Harry Potter fans delight – have I got a beer for you!!
After a boring working afternoon followed by an hour walk followed by my FIRST shower of the day (ahhh!), Matt and I sat down to our Wednesday night treat:
Witches and wizards, may a present …Butterbeer
The Pumking by Southern Tier is no ordinary pumpkin ale.
It is:
…Buttercream frosting
…Luscious butterscotch sauce
…Liquid toffee
…A sweet vanilla-pumpkin cupcake
…A beer with the most delicious buttery nose you can ever imagine!
I kid you not.
While we drank, dinner cooked.
We made Emily’s Indian Lentils with Eggplant
In the crockpot. Minus onion. Plus red curry powder. Plus tomato paste. Minus spinach. Plus kale.
All the ingredients were set to high for 3 hours while we went for a walk and sipped our butterbeer.
DEElicious. I loved the big chewy kale bites! Wish we’d use as many mushrooms as Emily did. They were the best part!
About 25% of the way into my bowl I thought "I am already filling up quickly." 50% later, I passed the last 4th on to Matt. It was really filling!
But my tongue was not done – had to sample a bit of chocolate before we closed down the kitchen.
These chocolatey treats came from Love Street Living Foods. Organic chocolate and fudge bars made with really cool ingredient lists, including Ecuadorian cacao, Indian vanilla bean, cayenne, Indonesian coconut crystal sugar.
- The Chocolate Super Fudge was super rich and fudgy with almost a honey taste from agave sweet
- The Maple and Coconut Crystal bars were CRUNCHY – just a tad – from the crystallized sugars. My crunchy palate LOVED the texture!! The flavor was great too – nice and buttery!
- The Goji bar was creamy, chewy AND crunchy – more texture love.
I loved the true cacao flavor of them all. And just a taste was enough to satisfy the after-dinner palate. (Matt said they might be the best chocolates he’s ever had and kept asking for more.)
If you so desire, you can receive 10% off any order plus 2 free samples of your choice with the coupon code LSKATHEATS. (Please note in the "Order Comments" box on the Checkout page which 2 samples you would like from the list below the box). Expires: Saturday, September 18 midnight.
Look how these rubber bands just happened to fall on my desk!
Just started The Help last night and love it so far! [American Wife was not my favorite. I felt like each section that passed lost momentum and my interest, and it took me forever to finish.]
{ 128 comments… read them below or add one }
That beer sounds incredible!
I can’t believe you weren’t a huge fan of American Wife. I loved it! I am reading The Help now too but just can’t get into have. Have been at the beginning for a month now and it’s hard to continue!
Beers have noses?! I hope they don’t grow nose hair…
Those chocolates looks fab!
I passed on the Southern Tier Pumking when I saw it the other day. Might have to give it a try now!
harry potter references, lentils & chocolate … this is why i come back
Out of curiosity, where do you find your beers? You seem to find a good variety!
Beer Run here in Cville. The most amazing beer store/bar/restaurant!
Oh! I’ve read about your adventures there. Brain malfunction.
I’ve been going to BevMo, but their Pumpkin selection was really disappointing. Just at this very moment, however, I realized that I live in San Francisco, and there probably is someplace better to go…I’ve just never looked! =P
alexa- city beer is fantastic, and they let you sample things! it’s on folsom, in soma.
Yes! I just saw them on Yelp and I’ve been asking everyone if they had been and none of my friends or co-workers had. I am so hitting it up!
Ohhhh, that maple and coconut crystal chocolate sounds amazing! I clearly *need* it for my chocolate blog… but I can’t get it here in Australia
Your too cute. Mmm I loved those chocolates. So rich!
“maple crystal chocolate bar” sounds so delicious.
And I love the “pumking” with his little crown and everything!
Enjoy your night Kath!
I’m going to have to look around for that beer… it sounds lovely!!
I loved The Help – just finished it last week. American Wife was slow, I agree, but I still enjoyed it. My current reading is a stack of “Everyday with Rachel Ray” magazines which are surprisingly good!
Mmmm eggplant and lentils!! that sounds incredible
My lentil soups always end up looking like that (even though they usually come from a can..) but I mean with all the greens and extra veggies in there! Gotta load it up somehow 
i don’t even like beer, but want to drink down all that buttery deliciousness STAT! When I’m not pregnant, of course
Everyone seems to be breaking out their crockpots… I must partake.
That beer sounds awesome!
I just made lentil soup for dinner. Lentils were popular tonight
I love eggplant! That recipe sounds delicious and so does your beer.
