Lantern Lighter
Abomination Brewing Company

 

Hoppy Hallowe'en! I CAN't express how saddened I am not to be passing out on my porch tonight. I mean, passing out CANdy & CANs of Old MKE & Old MKE Light while dressed in an Old MKE CAN costume! CANtactless trick or treating was not in my repertoire until it was too late. 8=( My block was always historically lightly-attended anyway so it is not a huge deal, but I like to honor my late-Pops, for whom it was a HUGE deal with kids making a trip across the city to indulge in his generosity. 8=( The CANQuest (tm) raises this one in his memory!

From the CAN: "Lantern Lighter Pumpkin Milkshake Triple India Pale Ale"; "Triple India Pale Ale brewed with lactose, vanilla beans & pumpkin. Double dry hopped with Citra & Mosaic."; "Art by Sam Heimer".

I did some in-CAN agiCANtion before Crack!ing open the vent just to slightly shake up any dormant spooks that may have been laying in wait for me. I followed up with an aggro Glug into the awaiting glass to ensure full spookiness from this beer. I was met at the darkened doorway by two-plus fingers of foamy, soapy, rocky, eggshell-white head with modest retention, slinking away to coat the walls of my glass with sticky lacing. Color was an evilly hazy Golden-Amber (SRM = > 5, < 7). Nose was really interesting in that it was difficult to tell where the Mosaic hops ended & the vanilla beCAN! This Frankenstein monster came to life with a tropical fruitiness that was enhanced (I never envisioned this as possible) by the inCANsion of vanilla. Mmm. Mouthfeel was eerily medium-to-full, not quite creamy, but definitely haunting! The taste was as I feared - Citra & Mosaic were not a harmonious couple, Citra being a loud, clanking presence as Mosaic simply sat back, trying mightily to entertain all visitors with her sweet presence. 8=( I partook of her many offerings, but Citra just kept muscling in, making everyone unCANfortable to the point that we gave up and went to CANother party. Finish was semi-dry, but as we left, it beCAN to rain & we got wet! YMMV.

poured from a 16oz can - not dated

Abomination Lantern Lighter filled my tulip glass with a cloudy light amber body and atop sat a 1-finger bubbly white head. Very light “hit-and-miss” lacing stuck to the sides of the glass. The nose was nice and strong dominated by citrus; grapefruit, mandarin orange, and faint peach and pear. The flavor copied the aroma with some added sweetness from the lactose, and the flavor of vanilla. The vanilla and lactose help balance the bitterness of the dry hops. Medium carbonation is present with a high-medium body that is a little sticky on the lips.

Overall, a flavorful New England IPA that is an easy drinker considering it has a 10.3 abv.

 

Undated can into pint glass. Pours a hazy light amber with a brief off-white head. Initial impression is creamy, juicy citrus (candied grapefruit, orange, mango, and lemon) with a hint of pine resin and vanilla - no pumpkin, thank god. Mouthfeel is medium thick and sticky, with just enough carbonation to enhance the hops. Alcohol is dangerously well hidden. Finish is sweet but not cloying.
This beer wants to be sweet, but isn't. It wants to be boozy, but it isn't (at least not overtly). This beer wants to be good, and it is!

 

 

On tap at Mule Bar

 

Poured into a tulip.
The appearance was a burnt orange color with a thin valley forming white foamy head. Left some concave lace lingering on the sides of the glass.
The aroma definitely leaned more TIPA as more of the Citra and Mosaic hops showed their strength over the pumpkin whiffs. I'd say it really took a good deal opening up to show me the pumpkin however that lactose/creaminess did punch it's way through to be in front of the pumpkin here.
The flavor, once again, copied the aroma with the hops and lactose in front and balancing quite nicely. And the pumpkin remains just an afterthought in this department. The aftertaste leaned towards a brisk citrusy, grassy and piney creaminess.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a fair sipping quality about it. Some harsh qualities of Citra hops become a touch invasive but not burdensome. Nice finish of grassy to citrusy hoppiness.
Overall, there's pumpkin in this? Whoah, where? Somewhat, it's more TIPA than pumpkin ale in which well, I didn't mind, and could see myself coming back to.

Tastes of pumpkin and vanilla. The lactose really made the pumpkin taste very creamy and the alcohol was well hidden which is a bit dangerous but still a delicious beer.

Can artwork is what caught my eye. Glad that I bought it. Pours a golden yellow color with a nice foamy head. Citrus aroma and taste. Didn't get any pumpkin though. Great mouth feel with no noticeable bitterness. First beer from Abomination. Will have to look for others.

16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned in 10/2019. Pours very hazy deep golden amber color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky off white head with amazing retention, that reduces to a large cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Amazing appearance. Aromas of huge pumpkin, mandarin orange juice, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, blueberry, gooseberry, citrus peel/zest, wood, peppercorn, pine, vanilla, cream, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, biscuit, light honey/toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical hops, lactose, vanilla, pumpkin, and bready malt notes; with big strength. Taste of huge pumpkin, mandarin orange juice, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, blueberry, gooseberry, citrus peel/zest, wood, peppercorn, pine, vanilla, cream, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, biscuit, light honey/toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Light pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of pumpkin, mandarin orange juice, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, blueberry, gooseberry, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, vanilla, cream, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, biscuit, light honey/toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops, lactose, vanilla, pumpkin, and bready malt flavors; with a fantastic malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready/grainy, fairly sticky, and lightly resinous/rindy mouthfeel that is fantastic. Mild increasing warmth of 10.31% after the finish. Overall this is an incredible milkshake NETIPA. All around incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops, lactose, vanilla, pumpkin, and bready malt flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to drink for the big ABV, with the mildly bitter/resinous/drying finish. Fantastic soft feel. Well attenuated, and not overly sweet/heavy for the ABV. Amazing Citra/Mosaic profile. Extremely juicy, vibrant, and lightly dank/earthy hops; with a nice lactose, vanilla, and wheat/oat/malt backbone. Light residual sweetness with lingering resin dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and outstanding spot on style example. Loved the hop profile as expected.

 

Amazing!! didn't really taste the pumpkin but it was so good it became a "who cares" moment. Perfect milkshake IPA