Enjoyable sipping ale is part of Pugsley’s ’09 Signature Series. Heady 9% alcohol autumnal may lack expected pumpkin pie spicing, but lusciously creamy vanilla malting and hop-tingled cinnamon-spiced ginger-allspice-cardamom sweetness seep into warm gin-soaked boozing with gusto. Abrupt bruised lemon bittering counters advertised pumpkin-nutmeg influence, creating honeyed lemon illusion.

Well-balanced gourd-spiced autumn ale (known to French Canadians as Citrouille Ale) brings darker spicing and creamier resolve to the usual pumpkin-pied seasonal. Myriad pumpkin tannins enrich cinnamon-nutmeg-clove spicing to molasses-sapped rye wheat spine. Earthen vegetal flutter wards off tinny void that suffocates lesser pumpkin ales. Aggressive enough for dark ale thirsts yet not too intimidating for dabblers.

Wondrous orange-hazed Imperial Pumpkin Ale (with lusty 8% alcohol) maintains rich pumpkin-spiced theme above brisk citric backdrop and lively hop-spiced continuance. Brown-sugared cinnamon-baked nutmeg-clove-allspice-daubed sweetness receives honeyed maple sapping and candied apple lacquering as full-on gourd-squash essence reaches crisp-watered gin-soaked easement. Perfect autumnal offering also blends tertiary cider notes into pumpkin-pied crust.

Subtle autumnal pumpkin pie spiciness adjoins mild brown-sugared cinnamon-nutmeg-clove adjuncts. Watery finish depletes tangy lemon-orange drift, but this is a fine medium-bodied straw-hued crossover for pilsner-lager fans. 2012 re-tasting: Sunny lemon spritz and cinnamon-toasted pumpkin spicing increased volume over cardamom-coriander-ginger spicing as well as vinous green grape and cider nuances.

Brassy pumpkin muffin essence increased by dry hop sharpness as piercing coriander-nutmeg spicing and lemony berry-nectar illusions intensify bright floral highlights to cinnamon-spiced pumpkin pie finish. On tap, pumpkin-spiced decorum acquires spicier floral hop tingle, malt-lacquered ginger gunk and whimsical gin tinge.

Superfine copper-hazed autumnal ale furnishes spicy pumpkin pie theme with ample grain depth and perfume-hopped floral affluence. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice enhance busy backdrop.

Acrid grape esters consume mild gourd frontage of darker-than-usual dry-bodied pumpkin-spiced wayfarer. In lieu of expected cinnamon-clove spicing, this robust mahogany autumn seasonal boasts charred hop depth, coarse walnut bounty, and abrupt vegetal earthiness. Emboldened toasted grain finish acquires tingly barleywine-burgundy nuance.

Another fine ale and interesting label (an evil gourd) from stalwart brewer, ’05. Dense pumpkin sweetness dominates heady 8% alcohol rush, sugary malt lacquered stickiness, and vegetal bottom of mildly creamy seasonal. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom spices tingle lingering pumpkin pie resonation as rippling red cherry, berry, and apricot offing enhances pleasant brandied aftertaste.

Up-front pumpkin pie essence thwarted by diacetyl nature, as soapy vanilla malts and weak spiced hops beget fey metallic finish. Narrow clove-allspice-cinnamon-nutmeg passage and muted banana quip too unassuming for watery light-bodied fizzle.

Lamentable limited ’06 release finds astringent Fuggle-hopped bittering and woody alcohol burn overwhelming expectant autumnal pumpkin theme of clear coppery dry body. Spicy pumpkin pie gloss fades considerably as moldy cooked vegetable funk weakens peppered clove and herbal tea illusions obscuring brown sugared cinnamon-nutmeg-ginger whir. Biscuit-y wheat backbone and squash-like finish need better profundity.

Honeyed pumpkin-spiced ale lifts orange-fruited cinnamon-allspice-ginger confluence above red apple whim, sour lemony backslide and earthy vegetal whimper. Fleeting maple passage consumes late-coming herbal eucalyptus-tealeaf blossom.

Dry lemon-hopped souring disguises peppery pumpkin-spiced ambiance of ‘certified organic’ vegetable beer. Peculiar spoiled lemon frontage overwhelms sweet sugar-spiced cinnamon-nutmeg remnant and earthen fennel-carrot digression to metallic raw-grained finish.