Good Gourd
Cigar City Brewing

 

 

If you are a fan of pumpkin beer this one hits the spot. Pours a solid golden orange and taste like squash and pumpkin pie. Perfect mouthfeel and carb.

Pumpkin beers used to be something I was into but the allure faded fast. That being said this is about as good a pumpkin beer as you could expect. Nice high ABV, good body, nice spices, and solid flavor. It's a sip on a cool evening beer and for that it's great. yb

 

From a can, it pours very dark with a nice foamy head. Nice pumpkin/yam aroma with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. The taste is overwhelmingly cinnamon with a malty backup. Very heavy with the cinnamon and nutmeg continuing to linger. Not a great example of this style.

 

 

I just had the Saint Arnold Pumpkinator a few days ago and this concoction by Cigar City sits right behind that gem at #2. I think that ranking is fair. This brew is interesting with the cloves, cinnamon, vanilla and all spice creating a beautiful medley for the pumpkin to nestle into. This is an 8.5 ABV beer which hides it very well. I like this beer a lot. It is complex and has a much greater depth than most pumpkin beers. Cigar city is a fine brewery and they hit this one on the mark! Happy Thanksgiving to me!

Poured from a 12 oz. can, which says 8.8% abv. Has a pretty auburn color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is mild, some pumpkin. Taste is of pumpkin, subtle spices, some brown sugar, a touch of alcohol is present. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall it ain't bad, but I was expecting much more than it delivered.

Pours a copper color with a minimal head that disappears quickly. Aroma is a mixture of spices. Taste is like a spiced pumpkin pie and is quite boozy. Different than most pumpkin beers out there.

DATE: November 8, 2020... OCCASION: wrapping up a great four-day weekend with a beer I have hoped to taste for a while now--great to see Cigar City here up in Jersey... GLASSWARE: Maudite snifter... a foreboding, brownish purple body that shows lively bubbles swelling into an uneven haze of off-white head--this pumpkin looks like it has more of a Halloween attitude than one of Thanksgiving... rich punch of cinnamon, nutmeg, sharp brown sugar, candied clove and all spice evoke a dessert-like aroma.... not much in the way of maltiness suggested by its aroma... first sip is rich, creamy, buzzing at the teeth and the throat, with a boozy finish that lingers warmly... in fact, it stays so long between sips, it seems like one long drink, commanding with a whiskey's confidence but drawing without heat or penalty.... what a beautiful experience this is--the cinnamon and nutmeg explode atop a brown ale's malty base, with clove and light citrus also in the mix... in fact, the late citrus makes this almost read as a whiskey with bitters... big, bold but accessible, I will look for this again next year, and appreciate having CC in Northeastern distribution--this works quite well as a holiday dessertif or a nightcap....

My can reads 8.8% ABV, for whatever that's worth. Pours dark red with a rather large tannish head which laces up nicely as it recedes. Looks pretty nice. Smells of lightly singed brown sugar, booze, gourd (duh!) and the requisite spices, none of which particularly stand out. They're all there, though: cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice and cumin (I kid). Tastes quite delightful, if mildly boozy. I mean, this is a hacky thing to say, but it's pumpkin pie in liquid form. I taste some vanilla, too. Don't know if that's listed as an ingredient, but it's definitely there on the tongue. The spices kind of linger a bit; perhaps too long. Your mileage will certainly vary. Pretty well full-bodied with a dry finish. I'm less crazy about this style with every passing year, but I like this one quite a bit.

 

 

Absolutely terrific pumpkin ale...Schlafly is the standard bearer but this is really good...

Lots of pumpkin pie spice without being annoying about it...it tastes like a good slice of pumpkin pie...and as far as I'm concerned that's is a good thing.

Creamy and smooth...terrific finish...not boozy at all...

I will grab some of this for Thanksgiving....

 

Canned on 7/13/20

Pours a deep maroon-mahogany body with just a touch of clarity and topped with a finger of rocky, semi-creamy foam; great head retention recedes slowly to some spotty islands of cap, a firm, creamy ring of collar, and a comprehensive, webbed array of lacing clinging across the glass.

