Blight Pumpkin Ale – Elysian Brewing Company

THE END IS BEER! Okay, so you’re probably already getting over the whole 2012 thing already, but there’s more than one end in sight. This is our last review of the season, since it’s pretty much impossible for anyone to acquire pumpkin ale at this point. Fear not though, as we already have a fridge full of stuff to start reviewing for next year, and we will be back strong, digging deep into the plethora of craft ales available in the gourd category. For now though, we celebrate the end of the recorded Mayan Calendar with a decidedly Biblical scenario – Elysian’s 9^th Beer of the Apocalypse: Blight. Happy Holidays and a fruitful New Year to all of our loyal readership, whatever you may celebrate, and don’t forget to tune in for the 2012 rankings update coming soon!

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Name:  Blight Pumpkin Ale

Place of Origin / Brewer: Washington, USA / Elysian Brewing Company

Beer style / ABV%:  Pumpkin Ale / 7.4%

Specialty Prep / Individuality:  Blight is the 9^th of Elysian’s 12 Beers of the Apocalypse that were released monthly throughout 2012. Each features a label borrowing graphics from native Seattle artist Charles Burn’s apocalyptic graphic novel “Blackhole”. The brew itself is made with pumpkin, dark brown sugar, and fiery Vietnamese cinnamon.

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Packaging:

This is a phenomenally cool label with cult comic artist’ Charles Burns art work driving the overall vibe of the ale.  It’s stark and creepy – lets call it fan-boy beer! – Tim

This label has some awesome artwork on it. Monotone colors with a woodblock look, it really fits the theme of apocalyptic brews. – Rick

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Color:  7.5

Cinnamon brown with a good bit of particulate. Yeah, there’s so much cinnamon in this thing that you can see it floating. Very mellow carbonation and a flash quick foamy head. – Mike

Copper penny hues with a nice amber glow, this ale presents a nice traditional coloration. Fine bits of sediment are floating around adding to the allure. A fine minimal head is left, with fantastic lacing following all the way down. – Rick

M- 7 / T- 8 / B- 7 / R- 7.5

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Aroma:  8.5

Sweet, sweet Saigon cinnamon that brings a buttery brown sugar note, in and of itself, with a solid malt moment and a kick of spice at the end. – Brittney

This smells like Cinnamon Toast Crunch right down to the sugary depths, the bowling over of cinnamon, and a ton of cereal grains. Please pass the milk. – Mike

M- 8.5 / T- 9 / B- 8 / R- 8

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Mouth feel:  8

Mid-bodied with a nice soft carbonation–sweet and even a little spicy on the tongue. – Tim

Not too snappy, but clean with only a little carbonation and medium body. Very delicate considering the other aspects of this beer, which is probably the primary reason why it works. – Brittney

M- 9 / T- 8 / B- 7 / R- 7.5

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Tasting notes:  8

Sweet, sweet sugary pumpkin with a PTSD inducing amount of brown sugar and Saigon cinnamon. That’s all. Seriously.  It tastes amazing, but it almost shouldn’t count as beer. Kudos on the coalescence of flavors though, this could have easily tipped into the cinnamon mouthwash category, but someone nailed it. – Mike

Bold with a cinnamon bittering, like an atomic fireball bathed in a vat of brown sugar and butter.  It’s bready and fruity like a hot apple blossom, some touches of clove present, but the rest of the traditional pie spices are either lost, or irrelevant.  The cinnamon is so prominent that it really strains credulity to call this anything other than cinnamon beer.  But, it’s damn good cinnamon beer. – Tim

If you focus on the complete flavor you can taste the pumpkin through the intense cinnamon. However, the cinnamon is what most will taste as the dominant flavor in this beer. “This particular cinnamon known as Saigon Cinnamon, from North Vietnam is less tannic than varieties commonly used in commercial preparations. A high percentage of cinnamon oil in the bark imparts a lush, spicy aroma and an intense cinnamon flavor that pairs perfectly with sugar crystals atop crisp, fluffy popcorn, as comforting as cinnamon toast and as satisfying as a sugar-speckled doughnut.”  If you want to check out the popcorn version of this beer head over to 479 popcorn.com for a treat! – Brittney

Our pumpkin is more implied and overshadowed by the spices here. It’s a great sweet dessert of a beer though, hinting at a cinnamon toast like flavor with a brown sugar backing. – Rick

M- 9 / T- 8.5 / B- 8 / R- 6

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Finish:  7.5

There is a wicked tingle you get in the back of the throat as this ale cascades across your tongue and down toward the belly.  Not surprising–it finishes dry, but not parching.  Some astringency and woody notes of bark, which build the longer you consume the ale, but fade rather smoothly after a few minutes away from the pint glass. – Tim

Sometimes you have to taste something that almost goes overboard with a spice to truly appreciate what that spice tastes like and once you do you never forget it. Milky and drying Cinnamon, with a good bit of the malt presence showing on the end. – Brittney

M- 8 / T- 8 / B- 8 / R- 6

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Flavor balance:  6.5

-         Pumpkin to Spice balance: 5.5

There is pumpkin here, and it’s the only other thing in this beer. Clearly, you were meant to bleed cinnamon into the mouths of your zombie overlords. This is post-apocalyptic marinade. – Mike

Pumpkin is overwhelmed by the sweet and delicious spicing. It’s good, just not balanced very well. – Rick

M- 4.5 / T- 6 / B- 7 / R- 4

-         Sweet / Dry balance: 7

The sweetness present in the nose and body don’t translate to the ales finish where the spice shuts down what could have been cloying and shifts the balance needle back to even keel. – Tim

Brown sugar and cinnamon dominate the palate making this ale abundantly sweet. – Rick

M- 7 / T- 8 / B- 8 / R- 4.5

-         Multiple Drinkability?  7

This beer is more on the sweet side which is normally a deal breaker for me but I really enjoy it. At first the intensity of the cinnamon would have made me shy away from anymore than one glass but it really mellows out with the pumpkin and malt and I would gladly have another. – Brittney

One of these would probably be enough for a lifetime (which is likely all you will get anyway considering that this is a one time brew). I love it, but drinking two would probably make you shrivel up and die, leaving only your kissable fresh corpse for future generation of Dr. Zaius to extrapolate upon our primitive nature. Damn dirty apes. – Mike

M- 6 / T- 9 / B- 7 / R- 6

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Overall:  7.67

M- 7.92 / T- 8.17 / B- 7.58 / R- 6.67

T.R.E.A.T. Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter – Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

Today sounds Round Two of our way, way up there beer double feature, and it’s a doozy. Sure to keep you warm on any winter night, (or spring, summer, and fall if you happen to be in Alaska), this Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter scored in spades with us, and to anyone who knows how much we tend to disagree, that should mean something. So raise a glass to the season, and take a solid draught of this black as the devil’s heart concoction. If you can find some, that is.

