Royal Gourdge
Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery

a very boldly flavored pumpkin ale, you have to like this sort of thing to be down with this one, but i am for sure. its got a deep burnt orange to copper color, pretty good clarity from the tap, and a short and airy white head on top. smells like baked pumpkin bread, that sweet and savory fall treat, i dont get much squash in here, but i get a whole lot of the usual spices, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, some intense combination of these really drives the aroma here. the flavor fortunately brings some heavier, richer grains to the mix, giving it that sweet bready backbone, but also serving to balance some of the spice intensity, which would be a lot in a lighter beer i think for sure. cinnamon and clove spice for sure, some bitterness with it, and a light earthy sweetness, possibly from real pumpkin, but that part isnt obvious. nuances of spiced rum, dried apples, and warming brandy, along with all of the spice which lingers like a scented candle on the tongue after the swallow. in the end, i wish i could taste more real pumpkin, but i like the boldness of this brew overall, and also appreciated it being able to stand out from the crowd of samey pumpkin beers with its intensity.