On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, well-integrated medium-full body balances cinnamon-spiced pumpkin pie expectancy with gingerbread cookie doughing and light vanilla accents. Roasted pumpkin, sweet potato pie and yam illusions simmer in the backdrop. Just a tad richer than usual autumnal competition. In the bottle, brown-sugared pumpkin pie sweetness promotes candy-glazed cinnamon spicing as lemony hop spritz prickles delicate nutmeg-allspice seasoning.
On tap at 381 Main, trusty pumpkin pie-spiced medium-full body picks up honeyed Graham Cracker influence overriding dark-roasted chocolate malting and creamy vanilla snip as well as brown-sugared cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger seasoning. Vegetal gourd acridity and mild alcohol burn contrast sweet elements well. In bottle, 2015 version retained pumpkin-pureed nutmeg, ginger, clove and cinnamon spicing while increasing black chocolate roast. Ashen coal bittering deepens above Vienna-malted honeyed wheat spine, adding further dimension. 2019 version may’ve lacked decisiveness as brown-sugared cinnamon spicing and tidy nutmeg-ginger spicing reached mainstream compromise. However, 2020’s bolder endeavor brought tarry molasses bittering to lactose-sugared cocoa nibs, overshadowing pumpkin pie spicing for ginger-rooted sarsaparilla, anise and fern minting above ashen black patent malting.
On tap at 381 Main, updated 2013 version of understated Vienna lager (with marzen tag appended) betters less specific Denver-based original. Autumnal leafy foliage and dewy earthiness pick up mild yellow fruiting. Sharp hop spicing tingles wispy nutty caramel malting to its honeyed wheat spine. Tertiary peach tea, dried orange and baked apple nuances fade to grey alongside wet cardboard snip. 2015 bottled version: evenly spread caramelized Vienna malting, honeyed wheat sweetness and leafy hop foliage regale tightly structured marzen (with brisker carbolic spritz). Subsidiary brown-sugared pumpkin spicing and molasses-sapped gingerbread sugaring upend astringent metallic snag.
Outstandingly complex full-bodied Imperial styling offsets sweet pumpkin pie spicing with vegetal butternut-squash-zucchini-yam ripeness, caraway-seeded rye breading and carrot-caked vanilla icing. Chewy wheat-honeyed caramel malting reinforces brown-sugared cinnamon-nutmeg-allspice-coriander-clove seasoning. Dried-fruiting bruised cherry, sugared fig and stewed prune illusions deepen impact while soured lemony orange snip adds supple backdrop.
On tap at Three Wise Monks, gargantuan pumpkin pie sweetness deepened by generous cinnamon-nutmeg-gingerbread-clove spicing above molasses-sapped caramel malting and chewy vanilla-dipped cookie dough yeast. Sugary rum whir provides subdued alcohol burn to rich pumpkin pureed finish.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, atypical pumpkin-spiced blonde ale spreads dry orange-oiled lemon rind fruiting and reedy earthen hop rusticity across diffident gourd influence. Subtle coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger spicing insufficient backing up plastique pumpkin pie sedation. In the bottle, meatier pumpkin influence affects brown-sugared spicing, overripe gourd sweetness and refined vegetal whim, bettering tapped version.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, reticent ruby-browned medium body brings wispy hop bittering to pumpkin puree passivity. Brown-sugared gingerbread, nutmeg and cinnamon spicing meanders above baked bread bottom. Gourd-related squash and zucchini undertones add vegetal notch to semi-sweet rum-buttered pumpkin spicing. Ancillary chestnut, cola nut and pecan notions simmer in the backdrop.
Streamlined aluminum-canned autumn seasonal needs deeper pumpkin-spiced sentiment. Wayward gingerbread, cinnamon and nutmeg spicing falls off as bland zucchini-yam conflux beats down initial pumpkin pie crusting. Raw pumpkin earthniess shadows zesty lemon splurge, contrasting sweeter pumpkin-sugared alacrity.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, jutting vanilla-creamed pumpkin puree sweetness overrides stingy vegetal gourd earthiness and resinous hop foliage. Brown-sugared cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger and clove spicing provides expected seasonality above honeyed Graham cracker backbone, but fails at efficiently amplifying meaty pumpkin frontage.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, casual dry-spiced medium body with laidback pumpkin pie entry gains sharp hop bite as muddled cinnamon-nutmeg-allspice seasoning splashes lively ginger herbage. A splash of spiced rum adds boozy tinge to phenol backdrop. In the bottle, 2014 version plied cinnamon-toasted pumpkin pie sweetness to light gingerbread, nutmeg and allspice illusions. On tap at Mac Murphy’s, more distinct 2016 version brought sparkly sugar spicing to pumpkin-pureed nutmeg-allspice-cinnamon seasoning, recessive pulpy pumpkin-seeded gourd vegetalia and subtle red cherry snips.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, flagship English strong ale given dryer fall-styled pumpkin spicing to combat sugary crystal malt sweetness. Brown-sugared dried fruiting and teasing cinnamon-clove-allspice seasoning contrast earthen gourd dryness. Lemony pumpkin puree finish feels too casual, but never goes adrift.
On tap at Lazy Boy Saloon, highly distinguished full-bodied porter plies rich mocha penetration to less prominent pumpkin pie serenity. Dry cocoa-powdered black chocolate roast seeps into heightened cinnamon-nutmeg-gingerbread spicing – never overshadowing soft-watered pumpkin puree presence and gentle maca rooted nuttiness. Ample caraway-seeded pumpernickel spine deepens autumnal spiced pumpkin regalia.
