Breakfast Stout.

It's built as a session beer so I guess I shouldn't expect too much. OG was 1.038, FG was 1.020. Tastes like Guinness Draught with a more chocolate-y and oatmeal tone, less bitterness, and exceptionally smooth.

Southern Tier Old Man.

Too malty and a bit burnt sugar in the first bottle I had. Didn't really like it.

After a good chill, it takes the edge off. I actually can't taste anything now.

Pumpkin Beer.

Had a little pumpkin beer tasting. It was a bit for naught since I failed to pick up what was supposed to be the star of the show, Southern Tier's Pumking. Pumking is an imperial pumpkin ale and probably the best pumpkin-based beer I've had. ST's pervasive and often overpowering sweetness does really well here and the extra body from imperial-izing it helps a lot.

• Wolaver's Will Steven's Pumpkin Ale - I thought this was a very good pumpkin ale for being regular strength. It's mild but assertive enough and not overpoweringly one-dimensional.
• Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale - Fairly average. Lot of clove. Fits into the standard Smuttynose profile.
• Dogfish Head Punkin - I've had this before and wasn't necessarily going to include it in the lineup but it was pinch hitting for Pumking. I thought it was ok when I had it before, but compared to the rest of the beers in the tasting, it was much fuller, and maltier with a molasses finish.
• Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale - Overly fruity, but smooth and mild to the point of being nothing. The BA Bros gave it an F.
• Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout - Pumpkin stouts are somewhat uncommon so I had to include it. It's pretty uneventful as a stout and as a pumpkin ale and actually feels pretty weak. I feel like I get some saltiness (from Cape Ann in MA), but maybe it's just my imagination running on context.
• Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale - I don't know why they market it this as Post Road. No spice and very lagery.
• Heavy Seas Great Pumpkin - Vinous body, too much nutmeg makes it come off as bitter.

Overall, a pretty dismal tasting, drinking a bunch of mediocre to awful beers. About half of it ended up going down the drain. I already knew that Pumking is my favorite pumpkin ale. I also now know that it is only brewed in October and supplies are very limited. Now that I've done this tasting, I'm happy to say I never have to try this tasting again.

Real Beef Stroganoff.

Made a more real beef stroganoff. No can, no seasoning packet. Sauteed things in butter, made a roux, a little beef broth, a lot of sour cream, served over fried potatoes with some tabasco sauce. Awesome.

Great Lakes Nosferatu.

A rich, malty, hop vehicle. The rep at the store called it a red ale but with more hops. It's a rich red, fine head, malty body loaded with hops. Heavy lacing all the way down. I like it. Not nearly as sessionable as an IPA, but a nice, heavier brew for a slower drinking, cold winter night.

Also, there's no good definition of a stock ale. BA redirects to old ales, and other stock ales get reclassified as American IPAs. Nosterfatu is classed as an American strong ale, also a super-ambiguous style. Someone said the brewer marks it as an imperial red. In any case, it's pretty good.

Buffalo Trace White Dog.

Buttery and warm up front, a bit gin-like but more cereal-y rather than herbal or botanical. Hot finish with some acetone, But what do you expect at 125 proof.

Widmer Deadlift Imperial IPA.

Picked up a fresh growler fill. Thick but very smooth body, less hop-bomby than, say, ST Unearthly. The taste focuses more on the sweeter, floral aspect. A pretty good brew. It's like the barleywine of imperial IPA.

Goose Island Fleur.

Described as a Belgian pale ale steeped with hibiscus flowers. Bottled on September 17, 2010. It tastes pretty green still. I can get the Belgian yeast, though not very hoppy to bring up the pale ale part. There's a sweet, wine-y taste, more herbal than floral. I think it has some aging potential. I have two bottles put away. It's all I could find. Either the store had a very limited supply or it's super popular. Lucky I got it.