Vander Mill Totally Roasted Cider

Vander Mill Totally Roasted Cider. 6.5% ABV. Produced and canned by Vander Mill, Grand Rapids, MI.

Clear, bright gold, no head, yadda yadda....

In the nose: Vibrant, lively green apples, and a hint of nuts below. Full disclosure: I did little research before cracking it open. I thought that, bases on the name, I should be on the lookout for roasted
coffee beans. I had to peek, when I wasn't quite getting that. Now, I know: pecans. Huh. Well, alright.

In the mouth: Crisp, tart, apple-y, and the toasted/roasted nutty character giving it a warm, earthy twist. Hey, this is tasty. Hitting the spot. Tastes like I'm drinking a pie over here. Nothing wrong with that. And I would drink another one. Good old apple and candied pecan cider and you can drink it.

Beginning with our traditional hard apple cider we then steep candied pecans. We make our own cinnamon roasted pecans that bring vanilla, cinnamon, and a nuttiness to this product that makes it a truly unique cider. Totally Roasted is semi-.sweet with a tart finish.

Oliphant blizzard of '91 pecan pumpkin pie blizzard ale

Oliphant blizzard of '91. "Pecan pumpkin pie blizzard ale." 4.1% Alc./Vol. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

I recall that blizzard of '91. Who among us can forget it. Shut the whole darn town down. Except the muffin shop I worked at back then. They wanted me to come in. So, I waited and waited for the bus, like an idiot, to wait around for customers who weren't there because they took the day off and stayed home, like smart people. I'll bet this beer won't suck, unlike that Halloween blizzard.

Clear, Amber/bronze. large and lasting ivory head. Nice.

In the nose: Sweet, malty, vegetal. If there's pumpkin here, I'm getting it. Pecan? Yeah, sure. Spicy, pumpkin-y, nice, once more. A little toasty, tasty, mmm....

In the mouth: more sweet, more spicy, more tasty. Medium body, long malty finish, vanilla, pumpkin, sweet, spice, yum. A sometimes treat. I'm taking down this big ol' crowler by myself, but it's more than enough. It's definitely delicious. Has everything in just the right amounts, not too much, not too little. Damn.

I'm going hunting for more of this. It'll be perfect for Thanksgiving.

Prairie Pe-Kan

Prairie Artisan Pe-Kan. 11.5% ABV. Imperial Stout brewed with copious amounts of vanilla & pecans.

Solid blackness, thin, tight brown ring of foam above.

In the nose: Cream, cocoa, nuts. Chocolate ice cream, with pecans on top.

In the mouth: Arrives on the palate clean and luscious, sweet, but balanced. A decadent treat. Floods the mouth with flavor. Bombs the palate with malty delights. Alcohol heat slowly but surely creeps in, but doesn’t intrude too harshly.

I was surprised that the pecans are so muted and mellow. Do I expect big things from this brewery?  Big, loud things? Perhaps. I also expect highly quality, sound construction, expert execution, and no shortage of taste. This one’s got it all and then some.