3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
I’ve long been of the opinion that if you’re going to drink a Pumpkin Ale, it may as well be an Imperial Pumpkin Ale. And here I have one. From the bottle it makes a striking pour, a crystal clear orange/amber with a hefty ecru head. Good lacing. The strong alcohol content gives the aroma an almost liquer-like twist, albeit it contains the usual allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and some squash. The flavor gives the allusion of sweetness because of all the pumpkin pie spicing, but there’s some bready malt and an underlying earthy bitterness that keep the reality in check. It finishes on a cookie spice finish with just a touch of bitterness. Pretty decent, but, not being a huge fan of the style, I think that having drunk a bomber will suffice for a while. <font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Beverage Depot, Orland Park, IL<font size=-1>
4.1 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
This spiced ale pours a orange color from a 22oz bottle. Small to medium sized white foamy head. Aroma is gingerbread, cinnamon, nutmeg, and some pumpkin. Very nice aroma, might be the best smelling beer I have had so far this year. Medium bodied spiced, vegetable beer. The malts are gingerbread cookie, caramel. some pumpkin. Nice blend of the spices, cinnamon, nutmeg and cinnamon, they are there but in the background. It is really like a slice of pie in a bottle. The start is sweet and it finishes spicy. Best Pumpkin Ale I have tasted. Hides the 9% alcohol extremely well. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is spicy.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
Bottle: Pours a clear orange color with a big white head. Aroma, graham crackers, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar. Flavor, graham crackers, brown sugar, lots of pumpkin pie spices, but the actual pumpkin is barely noticable. It’s definitely the first beer I’ve had that really captures the "pie in a bottle" but it’s a little over the top at times. Still pretty good though.
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
22 oz bottle, Jimmack Invitational 2007. Amber in color. Aroma has a huge amount of nutmeg, cinnamon, pumpkin and caramel. Taste is very spicy, with alot of nutmeg, cinnamon, and is sweet with caramel and pumpkin. Tastes and smells like fresh pumpkin pie, but it is very overwhelming. A bit too sweet for my tastes- I can see how people would get into this though.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
Clear golden amber with a very light tan head. Smells just like pumpkin pie, moreso than any other pumpkin beer I’ve had. Cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and ginger in the nose along with toasted nuts. Sweet flavor of vanilla cookies and the spices from the aroma. Hops show up late in the finish to cut the sweetness.
3.2 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 14/20
Poured a clear orange color into the lager glass. There was a light beige head and minimal lacing. The scent was of nutmeg, cinnamon, and pumpkin extract. The taste was over the top sweet with pumpkin, spices, caramel, malt and nutmeg overwhelming the palate. A vanilla touch in the finish. A little too sweet for my liking.
4 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Bomber. Light copper color with a minimal off-white head. Doesn’t look like much, but what a nice aroma! Cinnamon, clove, gingerbread and rice pudding with a liberal sprinkling of nutmeg. Pumpkin is really an afterthought. Nice light biscuity malts with pumpkin and spice flavors, and even notes of carrots? I love the overall balance of this- not an overbearing, overspiced heavy pumpkin bomb like some of the others of this style. All the more surprising as this is "imperial." Even the alcohol is well subdued. Normally, I don’t seek out pumpkin beers, but I bought this since there was such a good "buzz’ out over it. Another nicely executed specialty brew from ST.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
22 oz bomber. Pours a clear orange coppery color with a medium white/beige head. Aroma of pie crust, pumpkin filling, nuts and caramel. Taste is of fresh pumpkin filling, pie crust, nuts and freshly whipped creamy butter. Different from most other pumpkin ales in a better way.
3.7 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Pours orange, with a white head. Aroma is pumpkin, spices, and pie crust. Flavor is pumpkins, spices, caramel, and some vanilla. Almost over powering. Interesting and very up front.
4.2 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
22 oz. bomber. I was thrilled to go to the bottle shop earlier this week amd see a nice display of pumpkin and oktoberfest beers. This was one of the first bottles I opened, and what a great choice it was. Pours a clear orange with a moderate off white head that left light lacing on the glass. Fantastic aroma of fresh pumpkins with light pumpkin pie spices. It really smells like a fresh piece of pumpkin pie. The flavor was again very reminiscent of a fresh piece of pumpkin pie, with the spices nailed just right and fresh pumpkin flavor. A little vanilla detected as well. The alcohol at 9% was extremely well hidden. I’ll be heading back to the store for more of these for sure. Yummmmmm!
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