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Name:  T.R.E.A.T. (The Royal Eccentric Ale Treatment)

Place of Origin / Brewer: Alaska, USA / Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

Beer style / ABV%:  Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter / 7.8%

Specialty Prep / Individuality:  This demented ale took home the Gold at the 2007 Great American Beer Festival, and is made with pumpkin, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg.

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Packaging:

A wicked pumpkin king sits defiantly in front of the wrought iron gates of his spooky house on the hill while stars and lightning bolts illuminate the blackened sky behind him.  TREAT screams of a whimsical Halloween ale – right down to the tombstone proclamation decreeing this brew an Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter!   Have four simple words ever sounded so good strung together? – Tim

Very playful label, just like their Trickster. Cartoon style art with a colorful character of a pumpkin presenting a tombstone with what appears to be a haunted mansion at the top of the hill in the background. It’s cute. – Rick

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Color:  8

Black as midnight (if you don’t live in Alaska), with just the slightest of ruby hues and a head that’s off white enough that you don’t want to know what kind of snow it is. – Mike

This is a great pitch black fully opaque porter. It’s so dark, and I love it. The super light coffee colored head disappears quickly, but make for a delicious looking brew. – Rick

M- 8.5 / T- 8.5 / B- 7.5 / R- 6.5

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Aroma:  7.5

Smells of espresso, bitter chocolate, and malt. There is also a faint aroma of a molasses and a black strap rum quality towards then end of the scent. – Brittney

Dark, Dark bitter chocolate and roasted malt. We’re close to stout territory here. No sign of pumpkin or spice, but vanilla is making it’s way through the mix. Mouthwatering, none the less. – Mike

M- 8 / T- 8 / B- 7 / R- 7

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Mouth feel:  7.5

A surprisingly assertive carbonation level for a porter, which brings forth an interesting contrast–one that allows the fuller medium bodied nature of the beer to bounce more freely on the tongue.  Intriguing. – Tim

Considering the darkness and depth of the color of this beer the medium body is thinner than I expected also there is a surprising amount of carbonation.  I expected thick still and syrupy and got medium bodied and active. I guess it is a porter after all. – Brittney

M- 9 / T- 7.5 / B- 6.5 / R- 7.5

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Tasting notes:  8.5

Sweet cinnamon, pumpkin, and chocolate peanut butter fudge. Like grandma forgot that Reese’s weren’t an ingredient in pumpkin pie, and served it up with Hershey’s syrup on top. Awesome roasty goodness. – Mike

Thick with roasted malts, lush pumpkin, cocoa nibs, blackberries, dark fruit jam and molasses blending with a notable touches of cinnamon, vanilla and  clove.  The beer envelops, it’s sweet and bitter all at once with enough pronounced notes of alcohol heat to keep you warm on the long sunless Saturday’s during Alaska’s famed 30 days of night. – Tim

Quite bitter at first taste, this beer then mellows to slightly smooth and slick and all the flavors of the nose arrive with bitter chocolate, espresso, sweet molasses and a surprising presence of cinnamon. – Brittney

A very well balanced brew indeed. Cocoa nibs, a touch of clove, and ripe pumpkins all build upon the great sweetness that holds this brew together. – Rick

M- 8.5 / T- 8 / B- 7.5 / R- 8

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Finish:  7.5

Long and boozy, bitter and sweet but never bittersweet.  The carry over spice from cinnamon and clove linger but the most prominent note on the close is chocolate and coffee. – Tim

The pumpkin shines here with almost a smoky quality to the back end. It is dry on the finish, but a tad sweeter than I had expected. – Rick

M- 9 / T- 7 / B- 6.5 / R- 7.5

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Flavor balance:  7.5

-         Pumpkin to Spice balance: 7

 

We are quite in check here. Though the spicing is subtle, it accentuates the beer, rather than defining it. – Mike

Complex and challenging, the pumpkin is overshadowed by the bold nature of the beer, the chocolate malts while imparting some notes in the body and bouquet were not distinct enough for a definitive “chocolate porter”.  But overall this is still a pretty great beer. – Tim

M- 8 / T- 6.5 / B- 6 / R- 8

-         Sweet / Dry balance: 7.5

Slick and sweet; the bitterness of the chocolate and the finish are not enough to contend with the fact that this is leaning towards the sweet side – Brittney

It leans sweet, but the dryness helps reel it all back in. Its not cloying either, which is something that had me worried early on. – Rick

M- 8.5 / T- 7 / B- 6 / R- 8

-         Multiple Drinkability?  8.5

I love pumpkin ales, and chocolate porters / stouts. This is an insane beer that could be a dessert for any holiday meal. And the appetizer, aperitif, and courses… – Mike

This beer is fun and unique enough to have as a part of a tasting flight to show some of the differences you can present a pumpkin beer, but I don’t think I would have more than one. – Brittney

This is awesome for an imperial porter, and one of my favorite pumpkin beers so far. I would try to drink as many as I could get my hands on. – Rick

Strong and Robust, I think a session of this beer would not only blow my plate apart, it would likely leave me in a coma that might last as long as the midnight sun itself.  Still, I’d go another round with this treat any day.  – Tim

M- 10 / T- 8 / B- 6 / R- 9

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Overall:  7.75

M- 8.83 / T- 7.67 / B- 6.83 / R- 7.50

Trickster – Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

You may have to quest long and hard to acquire this particular ale. Hailing from the way, way up there, Midnight Sun has been brewing Alaska’s finest beers for a number of years now. There are some clever minds at work where you get thirty days of night, and this beer is no exception. So have faith. It may have taken us two years to acquire it, but we’ve never had anything quite like it.

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Name:  Trickster

Place of Origin / Brewer: Alaska, USA / Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

Beer style / ABV%:  Pumpkin Belgian Ale / 7.0%

Specialty Prep / Individuality:  This unusual brew is made with pale malted barley, cardamom, nutmeg, coriander, pumpkin, and Belgian yeast in a steel cauldron. Plus, we hear-tell you can see Russia from the brewery.

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Packaging:

It’s a jester-hat-clad pumpkin jumping off the label over a whimsical font.  It’s just screams of all the wicked, wicked things that kids do to one another on All Hallows Eve.  I’m scared…not in a razor-blades-in-your-apple kind of way, but in a thrill of the unknown aspect.  I can’t wait to see what’s under that cap. – Tim

A goofy looking cartoon of a jester pumpkin (hence trickster) graces this label.  A quick mention of basic ingredients and an invitation to fool around; who could resist? – Brittney

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Color:  6

Amber waves of grain all the way here. Straw yellow, sparkling clarity, and a few tiny bubbles accompany a terse white head. Looks like a Belgian ale to me! – Mike

A pretty crystal clear golden orange, a thin ivory head, sticky lacing, and very slight carbonation. – Brittney

M- 7.5 / T- 6 / B- 6 / R- 5.5

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Aroma:  6.5

Complex Belgian yeast and malts make up the backbone of this aroma and stand out quite nicely. There’s a fruity character that is almost candy like in its sweetness. Also, just detectable, is a sweet smattering of spices. – Rick

