Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Club » Discussions

Fall & Pumpkin Ale Tasting November 11-13 2011

• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  November 10, 2011

  The Fall Seasonal & Pumpkin Ale Tasting runs from November 11th - November 13th. Please post your reviews below. Feel free to drink whatever you have on hand or can find locally. Any Pumpkin Ale or Fall Seasonal brew may be tasted. Some choices might include; Sam Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale, Mavericks Pumpkin Harvest Ale, Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale, Bison Organic Pumpkin Ale, Southern Tier Imperial Pumking, Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale, Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale, The Bruery Autumn Maple, Sierra Nevada Tumbler, Cigar City Good Gourd & Short's Autumn Ale.

  The Fall Seasonal & Pumpkin Ale Tasting runs from November 11th - November 13th. Please post your reviews below. Feel free to drink whatever you have on hand or can find locally. Any Pumpkin Ale or Fall Seasonal brew may be tasted. Some choices might include; Sam Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale, Mavericks Pumpkin Harvest Ale, Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale, Bison Organic Pumpkin Ale, Southern Tier Imperial Pumking, Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale, Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale, The Bruery Autumn Maple, Sierra Nevada Tumbler, Cigar City Good Gourd & Short's Autumn Ale.
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  November 11, 2011

  Starr Hill Boxcar Pumpkin Porter
  Starr Hill Brewery, Crozet, VA
  12 ounce bottle best by January, 2012
  5.2% ABV, 20 IBUs
  
  The Boxcar Pumpkin Porter from Starr Hill pours out dark brown, almost black, in color with a dense head that is just over a finger tall. On the nose, aromas of spice and roast coffee with hints of fresh pumpkin coming through. In the mouth, this is more porter than anything else. The pumpkin is very subdued and really does not come to life until the finish. Good coffee flavors that are slightly bitter. Hints of smoke. Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Some lacing on the glass. Pretty clean mouthfeel. If you want big pumpkin flavor this is not the beer for you. If you are a porter fan and want a good porter with some fall flavors in it this is a great beer for you to try. A big thanks to Ken (KajII) for sending this to me.

  Starr Hill Boxcar Pumpkin Porter Starr Hill Brewery, Crozet, VA 12 ounce bottle best by January, 2012 5.2% ABV, 20 IBUs The Boxcar Pumpkin Porter from Starr Hill pours out dark brown, almost black, in color with a dense head that is just over a finger tall. On the nose, aromas of spice and roast coffee with hints of fresh pumpkin coming through. In the mouth, this is more porter than anything else. The pumpkin is very subdued and really does not come to life until the finish. Good coffee flavors that are slightly bitter. Hints of smoke. Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Some lacing on the glass. Pretty clean mouthfeel. If you want big pumpkin flavor this is not the beer for you. If you are a porter fan and want a good porter with some fall flavors in it this is a great beer for you to try. A big thanks to Ken (KajII) for sending this to me.
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  November 11, 2011

  Well Mark beat us all. What were you drinking at 6am? lol
  Anyway glad I drank this one first, Definitely not so good, the others have to be better.
  
  
  Smuttynose "Pumpkin Ale"
  Smuttynose Brewing Co.
  Pumpkin Ale (ABV 5%)
  
  [Best served in a Lager glass]
  
  Rating: 2.7/5.0
  
  Aroma: 6/10
  Appearance: 4/5
  Taste: 5/10
  Palate: 3/5
  Overall: 9/20
  
  The pour was a cloudy medium brownish amber with an average sized (1-2 finger) foamy very, very pale orange head that lasted throughout and had excellent lacing that coated the glass.
  
  The aroma was of a light bread malt and a sweet yeast with notes of brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and a strong hint of some bitter spices.
  
  The taste was sweet and mildly acidic with a note of cinnamon and brown sugar at first then became mildly bitter with a note of nutmeg and spices with a harsh bite of pumpkin rind at the finish. The flavor lasted an average duration but left a not so likeable harshness at the end.
  
