Fermentation Without Representation - Epic Brewing Co.

t420o

California

4.4/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Epic/DC Brau Fermentation Without Representation

A- pour produces a 1 finger tan head resting on a deep brown body. Head recedes somewhat quick leaving little in the way of lacing 3.5 

S- fresh pumpkin, pumpkin spice, chocolate malt, mollases. The pumpkin and spice is most prevalent but in a fresh way, not a fake or overly sweet way. Smells excellent 4.5

T- I really like this beer a lot. Pumpkin, pumpkin spice, chocolate, caramalized brown sugar, roasted malt, vanilla and slightly dry on the back end. I really like that it retains the porter character but is still a pumpin beer first and foremost. Excellent beer. 4.5 

M- nice silky mouthfeel. On the lighter side carbonation-wise 4

O- excellent. I'm going back to buy more immediately. I really like pumpkin beers and this is very close to the top of my list for pumpkin beers. 4.5

A

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 22:52:48 | More by t420o

StoutHunter

Michigan

3.89/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

I picked up a bottle of Epic's Fermentation Without Representation last month for 12.49 at The Lager Mill. I have only had a couple beers from Epic, but so far I think they are a pretty solid brewery and I have been wanting to try something from DC Brau for a long time and so far this collaboration is the closest I have come to something from them. It's pretty late for a Pumpkin beer, but better late than never, so lets see how it goes. 2012 Fall Vintage release #3. Poured from a brown 22oz bottle into a snifter.

A- The label looks ok, the bright orange color goes with the season and it makes it stick out a little. It poured a nice dark brown color that took on a great dark ruby hue when held to the light with three fingers worth of medium dark tan head that died down to a thin ring that stayed till the end and it left a good amount of sticky lacing behind. This is pretty good looking beer, the color is really nice and so is the head and lacing.

S- The aroma starts off with a high amount of medium sweetness followed by some sweet and roasted malts that impart a light roasty and pretty chocolate like aroma with dark chocolate seeming to come out the most with some aromas similar to a tootsie roll. Up next come some pumpkin pie spices, a light vanilla aroma and an authentic pumpkin aroma. The aroma is good and very unique, it honestly smells like i just stuck my head in a bag of Halloween candy and took a deep breath, I like it and I can't stop smelling it, it's very unique.

T- The taste seems to be fairly similar to the aroma and it starts off with a medium amount of sweetness followed by some roasted malts that impart some roasted, dark grainy, and some nice chocolate flavors that leans more towards dark chocolate with some cocoa in the background. Up next comes a lighter amount of pumpkin pie spices that aren't overpowering with some mild vanilla. Up next comes some natural tasting pumpkin that has a real nice meaty pumpkin flavor to it. On the finish there's a lower amount of bitterness with a little more sweetness with a cocoa and meaty pumpkin like aftertaste with a little bit of spices in the background. This is a good tasting beer the flavors are nicely balanced and pretty unique even for a pumpkin beer.

M- Pretty smooth, a little creamy, slightly sticky, medium bodied with a good amount of medium carbonation. The mouthfeel is ok, but it seems a little watery,

Overall I thought this was a good beer and a pretty good example of the style, the pumpkin flavors worked nicely with the porter base and the balance was also pretty nice. This beer had decent drinkability, it was smooth and not too filling, with some nice flavors that held my attention, I could drink a whole bottle of this but more than that and I think it would start to wear on me. What I liked the most about this beer was the aroma, it was pretty good, it was so unique how it smelled like a bag of mixed Halloween candy. What I liked the least about this beer was the mouthfeel, it just felt a little too watery for the style. I would buy a bottle of this again next year, I would like to try it fresh, it's expensive but I got 20% off since it was older stock, but I think $12 is too much for this beer, I would recommend this to anyone who likes pumpkin beers. All in all I was happy with this beer, everything worked well together and the spices weren't overdone. So far this is up there as one of the better Pumpkin Ale's I have had. Good job guys, this was a nice collaboration and I will be on the search for more brews from both brewerys, keep up the good work.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 03:51:06 | More by StoutHunter

tzieser

Arizona

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-27-2013 07:33:00 | More by tzieser

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -16.2%

05-12-2013 17:25:35 | More by mikeburd1128

bluckbeyes

Oregon

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-10-2013 01:01:10 | More by bluckbeyes

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

04-20-2013 13:58:25 | More by drgonzo2k2

mactrail

California

3.85/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Dark chestnut color in the chalice. Decent foam and lively on the tongue.

