Out Of Your Gourd Pumpkin Porter
Redhook Brewlab

12oz stubby bottle. Brought to my friend Jack's house at a very memorable Halloween party....

...I wish the beer was half as memorable. Dark brown, smells like brown sugar and cinnamon, tastes like an overly spiced pale ale. Too much hops, too much spice

 

 

 

One of the better pumpkin seasonals I’ve tried. Dark and nutty, nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkin pie, chocolate and coffee. Rich, full taste, with a short nutty finish.

 

 

Dark brownish red, darker and slightly more opaque I think than Blackhook. Rich golden brown head, thin and fizzy at first but mellowing to a fine layer of creamy film, with decent, heavy lacing. It smells like a warm Coke or Pepsi with a touch of pumpkin spice. Taste is roastier and more robust than a soft drink. However, a bit of that cola flavor is still there. Could definitely be more from the species than anything else. It’s not quite either smoky or earthy, but would be almost meaty were it not for the subtle but delicious pumpkin and spice qualities (clove, cinnamon, perhaps a little else). Aftertaste is not quite peppery due to the added spices, but it is close. Great balance, not too much pumpkin, and a better porter than the Blackhook, I’d say. Full-bodied, thick, and brothy, with velvety but fine prickly carbonation, from start to finish. A bit of heat just behind the spices and astringency. Not bad for less than 6% ABV.

 

I'm surprised that I like this pumpkin porter. Call me basic.

 

This is a good pumpkin brew, but lets start with the bottle first... Ugh! Come on Red Hook, appearance is everything. It looks like a medicine bottle, or a bottle of molasses, not beer. Otherwise, the brew,"Out of Your Gourd Pumpkin Porter" is good for a pumkin beer and a porter. It pours a dark brown color with a healthy head. Little to no lacing. Its got a mild porter aroma and taste. I definitely taste the pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. I think its the ginger flavor that masks some of the more traditionally rich porter characteristics. The taste finishes with the maple syrup flavor, but not too sweet. Although I never saw much lacing or bubbles, the feel was that of a mild, fizzy stout and enjoyable. Overall, I'd say this is a smooth, mild-moderate full-bodied, porter with really good holiday spice flavors. Very drinkable and it goes well with any Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah meal. Good job Red Hook (just find a more attractive bottle!)!

 

From a 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint glass. “Pitch brown” with no light penetration. Thin whitish head quickly fades. Nose of toasted malts and vague spice along with something reminiscent of pumpkin rind. Taste is similar, with burnt toast and charred malt up front with a definite pumpkin-y flavor mixed in along with complementary spices (not really getting anything specific, except maybe some cinnamon). Mouth is OK but a bit thin for style. Overall an interesting twist on a seasonal porter. Would try again.

 

 

 

 

 

I really liked this one. Good taste, nice and dark with a thick tan head. Smelled good. Right amount of carbonation.