Hipp-O-Lantern Imperial Pumpkin Ale
River Horse Brewing Co.

Hipp-O-Lantern Imperial Pumpkin AleHipp-O-Lantern Imperial Pumpkin Ale
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From:
River Horse Brewing Co.
 
New Jersey, United States
Style:
Pumpkin Beer
Ranked #141
ABV:
8.1%
Score:
85
Ranked #21,452
Avg:
3.76 | pDev: 12.5%
Reviews:
137
Ratings:
486
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 31, 2023
Added:
Jul 18, 2010
Wants:
  21
Gots:
  92
A festive Ale brewed with pumpkin and molasses. A variety of hand-crushed, whole spices set up an impressive aroma and well balanced taste.
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Photo of klarcbarr3
Reviewed by klarcbarr3 from Michigan

3.86/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L = A sunny coppery body with evident pumpkin pulp and a two inch off-white head greets the eyes with surprising lacing and good retention from a 12 oz. bottle poured into a pint glass.
S = Subdued cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. I was expecting a stronger nose.
T = Cinnamon, nutmeg, caramelized sugar, vanilla and pumpkin mash. Sweet, Restrained on the spicing.
F = The mouthfeel is nice. I detect the fullness without stickiness of the pumpkin pulp, There is a refreshing quality and clean feel to the actual water.
O = I enjoyed this brew when I lived in New Jersey, brought a six pack back to Michigan during an October trip back from my birth state. It seems to lack the oomph on the spicing that I recall. The 8.1% ABV is not readily apparent. It is still pleasant... I will try to hang on to the three bottles I have left, and see if they age well by August 2024 (most pumpkin beers improve when cellared). Still a keeper.
Dec 31, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by db9000

Apr 10, 2023
Photo of Dodo2step
Reviewed by Dodo2step from Pennsylvania

3.56/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A- suspended copper and reddish highlights. 3 finger head that hangs around fairly long. coated lacing on the pint.

S- clove and toffee malts

F- clove and pumpkin spice. toffee malt does come through on back end.

M- chewy yet smooth goes down with ease.

O- a nice pumpkin but i enjoy others this i just above average for me. decent for the newbie.
May 07, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by jvgoor3786 from Arkansas

Jan 20, 2022
Photo of orcrist_cleaver
Reviewed by orcrist_cleaver from New York

3.73/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Stormy looking amber-bronze. Large, rocky white head. Aroma isn't overbaked, and rather well rounded. Spice combo is balanced with cinnamon sticks and crystallized ginger+molasses giving a slight rum quality...still sails a pie tact with pumpkin puree and good sweetness. Feel is full, smooth with a drying spice...cinnamon and crust followed by a peppery heat. Pretty spice forward flavor, but it's a big beer with a lot of molasses/malt sugars to give that pumpkin puree some added depth.
Oct 26, 2021
Photo of Stevosps
Reviewed by Stevosps from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
When poured from a bottle,there is a 1/4 “ lacy head. You get a spicy aroma as you see a cloudy amber appearance. There is a spice sweet flavor that gives a hint of pumpkin.
It is very smooth as it hits the pallet. A good fall beer!! At 8.1ABV it is a good start to a fall evening!!
Oct 14, 2021
Photo of maddogruss
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Based on notes from 2011. Had this on draft.
A: pours a red amber body with small white head with good retention and lacing.
S: sweet, toffee smell with strong clove smell and cinnamon undertones
T: sweet, subtle caramel; alcohol is pretty evident; clove taste is pretty strong with some nutmeg notes as well
M: medium bodied and pretty refreshing; ok overall
D: ok mouthfeel and taste combo; alcohol is a bit overbearing; ok overall; was hoping for a more balanced beer
Nov 25, 2020
 
Rated: 3.88 by chrishiker1409 from New York

Oct 22, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by saymike32 from New Jersey

Sep 28, 2020
 
Rated: 3.67 by Gmartin75 from Pennsylvania

Sep 23, 2019
 
Rated: 3.52 by Jhfinn from New York

Jan 07, 2019
Photo of HoppingMadMonk
Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Medium bodied with average amount of carbonation.
Aroma is pumpkin and squash first followed by a mild amount of spice .malt and some yeast also shows up
. The taste is again pumpkin and squash forward, it is very obvious yet not overpowering . The spice is there but more as a back up dancer, not the main star. Some malt shows up in the aftertaste.
This is a beer that doesn't rely on a spice overload to create the pie flavor. Some may not like all the pumpkin but I really enjoyed it and liked that the spice was subsued
Oct 20, 2018
 
Rated: 4.11 by Lembeh from New York

Oct 19, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by chiefz1 from New York

Oct 13, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by MouldyCrow from Pennsylvania

Sep 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.65 by Csjacko from Pennsylvania

Sep 20, 2018
Photo of Vetbidder
Reviewed by Vetbidder from Pennsylvania

3.79/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pretty nice look, opaque and amber with a staying offwhite head. Sweet scent on the nose with some pumpkin and a bit of spice. Pretty decent flavor, slightly bitter and then sweet with slight spice on the finish. A bit of alcohol perceived on this one. More medium than thin with a creamy texture. All in all pretty decent for a pumpkin ale.
Sep 15, 2018
 
Rated: 5 by Tcl1075 from New Jersey

Apr 23, 2018
 
Rated: 3.25 by DbbC from Illinois

Oct 27, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by malprep from Pennsylvania

Oct 18, 2017
Hipp-O-Lantern Imperial Pumpkin Ale from River Horse Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 486 ratings