Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

This was the last of the fall seasonal's we had in the ice box. Dogfish Head Punkin Ale is one of the better pumpkin ales that I have tried so far. The real problem I have with pumpkin beers is that they concentrate to much on the all spice and nutmeg.

Dogfish Head comes in with a different idea, they make it taste like a pumpkin not pumpkin pie, they also introduce a brown sugar flavor that really helps to make this beer drinkable compared to other pumpkin ales. It pours a nice orange/amber color more like a brown ale (Newcastle) than an Oktoberfest. You can smell all of the spices: cinnamon, brown sugar, all spice and nutmeg. A pretty full bodied beer and I probably could only drink the one at a time. The pumpkin taste is very apparent but not overwhelming and there is a pretty nice hoppy bitterness to finish it off. Which is why I probably liked it more than other pumpkins.

A good beer to try if you can find it. I am definitely glad that the autumn ale season is over, I've grown tired of this beer season and am excited for the winter/Christmas ales to come out.

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: $$$
Score: 4 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Saranac Pumpkin Ale

Coming from the Adirondack's, this is probably my favorite of the Pumpkin Ales.

Saranac Pumpkin Ale, pours a nice brown/orange color with a slight off white head. Pumpkin spice is apparent in the smell and the taste, but isn't overwhelming. I think the thing that sets this apart from the other pumpkin ales is the addition of vanilla. It really helps to smooth out the pumpkin pie spice and give you the feeling that you are enjoying a nice piece of pie.

I would love to give this another try before the season is over. Maybe for dessert when we are carving pumpkins for Halloween!

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: $$
Score: 4 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Brooklyn Brewery - Post Road Pumpkin Ale

The first fall beer of the year will be Brooklyn Brewery's Fall Pumpkin Ale. This is a pretty solid fall beer, not the best, but certainly not the worst.

Post Road pours a very nice amber color with a light tan head. Pumpkin smell is apparent but not overwhelming, might be a hint of ginger too. Not much malt flavor coming through and a slightly bitter finish. I wish it was sweeter because I was thinking pumpkin pie (spice) when I bought the beer. It was definitely worth a try, but not something to get to excited about, maybe if it had more spice I would have enjoyed it more.

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: $$
Score: 2 / 5