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Great Pumpkin Ale
Cambridge Brewing Company
- From:
- Cambridge Brewing Company
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Pumpkin Beer
Ranked #74 - ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #15,963 - Avg:
- 3.9 | pDev: 13.08%
- Reviews:
- 144
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 24, 2023
- Added:
- Oct 09, 2002
- Wants:
- 69
- Gots:
- 45
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good
New England’s first and CBC’s most sought after seasonal beer, The Great Pumpkin Ale, is back in bottles and on draft! We are very proud to be brewing with locally-grown sugar pumpkins from our friends at The Farm School in Athol, and Wilson Farms in Lexington. We’re also using organic barley that was grown in MA and then small-batch malted by our friends at Valley Malt in Hadley, MA.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Nass from Florida
3.97/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.97/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
The pour is copper colored. The taste is pumpkin, clove, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, & a slight hint of caramel. I agree with the beer being well balanced. Cheers! B
Jan 27, 2023
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts
3.39/5 rDev -13.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.39/5 rDev -13.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Canned 9/6/22
I’ve only had 1 beer from CBC before, and I’ve been meaning to try more. Unfortunately I don’t see many around, but I knew I had to grab this one. It’s totally out of season for Pumpkin Beer, but that season is year round for me. Let’s crack it open
Pours a cloudy orange brown with 3 fingers of creamy beige head that slowly fades to a cap and leaves decent lacing
The nose here is warm and spicy, nicely balanced between actual pumpkin and spices. I’m picking up on aromas of nutmeg, baked pumpkin, earthy cinnamon, dark bread, earthy hops, honey, and light toffee
Unfortunately it becomes a lot more bland in taste, even somewhat metallic. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting bready malt, cinnamon, and light pumpkin. The swallow brings notes of earthy hops, bready malt, pumpkin, cinnamon, and a metallic off flavor
A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a sharp beer. Finishes mostly dry but with an odd bitterness
Man, this one is disappointing. It started off so promising, then just ended up letting me down when I tasted it. Not the worst thing ever but not very good
Jan 08, 2023I’ve only had 1 beer from CBC before, and I’ve been meaning to try more. Unfortunately I don’t see many around, but I knew I had to grab this one. It’s totally out of season for Pumpkin Beer, but that season is year round for me. Let’s crack it open
Pours a cloudy orange brown with 3 fingers of creamy beige head that slowly fades to a cap and leaves decent lacing
The nose here is warm and spicy, nicely balanced between actual pumpkin and spices. I’m picking up on aromas of nutmeg, baked pumpkin, earthy cinnamon, dark bread, earthy hops, honey, and light toffee
Unfortunately it becomes a lot more bland in taste, even somewhat metallic. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting bready malt, cinnamon, and light pumpkin. The swallow brings notes of earthy hops, bready malt, pumpkin, cinnamon, and a metallic off flavor
A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a sharp beer. Finishes mostly dry but with an odd bitterness
Man, this one is disappointing. It started off so promising, then just ended up letting me down when I tasted it. Not the worst thing ever but not very good
Reviewed by Seanjohnhunt from California
3.14/5 rDev -19.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.14/5 rDev -19.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Was excited to try this one. Poured into a tulip glass. Nice white lacy head. Bright orange color in the light. Look like a pumpkin beer. After drinking this I realize I like the Rick heavy spiced pumpkin beers, thick and chewy. This is not it. It's bready and drinks well but pumpkin and pumpkin spices it is lacking hard. This one drinks closer to coors light than a pumpkin beer.bummed.
Nov 10, 2022
Reviewed by mbostenbeer from Massachusetts
3.63/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.63/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Look: dark amber color, half inch of very frothy, small-bubbled beige head with good retention and decent lacing.
Smell: spices - clove &spicy Pleasant sustained aroma.
Taste: Malty,bready notes on the nose and up front on the palate are well-balanced on the finish with mild bitterness, spiciness, and dryness. Nice flavors of gingerbread, pumpkin pie, and autumn.
Feel: Perfectly carbonated and has a slightly chewy and creamy mouthfeel. Medium plus body.
Overall: Well made pumpkin beer. It is malt-forward and the spices not overpowering.
Oct 29, 2022Smell: spices - clove &spicy Pleasant sustained aroma.
Taste: Malty,bready notes on the nose and up front on the palate are well-balanced on the finish with mild bitterness, spiciness, and dryness. Nice flavors of gingerbread, pumpkin pie, and autumn.
Feel: Perfectly carbonated and has a slightly chewy and creamy mouthfeel. Medium plus body.
