Smoky Mountain Pumpkin Ale

Draft at Nama. Dark red-orange body with a finger of cream colored head that is nice and thick in appearance but leaves no lacing behind as it slowly recedes. Aroma is very restrained, I guess some spice aroma, cloves and cinnamon and a faint bit of caramel sweet maltiness but overall very weak. The taste is great, thick and creamy feel and notes of all the classic pumpkin pie spices, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon. Thick and chewy this was a nice beer. I just wish the aroma stood up to the rest of the beer.

On tap at the Gatlinburg brewery. Poured a hazy orange/amber color with a small off white head. Aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. Flavor is pumpkin pie with a good spice backing. Loved this pumpkin beer.

Draught, 2008. Pours orange with off-white head. The aroma is light pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, that lot), and an unusual lemon note. The flavor is sweet pumpkin pie at first, with rich malt, cinnamon, and clove, but it fades quickly into a thin fizziness. The finish is spritzy and citric, and reminds me quite a bit of Fresca. Weird.

Draught, multiple times through fall/early winter season at Pigeon Forge location. Pours hazy orange/brown with a head that varies from fluffy and white to near nothing, depending on when you get it. The aroma is rich pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg spiciness, and a rich malty sweetness. The flavor is not a let down at all. The malts are rich and sweet, the pumpkin flavor just right, and the finish brings out pronounced spices and even a bit of well placed hops. This is the first season when I was let down when they switched from the fall offering to the Winter Warmer.

Draft sampler at Smky Mtn Brewery in Gatlinburg. I’m a bit biased here. I don’t like pumpkin in any way shape or form. Yuck.

From a growler - Growler from 11/02/07, drank on 11/03/07. Cloudy orange, very thin head. Oddly restrained aroma - definately pumpkin pie, but not overpowering. Much more agressive flavor. Not really pumpkin pie, but more like pumpkin bread, with cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, plus some vanilla notes. In fact, I’m gonna it reminds me of Pumpkin bread with a bit of vanilla frosting. It’s very tasty but a growler is a bit...much. Actually towards the end of the evening, we discovered that if you mix it with a pale ale it cuts the sweetness nicely.

I feel very fortunate to have tried this one. I’ve been searching and trying many Pumpkin Beers and I’m not hesitant in saying that this is the best that I’ve ever had. Tried it on draft at the Smoky Mountain Brewery in Pigeon Forge. Poured in a one liter mug. Served in a ice cold mug that I had to let "warm-up" a little. Appears a dark orange/brownish color with slight head. The taste is pumpkin pie in a glass. They really nailed this one for me. Other pumpkin ales are too spicy, or based off a really bad brown ale to start with. It’s hard to explain, but if you’ve ever smelled a Pumpkin Spice Yankee Candle, this is what it tastes like. Truly incredible. Even the help at SMB said that this years formula was the best ever. Truly a treat. Finished well, full of complexity and flavors all over the tongue. Didn’t coat your mouth or make you tire of drinking it. My only complaint is that the tap blew when I was trying to get a growler full to bring home. I felt I had to share this one, but there was none left. Hopefully they brew with the same formula again next year. If so, I’ll plan my next trip around this beer being served.

First rating from the 2006 brewing. On draght at the brewery. Pours a deep muddy copper color with an average sized off-white head. Spicy aroma with some sweet malt notes. The flavor of this one is excellent for what it is supposed to be. Smooth balanced pumpkin spice flavor with not too much sweetness. Very well done pumpkin ale, probably the best one I’ve ever tried. Of course if you aren’t into this sort of thing, you’ll want to pass on this one, but if you do, be sure to give it a try.