Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Brewed by Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Easton, Pennsylvania USA

Cloudy Light Brown, But Fiery Orange in the Light...No Head. Alot of Nice Pumpkin Spices...Cloves, Cinnamon, Nutmeg..Medium Bodied...Good Carbonation...Wonderful Roasty Notes Makes One Think of Freshly Baked Pumpkin Pie...Very Well Balanced Spices...Sweet, Spicy Dry Finish.. Weyerbacher Really Hit Gold by Making This an Imperial...I think It Goes a LONG Way in Balancing Out What Can be, Over the Top Flavors...This is THE Pumpkin Beer to Have.

Sampled at a gathering of TN Ratebeerians a couple months ago; thanks to Springslicker for bringing it. Peripherals: Wow. The smell is over-the-top unique, reminiscent of a Hot-Tamales "red hot" cinnamon candy smell punctuated with nutmeg and pumpkin pie. The head is a large fluffy layer of orange-pink soapiness. Dense but thin lace forms an archipelago on the side of the glass. Sub-surface "racing" is deep, thick and full, belying some body in this one. First cut: The finish mimics the smell, with spice wafting up the back of the throat, nutmeg and ginger on top of the "red hot" cinnamon that tingles the top of the tongue. Slightly watery in texture, but that just keeps it light and refreshing; crisp and clean, yet warming. A nicely balanced texture considering the alcohol content. Deeper: The finish develops a cooked pumpkin seed flavor. There is a fruity fresh quality right before the finish on the swallow as the beer hits the back of the tongue, with the front of the tongue experiencing warm and funky fermenting malt sugars and spices. Overall, sweetish but never sweet. Delightfully complex. I guess you could say the cinnamon was "artificial," but I enjoyed it.

From a 12 oz. bottle with no bottling/freshness date, kept at cellar temperature and allowed to warm up a bit before sampling in a pint glass. Poured a cloudy orange hued amber with a foamy, bubbly off-white head, decent retention, minimal amount of sticking. Aromas of fall holiday spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and cloves, like it says on the bottle, a light caramel, pumpkin and ginger ale-like aroma that meshes with the alcohol. Moderate carbonation and a crisp, dryish, smooth medium bodied mouthfeel. Fall holiday dessert taste, cinnamon, nutmeg, nutty, toasted caramel, a touch of canned pumpkin, a sweet ginger soda-like flavor, spicy alcohol that warms the palate, and a dry, sweet malty finish with the alcohol lingering in the aftertaste. I have a feeling that this is a lot better fresh than the sample I tried, nice, but not great, I would say the Schlafly Pumpkin Ale, 8% ABV also, is better.

Presents a ruby copper colored body that’s just a tad bit opaque. 1 finger off-white colored head, settling into a sea-foam later about ¼ centimeter in thickness. Typical pumpkin beer nose, the almost plastic and semi-artificial pumpkin and spice scent found in candles and potpourri, with just a bit of a seedy quality as well. Mildly frothy and mellow up front, switches to a more assertive palate over the middle, almost coarse, and a bit peppery on the tongue. The finish leaves a sweet pumpkin pie and whipped cream residue, which is tasty but maybe only because it’s a little novel. Has a peppery bite on the back of the throat as well, almost scorching once the glass warms a bit. Seems the alcohol is a little out of place in this beer, as is the course finish. I would have preferred a more mellow texture with more of a soft toasted pumpkin seed flavor, but for what it’s worth I can’t complain too much, it tastes decent enough as it is.

I’ll try not to be biased here. I drank this while watching my Who-Dey Bengals win their opening game of the season. That being said, it was solid all in it’s own. It poured a nice amber color with a reddish/orange hue to it. A very nice head, had to wait a minute or two to top off my glass. Smell was nice, could pick up some spice and alcohol. The taste is where this beer separates itself from the rest of the seasonal pumpkin beers. It is wonderfully spiced, and had a good texture. There was a stronger spice taste than there was a pumpkin taste. I’m still searching for a solid pumpkin bread/pie like seasonal. This beer is very drinkable. Smooth and pretty well-done compared to its peers.

Pours out a ruddy hazy reddish color with a small thin tan head. Aroma is very pleasing with dark fermented fruits, cinnamon, cloves, and of course pumpkin comming out. Taste is very pumpkin with nutmeg and cinnamon hitting hard as well as some sweet and spicy clove action. Pumpkin beers are not really my thing, I mean they are good once in a while for a switch up but this is still something I wouldn’t have to drink again. I will say this is the best pumpkin beer I’ve ever had. This beer kinda reminded me of a weaker/ not-as-good Our Special Ale from Anchor.

rating from memory, sampled this on halloween 06, pours amber with small white head, nose has subtle pumpkin and spice notes. taste is caramel, pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg. alcohol is well hidden. body is small. carbination is fizzy. man pumpkin beers just suck.

Lots of pumpkin and spices in the aroma.Pours a medium brown with a medium tan head.Flavor is a lot like eating a pumpkin pie.Medium to full mouthfeel with a spice/pumpkin finish.