Newport Storm - Gloria (Cyclone Series)
Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.

 

 

 

Purchased in October 2008 in Newport, RI. Drank Aug 22, 2010 on a cool, dark, stormy afternoon along side a bowl of home made bean soup.

This one sat in my fridge for at least a year before drinking it. It pours a bright copper color with a frothy white head, fading fast.

Aroma is of seasonal spice, meaty gourds and whiskey.

Soft mouthfeel with low carbonation after two years in storage, but not horrible. In fact it's rather drinkable, despite the higher alcohol. Really getting a whiskey/bourbon flavor on the tongue and up the nose as I drink it. Maybe even a little peat. Unusual, and pleasant.

I am not a huge fan of the pumpkin beers, and I bought this one by accident. I wanted the Newport Storm Ofest, but the packaging between the two is nearly identical! As you can see, it took me two years to finish the 6pack!

But anyway, I would recommend this one to those that really love this style, as it is different and a cut above the others.

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into my standard shaker glass. The ale appears a clear deep apricot color with about two fingers of fluffy off white foam. It takes a minute or two for the lace to settle down to a thin layer. Nose and flavor are of spices such as nutmeg cinnamon, allspice, as well as notes of bready, sweet malt, a touch of roasted pumpkin meat, and lightly toasted grain. A notch better than medium in body with adequate carbonation. Give it a try if you happen upon a bottle.

12oz bottle served in a pint glass
In the glass this beer is bright copper color with a substantial off white head it laces nicely. The nose is very full pretty grainy and provides a good base for the spice which is typical for a pumpkin ale, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice. For the taste, I'm a little disappointed. I get so much grain in the nose yet it seems lacking on the tongue. The spices are a bit too heavy for my liking and the finish seems a bit too sweet. The mouthfeel is a little too light also and a bit slick not bad but I've had better pumpkin ales. Drinkability is ok, while as I've said earlier I have had better examples of the style this is definitely middle of the pack. In season it would probably be more appealing but it really doesn't excite as much in the spring. Just got back from a trip to Newport and was pleased to sample some local beer and bring some back with me, it isn't world class stuff but it is nice to drink some real local beer every now and then.

Appearance: Pours a clear, amber body capped by an inch of creamy, off-white head.

Smell: Sweetish honey and pumpkin meat aroma with some slight toastiness in the background.

Taste: Sweet honey-tasting maltiness with a reasonable pumpkin flavor and pumpkin pie spice character. A touch toasty. Light, earthy bitterness. Still ends with a toothsome sweetness, though.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: A mighty fine pumpkin ale. Then again, I'm particularly pro-pumpkin ale, especially during the cool, fall foliaged Autumn months.

Thanks to Wasatch for this one!

Freshness label not notched.

Pours hazed orange amber with a thin slightly off-white head that slowly becomes a lasting patch.

The smell is light-to-medium spicing - nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, a hint of ginger. There's a caramel backbone that is easily detectable in the back.

The taste of ginger comes out in the taste, but not overwhelming. Same true for the other spices - blended together (with some clove?) The alcohol is a bit raw at first, but settles back quickly enough. Same is true of a slight metallic tinge that is noticeable in the first sip or two. A firm caramelish backing gives it a "beer" taste. The spicing is a bit washed out, but there is a sense of pumpkin-pie-ish left in the aftertaste. It is sweet, with a sweet finish.

It's a bit swishy/watery, but not too thin. It has a surprising creamy smoothness despite the somewhat noticeable alcohol.

It does have a nice malty, caramelish maltiness that is not over-done. Still, it doesn't remind me of pumpkin pie, or is as rich, as much as some other examples of the style. While I'm not looking for overly spiced, this could do with a bit more "pumpkin pie" resemblance to fit the style. On the other hand, it is pretty drinkable for the style and noticeable abv. It's clearly on the sweet side of things (a bit too much, for me, personally.) Mixed feelings about this one.

Still - glad I had the chance to try it - Thanks again, John!

From a 12 ounce bottle Cyclone series - Pours orange/yellow, very low in carbonation. Light to no lacing. Smells of nutmeg and cinnamon. First taste is all spice with cloves hitting first followed by nutmeg and cinnamon. Pretty pumpkin like, not bad not great.

12oz received from UberTrader Wasatch.. enjoyed tonight while soaking beer labels and cursing quite a bit. Poured into my shaped Sam Adams glass.