The spice is pleasant rather than flamboyant. Cloves and a little cinnamon. Starts out sweet with warm malt flavors but changes to a dry finish. A substantial burnt sugar and bark taste. The squash shows up as a yammy quality. Ends on a bitter note, so it does have some hoppy underpinnings. Quite drinkable. Also it's a nice strength-- stronger than average but not a ten percenter. This would be one to watch for during the holidays.

From the 22 oz bottle bought at Bine and Vine in San Diego. This is Batch #8 and 7.7% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 05:35:30 | More by mactrail

nickfran

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

03-18-2013 22:53:13 | More by nickfran

CEDAMA

California

5/5  rDev +28.9%

03-08-2013 01:45:46 | More by CEDAMA

DrIPA

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

03-07-2013 01:00:11 | More by DrIPA

Therisse

California

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

02-26-2013 17:38:13 | More by Therisse

FremontBar

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

02-01-2013 02:36:23 | More by FremontBar

ste5venla

California

4/5  rDev +3.1%

01-31-2013 01:59:42 | More by ste5venla

jvillefan

California

4.5/5  rDev +16%

01-29-2013 03:35:36 | More by jvillefan

kojevergas

California

3.23/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I gained confidence in Epic after trying Big Bad Baptist, which really impressed me. So I picked this one up for $8.99 at a local shop. 1 pint 6 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given the style, hype, and brewery.

Exponential series. DC Brau collaboration. Release #8. 7.7% ABV according to my label.

Served straight from the fridge and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a two finger gorgeous frothy khaki colour head of very good cream and thickness, and good (~3 minute) retention for the high ABV. Body colour is a solid nontransparent opaque black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Par for the style, but with a nice appealing head. So far so good. There's nothing unique or special about it.

Sm: Pumpkin gourd and some spice: nutmeg, cinnamon, maybe rosemary. Dark malts, cream, a hint of coffee. Timid underlying caramelization. Maybe a fleeting tinge of vanilla. A well executed aroma for a pumpkin porter. Evocative and appealing. Moderate in strength. I'm excited to try it. Little hopping here. Good aromatics.

T: Pumpkin notes are delightful; it's not just the meaty gourd but also the fruit aspect (yes, pumpkin is a fruit). Light spicing; mainly nutmeg but also some rosemary. Dark malts fill out the foundation with little caramelization. Some light milky cream lends the body character. It's simply executed, but effectively so. There's not a great deal of subtlety to it, but it hits the right notes for the style. No yeast character comes through, nor does any alcohol. I don't get any roasted barley, which is a damn shame. Coffee is also missing. There's maybe some chocolate malt here, but no true chocolate. Well layered and definitely balanced, but it does leave something to be desired. This isn't unique or special.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Some creamy quality. Good carbonation, if a touch too high. Good palate presence. Too thin; it flirts with weakness. This is by far its main flaw. Suits the flavours generally.

Dr: I like it, but it doesn't bring anything truly remarkable to the table. It's decently priced for what it is, and it isn't as messy as many collaboration beers. Hides its ABV well. Quite drinkable. I might try it on-draught (I'm told the DC Brau variant was draught only) but I wouldn't get the bottled version again. A likable pumpkin porter that will meet your expectations but not surpass them.

High C+

Beers to compare with: Alpine Ichabod

A poor candidate for aging. Drink within 1-6 months.

Drank fine from a goblet. A snifter or teku is probably ideal.

