Pumpkinhead Ale
Boston Beer Works - Canal Street

Pumpkinhead AlePumpkinhead Ale
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From:
Boston Beer Works - Canal Street
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Pumpkin Beer
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
87
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 14.62%
Reviews:
29
Ratings:
48
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 24, 2015
Added:
Sep 04, 1998
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by carrollmel7:
Photo of carrollmel7
Rated by carrollmel7 from North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

Mar 08, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.02 by TBCE from Florida

Mar 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by Reds76 from Maine

Dec 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.76 by klink40 from Massachusetts

Oct 11, 2014
Photo of mynie
Reviewed by mynie from Maryland

3.45/5  rDev -11.5%
Sampled at the Salem Beer Works location. Served in a sugar-rimmed glass. Not a bad touch, really, but the cinnamon sugar overwhelmed the beer and I would have preferred to at least try it without blandishment. So, if you order one of these, be sure to let the bartender know if you don't want sugar.

Okay, as to the beer... pretty boilerplate. Lately brewers, especially midwest brewers, have been trying their damndest to make pumpkin beers taste like pumpkin pie. The results are tasty and often candy sweet, but they also blot out nearly all of the pumpkin flavor in favor of cinnamon and cloves. Beer Works' Pumpkinhead is oldschool in the sense that the spices and sweetness don't dominate, which allows for pumpkin nodes to actually shine through.
Sep 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Nickcal from Rhode Island

Jul 21, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Sellen from Connecticut

Jul 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by ParkbrauFan from Iowa

Apr 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by SunDevilBeer from Massachusetts

Oct 30, 2013
Photo of tigg924
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts

3.27/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Had on tap at Hingham location

Appearance: 1/3 inch head, orange-brown in color, clear, high carbonation

Smell: cinnamon and clove

Taste: cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and some pumpkin

Mouthfeel: sweet but not overly so, high carbonation, light bodied

Overall: Solid slightly above average pumpkin beer. I could no a couple of these, but there are better pumpkin beers out there.
Sep 16, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Bassman2019 from Massachusetts

Sep 15, 2013
Photo of ryan1788a5
Reviewed by ryan1788a5 from Massachusetts

3.91/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle poured into a glass. The beer I am reviewing is new to retail in the 6-pack format, and called 'Pumpkin Works'. I believe this is the same beer, just re-branded for the retail market.

A: Beautiful burnt orange color, brilliant clarity. A quarter inch of off-white head settles shortly. A broken ring of lacing remains on the glass.

S: Enticing pie-like aroma of sweet pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Malts lend a crust-like and toasted bready aroma that reaffirms the brain's connection to pumpkin pie. No real hop contribution, but that would probably prove to be more of a distraction anyway.

T: Sweet pumpkin up front is quickly chased, letting the pie spices come forward for a while. However, rather than fading completely into the background, it creates a sort of ever-present baseline. Lots of cinnamon. Some nutmeg as well. Slight jab of oily hop bitterness pokes out from behind the spicing very briefly. Malts lend a toasty, crust-like character and fleeting hints of brown sugar. Spices linger on the palate in a long but gentle finish.

M: Medium body. A touch watery, though it has just enough substance to keep it from going south. Moderate scrubbing carbonation enhances the spiciness a bit.

O: This is a pumpkin beer that the neophyte and the more experienced craft drinker alike can enjoy. It strikes a nice balance, and though the spicing is ample, it never goes over the top. The light body and easy drinkability make it perfectly sessionable. My only real criticism is that the body does leave something to be desired. Just a little bit more of a rounded, creamy texture would do a lot for it. Still one of the best choices when you survey the other 6-pack options on the market.
Aug 25, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by harpus from Alabama

Mar 11, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by jmmy3 from Massachusetts

Feb 21, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by WreckingBrew from Massachusetts

Nov 04, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by emceecue from New Jersey

Oct 23, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by Didier from New Hampshire

Oct 17, 2012
Photo of Darkbat53t
Reviewed by Darkbat53t

5/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Simply the best beer in town. I wait eagerly all summer for the arrival of Pumpkin Head. beautifully accented with the cinnamon sugar trimmed glass. Perfect taste, my absolute favorite by far. the only flaw I can see is that it's a seasonal beer, leaving me wanting more from January till September.
Sep 07, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by RobVan

Jul 08, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by NorCalBeer from California

Jun 12, 2012
Pumpkinhead Ale from Boston Beer Works - Canal Street
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 48 ratings