Headless Horseman
Voodoo Brewing Company

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From:
Voodoo Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Pumpkin Beer
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.6 | pDev: 11.67%
Reviews:
14
Ratings:
21
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 08, 2013
Added:
Oct 20, 2011
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.5 by tbrascojr from Pennsylvania

Apr 08, 2013
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Reviewed by FeDUBBELFIST from Pennsylvania

3.89/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 4
Draft serving on nitro into a pint glass. Sampled 10/22/11.

A: Arrives with an average sized frothy head, light brown in color and long lasting. Does not has the typical cascading head that impresses me so much with most nitro-dispensed beers. The body is dark brown with amber edges. Lacing is excellent.

S: Described on the menu as an "Imperial Belgian Black Ale" although the Belgian yeast strain isn't very recognizable. Dark malts are surprisingly restrained but mild chocolate notes come through. More noticeable are the pumpkin pie aromas of allspice and nutmeg. Vanilla, pumpkin plus light anise and lactose add complexity. Great nose.

T: While the flavor is good, it's not as impressive as the aromas let on. The combination of chocolate, vanilla, pumpkin and spice are as forward as I would have liked, but the subtle blend works well enough. ABV goes unnoticed. I'm sure the serving type reduces the flavor...

M: ...and mouthfeel more than a standard co2 pour - and I think the mouthfeel was more adversely affected between the two. The body is on the light side of medium and a bit thin. Creamy carbonation.

O: Good beer, but not mindblowing. And doesn't hold a candle to Cowbell Imperial Oatmeal Milk Stout on nitro...
Feb 18, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by mylar from Pennsylvania

Feb 15, 2012
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Reviewed by thain709 from Pennsylvania

3.32/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
My last Pumpkin Ale review from the Fall of 2011

A - The body was borderline black with some brown hues towards the bottom of the glass...a creamy, yet thin, tan head formed and held itself pretty well...there was only a few traces of lacing left behind

S - A very nice nose, the only saving grace here...all the aromas blended together in a creamy way...vanilla, cinnamon, graham crackers, chocolate

T - A resounding spice profile is apparent at first sip...gobs and gobs of cinnamon, clove, and all spice...there are a lot of spices that it almost tastes concentrated...the spices really come out as the beer warms, making it a little harder for me...there is an underlying roasted malt flavor that gives off nice chocolate notes...the spices finish the beer with a touch of alcohol not far behind

M - Medium bodied...creamy from the nitro, spicy with a kick of alcohol

O - Hmm, this was an interesting beer...from what I remember this was supposed to be a Belgian-style Pumpkin Ale...I didn't get much Belgian flavors, but I did get a butt-load of spices...the spice profile was overwhelming...it got stronger as the beer warmed making it difficult to choke down
Jan 04, 2012
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Reviewed by BARFLYB from Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On Nitro Tap at Blue Dog. (From Notes)

Voodoo Headless Horseman comes out looking darker than your average pumpkin beer, A dark brown bordering on black beer. The foam up top was tight off white with some beige thrown in. Leaves nice notches on the way down. Smell is fall pumpkin spice with nutmeg and a faint caramel vibe. Not smelling any of the alcohol. Taste is the above mentioned scents focusing on the spices with pumpkin flavor kind of mild. Not super sweet like pumKING and that's a good thing. Feel is a nice medium that is smooth and comes off creamy at times. I would like a touch more body though, comes off watery at times, maybe that's just me. Im all for Voodoo beers, they make interesting stuff, yet im not very into this. Perhaps some tweaking could improve things next year. Now Cowbell, that's a winner off the nitro spout, pure alcoholic chocolate milk.
Jan 03, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by MsRif from Pennsylvania

Dec 24, 2011
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Reviewed by Hojaminbag from Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Headless Horseman has a dark, burnt-brown colored body with a solid slab of light brown head that is clearly from a nitro pour. As you would expect form a nitro-pour, the lacing and retention are both great.

Really spicy aroma, with cinnamon, nutmeg, some allspice and a little bit of sweet malt.

The spices are huge in the flavor as well. With cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice once again, but also a touch of vanilla. A noticeable hop presence, which is somewhat surprising, is in there also. A hint of citrus and a bit of bitterness comes with the hops. The malt backbone has some caramel, but also tastes like it has some malt that is a little bit darker. Good toasted flavors also.

The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy from the nitrogen.

