Dryer and more alcohol burnt (8%) than most stylistic competitors, 2012 autumnal seasonal takes sinewy gourd-spiced bittering to whiskey-licked medicinal candied finish. Metallic astringency absorbs nutmeg, allspice, ginger and cinnamon spicing plus red cherry, orange and tangerine snip, leaving slight vegetal whim at the backend. Serve to open-minded British bitter imbibers during Octoberfest as a musky alternative.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, unspecific 2012 version places crisp hop sharpness above subdued autumnal gourd expectancy and wispy lemon-salted phenol spicing. Light crystal malt creaming never sweetens enough to contrast musty earthen leathering, pumpernickel-seeded breading and vegetal squash-pumpkin simmer. Moldy fig, pecan, cinnamon, nutmeg and cardomom illusions barely register below the haphazard mix.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, lackluster 2012 tapped version stays indistinct. Its autumnal pumpkin spicing fades too quickly, becoming an afterthought as bleary lemon-soured orange rind bittering eclipses seasonal expectancy. Phenol gingerbread-nutmeg-cinnamon spicing and vegetal squash-gourd acridity further mire drab liquid.
Sublime brown-sugared cinnamon apple sweetness elevated by pumpkin pie spicing and diffuse gingerbread-nutmeg-allspice-cardamom niceties. Sharp-hopped carbolic frisk tingles tongue as cinnamon cider theme increases intensity. Tart Granny Smith apple souring and medicinal cherry coughdrop snip refine frosty autumnal splendor. On tap at Doherty’s (2016), dryer apple influence picked up sour cider-fig snip to counter sweet cinnamon spicing.
Ruinous astringent acridity envelops indistinct crisp-watered copper-browned autumn seasonal too solvent for scattered flavor profile to overcome. Soapy brown-sugared molasses entry fades to phenol nutmeg-cinnamon-allspice-clove spicing and slackened prune-dried raisin-fig dalliance. Earthen bottom picks up nut-skinned pumpkin, squash and sweet potato nuances. On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, blander 2012 version scattered musty earthen soiling across lemon-soured gourd spicing, dissipated caramel malting and teasing butternut buttress. Advertised molasses sapping apprehended by watery orange-dried finish.
Bland autumnal fare suffers from washed-out gourd spicing and soapy pumpkin-seeded vegetal astringency. Negligible white wheat wallow and listless phenol spicing get in the way of barren brown-sugared cinnamon-nutmeg blip, getting lost in a sea of bubbly hop fizz.
Exhilarating golden-hazed eggshell-headed pumpkin-spiced autumn seasonal retains creamy meringue frothiness and splendid herbal fruiting. Lemony banana wafer pleasantry soaks up cotton-candied sweetness, orange-oiled peppercorn seasoning, ginger rooted supplement and wet-papered nuance above plasticine clay-hopped density. Medicinal 9% alcohol burn contrasts smooth flow.
On tap at Andy’s Corner Bar, fantastic amber-browned full body perfect as a creamy dessert treat. Robust pumpkin-pureed dark spicing deepened by dark roasted graining, dry-hopped char, and stiff boozy waft. Chewy caramelized Scotch malting sweetens brown-sugared cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice nuances. Serve to dark ale fanatics as richer alternative to lighter hued pumpkin ales.
Though no pumpkin is used, creamy cinnamon-toasted pumpkin pie entry offers resoundingly sweet autumnal flavoring. Cardamom, nutmeg and allspice vie for ancillary attention over hop-oiled leafy foliage to rye-breaded spine.
Amazingly detailed and perfectly balanced autumnal seasonal shows off an impressive entourage of flavors. Seductively soft-tongued (despite heady 8% alcohol whir), bringing luscious maple-sugared pumpkin-pied spicing to chewy caramelized marzipan center. Apple-glazed, orange-candied, cherry coughdrop opulence coats gingerbread-toasted cinnamon-nutmeg-allspice piquancy and onrushing rum-spiced whiskey kick. Sweet vanilla-banana dalliance adds further splendor.
Up-front pumpkin spicing receives thick honeyed malting and viscous wheat gluten above citric mandarin orange, clementine, and tangerine mildness. Light white-peppered hop bittering addled by steely diacetyl buttering, decreasing appeal of moderate-bodied 2010 autumnal.