Belgian farmhouse yeast abounds with a musty hop character, citrus notes, and plenty of coriander. Little to no pumpkin though. – Mike

M- 5.5 / T- 7 / B- 6 / R- 7.5

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Mouth feel:  7

Medium bodied and crisp with moderate carbonation—this is pretty textbook stuff; nothing strange or bizarre going on, just a very solid ale. – Tim

This falls somewhat flat with me, resembling a Tripel, but with a slightly watery, yet crisp finish. There is a nice touch in avoiding  the overabundant carbonation found with that style, though. – Rick

M- 9 / T- 7 / B- 6 / R- 7.5

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Tasting notes:  6.5

Blood oranges, coriander, and yeasty funk along with notes of nutmeg and clove. The pumpkin here is sweet, but plays so directly into the tart yeast, it’s tricky to recognize at first. –Mike

Farmhouse gamey, with raw vegetal pumpkin, notes of raw meat, oats, and hay. Nutmeg and clove mesh with pronounced flavors from the Belgian yeast strains.  If you like Farmhouse and Saison-styled ales this is gonna be right up your alley.  Pumpkin Pie aficionados better run for the hills. – Tim

From the aroma you would bet the farmer’s daughter that this was going to make your face pucker, but the taste is surprisingly mellow and even a bit sweet.  There are subtle layers of pumpkin and clove, and a solid flavor of malt. – Brittney

Kudos for being unique and complex for sure. The Tripel character imparted from the Belgian yeast adds fruity qualities and is nice departure from the norm. There is, however, a candied sweetness lingering that has an artificial taste almost like an extract of sorts. – Rick

M- 7.5 / T- 7.5 / B- 6 / R- 5.5

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Finish:  7

A drying nutmeg finish with metallic hints of copper and fruit. – Mike

It’s clean and dry like a cider without too much carbonation. There’s a real vegetal quality to the finish imparting slightly sweet and sour notes. – Rick

M- 8 / T- 7 / B- 6 / R- 6.5

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Flavor balance:  6

-         Pumpkin to Spice balance: 5.5

The spices exist to give the body depth of flavor without working themselves into such a frenzy that they overtake your palate or the raw pumpkin nature of the ale. – Tim

Perplexing pint; pumpkin prevails provost per poignant poise. – Mike

M- 5.5 / T- 8 / B- 5 / R- 4

-         Sweet / Dry balance: 6.5

There is a nice ginger dryness to this ale but overall, I feel it’s not enough to tip the scales either way. – Rick

The sweetness in the body is nicely offset by the dry and relatively clean finish. – Tim

M- 7 / T- 7.5 / B- 6 / R- 5

-         Multiple Drinkability?  6

I would drink more of this. Touches of the ABV present themselves with a hint of alcohol heat here and there. At 22 IBUs it’s also got a nice hoppy character present in the close.  I was pleasantly tricked on this one….not what I was expecting at all. – Tim

This ain’t your mama’s pumpkin ale. Midnight Sun is reaching a little here, but in good nature, and towards the serious European palate. This sucker is a tank. – Mike

M- 6.5 / T- 7.5 / B- 5 / R- 4

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Overall:  6.50

M- 7.33 / T- 7.00 / B- 5.92 / R- 5.92

Quick Hits – Duclaw 31, The Big Bam Boo, Autumn Maple, & Grateful Pumpkin

Ok, like you probably did as well, we stayed up way too late last night. Combine that with the perhaps-not-fully-realized-to-our-fans difficulty of getting all our reviewers to the same place, with the right beers, before they run out, etc,  so we decided to do an interesting offbeat post today. Our blog has seen marriages, moves, reviewers come and go, and the everyday challenges of work, kids, and functioning. It’s hard to review a beer when you’re so sick you can’t taste it, and the bottom line is we just can’t always make it to the source in time, or occasionally receive a brew that’s not quite actually “pumpkin”. So for what it’ worth, here are some notable quick hit reviews of the honorable mentions of autumn that don’t quite fit the bill, or won’t be around again to cover next year.

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Name:  Duclaw 31

Place of Origin / Brewer: Maryland, USA / Duclaw Brewing

Beer style / ABV%:  Spiced Munich Dunkel / 5.7%

Specialty Prep / Individuality:  Munich, Cara Aroma, and wheat malts join with Golding hops, cinnamon, and nutmeg to make a refreshing medium bodied fest-style brew with a bit of the classic pumpkin ale zesty pie finish. It’s a great, easy drinking compromise for the German-American party conflict that inevitably goes full steam in the drinker’s world around October 31^st of each year.

You can’t win ‘em all. Special props go to our provider’s who shipped his package to us twice, only to have all but 2 scant bottles broken in the mail. Even more so, since last years batch was, in fact, a pumpkin ale. We were just unaware of the tradition of changing the recipe. Our bad. Check them out anyway, we know you need a break from pumpkin beer by now, but can’t escape the sweet, sweet allure of nutmeg… right?

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Name:  The Big Bam Boo

Place of Origin / Brewer: Florida, USA / Dunedin Brewery

Beer style / ABV%:  Pumpkin Pale Ale / 6.6%

Specialty Prep / Individuality:  An aroma of sweet honey, biscuit malt, and vegetal goodness pour off this glass, and pronounced Centennial, Delta, and Nelson Sauvin hops round out this distinctive pale ale. Easy to drink, and complex enough to impress. Add that ours was rested on Toasted Pumpkin Seeds (which imparted an amazing nutty finish), and you’ve got the trappings of an awesome pumpkin brew from Florida’s oldest brewery. No spice needed.

Our problem? Crossed wires. A friend was nice enough to go in search of a growler for us, but due to unforeseen circumstances, we got delayed in meeting up, the beer was not going to last long, and we wouldn’t be able to meet before it’s shelf life ran out. Also, I might have totally not realized that this was supposed to be a pumpkin ale from the name, and drank it thinking we got a consolation prize. That’s why text messages are a bad form of communication. Oops.

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Name:  Autumn Maple

Place of Origin / Brewer: California, USA / The Bruery

Beer style / ABV%:  Belgian Brown Ale / 10%

Specialty Prep / Individuality:  I’m sure by now we’re all well acquainted with the fantastic and unique beverages produced by The Bruery. We’ve covered their collaboration pumpkin  La Citrueille Celeste de Citricado, and we’ve personally consumed more than a few of their offerings. Sometimes though, being unique means getting singles out, and in fact, it’s stated right on the label. Autumn Maple offers a twist on the traditional spiced pumpkin ale, but subs in 17 lbs of yams per cask, along with all the classic spices, molasses, maple syrup, and a Belgian yeast strain. It’s bold, spicy, and makes a great meal finisher (I had mine with an early mock Thanksgiving dinner, and it was a damn near perfect match). This is the great southern sweet potato casserole of beers, and it would have undoubtedly rated highly on our review scale. Our problem? No pumpkin. Simple as that.
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Name:  Grateful Pumpkin Ale (Violator Series)

Place of Origin / Brewer: Florida, USA / Orlando Brewing

Beer style / ABV%:  Pumpkin Ale / 5.6%

Specialty Prep / Individuality:  The first of Orlando Brewing’s Violator Series ( all other beers they produce are in accord with the German purity law of 1516), this certified 100% organic ale was flavored with heaps of roast pumpkin, ginger, and nutmeg. Dark molasses notes, intermingled with smoke and roasted pumpkin seed notes, leaning this experiment to a dry, dominantly spicy profile, that would appeal to those who enjoy a parching intensely flavored ale, but might lean a little too intensive for those seeking a more approachable classic ale. Our problem? We just simply couldn’t all get there in time to review it, and didn’t feel it was fair to weigh in on a rating without a balanced call from our crew. Hopefully next year we’ll get a better picture, or at least a new ale to try.