Headless Horseman is a little heavy handed with the spices, so a whole pint of it was tough for me to get through. It hides the alcohol really well. Not bad though.
Dec 21, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by TimoP from Pennsylvania

Dec 07, 2011
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Reviewed by beergod1 from Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On Nitro Tap at UPick6 in Erie PA. Dark murky brown with beautiful Cascading Bubbles and Foamy head. Smell of Pumpkin Pie spices, and Stout like character. Taste is Same as smell, but I can taste the Pumpkin and seems like the actual crust. The body on nitro is so Rich, creamy and smooth, Makes it even more delicious.
Nov 29, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by ejimhof from Pennsylvania

Nov 26, 2011
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Reviewed by BigMike from Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
A: Black as night. Typical nitro look. Creamy soft looking tan head. Great lacing.

S: Judging by the nose. This is going to be a great pumpkin beer. Tons of spice. Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice. Vanilla and pumpkin. Smells awesome.

T: The wonderful nose unfortunately doesn't carry over to the taste. The spice comes through leaving sour and bitter notes behind. A little weak in the flavor dept.

M: The biggest downfall of this beer is the mouthfeel. Definitely not enough body. Borderline watery.

Overall: I had huge expectations for headless horseman. Being a real big fan of voodoo I couldn't wait to try this. It started off good enough. It has the look and aroma that we're both pleasing. Unfortunately the positives end there. The flavor wasnt very good and the body was extremely thin.
Nov 21, 2011
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Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Served in a nonic, this brew pours black in color with a silky tan froth atop less than a finger strong. There is some clarity and lighter brown seen through the edges. The head maintains a frothy cap that paints patches of lace on the glass.

The smell of this brew is pungent with spicy aspects. A scent of spruce an ginger hits first with a spicy essence that is lightly sweet smelling. The more sniffs I take of this, the more it smells like root beer, more specifically candy barrel rolls. Once warm, some cinnamon and sweet scents of original pink bubblegum come forward. This aroma is completely unexpected as such a strange wild ride of character that just doesn't blend together.

The taste is very spiced as you would imagine based off the aroma. Ginger and spruce tips are the first flavorings hinted. More tastes bring forth a bold roasty quality of dark grain, almost charred. Through the middle is an unexpected dank aspect of hops. Pleasantly roasty with a flaving of coffee and bitter chocolate. Some black licorice comes out with a hint of raisin as the brew warms.

This is a medium bodied brew with a silky smooth feel to the carbonation. It is a boldly spiced brew which normally I would not care for but it works with the dark roasted quality of the grain. The strength of the alcohol is felt down the throat with an increasing warming factor. The nose of this brew is all over the place and ackward but the flavor makes up for it.
Nov 21, 2011
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Reviewed by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I enjoyed this on nitro pour at Al's of Hampden -served in a tulip pint.

The beer comes out black with dark brown hues at the base, there is no head for about 3-5 seconds then the nitro seems to come out and develops a thin cap of pale beige with ultra tight bead. The lace clings in a thick film on the inside of the glass. The smell of spice is dominant, there is a heavy ginger presence which comes off as peppery with a side note of cinnamon woody earthiness but malt is still able to be noted in the nose with a light toasty scent, the spice resembles allspice in the background. Mouthfeel is different than expected, it is medium bodied, but like a black ale has mellow roastiness and the spice is the star of this with a subtle tangy astringency and warming from the ginger...I could feel it in my gullet as I tried this on an empty stomach. The beer is moderately carbonated which is good with light earthy feel and creamy nitro effect.

This has a taste that is like chocolate covered ginger slices. The beer is as usual for Voodoo not your ordinary pumpkin beer, more of a black ale with lots of ginger and tastes very nutty earthy and has some dark malt toasted/roast flavors which are smooth. The ginger gives an almost tropical note which is slightly floral and peppery, I almost think tellicherry peppercorns which goes well alongside the black malt w/ mild roastiness and caramel essence. The ginger is still warming the back of the throat with the slight astringency making me smack my tongue on the roof of my mouth. A nice aromatic quality which is like black thai nutty and spicy with mild malt and cinnamon like earthiness in the finish which has a nice dry presence. I did not know what to expect, but this is unique and tasty, I recommend it for those who enjoy ginger snaps, because the ginger is the dominant flavor maybe relying a bit too heavily on the ginger but an experience I really liked --not pumpkin pie in a glass, but more of a black ale with ginger it works for me.
Nov 19, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by mgbickel from Pennsylvania

Nov 18, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by sideshowe from Pennsylvania

Nov 17, 2011
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Reviewed by xnicknj from Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
on tap at pope in philly

Pours a deep, dark, almost blacked out color with a fluffy, thick graham colored head. Really nice retention and tones of patchy lacing on the glass.

Spicy and sweet in the nose with pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Graham cracker and caramel too.

A blast of spice up front with light sweetness. Cinnamon and nutmeg with pumpkin pie notes. Caramel and roasted malts, somewhat bready as well. Sticky and sweet in the finish with some lingering alcohol warmth.

