The Gourdian Pumpkin Ale
Epic Brewing Company

Look:
Deep orange/copper color and hazy. Almost looks like apple cider when held up to the light. Only a 1-finger head from a 12 ounce can pour. The head recedes very quickly. Lacing continues and leaves a decent foam ring.

Smell:
Smells sweet and dessert-like. There is roasted malt, caramel, and pumpkin also in there. Not overly spicy smelling, but you can tell there is some in there. A slight floral hint.

Taste:
Only slightly bitter up front, but is quickly overrun with sweet malt, caramel, and pumpkin. There is a nice fall roasty taste to this one. There are only some hints of spices and not the floral point like most pumpkin ales. You can still taste beer. As the caramel and veggie flavors fade out, you are left with a smoky and nutty aftertaste.

Feel:
Medium mouthfeel. This one started off low on carbonation and only lessened as time went on. By the time I got to the last 25%, it was totally flat (about 8 minutes). A little oily feeling.

Overall:
This has a decent flavor for sure. Not like a pie or crazy heavy on the spices like many over-done pumpkin ales. More carbonation would have awarded more points. Definitely drinkable!

Graham Cracker, Orange, Spice, Cacao Nibs

Light copper with a thin head, The Gourdian teases with dough, pumpkin, cinnamon and anise in the nose. Flavors of graham cracker follow, with a significant dose of orange peel that's slightly juicy too, as well as a dusting of cinnamon, and plenty of pumpkin meat as the beer warms on the palate. This fall seasonal finishes with a chocolate roastiness, bitterness and nuttiness from the cacao nibs that complement the other flavors. A dry, husky linger and hint of liquorice finish things off nicely. I really dig this twist on the Pumpkin Ale.

As reviewed in BeerAdvocate magazine #105 (October 2015).

 

 

 

 

 

 

At first I thought pumpkin beers were just the worst fad in craft beer, and while I still only have have 1 or2 a year I can definitely see the appeal, they truly do taste like fall. What I appreciate about this beer is it does not overpower the palate with fake pumpkin flavor. It is subtle and balanced and it is more of a pumpkin flesh mixed with all of your favorite pie spices, rather than a scoop of generic pie filling in a bad beer - this is much more subtle - and I like that (especially compared to beers like Pumpkin Head - one of my least favorite beers). Some would complain it isn't very exciting and I would agree but it is a solid, balanced, not overly pumpkin beer for sipping on a nice cool fall day.

Very pretty to look at. not a lot of lace, but some. I taste pumpkin, like the skin of a pumpkin, but so light that it works.

Poured from a can into a goblet.

This particular example on this day in my glass doesn't smell very aromatic, but a huge range of variables affect the nose of a beer on any given day. What I do smell is a light and earthy vegetable note and some sweet malt and a touch of cooked corn.

A new style of pumpkin/fall beer this is: The flavor opens with a light cookie flavor infused with a touch of vanilla and oranges with cream. The anise and cinnamon make for a very "fall" flavor profile, but in a different way than the usual pumpkin pie spices do. I don't think I taste the cacao nibs, but I think I can tell that they were used: This is a very soft drinking beer and I have noticed that quality of lushness and soft richness in other beers which employed cacao nibs.

Conclusion: The first non-traditional pumpkin beer which I have actually enjoyed. I love pumpkin pie in a glass, and when that is done well it is one of my favorite styles in the world. I have tried many pumpkin beers which are trying to break that typical "pumpkin pie mold and failed. This beer is totally a pumpkin/fall beer but it is also totally unique, which is a triumph. Well done Epic Brewing!

 

 

 

at first sip i hated this one, really didnt like it at all. i was tasting the "unwashed pumpkin stem" thing others have suggested before i could really form my own opinion. its definitely vegetal, but i dont know about that profile so much. i get anise out of it for sure, raw cacao, and the squash. for all thats in it though, i think the most shocking thing is how bland it is overall. maybe i am too used to the way overspiced pumpkin beers that seem to dominate the marketplace these days, but this doesnt have all that much flavor for what it is. i like that its kind of earthy and raw, autumnal for sure, but without the grain weight and either malty or added molasses or brown sugar sweetness that usually goes with these flavors, it definitely feels like something is missing. i am always looking for a new take on pumpkin beer, and they have definitely achieved that with their pumpkin porter, but this one doesnt do it for me. under carbonated and a bit sloppy on the whole, but i do like that it tries something a little different. doubt that ill buy it again though.

 

 

 

 

Pours a dark copper color with a good amount of white head. Has a pumpkin nose with a touch of something else. Some kind of spice. Umm nice pumkin flavor with a touch of cocoa.