Nice 2 finger head .. splotchy lacing.. brew is slightly hazy sunset orange.

Aroma is like a lightly spiced pumpkin pie.. I was honestly expecting more spice.. but was happy to see this was in the moderate range..

Flavor mirrors the aroma perfectly .. My mind/palate may be playing tricks on me.. but I am also getting a little doughy/biscuity flavor... really surprisingly tasty. Subtle caramel as it warms.. no hops to speak of, or they may be getting lost on my feeble palate. Not overly sweet, and the spices play well with the remaining sugars. Viscosity is light for a 7% brew and that is OK.. it makes it more drinkable for sure.

I typically don't enjoy spiced beers.. especially ones with cinnamon and nutmeg and ginger.. ETC... But Gloria is really a pretty good brew.

Big thanks to John for the righteous trade once again.

I got this bottle in a trade with Wasatch. Thanks John!

A nice amber gold pour with a 2 finger head of foam. Itshrinks to a fine but solid layer and there is some lacing.

It sure does have a nice pumpkin smell, just like a fresh baked pie coming out of the oven, along with some cinnamon and nutmeg and a touch of caramel.

The taste does not disappoint. Delicious notes of pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a little bit of caramel malt. I'm not a big fan of the style and others that I've tried...the pumpkin flavour seemed contrived but not this one. It tastes genuine to me. Very nice.

Mouthfeel is medium and the carbonation, though it looks spritzy in the glass, is at most medium as well.

Bottom line: Tasty yet smooth, drinkable,(7.3%abv, eh? well hidden) this is just a fun beer to drink. I recommend it.

Thanks to fo5s for beering this one forward.

12oz. bottle into pint glass.

Pours a nice clear orange/amber color with a finger high light creme colored head. Smells of fresh pumpkin(no suprises) and pumpkin spices. Tastes like fresh, sweet pumpkin, but not too sweet to be cloying. Cinnamon/nutmeg after. Mouthfeel is light to medium body, very smooth, well balanced. Over 7% alc.? Couldn't tell at all. Drinkability is good. One glass went down fast.

Only had one bottle though. Will be looking for this one again. One of the best pumpkins, IMO.

An orange/copper colored beer with a slight haze. Has a small white head that disappears quickly.The aroma is sweet and spicy with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon. A little prickly on the tip of the tongue. The taste starts on a sweet pumpkin note with the spicy notes following it down your throat. I found this very drinkable yet I could see how some may find it too sweet. IMHO a good second place to DFH Punk'in.

Thanks goes out to TheManiacalOne for this brew.

Pours a nice clean/clear golden orange color, nice carbonation, nice little creamy tannish head, which leaves some nice sticky lacing. The nose is malty, nice touch of pumpkin, cinnimon, nutmeg, and caramel. The taste is slightly sweet, good dose of malts, nice tones of pumpkin/cinnimon/nutmeg, and caramel. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a very tasty Pumpkin Ale, recommended, thanks Mark.

appearance - Clear orange color, left a ring on the glass, very little lace.

smell - Pumkin, cinnamon, nutmeg.

taste - Real nice taste of pumkin and nutmeg taste. Strong nutmeg taste at the end.

mouthfeel - Light -medium body.

drinkability - I had another pumkin and was turned off. I tried this one and was surprised. It was pretty good. I might look into these more next year, since most of these styles are sold out now.

12ozer bought as a single from Table & Vine, West Springfield, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/4" beige head over the almost clear orangey amber brew. Head quickly goes tight, but retains full coverage, and exhibits average lacing. Aroma is intensely spiced, with underlying pumpkin notes. Taste is actually pretty balanced between spices and pumpkin, and works pretty well. Mouthfeel is smooth, and drinkability is way better than the nose led me to believe. Not a bad pumpkin beer, and for me, that's saying something.

A big “Thank you” goes out to mightyhef for providing me with this beer. Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a bright orange color, with a thin white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is sweet and spicy with pumpkin, cinnamon & nutmeg and a little bit of hops.

T: The taste starts with the style-standard pumpkin flavor and a lot of spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. There’s a good amount of sweetness, but it’s not overdone. The malt character is hearty, but on the thin side for the style. The hops presence is mild. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Very crisp and very smooth, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, finish is very clean.

D: Tasty, goes down very easily, not filling at all, decent kick, very good representation of style, this is definitely one of the best Pumpkin beers that I’ve had. Just like the other Cyclone Series brews, Gloria takes a style, does it well and adds a twist to it.