Good Gourd Imperial Pumpkin Ale | Cigar City Brewing
Brewed by:
Cigar City Brewing
Florida, United States
cigarcitybrewing.com
Style: Pumpkin Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.50%
Availability: Fall
Notes / Commercial Description:
Legend has it that when a pumpkin comes into the world it is possessed by either a good or an evil spirit. Ours got all the good baby! Bursting with real pumpkin flavor and yummy pumpkin spices including Ceylon cinnamon, Jamaican all-spice, Zanzibar cloves and nutmeg, Good Gourd is a celebration of Fall and that spookiest of holidays, Halloween. Pair Good Gourd with pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie and costume parties.
35 IBU
Added by tpd975 on 01-03-2009
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,429 | Reviews: 230
4.25/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.55/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
The spices sure are prevalent in this beer but its pushing it. By pushing it I mean its almost getting to the point where it's too spiced forward and almost undrinkable like the sam adams 20 lbs. of pumpkin is. This is tasty and healthy pumpkin ale with the real pumpkin puree and spices added to it pumpkin ale but it is quite expensive. Would I want to knock back another 22 oz of this after drinking one I doubt it but one bottle a year is not a bad decision to purchase. A- (90-94) score range
497 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
The spices sure are prevalent in this beer but its pushing it. By pushing it I mean its almost getting to the point where it's too spiced forward and almost undrinkable like the sam adams 20 lbs. of pumpkin is. This is tasty and healthy pumpkin ale with the real pumpkin puree and spices added to it pumpkin ale but it is quite expensive. Would I want to knock back another 22 oz of this after drinking one I doubt it but one bottle a year is not a bad decision to purchase. A- (90-94) score range
497 characters
4.21/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.81/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.35/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Delightfully balanced and subtle for an Autumn pumpkin beer. Rather than being overblown with "pumpkin spice", Good Gourd focuses on the pumpkin itself, with spices still present but less emphasized. The barrel treatment really smooth out the flavors and mouthfeel. Exceptional.
278 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Delightfully balanced and subtle for an Autumn pumpkin beer. Rather than being overblown with "pumpkin spice", Good Gourd focuses on the pumpkin itself, with spices still present but less emphasized. The barrel treatment really smooth out the flavors and mouthfeel. Exceptional.
278 characters
4.31/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Drank from a 1 pint 6 fl. oz. bottle purchased at Whole Foods Market - Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
2017 release
Served in a tulip
The nearly crystal clear, orange-tinged mahogany body was topped by a tight, creamy, finger-tall, tan colored crown. Solid retention. The head fell to a thick, clingy, lasting collar. Spotty, streaky lacing stuck along the glass.
The nose was really punchy and reminded me of a vanilla-infused pumpkin pie. Nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice came through strong. Loads of fresh vanilla extract. Bit of dried ginger. There was a good amount of sweetness without being excessive. Brown sugar came to mind. A sweet boozy note appeared as well. Very solid overall.
The flavor closely mimicked the nose. Big pumpkin pie spice notes. Clove, allspice, ginger and cinnamon were most noticeable. Strong vanilla cream presence. The beer was anchored by a biscuity malt backbone. Somewhat toasty and caramel-ish too. Like the nose, the beer was fairly sweet on the palate, but it dried out as the liquid moved along the palate. Some booze came through on the finish. Toasted malts and a hint of earthy bitterness lingered after the swallow.
Nice creamy, frothy mouthfeel. Medium bodied for the style but a touch thin given the high ABV. The liquid contained a zippy, moderate effervescence that lent the beer a slick smoothness. By the drink’s end, the sugars in the beer left a slightly sticky film on my lips.
Really good pumpkin ales are surprisingly difficult to come by in New England, but I was lucky to score this bottle on a recent trip to Brooklyn. Unlike Southern Tier’s Pumpking, which seems excessively sweet after a few sips, Good Gourd hits hard with big pumpkin pie spice notes and just the right amount of booze and malt sweetness to maintain balance. This is a terrific pumpkin beer and one that hopefully gets distributed in my region sometime soon.
1,889 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Drank from a 1 pint 6 fl. oz. bottle purchased at Whole Foods Market - Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
2017 release
Served in a tulip
The nearly crystal clear, orange-tinged mahogany body was topped by a tight, creamy, finger-tall, tan colored crown. Solid retention. The head fell to a thick, clingy, lasting collar. Spotty, streaky lacing stuck along the glass.
