Pick of the Batch
Cape May Brewing Company

 

 

Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a burnt orange color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of pumpkin, light spices. Taste is pumpkin, nutmeg, a touch of cinnamon. Feels medium/full bodied in the mouth and overall is an enjoyable beer.

L= Hazy, indicative of real pumpkin mash. Amber color, 2 inch white head.
S= Strong notes of vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and citrus.
T= Strangely acidic. Not enough pumpkin mash to influence taste. The vanilla nutmeg cinnamon blend is out of balance, highly favoring the nutmeg.
F= The mouthfeel is ok, fairly well balanced, a bit oily as expected with a pumpkin ale.
O= Quite promising, but Cape May really needs to work on balancing the spices. Vanilla present in the smell but overpowered by nutmeg on the taste. They can do better... not as bland as your typical pumpkin, I will try again next year, in anticipation of improvement.

 

 

 

It looks close to an ordinary ale, once two twelve ounce cans were emptied into a clear glass liter mug. A little more orange in the amber color and it's more than a little more opaque than most ales, would make the difference. But, the off-white head is modest and in this case, fading quickly. The typical pumpkin spices are in the pronounced aroma, certainly nutmeg and likely some cinnamon, clove and allspice. But, the aroma is well balanced. Thankfully, it doesn't taste overly spicy. Vanilla is a nice taste addition. The pumpkin pie spices are there in good measure, but somehow they're mellowed. It might be the actual pumpkin in the wort. It might be the brew master decided a heavy handed spicing doesn't automatically make a great pumpkin beer. Whichever, this is an enjoyable pumpkin beer and it might even just be an enjoyable beer, period. Put this in the less is more category. Of course, it has pumpkin spices as a major part of the taste, so don't be mislead. But, there aren't many pumpkin beers that do it this tastefully and with as smooth a mouthfeel as this one. A notch category, for sure; but, if you're into it and like beer overall, this is a must try. The very sparse glass lacing shouldn't diminish enthusiasm about this one. Its best attribute, it tastes more like an ale than a pumpkin pie.
Addendum: A second trial produced a sustaining head and reasonable glass lacing. Ratings reflect observations from both pours.

One finger's worth of crisp bone white colored froth comprised of medium sized bubbles... Modest retention... Color is a slightly murky amber reminiscent of tea... Smells look a mix of pumpkin pie spice and ginger snaps... Palate is consistent with the nose... Perhaps a slight bite of faint hops on the finish... Feel is medium and crisp... The is a subtle syrupy presence that coats the mouth... Not a bad beer by any means... As a fan of pumpkin beers I have no issues drinking this one, but it also doesn't stick out in any memorable way...

 

Pours a cloudy orange like cream soda color, carbonation upon pouring was semi-vigorous, head settles into nice creamy appearance; looks the part.

The nose is interestingly spiced on this pumpkin beer, it is potent in a zippy sort of way...like a woodsy cinnamon jumps out of the glass, the other spice character carries more of a root beer sort of vibe than pumpkin pie, creamy vanilla lingers in the background.

Fortunately the taste is a little more balanced, but again there is a spritzy spicey bite that shoots this one into spiced soda like territory to me, be it cream soda or root beer. Doesn't taste like it per se but more just reminds me of it more so than pumpkin pie, there is a nice balanced bit of vanilla in it. It finishes odd...almost soda like but with beer qualities hanging in there too.

Mouthfeel is medium, it carries a nice creamy feel at first and dries out noticeably on the finish, baking spices dry...some light vanilla like sweetness stays present on the palate.