Alltech's Lexington Brewing Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale

The Stats
Style: Pumpkin Ale
ABV:10%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 3.69/5
- Untappd: 3.74/5
- RateBeer: 3.31/5

"As the ale is aged in fresh bourbon barrels, the sweetness of caramel and vanilla are imparted upon the brew and complement its spicier base. At 10 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), this robust, limited release seasonal makes for a flavorful sipping beer to slowly warm up with as the weather cools."

Pours rusty orange in color with a transparent body and it had a finger of off-white head.

 Overall, the aroma quite bland. There's minuscule traces of cinnamon and nutmeg, but no barrel character. The pumpkin itself is also here, but again, very faint. It's not offensive to the nose, but it's rather plain.

Thankfully the flavors come out bigger on the taste. My first impression is the oak and char from the barrel with a smokey quality. This is more barrel "kissed" rather than being soaked in bourbon and the sweetness works well with that smoke. There's a little bit of residual booziness and alcohol on each sip, but it isn't a pure alcohol taste, so it is easy to tolerate. Spices of cinnamon and nutmeg are here, but like the aroma, they aren't major players, but at least they play a bigger part here. A mild potpourri and floral influence is also felt throughout, but in this case, it is the pumpkin and spices that just barely win out over those.

Mouthfeel is relatively calm. The body is a little thin, but not watered down. If I was blindfolded, there is no way in hell I would every say this was 10% friggin' percent. I am impressed and disappointed at the same time. I'm obviously impressed at how well it masks the abv (with just a touch of the aforementioned heat), but this had the makings of a massive, warming sipper. Instead, this actually went down in a hurry thanks to the light body and hidden alcohol. However, is that what this beer was going for? I don't think so.

Kentucky Pumpkin Ale had a chance to set itself apart from other pumpkin beers, but at the end of the day, this was a good, and not great offering. The standard pumpkin beer flavors are here to be seen for sure, but for a bourbon barrel aged beer, this needed to pop a lot more on the aroma, taste, and feel. Admittedly, this was shockingly easy to drink and I do think even the casual drinker who looks forward to pumpkin beers every season will like this and be bale to gulp it down.

In this case, I am Lila and this beer is Arnold: I like you, but I don't like you like you.

Rating
6.6/10

Two Roads Roadsmary's Baby

The Stats
Style: Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 6.8%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 3.7/5
- Untappd: 3.67/5
- RateBeer: 3.4/5

"Roadsmary’s Baby is a traditional pumpkin ale with a Two Roads spin, it's aged in rum barrels for added complexity and depth of flavor. The result is a smooth drinking ale with notes of pumpkin, spices, vanilla, oak and a touch of rum."

Pours burgundy in color with a copper glow and a slightly hazy body. The pour produced a finger of off-white head.

Cinnamon and nutmeg for days on the aroma with subtle rum character. A flower and potpourri aroma is powerful, but no vanilla to be found.

The taste retains the subtle rum from the aroma and adds some spice in for good measure. Sweet vanilla finally appears, but like the rum, it is faded and nearly a ghost. The cinnamon and nutmeg are the stars here as this tastes like a spice cabinet was emptied into the beer. Those familiar flowers and potpourri are back and they are just as big as the spices. Unlike the aroma, the taste yields raisins and dark fruit which seem to play off of the small bit of rum that was able to be found. I wish the barrel had more of an influence, but the pumpkin spices themselves are loud and proud.

Mouthfeel is light and calm with good carbonation. It finishes clean with no bad aftertaste and the alcohol is non-existent.

Roadsmary's Baby was a good pumpkin ale that did not deliver big on the barrel aging. Still, it is an acceptable pumpkin beer that is easy to drink.

Rating
7.5/10

Cape Ann Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout

The Stats
Style: American Stout/Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 7%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 3.74/5
- Untappd: 3.58/5
- RateBeer: 3.5/5

"Fisherman’s Pumpkin Stout is a dark stout accentuated by flavors of the Autumn season. Using real pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, the Cape Ann Brewing Company took a fresh take at the common fall seasonal. This rich dark stout offers an inviting pumpkin spice aroma that gives way to the delicate essence of real pumpkin."

