Southern Tier - Caramel Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale

It's time to squeeze in another pumpkin beer review! Today, I'm putting Southern Tier's Caramel Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale up against the highly scientific Drunken Jackos rating scale.

Before I begin the review, I do want to note that I had previously reviewed the standard Imperial Pumking Ale, giving it a very favorable 4 out of 5 Drunken Jackos. Since that review, I had a bad experience with said beer in a bar in Salem, Massachusetts (of all places!). I had a bad pint - a VERY bad pint - that I ended up sending back. And since that experience, I haven't touched a Pumking since.

Sorry, I didn't have time to set up a spooky beer shot this time, so you only get a bottle pic for reference!

So I was a bit nervy picking up the 4-pack caramel version. But upon cracking the cap, all concerns were immediately dashed!

The beer poured a medium copper color with a quick, thin, fizzy head. I was immediately rewarded with a very fragrant, delicious and sweet caramel note. I don't think I've ever had more scent come from a pumpkin beer before. I sat there for quite a few minutes, just enjoying the pleasant toasty caramel coming from the glass!

On first sip, I got hints of sweet pumpkin, but as expected it quickly blended into delicious caramel across the entire mouth. That same caramel flavor stayed throughout, ending with a dry, almost nutty caramel aftertaste. A really great transition of flavors across the entire sip.

I was quite impressed with the amount of flavor in this beer. Aromatic and full, but never overpowering. This is a really great beer for a cold October night and is absolutely recommended to anyone who even remotely likes caramel. It's a delicious beer, but it's also a sweet treat.

And because of this, Southern Tier's Caramel Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale gets a well-deserved 4.5 out of 5 Drunken Jackos. A real October treat for the mouth AND the nose!

  

Wolf's Ridge Brewing - Pumpkin Spice Daybreak Cream Ale

NINE DAYS into October and not ONE pumpkin beer review!? How could I have let this happen? It's way past time to right this wrong!

Every October, I like to pick up a few six packs of whatever seasonal pumpkin beer is on the local grocer's shelves, bring them home and sample them, and then write a detailed review, based on my highly scientific Drunken Jackos Rating Scale. So let's get to it!

First up is Wolf's Ridge Brewing's Pumpkin Spice Daybreak Cream Ale. This is another small brewery out of Columbus, Ohio, so I'm not sure how far out this one is available.

I initially grabbed this six-pack due to it being a Cream Ale, something new and unique to the usual pumpkin beer market. And on first pour I was a bit surprised by the light golden hue capped off by a classic, thick cream ale head, with only a slight earthy, vegetal note.

On first taste, there was a very creamy and smooth texture with the same nutty, vegetal flavor with a strong dry, vanilla coffee flavor that lingered across the tongue after.

Unfortunately, that coffee aftertaste covered any pumpkin or sweet cinnamon flavor described on the can, and overall felt more like I was drinking a milk stout. 

I really don't think this one hits the October pumpkin target, but the silver lining is that I am going to sit on these for a month or two. I think this will make an excellent beer for Thanksgiving and into early winter.

And because of that, Wolf's Ridge Brewing's Pumpkin Spice Daybreak Cream Ale gets 2 out of 5 Drunken Jackos. This one is still recommended, even if only after the Halloween season!

Tröegs Brewing - Master Of Pumpkins Ale

FIFTEEN DAYS into October and not ONE pumpkin beer review!? How could I have let this happen? It's way past time to right this wrong!

Every October, I like to pick up a few six packs of whatever seasonal pumpkin beer is on the local grocer's shelves, bring them home and sample them, and then write a highly-scientific and accurate review, based on my highly scientific Drunken Jackos Rating Scale. So let's get to it!

First up is Troegs Brewing's Master of Pumpkins. I actually reviewed this 7.5% ABV limited seasonal pumpkin ale a couple of times in years past, but it's a treat to find on the shelf and has always ranked pretty high, so I immediately grabbed a 4-pack for the fridge.

Upon cracking the 16-ounce "tallboy" can open, the beer poured a nice rich copper hue with an earthy, nutty, and slight cinnamon-sweet note, all capped with a firm, foamy head.

