Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale

Image courtesy of Boston Beer Company.

Weird…it pours just like a Pepsi, color and all.  The head is fizzy and disappears quickly.  Brown in color, with ruby highlights, Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale is brewed with 17 pounds of pumpkin per barrel.  That’s a lot of extra fermentable sugar, but the ABV is just 5.7%.  Not surprisingly, the bouquet has hints of non-typical ingredients, but mainly it’s molasses, brown sugar and Christmas candle spices (clove, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg).  The texture of Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale is smooth, and that’s partly because of the low carbonation, and if you like the look of Brussels lace on your glass, you will be disappointed, as there is nearly none.  It’s very “of the season”, and surprisingly, not bad.  I say that because I usually gag on Christmas-spice beers.  Harvest Pumpkin Ale’s finish is slightly dry with a touch of light roast coffee, and of course some lingering spice.  If you have to drink a Pumpkin Ale, this is one I can recommend.

90/100 Pumpkin Ale

(Remember, I am comparing this beer with others in the pumpkin ale category, not to anything outside of that category.)