McAuslan Spiced Pumpkin/ St-Ambroise Citrouille

Brewed by McAuslan Brewing
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Montreal, Canada

Bottle, from Rahman. Pours ruby-brown with a white head that dissipates to mere lacing within the minute. Aroma of canned pumpkin and spice, cumin, and caramel malt. Flavor is a light and crisp blend of soft pumpkin, soil and malt. Reminds me of an Alt with pumpkin flavor, with a spiced, sweet finish. Overall, not a special variation on a fall pumpkin beer, but as is usual for St. Ambroise, Citrouille is a decently-crafted offering nonetheless.

355 ml from a 4-pack bought at Marche Jovi, served cool in a tulip glass.

App.: Clear, medium copper, small light tan head. Aroma: As expected, a big noseful of ginger, cloves and allspice, some cinnamon, I guess too; definite bubblegum esters, fruitiness, some medium-roasted malts; more of a spice cake than a pumpkin pie. Palate: Medium body, slightly oily, medium yet sharp effervescence. Flav.: Tons of all the spices come through, as does the caramel/toffee cakey malts; really tastes like a spice cookie or spice cake; the flavour follows the aroma, which is often not the case with these beers; a bit sweet with almost no bitterness ; light acid brightness and only light spice residuals.

Normally not a fan of these beers, but I didn’t mind this one. Would have liked to get one of the gift packs shown in the pic!

Bottle from metro Joanette Poured a gorgeous deep burnished copper color with an excellent creamy tan cap. Aroma is phenomenal....like liquid pumpkin pie...malts, pumpkin, spices and light sweetness...delicious! Tastes pretty much like it smells..malty sweetness with pumpkin flavors and spice/hop astringence to balance, develops some earthy-mustiness in the middle...slightly drying finish with a wonderful pumpkin pie after taste. Of the pumpkin beers I’ve tried this is undoubtedly the best.

Typical pumpkin ale with the usual spice profile. Smells like pumpkin and allspice. Chestnut body with a thin head and very minimal lacing. Light to medium bodied, spicy and sweet. Caramel, pumpkin, nutmeg, clove and cinnamon. Standard for the style.

341ml brown bottle. Orange colour, thin white cap. Sweet nose, caramel, cinnamon. Has a toasty malts flavour, caramel sweetness, cloves. Dry finish with some mineral character. Some clovey aftertaste. Medium body with crisp carbonation. Pleasant fall brew.

341 ml bottle from the LCBO. pours deep orange with a small eggshell head. laces nicely. aroma of pumpkin pie spice and amber malts. flavour is mostly sweet malt and spice. balanced and drinkable. solid pumpkin ale.

11.5oz bottle served in a shaker. Clear, reddish amber pour with a thin head of tan foam that settled into a lasting cap. Spotty lacing. The aroma included toasted caramel, pumpkin, and perfumey pie spices. The flavor had rich caramel followed b some vegetal notes and strong spicing. The cinnamon and ginger really stand out. Medium-bodied mouthfeel. Slightly slick and lightly carbonated. Not bad.

Put straight up against Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale.
Poured out a small foamy cap that rims and leaves some slippery ropy lacing. Heavy spices that are particularly weighted on ginger and cloves with a smaller amount of cinnamon and allspice. Caramel as well. The taste is pretty much a very strongly spiced pie... I can almost taste the crust. There is a touch of mint or something on the back end and some mild hops with a citrus quality. Cinnamon flavoured candy and a very hard to find biscuit. Not quite medium bodied, long almost sticky spicy after taste. Would make an interesting breath mint! Winner - St. Ambroise in a landslide.