The beer sits absolutely pitch black in the glass with no hints of ruby red or brown anywhere. The pour produced less than a finger of off-white head.

A hot, massive load of nutmeg (don't Google that one at work) bursts from the glass first with cinnamon not far behind. The aroma is incredibly spice-forward and the pumpkin is pretty much lost in the background, but overall, the aroma is inviting.

The pumpkin shows up on the taste and it's actually what sticks around after each swallow. Like the aroma, the nutmeg is reaching superhuman levels of robustness. While the pumpkin has made an appearance on the taste, this is still very much all about the spices. The cinnamon is nowhere near as strong as it was on the aroma, but it is still well-represented on each sip. The base stout contributes a small amount of roasted malt flavor.

Mouthfeel is full, but it's not thick or viscous. However, for 7%, it feels spot on. Aftertastes of pumpkin and nutmeg makes it feel like Fall and no alcohol is to be found.

This was more of a nutmeg stout with pumpkin rather than the other way around. I do think the body was just full enough to make this work. Had it been a thinner, watered down stout, then I don't think it would have been enjoyable. It's overpowering on the spices, but I personally found it to work well.

Rating
8.2/10

Southern Tier Pumking (2017 Re-Review)

The Stats
Style: Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 8.6%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.05/5
- Untappd: 3.73/5
- RateBeer: 3.96/5

"Pumking is an ode to Púca, a creature of Celtic folklore, who is both feared and respected by those who believe in it. Púca is said to waylay travelers throughout the night, tossing them on its back, and providing them the ride of their lives, from which they return forever changed. Brewed in the spirit of All Hallows Eve, a time of the year when spirits can make contact with the physical world and when magic is most potent. Pour Pumking into a goblet and allow it’s alluring spirit to overflow. As spicy aromas present themselves, let it’s deep copper color entrance you as your journey into this mystical brew has just begun. As the first drops touch your tongue a magical spell will bewitch your taste buds making it difficult to escape the Pumking."

So, this might be my first attempt at making amends for a prior review. I first reviewed Pumking back in 2014 and to say the review was facetious would be an understatement. Maybe I was going purely for entertainment value rather than constructive criticism, but looking back, it was a bad review. I put emotion before beer and it was the wrong move. So, I am here today to do a rare re-review in order to right my wrongs.

Pours a transparent, rusty orange with a finger of white head.

The aroma has a distinct graham cracker and pie crust smell. Subtle notes of vanilla and cinnamon come through nicely as does a hint of squash and pumpkin.

Compared to other pumpkin ales, this one is one of the better examples suited for dessert as the pumpkin pie flavor profile is well represented.

Liquid pumpkin pie is the best way to describe the taste. That graham cracker crust that was so influential on the nose is just as big on the palate. Your typical pumpkin ale flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg are all here, but they are more robust than other examples. A yam and squash vegetal flavor brings in the pumpkin aspect of this beer and then there's some vanilla along with a spicy rum quality.

Mouthfeel is medium and smooth all around. You'd never guess this clocks in at almost 9% and thanks to the range of flavors, this is complex while retaining high drinkability.

My first review of this beer was clearly a lapse in judgment. If memory serves correctly (and it always does), then I think the first time I reviewed this it was the day I got the phone call that I had finished 2nd in the "Best Looking Man in the Universe" competition. Needless to say, I was a bit perturbed. Today, I give Pumking my stamp of approval as a great pumpkin ale.

Rating
8.3/10

Ballast Point Pumpkin Down

The Stats
Style: Scottish Ale, Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 5.8%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 3.82/5
- Untappd: 3.74/5
- RateBeer: 3.45/5

"A pumpkin ale that bucks the trend. Some might think we’re out of our gourd for making a pumpkin ale, but our Pumpkin Down is not like the others.  The caramel and toffee maltiness of our Piper Down Scottish ale is the perfect backdrop for a boatload of roasted pumpkin. Just before bottling, we add a subtle amount of spice to complement, but not overwhelm, the earthy flavor. It was a smash at the brewery, and we think you’ll agree."

