Blind Pumpkin Tasting

I'm a noob to pumpkin beers and so far I've only had two. They did did pretty poorly in your comparo: Alaskan and Uinta. Out here in southern California, I don't think we can even get the top 10 finishers on your poll, though I could be wrong.

I'll have to console myself with an IPA or BA beer from Firestone, Ballast Point, Green Flash, Russian River, etc...

 

Big hurt don't drink no pumpkin ale.

 

Good to see Southern Tier taking top spots, they easily make my favorite pumpkin beers. About half of these I haven't had, but out of those that I have had, Warlock's my favorite. Found it interesting that the Pumking fell off as the years moved forward. I had a 2012 Pumking around September and did not like it nearly as much as the fresh 2013 batch. Also surprised about Autumn Maple, I always hear great things about it and have considered buying it multiple times.

This does give me some good ISOs, however, as I love my pumpkin beers.

 

One part i do agree with you guys on is that Pumking has been on a downward spiral. 11 was amazing 12 was great and i feel like 13 is just lacking those "crusty" spices and the vanilla is pretty underwhelming as well as having a pretty dry finish.

Awesome tasting though. Any palate fatigue by the end of the night??

Also think its interesting how 11,12 and 13 pumking scored higher than 12 pumpkinator whereas 13 scored highest. Need to get me one of those.

 

Diacetyl is the best part of pumking IMO.
Buttery graham cracker MMMMmmm

I will say i have to be in the mood for pumking to enjoy it. Deff not a hot summer day quencher nor a party drinker, but in front of the fireplace with a blunt cigar, toes all toasty....theres nothing better IMO.

BTW: ISO Pumpkin 2011 + 2012 and Pumpkinator 2013. Please PM me if anyone has em!!

 

Yup, you're right. Was just some of my sarcastic humor. Carry on.

 

The Alaskan and Warlock would have been similarly colored though I'm sure being a TX guy he could figure out which was the Pumpkinator. Not much way around that really.

 

Unfortunate that Lakefront's 25th Anniversary Imperial Pumpkin couldn't be included. Whole Hog is very good, but with the barrel aging adding complexity, Lakefront tops it by a noticeable margin. (I've not tried Pumpkinator.)

Nicely done tasting and report!

 

You need some Good Gourd on that list. lol

 

That's a trippy ass avatar you have!

 

You have lost your mind

 

Yes, the BA version is fantastic, but the regular is usually pretty great, as well. What you are describing sounds like an issue with it and I have heard of different issues that they have had in this past year, just had not heard about anything yet with this beer.

 

The numbers did not lie. Weyerbacher, Hoppin Frog, Southern Tier, and Schlafly beat Good Gourd in the cumulative scores of the tastings we did. This was 2 years ago and people are saying Pumking isn't as good as it used to be, but in 2011, nothing was beating in this beer in the tastings we did. It dominated every blind tasting.

 

A group of friends did a similar thing with 12 beers. PumKing 2013 was the most polarizing and the winner was Blue Moon's Harvest Moon. I am not proud to admit that, but it was rated no lower than the 5th favorite and was actually rated the favorite twice. We ranked each beer, rather than giving out scores and the results varied quite a bit. 25 beers is quite impressive.

 

If the Big Hurt came to my tasting party, he could drink whatever he wanted.

 

No TREAT?

 

Of those in your tasting which I've had this year, ST Pumking and Warlock are head and shoulders above the rest, followed by Whole Hog, DFH Punkin and Brooklyn Post Road.

Whole Hog might be my next beer of the night, but I'm not sure how it will taste after three double IPAs.

 

was it tieton out of Washington?? if so how did you manage to get a cider I cannot get here?? ( sounds awfull but still).
I think my palate and stomach would be seriously sick after that many pumpkin beers!
I think oaked jack needs a few years.. it is one harsh beer!