Don't tell Linus, but Heavy Seas has two versions of The Great Pumpkin. Much like Halloween and other pumpkin ales, though, these two have probably already come and gone for this year.
Heavy Seas The Great Pumpkin
ABV: 8.0%
Clipper CIty Brewing Co., Baltimore, MD
22 oz bottle
Served in Dogfish Head Signature Glass
Reviewed on 9/30/12
This pumpkin ale pours a solid amber color with a thin white head that quickly dissipates. Decent carbonation. Mild lacing.
Smell consists of nutmeg, malt, slight cinnamon, mild hops, slight pumpkin.
Taste has pumpkin, malt, nutmeg, hops, cinnamon, mild citrus, slight floral, slight brown sugar.
Mouthfeel has good dryness and bitterness not expected in a pumpkin ale. Decent balance of flavors. Somewhat smooth, somewhat earthy.
Overall, this is a solid if not sensational pumpkin ale with unexpected (in a pumpkin ale) dryness and bitterness. Pumpkin takes a back seat to other flavors, but it still works. Might be somewhat close to an Oktoberfest type of beer. Fairly drinkable. Equal parts smooth and earthy.
Score: 90
Heavy Seas The Great'er Pumpkin
ABV: 9.0%
Clipper CIty Brewing Co., Baltimore, MD
22 oz bottle
Served in Dogfish Head Signature Glass
Reviewed on 11/3/12
This pumpkin ale pours a solid amber color with a thin white bubbly head. Moderate lacing. Moderate carbonation.
Smell has pumpkin, brown sugar, malt, nutmeg, slight allspice, slight bourbon, slight hops.
Taste consists of malt, pumpkin, brown sugar, slight hops, cinnamon, nutmeg, slight bourbon, some alcohol. Similar to The Great Pumpkin with less citrus and more whiskey and alcohol.
On the mouth, it's smooth with good earthiness and a grainy texture on the tongue. Nice hit of dryness. Flavors are well balanced even with a bit of an alcohol kick.
Overall, this one is a tasty improvement over the solid The Great Pumpkin. It has more of a kick yet still retains its pumpkin ale qualities (with this version actually having a somewhat stronger pumpkin flavor). The alcohol kick makes you wonder how it might taste with some age, though it's quite good fresh. It has many of the qualities of The Great Pumpkin in taste, and it's definitely a pumpkin, but here it's taken up a notch . The "aged in bourbon barrels" indicated on the bottle is definitely evident.
Score: 92
Heavy Seas The Great Pumpkin
ABV: 8.0%
Clipper CIty Brewing Co., Baltimore, MD
22 oz bottle
Served in Dogfish Head Signature Glass
Reviewed on 9/30/12
This pumpkin ale pours a solid amber color with a thin white head that quickly dissipates. Decent carbonation. Mild lacing.
Smell consists of nutmeg, malt, slight cinnamon, mild hops, slight pumpkin.
Taste has pumpkin, malt, nutmeg, hops, cinnamon, mild citrus, slight floral, slight brown sugar.
Mouthfeel has good dryness and bitterness not expected in a pumpkin ale. Decent balance of flavors. Somewhat smooth, somewhat earthy.
Overall, this is a solid if not sensational pumpkin ale with unexpected (in a pumpkin ale) dryness and bitterness. Pumpkin takes a back seat to other flavors, but it still works. Might be somewhat close to an Oktoberfest type of beer. Fairly drinkable. Equal parts smooth and earthy.
Score: 90
***
Heavy Seas The Great'er Pumpkin
ABV: 9.0%
Clipper CIty Brewing Co., Baltimore, MD
22 oz bottle
Served in Dogfish Head Signature Glass
Reviewed on 11/3/12
This pumpkin ale pours a solid amber color with a thin white bubbly head. Moderate lacing. Moderate carbonation.
Smell has pumpkin, brown sugar, malt, nutmeg, slight allspice, slight bourbon, slight hops.
Taste consists of malt, pumpkin, brown sugar, slight hops, cinnamon, nutmeg, slight bourbon, some alcohol. Similar to The Great Pumpkin with less citrus and more whiskey and alcohol.
On the mouth, it's smooth with good earthiness and a grainy texture on the tongue. Nice hit of dryness. Flavors are well balanced even with a bit of an alcohol kick.
Overall, this one is a tasty improvement over the solid The Great Pumpkin. It has more of a kick yet still retains its pumpkin ale qualities (with this version actually having a somewhat stronger pumpkin flavor). The alcohol kick makes you wonder how it might taste with some age, though it's quite good fresh. It has many of the qualities of The Great Pumpkin in taste, and it's definitely a pumpkin, but here it's taken up a notch . The "aged in bourbon barrels" indicated on the bottle is definitely evident.
Score: 92
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