Blue Moon Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale

Brewed by Coors Brewing Company (MillerCoors)
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Golden, Colorado USA

As a beer, it’s ok. As a pumpkin ale, it’s sub-par. The best thing going for it is its amberish/reddish color. It’s got a sharp bite that quickly dissolves and the last part slowly fades out.

An article I read in Beer Advocate says that there is no pumpkin in most pumpkin ales. The flavor comes from the spices - usually the same spices that are put into pumpkin pies, thus creating the illusion of pumpkin. Blue Moon/Coors claims that this stuff includes "the flavor of vine-ripened pumpkin." Hmm.... Sweet malt dominates the aroma, with some floral tones in there too. Mahogany/dark rust pour. The flavor is malty and enjoyable, fairly close to a sweet brown ale, but a little hoppier. There are some light aromatic spices too. This is a nice ale, but no super-special seasonal treat.

12oz. Muted aromas of sour cherries with the slightest, ever so slightest hint of nutmeg. Would probably be more aromatic had it warmed but I’m not going to let it for other reasons. Body is a bit more intense, with some slight hints of allspice but I’m not being fooled into thinking it is actually there by the label. I get mostly sour mash and malts that really don’t do much for me. Palate is by far the best part, good carbonation with a lighter body but still coats the palate well. Good riddance.

2008 Bottle - Pours transparent dk orange with a small head, aroma is the best part, smells like the fall...malty, spicy, a bit of grain...flavour follows (especially the spice) and is pretty one dimensional, but what else would you expect from the source...this beer, is as transparent as the brewer...

Not terrible, but not anything special. I’d had Dogfish Head’s pumpkin the day before, so this had a tough act to follow. Some of the spices(cinnamon and nutmeg) came throught but overall kind of lackluster. Again, not horrible

Pours with a clear orange-brown body with a small, foamy off-white head that goes quickly. Aroma of hay, nutmeg, allspice, pumpkin and cinnamon. Taste is very watery, with hay and astringency, then some unconnected spices. Fizzy and dry.

Bottle. Very dark for a Blue Moon ale. Interesting orange color, but not much pumpkin. Spices are good. A little disappointing.

Comes out of the tap a beautiful clear copper, with not much head. Appetizing malty aroma has hints of spice, mainly cinnamon. Lively flavor is mainly malty with hints of hops and cinnamon, no real pumpkin flavor but still tasty. Texture is smooth and tingly.