I love a crock pot meal so much, especially this time of year. It also gives you time to enjoy the day.
I loved the Help… I could barely put it down while I was reading it!
The Help is so good, you will finish is quickly!
I’ve been in love with Pumking since I sampled it as a tasting a couple years ago – I like to describe it as liquid pumpkin pie. I always request that Isaac buy it for me once the season starts. We have 5 bottles in our pantry right now!! It’s really cool that it has actual pumpkin puree in the ingredient list- gotta love real foods, even in beer.
I never did get into American Wife either. I ended up giving up on it part-way through.
The lentils and eggplant look really good! That’s a recipe that I would like to try.
AHH Kath that Butterbeer looks amazing! My inner Harry Potter nerd is seriously freaking out. Do we get to sample this at the housewarming?! Please please
Well considering it’s $7 per 22 oz, probably not, But hopefully Matt’s homebrew is just as good!
For some reason I thought this WAS Matt’s home brew- don’t know why the label didn’t clue me in. I’ll definitely grab some from Beer Run that weekend though! And I’m sure his home brew will be fab
I really want to read The Help. Let us know what you think!
I’m so glad to see you drinking Southen Tier beer!!! It’s a local beer where I’m from and they have a lot of great brews. I have a Southern Tier Harvest Ale waiting for me in my fridge for when I get home. Keep up the beer sampling, I love that you include a vast range of beer and wine into your healthy style. Love the balance!!!!
Local for me too (formerly). I am a huge champion of the Southern Tier, and I loved seeing this great review. Gotta get some soon, and I agree about their Harvest Ale … very yummy!
oh those chocolates look fun!
The Help was great and such an easy read! I’m from Jackson and I get questions all the time if the social setting is still like that and I have to tell them it is definitely NOT like that anymore!
Did those rubber bands really fall there like that? I loved The Help, it was a great story and a quick read.
The Help is sitting on my bedside table in the “TO READ” stack! I’ve heard it’s great.
I’m so excited a real butterbeer might exist– I’m a BIG HP fan, reading the books now for the first time!
And your dinner looks AMAZING. I’m definitely going to have to try that!
I’m wondering how butterbeer’s caloric stats compare to other brews. I wish calories were available on adult beverages. I’m not rigid about calories, just curious!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ATaleOfTwoThrifties
I’m sure it’s comparable. Beer is kind of like peanut butter – the density and consistency don’t vary enough to really matter. 180-200 Kcal/tbsp peanut butter. 150-200 Kcal/pint beer.
dinner looked wonderful!!!
I had to chuckle on the title of your post.. my boxer pup, Fenway, got a hold of 1/4 stick of butter this morning and ate it :/ (mad face)
anyway.. we’ve been calling her butterbutt all day long
no side effects yet, but whenever she can find herself some butter, she will defy all odds & find a way to get it in her possession.
can’t wait for the weekend & another pumpkin ale….
Wow, that sounds like an amazing beer!
I’d be all over that coconut crystal chocolate! Mmmm
That beer sounds soooooo amazing. (I don’t drink! I’m underage!)
Ha!
The Help was one of the best books I’ve read over the past year. If you haven’t read Water for Elephants yet, you might enjoy that, too.
I actually started that and never finished. Something was just not interesting to me. Perhaps I should try again…isn’t there a movie coming out?
Yup…read the book and loved the story and the characters, so I’ve been keeping track of when it will be coming out. Next Spring. And Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon are the leads.
I also thought American Wife dragged at the end and decided life is too short to bore myself, so I put it down and moved on.
Love both of them!!
If they are in it, I better order it!
Did those rubber bands really just fall like that? I can be gullible!
Those chocolates sound great.
Wow, I don’t even like beer and I want to try that one!
I loooooved The Help – it’s a really, really great read!!
Same – dont like beer but this one really sounds intriguing. ALso, I love these chocolates. So good
Those chocolates sound delicious
I want to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park just so I can try butterbeer… and go on all the rides, and get caught up in all the magic
the southern tier brewery is literally down the road from me. They make a lot of amazing beer but even the locals get extra excited when it’s pumpking time. Sooooo good!
Aren’t mushrooms always the best part?
Okay, actual question: based on your description, I would think Pumking is sweet? Is it? We’re not really beer people, but I would be interested in trying something on the sweeter side.
It wasn’t sweet – just vanilla fragrant
I just made it through 4 years of university, and I STILL can’t stand beer, but that one sounds like it might actually be good!!
Sounds like you were drinking the cheap college flavors!! Have you explored craft brews?
