The Headless Gentleman
Strange Land Brewery

Appearance: The dark amber body is crowned by a massive, dense tan head with excellent retention. An unbroken sheet of very finely-beaded lacing adorns the glass wall. Before a strong light, only the faintest highlights of dark amber may be discerned.

Aroma: Tangy aroma of cloves, pink bubblegum, brown sugar, dark malt, and a slight, but distinct tartness and sourness.

Taste: The taste begins with a mild tartness or sourness that seems almost similar to some of the few sours I have tried. Beneath this, there is a good amount of toasted and dark malt, and some spiciness, cinnamon and cloves, I believe. The alcohol, white prominent, is felt as warmth, but does not present in the taste. The pumpkin pie spices appear rather late in the taste, being understated clove and cinnamon. There is a bit of wood in the finish, but subtle. Very late in the taste, there is some grapefruit rind. The hops are very understated, considering the rated forty-one IBUs, per the label.

Mouth feel: Fairly full and soft, with a little zesty carbonation.

Drinkability/notes: Perhaps the most unusual example of this style that I have tried, in that it tends almost toward a sour ale. Still, an interesting rendition on the style.

Presentation: Packaged in a standard twenty-two ounce brown glass bomber bottle with a pry-off crown, served in a Ommegang chalice.

In Memoriam: Pumpkin (April 1998 - November 22, 2014) - the best cat ever. We will always miss you.

Tasted from a keg. The head was never big and gone in a flash. Could be that the keg was under pressurized. I was impressed that the flavors were not so pumpkin forward. In fact, the pumpkin flavor is so subtle as to be difficult to taste, which is fine by me because the bourbon barrel aging and flavor of the underlying porter is very good.

Feels and smells like I just bit into a pumpkin pie. Nice greasy smell. Head retention could be better. Feel on the tongue is thick and smooth.

A subtle and nicely spiced pumpkin porter. Nothing is overpowering and the flavors are well blended. Cinnamon, chocolate smelland taste, mild pumpkin. Will get again next year.

 

 

 

Pours almost black with a foamy tan colored head that is slow to dissipate. Smells of sour citrus and pine. Has a pronounced lemony pine-oil flavor reminiscent of (I am sorry to say) floor cleaner and only a little pumpkin flavor. Light bodied, even a little watery. Mouthfeel is mostly clean but slightly sticky and oily. This is the third beer I've had from this brewery, and all three were disappointing.

 

 

 

Well, this one was a bottle bomb, so already problematic. Once the lava flow died down, it poured a super-deep brown-black color with a lingering foam, colored a brown sugar/cinnamon tan that crept away slowly. Initially, the scent was almost a rottenness in the spices, but after a bit the complexity evened out and brought some nice, clear, and raw but understated scents of pumpkin, brown sugar, and vague spices that is really pleasant, especially for the season. Only the faintest hint of bourbon. Feel is of stout proportions and exceptionally creamy and smooth, with the taste being more subdued than, while still mirroring, the aroma, making it feel really well balanced. Probably my second favorite pumpkin beer, now, behind Southern Tier's Pumking.

 

 

Not bad, there's a little bourbon and spice smell, the taste is the same, BUT no sweetness, kind of bitter aftertaste, low carbonation, pours with a little tan foam that fades