The Great Pumpkin Ale
Steamworks Brewing Company

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From:
Steamworks Brewing Company
 
British Columbia, Canada
Style:
Pumpkin Beer
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 22.83%
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
21
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 31, 2015
Added:
Sep 15, 2005
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jrempel:
Photo of jrempel
Rated by jrempel from Canada (BC)

4.75/5  rDev +24.7%

Oct 22, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of LampertLand
Reviewed by LampertLand from Canada (BC)

4.16/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Steamworks Brewpub 'The Great Pumpkin Ale" @ 6.5% , 'the festival only' pumpkin ale served on *cask* at GCBF'07-'10 & on tap from '08-'16
A-pours a dark burnt orange with a nice size off white head that leaves some small spotty lace along the sampler
S-good combination of pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon , ginger , nutmeg , cloves)
T-it's got that sweet twang , so creamy smooth
MF-good carbonation , medium body
Ov-still one of the best Pumpkin Ale on tap/cask , if you can find it
prost LampertLand
Oct 31, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Mr_Hoptimistic from Canada (ON)

Oct 30, 2014
Photo of WestHam973
Rated by WestHam973 from Illinois

1/5  rDev -73.8%
smells like feet, tastes like another body part
Oct 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by TerryW from Canada (ON)

Oct 22, 2014
Photo of rand
Reviewed by rand from California

3.48/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
From what I can tell, this is a different beer, or Steamworks has modified the recipe. The bottle says 6.5%, and it's called simply, "Pumpkin Ale". That being said, there's not a mention of "Great Pumpkin Ale" on their website, others are reviewing this brew here, and I don't know much about this brewery so whatever.

From 22 oz bomber to pint glass

An easy drinking pumpkin ale, with a confident list of pure ingredients on the bottle. It appears thin and effervescent, as the nose imparts distinct notes of pumpkin and holiday space along with the base beer aromas. The flavors are more watery on the palate, though. While balanced and drinkable it's a fairly bland experience. I expected more pop from the added spice and pumpkin. Mouthfeel doesn't help either...a little too thin.

Not a bad drinking brew, but it almost tastes like they took half-measures to accommodate those that hesitate to embrace the great pumpkin ale.
Oct 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by YamagamiTravis from Canada (BC)

Oct 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Chazz_Chetly from Canada (BC)

Sep 29, 2014
Photo of souvenirs
Reviewed by souvenirs from Canada (BC)

3.28/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
A: Beautiful clear, cherry red with one finger of head that dissipated leaving lacing around the rim of the glass and a bit across the top.
S: Some dankness from the pumpkin, maybe some nutmeg? I don't smell spices as strongly as for some other pumpkin ales I've tried.
T: Oak? Where's the pumpkin? Where's the spice? Grassy bitterness. I do not like the aftertaste at all.
F: Fairly thick. Almost, but not quite, syrupy.

Would I buy it again? No.
Oct 04, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by DaPan from Canada (ON)

Feb 14, 2013
Photo of andrenaline
Reviewed by andrenaline from Canada (ON)

3.89/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Props to my bro for shipping this to me.

A - Pours a nice amber colour, finger of head with little retention and no lacing.

S - Nose offers up hints of pumpkin and spice, leafy green notes, hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and burnt sugar.

T - Unique bitterness comes through alongside a leafy green hop flavour, subtle pumpkin and reasonable spicing. Caramel malts linger on the finish alongside cloves and nutmeg.

M - Lighter bodied ale that is a bit thin, but is certainly smooth going down.

O - A tasty pumpkin ale that is nicely balanced and not verly spiced. Easily sessionable and certainly does not overwhelm the palette. Definitely worth trying.
Dec 02, 2012
Photo of bpl521
Reviewed by bpl521 from Canada (BC)

2.46/5  rDev -35.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
Little surprised why this beer was rated so high. Grabbed a bottle as soon as I saw it in the store. Could barely taste any semblance of pumpkin or spices, no aroma of the same either. Perhaps my bottle was from a bad batch. Seemed to have a strong taste of oak, as opposed to spice or pumpkin.
Nov 04, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by schopenhauerale from Arizona

Oct 25, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by ChuckGnarly from Canada (BC)

Oct 13, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by mhaugo from California

Dec 18, 2011
Photo of lumikuuro
Reviewed by lumikuuro from Canada (BC)

4.97/5  rDev +30.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
On tap at Steamworks brewpub, Gastown (in October, just found my notes).

Appearance: Dark, opaque orangey brown. Creamy biege head receding to a ring, leaving some lace.

Aroma: Pumpkin, nutmeg, spices. Enticing.

Taste: Malty and liqueur-like, with pumpkin, nutmeg, some cinnamon, clove, slight vanilla, and alcohol warmth. This is a very rich and delicious pumpkin ale - pretty much on a par in the pacific northwest with Howe Sound's Imperial Pumpkin Ale, although I slightly prefer the latter. Nevertheless, this pumpkin ale is fantastic. From memory, it seems slightly less sweet than in 2008.

Mouthfeel: Very full bodied, rich.

Drinkability: Not sure what the %abv is, but in 2008 it was 6.5%. This year it does not taste any weaker. Despite the richness and strength, this is easily sessionable (within reason!) as it is just so good. A must have.
Nov 29, 2009
Photo of Graham5161986
Reviewed by Graham5161986 from Canada (BC)

4.12/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This beer pours a dark, amber brown colour with a limited head that reduces to a thin film and leaves a bit of patchy lacing down the pint glass. Smell is nutty and spicy with definite hints of pumpkin pie along with some subtle notes of gingerbread. Taste is very smooth and malty with some very nicely balanced pumpkin flavours intermingling with cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg. It's got some nice buttery flavours as well. Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied and creamy with a nice spicy kick in the background and throughout the finish. Overall, this is the best pumpkin beer I have come across so far - it's very nicely balanced and doesn't try to overpower the drinker by slapping you in the face with pumpkin flavour. The spices work so well with the pumpkin flavour and make it a cleaner, easy to drink ale that warms you up on a crisp autumn night. I really like this brew pub and this beer did not disappoint. Highly recommended.
Oct 12, 2009
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Reviewed by Hornet2003 from Canada (BC)

3.87/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: Cloudy amber. Head dissipated really quickly.

Smell: Mmmm. Nuttiness and warmingly spicy. Thick maltiness and a bit of alcohol as well.

Taste: Slightly tangy. Not much sweetness which I was kind of expecting in this pumpkin ale. The spices were great though. Stereotypically "pumpkin pie in a glass" I guess.

Mouthfeel: Slightly puckering with the sourness. But overall, it was pretty decent in feel. Good carbonation, not too much, allowing the flavours to not get masked by too much prickliness.

Drinkability: I enjoyed my two pints on tap so much that I bought a growler to take home. It lasted only 1 night between my Dad and I while eating an Oktoberfest meal.

Overall: Great to see a decent pumpkin ale in BC. Very nice flavours, with a bit of tangy sourness.
Mar 09, 2008
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Reviewed by BDTyre from Canada (BC)

4.12/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Doing a refersher/upgrade review after getting this in a growler.

Much nicer appearance, copper bordering on ruby. Thin creamy head that clings to the side of the glass.

Rich spicy pumpkin smell with a nice toffee malt smell, and a bit of sourness coming from the hops.

Spicy pumpkin pie taste. I can taste pumpkin, cinammon, nutmeg, cloves...malt backing, a decent bitterness. Smoother mouthfeel than I remember...much more of a session ale.
Oct 10, 2006
The Great Pumpkin Ale from Steamworks Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 21 ratings