November may be one of the most underrated months of the year. It seems to fall into the shadow of everything that December has to offer. But let’s not forget that November is typically when most of the country gets to enjoy nice, cool fall weather before the harsh winter arrives. And you can’t overlook Thanksgiving which provides lots of opportunities for gathering with friends and family as well as some beer drinking. Needless to say; there were plenty of chances for me to try beer that would make their way onto my list of the Best Craft Beer of November.
And if you are wondering what I drank with my Thanksgiving dinner, I opted for a Saison. This was based on the feedback from many of my readers. I chose Uinta Farmside as it offered a low ABV so I could enjoy a few before and during the meal. The balance of earthiness and the white wine must and gooseberries made it interesting and added to my eating experience. This is a very wine-like beer and worked very well with the heavy flavors of Thanksgiving.
If you want to keep up with what I am drinking in real time, make sure that we connect on Untappd. Click that link or search for craftbeerjoe.
Don’t forget to take time to review your check-ins and think about what would make your list of the best craft beer. I’d love it if you sent me a message or chatted on social media about the best craft beer you had in August. Or better yet, tag/mention me on social media when you post about the beer you’re enjoying and we can chat about it there.
Here’s the Best Craft Beer I had last month:
Dragon’s Milk Reserve: Banana Coconut
Style: Barrel-Aged Stout
ABV: 11% IBU: 31
Description
Bourbon barrel-aged stout with real banana and natural flavors
Why it made the list?
In the ongoing mission to try new beers, I’ve become a huge fan of the variants of Dragon’s Milk that New Holland Brewing releases. They’ve produced some of my favorite barrel-aged stouts.
However, I honestly wasn’t sure what to think about this one. While I’ve had plenty of stouts with coconut . . . I wasn’t sure that banana would be a good fit.
Turns out, banana is amazing in a dark beer. It is sweet and reminds me of a banana flavored Laffy Taffy with a touch of coconut. It’s rich, smooth and boozy. While I drank it on a cold night, I think the added flavors would make it just as good on a hot day as it reminds me of a tropical mixed drink.
Craft Beer Spotlight: New Holland Dragon’s Milk
Barrel-Aged Duncan’s Clan
Style: Barrel-Aged Scotch Ale
ABV: 10.8% IBU: 30
Description
There isn’t a description on Untappd but as you can imagine it is a barrel-aged scotch ale
Why it made the list?
Brink Brewing has been a local favorite of mine from the second they opened their doors. And I’m not alone as locals are continually raving about their beer. But their fame goes well beyond Cincinnati as they won the Very Small Brewery Of The Year at GABF 2018. That’s high praise considering the number of breweries that fall into this category.
For me, Barrel-Aged Duncan’s Clan is among the best beers they’ve made to date. I’m a sucker for barrel-aged beers but all too often stouts are the primary style that is barrel-aged. So I love seeing beers like Scotch Ales making their way into barrels.
This one came out with a strong boozy, spirit nose to it with a flavor that offered more of the same with rich, sweet malt that provided caramel character. But it isn’t heavy like many barrel-aged beers which means you feel like you can enjoy more than you should.
Old Wooden Tooth
Style: Barrel-Aged Stout
ABV: 10.9% IBU: N/A
Description
Bourbon Barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout aged in Four Roses barrels for one year.
Why it made the list?
If you follow my articles, you’ve probably heard me say that I don’t focus on aging beer. I tend to enjoy most beer fresh or at least within a few months of release. But every once in a while, there will be a beer that ends up sticking around for a while.
Sometimes that is intentional and other times it is kind of an accident. This one is a little bit of both. Old Wooden Tooth was so good fresh that I knew this last bottle should be saved for a while. But the months turned into years and before I knew it, this beer had been stashed in the back of my beer fridge for longer than I intended.
I’m really glad I decided to open it when I did because it tasted nearly perfect. The aroma has lots of sweet vanilla that I’d imagine come from the barrel-aging. The flavor has more sweetness and finishes with a nice bite from the bourbon note. It’s smooth with no indication that it is nearly 11% ABV.
I’m really impressed with how this has aged. No signs of any off flavors and it has developed into something unique which is exactly the goal of aging a beer. Now, I just need to convince them to make this beer again because the packaging alone is worth buying again.
Wrathmaker Brett IPA
Style: American IPA w/ Brett
ABV: 6.8% IBU: 45
Description
Brewed with A blend of pale barley and local Riverbend Wheat this rustic IPA is hopped with Mosaic, Idaho 7, Citra, and Mandarina hops. The beer includes an addition of Lactose, Pineapple purée and our house brett culture. This full-bodied India Pale Ale is a blend of the best of both worlds.
Why it made the list?
As my beer preferences have evolved, I’ve become a huge fan of Brett IPAs. There’s something amazing at how Brett impacts a beer initially and then continues to change it over time.
And since I’ve never been to Asheville, NC, I was thrilled to be able to check this one out from Burial Beer Co. My understanding is the bottle I was able to get was a few years old which is great for a Brett IPA because it has had time for it develop.
Wrathmaker had huge citrus and apple aroma notes as well as a moderate earthy funk. It is the kind of funkiness that is hard to describe. There’s more of this in the flavor with the fruity elements matching the funky in harmony. I’d love to get my hands on more of this beer or others like it. Unfortunately, Brett IPAs are among the least popular types of IPA but maybe that will change in the future. For many, the often try Brett IPAs when they are fresh and at that time they are often very funky with a “barnyard” flavor. This changes over time and will often start produces fruity elements.
Slushy: Boysenberry Black Currant
Style: Fruited Berliner Weisse
ABV: 4.5% IBU: N/A
Description
Fruited Sour conditioned on Boysenberry and Black Currant
Why it made the list?
I rarely drink wine as I love beer and everything it has to offer. But I do like to see beer stretch and move into some of the flavors that are typically found in wine.
While there’s no denying this is a super sweet fruited sour, it has elements that remind me of a sweet red wine. It is tart and sweet with a very heavy body. The blend of tart fruits is what reminds me of the flavors that would be associated with a wine rather than a beer.
450 North Brewing continues to release Slushy beers with different fruits which makes it really difficult to pick which release has been the best. But I can easily put this one on the short list for best yet.
Final Thoughts
There are many different styles of beer that I enjoy but there’s no denying that barrel-aged beers continue to be among my favorites. And this month’s list is proof of that. It doesn’t hurt that the weather is getting cold which makes me crave dark, rich beers.
November is over and we are headed quickly into the Christmas season. I look forward to celebrating with friends and family throughout the month and ending the year on a positive note. Hopefully your year ends giving you lots of great things to anticipate in the coming years including more great craft beer.
Sound off in the comments below or send me a message to let me know what beer you’ve had recently that was great or to let me know what beer you are looking forward to this fall.