Pair with chocolate or marmalade on bread.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 04:44:03 | More by kojevergas

beerpadawan

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

01-23-2013 18:39:35 | More by beerpadawan

DragonzBreath

Michigan

4/5  rDev +3.1%

01-13-2013 16:32:01 | More by DragonzBreath

brstls4drmrs

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark brown liquid with a beige/white head. Good retention with some sticking around like raindrops on a window.

S - Mild roast character with hints of pumpkin and faint chocolate. Very little coffee in there with some creamy vanilla bean as well. Very nice nose.

T - Malty and a little coco on the beginning with some pumpkin on the finish with some hints of spice. not bad.

M - Mild/Med carbonation and fairly smooth.

O - Not a bad porter.. A great scent on this one.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2013 21:40:22 | More by brstls4drmrs

lightfool

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.1%

01-05-2013 00:54:20 | More by lightfool

palma

New York

4.48/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Delicious pumpkin stout here.

Aroma of roasted nuts, fig, pumpkin meat. Cherry. Vanilla. Peanut butter. More malty roastiness. Faint alcohol whiffs.

Taste is excellent. Roasty goodness. Cocoa. Burnt nuttiness. Pumpkin flesh. More pumpkin at the end. All this roastiness complemented very well with the sweet pumpkin notes. Pumpkin is definitely more pronounced at the end.

Mouthfeel is almost perfect. Creamy. Mild. Silky. Good carbonation.

The porter attributes are definitely still all the showcase here. The pumpkin is not over done. Very nice and extremely complex for a sweet pumpkin beer. Just well crafted all around.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 18:08:36 | More by palma

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

2.65/5  rDev -31.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

22oz bottle poured into taster - thanks rob

Pours a clearish, lightly hazed copper, burnt orange color with a thin layering of white head on top. Fades out into a slick of film with some spotty lacing on the glass.

Heavy pumpkin spice with cinnamon and clove, touches of vanilla and chocolate. Pumpkiny with acrid booze and burnt sugar.

Sharp, intense pumpkin-driven spice up front with an off-putting amount of cinnamon and nutmeg which seems to dry out the tongue. Chocolate malts mixed with cloyingly sweet vanilla and an avalanche of candy corn pumpkin. Finishes boozy and sweet.

Lighter medium body, decent carbonation, thin, watery and sticky on the tongue. I'm notorious in my group for hating on pumpkin beers, and stuff like this is exactly why. Simply too much in nearly every category - too sweet, too boozy, too spicy, too thin. I enjoy some of Epic's beers but this is a pretty large miss for me.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 14:02:11 | More by xnicknj

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by Steve, 650ml into a tulip. Release #8.

Black body with a light brown head. Good retention and spots of lace. Nose has some light pumpkin pie spicing, some roast, smoke and some peripheral vegetal and anise. Taste is roasty and drying, cocoa, pumpkin pie spicing midpalate and into the finish. Creamy thinner medium body and medium low carbonation. A nice pumpkin spiced porter, much nicer as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 17:54:27 | More by liamt07

YamagamiTravis

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +16%

12-23-2012 12:47:51 | More by YamagamiTravis

SColl

District of Columbia

2.8/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Date Dec. 3, 2012
Type/ Style Pumpkin Ale
Package 22oz Bottle
Location Home
ABV 7.7%

Aroma: Strong Pumpkin, Sugary Sweetness

Appearance: Dark Black, Good Head Retention

Body/Texture: Smooth, Creamy, Medium Body, Didn't Quite Fill Mouth

Aftertaste: Pumpkin, Alcohol, Ginger, Cinnamon, Bitter

Overall: 3.0/5 Flavors weren't in balance, too much spice and bitter aftertaste turned me off.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 17:17:14 | More by SColl

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Brown coloured body with little head. Just spice, perhaps a touch of pumpkin in the finish. Roasted coffee taste. Decent drinkability. Spiced out, pumpkined out. SOme chocolate malt, even more would be interesting but too odd for the style.
And the spices could have been betterMediumm mouthfeel. Liam's bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 02:54:23 | More by northyorksammy