Drunkin’ Pumpkin – Fort George Brewery

Well, that’s that. We’ve moved past the slew of  this year’s spooky pumpkin ales, and we’re done for the season. It’s officially XMAS, and we need to inundate our heads with the 30,000 horrendous pop covers of classic carols…Wait. What’s that? We have multiple boxes of pumpkin ale left to review? And it’s not even Thanksgiving yet?

Ok, ok, it looks like we’ve got more work to do and more abuse for our livers ahead, so you can pick that perfect pairing for burning your house down with a turkey fryer and collecting the insurance money. Check out today’s look at Fort George Brewery, where community matters.

P.S. Don’t forget to vote today.

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Name:  Drunkin’ Pumpkin

Place of Origin / Brewer: Oregon, USA / Fort George Brewery

Beer style / ABV%:  Pumpkin Ale / 5.6%

Specialty Prep / Individuality:  This ale is brewed with organic wheat, munich, caramel, and 2-row honey malts, US challenger hops, lots of roasted whole fresh pumpkins, and sand filtered water. This beer is also completely un-spiced, as the brewer’s prefer to let the pumpkins speak for themselves.

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Packaging:  This one was only available to us on tap, though Fort George does have a number of awesome cans.

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Color:  8.5

This is a gorgeous ale with tons of motion, settling out like a famous Irish stout, and nicely reflecting it’s grains. Throw in an epic head and extreme lacing and this could easily be a pumpkin ale pin-up. – Mike

My first impression of this beer is the great opaque copper coloration and an agitated swirling of the body. This quickly settles and reveals an awesome head with some intense lacing. – Rick

M- 9.5 / T- 8 / B- 8 / R- 8.5

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Aroma:  6.5

Refreshing and clean with a green hoppy nose and hints of bubblegum amidst the farm fresh vegetal pureness of newly harvested pumpkins. – Tim

This one has a good bit of a toasted pumpkin essence combined with nice harvest ale undertones. The aroma is smooth and calm; somehow I’m not disappointed by the lack of spice at all. – Brittney

M- 6.5 / T- 7 / B- 7 / R- 4.5

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Mouth feel:  6

It’s slightly watery, but with a medium body that feels like it’s a stronger beer than it actually is. There’s a nice hoppy presence that leaves a dry feel though, so there’s no sting. – Rick

Medium bodied but not syrupy, crisper than I was expecting for the initial feel, but a little more on the dense end. – Brittney

M- 7 / T- 6.5 / B- 6 / R- 5

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Tasting notes:  7

This is a great ale that expertly features it’s vast grain bill and still swings the fresh pumpkin right into the forefront. Definitely a cool option for those opposed to heavily spiced ales. – Mike

Lush with a pronounced vegetal feel.  As advertised, there are zero spices here which really lends an amazing and clear profile to this ale, letting every note of the pumpkin sing. Where in other beers it’s masked, faint, or just simply overpowered by spice, here the squash shines.  This reminds me of those stories of ales fermented right in the gourd and tapped straight out of the flesh. – Tim

There isn’t a ton of your typical pumpkin beer going on here but there wasn’t supposed to be. This one is a literal pumpkin beer; an autumn beer with an strong aftertaste of pumpkin, no spice about it. It’s nutty, malty, smooth, and delicious. – Brittney

Lacking traditional spices, we’re left with the pumpkin pulling all the weight which leaves a sour ale that’s barely sweet. With a hop profile that dominates the roasted malts, it’s tough not to miss some of that sweetness from cinnamon or nutmeg. – Rick

M- 8 / T- 8 / B- 7 / R- 4.5

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Finish:  6.5

An opulent wheat finish that’s moderately long with just a smattering of bitter hops. A first in my pumpkin ale travels. – Mike

Long, dry, floral, and hoppy, with a stark bitter astringency that is refreshingly different and, perhaps, a little problematic for drinker’s more accustomed to modern pie spice interpretations of pumpkin ale. – Tim

M- 8.5 / T- 7 / B- 7 / R- 4

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Flavor balance:  6

-         Pumpkin to Spice balance: ***

***Since this ale is completely un-spiced, we have opted to remove this category from the overall score.***

M- * / T- * / B- * / R- *

-         Sweet / Dry balance: 5.5

There’s a brief, but fantastic caramelized pumpkin jive that backs off into a dry and fairly hopped finish. Not exactly the great equalizer, but less polarizing than today’s election. – Mike

The sweet to dry balance is so far off center (read: Bone Dry) that it’s almost unfair to the categorize it.  I’m of the opinion that this beer is designed to be exactly what you don’t think a pumpkin beer is–but more precisely what a true, pure, untainted  pumpkin beer could be. – Tim

M- 7 / T- 6 / B- 5 / R- 4

-         Multiple Drinkability?  6.5

I enjoy the lack of spice that a lot of pumpkin beers tend to lean on, but for this one I’d stick with one round. – Brittney

A decent flavor for a traditional style pumpkin ale. Without any sweet spices added, this is perfect if you’re looking for a change of pace. – Rick

M- 9 / T- 7.5 / B- 5 / R- 5

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Overall:  6.75

M- 7.92 / T- 7.25 / B- 6.67 / R- 5.17

Dark O’ The Moon – Elysian Brewing Company

It’s no secret that I have a soft spot for things of a lupine persuasion, or those of the stouter end of the ale spectrum. So it’s not difficult to discern that, in my household at least, Elysian has a winner here. Hope you all are able to get your hands on some of this before it’s gone. It’s certainly kid tested, wolf approved. Happy Halloween to everyone, and stay safe this evening. We’ll leave it to you whether or not to call out of work in the A.M. – Mike

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Name:  Dark O’ The Moon

Place of Origin / Brewer: Washington, USA / Elysian Brewing Company

Beer style / ABV%:  Pumpkin Stout / 6.5%

Specialty Prep / Individuality:  Dark O’ the Moon is a slightly smoky stout brewed with Great Western pale, Crisp 77° Crystal, Munich, Cara-Vienne, roasted, chocolate and Special B malts, bittered with Magnum hops ,and finished with Saaz hops and crushed cinnamon. Pumpkin is added in the mash, boil, and fermenter.