The nose was really punchy and reminded me of a vanilla-infused pumpkin pie. Nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice came through strong. Loads of fresh vanilla extract. Bit of dried ginger. There was a good amount of sweetness without being excessive. Brown sugar came to mind. A sweet boozy note appeared as well. Very solid overall.
The flavor closely mimicked the nose. Big pumpkin pie spice notes. Clove, allspice, ginger and cinnamon were most noticeable. Strong vanilla cream presence. The beer was anchored by a biscuity malt backbone. Somewhat toasty and caramel-ish too. Like the nose, the beer was fairly sweet on the palate, but it dried out as the liquid moved along the palate. Some booze came through on the finish. Toasted malts and a hint of earthy bitterness lingered after the swallow.
Nice creamy, frothy mouthfeel. Medium bodied for the style but a touch thin given the high ABV. The liquid contained a zippy, moderate effervescence that lent the beer a slick smoothness. By the drink’s end, the sugars in the beer left a slightly sticky film on my lips.
Really good pumpkin ales are surprisingly difficult to come by in New England, but I was lucky to score this bottle on a recent trip to Brooklyn. Unlike Southern Tier’s Pumpking, which seems excessively sweet after a few sips, Good Gourd hits hard with big pumpkin pie spice notes and just the right amount of booze and malt sweetness to maintain balance. This is a terrific pumpkin beer and one that hopefully gets distributed in my region sometime soon.
1,889 characters
4.34/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Served in a tulip glass from a 22oz bomber.
Appearance: Dark Amber coming off an almost all brown body with medium bubbles on the body creating an off-white head rising just about half a finger's length. Zero lacing on the glass but the brew looks superb.
Smell: pumpkin and cinnamon scent which feels like a liquid dessert.
Taste: Speaking of dessert, the brew is like gulping a pumpkin pie. The pumpkin is super evident with a light spice nutmeg feel which is strong and mellow all at the same time.
Mouth: Stixky brew, sweet syrupy finish which leaves a pumpkin crust finish at the end. You know that fresher baked cake feel...this beer has it lingering at the end.
Overall: great pickup, love the brew... personally I can say I prefer this over many pumpkin beers. It is a little pricey but would definitely grab again if I'm lucky enough to see it on a shelf again. Always with love and always in a glass, salud!
928 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Served in a tulip glass from a 22oz bomber.
Appearance: Dark Amber coming off an almost all brown body with medium bubbles on the body creating an off-white head rising just about half a finger's length. Zero lacing on the glass but the brew looks superb.
Smell: pumpkin and cinnamon scent which feels like a liquid dessert.
Taste: Speaking of dessert, the brew is like gulping a pumpkin pie. The pumpkin is super evident with a light spice nutmeg feel which is strong and mellow all at the same time.
Mouth: Stixky brew, sweet syrupy finish which leaves a pumpkin crust finish at the end. You know that fresher baked cake feel...this beer has it lingering at the end.
Overall: great pickup, love the brew... personally I can say I prefer this over many pumpkin beers. It is a little pricey but would definitely grab again if I'm lucky enough to see it on a shelf again. Always with love and always in a glass, salud!
928 characters
3.85/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
4.4/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from bottle into snifter.
Has a brown orange appearance with a thin white head that leaves minimal lacing. Pumpkin and cinnamon aromas and taste on spot and gets better as it warms up. Has some vanilla as well. The mouthfeel is very smooth I think the vanilla helps with that. Overall great pumpkin ale would definitely seek out again.
342 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from bottle into snifter.
Has a brown orange appearance with a thin white head that leaves minimal lacing. Pumpkin and cinnamon aromas and taste on spot and gets better as it warms up. Has some vanilla as well. The mouthfeel is very smooth I think the vanilla helps with that. Overall great pumpkin ale would definitely seek out again.
342 characters
4.25/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2/5 rDev -53.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
It is what it is but it isn't my thing lol.. Smooth but too much pumpkin/cinnamon flavor for me.
96 characters
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
It is what it is but it isn't my thing lol.. Smooth but too much pumpkin/cinnamon flavor for me.
96 characters
3.78/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
2017 vintage
A: dark ruby red, quarter inch head faded quickly and left zero foam.
S: graham crackers, vanilla, nutmeg
T: potent cloves dominate the other spices, with a graham cracker like malt base, followed by cinnamon in the finish.
M: medium body, easy drinking for the higher abv
O: great fall beer, has a stronger clove like punch than most in the style.
366 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
2017 vintage
A: dark ruby red, quarter inch head faded quickly and left zero foam.
S: graham crackers, vanilla, nutmeg
T: potent cloves dominate the other spices, with a graham cracker like malt base, followed by cinnamon in the finish.
