Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Brewed by Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Easton, Pennsylvania USA

Bottle from the very last 4-pack at my local store. Poured into a snifter, very hazy orange with brown hints, minimal head, minimal lacing. Nose is heavily, almost overpoweringly pumpkin and nutmeg. Taste is more subdued, with brown sugar and cinnamon cutting through a bit. Mouthfeel is smooth, and more carbonated than I would have anticipated. Alcohol is very well-hidden. Not the exceptional beer I was expecting, but very solid nevertheless.

12 fl oz bottle, courtesy of fiulijn. Pours hazy dark orange with a small white head. Aroma is nutmeg and ginger spiced. Sweet and light caramelish and light roasted. Lingering caramelish and spiced flavoured into the finish. Easy and nicely balanced pumpkin spices and malt base.

This is, without a doubt, the best pumpkin ale I’ve ever enjoyed. There’s nothing bad to say about it. Perfect mouthfeel and carbonation; great, natural flavor that isn’t overwhelming; nice and malty; no vegetal aftertaste; and 8% ABV. There’s just absolutely nothing wrong with this beer, and, if you can get it and like the style, this should be the pumpkin ale you drink each fall. Weyerbacher seems like a hit-or-miss brewery to me, but this is a winner.

Poured the beer into a pint glass to drink. It had a cloudy full amber color with a bubbly white head that had short retention, but some cling. The beer had an aroma of spices and pumpkin, with some cinnamon, caramel, brown sugar, nutmeg and some light grainy hops. The beer had a wet, pumpkin and brown sugar taste with a touch of caramel and grain. The body was somewhat watery, but became thinner and drier in the mouth; average carbonation and a decent mouthfeel.

The aroma is full of a pumpkin pie aroma, a little complimentary spices, notably coriander, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. The appearance is a deep orangish brown color with no real head to speak of. The taste is surprisingly muted in comparision to the aroma. The malts do have a spiced flavor and its balanced, not at all over the top like I had envisioned. The finish is spicy with a medium to heavy balanced body. The texture is sticky and creamy, with a long spicy finish.

One of the best pumpkin ales I have tried. Not as dark as I would have expected, but well balanced between the alcohol, spices, and pumpkin. Worth trying.

Nice pumpkin aroma. I enjoy the higher alcohol percentage for a pumpkin beer. One of my favorites of the fall season.

Bottle. Pour was deep golden brown with a strong spice and pumpkin aroma. The flavor was strong on the pumpkin and well blended with the spices such as clove, cinnamon, nutmeg. Smooth brew and well balanced. Alcohol was lightly prevalent but nice.