Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale

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

Bottle (Thanks to Papsoe for selling it to us) at home - shared with Mette on Christmas evening, while eating Apflestrudel. Dark amber - white head. A lot of spices - Nutmeg Cinnamon, Cardemom, Cloves - as the label says. Light alcoholic, caramel, peber, berries, light chokolate, not much malt flavor..

I got this almost solely because it was from Weyerbacher. That and the fact that I’m a sucker for anything called "Imperial" on the label. Not big on pumpkin beers usually. Poured a nice amber with a good head, attractive, clear. Aroma was of caramel and typical pumpkin spices. Flavor was remarkably balance. There was plenty of rich caramel malts in the front to make good and sure you knew this was a beer and not a gimmick. The spice was well blended with cinnamon and nutmeg, with nutmeg moving a bit to the front. Clove lingered in the back, thankfully not overpowering as it does in so many other, less full bodied, pumpkin ales. There was something else I couldn’t put my finger on lingering in the back as well. Reading the bottle, it was obviously the cardamom, which had a nice freshness to it. Irritated with myself that I couldn’t place the flavor without "cheating." Not a bad way to wrap up the holidays, a truly enjoyable pumpkin beer (at last!).

Pours a golden orange with a white head. Aroma was very spicy and somewhat pumpkin like. The flavor was very similar to pumpkin and i could not taste the alcohol at all. Flavor was very spiced. Not bad for a pumpkin.

A lot of alcohol, and it’s mildly noticeable, though it could be worse. Massively carbonated, with the spice notes lost in the alcohol flavors. Bummer. I didn’t taste much pumpkin.

Enjoyed over Thanksgiving... Poured a light amber with orangish highlights, kinda pumpkin in color. Well carbonated beer formed a thick white head. The tantilizing aroma included all the classic pumpkin ale spices... cinnamon, nutmeg, a little ginger etc but no vegetal character from the pumpkin. Notes of caramel fight thru the spices. Flavor is well balanced, spices balance residual sweetness without becoming astringent or competing with the (only slightly percievable) hops. The crystal malt character becomes appearant here as a slight toffee/ caramel character. Pumpkin and residual sugar combine with moderate carbonation level to produce a rich mouthfeel that insulates from the alcohol heat. A fine product ( I have several bottles in the cellar) although I’m generally not a fan of pumpkin ales.

Pours a dark orange/pumpkin color with firm off-white head. Pumpkin and mild spices in the nose. Pumpkin, malt, caramel and even a touch of hops accented lightly by an assortment of spices. Smooth and even bodied with a hint of alcohol. This is by far the best pumpkin ale I have had.

Hard to get a hold of this year but thanks for shipping some up to upstate. A nice medium spiced and bodied seasonal. Alcohol presence not up front but certainly not hidden. Wish I had one now since I am at work. Re-rate 9/11/07 : Again an in your face pesentation from my home town brewery. The nice big body I remembered is unchanged and fresh spiceness runs thruout this beautiful baby. Thich and lushious like pumkin pie with icecream. Yummm. glad I bought a case this year. Re-rate 01/23/2008: the pumpkin spicyness has seemingly re invigorated itself without much loss of malt body. A bit thinner than I remember but in no way affecting the enjoyability of this fine brew. No change to #’s

Spicy cinnnamon, nutmeg, and yep pumpkin flavors. Finishes creamy. rich, and smooth.