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Venetucci Pumpkin Ale
Bristol Brewing Company
- From:
- Bristol Brewing Company
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- Pumpkin Beer
- ABV:
- 5.6%
- Score:
- 90
- Avg:
- 4.04 | pDev: 13.61%
- Reviews:
- 16
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 12, 2019
- Added:
- Jan 30, 2007
- Wants:
- 15
- Gots:
- 6
What a way to welcome the harvest season! This ale starts with 'Baby Pam' pumpkins grown on Venetucci Farm, picked by brewery staff, family, and friends, and roasted right after picking. Our brewers blend a variety of malts, adding the roasted pumpkin to the mash for just a hint of pumpkin flavor. Then the brew is mingled with subtle spicing and a touch of hops to create a malty treat that just says "autumn." One of our Community Ales, 100% of the profits from this beer go to the care and preservation of Venetucci Farm.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado
2.61/5 rDev -35.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
2.61/5 rDev -35.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Bottle courtesy of Max and Steve - thanks!
I get some artificial pumpkin puree and a hint of nutmeg. Neither pumpkin nor spices are vivid or expressive. Undertones of caramalt and amber malt reign - though they shouldn't.
Shallow and simplistic. More mediocre fare from Bristol. The cash-grab 22oz format doesn't help.
C- / BELOW AVERAGE
Oct 30, 2018I get some artificial pumpkin puree and a hint of nutmeg. Neither pumpkin nor spices are vivid or expressive. Undertones of caramalt and amber malt reign - though they shouldn't.
Shallow and simplistic. More mediocre fare from Bristol. The cash-grab 22oz format doesn't help.
C- / BELOW AVERAGE
Reviewed by sjdevel from Utah
3.84/5 rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look:
Poured from a bomber and did not quite get a 1 finger head. The head that was apparent, fades quickly with some residual lacing and a decent foam ring. The color is a deep copper color and quite hazy.
Smell:
There is a slight fruitiness that is followed by toasted malts and spices. Slight brown sugar, caramel, and vegetable scents.
Taste:
Immediately hit with spices. There is a bit of hop bitterness, but the spices push it aside. Really strong clove and ginger. It gets sweet pretty quickly and "desserty" (pumpkin pie of course). As the pumpkin and spice fades, a smoky campfire, roasted nuts, and charred malts come through. After the smoke clears, the brew dries out.
Feel:
Medium plus mouth feel. It is a bit slick on the tongue. Slightly dry at the end. Still fairly fizzy.
Overall:
Decent beer. Better than hyped up pumpkin ales like Shipyard's. It is bit too heavy on spices. It could use more malty and pumpkin flavors.
Dec 05, 2015Poured from a bomber and did not quite get a 1 finger head. The head that was apparent, fades quickly with some residual lacing and a decent foam ring. The color is a deep copper color and quite hazy.
Smell:
There is a slight fruitiness that is followed by toasted malts and spices. Slight brown sugar, caramel, and vegetable scents.
Taste:
Immediately hit with spices. There is a bit of hop bitterness, but the spices push it aside. Really strong clove and ginger. It gets sweet pretty quickly and "desserty" (pumpkin pie of course). As the pumpkin and spice fades, a smoky campfire, roasted nuts, and charred malts come through. After the smoke clears, the brew dries out.
Feel:
Medium plus mouth feel. It is a bit slick on the tongue. Slightly dry at the end. Still fairly fizzy.
Overall:
Decent beer. Better than hyped up pumpkin ales like Shipyard's. It is bit too heavy on spices. It could use more malty and pumpkin flavors.
Reviewed by StoneTSR from Colorado
4.21/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.21/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
APPEARANCE: A somewhat aggressive pour results in a quarter-inch, fizzy head rising quickly and then falling. On my beer it leaves a mushroom shaped, thin layer of foam extending from the bottom of the glass upwards and covering most of the middle of the surface. Beneath it, is a deep, ruby red, almost a brown colored beer. Lacing is minimal.
SMELL: Gorgeous aroma. Molasses, cinnamon and clove blend together to provide a very inviting first sniff.
TASTE: While this is a spicy beer, the pumpkin still comes through strong. The clove and allspice provide a perfect compliment to the gourd while a touch of chocolate lingers beneath it all.
MOUTHFEEL: Light bodied and a little thinner than expected, but the balance is nearly perfect. This beer is just sweet enough with a dry middle and finish.
OVERALL: I really appreciate that the actual pumpkin flavor comes through so well in this beer. It is clearly made with real, no-foolin' pumpkins. The malt bill is complex and fun, while not becoming too overwhelming. What a fantastic effort from Bristol here.
Nov 23, 2013SMELL: Gorgeous aroma. Molasses, cinnamon and clove blend together to provide a very inviting first sniff.
TASTE: While this is a spicy beer, the pumpkin still comes through strong. The clove and allspice provide a perfect compliment to the gourd while a touch of chocolate lingers beneath it all.
MOUTHFEEL: Light bodied and a little thinner than expected, but the balance is nearly perfect. This beer is just sweet enough with a dry middle and finish.
OVERALL: I really appreciate that the actual pumpkin flavor comes through so well in this beer. It is clearly made with real, no-foolin' pumpkins. The malt bill is complex and fun, while not becoming too overwhelming. What a fantastic effort from Bristol here.
Reviewed by ehammond1
4.06/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.25
4.06/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.25
Bottle (2012)
Acquired via trade
Thanks, quirkzoo!
A very dark amber--nearly brown, though with distinct, dark ruby edges. Small khaki-colored head. Leaves the glass spotted.
