Dark Harvest
Barbarian Brewing

this is wonderful stuff, these guys always kill it with the fall seasonals, love how many different ones they put out. this is money, a rich and roasty porter done with roasted butternut squash and fall spices, not overdone on the spice, beer before flavorings, really drinkable for what it is, and very complex, i think they nailed this. its near black from the tap under a full inch of creamy light brown head with puffy expansiveness and great retention, almost nitro looking. it smells earthy and wet, a touch sweet from the squash, but with a dry cocoa and roasted coffee bitter low end that keeps it from seeming too sweet. milk chocolate too, black tea, black pepper, cinnamon, cacao, and even a light citrus note. the flavor is awesome too, the spice mix is great and highlights the sweet squash well, i taste it more than i smell it. warming cinnamon is great with the roasted depth, the allspice is complex and autumnal, and just enough of the squash comes through. i think the base porter is solid and that always helps, but they did a killer job with the spices too, all in service of the squash. good smoothness of texture and a pleasant bitter aftertaste. great beer overall, a clever seasonal beer that fits this time of year well without being the traditional pumpkin ale. definitely a winner!