Imperial Pumpkin Ale
De Steeg Brewing Company

 

 

 

this is now available straight up and oaked at the brewery, with each version offering something slightly different. the base beer is dark and strong, glowing orange with a half inch of off white head with very little retention. great nose, tons of caramel malt and a relaxed but distinct spicing. no pumpkin at all in smell or taste though, which is not good for a pumpkin brew. I taste more spice than squash, and in fact, any vegetable in this beer is lost to the alcohol and malt body of what is a very large beer in all facets. I think I enjoy the oaked version a little more, where the spice is tempered and a vanilla sweetness washes over the finish, giving it another layer of complexity. I would love to see more pumpkin come through in the flavor, whether it needs to be roasted first, doubled in quantity, or something else I don't know, but it doesn't add much flavor, and that's the biggest knock against an otherwise delicious seasonal strong ale.