On first taste, there was a slightly malty, dry, roasted nut spice flavor. But it was smooth and balanced, not at all overpowering.

As I continued to drink this beer, the flavors opened up a bit, releasing the dry maltiness and leaving a smoother, toasted nut flavor. 

It definitely sits on the opposite side of the pumpkin ale spectrum to the cinnamon-sweet, pumpkin pie-flavored ales. There's no real sweetness here, but it does have a really great earthy flavor (all those Pennsylvania pumpkins!), making this a perfect beer to drink on a chilly October night.

And because this beer really nails that "from the earth" nut flavor and remains very drinkable throughout, Troegs' Master of Pumpkins gets 4 out of 5 Drunken Jackos. This one is highly recommended!

  

Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale

So we're a full week into October and I have yet to review one single seasonal pumpkin beer on my dreaded Drunken Jackos Rating Scale. Time to correct that...

Every October, I grab a few new and different pumpkin beers from the local market and review each on my super highly scientific Drunken Jackos rating scale. More fun than anything, plus I'm always down to sip on a pumpkin beer throughout the Halloween season. So let's get to it.

As I said, I'm always reviewing new pumpkin beers each season. Until today. This one was one of my first beer reviews, and I believe it still holds the highest Jacko rating I've ever given. I have always been a big fan of Dogfish Head's Punkin' Ale. Although in my quest to find something new and different, this one has fallen off a bit and it's been a couple of years since I've had one.

This past week, I was searching the shelves and noticed the Punkin' Ale on the shelf. Only now it was a six pack (up from a 4) and it was in cans (instead of bottles). I decided to give it another go, based on my previous experience, and put it in the cart.

Today, I finally cracked open a can, and... well...

Upon opening the can and on first pour, I noticed the absence of any distinctive aromatic note. I really had to search to find a subtle earthy, vegetal aroma. Although the beer did pour a very nice medium amber hue with a strong, lasting head. It really did look great in the glass.

Unfortunately upon first taste, I actually found it quite muted from the memories of the wonderful nutty, spice flavors from previous years. I really had to search to find a true, distinct flavor. It finally arrived in the aftertaste, leaving a nutty, caramel flavor in the mouth.

Overall, I was quite underwhelmed with this version of Punkin Ale. I'm not sure if anything was changed in moving to a six pack of cans, but it really left me longing for that distinctive earthy, nutty flavor that really set it apart from the other sweet pumpkin beers on the shelves.

It's still drinkable as is, but it really is a shell of its former self, and because of that, (this version) of Dogfish Head's Punkin' Ale gets 2 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

  

Tröegs Brewing - Master Of Pumpkins Ale

Here we are at the last week of October, and I haven't done one single pumpkin beer review on the dreaded Drunken Jackos scale yet. Three full weeks gone by!

Truth be told, I have been battling a lingering head cold for the past couple of weeks, so an accurate review wouldn't have been possible. And I don't want to cheat any brewery out of a fair and accurate review! So after an unfortunate delay, it's finally time to dive in...

First up is Troegs Brewing's Master of Pumpkins. Now I actually reviewed this limited seasonal pumpkin ale back in 2019, but it's a treat to find on the shelf, so I immediately grabbed a 4-pack for the fridge.

This year's beer came in a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans, as opposed to the corked big bottle from a few years prior. Upon cracking it open, the beer poured a nice rich copper hue with an earthy, nutty, and slight cinnamon-sweet note, all capped with a firm, foamy head.

On first taste, there was a slightly malty, dry, roasted nut spice flavor. But it was smooth and balanced, not at all overpowering.

As I continued to drink this beer, the flavors opened up a bit, releasing the dry maltiness and leaving a smoother, toasted nut flavor. 

It definitely sits on the opposite side of the pumpkin ale spectrum to the cinnamon-sweet, pumpkin pie-flavored ales. There's no real sweetness here, but it does have a really great earthy flavor, making this a perfect beer to drink on a chilly October night.

And because this beer really nails that "from the earth" nutflavor and remains very drinkable throughout, Troegs' Master of Pumpkins gets 4 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

I highly recommend this one, especially as we head into the waning days of Autumn. It might not be easy to find on your local store shelf, but getting some would be a welcome October treat.

