Samuel Adams 'Harvest Pumpkin' Ale. 5.7% abv. 14 IBU. Ruby color with thick cream-colored head. Good retention, nice lacing. Aromatic nose of pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg. Front taste of light roasted malt, caramel, cloves, ginger on the back. Aftertaste is where the pumpkin flavor pops, along with nutmeg and distant cinnamon. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, creamy, smooth.
This is an excellent pumpkin beer, another solid seasonal brew from Samuel Adams. The pumpkin taste is present throughout, from nose to final sip. The aroma promises a rich veggie-pumpkin taste with a tall mix of spices and the taste delivers, something that many aromatic beers do not follow through on. Both the aroma and taste improve as the temp drops, which is always a delight.
This is not the absolute best pumpkin beer (that honor goes to Dogfish Head), but it is toward the top end, especially considering that most pumpkin beers fail at every level. Highly recommended, particularly within season.
From the brewery:
"Real pumpkin & warming spices like ginger, cinnamon & nutmeg give this brew a smooth, hearty, and inviting character perfect for the crisper days of fall."
[source: samueladams.com]
"Early New England colonists were nothing if not resourceful. Lacking traditional malts, they added pumpkin to their brews, and the first pumpkin ales were born. Our adaptation uses a blend of caramel and roasted malts along with real pumpkin to create a rich depth of flavor and unmistakable characters. Cheers!"
[source: bottle]
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