Good Gourd
Cigar City Brewing

 

 

Tastes of gingerbread, vague spice and vanilla, raisin. Not nearly as sweet as most in this category, but the vanilla and gingerbread flavors suggest a sweetness. Flat, heavy, uncarbonated mouthfeel, like a barleywine - definitely a sipper, not a session beer. At 8.8%, it's just heavy enough for a kick, but without any hint of "hot" alcohol flavor. Never expected to like a "pumpkin ale" this much. It's what barely-sweet lebkuchen are to the ultra-sweet American holiday cookies. In this category, only Avery's Rumpkin might beat this for me. Certainly not one of my very favorite beers, but absolutely likeable & a must-revisit.

This is a very good Pumpkin Ale. Sweet vanilla on the initial sip, then a fairly high carbonation mouthfeel gives way a smooth and creamy pie-like flavor, with spicy clove lingering. This might improve if to tone-down the clove spice a bit in order to let the other pumpkin pie flavors shine through. Still very nicely done. A pleasant, warming drink

 

 

 

(12 oz can, canned08/16/22; purchased single off shelf... poured into a fat tulip)

L: clear, ruby-burnt-umber colored liquid; huge two-finger orange-tinged foam build... thin, misty collar keeps; does leave some speckled lace

S: nutmeg, ginger syrup, turbinado, spiced rum... not so much pie-like, more spice liqueur... cinnamon pops out after a minute, then pushes to the fore... moderate underlying caramelized malt base, almost maple syrup in shading... the can says 'vanilla' and oh yeah its in there in spades (I repeatedly do not look out for that)... overall excellent intensity and expression, if lacking malt/grain counterpoint

T: the caramel aromas carry over but are gloriously bolstered by bready and baked (crusty) flavors; the finish has a slight (bitter) spice spike accenting the rich, redolent, leathery brown-bready malt... cinnamon and vanilla loom large, but aren't bloated by sugary supplements... it almost has the foundation of a dubbel, drenched in pumpkin pie spice

F: plush-ious, lacking a pungent, pinging bite, despite the booze and spice infusions... toasty bitterness does smack-stun the palate to expectant effect (anticipating greasy fowl noshification)

O: just on the cusp of otherwordly magnificence... it's pretty good; my marks are a shade too low... I'd definitely grab some for the upcoming turkey festivities (2067)

Growler filled 11/13/22

Well, I guess I’m making it through all 3 of my growlers from Half Time tonight! The second Pumpkin Beer of the night, and one that has been a long time want of mine. This is a style that I constantly seek the best examples of, and this is the highest ranked one I’ve tried so far, sitting at #4 for the style on BA. I’m excited so let’s just get into it

Pours a cloudy deep reddish brown with a finger of light tan head that fades to a ring and leaves minimal lacing

The spice in the nose has a wonderful depth here. I’m picking up on aromas of sweet vanilla, nutmeg, cooked pumpkin, dark toast, earthy cinnamon, herbal hops, light cocoa, and caramel

It has a very balanced taste, sweet and spicy but still authentically pumpkin. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting nutmeg, sweet vanilla, allspice, pumpkin meat, earthy cinnamon, dark toast, raisin, brown sugar, and light toffee. The swallow brings notes of nutmeg, biscuity malt, pumpkin meat, raisin, brown sugar, earthy cinnamon, cocoa powder, light herbal hops, and toffee

A medium body pairs with gentle tingling carbonation, resulting in a smooth beer. Finishes neutral and dries over time

This one is great. It’s still not my favorite of the style but definitely hits the mark

 

Brandy caramel in color with a brief white head. Smells like whiskey or brandy, but it's more likely a very pulpy pumpkin character in the aroma. Sipping reveals strong pumpkin flesh characteristics, with some of the stated pumpkin spice notes. This comes off as a mature and rich pumpkin ale. The focus is very much on the pumpkin itself. It's more like a savory pumpkin pie than a sweet pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. I can't discern too much cinnamon, but there's a bit of nutmeg and some clove character, but a lot more discernible allspice. I can taste the alcohol as well, and at nearly 9% it is strong. It's alright if you are looking for a pumpkin ale closer to a strong ale or Belgian ale rather than a more casual pumpkin pie type beer.

 

 

 

Had this beer straight out of the can. Upon opening the smell is of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and malt. The smell was of pumpkin, spices, and a caramel malt. Another good beer from Cigar City.

So glad they started canning this and a great price at only 11.99 a four pack! My only complaint was the body was quite heavy since this baby clocks in at just under 9% but it met all my marks for a perfect pumpkin ale no vegital notes, good smooth spice flavors and slightly sweet finish. I happily enjoyed two of the cans in one night and will probably be back for more!

From the bottom of the can: "CANNED08/01/22 @11:44 244 2553"

Appearance: The body of the beer looks dark red with a hint of reddish-brown. It allows crisp but dark shadows through the glass. There is a short white cap of a head. Mild retention and spotty lacing. The color is really nice.

Aroma: There is a light bit of cinnamon and allspice on the nose.

Taste: It tastes like a cross between monkey bread and pumpkin pie. There is this caramelized pumpkin flavor up front that is mixed with caramel and bread. Towards the middle it has a bit of a hazelnut flavor with some light nutmeg. Towards the back of the mouth there is a mellow cinnamon flavor.

Mouthfeel: It is a full-bodied beer that is smooth and easy to drink with a light and pleasant warming quality. It feels excellent on the palate.

Overall: As a whole it is an excellent beer. The aroma isn't very prominent but fortunately it has a nice flavor. The can states that it is "brewed with cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and vanilla." The spices do a good job of blending together so that they stand out as a cohesive flavor profile rather than one or two stealing the show. It is a good Pumpkin Beer and I would both recommend it and drink it again.