. Also, girls associate beer with bloating and an overall “full” feeling. This is how Miller 64 actually makes money; people will always sacrifice taste to save calories. But beer only makes you full if you shotgun 4 of them in 5 minutes. Ain’t nobody got money to drink like that from microbreweries.

Although craft beer has a reputation for being heavy and making people heavy, it’s not the only drink with calories. Alcoholic beverages are fairly caloric by nature. Take a look at the calories content in some of these drinks:

Arbor Mist Exotic Fruits (8oz)—170 calories

Cosmopolitan (2.5oz)—170 calories

Tequila Shot (1.5oz)—97 calories

Rum and Diet Coke (10oz)—115 calories

Craft Beer Ale (12oz)—165 calories

I may be picking sides here, but drinking beer is not any worse than drinking a cocktail. In some situations, especially when you look at it ounce for ounce, craft beer is better than many alcoholic drinks. Plus, beer is meant to be enjoyed over a little bit of time. It’s not a shot, it’s not a 4 ounce mix drink—it’s a 12 ounce experience.

I do have to mention that with beer that the higher the alcohol content is, the higher the calorie count. The alcohol comes from from sugar in the beer, and sugar has calories. However, if you drink a beer with a 9% ABV, you’ll feel it. Although it’ll be over 200 calories, you’ll feel the effects more than you’d feel one Cosmopolitan for 170 calories.

So if you’re one of the girls “just trying to get back to her birth weight,” fear not. Remember the words of your high school health teacher when she talked about moderation. As long as you don’t make it your nightly mission to get white girl wasted on stouts and porters…you’ll be fine enjoying a beer or two. 

Let's Get Weird: Odd Side Ale's Bean Flicker

Today, I found myself getting ready to pour my 6^th cup of coffee. I looked in the fridge for some creamer and instead found a Bean Flicker (blonde ale with coffee from Odd Side Ales) that I had bought a few weeks ago. It was already 3 in the afternoon, so I made an audible “ehhhhh” and swapped my coffee and cream for coffee and beer.

Beer and coffee can result in a beautiful friendship. I've already mentioned Atwater’s Vanilla Java Porter as a particularly stellar beer. Porters and stouts are predestined to open their arms to notes of chocolate, vanilla and rich coffee. But in a golden ale? That mix shouldn't go together—but it does, and I’ll tell you why.

Think of the blonde roast from Starbucks. It’s light, it’s pleasant…but it’s a little weak. You can manipulate a blonde roast with a number of flavors and it will taste good, because coffee always tastes good. Blonde ales have that similar unassuming baseline and they play nice with others. Although it’s not as rich and creamy as a porter or a stout, golden ales can effectively integrate coffee—just in a totally different way.

Here’s what you’ll experience with Bean Flicker:

First, it’ll taste like a chilled version of a carbonated light roast coffee. I was expecting to find rogue coffee grounds at the bottom of the bottle, BUT IT WAS JUST BEER. I have no idea how Odd Side Ales did it. I’m not saying it's witchcraft, but it definitely happened.

Next comes the beer. Moderately bitter, with a hint of sweet grains, but refreshing—exactly like golden ale. As it swishes through the mouth-hole down to the throat-tube it’s easy to see that both flavors go together in a surprisingly palatable way.

My roommates tried Bean Flicker with me (this is me subtly telling you that I was NOT day drinking alone) and we all loved it because it was unlike any beer we've had. Craft beer is supposed to be interesting and an adventure. I will say though, if you’re one of those girls who only likes their coffee in frappuccino form—I wouldn't pluck this particular beer off the shelf.

Also, just because Bean Flicker is sort of like a blonde roast coffee—that does not mean you should pour this into your travel mug and hit the road for that morning commute. At the very least, wait until you’re sitting at your desk to enjoy this unexpected take on the American Blonde Ale.

Beer Pouring 101

Some nights (afternoons, mornings, etc...) I am an overeager beaver when it comes to beer. I slam it into a pint glass and then cry as my beer bubbles over the side and onto the floor. After wasting too much beer, I decided to get a crash course on "The Art of Pouring" from my dad.

