Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale

Brewed by Shipyard Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Portland, Maine USA

Bottle from a NYC deli. Spicy aroma, cinnamon and nutmeg. And it’s the spices that overwhelms the ale - sure there is fruitiness underneath, but it is pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg that runs the show. A gimmick, but it’s all right. Sweet.

Personally, I really enjoy pumpkin beers. The fall and winter are some of the most exciting months when it comes to beers and considering I am smack dab in the middle of October, pumpkin beers are definitely in order. Anyone and everyone brews pumpkin beers now and they are about as diverse in flavor and quality as the brewers who brew them.
My glass was draft so there may be some minor differences in how it tasted on draft versus from the bottle.
A bright vividly clear orange color, almost as if someone added orange food coloring to otherwise clear ale. Immediately, just sitting in front of me warm tantalizing pumpkin aromas and the spices that bring to mind fresh baked pumpkin pie like mom used to make it, and thankfully still does. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and some toasted crust acting as a container for all the spices. A very light body which is pleasantly thin but not in an overly watery sense. Nicely carbonated and effervescent this isn’t surprising since she was a draft pull. Fresh pumpkin spices in the palate just as rich and almost too overwhelming. She balances quite precariously on being a bit too spiced and cloying with her sweetness and only a bit of chewy pumpkin and crisp toasted crust. More of the ginger peeks through as my brew warms and I am reminded of many a fall afternoon spent watching the sunset and relaxing with my family. A clean finish with only a hint of the abundant spices and sweet palate.
Nostalgia and reminiscing aside, Pumpkinhead from Shipyard Brewing is a good pumpkin beer, but I would not say it is a great pumpkin beer. A bit too heavy on the pumpkin spices. It could have benefited from a bit more of a balance with some nice pulpy pumpkin with toasted pumpkin seeds to round out the palate and body. Not bad, but not great.

Bottle, thanks BeerBill! Lightly hazy copper with a fluffy white head. Spicy pumpkin nose. Medium body and moderate carbonation. Lightly sweet and spicy taste of dusty pumpkin. I like the fact that this one isn’t the full-on, in-your-face liquid pumpkin pie, but I wonder where the dusty quality comes from?

Bottle: Pours a pellucid gold color with an average looking head and light lacing. The nose is spicy with a touch of nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice. The flavor is dry with a pumpkin spice and earthy vegetal note that actually rings fairly nice. The body is lacking and the finish is light. Nice spice and a fake pumpkin pie taste, but very drinkable for the style. Nice combo! Why are the ratings so low?

had this beer on tap in bar harbor ME. did not know what to expect with this one.. it has a lot of cinnamon/spicy flav to it. if there was such a thing, i would say it was a dessert beer. I would def order it again because it tastes good, and is different from any other beer i have ever had.

Pours a dark hazy orange with a medium light tan head.Has a spicy aroma of clove, cinnamon, and alcohol with a hint of pumpkin. Light and spicy flavor, caramel and clove. Has a bubbly feel to it. Very nice beer.

12oz bottle, taste is a pale amber taste, then on exhale you get the pumpkin spice and nice flavor.... as it warms more spice comes through, nutmeg flavor in there perhaps.

pretty solid beer. tastes like.....pumpkin... not much else to say. if you like the pumpkin beers this ones not gonna fail you