Scenic Hollow Pumpkin Ale
Scenic Brewing Co.

Looking at the label now on their shelf! Can't wait for fall again! By far one of the best pumpkin ales I've had in a long time.

12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, best before 4/2017. Pours hazy reddish orange/copper color with a 2 finger fairly dense and fluffy light khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Nice dense soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a good amount of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of pumpkin, mace, ginger, nutmeg, peppercorn, clove, cinnamon, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, herbal, light plum/apple, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good complexity and solid balance of spices, dark/bready malt, and light fruity yeast notes; with solid strength. Taste of big pumpkin, mace, ginger, nutmeg, peppercorn, clove, cinnamon, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, herbal, light plum/apple, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Light herbal hop and spice bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of pumpkin, mace, ginger, nutmeg, peppercorn, clove, cinnamon, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, herbal, and yeast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Nice complexity, robustness, and solid balance of spices, dark/bready malt, and light fruity yeast flavors; with a nice malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light dryness from bitter/spiciness as well. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready, and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is nice. Zero warming alcohol for 7.3%. Overall this is a nice pumpkin ale. All around good complexity, robustness, and solid balance of spices, dark/bready malt, and light fruity yeast flavors; very smooth and easy to drink. A bit overdone on the spices. The ginger, peppercorn, and mace being the most dominate; it felt very off balance with the lighter cinnamon presence. A bit pungent/overpowering, but not offensive. A bit over carbonated, but still a nicely enjoyable offering all around.