Post Road Pumpkin Ale

This is the gold medal winner for best pumpkin ale. There is a strong pumpkin flavor not overpowering but well balanced. Definately an easy drinker for non-pumpkin fans.

Pumpkin Ale has its roots in Colonial America, and was brewed by colonists as far back as the late 17th Century. When malt supplies ran short during hard times in the colonies, brewers would improvise, and use whatever adjuncts they could to brew beer. Pumpkins were native and plentiful, especially in New England. Their rich and spicy flavors worked especially well with barley malt, and were the gourd of choice for colonial brewers. Out of this tradition, modern brewers pay tribute with their versions of pumpkin ale. Most versions brewed today, go for the "liquid pumpkin pie" effect, and are heavy with spices, such as nutmeg and cinnamon. I have had a few examples though, that showcase that meaty/squashy pumpkin flavor, and are not spiced. Post Road Pumpkin ale gives the beer lover a little bit of both. This beer is indeed spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon, but it also has very apparent spicy/squashy pumpkin flavor. This beer has taken a journey over the years. It was first brewed for the Post Road Brewing Company (a contract brewery), by the now defunct Catamount Brewing Company, of White River Junction, VT. The label then was sold to the Brooklyn Brewery, of Brooklyn, NY, which has the F.X. Matt Brewery of Utica, NY contract brew this beer. The Post Road Pumpkin ale I enjoy today is the Matt brewed version, and it is quite excellent. That being said, I will never forget the Catamount brewed version of this beer, which I found to be the best example. Post Road Pumpkin Ale pours to a beautiful, bright, orange color with a nice white head, and a moderate amount of carbonation. The nose is the first thing that grabs your attention. Fragrant sweet and spicy aromas of nutmeg, cinnamon, pumpkin, and malt flood the nose. The palate is very flavorful, with accents of malt, and meaty/squashy pumpkin flavor. Post Road Pumpkin Ale finishes with more pumpkin flavor up front, then ends with nice, subtle flavors of nutmeg and cinnamon, that slightly lingers. This is a very well done pumpkin ale, with a clever use of pumpkin spices, and real pumpkin flavor. The brewers are not too heavy handed with the spices, which allows that spicy/squashy flavor of the pumpkin meat to come through. This beer is a natural with desert, and is of course, the perfect beer to have with a slice of pumpkin pie, with a dollop of fresh whip cream. It would also work well with hearty soups, pumpkin soup, or squash bisque, both being naturals as well. I enjoy this beer most, by itself. It is a great beer to have on a cool, crisp, Fall afternoon, and one to relax with on a cold Fall eve.

this is one of my favorite beers. truly. how can you beat the aroma, the tones, the flavor, the aftertaste, the appearance. I leave in the northeast, so i’m steeped in autumnal things, pumpkins, leaves, damp fall weather... maybe that’s what makes this so good, it is part of the season. Great beer, especially by itself, after dinner, for a few tips.

I love Autumn and everything about it so I really fell in love with how this beer captured the pumpkin essence . I had this on draft at Max’s on broadway last week. PR Pumpkin has a sugary nutmeg and pumpkin aroma with hints of graham cracker. Maybe I just really wanted pumpkin pie once I drank this. Has a strong spiced pumpkin flavor with hints of cinnamon. Has a autumn amber color. Like being back home for the fall and winter holidays .

Great stuff. All-spice, berry, clove, cinnimon, and of course pumpkin. They really pulled off the fall style on this one. Looks appatizing with a good sized white head atop a clear burgundy body. Nice medium bodied beer. You really have to like spicy fall beers to enjoy this one.