A Small Pumpkin Patch
Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. Perhaps it’s the horror fan in me, or perhaps it’s the chocolate fiend. At any rate, after having followed an excited Fairy Princess around the neighborhood for an hour or so, I could think of no way better to finish up Halloween night than with a few pumpkin ales. Upon putting my daughter to bed with that maniacal, sugar-induced crazed look in her eyes, I found dissecting the characteristics of specialty brews a bit less of a challenge.
Of the three bottles of beer that I had, I found that two stood up to their reputation with ease, while the third not only surprised me, but also questioning my craft beer faith.
Post Road Pumpkin Ale
First up is a beer from Brooklyn Brewery — the sweetest of the bunch.
Appearance
This brew pours a lovely orange brown with a small bit of head that faded to a light lacing.
Aroma
Sweet pumpkin dominates the nose while a few other spices dance in the background of this one. It’s smells quite inviting.
Taste
Whoa. I’ve enjoyed many pumpkin pies in my time, but never any in liquid form. This brew blends pumpkin flavors with cinnamon sweetness perfectly. It’s not too sweet, but just sweet enough to remind you of dessert after a heavy Thanksgiving dinner.
Overall
I think that this may have been my favorite of the trifecta that I sampled, but it had a slight edge over the other two having been first in line. The images it put in my mind of a warm pumpkin pie were going to be hard to beat.
Rating: 4/5
Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale
Honestly, I had no idea that A-B brewed this one when I purchased it. Not only was I surprised that it was one of their products, but (and I feel a bit dirty for saying this) I thought it was a good brew.
Appearance
Jack’s pours a nice clean amber with no head to speak of.
Aroma
Overall, this one has a very subtle, light aroma. The pumpkin is there as is a sweet mixture of spices (cinnamon, nutmeg…)
Taste
This one wasn’t half bad. It’s crisp and refreshing with a mild, refined pumpkin flavor. It tastes as though the focus was on the spices (hence the beer’s name) and that spice combination makes for a surprisingly complex and layered tasting experience.
Overall
Again, I was completely floored that this was an A-B product. Would I buy it again? I hate to say it, but I can see myself picking this on up in a group purchase if it’s available next year.
Rating: 3/5
Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale
Labeled as “America’s Original Pumpkin Ale,” I was expecting something a little more organic in terms of taste and that’s exactly what I got.
Appearance
This one is light amber in color with no head to speak of.
Aroma
Bill’s version of this seasonal has a crisp aroma, filled with wonderful spices. It reminds me of an cold Fall morning.
Taste
I found this one to be quite delicious. It’s taste is not as sweet as the Brooklyn variety, but has a more true to form pumpkin flavor that gives it a more authentic taste. The spices are a bit more dominating as in the A-B product, but in no way overpower the pumpkin. This was probably the most balanced of the ales I sampled.
Overall
Like I said in the last section, overall I found this the more balanced of the three. Each had their own uniqueness and focused on areas that made them distinct and enjoyable for different reasons, but Bill’s came out on top for me due to it’s well managed use of ingredients.
Rating: 4/5