Saranac Pumpkin Ale

Our next beer is Saranac Pumpkin Ale purchased at Vintage Estates.

Above the brewery name on the label, it says "the spirits of the Adironacks," with a jack o' lantern on the label as well. This is brewed with pumpkin and spices (cinnamon, allspice, cloves, ginger, vanilla) with natural flavors added. "Look for a full body and amber color. We're sure you'll enjoy this special brew. Cheers!" It is 13.0°P and 5.4% ABV.

Overall average rating: 7.75/10

It is a translucent, cloudy amber/copper color (more amber than copper). The aroma is clean and gives off scents of clove, allspice, pumpkin, honey, and cinnamon. The taste is strongly allspice and clove with both front and under the tongue bites. I would like to point out that this is the cheapest priced pumpkin beer we purchased, but the flavor is amazing.

Shawn- I think it's funny how we are drinking beers made with the same ingredients and such similar brewing methods, but they taste so different. This one is well-rounded, with a good pumpkin flavor and a slight honey finish, 7.75/10.
Angela- It is very spicy tasting, but not overpowering at all. It is very drinkable and as enjoyable as pumpkin pie :), 8/10.
Chris- I am amazed. I've never heard of Saranac before, and they did well. I will try other beers from this brewery because of this, 7.5/10.

*We would like to take this time to thank Andrew Dillon for telling us about this beer. Without his recommedation, we may have overlooked this fantastic beer.

Dogfish Head - Punkin Ale

Our next pumpkin beer has a pretty awesome backstory: DogFish Head Punkin Ale purchased at Havana House.

Backstory: It is located in southern Delaware and was first released in November 1994. The cool part is that it is named after a locally-known event - Punkin Chunkin, which from what I gather, is where people build devices to launch pumpkins into the air and then into the ground. Sweet! It is a full-bodied brown ale brewed with real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It is 7% ABV.

Overall average rating: 7.2/10

The appearance reminds Chris of Blue Moon - it's translucent and orangey amber in color. The aromas are allspice, pumpkin, cinnamon, and light nutmeg. The taste gives a front tongue bite, a slight metallic taste, and a clean, crisp finish. We taste brown sugar, molasses, and a little wheat.

Shawn- I like that the flavors are poignant and not overpowering. You can definitely taste the flavors without them consuming what you're tasting, 7/10.
Angela- I would definitely drink this again. It has a good taste and a good pumpkin flavor, 7.5/10.
Chris- I get more out of the smell than the taste, though I think it is well-balanced. The metallic taste knocks down my score a bit, 7/10.

Hoppin' Frog - Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale

One of the beers with the best story written on the label is Hoppin' Frog's Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale purchased at Havana House.

"There's a place just south they call Frog's Hollow, with cauldron's afire in Fall, and they only speak in whispers of the name. There's a brewery they say who has the secret, of spices picked just right. With a crying shout, they'll knock it out, and hand you this Frog's delight." It is brewed with pumpkin and spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and clove). This 2010 GABF gold medal winner is 18.4°P, 7.3 IBUs, and 8.4% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.7/10

This beer is orange and cloudy with no head. The aroma is very crisp and uncluttered - you get pumpkin and spices, particularly nutmeg and cinnamon. The taste yields a strong pumpkin start with honey, cinnamon, and light clove flavors. It is overall and excellent flavored beer with a front tongue bite.

Shawn- It is clean and crisp, and I'm able to decipher the flavors and aromas well. My rating is again damned because of the Pumking Ale, 8.5/10.
Angela- This is a well-flavored beer, and it is what I want when I crave a pumpkin ale, 8.5/10.
Chris- I actually like this better than the Weyerbacher. I really like that I can taste the flavors individually and together, and it also doesn't taste overly alcohol-y considering the higher ABV, 9/10.

Weyerbacher - Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Our next pumpkin beer is from one of my favorite brewery's: Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale purchased at Havana House.

"Like a pyramid for a pharaoh, we set out to make a bold monument for The King of the Pumpkins!" The brewery says this is more "caramelly" and "pumpkiny" than other beers of the same kind. It is brewed with pumpkin and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and clove). Also, the angry jack o' lantern king on the label is fantastic. It is 8% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.9/10

This pours as a translucent dark amber/orange color with slight lacing on the glass. The aroma is wonderfully strong overall, and you can definitely smell all of the flavors. You get pumpkin, nutmeg, light clove, cinnamon, and a sugary/honey scent. The taste is well-balanced between the pumpkin and spices, with a front tongue bite and an almost slight vanilla finish. (Note: I have had this beer on tap served in a glass with a cinnamon sugar rim - it enhances those spices in the beer. Delish.)

Shawn- This is really well done, and the only bad thing I can say is that I've had the Southern Tier Pumking already this year, and I prefer that to this, 9/10.