Pours a mahogany red color with a finger of yellowish head.

I'm picking up sweet malty notes with a dash of subtle pumpkin spice on the aroma. A good amount of cinnamon and nutmeg seem to be pushing to the front of the line and the base scotch ale is getting lost.

The base beer comes through a bit better on the taste. The malts have a sweeter, caramel flavor, but nothing too in-your-face about it. Aside from that, there's no real trace of a Scotch Ale. More nutmeg and minimal pumpkin flavor are also to be found along with moments of squash, but they aren't too prominent. I'm getting some sort of oat or cereal flavor the more I drink, and actually, a bit of toffee does seem to come out as this continues to warm.

Mouthfeel is light-to-medium and relatively calm. No alcohol to be found and no bad aftertaste. It can feel thin at times, but isn't a watered-down beer by any means.

Pumpkin Down's Scotch Ale qualities were few and far between and the pumpkin aspect of this brew (slightly) outdid the base beer. In the Pumpkin Ale world, you will find examples with a lot more of that familiar fall flavor you are seeking out. I can't say it is a great blend of styles, but it isn't offensive to my palate either. It's an ok pumpkin beer, but you can find better.

Rating
7.2/10

Heavy Seas The Greater Pumpkin

The Stats
Style: Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 10.00%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 3.87/5
- RateBeer: 3.65/5

I've had pumpkin porters aged in bourbon barrels, but never a traditional pumpkin ale. Heavy Seas The Greater pumpkin is a massive pumpkin ale clocking in at 10.00% and was aged for an undisclosed amount of time in bourbon barrels. What period of time and what barrels did they use? Well, it is nearly impossible to find that information, but let's let the beer do the talking.

Pours a hazy dark orange bordering on amber. I can't see a thing through this beer. The pour produced two fingers of a slightly off-white head.

The nose is subtle with cinnamon, pumpkin, and a tiny bit of oak from the barrel. No bourbon on the aroma.

There's something off about the taste. In the front and middle is what I would best describe as alcoholic squash. There was no bourbon on the nose, but some sort of spirit has made its presence known on the taste with a spicy flavor and a little bit of a sting. Cinnamon is the most prominent of the spices with a small supporting role by nutmeg, but it's not all that bold. The spirit flavor combined with spices give this a rum-like taste despite claiming to be put in bourbon barrels. As for those barrels, I swear I can't find any bourbon no matter how hard I try. Highlights would be a pumpkin puree flavor that is just as good as any other standard pumpkin ale, but it tastes genuine and not artificial. The finish retains the alcohol taste and it is noticeable, but only for a split second before vanishing into the night.

I was anticipating a fuller body for a 10% barrel-aged beer, but the feel is similar to any other pumpkin ale on the market and is thin for an imperial ale. Lots of carbonation bubbles and some lingering residual alcohol round things out. Despite some alcohol sting, it goes down just as easy as any ordinary pumpkin ale, but the abv should have you treading carefully.

The Greater Pumpkin had big ambitions, but it did not reach its potential. This drank more like a run-of-the-mill pumpkin ale rather than a big, bold barrel-aged beer. A lack of barrel character and a thin mouthfeel hurt this one, but as a standard pumpkin beer, it actually works nicely. I think taking the base beer and putting that in six-packs would be beneficial for Heavy Seas as that could compete with all of the other pumpkin beers on the market. The lone 22oz bombers claiming to be bourbon barrel aged just won't cut it in my own humble opinion.

Rating
6.0/10

Cigar City Good Gourd

The Stats
Style: Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 8.50%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.23/5
- RateBeer: 3.75/5

Pumpkin beers are the Nickelback of the beer community. I'll agree that most of them tend to follow the same recipe leaving no distinction between one pumpkin ale and another, but every now and then you find one that is not only better than the rest, but also better than any beer you've had in general. Enter Cigar City's Good Gourd. It's a self-described Imperial Pumpkin Ale brewed with spices. I have previously reviewed the Rum Barrel-Aged version and found that to be a pretty good, but better-than-most examples of the style. The standard version blows that one out of the water.

