Pumpkin Ale
BJ's Restaurants & Brewery

 

As a huge pumpkin fan, when I saw this at Grocery Outlet on the Central Coast, had to try. Was so outstanding, purchased all remaining stock, 2 cases. Cellars well, has exceptional taste of pumpkin puree, spices and a slight sour finish, reminiscent of whipped cream. Like true pumpkin pie, not overly sweet or spicy, but tempts the palate for another taste. This is so good I would move to Texas for it.

Poured from a can into a pint glass
Appearance – The beer pours a clear copper color with a one finger head of fizzy off white foam. The head fades fast leaving a tiny bit of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is strong of a roasted pumpkin smell mixed with lots of caramel and molasses sweetness. Along with these aromas comes nice notes of spice, with cinnamon and nutmeg the most prominent. Rounding out the aroma are notes of a light breadiness and some toast, making for a very inviting smell overall.
Taste – The taste begins with a bready and doughy taste mixed with a decent showing of roasted pumpkin. The maltiness is rather big for the abv, but the sweetness is not as intense, with a bit of caramel, molasses, and brown sugar upfront. As the taste advances the sweetness increases a bit, all while the spice that was in the nose comes to the tongue. Flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove are all there with the cinnamon and clove growing quite strong at the end. With a little bit of a earthiness arriving at the very end, one is left with a cinnamon/clove spiced and sweeter roasted pumpkin taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is medium in thickness and creaminess with a carbonation level that is average as well. A bit more body and less carbonation may have been slightly better overall, but in the end it was pretty good.
Overall – A rather decent pumpkin brew. It has a good pumpkin taste. The cinnamon and sweetness are a bit intense in the end, but overall, it is quite fun to at least give a try to.

Poured a copper body with minimal head and no lace. The aroma is basically a mild pumpkin spice that comes off as artificial. Smooth, easy, clean, minimal spiciness with minimal pumpkin sweetness and basically a bland pumpkin beer for the masses.

 

 

 

This is like eating liquid pumpkin bread. Closest replication to the real thing I've had

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wasnt expecting much out of this beer outside of some sort of overdone pumpkin spice concoction but I was pleasantly surprised. This beer is mellow, smooth and balanced. They didnt overdue it on pumpkin flavor nor spices. The menu had it listed at 6.2% ABV and I splurged for a sixer to take home. Not bad...not bad at all.