Sour Pumpkin Ale
Hi-Wire Brewing

Appearance: Pours a burnt orange color with modest head; a few shards of lacing hang around

Smell: Brown bread, caramel and pumpkin with vinous elements along with Rum, ginger and basil

Taste: Brown bread and caramel forward, with the roasted pumpkin tones arriving; through the middle, a complex combination of sweet and sour tones emerge, with vinous red wine grape and Rum barrel elements; in the finish, hints of ginger and basil linger

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation

Overall: One of the more interesting pumpkin beers I have encountered; so many different aspects here; well worth seeking out

 

A: Pours an almost opaque yet still clear deep mahogany in color with moderate to heavy amounts of fine active visible carbonation rising quickly along the edges of the glass and moderate garnet red + cola brown colored highlights. The beer has a two finger tall fizzy creamy foamy tan head that slowly reduces to a large patch of thick film covering the entire surface of the beer and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of dark malts and roasted pumpkin along with moderate aromas of red grape/vinous + dark fruit tartness/sourness. Light aromas of spices - ginger and cinnamon as well as a hint of oak barrel.

T: Upfront there is a light to moderate flavor of dark malts and slightly stronger than moderate flavors of roasted pumpkin with a hint of caramel sweetness. That is followed by moderate to strong flavors of red grape/vinous + dark fruit tartness/sourness and hints of oak barrels. There is a light flavor of slightly herbal and pumpkin pie spices - ginger and cinnamon. Light to moderate amounts of lingering tartness in the finish.

M: Just shy of medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation. Moderate amounts of acidic prickliness and a hint of spice dryness in the finish.

O: This is a very interesting dark sour with pumpkin and spices - definitely on the more tart/sour end of the spectrum but the roasted pumpkin and cinnamon/ginger are present as well albeit a little more subtly. Alcohol is well hidden and this beer is quite enjoyable.