Stoudts Peppercorn Pumpkin Ale

Brewed by Stoudts Brewing Co.
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Adamstown, Pennsylvania USA

Tap at the Ginger Man in NYC. Pours a hazy gold with some modest white head. Nose is all pepper with some hops detectable. Flavor is all peppercorn as well, with a notes of bitter hops and a bit of bumpkin taste. Overall, though, it is the pepper that dominates this brew. I don’t know if I could drink a whole pint of this stuff (and at Ginger Man I didn’t try) but is definitely a departure from most of the beers I drink. Interesting and pretty good.

Cask at Brazen Head. Hazy golden pour. The nose is loaded with black pepper and a touch of light spicy/wheaty character. The pumpkin manages to come across pretty nicely. There is also a bit of spicy wheat flavour through the middle. Soft spiciness with a lot of black pepper on the finish. Dry finish with a touch of cereally maltiness. I quite like this.

On cask at Stoudts prior to the Microfest in October... Fairly clear, light golden beer with a nice creamy head... Aroma is quite spicy initially, then runs away... Flavor is much the same with notes of pumpkin and pepper... Knowing it is an english mild, i like it quite a bit, as a pumpkin ale it falls very short... Thin body, very very quaffable...

Cask at The Brazen Head: Hazy golden pour with a white film of head. Subdued spices in the aroma. Quite soapy and buttery as well. Has a macro-like mouthfeel- thin and spritzy. The spices are very faded, with some diacetyl and a soapy character overall. Just off overall and lacking body.

Draught at Capone’s: Aroma of malts and caramel. Poured amber/gold in color with a tiny, off-white head that lasted around the edges only. Flavor is slightly sweet. Tastes of malts, grains, slight caramel, slight peppercorn, and slight tea. Medium body. Thin, lightly dry texture. Average carbonation. Malt, grain, and slight pepper finish is dry. No hint of pumpkin or spice other than pepper.

Draft at Capones. Wow what a let down on this one. The aroma was almost nonexistant, slight grainy malts and a hint of honey sweetness, perhaps a faint touch of spices. The flavor was artificially sweet with a slight touch cinnamon and nutmeg followed by a pinch of heat from the peppercorns. Overall this one was simply a let down.

Tap at Capones. Pours a lightly hazy golden with a small bubbly white head. Aroma was very light on this beer. Was getting faint hints of pumpkin, a touch of the pepper, none of the pie spices and some grainy notes. Flavor was about the same, pumpkin was barely there, peppercorns were just faintly there and pie spices were nowhere to be found. Dissapointing.