Daily Archives: August 27, 2013

AlexAA: deep russet w/ high visibility, oaky malted aroma filled w/ deep cloves, a sprinkling of nutmeg. The pumpkin shines through, too 9/10

AlexTM: Squashy-side of pumpkin w/ roasted coffee finish – spices harder to discern once in mix of malt, tho there is cinnamon + vanilla 7/10

AlexP: A decent-sized serving, and prepared in a refreshing, not overly-spiced manner aka not done up like a strumpet w/ too many spices 4/10

AlexO: Refreshingly crisp, not weighty but still carries full autumnal palate – a less festive + more seasonal way to treat pumpkin. 86/100

NicAA: Hazy orange with a good 1/3 inch head. And in the nose, there is that tomatoey smell I get from the odd pumpkin brew. Ketchup! 4/10

NicTM: Huge hit of vanilla + malt, pumpkin + subtle spice mix. Tastes nothing like the smell, MUCH better. Light, moderate carbonation. 8/10

NicP: Not strong, but present. V heavy on the vanilla but that helps the “pie” aspect. Traditional spices take a back seat. 2 pumpkins

NicO: This is a distinctive brew for sure. The aroma and taste could not be more different, and the vanilla is prominent. Different. 79/100

AlexAA: cloudy, rusty copper, with lots of carbonation bubbles present, smells almost sour, and a whiff of bananas 4/10

AlexTM: How odd. There’s no pumpkin to this but also no spice. It’s frothy ale with a body of nothing, and a bitter finish. What the what? 1/10

AlexP: How many pumpkins does it take to brew a pumpkin wheat ale that neither smells nor tastes of pumpkin? 0/10 is correct.

AlexO: This is a mass-produced beer frauding as a craft. A non-beer, which is worse than a bad beer. If you’re going to suck, suck big. 13/100

NicAA: Hazy amber with no head and lots of particulates. Smells of sweet malt, a tiny hint of pumpkin, not really getting any spice. 6/10

NicTM: Thin, highly carbed. Again not detecting much spice, there’s a little cinnamon +hint of nutmeg. Odd bitter chemical aftertaste.       5/10

NicP: A bit of pumpkin in the aroma, but I’m not really tasting it.Actually it’s difficult to taste anything past the odd chemical taste. 1p

NicO: Too high carb, weird chemical aftertaste. Maybe I wouldn’t hate this so much if I was five beers deep but on a fresh palate, sucks. 38

NicAA: A clear golden pour with visible carbonation and fair head that disappears fast. Aroma chock full of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove. 8/10

NicTM: Cinnamon abounds, pretty fizzy, medium body. The fall spices are strong here and in distinctive mix, this beer is recognizable. 8/10

NicP: Pumpkin here is pretty overwhelmed by the spice but it is there. The spice mix is really the star here, but that’s well done. 3p

NicO:My first pumpkin love has a fond place in my heart. Killer spice mix makes a session beer fall star, even if it isn’t best for pumpkin.80/100

Alex AA: light yellow w/ an orange tint and moderate carbonation, nutmeg, cloves and faint pumpkin to the smell 8/10

Alex TM: VERY light-bodied, lemony zest and maltiness in beginning into a dry finish of vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. 7.5/10

AlexP: Far more in the aroma than the actual ale itself, though I do think, with this balance of spices, makes it a session ale 2.5/10

AlexO: As a Mainer, I have a soft-spot for this ale. Though not a star on team, you’ll find that this ale has longevity of a classic 83/100

NicAA: Pours a perfectly clear bright copper with immediate nose of crisp apples and fall. Sweet pumpkin on the nose and delicate spice.9/10

NicTM: Thin, light carbonation, very mild spice except for the nutmeg which stands out. Crisp apples again, light cinnamon. Refreshing! 8/10

NicP: Pumpkin is there more strongly in the nose, but the flavor is there, sweet and well complimented by the spice. Nice finish. 4 pumpkins

NicO: An easy drinking fall beer you’d be happy with after a day’s leaf peeping. I’d be happy sitting in a Vermont cabin sipping this.80/100

AlexAA: very clear, lt. orange – sweet aroma, like Imperial, but more brown sugar and pumpkin to this aroma, w/ a chocolate overtone 7/10

AlexTM: light body, low carbonation, VERY light cinnamon and nutmeg to a decent helping of pumpkin 6/10

AlexP: Though more prevalent in the smell, does create the general breadth of this ale – and definitely more than in the Imperial 4/10

AlexO: Wouldn’t say go-to, but I would say stand-by – there’s nothing bad, just nothing exciting. This is a marginally pumpkin ale. 69/100

Alex AA: deep hazy amber, with bubbling that barely peeks through the cloudiness, sweetened aroma of cinnamon and caramel malt 8/10

AlexTM: bitter hoppiness followed by fresh pumpkin, the cinnamon is much less apparent in the taste, there’s a slight fruitiness to it 7/10

Alex P: Chock full of pumpkins, fresh and mashed – with the sweet malt, they take on a molasses and apple flavor 7/10

AlexO: Sweet squashiness that keeps bringing me back, spicing leaves some to be desired. Food pairings will change hops 2 sweetness ratio 81/10

NicAA: Pours a cloudy but bright orange, with a 1/3 inch head that quickly disappears. Nutmeg, allspice, malt and a whiff of alcohol. 7/10

NicTM: Moderate carbonation, med body. Very noticeable alcohol upfront. Dry and noticeably bitter compared to the nose. Cinnamon pops 7/10

NicP: Pretty good amount of quality pumpkin but the spice mix and high alcohol combine to give it a medicinal taste for me. 6 pumpkins.

