Pumpkin Ale | Smuttynose Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Smuttynose Brewing Company
New Hampshire, United States
smuttynose.com
Style: Pumpkin Beer
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.50%
Availability: Fall
Notes / Commercial Description:
Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale is our homage to the craft and heritage of America’s brewers. Recipes calling for the use of pumpkins in beer date back to early colonial times, when brewers sought to extend their supply of costly imported malt with locally grown ingredients, such as squash and “pompions.”
In that spirit, we brew our ale with the addition of pumpkin to the mash, along with traditional spices to create a delicious American original.
45 IBU
Added by purplehops on 08-28-2003
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,928 | Reviews: 865
3.46/5 rDev -6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
From notes 10/31/11: Pours a murky orange tinged pale amber with a large off-white, lasting head that leaves a nice coating of lace as it recedes. Aroma is more yellow squash-like than pumpkin, roasted malt, caramel, sweet with a metallic hint. Taste is pumpkin, ginger and faint clove in that order. Spicy finish.
314 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
From notes 10/31/11: Pours a murky orange tinged pale amber with a large off-white, lasting head that leaves a nice coating of lace as it recedes. Aroma is more yellow squash-like than pumpkin, roasted malt, caramel, sweet with a metallic hint. Taste is pumpkin, ginger and faint clove in that order. Spicy finish.
314 characters
3.75/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Slightly cloudy golden orange pour with 2 fingers of white head. Nice lacing.
S: Smells like a pumpkin beer. Pumpkin pie and spice.
T/F: Toasted malts... earthy grains and pumpkin up front. The usual spices... nutmeg, clove, and ginger. Not overpowering at least.. some tangyness to the flavor and hopping for bitterness. Not the dreaded 'pumpkin soda' which is a positive. Medium to light bodied... fairly smooth.
O: A decent pumpkin beer... not too spicy or offensive, and I could handle one of these on occasion.
584 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Slightly cloudy golden orange pour with 2 fingers of white head. Nice lacing.
S: Smells like a pumpkin beer. Pumpkin pie and spice.
T/F: Toasted malts... earthy grains and pumpkin up front. The usual spices... nutmeg, clove, and ginger. Not overpowering at least.. some tangyness to the flavor and hopping for bitterness. Not the dreaded 'pumpkin soda' which is a positive. Medium to light bodied... fairly smooth.
O: A decent pumpkin beer... not too spicy or offensive, and I could handle one of these on occasion.
584 characters
3.75/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 12oz bottle into standard Pint glass. Best before February 2nd, 2018.
L: Hazy orange, half finger off-white head has decent retention.
S: Pumpkin, brown sugar and clove. Nice.
T: Follows the nose well, pretty good.
F: Light, crisp, lingering pumpkin flavor.
O: Good pumpkin beer.
298 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 12oz bottle into standard Pint glass. Best before February 2nd, 2018.
L: Hazy orange, half finger off-white head has decent retention.
S: Pumpkin, brown sugar and clove. Nice.
T: Follows the nose well, pretty good.
F: Light, crisp, lingering pumpkin flavor.
O: Good pumpkin beer.
298 characters
3.84/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A decently bitter, pumpkiny pale ale. Plenty of earthy bitter hops balance the pumpkin flavors and caramel malts so that it's not overwhelmed by spices and sweetness. Noticeable pumpkin squash character, not just spices.
Overall pretty good.
241 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A decently bitter, pumpkiny pale ale. Plenty of earthy bitter hops balance the pumpkin flavors and caramel malts so that it's not overwhelmed by spices and sweetness. Noticeable pumpkin squash character, not just spices.
Overall pretty good.
241 characters
3.24/5 rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Cloudy dark orange, amber color. Around a medium body and just above average carbonation .
Aroma is mostly the base beer, malt, cereal , grain, spices, allspjce, and pumpkin puree
Taste is similar to nose but the spice, which wasn't overwhelming in the aroma was dominant in the taste . As it warms the spice takes over even more. This is not a sweet pumpkin beer, more dry and actually was a little sour . The spice left a biting aftertaste that lingers awhile .
Overall it's okay but wasn't one of my favorite fall seasonal beers
542 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Cloudy dark orange, amber color. Around a medium body and just above average carbonation .
