Pumpkin Lager
Cloud 9 Brewery

Half at brewpub. Hazy golden, with small tight head. Musty, grainy aroma. Taste adds some light pumpkin pie flavors, which work nicely with hop profile.

these guys are making some superb beers right now, and this pumpkin lager is a mighty unique one. so many pumpkin ales, so few pumpkin lagers. this has a hazy orange glow to it from the tap, a high white head, and a neat tone of orange, looks pretty in the dim light at the bar. aroma is lightly spiced, soft vanilla and cinnamon to me, but not desserty, enough actual pumpkin to make it taste earthy and natural, i hate when these have too much spice at the expense of the squash, and this gets it just right. the flavor is excellent, not as sweet as it smells, some toasted malt to the mix and a surprising amount of flavor from the lager yeast, this has nice balance and remains more beery than a lot of them. the pumpkin itself is really fleshy and obvious in here, and the spices compliment it well. the beer is frothy and fuller feeling, but approaching crisp at the end, being a lager and all, i love this element, it cuts down on the long linger the style usually is known for, and makes this a little more drinkable, even though its as flavorful as it is. a really smart recipe and very well executed. i was super impressed in here this week, all of their fall beers are on point! this is among my favorite pumpkin beers this year, right up their with their chocolate pumpkin porter! treat yourself here while they last!

edit: every so slightly less impressive the second time around a few years later, less carbonation is really the thing that slows it down, maybe a touch more residual sugar too. i know they have changed brewers a few times, but its cool these recipes still come around, glad they did not abandon this, so neat to have pumpkin in a lager, delicious even if just a little less well refined than i recall...