Unfortunately most of the fall seasonal beers are long off the shelves before Thanksgiving comes around as the winter beers seem to come out earlier and earlier every year. This one is consistently at the top of the list for me when it is released each year and I held onto a few (along with some other pumpkin beers) to enjoy in November. The Wife even used a Punkin Ale to make (some very good) bread with earlier this month. Be sure to put this on your shopping list for autumn next year.
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)
Name: Punkin Ale
Style: Vegetable Beer (based on American Brown Ale)
ABV: 7.0%
Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass. $8.99 for a 4-pack.
Aroma: Pumpkin pie-like spices (definitely nutmeg and some allspice). Full malty sweetness and seems like a real pumpkin aroma is there (in back).
Appearance: Medium brown color with copper tint. Slight cream color head with good retention and no trail. Mostly clear with some haze.
Flavor: Medium maltiness with slight toasted and caramel notes. Very slight hint of pumpkin spice flavors. Extremely low hop flavor and bitterness with a hint of dryness at the finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium body with fairly high carbonation (has slight bite). Smooth with a very slight warmth.
Overall Impressions: Good beer for those who don’t like pumpkin beers (or think that they don’t). Great balance of pumpkin aroma and maltiness in flavor. Nice beer for the season . . . at the top of pumpkin beers for me (pending further research). Maybe slightly high alcohol for style (4.3-6.2% for Brown Ale).
Grade: A-
The entry point
Dogfish Head - Punkin Ale
Dogfish Head - Punkin Ale
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