  Mouthfeel was light to medium in body and creamy in texture with a mild carbonation.
  
  Overall not your typical Pumpkin Ale. I found it rather bland with too much of a bitter bite at the end and not enough flavor from the spices or the pumpkin.

  Well Mark beat us all. What were you drinking at 6am? lol Anyway glad I drank this one first, Definitely not so good, the others have to be better. Smuttynose "Pumpkin Ale" Smuttynose Brewing Co. Pumpkin Ale (ABV 5%) [Best served in a Lager glass] Rating: 2.7/5.0 Aroma: 6/10 Appearance: 4/5 Taste: 5/10 Palate: 3/5 Overall: 9/20 The pour was a cloudy medium brownish amber with an average sized (1-2 finger) foamy very, very pale orange head that lasted throughout and had excellent lacing that coated the glass. The aroma was of a light bread malt and a sweet yeast with notes of brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and a strong hint of some bitter spices. The taste was sweet and mildly acidic with a note of cinnamon and brown sugar at first then became mildly bitter with a note of nutmeg and spices with a harsh bite of pumpkin rind at the finish. The flavor lasted an average duration but left a not so likeable harshness at the end. Mouthfeel was light to medium in body and creamy in texture with a mild carbonation. Overall not your typical Pumpkin Ale. I found it rather bland with too much of a bitter bite at the end and not enough flavor from the spices or the pumpkin.
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  November 12, 2011

  Shipyard "Pumpkinhead Ale"
  Shipyard Brewing Company
  Pumpkin Ale (ABV 5.1%)
  
  [Best served in a Lager glass]
  
  Rating: 2.4/5.0
  
  Aroma: 7/10
  Appearance: 2/5
  Taste: 5/10
  Palate: 2/5
  Overall: 8/20
  
  The pour was a sparkling clear light amber with an average sized (1-2 finger) white fizzy head that quickly dissipated and had almost no lacing to speak of.
  
  The aroma was extremely light of a light bread malt and a doughy yeast with very mild hints of nutmeg, pumpkin, cinnamon and some brown sugar.
  
  The taste was super lightly sweet with an almost non existent hint of nutmeg and brown sugar at first. Then it became ever so lightly bitter with a hint of cinnamon and a light touch of pumpkin at the finish, with the flavor disappearing almost immediately after the swallow.
  
  Mouthfeel was incredibly light in body and very watery in texture with a fizzy carbonation.
  
  Overall an extremely light beer with the flavor being very subtle with no lingering effect at all. For a Pumpkin Ale the aroma was nice and well balanced, but it lacked slightly in flavor and body.

  Shipyard "Pumpkinhead Ale" Shipyard Brewing Company Pumpkin Ale (ABV 5.1%) [Best served in a Lager glass] Rating: 2.4/5.0 Aroma: 7/10 Appearance: 2/5 Taste: 5/10 Palate: 2/5 Overall: 8/20 The pour was a sparkling clear light amber with an average sized (1-2 finger) white fizzy head that quickly dissipated and had almost no lacing to speak of. The aroma was extremely light of a light bread malt and a doughy yeast with very mild hints of nutmeg, pumpkin, cinnamon and some brown sugar. The taste was super lightly sweet with an almost non existent hint of nutmeg and brown sugar at first. Then it became ever so lightly bitter with a hint of cinnamon and a light touch of pumpkin at the finish, with the flavor disappearing almost immediately after the swallow. Mouthfeel was incredibly light in body and very watery in texture with a fizzy carbonation. Overall an extremely light beer with the flavor being very subtle with no lingering effect at all. For a Pumpkin Ale the aroma was nice and well balanced, but it lacked slightly in flavor and body.
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  November 12, 2011

  Uinta "Punk'n Ale"
  Uinta Brewing Company
  Pumpkin Ale (ABV 4%)
  
  [Best served in a Lager glass]
  
  Rating: 3.1/5.0
  
  Aroma: 6/10
  Appearance: 4/5
  Taste: 6/10
  Palate: 3/5
  Overall: 12/20
  
  The pour was a murky medium amber brown with an average sized (1-2 finger) creamy white head that was fully diminishing but left behind some nice spotty residue which allowed for some good lacing that was left sticking to the glass.
  