  

Country Pumpkin Pumpkin Ale - Ithaca Beer Company

We're quickly winding down the days on another festive Halloween season, so I have to get my pumpkin beers in while they are still on the shelves. On my last trip to the local grocery store, the main display is already quickly filling up with beers for that next upcoming holiday...

Ithaca Beer Company's Country Pumpkin Pumpkin Ale was another new one on the shelf that grabbed my attention with bold can art, so into my cart it went!

The beer poured a wonderfully hazy, light copper color and a quick, thick head with only the slightest earthy vegetable note.

I didn't really detect much pumpkin flavor in this one though. It had a very quick hit of sweetness, followed by a dry aftertaste that resonated on the tongue. Overall, it had a thin, acidic flavor that neither favored the sweet pumpkin pie side nor the earthy spice side of most pumpkin beers.

Having said that, Ithaca Beer Company's Country Pumpkin Pumpkin Ale didn't really have a distinct flavor, remaining neutral (just short of watery) throughout, but it was still a drinkable beer so it gets a generous 2-out-of-5 Drunken Jackos.

It's not that this is a bad beer, but there are plenty of other seasonal offerings that bring more to the table. And your mouth. But we are running out of time, so be sure to get to the store and get some while there's still some to get!

  

Paranormal Imperial Pumpkin Ale - Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery

I'm sitting at the Cemetery tonight with Weather Warning alarms going off on my phone and the town's tornado siren blaring loudly.

If this is where it ends for me, I would die a happy haunter going down with a Paranormal Imperial Pumpkin Ale from Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery in my hand...

Leave it up to our neighbors to the north to come up with something so crazy, yet so, so good! This Imperial monster rolls in at a whopping 10% ABV, but don't let that deter you!

The beer pours a nice hazy, rich copper color with a firm, thick head. And the first scent upon pouring is incredible. A wonderful, fragrant combination of a Cinnamon Red Hot candy and an earthy cinnamon stick. And somehow, it gets even better from there.

This is easily one of the most complex pumpkin beers I've ever tried. The smooth, almost creamy beer starts off with a nice sweet pumpkin flavor that somehow rolls into a graham cracker/almost cocoa-like middle, before finishing off with a slightly dry, nutty aftertaste. After the slight nutty flavor subsides, you're left with a wonderful kiss of sweetness to finish off an absolutely delicious pumpkin ale.

And I don't even need to go into the amazing can art. Just be sure to admire it while enjoying what is contained inside.

At this point, it is fairly obvious that Paranormal Imperial Pumpkin Ale from Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery gets a perfect 5-out-of-5 on the Drunken Jackos rating scale. So much flavor in one can and not one note of it is off. This really is one of the best pumpkin ales I have ever tried.

Paranormal Is Weird. But I want more!

If you can find this Canadian masterpiece, PLEASE do yourself a favor and bring it home. You won't regret it!!

The weather warnings have now stopped, the sirens have gone silent, and I'm still alive. So that means I'm headed back out to the local grocery store to see if I can find one more 4-pack of Paranormal...

Enjoy!

  

Working Class Brewery - Grave Digger Pumpkin Ale

One week into October and still no Drunken Jackos pumpkin beer reviews!? What's going on here??

Okay, so one of the long-standing October traditions at Highbury Cemetery is getting out to the local grocery stores, perusing the beer aisles for new and interesting seasonal pumpkin beers, and then bringing them home to face our dreaded Drunken Jackos pumpkin beer rating scale. VERY scientific reviews for all our fellow pumpkin beer fans...

On a recent trip to a local store's beer aisle, I came upon Working Class Brewery's Grave Digger Pumpkin Ale from Cleveland, Ohio. I had never heard of this brewery before, and seeing as they were local, I dropped a six pack in the cart. An absolutely killer label helped seal the deal on this one!

Upon popping the top, I was greeted with a nice, subtle, slightly earthy spice scent. The beer poured smooth with a rich copper color topped with a thick foam head.

