The Tater Ale
Moon River Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at the brewery in an Nonic pint with a sugared and spiced rim.
Poured a dark copper with a thin, quickly disappearing head. Minimal carbonation, slightly sweet, very mild hop taste with overtones of sweet potato.

Not sure about some of the other comments here, because this is neither a pumpkin ale or an ESB-it was sweet potato, as described, and was quite satisfying. This would be a nice session ale-an attribute I would not ascribe to most pumpkin ales I've had.

 

 

 

 

On-tap at the brewery. Poured into a Pint Glass sans the spiced rimmer they usually add.

Pours a dark orange-copper with a thin white head that quickly dissipates. Mild aromas of toasted English malt, caramel, Pumpkin Pie spices, and just a bit of sweet potato. Reminiscent of a Sweet Potato Pie, but not as potent as I'd hoped. Taste is spot-on with the nose, basically a simple English Bitter with a bit of sweet potato and pie spices. Mouthfeel is a bit water, with a medium-thin body and good carbonation. Overall not the greatest "Fall" brew in the world, but I always stop by Moon River and have one when the weather changes. Good for what it is and where it is.

are we sure there is pumpkin in this one?

no head on it and the color is a watery copper

the sweet potato aroma is distinctly discernible, as is honey and cinnamon

it's an acceptable ESB, with a little toast to it (perhaps from vienna malts or perhaps from the baking which likely befell the potatoes before mashing). spices up front before it gets dry and a little grainy with a watery finish

missing the sweetness i want in my bitter

Served as part of their 4oz sampler tray.

The Aroma was non existent. Medium copper in color. No head would form. Possibly from a dirty glass? Taste is pretty bland. Some sweetness from unfermented sugars. Some yeast character comes through. Most of the mouthfeel hits about mid-tongue. This one just wasn't the good from the taster. I would probably get a full one from the bar with the optional spicing for a better experience.

Had this beer on tap at the brewpub. I'm pretty sure this is a fall seasonal, but its still on the brewery web site as being available in January, so perhaps that is wrong. The other confusing thing about this beer is its style. The brewery claims this as an English mild, but brewed with sweet potato. They claim empatically that its not a pumpkin ale since there is no spice in it. I wanted to classify it as a fruit/vegetable beer but apparently that category is being removed from the site.ReallyI think it is most like a pumpkin ale- without the pumpkin. In the south the pumpkin and the sweet potato are pretty interchangeable as pie filling, and the effect on a beer is about the same as well. Feel free to reclassify it if everyone decides it belongs elsewhere. The pumpkin pie spice (and crushed pumpkin seeds with sugar) are available at the brewery as a rimmer on the pint glass. I think its better without. The beer itself pours amber with no head with an appetizing smell of baked sweet potato and spice. The taste is a little more subdued, but there is a fresh pumpkin (sweetpotato) taste and that familiar pumpkin creaminess/soapiness in the mouthfeel. Other than that, its a little thin but strangely appealing. I had a couple while I was there in October. Interesting effort and nice to see this sort of experimentation from a small brewery.