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Packaging:

Dude, this label art is insane! A collision course sized harvest moon headed directly for earth and a nasty looking skull faced lycanthrope. This needs to be the reissue album cover for Ozzy’s “Bark at the Moon”. – Mike

A howling werewolf silhouette’s the front of a full harvest moon. Elysian tends to always give a little creepiness to their labels.  I like it.  – Brittney

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Color:  8.5

Pours up blacker than my twisted soul with some yeast flecks dancing in the glass–which was similar to Elysian’s Great Pumpkin Ale.  The head is the color of nice Café con leche that I anticipated would hold on longer than it did.  Still it settled into a nice, stout-styled ring and left a bit of lacing for good measure.  – Tim

Almost perfect. I dig the blackness of this stout and love the bits of sediment. The roasted bone brown head is awesome. – Rick

M- 9 / T- 8 / B- 7 / R- 9.5

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Aroma:  7

The nose is dizzy with dark chocolate malts, burnt caramel and charred pumpkin offset against a smoky darkness with notes of tobacco.  – Tim

You can smell the earthy, malty thickness in the aroma right away with notes of cinnamon and vegetal pumpkin following closely behind. – Brittney

M- 7 / T- 8 / B- 6.5 / R- 7

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Mouth feel:  7.5

The roast malt smokiness lingers on the tongue. It’s smooth and viscous – definitively a full bodied stout. – Rick

Velvety and luscious on the tongue with a gentle carbonation and a surprisingly medium- full body, it coats and goes down super smooth. – Tim

M- 8.5 / T- 7.5 / B- 7 / R- 7

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Tasting notes:  7.5

This is a fantastic mouth dominating stout. It’s think and has a huge presence. Pumpkin? Not a ton, but there’s a touch of bubblegum and cinnamon that might be the final screaming breath of one before it succumbed to the smoke and drowned in inky depths. – Mike

Bitter and malty with rich notes of chocolate, caramel, coffee and dry dark fruit (raisins/prunes).  Pumpkin is masked more in the body than it was in the nose, but the spices actually start to come though here with the primary scent being cinnamon.   Rich but not as complex as I would have liked, it has all the earmarks of a more American styled-stout like Bells or Left-Hand.  Very drinkable. – Tim

Lots of bready, yeasty flavor up front with a very roasted malty base.  Hints of pumpkin and chocolate peek through here and there with smatterings of cinnamon and nutmeg. There is also a slight bitterness towards the end. – Brittney

Great roasted malt flavor shines while being sweetened by the pumpkin and cinnamon. Maybe a note of clove, but probably just the nuttiness of seeds and a dark chocolate profile. – Rick

M- 8.5 / T- 7.5 / B- 6 / R- 8

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Finish:  7.5

The greatest part about stouts is the finish and this is no exception. Chocolatey and nutty with a pumpkin body, this one’s a real treat. – Rick

This is where the last desperate gasp of pumpkin and spice emerge in a brief sweetness along with lasting dark chocolate java notes. – Mike

M- 8.5 / T- 7.5 / B- 6 / R- 8.5

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Flavor balance:  7.5

-         Pumpkin to Spice balance: 7

For a stout, I give them all the credit in the world for showcasing pumpkin and spice, and by blending them into the dark chocolate and coffee profiles that are almost always overpowering, in a way that was actually discernible. – Tim

Malts dominate here, but there’s a nice interplay between the pumpkin and a nutty cinnamon. – Rick

M- 7 / T- 8 / B- 5 / R- 7.5

-         Sweet / Dry balance: 8

There’s actually a surprising sweet burst to this end, complimented nicely by the long and bitter dark chocolate / cinnamon exit. – Mike

The mouth feel and flavor tends towards the sweeter side.  The bitterness of the finish and touch of alcohol tends towards the dryer side. – Brittney

M- 8.5 / T- 7.5 / B- 7 / R- 8.5

-         Multiple Drinkability?  8

I love a good stout, and this one feels festive. I’m curious to make this into the ultimate Sleepy Hollow, the quintessential Halloween beer cocktail. – Mike

Of the darker pumpkin beers we’ve had, most have failed to really capture the pumpkin essence.  For me, Elysian are really at the top of their game here and this beer shows a deft hand.  I’d gladly drink another–and 6.5% ABV, I wouldn’t even be worried about a second bottle in a session. – Tim

M- 9 / T- 9 / B- 6 / R- 8

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Overall:  7.5

M- 8.33 / T- 7.75 / B- 6.42 / R-  8.00

The Great Pumpkin – Elysian Brewing Company

How badass! Someone named a beer after our blog. What? A beagle and some kids? Ahh…Well, Linus is probably a little under age for this one, and if that face popped out of the pumpkin patch, he’d probably need some new britches. Still, you can get your very own in one of Elysian’s Pumpkin Patch four packs, and celebrate Devil’s Night with us, or, you could sit in the yard and wait for someone to bring you one. Your call.

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Name:  The Great Pumpkin Ale

Place of Origin / Brewer: Washington, USA / Elysian Brewing Company

Beer style / ABV%:  Imperial Pumpkin Ale / 8.1%

Specialty Prep / Individuality:  The Great Pumpkin is brewed with both Pumpkin and seeds, Pale, Munich, Cara-Hell, Cara-Vienne, Cara-Munich and Crisp 45° L Crystal malts, Mangum hops for bittering,  then fermented with cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and allspice, along with additional pumpkin in the fermenter. It’s considered the worlds first imperial pumpkin ale, and took the silver medal in 2007’s Great American Beer Festival.

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Packaging:

Obviously we’re all a little bit partial to the “Great Pumpkin” moniker. But, I like the wicked scarred Jack O’ Lantern on display here too.  He’s a little tore up, maybe from some naughty trick-or-treaters or maybe because the dude who carved him had a few too many “imperial” ales before he started slicing an dicing (stay safe out there friends!). – Tim

A sack stitched jack o lantern gnaws menacingly on Elysian’s The Great Pumpkin logo. A quick description, a few nods to the beer and the brew house and away we go! – Brittney

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Color:  6.5

This one is a little bit different than the norm. Bright orange butterscotch coloring makes it reminiscent of a shandy style. A cloudy body with some yeasty sediment swirls beneath a bone white creamy head. – Rick

Maybe the most intense orange color we have had this year.  The last of a larger head makes me think I might be about to partake in a glass of orange juice, pulp and all. – Brittney

M- 6.5 / T- 7 / B- 7 / R- 6

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Aroma:  7

I like that I really get oven fresh roasted pumpkin seed on the nose, along with respectable amounts of fresh pumpkin and a subdued spicing. An intriguing hook to those disenfranchised by gobs of pie. – Mike

It smells fruity and sweet, kind of like a gummy citric candy, yet still retaining a yeasty quality to it. Not bad, but unexpected from a pumpkin ale. – Rick

M- 8 / T- 7 / B- 7 / R- 5.5

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Mouth feel:  7

Deep end of medium bodied with a hefty bit of burn. It’s definitely an imperial ale, and even has a bit of an ice cold pumpkin vodka vibe. – Mike