It had an unexpectedly creamy and smooth flavor with a nice pumpkin note, finishing with a slightly dry, spicy aftertaste.

Overall, this beer was wonderfully balanced, especially when compared to other pumpkin ales that I have tried. That balance, along with the creamy, smooth flavor make this a standout beer. If you are outside of the immediate Northeast Ohio area, you will probably have difficulty finding it, but is definitely worth seeking out.

Working Class Brewery's Grave Digger Pumpkin Ale scores a 4 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

  

Shipyard Brewing Co. - Smashed Pumpkin

I've been busy trying to get things done in the garage all evening, but I was sure to leave just a little bit of time to enjoy another pumpkin-flavored cold one. So let's fire up the Drunken Jackos rating scale!

Tonight, I'm trying Shipyard Brewing Co.'s Smashed Pumpkin.

One of the first pumpkin beers I had ever reviewed was Shipyard's Pumpkinhead Ale, way back in 2011. It reviewed favorably, and this beer is a bolder extension of that review.

Smashed Pumpkin, which clocks in at an impressive 9.0% ABV, pours a warm copper color with a full, carbonated head. An interesting, sweet pumpkin aroma is released and transfers over to first taste. It's subtle, which helps prevent it for crossing over to the "pumpkin pie" sweetness. That overall subtlety remains until a slightly dry, almost nutty aftertaste lingers at the end.

What really stands out is the smoothness of flavor, especially for a beer at this ABV. It's definitely one that could very easily sneak up on you and leave you with a... smashed pumpkin in the morning. And because of that, Shipyard Brewing Co.'s Smashed Pumpkin gets 3.5 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

This is another recommended pumpkin beer. The subtlety is quite unexpected and is a pleasant surprise, making this quite enjoyable. Seek out the 4-pack of "tall-boy" cans with that great jack-o-lantern face on the label!

Ignite Brewing Co. - Ignite The Jack-O'-Lantern Pumpkin Ale

Eight days into October and not one seasonal pumpkin beer has faced the dreaded Drunken Jackos rating scale!? It's time to put things right around here!!

Ignite The Jack-O'-Lantern

We have scoured the patch,

to find the perfect match.

A bright orange ball,

to light up your fall.

As this pumpkin ale,

will never fall.

To roll in the best season of all.

This review may be a bit skewed, as Ignite Brewing Company's Ignite The Jack-O'-Lantern Pumpkin Ale is brewed literally down the street in Barberton, Ohio. And being that it is one of the area's microbrews, distribution might not make it far outside of Northeast Ohio. But trust me when I say that we are starting this October's Drunken Jackos Rating Scale with a bang.

The first thing to notice is the really cool Headless Horseman linocut-style label art wrapping the tallboy cans. A most worthy offering to the spirit of Halloween, alongside the fun little poem above. Ignite really puts the effort in right from the start.

Upon cracking the can open, you are greeted with a slight earthy scent that slowly subsides into a sweeter note after letting it breath a bit. The beer pours a rich, beautiful dark red copper color with only the slightest head.

The beer starts with a smooth and sweet flavor, but transitions to a more spicy, dry, nutty lasting finish. I really enjoyed the complexity of this one.

Overall, the complex, yet still smooth and rich flavor is quite pleasant and makes for a great, drinkable pumpkin ale that stays away from that overly sweet "pumpkin pie" style of pumpkin beer. And because of that, Ignite Brewing Company's Ignite The Jack-O'-Lantern Pumpkin Ale earns a solid 4 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

The downside of this being the limited availability, but you would have a nice collectible can if you can find it. It is definitely one to seek out and a great beer to start October off with. Cheers!

Millersburg Brewing Co. - Pope's Imperial Pumpkin Ale

We're back with another seasonal pumpkin beer ready to face our dreaded Drunken Jackos rating scale! But this time we have a slight surprise!!

Today's review will not be done by yours truly, but rather an old face familiar in the early days of this blog - my good brother, Scrapes!

It's been a while since he's thrown down some words around here, but he's still an active member of the yard haunt, so I'll be nice and throw him a bone every once in a while.

This particular beer is one that has been on my radar this season, only I hadn't had a chance to get to it yet. I'm quite curious to hear a review on this one, so take it away, Scrapes!!