Aroma is mostly the base beer, malt, cereal , grain, spices, allspjce, and pumpkin puree
Taste is similar to nose but the spice, which wasn't overwhelming in the aroma was dominant in the taste . As it warms the spice takes over even more. This is not a sweet pumpkin beer, more dry and actually was a little sour . The spice left a biting aftertaste that lingers awhile .
Overall it's okay but wasn't one of my favorite fall seasonal beers
542 characters
2.09/5 rDev -43.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
There is a small stamp on the top center of the front label in black ink that says: "BEST BEFORE 02-02-19 ABV 6.0%"
Appearance: It has a hazy golden body with a few suspended solids. The head starts rocky and white but very quickly drops out to a sheet of creamy foam with large bubbles across the surface. There isn't any head retention on this beer but it leaves some nice lacing.
Aroma: I am picking up a very, very faint aroma of allspice. Most of the time while smelling the beer I can't tell if I'm actually smelling anything or if I'm imagining it. It is extremely underwhelming for a beer that is traditionally spiced. Double checking the label, this does say this is an "ALE BREWED WITH PUMPKIN PUREE & SPICES."
Taste: Up front I'm getting some allspice and some clove, then I get this weird flavor that tastes like minty and slightly lemony hops. The beer tapers off with this strong lime flavor and an oddly bitter end.
Mouthfeel: The beer feels to bitter which both hampers the drinkability of the beer and gives it an unpleasant and unwelcome confluence of character.
Overall: It wasn't a very enjoyable beer to drink. The spice combination might have been off on this beer but the lemon and lime character really throws this one for a loop. Did somebody think this was a good idea or was it an accident? Who knows; it just isn't an enjoyable beer. Given the opportunity to drink this or an average non-seasonal beer I would rather pick the latter.
1,466 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
There is a small stamp on the top center of the front label in black ink that says: "BEST BEFORE 02-02-19 ABV 6.0%"
Appearance: It has a hazy golden body with a few suspended solids. The head starts rocky and white but very quickly drops out to a sheet of creamy foam with large bubbles across the surface. There isn't any head retention on this beer but it leaves some nice lacing.
Aroma: I am picking up a very, very faint aroma of allspice. Most of the time while smelling the beer I can't tell if I'm actually smelling anything or if I'm imagining it. It is extremely underwhelming for a beer that is traditionally spiced. Double checking the label, this does say this is an "ALE BREWED WITH PUMPKIN PUREE & SPICES."
Taste: Up front I'm getting some allspice and some clove, then I get this weird flavor that tastes like minty and slightly lemony hops. The beer tapers off with this strong lime flavor and an oddly bitter end.
Mouthfeel: The beer feels to bitter which both hampers the drinkability of the beer and gives it an unpleasant and unwelcome confluence of character.
Overall: It wasn't a very enjoyable beer to drink. The spice combination might have been off on this beer but the lemon and lime character really throws this one for a loop. Did somebody think this was a good idea or was it an accident? Who knows; it just isn't an enjoyable beer. Given the opportunity to drink this or an average non-seasonal beer I would rather pick the latter.
1,466 characters
3.27/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
4.67/5 rDev +26.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
One of the best pumpkin ales I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. I learned over the years that it is easy to mess up a pumpkin beer. Some are either too watered down tasting like a cheap macro lager. Some don't even use any real pumpkins at all so the beer taste artificially sweet like a pumpkin soda. Some are just way too over spiced and close to undrinkable. If your looking for a healthy pumpkiny vegetal type of beer during the fall/winter season then this is the beer for you. Beware! this is not one of those sweet type of pumpkin ales this is a healthy pumpkin ale made with real pumpkin puree. No need to look any further. Pumpkins have vitamins & minerals plus the barley, hops, and water which is all good for you too so I say this because I am sick of hearing people bashing on beer for being bad for your health. Cheers! A-
844 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
One of the best pumpkin ales I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. I learned over the years that it is easy to mess up a pumpkin beer. Some are either too watered down tasting like a cheap macro lager. Some don't even use any real pumpkins at all so the beer taste artificially sweet like a pumpkin soda. Some are just way too over spiced and close to undrinkable. If your looking for a healthy pumpkiny vegetal type of beer during the fall/winter season then this is the beer for you. Beware! this is not one of those sweet type of pumpkin ales this is a healthy pumpkin ale made with real pumpkin puree. No need to look any further. Pumpkins have vitamins & minerals plus the barley, hops, and water which is all good for you too so I say this because I am sick of hearing people bashing on beer for being bad for your health. Cheers! A-
844 characters
3.49/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle. Pours a clear amber with a medium white head. Aroma is pumpkin, caramel, nutmeg, cinnamon. Taste is medium sweet pumpkin and malt, light bitter with dry earthy spices. Finish is spicy, light bitter. Medium bodied, medium carbonation.