Pours a dark orange bordering on copper or amber. When poured it has two fingers of an off-white, eggshell head.

The spices take center stage on the aroma with big clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon all present. The pumpkin isn't overtaking the others including a sprinkling of graham cracker crust and dried flowers.

Pumpkin is a bit more prominent on the taste. Not only are the aforementioned spices of nutmeg and clove here, but I would compare the spiciness to pure rum more than anything else. Inherent with that is a slight alcohol taste, but it's a spirit taste and not off-putting. I'm certainly picking up a cream or vanilla flavor which, combined with pumpkin, reminds me of a dollop of Cool-Whip on top of a slice of pumpkin pie. The finish has a huge kick of pure cinnamon that brought a smile to my face.

At 8.50%, this is a big pumpkin ale, but it doesn't feel heavy enough to weigh you down. The flavors make full use of the weight of the abv and while some alcohol warmth is noticeable, it is easily forgiven. The amount of carbonation was noticeable on the pour and in the mouth, but it helped move the alcohol and flavors along the palate.

Good Gourd is an exceptional pumpkin ale that has backed up its reputation as one of the world's best pumpkin beers. In comparison to the Rum Barrel-Aged version, I prefer the base beer untouched as I think the rum took away from the spices and vanilla and really downgraded the standard version. It's probably the best pumpkin beer I've ever had, but it's a great beer regardless of style. It's complex and drinkable, so there's really nothing more you want in a beer.

Rating
9.4/10

Avery Rumpkin

The Stats
Style: Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 16.73%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.08/5
- RateBeer: 3.83/5

Tired of the same old pumpkin ales? Well, Avery has a barrel-aged monster for you. Brewed with locally grown roasted pumpkins and aged in rum barrels for six months, Rumpkin was not only one of the first barrel-aged pumpkin ales I ever saw, but also the biggest at 16.73%.

Pours a murky, dirty, dark amber. There's a significant amount of sediment in this one and it produced about a finger of a fizzy, off-white head that doesn't stay around long.

Whew! That first sniff will clear those sinuses for sure. A big blast of smooth rum up front. The most dominant spice is the cinnamon, but nutmeg is powerful as well. I pick up some wood from the barrel and some subtle ginger. A slight alcohol sting, but I expected that.

The first taste I am hit with is pureed pumpkin which is very sweet like pumpkin pie. The rum is also comes through loud and clear, but there isn't an alcohol taste to it, but instead smooth flavor. Speaking of the pumpkin pie, there's a graham cracker crust taste that is here which reminds you of Thanksgiving dessert. Just like the nose, cinnamon is more prominent than the nutmeg, but that's how I prefer my pumpkin ales. I pick up almost some raisin and dark fruits on the finish which can make this comes off as a doppelbock in some aspects.

I was surprised at how carbonated this was as the bubbles danced on my tongue. There are a lot of sweet flavors which at first seem like they disappear, but they do tend to stick to my tongue. I wouldn't call it excessively cloying, but they aren't exactly going away. Considering the abv, there isn't an alcohol presence as much as there is a noticeable warmth in my throat and chest on the finish.

My biggest concern coming into this beer was that it would be too hot and too sweet. I'm happy to say that this was not a hot beer out of the gate as the rum barrel-aging has added a complex level of sweetness to an already sweet pumpkin ale. While it isn't too hot, some of those sugary, pumpkin pie and rum flavors can overstay their welcome, but the high abv and carbonation helps move it along nicely.

Rating
8.5/10

Wolaver's Pumpkin Ale

The Stats
Style: Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 5.35%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 3.61/5
- RateBeer: 3.12/5

The pumpkin beer craze has exploded within the craft beer community over the past several years. While it used to be a small fad, virtually every brewery now has their own version. However, I know of very few organic variations on the style. Founded in 1997 as the first certified organic brewery in the United States, Wolaver's has produced their own pumpkin ale which recently won the gold medal at the 2014 Great American Beerfest last September in Denver.