I didn’t expect a full body from it’s initial appearance, but this one delivers. It’s really smooth and creamy with just a slight bite from the ABV. – Rick

M- 6.5 / T- 7.5 / B- 6 / R- 7

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Tasting notes:  8

Full flavored and quite fruity on the pumpkin end. The spice is incredibly mild here, not in a bad way, but very much subdued, playing a more astringent and drying role. – Mike

Earthy and nutty, the pumpkin seeds add wonders to this ale, the spices are full, with cinnamon, clove and ginger, sweet malty bread and a vanilla sugar blend together for bold fall beer, but that ABV isn’t nearly as well masked as I think they’re hoping for and with everything going on this beer could really start to overwhelm you. – Tim

Looks like we might have another one that knows how to present a earthly vegetal ale other than a spiced beer that might happen to remind you of pumpkin pie.  I get a lot of earthy notes and a remainder of a whisper of spice. – Brittney

For an imperial ale, there’s a great fruity sweet character here that’s a bit unique.  It’s a nice full body that has a warm buzz about it. Citrus, with an almost barrel aged sweetness to it, I can almost taste pumpkin Jolly Ranchers. An novel approach for sure. – Rick

M- 7.5 / T- 8 / B- 7 / R- 8.5

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Finish:  7

Finish is long with  immense carry-over from the actual pumpkin in the body.  I can’t remember the last pumpkin ale that finished with pumpkin.  Unfortunately, it’s also competing with alcohol trails. – Tim

The  honeyed pumpkin finishes with an almost mead decay here, transforming into a sour and earthy flesh with hints of pumpkin seed, and cinnamon prevailing. – Mike

M- 8 / T- 7 / B- 6 / R- 7

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Flavor balance:  7.5

-         Pumpkin to Spice balance: 7.5

More pumpkin than spice in the realm that we are used to tasting. – Brittney

The nuttiness from the seeds and the earthy vegetal gourd are very well set in the spice mix here and the spices never overwhelm the squashy goodness on display.  Very well done.  – Tim

M- 7.5 / T- 8 / B- 6 / R- 8

-         Sweet / Dry balance: 7.5

This one is deceptive. With a cheek-full, it’s cinnamon-fruity –sweet, but on the swallow you’re left just a touch breathless, and a bit parched. – Mike

This imperial ale really shines in this category I think. There’s a nice vegetal sweetness that isn’t too syrupy, and it’s able to end with nice a dry finish. – Rick

M- 8 / T- 7 / B- 6 / R- 8

-         Multiple Drinkability?  7

The alcohol isn’t very well-masked.  It’s clear you’re drinking an Imperial ale, and it feels like it could get your lit up faster than Detroit on Devil’s Night.  I’m not sure my palate could handle more than two glasses in one sitting, but if you ever see me out, I assure you I wouldn’t pass up sharing a bottle with you. – Tim

I like to drink my beer not chew it. – Brittney

Overall, it’s a great beer period. The fact that it’s a unique twist on the pumpkin style really helps it stand out. – Rick

M- 7 / T- 7.5 / B- 5 / R- 9

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Overall:  7.17

M- 7.33 / T- 7.33 / B- 6.42 / R- 7.08

Punk’n Harvest Pumpkin Ale – Uinta Brewing Co.

Having already reviewed it’s big brother, we’re delving into Uinta’s more everyday, devil may care offering. Let’s cue the Pogues, dial into Matthew Lilliard circa 1998, and see how it stacks up.

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Name:  Punk’n Harvest Pumpkin Ale

Place of Origin / Brewer: Utah, USA / Uinta Brewing Co.

Beer style / ABV%:  Pumpkin Ale / 4.00%

Specialty Prep / Individuality:  Malt and hops accented with organic roasted pumpkin and organic spices of the season including cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, and a  subtle hint of vanilla and honey. Try it with roasted turkey, squash or pumpkin ravioli, peach cobbler, or pumpkin cheesecake. It’s also brewed on the same renewable power system as Uinta’s other beers, as we touched on in our review of their Oak Jacked Imperial Pumpkin Ale.

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Packaging:

I love this label. It’s simple and clean and lovely. It’s got an iconic pumpkin that’s already popped it’s top and ready for carving, a compass embossed into the bottle itself, and a well thought out font selection for the description on the side. – Brittney

I love the craft nature of this label, with the graphic intense artwork I’m reminded of letterpress printing styles from the early 20th century.  I also like the “Earth, Wind and Beer” motto which–other than bringing to mind disco–denotes a very artisian zen vibe and highlights the alternative power sources used to produce the ale.  I am, however, at least somewhat confused by the “3% Organic Ingredients” proclamation.  I’m not sure that conveys a ‘homemade’ vibe they must be going for.  Mostly it makes me wonder where the other 97% came from. – Tim

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Color:  7

A fizzy amber ale with nice hay yellow highlights, great clarity, and solid staying power on the fluffy head. – Mike

Wonderful pumpkin-orange copper coloration makes for a very appetizing brew. The thick cream colored head lasts for a bit and leaves nice amounts of lacing behind. – Rick

M- 7 / T- 7 / B- 8 / R- 7

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Aroma:  6.5

I’m immediately struck by the bready notes and fresh vegetal pumpkin on the bouquet. Curiously the aroma on this beer is very understated–which for a pumpkin ale (that generally assaults your senses) is both a welcome change and a puzzling curiosity. – Tim

Funky vegetal greenery and grains with extreme amounts of squashy pumpkin. Some Oat and caramel notes underlay, with dry nutmeg, and ten tons of pumpkin puree. – Mike

M- 7.5 / T- 5 / B- 8 / R- 6.5

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Mouth feel:  6

Smooth velvet washes over the tongue making it easy to drink. Each sip starts with a bold splash, but quickly falls flat over the tongue. – Rick

After a slight fight through the remaining head, this one is light bodied and very active. The carbonation masks most anything else you could find in this as far as mouth feel goes. – Brittney

M- 7.5 / T- 4.5 / B- 7 / R- 5.5

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Tasting notes:  6

If individuality is a virtue, this sucker has it. The gourd presence from the nose stays firmly dominant, and yields both rye and heavy barley with under played nutmeg that tastes as though it’s been freshly ground. – Mike

Earthy like fresh pumpkin guts, sweet breadiness from the malts but light on the spicing with only a touch of cinnamon sneaking in.  The light aroma should have been a tell-tale sign, but I find this ale to be somewhat weak and far too mellow to really stand out. – Tim

Slightly disappointed that the flavor sort of fades away on this one.  The aroma really had me excited for something great but all of the sweet pumpkin you could smell up front gets lost becoming just a slight vegetal taste with a tiny bit of spice.  If you are looking for a less sweet option for an introduction pumpkin beer this is the way to go. – Brittney

Not too much happening with the sweet pumpkin aspect unfortunately. What was captured in the aroma is lost here in the flavor. The gourdy profile turns out to be bitter and a tad souring leaving some sweet spices to be desired. – Rick