247 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle. Pours a clear amber with a medium white head. Aroma is pumpkin, caramel, nutmeg, cinnamon. Taste is medium sweet pumpkin and malt, light bitter with dry earthy spices. Finish is spicy, light bitter. Medium bodied, medium carbonation.
247 characters
3.52/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
2.84/5 rDev -22.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
DATE: November 2, 2017... OCCASION: last practice of soccer 2017--a beautiful night... GLASSWARE: Abita pint... pours a somewhat murky river-yellow orange, with a ring of fleeting off-white head that shows meager foam clinging to the glass... cinnamon, nutmeg, biscuit malts, pumpkin, yes, and some earthiness--underwhelming, but at least detectable... mellow, soft and fuzzy mouthfeel, one that leaves a syrupy sweet finish... drinkable, smooth and coating... the cinnamon and nutmeg are not demonstrative... apple and pear offer residual... almost reads as a lager... borderlines as a fruit beer, and not representative of its 45 IBUs either... with so many full-flavored fall seasonals available, this doesn't really move the needle....
739 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
DATE: November 2, 2017... OCCASION: last practice of soccer 2017--a beautiful night... GLASSWARE: Abita pint... pours a somewhat murky river-yellow orange, with a ring of fleeting off-white head that shows meager foam clinging to the glass... cinnamon, nutmeg, biscuit malts, pumpkin, yes, and some earthiness--underwhelming, but at least detectable... mellow, soft and fuzzy mouthfeel, one that leaves a syrupy sweet finish... drinkable, smooth and coating... the cinnamon and nutmeg are not demonstrative... apple and pear offer residual... almost reads as a lager... borderlines as a fruit beer, and not representative of its 45 IBUs either... with so many full-flavored fall seasonals available, this doesn't really move the needle....
739 characters
4.19/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.38/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.8/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Appearance - murky bronze colored body with white head
Smell - pumpkin flesh, cinnamon, clove
Taste - cinnamon, pumpkin flesh, clove
Mouthfeel - medium bodied, high carbonation, cinnamon upfront, hoppy on the back end
Overall - decent pumpkin ale here that is worth a shot
price Point - $1.99/12 oz single
310 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Appearance - murky bronze colored body with white head
Smell - pumpkin flesh, cinnamon, clove
Taste - cinnamon, pumpkin flesh, clove
Mouthfeel - medium bodied, high carbonation, cinnamon upfront, hoppy on the back end
Overall - decent pumpkin ale here that is worth a shot
price Point - $1.99/12 oz single
310 characters
3.67/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.7/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.69/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.56/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.9/5 rDev +6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This pumpkin ale pours a fairly light orange color with a somewhat thin white frothy head. The smell is of pumpkin, spices, and some light bready malts. The smell of pumpkin is dominant, but it's not overwhelming and it isn't artificial. The taste is similar, but pumpkin really works with the malts rather than dominating it as some pumpkin ales do. There is also some hoppy bitterness to the finish that balances it out. The body is medium. A pretty finely crafted pumpkin ale that manages to taste like a beer accented with pumpkin rather than a pumpkin drink. I think it is underrated.
589 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This pumpkin ale pours a fairly light orange color with a somewhat thin white frothy head. The smell is of pumpkin, spices, and some light bready malts. The smell of pumpkin is dominant, but it's not overwhelming and it isn't artificial. The taste is similar, but pumpkin really works with the malts rather than dominating it as some pumpkin ales do. There is also some hoppy bitterness to the finish that balances it out. The body is medium. A pretty finely crafted pumpkin ale that manages to taste like a beer accented with pumpkin rather than a pumpkin drink. I think it is underrated.
589 characters
3.48/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.83/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pumpkin Ale from Smuttynose Brewing Company
Beer rating:
3.68 out of
5 with
1,928 ratings
0 characters. We love reviews! Turn your rating into one with ≥ 150 characters.
Explain why you're giving this rating. Your review must discuss the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) and your overall impression in order to indicate that you have legitimately tried the beer. Nonconstructive reviews may be removed without notice and action may be taken on your account.