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Last active December 21, 2015 20:28
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2013pumpkin.md

2013's Best Pumpkin/Sweet Potato Beers by @bobholt

Pumpkin Beers in August?! JUST SAY NO!

But when September rolls around, I start picking them up (Because if you wait until, oh, I don't know... October, they'll all be GONE. Awful.)

I'm making a bigger wish list than good ol' @voodootikigod, because who knows what will show up at my local package store? And if you find one I haven't tried that you just want to send me? You know where to find me.

@voodootikigod's Original Intro

As many know, I am fiend for the orange gourd known as Pumpkin. Whether in a pie, a latte, or as a flavor of beer - I cannot get enough pumpkin and wait all year for the orange goodness. I also have a fondness for beer, so the matching of the two is a beautiful moment in heaven for me. As such I am on a mission this year to try as many pumpkin ales as possible and rank them as to my preference. Your preference many be different and that is perfectly fine. What I am looking for in my pumpkin ale is a good taste of pumpkin, slight spice, and smooth finish that leaves your palette refreshed and warm. Others prefer hard spice, but for me that feels overpowering and missing the target of pumpkin taste. As appropriate I have left notes for myself, if you have any, fork away and make your own list!

@bobholt's Rankings

  1. Post Road Pumpkin Ale - Brooklyn, NY - 5.00% ABV
  • A really well-rounded, medium-body ale with a good amount of well-balanced spice. A favorite.
  1. Dogfish Head Punkin Ale - Milton, DE - 7.00% ABV
  • Practically tied with the Post Road, this is also nice medium-bodied ale. It's a little lower on spice, but that makes it even better-balanced. I just like that little bit more spice in the Post Road.
  1. Cambridge Brewing Company Great Pumpkin - Cambridge, MA - 4.40% ABV
  • Well balanced and delicious medium-bodied ale. I just wanted a little more spice flavor out of it.
  1. Uinta Brewing Company Punk'n Harvest Pumpkin Ale - Salt Lake City, UT - 4.00% ABV
  • Nice balance. Could be a touch heavier with a little more spice.
  1. Shipyard Pumpkinhead - Portland, ME - 4.70% ABV
  • Good. Mild. A little light. A little cinnamon-heavy.
  1. Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin - Portland, ME - 9.00% ABV
  • A little higher in alcohol, but since it's a bit better balanced than the Southern Tier, and has a little more hoppiness, the alcohol comes through in heat rather than taste. Really good.
  1. Rock Art Extreme Pumpkin Imperial Spruce Stout - Morrisville, VT - 8.00% ABV
  • A nice ale. More spruce than pumpkin, and not intended to taste like pie (which, as much as I like the spice, is actually pretty nice). Could be a little heavier for a stout.
  1. Harpoon Imperial Pumpkin - Boston, MA - 10.50% ABV
  • A pumpkin stout, which is a bit of a rarity. Nice and dark, but a little too sweet and a little out of balance. Still a good ale.
  1. Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale - Easton, PA - 8.00% ABV
  • Great mouthfeel, a really nice spice blend, but being a bit heavier in alcohol, there was a little too much of that flavor in the mix. Still better than the Pumking, but solidly below the Smashed Pumpkin.
  1. Southern Tier Pumking - Lakewood, NY - 8.60% ABV
  • A good beer, but a little out of balance. The alcohol flavor comes through (which, IMO, it shouldn't), and the spice blend is a bit heavy on the clove.
  1. Cisco Pumple Drumkin Spiced Ale - Nantucket, MA - 6.00% ABV
  • Good. A little less spicy on the nose than the Wolaver's, but a bit maltier in taste, giving it some much-needed flavor. Not very assertive at all with the spice. I'd prefer a bit more. Still not happy with the light mouthfeel.
  1. Shipyard Bourbon Barrel Aged Smashed Pumpkin - Portland, ME - 12.00% ABV
  • Good gravy that's strong! The bourbon and alcohol flavors really cover up everything else.
  1. Wolaver's Organic Pumpkin Ale - Middlebury, VT - 5.35% ABV
  • As much as I <3 Otter Creek, this isn't really worth your time. Good spicy aroma, but not much flavor, and a very light mouthfeel.

Still To Try

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