Beer Fest Happenings

This weekend I attended the Great Brews of America Beer Festival in PA.  It was in a word: phenomenal.  I say this because 1) I've never been to a beer tasting festival before and 2) there was much *good* beer to be had.  (Budweiser and Pabst and all those companies of course, were not in attendance). 

After perusing much of the booths and trying my little 2oz. glasses of whatever sounded interesting, I came out of it with 3 new beers that I can remember even after the unholy amount of drinking I did.

1. Harpoon Winter Warmer:  Gingerbread cookies in a freaking glass of beer.  I kid you not.  I'm a sucker for spiced alcohol (mead in particular).  The aroma first pulled me in and then the spices worked their cinnamon-y magic.

2.  Weyerbacher Old Heathen Imperial Stout: I saw an outline of a Viking (Odin in my mind) on the label and had to try it.  I like stouts, but I tend to find that many have a heavy aftertaste.  This one didn't.  Thoroughly enjoyed the hefty flavor without that backbite that Guinness tends to give me (shut it, I know I must be blaspheming now).

3.  Sly Fox O'Reilly's Stout: Yet another stout without the bitter aftertaste.  Smooth, creamy, delicious.  And it sure was entertaining for my drunk ass to watch all that foam go to the top sloooooowly. 

Now it looks like I might have to do some beer shopping before Thanksgiving (here in America anyway) to see if I can treat my family to some good brews.  :)