Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale

Brewed by Smuttynose Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA

Hazy orange color with a thin foamy white head on top. Pumpkin pie spices in the aroma, nutmeg and cinammon. More nutmeg and cinammon in the taste. Pretty much your typical pumpking beer. Not outstanding, but not horrible.

(12 oz bottle, obtained in trade with Eyedrinkale, thanks Mike!) Whoa, this is a very fruity smelling beer. It smells like a fruity IPA, orange citrus mostly, sweet, floral. I can detect some spiciness in the nose, but just barely. Actually, it has that sweet, pungent, but strangely pleasant aroma of an orange that has begun to rot, like walking by someone’s house with an orange tree, and the ground is covered with oranges in various states of decay. And the flavor is also quite fruity, citrusy hoppy, sweet, lightly malty, and definitely spicy. Moderate bitterness right from the start, but especially in the finish, and combined with the spices, the finish isn’t as enjoyable. The spices are clearly evident, but seem to complement the citrusy flavor rather than take center stage like many pumpkin beers. Good solid mouthfeel, not watery at all, nice coating sensation on the palate, and a rather cleansing acidity in the finish. Apricot in color and fully hazy. You can’t see through this beer at all. Pours an inch thick head that is eggshell white in color. It slowly settles to a thin, but complete blanket over the beer, and leaves a fairly dense curtain of lace on the glass. This is an enjoyable beer, but unusually fruity and citrusy for the style.

small to no head. pumpkin/copper body. the aroma on this beer is insane pumpkin and spice aroma. Huge spice and pumpkin taste. it tastes a little less strongly then it smelt but i don’t think i could take on a six pack.

11.01.04 12oz bottle. Copper-orange pour with middling head and immediate spicey aromas. At first whiff, it’s a tripel-lager-pumpkin pie. Although it’s pretty hopped up with pie spice, the beer still comes through and lends a nice drinkability. It’s good, but I’m glad I didn’t buy 6.

Range copper ale with a spicey belgian pumpkin aroma. Intense pumpkin pi with smutty hops and sweet caramel. Good bodied. Again, very pleasant pumpkin. (October 2004).

Opaque, heavily carbonated, orange body with a noticeable amount of sediment floating around. Pours with a small tan head that settles immediately. Aroma is outstanding. Smells like fresh pumpkin pie; cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, and hints of malt combine into a complex draught of autumnal goodness. One deep breath of this beer evokes memories of autumns past; walking through a pumpkin patch, handing out candy on Halloween, a walk through a golden wood on a crisp November afternoon, or a magnificent Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings and a pumpkin pie cooling on the sill. Flavor, however, is less impressive. Initial pumpkin flavor is sweet and sugary, then cloves make an appearance, followed by pumpkin pie spices, and a light malty finish. While this is a fine tasting brew the sweet and earthy pumpkin flavors don’t entirely meld with the spicy notes of cinnamon, hops, and clove. Allow it to sit for a little while and as it warms the pumpkin flavor develops intensity. Overall though it isn’t perfect, and is by no means an everyday beer, Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale makes a great fall novelty. I’m looking forward to picking some up next year. Note: For an insanely decadent taste sensation try sipping some after eating a Lindt Chocolate Truffle. Outrageous!

Call me crazy...I enjoyed this. I don’t think I could mange more than one bottle in an evening, but for sipping as it slowly warmed, this hit the spot. Fantastic spicy pumpkin pie aroma, warming spices in flavor with subdued hops not overwhelming in bitterness. Pretty good!

Allspice and nutmeg aromas, opague orange, pours a small cream head. Full pumpkiness here, allspice nutmeg, cinnamon. Medium bodied, spicey. A very nice offering!