Pours a rusty orange with a finger of white head.

A lot of cinnamon on the aroma. There's some subtle graham cracker crust and some nice genuine pumpkin too. Pretty standard aroma, but not overly sweet like a lot of other examples of the style.

The cinnamon is once again at the forefront of flavors on the taste. While pumpkin wasn't too present on the aroma, it is definitely here on the back of my tongue which makes for a nice finish. Not a lot of other spices or other pumpkin beer flavors.

I'm glad to say that the beer isn't thin and actually has a nice body to it. There isn't anything overly sweet or cloying with the flavors and it goes down nice and smooth.

A gold medal? I wouldn't go that far. Wolaver's Pumpkin Ale, at best, is a standard representation of the style. It has everything you'd expect from a pumpkin ale, and that's about it. On the plus side, it isn't watered down and the drinkability and natural flavors make it better than most of the pack.

Rating
7.3/10

Cigar City Good Gourd Almighty

The Stats
Style: Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 11.00%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.29/5
- RateBeer: 3.69/5

The pumpkin ale season is in full swing and do I have a treat for you. I acquired this in a trade several months ago and what makes it special is that it was available only to Cigar City's "El Catador" members, which is their reserve society. One of those members was kind enough to trade me a bottle. I've had the base beer "Good Gourd" once before and it was without question the best pumpkin ale I've ever had. The Almighty version was aged in rum barrels.

Pours an unexpectedly dark, murky, brownish, burgundy color. Typical orange glow of a pumpkin ale? Not here! It produced a generous two fingers of an off-white head.

This beer immediately lets you know it was barrel-aged because as soon as I popped the cap, the smell of sweet rum filled the room. After that it is an assault of pure nutmeg. I almost thought I stuck my face in a bowl of eggnog. Deep in there is a nice helping of cinnamon, but there's even more graham cracker crust. There's almost just the faintest vanilla kick on the end. This is rum-soaked pumpkin pie.

Most pumpkin beers these days have a distinct squash flavor that dominates and leaves little-to-no room for any spices. Good Gourd Almighty reminds you of a genuine, homemade pumpkin pie with no hint of artificial flavors or sugary sweetness.

The rum is first and foremost, but there is no burning sensation at all, which took away my biggest fear with this beer (or any rum barrel aged beer for that matter). A nice wave of nutmeg and graham cracker crust are what I detect the most. I pick up a small cinnamon flavor if I try real hard, but with the rum combining with the genuine pumpkin mash and spices, I do taste some dark fruits such as raisins and figs.

11.00%? Really? while there is a tiny, miniscule sting of alcohol, this goes down too easily. There are so many flavors that I find myself chugging away. There is no alcohol burn or taste and the only thing you get is genuine pumpkin pie flavor.

While Good Gourd Almighty is an excellent pumpkin ale, I do feel that the rum does take away some of the flavors of the spices and natural pumpkin. Don't let that deter you, because as far as pumpkin ales go, this one gives you genuine spices and pumpkin flavors/aromas. If I had to describe this beer in one sentence it would be: "Take a shot of rum, and then chase it with a bite of pumpkin pie."

Rating
9.0/10

Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin

The Stats
Style: Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 9.0%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 3.74/5
- RateBeer: 3.44/5

When you think pumpkin ale and Shipyard Brewing, the first (and only) thing that jumps to a lot of people's minds is their Pumpkinhead Ale. Smashed Pumpkin is an entirely different beer brewed with Munich Malts and the hops used in this one are Williamette and Hallertau, which are supposed to be spicy and work well with the pumpkin flavor.

Pours a copper-colored orange that is very clear. You could probably see through this and pass an eye exam. Some mild carbonation and it produced two fingers of head when it was poured.

Smells more like squash than actual pumpkin. The biggest spice I get is nutmeg with a hint of cinnamon.

