Gourdless
The Alementary Brewing Co.

 

Decanted from a 16 oz (473 ml) can into Sam Adams, Perfect Pint; canned on October 3, 2019, code BEER, NOT PIE.
A: Pours a initially crystal clear, dark copper color (although gets hazier with the lees) with a no more than half finger, wheat colored head after a hard pour, somewhat more than rim retention but little or no lacing.
S: Aromas of caramel, mocha, cinnamon, and sarsaparilla. Playful and inviting.
T: Semisweet. Flavor profile seems to emphasize the chocolate, fig, and spicier elements and I definitely am getting some nutmeg and cloves in addition to the cinnamon, which is now front and center. Bitterness is more but creates a very nice balance with the malts and spices.
M: Medium bodied with low to moderate effervescence; perhaps the lightest bodied barleywine I have tried, session or no. Perhaps a little tannin?
O: This is a delightful find. I had not contemplated a "session barleywine;" this fits the bill and more. Gorgeous nose, truly apt flavor pallet for Fall, great look. Kudos!

 

A: The beer is rather hazy brown in color. It poured with a quarter finger high off white head that left a narrow collar around the edge of the glass and some delicate wisps of bubbles floating on the surface.
S: Moderate aromas of chai tea spices (e.g., nutmeg and ginger) are present in the nose.
T: The taste is very similar to the smell and is dominated by flavors of nutmeg and ginger spices from the chai tea.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: If I had done a blindfolded taste of this beer, I definitely would have mistook it for a pumpkin ale as it tastes like one that has a heavy dose of pumpkin pie spices.

Serving type: can

Pours a clear solid brown color with a big frothy tan head. A good looking brew overall.

Aroma opens with woody and earthy hops notes. However, this is soon overtaken by the presence of chai tea adjuncts, which in addition impart notes of bubblegum, and, curiously, pumpkin spices; despite the fact that Gourdless, as the name implies, does not use pumpkin. The sweet malt aromas evoke notes of honey and biscuit.

The taste is sweet but well balanced, with notes of woody and earthy hops and fall spices. Medium to full bodied with a gentle carbonation. Soft and chewy biscuity and honey malts run the show and are complimented by flavors of chai tea and pumpkin. The finish has a nice touch of bitterness.

I definitely enjoyed this tasty brew even though it is hard to define style wise. It somehow tastes like a Pumpkin Ale despite the absence of pumpkin and pumpkin spices. The can and brewery website refers to it as a “session” Barleywine. I suppose this fits despite the low ABV.