Blue Point Pumpkin Ale

I poured a 12oz bottle into a Geordie Schooner glass.

Appearance: Dark copper to brown proper. Very clear with a lot of visible carbonation. Forms an average-sized soapy yellowish head which retains well but doesn’t lace at all.

Smell: Very sweet smell as if it were a pumpkin soda rather than a beer. The usual pumpkin pie spices with a slightly floral note.

Taste: Blue Point Pumpkin Ale reminds me of most other pumpkin ales I’ve had: basically a liquid potpourri of spices, but with additional sweetness and a crisp, thinner body. I’ve only had one other beer I would describe as akin to "pumpkin soda" and while this beer isn’t quite to that extreme, it definitely has similarities.

Intense sweetness at the beginning of the palate, which quickly gives way to a flood of dry spiciness. They seem to have emptied the spice rack shelf brewing this one as it’s got a little of everything: pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom and allspice. But unlike other pumpkin ales, the spice notes seem to have had their edges rounded out - they all blend together for one big spice sensation. It’s a little dry, but flavorful and tasty enough to satisfy. The cardamom seems a little more pronounced than I’d prefer, but as much as it’s a generic pumpkin ale, it’s at least a good one.

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly thin and fizzy for the style. Leaves a slightly dry, sticky, HFCS-like aftertaste.

Drinkability: While not the most robust or original pumpkin beer, Blue Point Pumpkin Ale is at least one of the most drinkable offerings. The homogenized spices enable the palate to be quite smooth and friendly to the mouth. The thinner body makes it quite easy going down, and it doesn’t taste or feel as heavy as its 6% ABV potency. A good beer with an autumn meal, but not quite sessionable though.