If you are curious why I am posting a review for a pumpkin beer in the middle of March, please check out yesterday’s entry. Today I shall continue on with the flight that we started with my home brewed pumpkin ale (Blueprint Brewing Gourdeous One).
That means moving along to the pumpkin offering from Smuttynose Brewing Company as the second of the four. It is not too surprising that aside from my own version, the remaining three are from breweries in the northeast. Having grown up in Northern New York, I think pumpkins are more appropriate for that kind of climate anyway.
As much as I don’t really enjoy many fruit beers (though I am slowly coming around a bit to them), I do love a good pumpkin beer for some reason, especially when the weather is a bit brisk. Maybe that is why I waited until the days were colder here in Florida (December) until cracking these open?
Enough rambling, let us continue . . .
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Co. (Portsmouth, NH)
Name: Pumpkin Ale
Style: Vegetable Beer
ABV: 6.0%
Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass. $1.99 per 12oz.
Aroma: Light, clean pumpkin spices (mostly nutmeg and cinnamon?) with malty undertones that are pumpkin bread-like.
Appearance: Light amber to golden color. One finger cream color head that is frothy with good retention and some trail. Very clear with many bubbles visible.
Flavor: Moderate maltiness with some hop bitterness. No pumpkin flavor noticed. Some harshness at finish that is almost metallic.
Mouthfeel: Medium to light body with moderate carbonation. Creamy and smooth.
Overall Impressions: The finish definitely hurts the overall. Really no need to drink again, mostly because there are many other quality pumpkin ales out there.
Grade: C
The Wife still enjoying the flight of pumpkin beers.
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