M: medium body, easy drinking for the higher abv
O: great fall beer, has a stronger clove like punch than most in the style.
366 characters
3.81/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Received from @Dragginballs76 in NBS BIF #6 – thanks Michael!
2017 vintage stored at 42 degrees and served at 45 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Aroma – Cinnamon and nutmeg with just a hint of cloves. No vanilla. Lasts. The second pour produces more of an earthy, pumpkin-y smell with less spice.
Head – Large (Maximum 4.2cm, aggressive pour), tan, medium density, average retention, diminishing to a four mm ring fed by effervescence and a complete layer with a large rocky center island. No drag marks.
Lacing – Poor. A single arch of tiny bubbles remains from the initial ring. No additional lacing is formed as the level drops.
Body – Garnet, chill haze, effervescent.
Flavor – Nutmeg and cinnamon predominate with some clove tagging along. The earthy tones of the pumpkin are well hidden behind the spices, so well hidden they may not even be there. No hops, no alcohol, no pumpkin, no vanilla, no diacetyl. The second pour seems less spicy but still doesn’t accentuate any gourdy goodness.
Palate – Medium, watery, lively carbonation.
Impression: A spiced ale, too low in alcohol (8.8%ABV) to be considered a winter warmer. The cloves do counteract the nutmeg well, pushing the flavor into the drinkability range. I’m not sure, from personal experience, what allspice is supposed to smell or taste like so I can’t determine its presence. I would drink this as a spiced ale, but not if I wanted a pumpkin ale.
Appearance 3.75, Aroma 4, Flavor 3.75, Palate 3.75, Overall, 3.75.
1,538 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Received from @Dragginballs76 in NBS BIF #6 – thanks Michael!
2017 vintage stored at 42 degrees and served at 45 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Aroma – Cinnamon and nutmeg with just a hint of cloves. No vanilla. Lasts. The second pour produces more of an earthy, pumpkin-y smell with less spice.
Head – Large (Maximum 4.2cm, aggressive pour), tan, medium density, average retention, diminishing to a four mm ring fed by effervescence and a complete layer with a large rocky center island. No drag marks.
Lacing – Poor. A single arch of tiny bubbles remains from the initial ring. No additional lacing is formed as the level drops.
Body – Garnet, chill haze, effervescent.
Flavor – Nutmeg and cinnamon predominate with some clove tagging along. The earthy tones of the pumpkin are well hidden behind the spices, so well hidden they may not even be there. No hops, no alcohol, no pumpkin, no vanilla, no diacetyl. The second pour seems less spicy but still doesn’t accentuate any gourdy goodness.
Palate – Medium, watery, lively carbonation.
Impression: A spiced ale, too low in alcohol (8.8%ABV) to be considered a winter warmer. The cloves do counteract the nutmeg well, pushing the flavor into the drinkability range. I’m not sure, from personal experience, what allspice is supposed to smell or taste like so I can’t determine its presence. I would drink this as a spiced ale, but not if I wanted a pumpkin ale.
Appearance 3.75, Aroma 4, Flavor 3.75, Palate 3.75, Overall, 3.75.
1,538 characters
4.3/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.19/5 rDev -25.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
4.39/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Big thanks to Grizzarky
22 oz bottle, dated 8/18/17, poured into a tulip
A- A clear ruby red with a small off white head.
S- Vanilla, pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves, some nutmeg, touch of caramel malts, some graham cracker. Very much like pumpkin pie with vanilla.
T- Pumpkin, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet caramel malts, graham crackers, cloves, some nutmeg. Very well balanced pumpkin beer.
M- Smooth, medium body.
O- Quickly moved to the top of my favorite pumpkin ales. With I could find this around me, I would definitely grab two or three bottles every year.
562 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Big thanks to Grizzarky
22 oz bottle, dated 8/18/17, poured into a tulip
A- A clear ruby red with a small off white head.
S- Vanilla, pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves, some nutmeg, touch of caramel malts, some graham cracker. Very much like pumpkin pie with vanilla.
T- Pumpkin, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet caramel malts, graham crackers, cloves, some nutmeg. Very well balanced pumpkin beer.
M- Smooth, medium body.
O- Quickly moved to the top of my favorite pumpkin ales. With I could find this around me, I would definitely grab two or three bottles every year.
562 characters
3.67/5 rDev -13.8%
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
Good Gourd Imperial Pumpkin Ale from Cigar City Brewing
Beer rating:
4.26 out of
5 with
1,429 ratings
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