Terrapin Side Project Pumpkinfest

Brewed by Terrapin Beer Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Athens, Georgia USA

Pours a bright copper orange with a one finger foamy offwhite head. Nose shows lots of spice, notes of star anise, nutmeg, and allspice. Malty sweetness and mild undertones of pumpkin meat. Flavor is spicy upfront, sweet pie spices, earthy pumpkin, sweet malt character. Palate is also dominated by the spice with a full supporting mouthfeel.

Nice caramel malt blends with the reasonable spicing. Slightly woody with just enough bitterness to keep this from being too sweet, but not a bitter beer. Tasty.

Clear orange gold color. Nicely balanced punkin and spice flavors. Maybe a little too light, but I’m used to high grav pumpkins from my store.

Pours a dark golden ruby/amber color with dark golden orange hues when held to a light source and a 1.5 finger light yellowish beige head with good retention, only slowly fading into a lasting ring. Toasted malt aroma with hints of rye and caramel as well as a very prominent autumnal spice presence. Lots of pumpkin puree, cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, ginger and nutmeg with a bit of clove as well. The roasted malts are very strong in the front of the nose but are evenly balanced by the pumpkin beer aromas. Flavor is very similar to the aroma. Fuller end of medium with a very nice balance of Octoberfest/Marzen and Pumpkin beer flavors. Toasty caramel and rye malts are prominent up front with a subtle hint of biscuit followed by a slight sweet pumpkin presence and a very prominent spice profile. Hints of cinnamon and brown sugar as well as some strong clove notes, subtle vanilla and ginger. Pretty well balanced with a nice hybrid of flavors from the two styles. No alcohol warmth to speak up making it pretty drinkable. Slightly medicinal in the finish. Complex and interesting. Recommended for fans of both styles.

22 oz bottle courtesy of GAManiac, I think... Thanks, Grant! 2nd SP brew, with about 4-5 more to go in the cellar. Pours a nice dull copper, clear, good bright reddish notes, with a decent whitish head that settles like soapy merangue, dies to a decent layer that laces not bad. Aromas are pumpkin fruit, spicey cinnamon and nutmeg, some vanilla and caramel.. largely pie in a glass to a T. I get a touch of graham crackers, but really some good actual pumpkin aroma, not just spices. Initial is a firm grasp on pumpkin, a touch of soapy and floral bitterness, moving to cinnamon and nutmeg that stick to the palate, vanilla and caramel sweetness come into play in less of a roll than anticipated. A lighter side of medium type of brew, going down pretty easy, not weighing the palate down with a lot of sweetness. Instead, if anything, this brew is a bit underbodied for it’s purpose. Still, I enjoy it, preaching an impressive aroma and more subtle flavors, which seems to be what most people complain about really.. too much pie in their pumpkin beers. I liked this. Finishes a bit spicey, sweet, light hoppy bitterness lingers.. leaving a trailing pumpkin spice on the palate and some graham cracker/biscuity crust. A better pumpkin beer. Perhaps I’m overrating this a bit, but I truly love a good pumpkin beer.

Pretty solid pumpkin ale. Sweetness for sure with cinnamon, light cloves, spice, brown sugar and sweet pumpkin pie.

Clear light copper medium head. First thought out of my head was this tastes like soda more than beer. Little malt presence. Spice isn’t overdone, but it’s boring.Moderate bitterness. Wow...quite bad actually. My fiance loves a good pumpkin beer, and she declares she won’t waste her sobriety with this one. Sorry, Terrapin.

Bottle from Kingdom Liquors. Poured clear dark orange color with an average off-white frothy head that mostly lasted with good lacing. Solid spicy pumpkin pie aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and soft carbonation. Medium to heavy pumpkin spicy sweet flavor with a medium to heavy sweet finish of moderate to long duration. Solid seasonal beer.