He started with some geometry jargon, telling me to tip my glass 45 degrees and to slowly pour half the beer into the vessel. Then, i'm supposed to skillfully tilt the glass 90 degrees and pour the rest in to get a "good head." I am not a math major and I do not own a protractor, compass, abacus, or any type of instrument that would help me in this geometric endeavor. As an English Major, I was forced to translate his brew-boy lingo into my native tongue.

So that's how I came to think of pouring beer as a Jane Austen-ian introduction.

The proud beer bows first to the maiden glass, keeping his neck parallel to the floor in propriety.
The beautiful, yet independent glass curtsies to meet the bowing beer (still at a 45 degree angle. I can't escape math).
Then the fair and intelligent lady glass bends back up halfway through the introduction to look at her tall, dark and delicious (and hopefully rich) man bottle.
Now the upright glass is full of beer and the bottle is completely empty.

I urge you to not take this analogy any deeper. I did not intend to make a sexual innuendo from this beer pouring guide. Even though it is definitely is heading in that direction.

At this point you have slightly aerated beer with a decent amount of foam. A little bit of foam is a good thing on a glass of beer that you're not trying to chug. It looks cool and the bursty foam bubbles let the nose in on the beer action.

I hope this guide helps you pour beer with confidence. I also hope that you don't judge me too much for the Pride and Prejudice analogy, sometimes I feel like I could be cool one day, but my mind wont let me.

So go pour yourself a perfect glass of beer without the fear of wasting a single tasty drop.

Favorites Friday: Part Deux

So I may be drunk right now, but that wont stop me from posting this blog. As Hemingway said "write drunk and edit sober," but there's no time for editing--so whoops. I have a favorite beer to promote and my inebriation will not stop me. This is a hazard of the blog. It's my cross to bear.

This Friday, I'll actually promote my roommate's favorite beer: All Day IPA from Founder's Brewery, right here in good ol' Grand Rapids. This is a great segue into hopsational IPA's (India Pale Ale) because it's fruity and delicious and refreshing, without the bite. My roommate has great taste in beer.

The All Day IPA is exactly what it promotes. It is a beer for any day, any time and any season. There is a strong grapefruit taste, so if you hate grapefruit, this isn't the IPA for you. If you like grapefruit, then IP-YAY, because you're going to love this.

All Day IPA is best served out of a pint glass, on a front porch with friends. So enjoy the last few days of this Indian summer, kick back and nurse this sweet and gentle beer. 

Like Father, Like Daughter

As I said before, I grew up with a dad that loves beer. This isn't in a dirty tank top wearing, crusty old man saying "Hey you kid, get me a brewski" type scenario. This is a teacher-student scenario. My dad started brewing his own beer when I was in middle school. Soon our house smelled like hops,barley and yeast every Sunday when he would make a new batch. I was usually looking over his shoulder, even though I couldn't stand the smell of the hops.

He liked making his own beer for a while, but then discovered that great beer is already being made all over the country. So now instead of brewing it, he goes out and buys it:

This is his haul after a Colorado brewery trip

 After he comes back from a trip, he has so many facts to share. We'll sit at the kitchen table and discuss varieties and ingredients. He never lets me forget that beer is a fine craft. Plus, my dad's not stingy, so he always lets me try his bizarre beers from small microbreweries. And, the more that he travels to buy beer the more beer I get to try fo' free. My relationship with my dad is a win-win situation. He talks, I learn, we drink.

This is my dad in his natural habitat. He would be so mad if he knew I did this...

Seriously though, my dad is awesome. He's not snooty about beer, or an elitist, he just appreciates good shit. Without him, I would still be drinking boxed wine directly from the nozzle, wondering if there was a better way. If you can find a beer spirit guide to help navigate you through the world of craft beer, I would highly suggest it. If you can't find a beer spirit guide, ask my dad. He'll offer you a beer and talk your ear off. 