Brewery: Millersburg Brewing Co. – Millersburg, OH
Brew: Pope’s Imperial Pumpkin – Ale Brewed with Pumpkin & Spices
Cajones: 9.0% ABV
Cost of Entry: 12 oz. can 4 pack: $9.99

Prior to moving into my dorm at Kent State University in 1996, Mom was in charge of outfitting me with all the dorm things I would need such as clean sheets, a shower caddy (?), an ungodly amount of Ramen noodles, and most memorably, a tiny little refrigerator.  

Faced with a wood-grained decal, that fridge has withstood the various stages of my adult life and today it serves handily as my basement beer fridge. Oh, and that little dial inside that controls the temperature got lost during those crazy college days (ok, it was one year, and then I was placed on academic probation), and I believe the fridge is permanently set to “Icelandic,” which I like.  

And so it has become an annual fall tradition, stocking that tiny fridge with a few different pumpkin ales. I snatched up this 4 pack from my local grocer. It’s malty and sweet whether enjoyed from the can or from a glass. I’m not too experienced with describing all the phases and food groups of beer tasting. There is a hint of spice and vanilla, and when I drink it, I smile and usually have another.  

I could compare this to another of my local pumpkin ale favorites, Fat Head’s Brewery’s Spooky Tooth.  Both are sold in 4-packs, and pack a wallop at 8%-9% ABV. I’ve seen Pope’s at numerous Akron-area beer sellers over the past few fall seasons, so if I were to give this beer an availability rating, I would say 8 out of 10.  


Looking the can, we see Wild Rosie, the smiling horse in a jack-o-lantern disguise. What do you know about Millersburg? What I know is that it is smack dab in the middle of Ohio’s Amish/farming community, dotted with rolling hills and undulating corn fields (where are there are no Ramen noodles found for miles). This unique setting lends a little mystique to the brewery and the beer. Pope’s Imperial Pumpkin easily scores a 4.5 out of 5 on the Drunken Jackos scale. 

So there you have it! A bold review by brother Scrapes! And with a rating THAT high, it looks like I'm running out to the local grocery store to score a 4 pack of this immediately!!

  

Tröegs Brewing - Master Of Pumpkins Ale

Another week, another pumpkin beer sampled and ready to face the dreaded Drunken Jackos rating scale!

This week, I'm reviewing a beer that was near the top of my pumpkin beer want list. Troegs Brewing's Master of Pumpkins is a once-a-year limited release, so finding it required more than just simply going to the local grocery store and plucking it off the shelf. Luckily, I was able to find the highly-coveted 4-pack at a local liquor agency.

After giving it a day to chill in my refrigerator, I greedily grabbed a bottle and scampered off to my office to sample my little treasure. I didn't realize that it is recommended to be served in a chalice as opposed to a standard pint glass, so I had to get fancy with a Great Lakes Christmas Ale chalice (although in hindsight, seems a little bit sacrilegious with THAT holiday's title emblazoned on the glass...). I untwisted the wire cap, popped the cork from the 12.7 ounce bottle and poured away...

I was expecting big things from this beer, and Master of Pumpkins did not disappoint. It poured a velvety rich, dark red/amber color with a nice thick head. It gave off a unique, slightly earthy, nutty note with a hint of wood.

Upon first taste, a slight tangy sweetness quickly gave way to a bold, dry malty flavor at the back of the tongue. Something much different to the sea of other pumpkin beers out there.

The only ding was a slight, lingering sour tartness throughout that I didn't care for.

But as I let the beer breathe a bit, the taste actually opened up with a nice sweetness, pushing that sour flavor back a bit. And I was eventually rewarded with a nice clean, dry, semi-sweet pumpkin flavor aftertaste, which was unexpected and pleasant.

Overall, I was really impressed with the complexity of this beer. The flavors changed as it breathed, improving the overall experience. I would give this at least a 4.5 on the scale, but that little bit of sourness brought it back just a bit for me. I'm not sure if it was the clove or the French Saison yeast, but pulling back on it during brewing might make this one of the best pumpkin beers out there.