NicO: Another true late-fall beer, a warming concoction but just misses the balance for me. Pleasant, but at 9% I’m gonna be smashed. 79/100

NicAA: A rich amber color with cream colored head and fair retention. Spice, very strong clove aroma, a little pumpkin in the finish. 7/10

NicTM: Medium body, mid to low carbonation. Spices not as strong tasting as in the nose, balanced spices and light pumpkin in finish. 7/10

NicP: The pumpkin is there, and garbed in a decent amount of autumn spice. Nothing out of place in this beer, it’s just subtle. 4 pumpkins

NicO: No strong flavors, but that makes it a nice easy-drinking session pumpkin. This is the beer Sam Adams should have made. 76/100

Alex AA: High carbonation in a clear rust-hued ale, heavy nutmeg to aroma, small frothy head 7/10

Alex TM: carbonation is a bit much on onset, taste fills out to a light body of wheat, cloves and all-spice – pumpkin is light, tho 7/10

Alex P: Perhaps the wheat base to this ale spreads the pumpkin out too far, like butter across just a tad too much bread 2/10

Alex O: The wheat finish turns to little alcohol in the aftertaste. Carbonation makes it feel like a beer soda at the health store. 70/100

Alex AA: no head whatsoever, deep amber with slight haziness to the visibility, light raw, bitter pumpkin smell coupled w/ ginger 6/10

AlexTM: taste overrun by raisin + cloves, hard to discern pumpkin in the mix of over-concentration of mulled spices + watery nature of ale 5/10

Alex P: More present in the aroma – even in the body of the beer, the pumpkin is smothered with a holiday satchel full of spice 1/10

AlexO: Hard to describe something as full-bodied, + weak as water – but somebody poured ale into a bowl of potpourri. And I hate raisins. 42/100

NicAA: Pours a dusty copper with a thick head but poor retention. Visibly VERY carbonated. Vegetal pumpkin aroma, not much spice. 5/10

NicTM: Very thin, less carbonated than it appeared, very light on the spices. Pumpkin flavor is almost tomato-like. Just kind of odd. 4/10

NicP: Present, but vegetal, and not complimented well by the over-light spices. Too much like drinking sugary pumpkin juice. 7 pumpkins

NicO: Weird and fizzy. Like an odd pumpkin soda, this beer isn’t one I’d be revisiting in a hurry. Original doesn’t always mean best.  48/100

NicAA: Pours a dark copper with thick head, good retention. Mixed smoky and sweet malt aroma, light whiff of alcohol and pumpkin spices 7/10

NicTM: Full bodied, low carbonation. Pumpkin spices are there, as is the pumpkin but not strong. Alcohol in the finish and some hops. 7/10

NicP: The pumpkin is here, but pretty hidden in the smoky malt bitter flavor, and the alcohol in the finish. Tasty but minimal 2 pumpkins

NicO: This is a solid late-fall to winter beer but you’ll notice the alcohol. A fair winter warmer, and it IS Fat, but not much Jack. 70/100

AlexAA: Deep rusted copper color, smells of bitter malt, allspice, all shrouded in a warm smokiness, visibly low carbonation 8/10

AlexTM: Full-bodied – starts out mild w/ definite pumpkin, but heavy malt, nutmeg and then the ginger kicks in, a very chalky bitter finish 7/10

AlexP: well-balanced, and well-accessorized by the spices. for a body this full, I’m glad there’s ample pumpkin to slosh around. 6/10

AlexO: Late fall ale, to be sure. Almost stout-like, as air turns, dense bitter aftereffect will be more desirable. Pair well w/ mittens. 81/100

NicAA: Wonderful deep crisp and sweet cider nose, no spice, just sweet apple and pumpkin aroma. Pours a beautiful golden rust. 9/10

NicTM: Effervescent, rich and crisp. Tastes of wonderful crisp fall apples, followed along by juicy ripe pumpkin. Very refreshing. 9/10

NicP: The pumpkin is very present and comes in after the initial apple hit. Kudos to Woodchuck on a really great balance of both. 5 pumpkins

NicO: Delightful, refreshing and exactly as I had hoped. Perfect accompaniment to a sunny, crisp fall day. Special indeed, grab some! 89/100

AlexAA: light yellow-orange hue with moderate carbonation, heavy-ladened with apple and cinnamon aroma, but a nice dash of cloves 8/10

AlexTM: Crisp apple laced sweet with brown sugar, vanilla and a bit of molasses. Light bodied, fizzy and then pumpkin as the taste tapers 8/10

AlexP: Lots of pumpkins to keep up with lots of apples. In no way is it OVERLY “pumpkined”, as the amount of apples call for an army 7/10

AlexAA: clear, effervescently carbonated, rusted orange tone, aroma filled with fresh pumpkin and a dollop of vanilla 8/10

AlexTM: Savory pumpkin with cinnamon and nutmeg, finished with vanilla that gives it a bittersweet twist in the finish 8/10

AlexP: Very present, fresh but RIPE…immense buttery tones from the gourd itself, coupled with a caramel bronze 5/10

AlexO: Buoyant ale maintains lightness w/ med. body, great balance of sweetness to spices, you are pumpkin fondled – 2nd date time, CBC. 85/100

NicAA: Pours a nice murky orange with a ½ inch foam. Aroma of malt and pie crust, fresh sweet pumpkin and delicate spices. Delightful! 9/10

NicTM: Smooth, not over carbonated. Taste mirrors aroma with fantastic sweet pumpkin taste, buttery, really well balanced spice. 9/10

NicP: You can really taste the fresh sugar pumpkin this beer is made with. Perfect amount of pumpkin here, cream of the crop. 5 pumpkins