Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale

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

Date: September 29, 2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting
Appearance: clear pale yellow
Aroma: sweet malt aroma with light spices and a hint of pumpkin
Flavor: good sweet pumpkin flavor with a touch of cinamon and other spices, picks up some nice sweetness upon warming, a nice pumpkin beer that’s more about the beer than the pumpkin pie spice

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4

Name: Pumpkin Ale
Date: November 11, 2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Trader Joe’s
Appearance: clear dark gold, wispy off white head
Aroma: sweet caramel malt aroma with light pumpkin spices
Flavor: sweet malt flavor, lots of pumpkin spices, light balancing bitterness, little to no actual pumpkin flavor
Overall: another spiced amber ale with pumpkin in the name instead of the beer, well balanced spices

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Creamy, off-white head that hangs around a bit before turning thin. Aromas are pumpkin pie spices. Light-medium bodied with modest carbonation. Somewhat watery palate with a lingering spicy finish. Modest carbonation.

From a 12-oz bottle shared by scuffman, pours a light golden pale blonde brew with a fast dissolving white head. Leaves behind a white film, slight ring and spotty lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, a strong nutmeg presence, some sweet pumpkin filling and a touch of cinnamon. Taste is medium bodied, light carbonation with flavors of pumpkin filling, multi-grain malt, some sugar and nutmeg spice. Finish is semi-sweet, with a nutmeg aftertaste. The 2007 vintage is a much improvement over last year’s.

Bottle. Nice orangish golden color. Smell reminds me of Tang and spices - similar to spiced cider. Tastes like watery pumpkin. Needs more oomph for me. Easy to drink but needs to step it up quite a bit.

Cinnamony nutmeg pumpkin aroma. Average yellow color. Very light nutmeg flavor, mild and unadventurous overall.

Light yellow pale lager looking pour with just a bit of white head that doesn’t last. Smell is like pumpkin pie, with nutmeg and a metallic smell as well. Not over the top, but pumpkin is noticeable. Very light bodied beer and equally mildly flavored, and slightly undercarbonated for sure. Easy drinking, but not full flavored to really be great. My first pumpkin beer, and it at least made me interested in trying out some more similar to this.

A golden color with a moderate white head. The aroma contains pumpkin, ginger, and cinammon. This one doesnt seem to contain much in the malt department so you get smacked in the face with the pumpkin flavor. This is like a blonde ale with a crap load of pumpkin and spices thrown in. The mouthfeel is a little buttery though. Overall not bad for a pumpkin beer but not complex in the least.

Golden beer with a small, disappearing white head. Aroma is musky--a bit like socks. Flavor is very thin, with too much bite. The finish is slightly sweet, but almost non-existent.