Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin
Shipyard’s Smashed Pumpkin is the fourth installment from the brewery’s Pugsley’s Signature Series that I’ve had the chance to enjoy and, while it’s not the best of the group, it’s still damned tasty.
This particular bottle was enjoyed with a coworker while grilling dinner a couple of weekends ago. Normally, I’d hold off on trying a beer like this (9% ABV) later in the evening, but we decided to throw caution to the wind and it actually turned out crisp and mellow enough to enjoy outside on a warmish afternoon.
Appearance
Smashed Pumpkin pours an orangish amber in color with a small amount of head that faded slowly.
Aroma
This one has a great pumpkin aroma that’s not too strong or overly sweet. There’s a beefy spice presence that’s heavy on the nutmeg.
Taste
Depending on my mood at the time, I usually lean more towards the more pie-like pumpkin ales available. As circumstances would have it, Smashed Pumpkin’s clean and not-too-sweet character were the perfect match for outdoor enjoyment. The pumpkin flavors are light and crisp while the spices mix in smoothly. The higher alcohol was potent, but real noticeable on the tongue. It was only after we brought in the pork tenderloin from off the grill that we realized it had crept up on us a bit.
Overall
Shipyard has added another fine example to their higher end product line. I will admit, it’s not my favorite of the group, but then again, with the beers already there, it really never stood a chance at claiming the crown. Smashed Pumpkin is another tasty option out there for you pumpkin beer fans.
Rating: 3.5/5