M- 6.5 / T- 5 / B- 7 / R- 4.5

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Finish:  6

Peppery and bitter, the finish was unexpected. I have a feeling that this brew might be indicative of a more traditional or authentic pumpkin ale than what we are used to today, with less spicing and relying on the vegetal quality of the gourd to round out the flavor. – Rick

Short-mid-range finish with a touch of hoppy bitterness and tang, coupled with more bready malts and a hit of caramel-esque sweetness.  I’m actually more of a fan of the finish of this beer than I am of the bouquet and the body.  I guess it’s beneficial to make your last impression a good one. – Tim

M- 6 / T- 6 / B- 8 / R- 4.5

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Flavor balance:  6

-         Pumpkin to Spice balance: 5.5

As understated as this beer is, it almost feels unfair to nitpick the harmony on display here.  I think it needs to get amped way up in both departments–but, as it stands, it’s unquestionably more pumpkin than pie.  And that’d be fine, but it’s not balanced if you’re aiming the entire beer below median level.  – Tim

I’m starting to appreciate this ale more as the glass nears empty. The pumpkin dominant profile is subtly accented by a light addition of spices, which seems to go against the grain of other pumpkin ales. – Rick

M- 6.5 / T- 4.5 / B- 6 / R- 5

-         Sweet / Dry balance: 6

It tips ever so slightly dry, with grain and spice complimenting a very clean and easy drinking vegetal pumpkin. – Mike

A little on the bitter dry side of the spectrum, but decently well rounded. Worth noting here is a slight sourness of a vegetal quality which knocks back any sweetness as well as helping dry it out. – Rick

M- 6 / T- 5.5 / B- 7 / R- 6.5

-         Multiple Drinkability?  6.5

If you could judge a beer by it’s bottle I would drink this one all night long.  It’s subtlety in flavor makes it a simple one to return to for more than one bottle. – Brittney

While there is a relative lack of complexity to this ale, I think it hollow’s out a comfortable and approachable niche, particularly appealing to the drinker that is turned off by sucrose laden pints, and not yet ready for sour funk or a spice beat down. It’s a simple session, but sometimes that’s what the doctor ordered. – Mike

M- 7 / T- 4 / B- 8 / R- 6

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Overall:  6.25

M- 6.67 / T- 5.33 / B- 7.50 / R- 5.67

Jack O’Lahar Pumpkin Ale – Puyallup River Brewing Company

This brew has a clever name that most of us wouldn’t identify with immediately. For those devoid of search engines, a Lahar is a mud / debris flow, usually associated with volcanic activity. (It’s also a Sumerian god, but we don’t think that’s what they were going for here. – Mike). Put two and two together, and you’ll find that the Puyallup River valley lives peacefully, most of the time, in the shadow of Mt. Rainier. That’d be pretty high on the Most Dangerous Volcanoes in the World list. So when you’re worrying about razorblades in your candy, and knife wielding masked men on All Hallow’s Eve, just remember, the citizens of Washington might soon be living through a bad Tommy Lee Jones movie.

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Name:  Jack O’Lahar Pumpkin Ale

Place of Origin / Brewer: Washington, USA / Puyallup River Brewing Company

Beer style / ABV%:  Pumpkin Ale / 5.8%

Specialty Prep / Individuality:  Jack O’Lahar features an expansive grain bill including American 2 Row, Vienna, Dextrine, Dark Crystal Malt, Choolate Malt, and Roasted Barley. Roasted pumpkin is also added to the mash and boil, and an array of spices are added.

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Packaging:

I enjoy the plethora of information for the beer, like what malts are used, but the desktop like graphics employed for the “art” that takes up all the room on the label is an afterthought for sure. I guess the positive is you know it’s a pumpkin beer. – Rick

A to the point label with a jack o lantern front and center and bats flying through a Puyallup River sky over a would-be volcano.  There is something to be said for brand identity.  – Brittney

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Color:  6.5

I like the dense, almost opaque appearance. It’s a dark brown sugar body that almost conceals the effervescing sediment within it’s amber glow. Actually, an appealing aspect for a light ABV. – Rick

A rusty caramel/copper ale with a smallish cream head and dissipates quickly into a soft off-white ring. – Tim

M- 6.5 / T- 7 / B- 6 / R- 7

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Aroma: 7

Allspice, honey crisp apple, cinnamon, and clove. This smells pretty fantastic. – Mike

Buttery with hints of cinnamon and brown sugar plus a touch of maple, which brings a slight creaminess to the nose and a lot of spice. – Brittney

M- 8 / T- 6 / B- 7 / R- 8

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Mouth feel:  6

Mid-bodied in body and carbonation with smooth spices on the tongue. – Tim

It has a weird watery feel which is unexpected from the dense coloration of the body. There’s a nice burn to it, but I suspect it’s from the overabundance of cinnamon though. – Rick

M- 6 / T- 6 / B- 6.5 / R- 6

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Tasting notes:  5.5

Brown sugar and cinnamon prevail with hints of apple jack whiskey and cream of wheat. The mash bill really shows in a nice way here, with a lot of grain present in the ale. It’s very tasty, but it’s not very pumpkin. – Mike

I’d place this squarely in the ‘pie’ category with predominant spices overpowering any natural pumpkin elements.  Vanilla and dark caramel balancing nicely with the cinnamon and nutmeg on display in the nose—actually the spice balance on this beer is really rather spot on, I just wish for more pumpkin. – Tim

A lot of spice to taste, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and enough clove to make Anne Gwish roll her eyes with disdain (that’s a good thing). There is a very small amount of smooth caramel but I’m missing the pumpkin. – Brittney

It has a good dry taste that’s pumpkin-y  with lots of sweet cinnamon, but overall does not hold up to the awesomeness of the aroma and coloration. It’s actually kind of a let down. – Rick

M- 4.5 / T- 6.5 / B- 6 / R- 5.5

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Finish:  6.5

Clove and cinnamon with a creamy swallow that’s extremely long and lingers for quite some time. If you’re going to hook up this Halloween, skip the mints. This is your make out beer of choice. – Mike

The finish is final and clean for the most part but the spices tend to hang on for dear life.  Something about the finish, maybe just the combination of spices and malt give it a lean towards an eastern five-spice flavor. – Brittney

M- 6.5 / T- 6.5 / B- 7 / R- 6

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Flavor balance:  5.5

-         Pumpkin to Spice balance: 5

It’s off kilter.  The spices—while harmonious (for the most part)—are balanced but the pumpkin is too subtle to notice.  This is unfortunately, the usual case with ale brewed where the pumpkin is added to the boil and mash (noted on the label) as most of the inherent flavor is cooked out. – Tim

Dominated by cinnamon and brown sugar the pumpkin is barely noticeable. – Rick

M- 4.5 / T- 5 / B- 6 / R- 4

-         Sweet / Dry balance: 6

The totalitarian spice approach here makes this brew feel downright arid upon swallow. It’s a shame because in the mouth, it’s otherwise nice and sweet. – Mike

