Reunion Ale '15
Shmaltz Brewing Company

 

 

"This is not just another pumpkin beer! It's a dark ale brewed with Belgian yeast, pumpkin, chocolate, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, vanilla, ginger and Mexican chili pepper. It was originally inspired by a fantastic dessert that we used to share with Virginia at our favorite restaurant." Brewed in the style of a Belgian Dark Ale with pumpkin, chocolate, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, vanilla, ginger and mexican chili pepper added. Available in 22 oz. bottles and on limited draft. Annual collaborative release between Terrapin and Shmaltz with rotating ingredients.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle to a snifter glass.

(Appearance) Pours a crisp, foamy head of a cinnamon cream color over a deep garnet red body with assertive carbonation, high clarity and mild sediment in tow. Retention is average and lacing is light and spotty. 3.75

(Smell) Belgian yeast and bread come together with notes of caramelized malt syrups, dark candi sugar, soft fruit acidity and spicy yeast character. A melange of potent aromas compliment the aroma further, including cinnamon, ginger, cocoa and vanilla most vibrantly, with lesser notes of pumpkin spices and spicy chili pepper aroma. Potency is moderate. 3.75

(Taste) Much of the adjunct ingredients come forth from the first moment of the sip, notably cinnamon and ginger for a spicy, pumpkin pie-inspired front, complete with clean, smooth graham cracker malt richness, and caramelized sugars following, finishing with growing notes of chili pepper spice, chocolate and pumpkin meat. Surprisingly, it manages to come together surprisingly well considering the wide variety of ingredients going into it. 4

(Mouthfeel) Texture is slick, silky, smooth, medium dry. Carbonation is moderate, generating a modest frothiness with a medium crisp finish. Body is medium for the style, medium/heavy overall. Balance is slightly spicy, peppery and earthy bitter over sweet. Alcohol presence is light and there are no off characters. 3.75

(Overall) With each year's oddball inclusion seeming to build over the previous year's additions (I think this is largely the same as 2014's aside from the newest addition of pumpkin), it's getting hard to imagine how so many flavors could come together without clashing or cancelling each other out. It's not hard to discern each flavor listed on the label in this beer. Overall more enjoyable than not- drinks more like a dessert ale, but a busy one with a lot of unusual ingredients coming together. Proceeds going to Myeloma& Bone Cancer research doesn't make this a challenging buy at all, and I am doubly glad I liked this beer as much as I did. 3.75

Shmaltz Brewing Company's
Reunion Ale '15
3.85/5.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours - Deep mahogany brown pretty clear decent head that quickly dissipates to nothing no lacing.

Smell - Ok it is a little busy but the pumpkin and cinnamon stand out to me first I get a little of the chocolate and some of the chili as well.

Taste - Once it warms a little the main thing I get are the pumpkin and cinnamon and some nutmeg. I get no burn or really much taste from the Mexican chili pepper I was hoping for a little heat. I also do not get much chocolate, i do get some of the ginger however.

Feel- a light to medium feel fairly pretty well carbonated.

Overall- It was a very interesting beer that is not bad it I just wish it had a little more heat and the chocolate came out a little more it basically reminds me of a plain pumpkin beer.

22 ounce bottle - $7.99 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours a dark brown body with a small, all too brief, sand-toned head.

Smell: Spicy cinnamon and pepper vibe with modest hints of the pumpkin and ginger ahead of the dark, toasty malts and touches of chocolate.

Taste: Chocolate encrusted toast with a thin sliver of roastiness. Medium caramel sweetness. A hodgepodge of fruity, vegetal tones range from plum to banana to pumpkin slide into a mishmash of varied spiciness in addition to some slight yeast phenolics. Drying, muddling finish with some cinnamon showing a little lingering touch from the peppers.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-low carbonation.

Overall: We're getting a little too kitchen sink-y here, guys.

Pours a thin head on a dark brown body.
The aroma is brown sugar, pumpkin bread, chocolate and vanilla. The spices blend nicely and are balanced.
The taste is fairly sweet but balanced, which makes it quite drinkable.
The texture is thicker.
Enjoyable with good flavors without being overpowering.

 

 

Poured into a tulip it has a clear dark brown body with a slightly beige off white head of an inch and a half. Smell of chocolate, pepper, cinnamon, some vanilla, banana, some ginger, and slight pumpkin spice. Taste is Taste is slight metallic, slight chocolate, earth, a good amount of spice, a little too much pepper flesh, slight slight cinnamon, and a lot of fruit. Mouth feel is full and body is moderate to full. Tastes like a lower abv belgian dark ale but with way too many additions that take over and are a mess, wouldn't buy again. As it warms the peppers shine more, the chocolate pulls out a bit, but it still has too much going on.

 

Poured a clear and rich walnut brown. Medium-sized tan head that stayed with me for a while. Interesting aromas: belgian yeast, pumpkin, vanilla, and chili powder. Taste was pumpkin up front, followed by Belgian esters, cocoa, spices, and vanilla. Long cocoa with warming spices on the finish. A gentle chili kick as it warmed. Nice, dry mouthfeel. I liked this a lot more than I thought I would.

 

Excellent on the nose, and a mild disappointment on the palate. The beer could have been much better with added body and malt, to complement the very complex nose. As it stands, it smells great, but drinks like a much lighter, and drier, belgian ale.