Devil's Track Pumpkin Ale
Fitger's Brewhouse

 

 

 

 

 

Originally reviewed on October 23, 2005. On tap at the brewpub. Deep copper orange burnt pour, with a chill haze and a golden glimt. Topped with nitrogenous super fine creamy tan head, thin. Intoxicating blast of fresh pumpkin pie with hand rolled crust, chinese five spice, anise, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and jamaican jerk. All laced over a refreshingly smooth creamy background of fresh whole whipped cream with madagascar vanilla beans. This combos with a slight wisp of almost oktoberfest like fruit malt notes. Smooth, murky and musky. Probably the only 10 I’ve ever given for an aroma and well worth it. Before I even put this to my lips, I’m going to predict that the flavor nor the palate will come even close to the level of the aroma. MOSTLY TRUE. Especially the palate, which is the weakest aspect of the beer and incredibly watery dissapointment. Flavor stays with a defensive blast of the same aroma profile, being brought down to a waft by the end of run. Including some almost peculiar, but fitting, mint bourbon backed with brown sugar and the almost chewy and earthy pumpkin flavors. A slightly tart aromatic hop finish creates an interesting ride around this beer. The palate is super watery, like flushing all those delicious spices down the drain. It’s much more a thirst quencher than a succulent sipper, which I really think it should be. I get the vague impression that these are pumpkin pie spices magnificently married to an oktoberfest recipe. Better of the Pumpkin Ales, but could be world class with a little less attenuation and a little more sugar, for more body, succulence, and holding power.

2005-This could be one of the best true pumkin Ales...it really has a unique "true" pumkin flavor....it is devoid of the artificial spices etc and has a nice subtle pumkin flavor..I really like the body on this beer too..a good firm medium and a creamy texture...Hell of a nice Pumkin..Much better than the 2003 version..

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2003-An understated but well constructed Pumpkin Ale...don't expect a huge load of spices or pumpkin pie flavors though....

Appearance: Pours a cherrywood color with a small tan head on top..impressive looking in the glass...

Smell-: The nose is nice but not hugely fragrant...A nice pumpkin smell rather than spice smell....it's enjoyable smelling this...

Taste: The taste is soft pumpkin...again not much of the spices...more of a pure pumpkin taste but it isn't huge and is rather understated...

Mouthfeel: A little flat, but I'm pouring from a growlers so I won't dock for that....body is on the light side of medium....almost a little too easy drinking...finishes with a crack of tight spicy hops on the long finish..

Drinkability: This is worth trying...I had it on Nitro at the bar and it was much better..still this is enjoyable and better than the other crap Pumpkins I've had so far this year..Some may really like this...it has an understated flavor and nose to it and seems to feature almost entirely pure pumpkin.... solid offering from one of my favorite brewpubs in Minnesota.

This beer has a beautiful mahogany tone to it. Deeper than orange. Deeper than copper. Slight beige head leaves spotty lace. Nose contains musty dampness, wet earth and vegetal aromas (in a good way). Not your typical over spiced sweet as hell aroma from a pumpkin ale, but very inviting nonetheless. The flavor is somewhat "contra" pumpkin ale as well. No big spices. Slight cinnamon. And not hugely sweet. But it is a taste that really grew on me as I consumed the growler. Very earthy in nature. And some sweet malt and pumpkin as well. But the earthiness is really intriguing in this one. The body is about medium or so. Carbonation gives just a slight prick on the tongue. All in all, an enjoyable growler.