Aroma features a quieted, raw boozy aspect introducing more subdued seasonal notes; soft pie spice, fleeting sense of roasted cloves, squash, allspice, and vanilla for a thinly veiled sweeter quality; light tones of pumpkin comes in waves, balanced by brown sugar into the close.

Taste opens a touch bready, with hints of caramel reinforcing a light malt profile as notes of squash/pumpkin chunks and brown sugar become increasingly prominent over the mid-palate, while nutmeg and cinnamon fade with a boozy finish.

Mouthfeel offers a medium body with an expansive, rounded carbonation trending slick across the mid-palate and with a crispness that tingles into the back end; a smooth yet weighty finish highlights a minor pang of booziness and distant vegetal acridity that had been advancing across the palate, though in pleasant synchronicity with the beer's softer elements.

There's extensive balance beneath the subdued profile and overarching booziness, but not quite prominent enough to see this one through; a roller coaster of a pumpkin ale, with heavy promise but a contrastingly weaker execution leaving a drinkable though unimpressive final impression.

a: rich, dark cherry and brown color with hints of dark amber and mahogany. pours a nice frothy solid 2 finger tan head that settles around 1/2 finger

s: pumpkin & squash aroma upfront. cinnamon, clove, coriander, sweet potato. some vanilla, pie crust, and pumpkin pie filling. some nice brown sugar in here as well

t: tons of brown sugar, pie crust, cinnamon, clove, and cardamom in here. extremely rich. brown sugar, pumpkin & squash meat. pumpkin pie filling. lots of nutmeg

m: fuller side of medium. carbonation is medium

o: a very nice Pumpkin Ale. it's pie-like, but not overly sweet or spicy. very rich, yet not tough to drink. really good stuff, could use a bit more out of the aroma though

 

 

 

Four ounces served from an can into an Erdinger Oktoberfest stein during my second decennial pumpkin beer tasting.

Banana and assorted pumpkin spice nose. Long coffee finish with that signature Cigar City heavy mouthfeel of their Imperial beers. Balanced sweetness to scale with the imperial concept.

Ths is a super pumpkin ale I sampled first last night with my brother outside on my parent's porch until the wee hours. Obviously the beer was delicious,as my brother had promised it would be. I am rewinding tonight with the one surviving beer.

For me, the spices hit more or less perfectly, the cinammon and nutmeg staying on your tongue well into theftertaste. The rest is incredibly complimentiary, understated, and balanced. The bright, satisfying maltiness is only elevated by the pumpkin flavors. This doesn't mash you on the head with heavy sweetness and become riddled with booze flavors like some of the better, more "traditional" pumpkins. Hard to believe its packing so much alcohol. Just outstanding.

Upon pouring, my first thought is, this beer is perfectly coordinated with the can as if they were wearing matching outfits. The tan head with etchings of tawny mimics the top of the can. The liquid itself, however, is more cinnamon/copper than anything close to a vibrant orange. I'd call it syrupy looking maintaining a certain seasonality.

What makes one pumpkin pie better than the others? Crust, spice mix, sweeteners, binding agents, quality of pumpkin. First thought on aroma, this doesn't remind me of a pie. More like a pumpkin cake (your typical muffin nowadays) with a brown sugar/butter/cinnamon streusel top. More like a pumpkin crumb cake I'd have with a cup of coffee in the morning.

Will the taste depart from the brown sugar/cinnamon? Somewhat. Brown sugar is the main sweet element. Pumpkin is there, and helped by a hopping with subtle notes of citrus, black pepper and nutmeg. Tastes a little like raw pumpkin smells...a bit bitter. Coffee grounds, clementine, lavender. If that doesn't sell you...it ends up tasting down a like a slightly watered down Captain Morgan Black with a dollop of pumpkin cream; so, really outstanding in terms of a pumpkin beer.

Medium body with a little chewiness in the middle. Rather dense impression followed swiftly by tart elderberry.

 

Excited to try this highly rated beer. Deep copper see through color to this brew with a good sized tan head. Head fading quickly but a nice look none the less. Initial nose is sweet with some pumpkin and related spices. A further scent of the can really brings out a rich deep nose. Ok, really like the balance and smoothness of this brew. The evenness allows the spices to take center stage before the bite pulls it away with a drying finish. This slightly vanilla sweet yet bitter brew has a medium body and enough carbonation to keep me happy. I’ve got to admit, this stuff is pretty good here.

