Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale

I'm on a pumpkin beer kick right now, as I am petty much every year at this time. At Standings, my favorite bar in NYC, we are fortunate enough to have two on tap right now (and one that just kicked - the Southampton Pumpkin Ale). The two that we have now are the Shipyard and the Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout.

The Shipyard is overpoweringly spicy, but I like it because of that. There is no doubt that this is a pumpkin beer - and it seems to have a hint of bannana (another one of my favorite things) in it.

The Fisherman's stout is, well, a stout. Obviosly a quite dark beer as opposed to the amber of either the Southampton or the Shipyard. In judging that beer, you have to realize that its a dark beer, and the spice is not designed to be overpowering (but still there).

Since today is Sunday, and Standings is a sports bar (in particular a Boston sports bar and the Patriots/Colts game is on), there are all types here, including those that are drinking Bud Light at a craft beer bar (ugh!), and the ones that expect a high-end beer bar to serve hard liquor. Interesting reason that they can't here (besides the fact that it would really not be conducive to the high-end beer feel of the place)- they are just down the street from a church and there is either a NYC or NY state regulation (not sure which) that you cannot have a liquor license within a certain distance from a church (but the resturant wine licenses that all establishments on this block have are OK). Weird if you ask me - permit them to either have a full license around here or none at all (although that would mean that this fine establishment wouldn't be here)