Creamy and smooth on the tongue, but way thinner than I was expecting. This was pretty rich and tasty, but I had a hard time with the lighter body.
Nov 16, 2011
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Reviewed by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On nitro-tap @ the Khyber Pass Pub (Philadelphia, PA) on 10/22/11. Served in a tulip glass.

Pours a jet black in the glass, with a ½ finger cap of tight looking mocha head. This naturally stays strong, just drenching the sides of the glass with rich lace. This has a classic nitro look to it. The aroma has a lot of vanilla up front that mingles with pumpkin spices and some light meat flavor. Burnt sugars, cocoa, and sticky molasses all rise up from underneath, with some very light alcohol character giving this some strength in the nose.

The taste is a rich mélange of dark chocolate, vanilla, molasses, candied sweetness, and green pumpkin. There is maybe a touch of darker fruit on the backend as well. The pumpkin spices are gently spread throughout the profile, mostly hanging on the edges and then pulling in to the finish where they hang with some sticky dryness. The mouthfeel is fuller bodied and does lay a bit of a light prickle down on the tongue, but the rest of the feel here is just as silky smooth as can be from the nitro. I mean, I’m barely getting any warmth here out of the body, which is just crazy for an almost 9% beer. This is one of the better nitro-pours bodies that I’ve experienced later. I can’t believe how smooth this is!

I liked this. I mean really, REALLY liked this. On nitro anyway LOL! I’m kind of glad that they went more with the Belgian Dark Ale and less of a Stout or Porter route with this, as I think it kept the roast to a minimum and the focus on those pumpkin, spices, vanilla, and candied sugar flavors here that all combined with that nitro feel to REALLY give this a pumpkin pie in a glass sort of vibe. This is a decadent fall treat. I could have literally sat here and drunk this all night long.
Oct 26, 2011
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Reviewed by John_M from Washington

3.95/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap (nitro) at Capone's the other day.

The beer pours a blackish brown color with very good head retention and considerable lacing. The head on this beer is very creamy and long lasting in this beer. The nose is very impressive, smelling very much like an eggnog pumpkin beer. Really get a considerable amount of clove and nutmeg with this one, along with vanilla and light allspice. Given the nose, I was just a bit disappointed with the flavor profile. Although the mouthfeel was soft and creamy, the beer came across as a bit thin, and I didn't get a lot of underlying flavor to mesh with all the spice. Alcohol was very well integrated into the flavor profile, and this beer definitely does not drink like an 8% abv. ale.

Edit: This beer looked and felt as if it was poured on nitro, and I'll go with the other reviews from the Capone event that indicate such was the case.

Interesting stuff, no doubt, though I'm not sure I could drink more than a single glass of this.
Oct 23, 2011
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Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

3.82/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
First had: on nitro-tap at Capones, Norristown, PA

Poured into a pint glass, a solid, opaque black, delightful nitro-cascading that eventually settled to a dense tan cap that retained and left a bit of soapy lacing. Aroma was out of this world, with strong scents of pumpkin pie and spice, similar to a really good straight-up pumpkin ale like Weyerbacher, etc. After the aroma, I felt the taste was a bit disappointing, but I received cocoa nibs, vanilla, nutmeg, and clove, with some yeasty notes coming through as the beer approached room temperature. Definitely creamy on the palate from the nitro, but a bit too thin in the mouthfeel department, which was medium at best. As I drank this beer, I thought it was "okay" but that it would have been much better and that the flavors would have translated better if it were a stout rather than a Belgian dark. Still, it was a good brew overall, and I'd like to sample it again, perhaps completely at room temp, and not chilled at all.
Oct 22, 2011
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Reviewed by Beerisheaven from Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap today at Capones.

A - Pours nearly black with a creamy head courtesy of the Nitro. As the first reviewer said, looks like a Guiness in the glass. Very strange since it looks more like a stout than a Belgian Dark Ale.

S - Spice assault which is a bit offputting. Really heavy on the clove and nutmeg. Went overboard on this one if you ask me (well you didn't but I figured I would say so anyway).

T - Given the aroma, hard to get past the clove and nutmeg. Too one dimensional for me. I don't get much else other than a slight hint of vanilla.

M - Hard to really be accurate given the impact of the nitro. Very creamy to say the least.

O - I like Voodoo beers but this one needs to be reworked a bit. Too one dimensional and too heavy on the spices. Dial it back and it could be interesting.

I am on a bit of a pumpkin kick lately and have had a lot of this year's beers. This one was middle of the pack at best. Wanted to like this one so much more, but was a bit disappointed on how heavy the spice bomb hit you.
Oct 21, 2011
Headless Horseman from Voodoo Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 21 ratings