I was a bit disappointed by this beer which has excellent reviews.

There is definitely the pumpkin flavor, the spice, nutmeg and cinnamon in the taste profile.

None of the flavors are pronounced. There isn’t a richness of flavor I’ve experienced in other pumpkin beers- especially Pumking.

Excellent beer, but not a standout in the style for me.

I am a huge pumpkin fan, and am having trouble finding some familiar favorites in this Covid-plagued year. So, knowing Cigar Citys' reputation, I bought a case of Good Gourd, without even tasting it. This beer met my expectations.. a great purchase! It pours a gourgeous, dark copper, with a bit more head than your average pumpkin. The carbonation level was ample.. the taste, wonderful. The tyical autumn spices are all there, and they are proportioned superbly. They create a slightly bitter presence, which is nicely offset by a noticeable vanilla sweetness, which forms a distinctly sweet caramel note. There is nothing rashly scientific or groundbreaking here.. simply a blend of fine ingredients woven together by a brewer that works their craft superbly. This is a great addition to my yearly pumpkin haul, and I strongly urge you to giver it a try!

Definitely a worthwhile offering from Cigar City. Canned 7/13/20, consumed 9/13/20. Hats off the my local beer monger for getting it into my hands promptly! Pumpkin beers are not really my bag but this one is a winner.
L: Drinking it from the can - it's a looker!
S: Lightly sweet with nice pumpkin and spice.
T: Follows the nose. Not excessively sweet, which I appreciate. Spices are warming but not cloying. Slightly bitter aftertaste that is very enjoyable
F: Rich and silky - nice!
O: It is a winner!

 

A - Pours a deep garnet color with nice clarity and silky cream off white lacing on top.

S - Sweet malt with cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin.

T - Pumpkin, pumpkin spice, nutmeg, and clove with a very slight bitterness on the backside.

M - Thick and silky and finishes more on the wet side.

O - The ABV is completely hidden in this beer and it never gets cloying or overly sweet. This is impressively done and hats off to Cigar City.

 

 

12oz. canned 07/13/20

Pours clear dark amber copper red-orange with a dense creamy off-white light khaki colored foam head. Smells like pumpkin pie, roasted pumpkin, cinnamon, vanilla, allspice, nutmeg, clove, sweet caramel, lightly toasted bready malts, some raisin, dried fruit, apricot orange marmalade, and herbal earthy piney hops. Tastes like rich sweet toasted bready caramel malts, toffee, molasses, brown sugar, raisin, dried fruits, apricot, orange marmalade, dark toasted bread, roasty char, hint of chocolate, vanilla, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, roasted pumpkin, squash, gourd, with bitter herbal earthy hops. Feels lighter medium bodied, creamy and slick with moderate carbonation. Overall a really nice pumpkin ale.

 

Four pack copped from Wine Rack in Millburn. Pours a mahogany, amber hue with an impressive amount of frothing. Assertive aroma replete with hints of clove, allspice and butternut squash. Similar overall flavor profile. Hard-hitting.

Love the smell and taste. Beautiful pumpkin beer. It’s a little thin tasting if anything could be said as a critique.

Pours a clear amber. A generous finger of mildly tan/orange foam. Tight compact bubbles. Good retention. Spotty lacing. This brew looks fantastic. Extremely aesthetic.

Nose is faint. Mostly fall spices with some pumpkin in the background. Fragrant but not so overwhelming that it smells like perfume or potpourri. Thats a good sign.

Taste is fall spices right up front. Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove. Not overpowering. Some pumpkin in the middle combines with a nice, strong caramel backdrop. Where a lot of these pumpkin beers fail is their one-dimensionalism. Not this one. Its like a Marzen, with its malty, caramel richness. And atop that, added gracefully, is the spice and pumpkin. This succeeds in remind me of a pumpkin pie. Its a little on the dry side, lacking in sweetness but other than that, I really can't complain.

Mouthfeel is a little thin. Medium bodied, mild carbonation. Not bad. Some density could've brought this brew together a little more.

Overall a stellar Pumpkin beer. Cigar City really captured the essence of the season in this brew. One whiff and you can see orange and red leaves. One taste and feel that Autumn breeze. Well done.