You should make actual butterbeer! There are recipes out there.
Those lentils look amazing, I want to try it! If only I had something to make it in :-/
Yaaaaaay Pumking! It’s my absolute favorite beer of autumn! I’ve often said that pumpkin beers are no place for subtlety (in my opinion). When I drink a pumpkin ale, I like it to smack me in the face with flavor
Which Pumking certainly does!!
I felt the same way about American Wife! At first I liked it, but as I got into it I totally lost interest. I also read The Help. I liked it a lot better than I thought I would like it. I usually don’t like reading dialect. However, the story kept me interested. Btw, I love, love your blog and save it for last on my daily reads.
I am loving on that dinner. I thought the same thing about my chili tonight when I was eating about how full I was after eating half the bowl – but I kept on going nice and strong.. and am now enjoying an evening snack.
The Help is a FABULOUS book! YOu’ll love it!
oooh yummo – that dinner looks wonderful! And i love that you guys can dine alfresco!
That brew sounds amazing. I bet it would taste even better dressed in Harry Potter robes!
Great post. Those chocolates looked delicious. I’m a chocolate lover myself so they caught my eye right away. Just wanted to let you know I really enjoy your blog and it has (in part) inspired me to start my own over at mylittlecelebration.com. Keep doing what your’e doing! You’re a talented blogger and writer.
Pumking is totally added to my have to taste list.
I love your glass! I want one. LOL… Ooh, your dinner looks delicious!
I am not a huge beer drinker, but I think I could love that kind.
I sounds delish.
I do agree Pumking is great beer, however it’s aroma was better than its taste. But it can be dangerous at 9% alcohol! That being said, I’d buy it again:). And I bought it at Whole Food for any that were wondering.
You had me at Butter;)
We LOVE Southern Tier brews!!!! Their crème brûlée Imperial Milk Stout is absolutely to die for, like dessert in a bottle! And their IPA is top notch, my boyfriend loves it!
Oh my gosh! Butterbeer!
My sister and I tried to make it once and it wasn’t good. I am prepared to buy it bottled if it is guaranteed good!
I LOVED The Help. Great book….I couldn’t put it down.
I’m trying these lentils tomorrow with my curried chickpeas. I’m a vegan and Indian food is my absolute favorite. This is going to be incredible!!!
I want that beer SO BADLY!
That beer sounds amazing! I didn’t care for American Wife either. I thought I was the only one. I ended up quitting halfway through. “Eat, Pray, Love” was waiting for me so I figured half of American Wife was enough for me.
loved Eat Pray Love too
Loved the EPL BOOK, didn’t care for the MOVIE
I’ve had that beer, and I agree, it’s pretty good. Didn’t get so much of the toffee/buttery flavor though. Just sweet pumpkin for me!
Ugh I so wish I could drink beer…the idea of butterbeer is my Harry Potter dream come true!!
Kath, have you and Matt watched A Very Potter Musical (and it’s sequel)? It’s hilarious! Here’s the youtube link to part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmwM_AKeMCk
I wanna try that beer so bad! Sounds so good. I love beer.
Are you a lefty by the way? Just noticing that your spoon is on the left side of the bowl..
Yes!
What an adorable cup! Perfect for Pumpkin Beer!
I remember visiting Southern Tier before their beers were anywhere outside of Jamestown, NY. I eventually moved to Portland, OR and even though this place is SATURATED with awesome microbrews Southern Tier is still one of my favorites, it was a happy day when we found some in a store here. I’ve NEVER had a bad beer of theirs!
The Help is SO GOOD!!!
The beer sounds great, will definitely keep my eye out for it!
can’t wait to get my crock pot cranking again! where did the summer go?!?!
That is a mighty high recommendation!
Love you winking back at your glass, by the way.
In college, some of my friends came up with a butterbeer for our Halloween party – butterscotch schnapps in creme soda. No one could handle more than several sips, but it tasted just like I would have hoped from Hogsmead.
1) love the new/different placemats
2) absolutey loved “the help” when i read it. one of my fave books.
3) made kale chips last night from your recipe. holy bajole..they’re good! i didn’t share w/ jeremy though cause they were gone before they could be plated
If you like The Help, you ought to read Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Another excellent book.
Great suggestion….I found myself saying outloud “this is such a good book” while reading The Help and have been looking for something to follow it up with. I look forward to checking Wench out.
Your glass is so adorable! That beer sounds amazing!
I am choosing to believe you wrote this post for me, because I love pumpkin beer, and because I am currently re-reading all the Harry Potter books! Oh, and I just bookmarked that recipe. Would you believe I went to the store and bought all those veggies? It must be fate.
