Carolina Beer Co. Cottonwood Pumpkin Spiced Ale

Carolina Beer Company
Formerly brewed at Foothills Brewing
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Mooresville, North Carolina USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Tumbler

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Usually the one I reach for at a party, when it’s down to this or non-local pumpkins. Like most, this one’s basically a perfunctory amber ale with just enough hop bite in there to provide some relief from the overwhelmingly sweet additions. Just never a style I’ve warmed to, but this one’s better than some.

Bottle. Pours an amber color with almost no head. A fair amount of clove smell to this. Not as heavy on the spices as many other pumpkin beers, but still not great.

Bottle from foothills. Copper with head that vanishes quickly. Tastes is spice and pumpkin. Nutmeg is prevalent over any cinnamon. Not bad but I like more cinnamon. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Originally reviewed: 10/27/10. This is the old version, pre-Foothills takeover. 12oz bottle, part of an autumn-themed mixed sixer. Poured into a pint glass. Pours a very thick, cloudy dark rusty amber. The thinnest of heads rests atop. Disappears quickly. Not even a ring around the edge. No lace. The nose is weak and underwhelming. The spices are muted, pumpkin is absent. I’m finding sour fruits, and syrup. Not what I expected. The mouth is decent. Good carbonation play, and a slightly heavy finish. I don’t know. This has some mild pumpkin in the flavor, but it’s pretty weak. It’s more cider-y, with notes of apples and light spices. I’m not sure I would or could have another one of these. I expected more, but it was found lacking. Too bad. I wanted to like this.

Bottle from Appalachian vintner. Pours a turgid orange with half an inch of khaki foam. Nice pumpkin spice on the nose. Has a nice sweetness on the tongue without it becoming too cloying. Fairly one note taste.

Pours a dark golden orange color that’s almost brown with a half finger off-white head that quickly fades. Not much in the way of lacing. Tart, vinous aroma with earthy spice and an odd vegetal presence. I’m not sure if this is really old but it smells sour. Not much pumpkin or traditional autumnal characteristics. Medium bodied with a tart, vinegar like presence up front followed by an earthy vegetal presence and zesty spice. Tastes like rotted pumpkin with more of dark fruit presence than anything. Not much pumpkin flavor or spices of a traditional beer in this style.

Bottle courtesy of Doodler (thanks Scott) poured a clear reddish amber with a small lasting amber head. Aromas of allspice, ginger, cinnamon, carmel and light pie crust. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of ginger, cinnamon, allspice, cvarmel and light pie crust with a smooth lingering spiced finish.

A reddish amber ale with a thick creamy moka head. In aroma, a strong cinnamon and nutmed, cloying. In mouth, an oily malt with loads of pumpkin spiced, nutmeg, cinnamon, sweet and cloying. On tap at Twin City Brewfest, August 13 2011.

Bottle. Aroma was spice, nutmeg, fruity. Orange with a hazy look. Taste like, well like, pumpkin pie and beer. But, it’s not bad.

Reviewed from notes. Poured into a tulip. Color is orange-caramel with a slight head. Nose is pmpkin spicing, sweet pumpkin, and a bit of brown sugar. Taste is pumpkiny with a bit of spice. Feel is medium and a bit creamy. Love the low ABV and mild flavors. This is a fairly sessionable pumpkin brew. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 11-04-2010