A really exceptional aroma for a pumpkin ale. This is the closet to the "pumpkin pie" descriptors I often hear flung around for beers like Southern Tier's Pumking. Lots of nutmeg, allspice, a little cinnamon, and some sweet crust notes combine quite nicely. A wonderful pumpkin-pie-for-dessert aroma. Well done.
The flavor is nearly as successful. Great pumpkin pie flavors combine nicely, along with a bit of a classic toffee note. Very drinkable. Very successful.
I suppose the one aspect where this beer is sorely lacking is it's mouthfeel. It's fairly thin, even for the style, and there's not a lot of carbonation to bring it more life.
An excellent pumpkin ale. This would be fantastic, as well, with the right food pairing. Thanks for sending this my way, Chris!
Jun 03, 2013Acquired via trade
Thanks, quirkzoo!
A very dark amber--nearly brown, though with distinct, dark ruby edges. Small khaki-colored head. Leaves the glass spotted.
A really exceptional aroma for a pumpkin ale. This is the closet to the "pumpkin pie" descriptors I often hear flung around for beers like Southern Tier's Pumking. Lots of nutmeg, allspice, a little cinnamon, and some sweet crust notes combine quite nicely. A wonderful pumpkin-pie-for-dessert aroma. Well done.
The flavor is nearly as successful. Great pumpkin pie flavors combine nicely, along with a bit of a classic toffee note. Very drinkable. Very successful.
I suppose the one aspect where this beer is sorely lacking is it's mouthfeel. It's fairly thin, even for the style, and there's not a lot of carbonation to bring it more life.
An excellent pumpkin ale. This would be fantastic, as well, with the right food pairing. Thanks for sending this my way, Chris!
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina
4.45/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.45/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: The head develops like a stout, bringing a couple of foamy inches to layer on top of the slightly hazy amber liquid; the retention was good and several shards of lace stick to the pint glass
Smell: The aroma of baked pumpkin and caramel wafts up from the liquid, with ginger, nutmeg and vanilla adding a spicy element
Taste: Pumpkin and caramel flavors provide the base, with the ginger, nutmeg and vanilla bringing a gingerbread aspect in the middle; the spices build, in the finish, adding some allspice and clove to the mix
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation
Overall: Not the most pumpkin-y of pumpkin ales, but the spices are deftly handled and the balance is excellent; hard to find but worth seeking out if you like the style
Thanks, joshuaseresse, for the opportunity
Nov 10, 2012Smell: The aroma of baked pumpkin and caramel wafts up from the liquid, with ginger, nutmeg and vanilla adding a spicy element
Taste: Pumpkin and caramel flavors provide the base, with the ginger, nutmeg and vanilla bringing a gingerbread aspect in the middle; the spices build, in the finish, adding some allspice and clove to the mix
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation
Overall: Not the most pumpkin-y of pumpkin ales, but the spices are deftly handled and the balance is excellent; hard to find but worth seeking out if you like the style
Thanks, joshuaseresse, for the opportunity
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado
4.1/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
2012 release with an ABV of 5.7% per the Bristol Brewing web site. Ratings: 4.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 4.0
Dark, copper body with a nice creamy head. Excellent pumpkin aroma coupled with allspice and cinnamon; nice roasted grain background, .very slight alcohol heat at the end. Spicy flavor full of nutmeg, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Crisp, clean, medium body.
A very satisfying pumpkin ale. Goes down tasting like a piece of liquid home-made, warmed pumpkin pie. Too bad it's extremely limited when released each year, but the good folks at Coaltrain Wine and Liquor do a fantastic job of ensuring customers get a fair shake at getting at least one bottle at a fair price. Grab a bottle if you see one!
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2015 Release Notes: Much the same as my review of the 2012 release with the exemption of the mouthfeel being bumped up .25 of a point. It seems a bit fuller and richer.
Nov 02, 2012Dark, copper body with a nice creamy head. Excellent pumpkin aroma coupled with allspice and cinnamon; nice roasted grain background, .very slight alcohol heat at the end. Spicy flavor full of nutmeg, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Crisp, clean, medium body.
A very satisfying pumpkin ale. Goes down tasting like a piece of liquid home-made, warmed pumpkin pie. Too bad it's extremely limited when released each year, but the good folks at Coaltrain Wine and Liquor do a fantastic job of ensuring customers get a fair shake at getting at least one bottle at a fair price. Grab a bottle if you see one!
------------------------------------------------
2015 Release Notes: Much the same as my review of the 2012 release with the exemption of the mouthfeel being bumped up .25 of a point. It seems a bit fuller and richer.
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado
4.12/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
was real fortunate to get my hands on a rare bottle of this delicious fall beer. first of all it raises money for charity, which is not common enough in the for profit beer world. it pours really dark orange color, almost brown, more of a porter in smell too, the malts are nearly burnt, very earthy, with wafts of brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and some sweet cream. the flavor is really interesting, spicy, but not traditinally for a pumpkin beer. more vanilla than i am used to, and pretty light on the cinnamon and clove. more of a pie filling than a raw squash vibe, which works perfectly with the mouthfeel. its light and airy despite its dark color, very surprising. its almost like a whipped cream texture, which makes sense on pumpkin pie. amazing what they have accomplished here, this is a fine specimen. one of the most well crafted pumpkin beers ive tasted. one of the better bristol beers as well. if you are lucky enough to find this, buy it.
Nov 02, 2012
Venetucci Pumpkin Ale from Bristol Brewing Company
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
29 ratings
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