Still, I really like this beer and how unique it was versus most other "pumpkin pie cinnamon sweet" pumpkin beers out there, so Troegs Brewing's Master of Pumpkins still gets a 4 out of 5 on the Drunken Jackos scale.

I really recommend this one, if you can find it. Just be patient and let it breathe. Give it time to mellow and you will be rewarded.

And yes, I can't end this review without stating the obvious. Every time I type "Master of Pumpkins," I smile because I can only thing of one thing. Cheers to you, Troegs!!

Market Garden Brewery - Franklin Castle Pumpkin Spice Ale

We're just getting started in the October season, but the annual, ever-increasing selections of pumpkin-flavored beers have been on the local grocery shelves for months already.

I'm actually a big fan of all things pumpkin beer, and a few years ago I came up with an idea to rate them all. Starting in October, I'd grab a different beer from the local grocery store shelf, bring it home, pop the top and see how it stacked up.

Thus, the HIGHLY scientific Drunken Jackos Rating Scale was born! Give a quick review of the beer, then give it a rating based on a 1-to-5 Drunken Jackos scale. Simple!

Today, I'm starting with a beer brewed right up the road from me in Cleveland, Ohio. Market Garden Brewery's "Franklin Castle Pumpkin Spice Ale" is a big hit for a few reasons.

First, being a lifelong Cleveland guy, I'm happy they named it after Franklin Castle, the legendary Victorian home reported to be one of the most haunted in Ohio. But winks to the city's haunted history aside, I wanted to pop the top on this one and rate it!

Upon first pour, I was met with a nice sweet, earthy spice note. Not overpowering, yet quite fragrant. It poured a nice rich, dark copper with just a slight foam head.

The beer had a crisp, smooth, sweet cinnamon spice flavor up front, followed by a surprising and different hint of vanilla. The sweetness gave way to a nice smooth, dry caramel aftertaste to round it all out.

I made quick work of this one, and I was really quite impressed. That little hint of vanilla was really quite unexpected, but made for a unique take on the pumpkin ale field. And because of that, Market Garden Brewery's Franklin Castle Pumpkin Spice Ale scores 4 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

This is a really great beer to start the season off. Smooth and flavorful, and easily drinkable.

************

**And as an added bonus, I see that TONIGHT, October 3rd, Market Garden Brewery is holding their 8th Annual Pumpkin Beer Festival!!

From their event page:

Franklin Castle Pumpkin Spice Ale, Franklin Castle aged in rye whiskey barrels--CO2 and on nitro, Pumpkin Giant, and Franklin Castle poured from a pumpkin.

We'll also have a dozen guest pumpkin beers and ciders to round out the offerings.

We will be highlighting a special pumpernickel rye pretzel and sweet potato pie, as well as other fun seasonal dishes.

Corn hole, giant jenga and pumpkin painting will also be available...

Wow, that sound pretty cool!! If you're anywhere near the Cleveland area, it might be worth checking out. Unfortunately, I'm booked solid already so I'll be drinking my Franklin Castle from the couch...

  

Arcadia Ales - Jaw-Jacker

Time for another seasonal pumpkin beer to face the dreaded Drunken Jackos rating scale! This time, it's Kalamazoo, Michigan's Arcadia Ales and their Jaw-Jacker Spiced Amber Ale.

I know in order for a beer to be reviewed here it has to be a pumpkin beer, but in the case of Jaw-Jacker, we'll make an exception. That's because Jaw-Jacker actually has NO pumpkin in it. Instead, it uses a mix of cinnamon, all-spice and nutmeg to simulate a pumpkin pie flavor. Pretty crafty. And it works well, too.

Jaw-Jacker is actually a tale of two beers. First, the light amber beer poured with a nice thick head and plenty of bubbly carbonation. It also emitted a nice, subtle pumpkin spice note.

The first taste had dry malt undertones with an equally dry, caramel finish. It almost reminded me of a nut brown ale. It was okay overall, and headed to a 3 out of 5 rating.