I was also not a fan of American Wife. I wanted to like it, but it was just so boring by the end that I was forcing myself to finish it.
As a Harry Potter fanatic, I must say I’m VERY jealous that you get to drink butterbeer. That’s soooo cool! Oh, and do you think I could adapt this recipe to cook it on the stovetop?
Oh my gosh this beer looks fantastic! I am trying to figure out where to buy it in my area. I will be so excited if I can find some!
No way!!!!!! Butterbeer! This is so cool.
Heidi xo
Kath,
As one of your way-older readers who was raised in the South, I’ll tell you “The Help” rang very true and explained why we had a bathroom in the unfinished basement of our little six room house that had two and a half other baths! The basement also had an outside entrance via creepy stairwell.
The Help is a great read, couldn’t put it down!!
I loved The Help! You’ll fly through it! Also, I’m too scared to leave a crockpot on while I’m gone. My dad growing up was pretty strict about turning off any and all appliances when leaving the house. Thoughts?!
The crockpot is the ONLY thing I’d ever leave on – because they’re designed to be left alone all day.
I don’t drink beer at all, but the flavour of this one is calling to me. But it is very unlikely I will see this flavour in Scotland, may have to wait a little while…maybe a long while. I’ll just watch you enjoy drinking it instead
that pumpkin ale looks so amazing!
That lentil dish looks amazing!
That lentil dinner looks awesome! I love adding greens like kale and collards to stews and soups – the chewy bites are divine!
Ahh that beer is going on my “When I turn 21″ list!!
I am reading The Help now. I think it might be one of the best I have ever read.
I agree with your sentiment re. American Wife…mediocre, dragged on, poor ending. The only real intriguing aspect of the book was guessing whether certain plot lines were fact/fiction as it relates to the Bushes.
You will LOVE The Help…a completely rewarding, feel-good read. Enjoy!
I thought that The Help was a little over hyped for me. It was a wonderful book, but I think others talked it up so much I was a little disappointed. Still a great read though!
26.. hmmm… does that mean a marathon in your future? Did I miss something?
No it’s my lucky number + birthday
that chocolate looks so fun! and yummy
Yum, that beer looks good!
Kath – Haven’t talked in ages since we both left EMA, yet we’ve wound up in the same part of the country (I’m in Lynchburg). I might have an opportunity for this blog, if you’re interested. Don’t want to overpromise – it’s for a client I haven’t landed yet who might have their own ideas. But if you’re interested in learning more, send me an e-mail, and maybe we can arrange to talk.
Hey Cliff!! SO funny you’d stop by – I just left a comment on Rick’s blog last night! I’ll shoot you an email.
This beer sounds absolutely increeeedible! I know my best would flip over it!!
Oh and the Indian lentils look amazing. I’ve seen Indian food all over the blogosphere lately … perfect crisp, fall day food!
I LOL’d at the winking picture…haha
Oh man I wish we could get that beer here in New Zealand!
I would trade my morning coffee for that beer! Does that make me sound like I have a problem
We tried that beer on Sunday night to kick off football season–delicious!
1) That beer sounds divine. Let the search begin.
2) Everything needs more mushrooms. E. Ver. Y. Thing.
I’m not a beer fan, but that looks REALLY good!
I recently read, or listened to, The Help and I also loved it! If you don’t mind listening to books, then I suggest you do it because I thought it was so much better with all of the Southern accents. Enjoy!
Oh wow, that Indian Lentil dish looks so good! I wish I ate more lentils, because I really enjoy them when I do.
Yay for Love Street Living Foods.
Your/Emily’s lentils look amazing, that will have to go into our rotation!
I finished American Wife last week… had to force myself. I was too long and really did get bogged down. I think since we all “know the ending” it just lost its punch.
I don’t drink, but I love Harry Potter!
I hate beer, but that beer really does sound good! I always was curious about how the butterbeer in Harry Potter tasted.
Just read The Help myself about a month ago – LOVEDLOVEDLOVED it. One of those “can’t put down” books. Enjoy!
I read The Help this summer, couldn’t put it down, thoroughly enjoyed it
Hey Kath! I love your blog! I just bought my first jar of coconut butter thanks to you!
Two quick questions:
1) do you need to refridgerate coconut butter?
2) how much tomato paste did you put in?
THANKS!
Don’t refrigerate it – you need it to be liquidy and spreadable! If it’s too solid, heat it in a pot of hot water.
1 can of paste