Crooked River Pumpkin Harvest Ale
Crooked River Brewing Co.

 

A: Hazy gold with a small off white head.
S: Smells pretty pumpkiny actually, a bit tart with a touch of cinnamon.
T: Very pumpkiny, but not very sweet. Straightforward. Not very complex beyond pumpkin and nutmeg.
M: A little too carbonated, which takes away from the flavor.
D: One of the few pumpkin beers I've had, and I see why. Not my thing, even for the few weeks that they are available.

I was a bit surprised how much this beer impressed me, from first taste, the first time I had it. The head is finely-bubbled but quickly dissipates. The nose seems to have a slight tinny-ness to it, and I'm not sure if it's due to the bottlecap or from the pumpkin, but I soon got past that when I took the first sip.

Nice, smooth, mellow taste, nothing overwhelming or bitter or musty about it, and a surprising taste that brings to mind home-cooking and great beer, combined. The pumpkin taste is nicely blended, rather than tasting like pumpkin-liqueur. But this isn't just a dessert or novelty beer-- I could drink this for hours at a party, and not even think of it as "pumpkin beer" unless I read the label. Even then, I'd just shrug my shoulders and keep on drinking this. I'm highly impressed.

Don't think of this as "pumpkin-beer," just like you wouldn't focus on "oh this is malt-beer" and taste only malt. It's great beer with a nice complementary taste achieved through the added pumpkin.

HOWEVER-- if you really want a GREAT PUMPKIN BEER, look for the far more pumpkin-tasting Wild Goose Pumpkin Patch out of Frederick Maryland-- it's by far the best pumpkin that I've tasted.

It pours a very hazy coppery orange, honey in tone. A half finger of patchy white head disappears utterly in no time. There is no lacing to speak of.

The aroma drifts a pale swatch of toasted malt, barely notable through a thicker air of pumpkin pie spice. A malty fruit note peeks through as well.

Upon sipping, there's a sweet malt flash that gives quickly to a squashy fruit earthiness that itself soon passes to a rather savory pie spice essence. The finish is quite brief, with a glimpse of stringy gourd aftertaste blinking off soon, allowing a vague spicy dryness to linger, but only a little. It's tasty in theory, but the flavor progression is just too quick to fully appreciate.

Between light and medium bodied, it slides over and is gone, save a slight sassy spice bite.

There's really nothing wrong with the individual elements, but they're so there-and-gone that making a true note of anything is too much of a challenge. It was like..."hey, that was...no, maybe ...or it was...well, whatever it was, it's gone now."
It's drinkable enough because taking time to savor it won't yield much. It's a burst of flavor, fizzling away before it makes a real impression. Maybe I'll have one another time. Then again, maybe not.

Well this has been aging for a year and it still holds up well. Nice light oragne color with a white head. The spices of cinnamon and nutmeg come through the nose a almost drown out the pumpkin. It still has a slight nutty malt flavor with the pumpkin and spices playign a good background beat. I think this is better than when I had it fresh which is why it sat for so long.

I'm drinking this at the end of May, almost 8 months after this beer is out-of-season, so any faults noted have to take this into consideration.

Leaving the bottle for a pint glass, there is not much of a head at all on this one. Cloudy deep orange color. The smell is the best part of this beer - a great blend of pumpkin & accompanying spices. Taste is solid - very flavorful and enjoyable. Mouthfeel is also very positive - just the right amount of carbonation, and not too thick - or thin. Very drinkable. Not the best Pumpkin ale out there (*cough, Dogfish Head, cough*), but very commendable.

12 oz brown bottle.

Foamy white head that fades to a whispy sheet after a moment. A bit of spotted lace with no strength. Slightly hazy, light copper in color; thin.

Pumpkin puree, brown sugar, and some nutmeg. Also a touch of wheat and grain. Subtle aromatics, but nothing unpleasant.

Wheat driven ale accompanied by some chalky spices: nutmeg, cinnamon, brown sugar. The pumpkin flavors are artificial tasting, making this one light and watery. The aftertaste is almost plastic tasting with hints of pumpkin spice.

Light bodied; thin and overcarbonated.

A light pumpkin ale that doesn't have much happening in terms of flavor. Nothing special.

Pours a darker yellow, leaning toward orange. Medium sized head did not linger.
I enjoy a Pumpkin ale or two during the holiday season. This one was not too bad.
Really smelled the pumpkin and allspice, maybe some cinnamon.
Taste is good, moving from pumpkin and spice to clove maybe as it passes over the tongue. A crisp beer and the spice flavors are not overpowering but pleasant, if you enjoy such things.
Cannot do more than a couple or three of these as they can begin to get sort of heavy with flavor.

I like a good pumpkin pie just as much as the next guy, but not in my beer. It pours a dark orange/brownish color with a medium white head that fades away very fast. Nose is full of pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice. Faint hints of hops are also detected. For the most part, the tastes matched the aromas. However, the pumpkin and nutmeg were way too overpowering. There was an incredibly bitter aftertaste left in my mouth. I couldn’t see myself drinking this one ever again. Maybe it’s just not my style of beer.

Orange color with a low ivory head and low carbonation which leaves no lace to speak of. Sharp spice aroma (nutmeg?). Nice spice flavor and tastes a bit like a spicy version of a pumpkin pie. Light-medium bodied.

Taste tasted this with Cottonwood, Buffalo Bill's, and Post Road. I'd rate this one 3rd after Buffalo Bill's.

2002 version. Tasted: 01/24/03

Pours a slightly cloudy golden straw color with a white head that fades fast leaving little, if any lace. Smells of pumpkin and nutmeg, cloves as well. Combined with the malts & yeast it smells like mom's pumpkin bread. Cinnamon notes as well. Well, here goes nothing...Spicy taste dominates, cloves, cloves, and more cloves. Neither malty nor hoppy. Rather thin mouthfeel with light body and medium carbonation. Slightly bitter aftertaste. Not very drinkable--at least not by me.

Pours a dark golden color with a thick white head. Smells spicy and inviting, tastes malty with spiceness and pumpkin flavors, from a former local brewery, the bottles say Cleveland Ohio, sadly that just isn't true anymore.

Not a lot of pumpkin taste in this medium bodied pale ale, but it is a thirst quenching, above average brew worth seeking out.

"Brewed with pumpkin and spices." Great bronze color and sweet aroma - kind of went downhill from there. Thin body, without much distinction in flavor throughout. Strong bittersweet finish, which was the primary characteristic.