But then a lucky stroke of magic happened. After letting the beer sit for a few minutes, it transformed! That dryness went away and was replaced with a very clean and smooth ale. The cinnamon, which was absent upon first taste, suddenly showed up and took the overall flavor back toward a traditional, sweeter pumpkin ale. I couldn't believe how much smoother it tasted after letting the beer breathe. I was quite impressed.

So after letting this one sit and open up, I really enjoyed Jaw-Jacker. And with that simple act, the beer improved nicely overall and upgraded to a rating of  3.5 out of 5 Drunken Jackos. Another interesting beer that is recommended during the fall pumpkin season if you can find it.

  

Masthead Brewing Co. - Haunted Hayride Pumpkin Ale

We're now into the second week in October and there's yet to be a new pumpkin beer review!?

Time to change that! The pumpkin beers are again out in force and it's time to once again rate a few in my highly scientific Drunken Jackos rating scale. Every Halloween season, I grab any new pumpkin beer that hasn't been rated in previous seasons, pop the cap and see how it stacks up.

First up is Masthead Brewing Co.'s "Haunted Hayride Pumpkin Ale." This one is brewed right up the road in Cleveland and was available at my local grocery store.

Right off the bat, I knew I was in for something good. The 7.3% ABV beer poured a dense, dark copper color with a slight foam head from the tall can and gave off a wonderful, not-too-intense cinnamon pumpkin spice note. 

Upon first taste, I got a nice, subtle pumpkin spice up front. It smoothed out in the middle with a light hint of ginger and finished with the slightest earthy, malt and nutmeg aftertaste.

This beer was smooth, balanced and really delicious all around and is highly recommended for the October season. And because of that great balance of smooth fragrance and taste, Masthead Brewing Co.'s "Haunted Hayride Pumpkin Ale" scores a 4-out-of-5 Drunken Jackos!

This really is one of the better pumpkin beers that I have tasted and was the perfect beer to get the Drunken Jackos scale started off strong. If you can find it on the shelf, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. Cheers!

  

New Holland Brewing - Ichabod Pumpkin Ale

In between freakouts over how much I still have to do for the big night, I still find a little time to stop and enjoy a cold seasonal beverage or two. And I still look forward to putting each one up against my highly scientific Drunken Jackos rating scale!! So let's get to it!!

Up next is New Holland Brewing's Ichabod Pumpkin Ale. After stumbling at the start of this October (habanero and pumpkin??), I was excited to get some delicious pumpkin ales tested. And the Ichabod Pumpkin Ale didn't disappoint!

Upon first pour, I noticed the nice vivid copper orange color and slight head. This beer gives off an immediate, sweet cinnamon/pumpkin pie note, and that same sweetness continues through to the taste. That sweetness is nicely tempered with a slightly dry and malty nutmeg aftertaste. It has a nice complexity in the range of flavor and maintains a smoothness all the way through.

And because of that wonderfully complex balance between cinnamon sweetness and malty nuttiness (all while maintaining its smoothness), New Holland Brewing's Ichabod Pumpkin Ale receives 3.5 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

This beer has been on my local grocery store shelf for a couple of years now, and I'm sorry I didn't pick this one up sooner. I tore through the entire six pack pretty quickly and plan on getting back to the store and picking up some more before the last of the pumpkin beers disappear, only to be replaced with those dreaded Christmas Ales...

I highly recommend this one and suggest a six pack of your own if you can still find it! Cheers!

Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. - Pumpkin Ale

Time for another pumpkin beer to face the dreaded Drunken Jackos rating scale!

Up next is Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.'s Pumpkin Ale. Yes, this one is LITERALLY brewed just around the corner from the cemetery, but this was my first chance to try this seasonal beer.

Upon first pour I noticed the hazy, light copper color and a nice thick, creamy head not usually found in other pumpkin beers. It had a nice sweet pumpkin note due to the inclusion of honey into the brew.

The flavor was rather light yet creamy, with hints of pumpkin and a smooth sweetness of honey, but as I continued to drink it, it began to give off a somewhat earthy spice scent.

The beer went down smooth all the way through, and the transition from sweet pumpkin to earthy spice note was an unexpected surprise. I quickly went through the entire four-pack this weekend and definitely plan on going back to grab another this Halloween season.