  The aroma was very light of a toasted biscuit malt and a sweet doughy yeast with notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkin.
  
  It tasted mildly sweet with just a hint of cinnamon and brown sugar in the beginning and finished mildly bitter with a note of nutmeg and a pumpkin presence at the end. The flavor lasted an average duration after the swallow, then faded quickly.
  
  Mouthfeel was light to medium in body and watery yet slightly dry in texture with a prickly carbonation.
  
  Overall a refreshingly mild brew with a nice dose of flavor that is not overdone.

  Uinta "Punk'n Ale" Uinta Brewing Company Pumpkin Ale (ABV 4%) [Best served in a Lager glass] Rating: 3.1/5.0 Aroma: 6/10 Appearance: 4/5 Taste: 6/10 Palate: 3/5 Overall: 12/20 The pour was a murky medium amber brown with an average sized (1-2 finger) creamy white head that was fully diminishing but left behind some nice spotty residue which allowed for some good lacing that was left sticking to the glass. The aroma was very light of a toasted biscuit malt and a sweet doughy yeast with notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkin. It tasted mildly sweet with just a hint of cinnamon and brown sugar in the beginning and finished mildly bitter with a note of nutmeg and a pumpkin presence at the end. The flavor lasted an average duration after the swallow, then faded quickly. Mouthfeel was light to medium in body and watery yet slightly dry in texture with a prickly carbonation. Overall a refreshingly mild brew with a nice dose of flavor that is not overdone.
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  November 12, 2011

  Samuel Adams "Harvest Pumpkin Ale"
  Boston Beer Company
  Pumpkin Ale (ABV 5.7%)
  
  [Best served in a Lager glass]
  
  Rating: 3.5/5.0
  
  Aroma: 8/10
  Appearance: 3/5
  Taste: 7/10
  Palate: 4/5
  Overall: 13/20
  
  The pour was a clear dark amber with a reddish hue and had an average sized (1-2 finger) creamy off white head which produced some good lacing.
  
  The aroma was moderately strong of a toasted bread malt and a sweet doughy yeast with notes of brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg and pumpkin.
  
  The taste was a nice malty sweet with a nice note of brown sugar and allspice from the onset and finished about the same with a hint of nutmeg and a nice dose of pumpkin at the end. The flavor lingered for a descent amount of time allowing for the spices to settle nicely on the taste buds.
  
  Mouthfeel was just a tad under medium in body and quite creamy yet a little dry in texture with a nice forceful carbonation.
  
  Overall a flavorful Pumpkin Ale with just the right amount of spices blended together for a nice tasty experience.

  Samuel Adams "Harvest Pumpkin Ale" Boston Beer Company Pumpkin Ale (ABV 5.7%) [Best served in a Lager glass] Rating: 3.5/5.0 Aroma: 8/10 Appearance: 3/5 Taste: 7/10 Palate: 4/5 Overall: 13/20 The pour was a clear dark amber with a reddish hue and had an average sized (1-2 finger) creamy off white head which produced some good lacing. The aroma was moderately strong of a toasted bread malt and a sweet doughy yeast with notes of brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg and pumpkin. The taste was a nice malty sweet with a nice note of brown sugar and allspice from the onset and finished about the same with a hint of nutmeg and a nice dose of pumpkin at the end. The flavor lingered for a descent amount of time allowing for the spices to settle nicely on the taste buds. Mouthfeel was just a tad under medium in body and quite creamy yet a little dry in texture with a nice forceful carbonation. Overall a flavorful Pumpkin Ale with just the right amount of spices blended together for a nice tasty experience.