  

I May be Bias but Michigan Rocks

Like I've said before, I live in Grand Rapids AKA Beer City, USA. It's a great place to be young and in love...with beer. But, it's not just Grand Rapids that has my drunken heart, it's this whole damn state.

Yesterday, my roommate gave me a fact sheet about the "Great Beer State." I'm not saying that "Great Beer State" should replace the existing motto of "Great Lake State," but we should at least make it an option.

Michigan currently ranks #5 in the country of in terms of the number of in-state craft breweries. I also discovered that you're never longer than an hour and a half drive away from a brewery. And with over 85 breweries throughout the state, you could hit a different brewery every weekend for a year and still not see them all. If that sounds like a challenge, that's because it is. Come to Grand Rapids, sleep on my couch, and I'll show you four microbreweries within two miles (Founders, Brewery Vivant, Harmony and Grand Rapids Brewing). With all of the local breweries nearby, it's kind of like an adult playground where I don't get kicked out for drinking: because drinking is the point! 

I guess what this love note to Michigan is trying to say, is that there is no better time or place to explore craft beer. The whole United States is embracing the craft beer culture, and I encourage you to fully explore it, but why not start here? Drive 90 minutes to Bell's, or Atwater or Short's Brewery to discover for yourself why Michigan is a top player in the national beer game. Absorb the atmosphere, eat some bar food, and try some local specialty beers. 

Just don't drink and drive, my mom would be so disappointed if you did that. 

Pumpkin Beer?

It's officially September, or the kickoff to Pumpkin Spice Season. Everyone knows that girls in particular treat the seasonal revival of the pumpkin spice latte with equal or more excitement than Christmas/birthdays/meeting Ryan Gosling. Starbucks isn't the only company making a killing on autumn inspired beverages; craft beer also loves pumpkin spice, and so do I.

But here's the thing, I have a Twitter, and lately some of those in the craft beer community have been dissin' pumpkin beers on the Twittersphere. Why? How is it that we put nutmeg and allspice in coffee and people lose their minds, and when we put it it beer it's a joke? I say stop the double standard and don't listen to the snobs (or if you really hate pumpkin spice then don't listen to me at all).

Pumpkin spice beers are a seasonal treat and you may find some to be delicious, but it's a matter of preference. Do you like a flavor explosion of allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and even real pumpkin puree in a drink? Or do you prefer the beer first and infusions later? There is no right answer. The overarching theme to liking a variety of beer is trial and error and success. If you buy an Ichabod Ale from New Holland Brewery and decide it's too overwhelming, try a subtle Pumpkick from New Belgium. Brewmasters from all parts of the world have uniquely incorporated "flavors of the season" into their brew, and they pride themselves in their ingenuity. AKA: all pumpkin spice beers are not the same.

There are lists all over the internet ranking "The Best" pumpkin beers (or lists shaming pumpkin beers), but use them as a guide, not as the final word. This list, from 2012, tells you what flavor to expect in these widely acclaimed pumpkin beers:
http://www.beerinfo.com/index.php/pages/bestpumpkinbeers.html

I will mention, that my favorite fall beer didn't make the "Top 10" cut. I'm not a huge fan of excessive allspice, and prefer a subtler hint of the season. My solution: the aforementioned Pumpkick from New Belgium Brewing Company! It's different, but oh-so-good. There are refreshing hints of allspice, nutmeg, and cranberry without the flavors being too overwhelming. It's like a sensible Thanksgiving dinner in 12 ounces and for a fraction of the calories. Plus, at $1.69 for a bottle at my local beer store, it's essentially risk free. 

But as LeVar Burton says in Reading Rainbow "you don't have to take my word for it." Go find out if you like some of the pumpkin spice beers or if they all make you puke. Read some labels as you muster up the courage to ask the wise beer store sensei for advice. You may discover you like pumpkin spice in your beer almost as much as you love it in your nonfat latte.

Go buy some pumpkin spice beer. Starbucks will be there when you get back, I promise.