Angela- This is a delicious, well-spiced October beer - definitely something to drink with colorful, crunchy leaves outside when there's a chill in the air, 9/10.

Chris- It's a really nice beer that's fantastically done. It is memorable, but for me, it lacks a wow factor, 8.5/10.

New Holland - Ichabod Pumpkin Ale

Today's beer is New Holland Ichabod Pumpkin Ale purchased at the Cornersburg Party Shop.

I love the label of this beer - it's exactly what you would expect from a beer with this name. The label on the neck of the bottle has a jack o' lantern eating the word "Ichabod." It is brewed with pumpkin and spices, and then spices are added again later on in the process. The "real pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg enrich this amber brew" and it should be paired with roasted poultry, root vegetables, peanut sauce, and caraway. It is 12.5°P and 5.2% ABV.

Overall average rating: 6.0/10

It is an orange/copper color with a white carbonated head. It is translucent with good lacing on the glass. There is a lot of pumpkin in the aroma, almost overwhelmingly so, with a nutmeg and cinnamon finish. The taste is somewhat metallic with flavors of spices, not really pumpkin. The finish is primarily clove.

Shawn- This has an absolutely fantastic smell that leaves me disappointed after tasting it. I am madly in love with El Mole Ocho Mexican Spiced Ale, so this left me wanting a lot more, 6/10.
Angela- It is not very spicy; I find it to be another sessionable pumpkin beer, not something I would seek out. The metallic taste kind of kills it for me, 6/10.
Chris- I expected it to taste as it smelled, but they are two distinctly different things, 6/10.

Thirsty Dog Pumpkin Ale

Next on our pumpkin beer journey is Thirsty Dog Pumpkin Ale purchased at Vintage Estates.

The label has a jack o' lantern with the brewery name and logo carved into it. This beer is brewed with pumpkin, honey, and spices. The pumpkins are from the summer's harvest of five varieties of locally grown pumpkins which are hand selected and caramelized just prior to brewing. This beer is best served at 38-40°F and has 13.5°P, 13.5 IBUs, and 5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 7.7/10

This is a transparent rich amber/copper color with a carbonated, egg white head that is slow to diminish. The taste is sweet - primarily pumpkin followed by honey and cinnamon with a little clove and nutmeg. The carbonated taste has a middle of the tongue bite and tastes like the aroma - pumpkin, honey, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

Shawn- This is delicious and very well-balanced. The honey and spices don't overpower the pumpkin; they complement it nicely, 8/10.
Angela- This beer is crisp and refreshing. It is not overwhelmingly spiced but it definitely has flavor, 8/10.
Chris- I would rate this higher if I could taste it more, but for me the carbonation throws the flavors off. (Shawn: "I think the carbonation helps move the flavors around the tongue.") It's good, but a little overly carbonated for me, 7/10.

Happy Halloween!

Our review of Thirsty Dog's Pumpkin Ale will be up later today, but in the meantime, here's a little Halloween fun! I personally carved these three pumpkins while in college. They aren't the most impressive jack o' lanterns I've ever seen, but I was impressed with myself :) Can you name all 3?

Wolaver's Pumpkin Ale

"Better Beer - Better World"

In honor of the season, we're devoting the next week and a half to Pumpkin ales. So far we have been trying to stick with seven beers for seven days. However, there are so many pumpkin ales, we are trying to do as many as we can, and I think we have done a good job! We are kicking off the week with Vermont's own Wolaver's Pumpkin Ale purchased at Vintage Estates. (Their official website is currently under construction, so they direct you to their Facebook page for now. Here is the official site: http://www.wolavers.com/.)

"Since 1997, Wolaver's has combined a passion for exceptional ales along with a strong belief on the benefits of organic farming." Otter Creek Brewing actually produces the Wolaver's Fine Organic beers. It is brewed with organically grown Vermont pumpkins and four fresh organic spices, and it is unfiltered and unpasteurized. The label shows a farmer holding a pitchfork and a growler (awesome!) along with a picture of wheat and pumpkins.

Overall average rating: 5.5/10

It pours as a translucent orange color with a thick, off-white head that moderately diminishes. The aroma is strongly pumpkin, as well as wheat and spices, primarily nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon. The taste is strongly clove with a metallic finish. The pumpkin flavor almost seems to be an afterthought.

Shawn- My previous experience with organic beers is that they have a lot thought put into them. This was well done, but not up to par with other organic beers. It almost seems like it was more of a concern to make an organic beer than to make a good pumpkin beer, 5.5/10.

Angela- This is a very sessionable pumpkin beer because it is not overly spicy. It is very light and refreshing, but not something I would drink if I was in the mood for a flavorful pumpkin ale, 5.5/10.

Chris- It is not a bad beer; I just expected more flavor from it, 5.5/10.