Grumpy Pumpkin
Bavarian Barbarian Brewing Company

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From:
Bavarian Barbarian Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Fruit and Field Beer
ABV:
9%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.2 | pDev: 6.67%
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
11
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 12, 2012
Added:
Oct 20, 2011
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Rated: 4.5 by wattoclone from California

Sep 12, 2012
 
Rated: 4.75 by kemkempalace from Pennsylvania

Jun 06, 2012
Photo of MsRif
Reviewed by MsRif from Pennsylvania

4.29/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on-tap at Pinocchio's in Media, PA. Poured a hazy, gritty brown color...almost like a dark cider in appearance. Cocoa head that receded slowly and left spotty lacing. Had an aroma of spices, vanilla, pumpkin...very pumpkin pie-esque. Taste was delicious...a balanced blend of spices, pumpkin, sweet malts and vanilla. Vanilla was not overwhelming like in some other pumpkin focused brews. Very yummy...glad I got a whole growler of it.

Medium in body with low carbonation. Would definitely have again!
Dec 19, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by JimmytheSaintPSU from Pennsylvania

Dec 15, 2011
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Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

4.03/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
First had: growler from Pinocchio's, Media, PA

Sampled this first before committing to a growler, but of the tap lineup, this one was the most growler-worthy for Thanksgiving dinner pregaming. Poured out a gritty, dirty brown color, very murky, with a full tan head. Almost looked like someone made tea and the teabags broke open. Despite all that, it was still lighter in hue than you might expect from a porter; closer to a dunkel or brown ale in that regard. Aroma of spices, pumpkin, potpourri. Taste was a good blend of caramel malts, toasted pumpkin, and an array of spices, with a distinct earthiness, all in pretty good harmony. As I had more, I started to get sick of it a little, and mainly I think, because it tasted better and less bitter when it was a bit cooler in temperature (the growler didn't fit in the fridge). Medium-bodied, and quite drinkable, despite my feeling that it lost some luster after a while.
Nov 25, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by boxofrane from Pennsylvania

Nov 21, 2011
 
Rated: 4.5 by justintcoons from Pennsylvania

Nov 14, 2011
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Reviewed by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

4.02/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
On tap @ the Khyber Pass Pub (Philadelphia, PA) on 10/22/11. Served in a tulip glass.

Pours black, topped with a ½ finger cap of mocha colored head. This retains with some richness along the edges of the glass, leaving back a smattering of spotty lace and light brown oils down the sides. The aroma smells of pumpkin. I’m not just talking about your typical green pumpkin flavor that you find in a beer. I’m talking about a ripe, fleshy character that literally smells like I’m sitting here scooping guts out of the insides of a pumpkin. Chocolate roast and green citrus comes off the sides and light pumpkin spices are scattered throughout but it’s that vibrant pumpkin meat character that permeates this and I have to say, I’m actually digging it quite a bit!

The taste is sweet chocolate, toffee, roast, and pumpkin (which is much more subtle than it was in the aroma), while a vanilla sweetness helps smooth this all out. Festive fall spices are present but aren’t overdone, hanging in the finish along with some lingering dark sugars and pumpkin flavor. The mouthfeel is fuller bodied and has some thickness to it in the mouth but this overall has a smooth crispness that keeps things moving. There is just a touch of light warmth to the body, as the depth of flavor here seems to cover up that big ABV pretty darn well.

This was quite enjoyable for an Imperial Porter, much less one with pumpkin and spices involved, as this was very flavorful and accessible for such a big beer. The authenticity of the pumpkin in the nose might be a hit or miss feature for some people but I definitely thought that this was one of the better pumpkin beers that I’ve had this fall. This is an impressive beer from the Bavarian Barbarian.
Oct 26, 2011
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Reviewed by icoffey from Pennsylvania

4.36/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Had a tasting at their warehouse and was so impressed, I drove home to get my growlers and fill them with Grumpy Pumpkin. Excellent taste, the pumpkin is natural, not from a can. You taste the pumpkin, clove, and other spices all toegther, nothing is overpowering. Great brew!
Oct 23, 2011
Photo of MusicaleMike
Reviewed by MusicaleMike from Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 1.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Had on tap at Capone's. Served in a pint glass.

OK, this is one ugly looking beer. It is very unfiltered and the whole pint glass with no head look did not do this beer any justice. It is a dark brown color. Murky. Again, no good. The only way this could look worse would be if there were chunks floating in it.

The smell is fantastic: notes of cinnamon, allspice, clove, pumpkin, roasted marshmallow, ginger, baked bread, caramel, and even a little chocolate. How could a beer represent fall any better? This is something to look forward to...

The taste is on par with the smell, and we have a beer here that combines a porter with a pumpkin beer with a winter warmer. The taste has an intense spice profile, and the ginger and allspice really come through. Everything else is there as well, including some subtle vanilla, but there is an actual level of "spicy" here brought on from the intense amounts of spice in this brew. Really rich flavor, with the pumpkin coming through up front and reminding us that we have a Vegetable Beer on hand.

There is a very thick body, and the carbonation is on the lower side. For a beer of this strength, I think this makes sense and potentially adds more to the flavors here. Yet, I do find this to be under-carbonated and could use more lightness here....

Overall, solid brew from Bavarian Barbarian! I think they should bring this back every year, and they should probably start bottling this too, as they could sell me at least a case per year, if not more for friends. One of the better pumpkin beers I have had.
Oct 20, 2011
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Reviewed by Retail1LO from Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured on draft into a 5 oz sampler @ Capone's. Pours a very dark brown with a negligible head. Nose is nice and spicy with hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and clove. The taste closely follows the nose with all scents detectable in taste. The mouthfeel is really thin and finishes with some tart pine. Overall, this is a TASTY beer. Awesome beer for my first from this brewery.
Oct 20, 2011
Grumpy Pumpkin from Bavarian Barbarian Brewing Company
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 11 ratings