Positively Pumpkin
Half Full Brewery

 

Best by 5/24/2021; consumed on 11/22/20

Pours a translucent, deep, ruddy brown/amber varnish body capped with a finger of creamy, slightly off-white/pale tan foam; mediocre head retention leaves a thin veil of cap, a moderate, frothy collar, and a sparse selection of firm, webby lacing holding to the walls of the glass.

Aroma opens with touches of vanillin meeting bready malt before heavier tones of caramel provide a prelude to pumpkin spice over the middle, which in turn highlight nutmeg, hints of ginger, and grassy cinnamon on the close.

Taste brings more pronounced pumpkin at the forefront of the profile, with bready malt and hints of caramel to follow; nutmeg, wet grass, and hints of ginger progress over the mid-palate before a distinct nuttiness brings a tepid sort of harmony on the finish.

Mouthfeel offers a medium body bolstered with a fluffy, moderate carbonation fading cleanly with a minimal, evenly-dispersed grit with a mild hop presence along the mid-palate; an almost slick texture appears into the back end an bringing a brightness through the finish.

While nearly 6 months in the can has brought a noticeable vegetal character to the profile, a passive yet authentic pumpkin spice and tepid approach to the balancing malt profile still holds firmly, resulting in a safe, completely unremarkable pumpkin ale; forgettable and light.

Rating changes year to year. 2019's batch is great.

 

A: crystal clear; burnt orange in color; 1 finger light beige head that receded to a thin cap; OK lacing;

S: nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger;

T: follows the nose with almost no bitterness;

M: light to medium bodied; moderate carbonation; lightly dry finish;

O: if pumpkin beer is your thing, this will be enjoyable;

 

L - Deep orange pour with two-finger tan head which disapated fairly quickly. Mild lacing also disappeared.
S - Light pumpkin smell with spice (cinnamon).
T - Fairly spicy but not overwhelming. Mild pumpkin taste.
F - Almost creamy feel. Medium mouth feel.
O - A nice beer. Haven't had a lot of pumpkin beers, but this seems more mild than others I've had, which fit me nicely.

Can to becher pint glass, the appearance was a nice looking burnt orange color with some hints of amber towards the center. Finger's worth of white foamy head slid off at a moderate pace. Lace seemed to just slide into oblivion.
The aroma had some pumpkin sweetness, a little bit of biscuit, light honey, some cinnamon, then allspice and nutmeg.
The flavor seemed to balance somewhat nicely between the sweet portions of the honey/biscuit/pumpkin sweetness to the spices of the allspice and nutmeg. Some aftertaste of the pumpkin sweetness.
The mouthfeel was between light and medium bodied with a fair sessionability about it. Carbonation felt fine. ABV felt appropriate. Semi-smooth sweet finish bearing a touch of spice for balance.
Overall, as a pumpkin ale, I'd say this works. I'd probably have again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3/31...can to glass. Rusty orange amber, 1/4 inch white foam. Pumpkin nutmeg cinnamon nose. Some vanilla. Sweet pumpkin pie like flavor, light bodied. Long cinnamon taste. Nutmeg hangs out too. Spices below the surface. Good.