Pumkin Ale...anyone else drink it?

tigerbass · #1 10-10-2009, 01:04 PM

Hello there fellow TB'ers!
Just curious if any other of my low end brethren enjoy Pumpkin beer/ale? Southern Teirs' Pumking is my favorite...gonna go pour one right now as a matter of fact!

What are some of your favorites?
Cheers!

tigerbass · #2 10-10-2009, 01:19 PM

Here are the ones I have tried.

CBgaragebassist · #3 10-10-2009, 01:23 PM

Interesting. What kind of taste is it?

TSanders · #4 10-10-2009, 01:28 PM

Dogfish Heads offering is my favorite pumpkin ale.

tigerbass · #5 10-10-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSanders

Dogfish Heads offering is my favorite pumpkin ale.

Yeah, I forgot to include that one! It is my 2nd favorite!

Pumpkin beer is usually an ale made with pumpkin and spices, like nutmeg, cinnamon and/or clove. It's not overwhelming, but is does have a delicious pumpkin pie-type aftertaste.

Jared Lash · #6 10-10-2009, 01:50 PM

I've tried a few and homebrewed it twice. To be clear, it's really a pumpkie PIE flavored beer. In general you use canned pumpkin and cinnamon and nutmeg or just pre-fab pumpkin pie filling.

It's an interesting taste and a nice novelty for the holidays but I wouldn't want to drink it all that often.

bigblondeafro87 · #7 10-10-2009, 02:51 PM

I had some Shipyards and some America's Original the other weekend, very different tasting beer, quite tasty on the odd occassion. The Shipyards tastes very pumpkin-y but from what I understand has some artificial ingredients. The America's Original had a watery taste at first, which then turned pumpkin-y and nutmeg-y and then smoothed out into a pumpkin pie flavor.

coreyfyfe · #8 10-10-2009, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerbass

Yeah, I forgot to include that one! It is my 2nd favorite!

Haha, the dogfish is my second favorite as well, my favorite being the Southern Tier. There's a bar around here that usually has about 11 or 12 different pumpkins on tap around this time of year so I like to try them all.

For this years brews, I've only had the Southern Tier, Dogfishhead, and Blue Moon, but I'm looking forward to getting out and having some more.

I haven't seen that big bottle Shipyard, how is it? I'm not a fan of their regular pumpkin ale that they've put out in the past, but the smashed pumpkin looks like it could be interesting (at least the label looks like they've put in a little more effort).

tigerbass · #9 10-10-2009, 03:15 PM

The Smashed Pumpkin is Alan Pugsleys' signature series beer.
It is pretty wild! It starts out very sweet, but then it turns very smoooth! It is 9% so it's a kicker!

Man, do you mind if I come out to your place and hit that bar with you?

We don't have ANY bars in NW Indiana with pumpkin ale on draft that I know of!

coreyfyfe · #10 10-10-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerbass

The Smashed Pumpkin is Alan Pugsleys' signature series beer.
It is pretty wild! It starts out very sweet, but then it turns very smoooth! It is 9% so it's a kicker!

Man, do you mind if I come out to your place and hit that bar with you?

We don't have ANY bars in NW Indiana with pumpkin ale on draft that I know of!

I'll have to keep a look out for that then.

Haha, yeah this bar is pretty cool, biggest selection in the city, 112 on tap, 3-400 bottles usually available.

SoonerMatt · #11 10-10-2009, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSanders

Dogfish Heads offering is my favorite pumpkin ale.

Same, but Dogfish Head doesn't sell in this part of the country, which makes me very sad.

I've written down the names of every pumpkin ale in this thread and will run to Schnucks to see what my options are.

tigerbass · #12 10-10-2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoonerMatt

Same, but Dogfish Head doesn't sell in this part of the country, which makes me very sad.

I've written down the names of every pumpkin ale in this thread and will run to Schnucks to see what my options are.

If they have Southern Teirs' Pumking...get it!
It is 9% and tastes phenomenal!

SoonerMatt · #13 10-10-2009, 06:01 PM

Here were my choices:

Buffalo Bill's Original Pumpkin Ale
Had it before, didn't like it. (Beer advocate's overall is a C with the Bros giving it an F)

Blue Moon Pumpkin
It's Blue Moon, I can find this at a gas station here.

O'Fallon Pumpkin Beer
Haven't had it, and considering the other 2 choices I went with this.

It's cooling in my fridge right now, I'll let you all know what I think of it later on when it's cold.

tigerbass · #14 10-10-2009, 06:04 PM

Awesome! I have not heard of that. Please share your experience! I hope it bodes you well! Cheers!

Rich L · #15 10-10-2009, 06:38 PM

This thread is making me thirsty!!!

coreyfyfe · #16 10-10-2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoonerMatt

Here were my choices:

Buffalo Bill's Original Pumpkin Ale
Had it before, didn't like it. (Beer advocate's overall is a C with the Bros giving it an F)

Blue Moon Pumpkin
It's Blue Moon, I can find this at a gas station here.

O'Fallon Pumpkin Beer
Haven't had it, and considering the other 2 choices I went with this.

It's cooling in my fridge right now, I'll let you all know what I think of it later on when it's cold.

The blue moon is ok, not great, but not a disappointment either. Honestly, I think I say the same thing about all of their beers. Very middle of the road but I wouldn't turn one down given the opportunity, and would pick them over a lot of others.

I haven't heard of O'Fallon, I'll have to look into that one as well.

SoonerMatt · #17 10-10-2009, 08:37 PM

The O'Fallon is all right. The aroma starts malty but then transitions into a nice spice scent. Once the head dies down the malty scent dies with it. The beer itself is very cloudy with absolutely no opacity to speak of. Its color is an orange-brown mix that actually makes it look like pumpkin pie.

But as for what you all really care about, the taste. Initially it doesn't really have a distinct taste outside of "ale," but once you swallow you get the pumpkin and spice aftertaste that lingers for a bit. It's subtle, but still there.

Overall, not as good as the Dogfish Head, but it's not bad by any means. But given the price ($10 a 6) I'd consider looking at something else. I'll probably buy some of the Blue Moon when I'm down to my last of these and A/B the two when the time comes, especially since the Blue Moon is $3 cheaper for a 6 pack.

tigerbass · #18 10-10-2009, 09:07 PM

Hmmm...interesting. Thanks for the review! Luckily I can get Pumking for $5.97 a bomber. Beer Advocate ranks that as their #1 pumpkin ale. I just can't get past that!
But in a pinch, Dogfish Head all the way!

Dr Stankface · #19 10-10-2009, 09:15 PM

I'm also a big fan of the dogfish head.

DanAleks · #20 10-11-2009, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

I've tried a few and homebrewed it twice. To be clear, it's really a pumpkie PIE flavored beer. In general you use canned pumpkin and cinnamon and nutmeg or just pre-fab pumpkin pie filling.

I'd suggest avoiding the pumpkin pie filling. It usually has preservatives which will inhibit yeast growth or kill the yeast outright.