ChocoLantern Spiced Pumpkin Porter
Cloud 9 Brewery

one of my favorite pumpkin beers of the year so far, local or otherwise. its a solid porter as a base, but then is done with a bunch of pumpkin and cocoa nibs and some spices, really complex but also super drinkable and not forced but natural, great proportions, its not a novelty like some of these are, this is a beer i could make an evening of drinking. the chocolate part is awesome here, its bitter and earthy and pulls out the deepest part of the roast of the malts, giving this a nice low end and quite a robust grain profile, which stands up to the spice really well. subtle notes of caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon here too, but this doesnt seem very sweet with the roast and accompanying coffee character, it seems balanced and smooth and not too heavy. i like the little clove or nutmeg layer, almost a granola vibe with the malts in this, and i like the pumpkin, which seems roasted and earthy to me, keeps this grounded with the cocoa. overall an insanely well put together beer, something different as pumpkin beers go, and really well refined too. awesome recipe and execution, a killer fall seasonal and one of my favorites yet from these guys!

edit: when i first had this years ago it was a modest alcohol content porter, now they have it listed on their menu as a stout, under the same name, but at an 8.4% abv, also made with all this pumpkin and spice, and also smooth and delicious, but more sturdy now, definitely evolved a bit from what it was as a regular strength porter, and i think its a good evolution, lots of cocoa, a little more dark malt, some roasted pumpkin character, not overly spiced, some bitterness as much as sweetness, really balanced and perfect for late fall. it was good before, its good now, but definitely a bit different. usually i hate recycled names, but maybe this is a new beer every year they make it. cool! leaving scores as they are, they apply well to the new version too!

On tap at the brewery. Dark brown with streaky lacing. Chocolate prominent in the aroma. Taste brings out some roast grains and a hint of fall spice. Finishes with a bitter tang. Palate tingling all over.

The appearance was a black color with a nice tan head that dissipated slowly leaving some light lacing here and there.
The aroma is dark cocoa and a light amount of roasty malt with some light spiciness in cinnamon and nutmeg.
The taste is pretty rich through the cocoa and roasty malt. Spices even it out slightly and lead into the aftertaste and finish.
The mouthfeel had a light to medium sort of body to it with a delicate roasty sort of quality along my tongue. It made for a good session.
Overall, its a good porter but I really didn't get much pumpkin in it.

RB

Enjoyed tonight at the Northend brewpub... Pours the expected black with a nice dark tan head with good retention and lacing.

Nose is pretty standard porter with a light spiciness... Dark cocoa and roast malt with cinnamon and perhaps some nutmeg.

Flavor mirrors the aroma... happy a judicious hand was used with the spices.... The porter backbone is pretty well done and that unfortunately blows out any perceptible gourd flavor.

Light/medium body... sorta a slickness to it.

Cloud 9 is doing better and better work every time I stop in.

4/3.75/3.5/3.75/3.5