Overall: Well made pumpkin beer. It is malt-forward and the spices not overpowering.
Reviewed by BubbleBobble from New York
3.88/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a cloudy amber, big 3" light tan head, streaky lacing. Nose is baking spices and hair spray, earthy hops. Taste has big notes of roasted pumpkin up front, a good hit of cinnamon follow, before a finish again of pumpkin with some lingering, bitter hop. Maintains a balanced, bitter flavor that expresses pumpkin without becoming overly sweet or spiced. Mouthfeel is moderately full with spritzy carbonation.
Sep 25, 2022
Reviewed by ThrewRedButter from Massachusetts
3.68/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.68/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look – Hazy copper body with two fingers of fluffy, slightly off-white head
Aroma – Great pop of cinnamon to start followed by pureed pumpkins for days. Good malty presence with even some mossy forest notes too
Taste – Pumpkin bread up front with a sweet malt presence. Faint cinnamon and spices on the back end. Has a lingering sweetness with a relatively clean finish
Mouthfeel – Full enough, but does come up a little thin overall. Low carbonation.
Overall – Pretty standard pumpkin beer, but definitely not bad.
Sep 14, 2021Aroma – Great pop of cinnamon to start followed by pureed pumpkins for days. Good malty presence with even some mossy forest notes too
Taste – Pumpkin bread up front with a sweet malt presence. Faint cinnamon and spices on the back end. Has a lingering sweetness with a relatively clean finish
Mouthfeel – Full enough, but does come up a little thin overall. Low carbonation.
Overall – Pretty standard pumpkin beer, but definitely not bad.
Reviewed by CTHomer from Connecticut
3.37/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25
3.37/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25
A; crystal clear; bronze in color; 1 finger off white head that receded to a wispy cap; OK lacing;
S: not much aroma; nutmeg first, then ginger and cinnamon get added in;
T: cinnamon is predominant from start to finish with ginger and nutmeg in the background; very mild bitterness at the end;
M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation - a little prickly; dry finish;
O: spices seemed out of balance to me;
Apr 22, 2020S: not much aroma; nutmeg first, then ginger and cinnamon get added in;
T: cinnamon is predominant from start to finish with ginger and nutmeg in the background; very mild bitterness at the end;
M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation - a little prickly; dry finish;
O: spices seemed out of balance to me;
Reviewed by beerthulhu from New Jersey
3.84/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A: A dense and lazy rising of micro-effervesce slowly drifts upwards in a darken orange-sun ice tea coloring. A beefy light beige, pie crust colored head, is 3 inches proud and stubborn in nature, it just doesn't want to fall. Solid foam structure leaves a nice marking on the vessel walls, spongy dabs rings makes for a truly outstanding show per style.
S: Good toasted pumpkin is accented by pie spicing with a great marriage between the two. Nutmeg and cinnamon, along with fresh pie crust and a caramel syrup sweetness makes for a good scent. Some pancake malting and an overall solid awareness factor.
T: The spicing hits you upfront, nutmeg and cinnamon brings a sweet twang in abundance, dry, dusty on the tongue. Deep toasted pumpkin compliment the spicing and brings a more natural base to play off of. Sweet toasted caramel grains, dried toffee and munich malts adds a spicy texture. Buttery-vanilla cream has a slight presence along with some chocolate malts.
M: Spicy toasty warmth with a good fullness on the mouthful. Smooth, cinnamon and nutmeg dusting and spiciness on the inner cheeks.
O: Overall seems to be a good blend of pumpkin spices and natural pumpkin aspects, usually the style goes either or. Good balance, very good drink-ability per style.
Feb 19, 2020S: Good toasted pumpkin is accented by pie spicing with a great marriage between the two. Nutmeg and cinnamon, along with fresh pie crust and a caramel syrup sweetness makes for a good scent. Some pancake malting and an overall solid awareness factor.
T: The spicing hits you upfront, nutmeg and cinnamon brings a sweet twang in abundance, dry, dusty on the tongue. Deep toasted pumpkin compliment the spicing and brings a more natural base to play off of. Sweet toasted caramel grains, dried toffee and munich malts adds a spicy texture. Buttery-vanilla cream has a slight presence along with some chocolate malts.
M: Spicy toasty warmth with a good fullness on the mouthful. Smooth, cinnamon and nutmeg dusting and spiciness on the inner cheeks.
O: Overall seems to be a good blend of pumpkin spices and natural pumpkin aspects, usually the style goes either or. Good balance, very good drink-ability per style.
Great Pumpkin Ale from Cambridge Brewing Company
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
397 ratings
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