Surprisingly, it’s pretty balanced in this realm. I would expect with the heaviness of the spice that it would lean toward the dry side but the touch of caramel it really brings it together.  – Brittney

M- 5 / T- 6.5 / B- 6 / R- 7

-         Multiple Drinkability?  6

I don’t know if this is the kind of beer I’d run out to tell everyone about.  But at less than 6% ABV it’s nice enough to session and it does offer some cool depth of flavor from the caramel. I’d just like the spices dialed back a bit so the pumpkin could shine more. – Tim

This sucker is so spice heavy, it’s likely to murder your palate and spit on it’s grave. – Mike

M- 4 / T- 6 / B- 6.5 / R- 5.5

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Overall:  6.17

M- 6.00 / T- 6.33 / B- 6.50 / R- 6.33

Oak Jacked Imperial Pumpkin (Crooked Line Series) – Uinta Brewing Company

Halloween is only a scant 15 days away, and if you’re like us, you’ve probably got a few ragers to hit in the next weekend or two.  To help accommodate your proclivities to rotten gourd punch, we’re going to be amping up our reviews to get as many halloween themed brews to ya before the holiday hits. Stay tuned, and if you haven’t already, subscribe to our updates by email, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Name:  Oak Jacked Imperial Pumpkin (Crooked Line Series)

Place of Origin / Brewer: Utah, USA / Uinta Brewing

Beer style / ABV%:  Imperial Pumpkin Ale / 10/31%

Specialty Prep / Individuality:  Oak Jacked is an Imperial Pumpkin Ale brewed with Pumpkin and traditional spices (no specifics appear on the label). It’s then rested on Oak barrels to add bourbon and vanilla notes. A particularly cool aspect though, is that, along with all of Uinta’s other brews, it is brewed with 100% renewable power fed from solar and wind. There’s some great other green practices going on with this company as well, and for that, we applaud them.

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Packaging:

My favorite label to date! Finally, let’s get a local artist involved in our beer without it looking like an afterthought. Very clean in its execution, it has all the elements to help sell the beer as an oak aged pumpkin ale. Top notch. – Rick

This sucker is cranked to get you crunk. I mean, he’s pointing to the word “Jacked”. Someone call Jason Statham. – Mike

There is an old fashioned almost Steam Boat Willie-like pumpkin gracing the label on this bottle.  I love the use of the barrel image telling us so much more than just the name of the ale.  It’s cartoony and artistic without being childish. – Brittney

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Color:  8

Color me surprised, this ale pours up a crystal clear with a ruby red glow.  A thick, frothy, long-lasting, cream head provides for excellent retention and stunning lacing. – Tim

I’m loving the color on this one. It has a great color with dark copper notes that help accentuate a deep brown body. The body is pretty much completely opaque, and a vigorous pour will release a beautiful creamy head that settles to ring the glass. – Rick

M- 8.5 / T- 8 / B- 8 / R- 7.5

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Aroma:  8

Tons of oak and wood firstly followed by a smoother caramel sweetness.  Not a lot of spice but just enough to let you know it’s there.  The aroma runs the gamut of earthy, savor, sweet and (a touch) of spice. – Brittney

Roast sugar pumpkins, burnt caramel, and a nice oak tannin. It smells like a reheated pumpkin pie with blackened crust. – Mike

M- 8 / T- 8.5 / B- 7 / R- 8

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Mouth feel:  7.5

A medium bodied but rich brew that warms the mouth with a lower carbonation. – Brittney

I’m definitely reminded of the Imperial status of this ale upon the first sip. As suspected from the aroma I find a strong presence of alcohol on the tongue, but without any harsh burning. It’s a bit bubbly allowing me to explore its sweet medium body. – Rick

M- 8 / T- 8 / B- 7 / R- 7

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Tasting notes:  8

Boozy and opulent with notes of vanilla and oak. Rich and chewy like carrot cake with big, bold spices.  Lots of nutmeg and clove—with dashes of cumin.  The pumpkin is broad and full with a pronounced sweetness that envelops the notable alcohol content, back-end bitterness and a slight metallic touch.  – Tim

There’s a significant alcohol presence here that, combined with oak gives it strong notes of bourbon whiskey. Did I mention I love bourbon? The spice is very subtle, and finishes on floral notes, while a malt pumpkin base provides a nice burnt pie crust character. This tastes like my midnight snack the day after thanksgiving. – Mike

First sip is dominated by alcohol and malt with some spice. This beer goes straight to your head. If it wasn’t for the malt aspect I would question if this was a beer at all.  A few more tastes and the flavors really come alive with natural vanilla, spice and oak roasted pumpkin. – Brittney

The oak barrel introduction is a nice touch, only accenting the flavor of sweet ripe pumpkins without being too woody. There are some nutty notes as well that help round out this well nuanced full bodied ale. – Rick

M- 8 / T- 8.5 / B- 7 / R- 7.5

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Finish:  7.5

The. Longest. Finish. Ever.  Bitter and oaky and surprisingly semi-dry.  I certainly anticipated a sweeter conclusion to this ale, but the oak really shines here and helps balance it out.  But…seriously…I can still taste this beer. – Tim

It stings going down, that’s for sure. I like how the dryness on the back end helps it go down smooth. Here’s where it gets spicy and woody, but I can’t wait to take another sip. – Rick

M- 9 / T- 7.5 / B- 7 / R- 6

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Flavor balance:  7.5

-         Pumpkin to Spice balance: 7.5

This malty pumpkin approach combined with the ABV lends itself to dunkel / dubbel territory, while the barrel aging tones the spice down to a pleasant detail. – Mike

Since this beer has such impressive complexity, it goes without saying (but I will) that the pumpkin to spice balance is pretty amazing.  What you miss from the pumpkin in the nose, you get in the body, but the ale is so imbued overall with the barrage of other components that had the brew master not been on top of his game, it might have ended up a muddled mess.  – Tim

M- 8.5 / T- 8.5 / B- 8 / R- 5.5

-         Sweet / Dry balance: 8

This ale has a great malty sweetness and a great dry finish so the cloying aftertaste isn’t too noticeable. – Rick

This is a very well leveled bottle, and the giant ABV hides superbly in its character. There’s touches of bourbon sweetness, and the dry wood finish on the back end, that’s a bit like sucking the beer right from the oak stave. – Mike

M- 9 / T- 6.5 / B- 8 / R- 7.5

-         Multiple Drinkability?  7

The richness of the oak and malt are very tasty for one round but, at 10 + %, I’m probably not going for another. – Brittney

This beer is strong and tasty, but could I have more than one of these per sitting? Probably not. I would definitely revisit it though, because it’s a great pumpkin ale. – Rick

At a 10.31% ABV I don’t think I could drink another one of these in a sitting.  However, the ale is fascinating and intricate that I would be really interested to see what buying a few bottles and cellaring them would do. – Tim

M- 10 / T- 6.5 / B- 6 / R- 6.5

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Overall:  7.67

M- 8.42 / T- 7.92 / B- 7.25 / R- 7.08