And because of that light, sweet, creamy smooth pumpkin drinkability, Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.'s Pumpkin Ale receives 3.5 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

I'm not sure about availability outside of the Northeast Ohio area, but if you can find it, a four pack would be well worth the price! Cheers!

  

New Belgium - Voodoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin

The pumpkin beers are out in force and it's time to once again rate a few in my highly scientific Drunken Jackos rating scale. Every Halloween season, I grab any new pumpkin beer that hasn't been rated in previous seasons, pop the cap and see how it stacks up.

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin is their limited, seasonal pumpkin release in their Voodoo Ranger lineup. It's "Pumpkin Ale featuring cinnamon and habanero chili peppers for just the right amount of heat."

Which sounded very interesting and led me to pick this up to start off the pumpkin beer season. I was surprised at the light copper hue upon pouring, but very impressed with the intense sweet cinnamon spice note.

Unfortunately for me, things went a bit downhill from there. There was only the faintest hint of pumpkin on first taste. That sweet cinnamon spice flavor was there, but it was quickly overpowered by the taste of the habanero pepper. The pepper flavor was very present at the back of the tongue and throat, and it ended up leaving a rather unpleasant aftertaste that lingered down the back of my throat long after I decided that this beer wasn't for me.

I guess I'm a "pumpkin pie" pumpkin beer purist, and although I was excited to try something bold and different, habanero pepper-infused pumpkin beer just wasn't it. 

I still recommend giving it a try if you want to try something different, but this one just wasn't for me. And because of that throaty habanero burn, New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin gets 1 out of 5 Drunken Jackos.

 

Season Of The Pumpkin Ales

Each year, the much-anticipated pumpkin beers seem to start appearing on our local grocery store shelves a bit earlier. This year, it was mid-August...

As a self-confessed beer afficionado (snob), I have a rigid rule about my pumpkin beers in that I absolutely will not begin drinking any before September 1. The delicious pumpkin, cinnamon and spice flavors just don't taste right until you sip them on a cool evening, evoking thoughts of the crispness of the approaching Fall season.

So as soon as the calendar switched to September, I could hold out no longer and made my way to the waiting store shelves full of new and classic pumpkin beers. I perused the ever-growing selection to choose from, making mental notes on which beers have yet to face our annual "Drunken Jackos Rating Scale," a HIGHLY scientific pumpkin beer review and ranking system.

I've had many a pumpkin beer face the Drunken Jackos Rating Scale throughout the years, but one of my all-time favorites continues to be Dogfish Head's Punkin Ale. So it was the obvious choice to initiate this year's pumpkin beer season. Upon it's original review, Punkin Ale received an outstanding "4.5 out of 5 Drunken Jackos," and upon first taste now I believe it still holds up. A truly delicious way to start the season!

Be sure to check back soon, as I already have a fridge full of new pumpkin beers lined up, ready to face the dreaded Drunken Jackos Rating Scale. And as we count down the days until All Hallow's Eve, I'll be popping the caps and giving reviews from a beer-snob-slash-Halloween-fiend's point of view. Cheers, my fellow pumpkin heads!

  

Red Hook - Out Of Your Gourd Pumpkin Porter

Up next to face the dreaded Drunken Jackos pumpkin beer rating scale is Red Hook Out of Your Gourd Pumpkin Porter. I'm always looking for pumpkin beers that break out of the usual color and flavor, and this pumpkin porter caught my attention straight away...

The first thing that caught my attention was Red Hook's cool "squatty bottle." 12 standard ounces in a compact size. Nice. The next thing was the thick, rich, dark beer that poured from it. In looking as this opaque brown beer, you immediately knew it was a porter (a nice change of pace from the standard copper colored pumpkin beers). 

Upon pouring, the beer had only a slight note of sweet maple that was also present in the taste. There was only the slightest hint of any spice or pumpkin flavor, but it ended with a nice dry, malty, chocolate coffee porter aftertaste. 

Overall, it was more reminiscent of a straight porter, but the maple flavor added a nice seasonal twist. And because of that, Red Hook's Out of Your Gourd Pumpkin Porter receives 3 out of 5 Drunken Jackos!