Gourd-styled “full-bodied brown ale” spices up-front pumpkin pie pungency with sharply-hopped cinnamon-allspice-nutmeg enhancement as pleasing buttery mouthfeel swells, staying richer than most autumnal ‘punkin’ competition.
Tag Archives: pumpkin ale
FOUR + PUNK’N ALE
On tap, tepid golden autumn ale gets metallic as shallow pumpkin pie spicing and soapy backend disrupt tingly-hopped brown-sugared cinnamon-nutmeg-allspice nicety. Astringent gourd likeness hampers cereal-grained finish, lowering appeal further. But bottled version displays better cinnamon-spiced pumpkin character overriding whiskey-malted pumpernickel-rye abatement.
HEARTLAND SMILING PUMPKIN ALE
NEW HOLLAND ICHABOD PUMPKIN ALE – 2008
(CATAMOUNT) POST ROAD PUMPKIN ALE
Weary caramel-hued fizzy-headed medium-bodied autumnal needs richer pumpkin pie essence and spicier nutmeg to be more compelling than peculiar. Watery consistency, wavered grain mesh, and slumping clove-cinnamon jab also weaken flow. It took Brooklyn Brewery (which purchased Post Road Brewery) to pull off idealistic flavoring. Brewery defunct: 2002.
SARANAC PUMPKIN ALE
Capricious amber-cleared medium-bodied seasonal brings tantalizing pumpkin pie crusting, molasses-soaked allspice-clove-nutmeg spicing and teasing cinnamon apple nuance to hop-fizzed astringency. Syrupy cherry soda sweetness and soured citric tinge outdistance underlying vanilla dab. ’09 re-tasting: vegetal gourd-squash astringency relegated molasses malt temperament. ’11 re-tasting: honeyed cinnamon-nutmeg spicing and pumpkin pie sweetness bettered past versions. ’13 re-tasting: pumpkin pie-spiced nutmeg sweetness stood out contrasting gourd-backed hop astringency. On tap at Biggie’s ’17, ginger-leafed pumpkin pie sweetness picks up lemony carbolic spritz and light cinnamon-toasted nutmeg and allspice seasoning, but flavor profile ultimately drifts.
SHIPYARD PUMPKINHEAD ALE
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.
SMUTTYNOSE PUMPKIN ALE
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.

