2.9 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 11/20
At just on cool and into a snifter it settles a hazed, auburn copper and fuelled by a mad flurry of fine carbonation. Head is a mess, up, down, lace is minimal. Aroma has hints of clove and cinnamon but is all drenched in citrus tones reminiscent of vitamin ’C’ tablets and orange sherbet and funky lime Hubba-Bubba™. Palate is not so dissimilar. Burnt toast, rehydrated yeast, cinnamon, phenolic notes only just edging that clove addition, and a whisper of baked pumpkin peel in late. More of the vitamin ’C’ tablets here off-set it altogether. Has good body and the carbonation’s soft and adds a creamy texture to it. Malt is muddled, the hops low, and there is a slight zest of foreign yeast to it that comes and goes as the glass empties. Simple, interesting enough but not my pint of beer! (33cL, no date stamp, Liquor Baron’s Ocean Reef)
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
330ml bottle. Pours a slightly murky chestnut brown, with a large light beige head, which lasts very well and leaves good lacing. Strong cloves, with milder cinnamon and pumpkin dominate the aroma, with some faint leafy and floral hops notes lurking in the background. Mild leafy and spice hops up front blend with with a very pleasant cloves flavour. This continues into the mid-palate, where it is joined by slightly sweet pumpkin and some rye toast malt. The cinnamon appears towards the finish, pairing with the cloves to create a spicy, almost Belgian finish to the beer. The spices are the dominant flavour to this beer, and quite a pleasant one. The pumpkin is a little more subtle, but adds another layer to the beer’s personality. A quite intriguing ale, and quite enjoyable too.
3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
Bottle from Mane Liquor. A very spice driven version of the style - cloves, honey, banana, coriander, sweetness, grass. A lot going on but doesn’t quite come together for me
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
330ml bottle from Slow Beer. I do like a good pumpkin ale and this one is up there with the best of them. Slight dirty off white head above a beer that looks the colour of honey. Cinnamon and peppery clove in the aroma is a delight as is the flavour, which fills the mouth and lingers.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Dark honey amber colour with an orange head that dissipates quickly. Spicy and sweet aroma - almost like roasting vegetables. Mild spicy flavour. Possibly touches of pepper. Very nice.
4.2 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Bottle from Smith Street Cellars. Good crazy beer, very spicy, hop character is missing. Aromas of anisette, caramel. Taste is sweet, with long length. Palate is oily, and full bodied. Amber, with no head.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 2/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Bottle, 9C. Very cloudy mid brown with a small off-white head that never quite disappears. Still looks a bit dodgy though. Aroma of caramel, grapes, grapefruit, cinnamon, cloves. Don’t get much pumpkin. Just slightly syrupy with lowish carbonation. Pumpkin is there in the taste and combines nicely with the caramel flavours. Bitterness is gentle but kicks in well before the sweetness has much of a chance to outstay its welcome. Spices come out in the finish along with some pine. Not a knockout, but harmonious.
3.5 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Pours brown with a small head.
Nose shows sweet pumpkin and some cinnamon or nutmeg and cloves. Big underlying sweet notes.
The spices are much more prominent as flavours, lots of cinnamon. More sweet malt followed by a plain bitterness in the finish. Pretty good stuff.
Needs more carbonation though.
3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
The Local (2-Nov-12) - Light sweet spice veg hop aroma. Clear amber red colour, poor head and small suds lacing. Chilli veg sweet malt flavour. Spice cinnamon anise finish and mouth warming aftertaste.
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