It tastes sweet, but not too sweet. It's more pumpkin than squash on the first sip. It has a very light taste almost like a wheat ale, but at the same time it's all pumpkin pie on the finish. I don't detect any graham cracker crust nor do I taste cinnamon, but strong nutmeg is here throughout. I'm also picking up a very small spiced rum presence which leaves a slight warming sensation on the finish, but not what I'd call a strong alcohol presence.

At 9.0%, Smashed Pumpkin drinks lighter than it's abv and goes down nicely. It has a bit more body and substance than typical pumpkin ales. The pumpkin pie flavors are there, but it isn't cloyingly sweet and while it drinks light and has a certain wheat presence, it isn't watered down and thin.

As far as the style is concerned, it is better than your average pumpkin ale. Those familiar with Shipyard Pumpkinhead should check this one out.

Rating
7.7/10

Southern Tier Pumking - 2014 Vintage

The Stats
Style: Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 8.60%
Current Beer Advocate Rating: 4.07/5

Southern Tier Pumking and I have a rocky history. As one of the more sought after pumpkin beers each and every season, this had a lot of hype for me going into my first ever tasting. I was told I had to seek it out and that it was one of the best pumpkin ales out there. So, two years ago I got my hands on a bottle...and it sucked...a lot. It was far too sugary/sweet for my liking and it was one of my first drain pours. I thought people were insane for liking it.

Cut to one year later and I decided to give it another go after one full year of palate development and many other pumpkin beers to my name. Alas, my glass full of sugar and pie crust was back to ruin my taste buds. On the plus side, I did finish my bomber, but only with considerable effort.

Now this my 3rd go-around with Pumking. It can't be said that I don't give it a fair shot every year, so let's hope the 2014 batch is to my liking.

Pours a transparent pumpkin orange with maybe a half finger of white head that doesn't stick around for long. You can see right through this beer and there are plenty of carbonation bubbles coming off the bottom of the glass.

The initial smell is that familiar graham cracker pie crust. I will say that it is not as potent as last year's batch and that's a relief because it was quite the assault on my nose back then. Cinnamon and nutmeg are there to accent the flavors and they don't dominate. It's actually much more pleasant than years past.

Now for the taste. Cheers!...

*SIGH*

I will forever be astonished at how people can not only consider this a great pumpkin beer, but at how anyone can even stand more than a few sips.

At the very front I get that graham cracker crust, but it is immediately washed away by...I don't even know how to describe it. As soon as the beer hits the back of my tongue it tastes like a mouthful of pennies. It's like Abe Lincoln jumped off the coin and blew a copper-coated load in my mouth. I know it sounds like I'm being facetious, but the taste is so metallic and not only that, there is a significant alcohol sting too. Imagine putting your tongue on a 9V battery and that's the stinging, copper taste you get with Pumking. Yes, the spices are there too, but they do little to help with the overall gag-worthy taste. The super sugary flavors from two years ago are a distant memory because there is nothing sweet about this beer. Just awful!

The final verdict? This beer is horrendous. How anybody can stand this will forever be a mystery to me. The best part is that each year something new stands out as being repulsive. Whether it be the cloying, sugary sweetness or the copper-tasting, alcohol bomb. I can't think of the last time a beer gave me a physical, negative reaction. A truly "blechh" moment for sure.

Now, I know you might be thinking that I went into this with a hate-filled agenda all planned out. I promise you that I did not purposely review this beer just to crap all over it. I believe every beer deserves a fair chance. Seeing as my palate is always developing, I figured I would gives this another chance. Trust me, I've wanted to like this beer since day one, but it has just never given me a reason to. It's a shame because based on the aroma, I went into my first sip with a renewed sense of hope, but it just wasn't meant to be. Instead, it's one of the worst things I've ever put in my mouth...and that's really saying something.

Not just limiting it to the style, but overall in the vast library of beers I've ever had, Southern Tier Pumking is easily a bottom five candidate and probably even bottom three. I give it a try every year, but I think in this case the 3rd time was a charm. Now of you'll excuse me, I have a beer to pour down the drain.

Rating
1.0/10