#bumpinpumpkinbeer

[bumpinpumpkinbeer]

September Update

I suppose I consider it "halftime" in the quest for pumpkin beers. October is fast approaching and September has already provided so many pumpkin beer options. Hell, August was even providing a pool of early options! There is a seemingly infinite amount of pumpkin beer out there and I'll continue to search for as many as I can as we move into October. It only gets tougher to find new options as time goes on. But...the good news is there's plenty more lined up! As of right now I've tasted and written a review for 30 pumpkin beers, the majority (not all) of which are already published here on the blog. Generally I have about five reviews in queue at all times. However I have 55 pumpkin beers in my inventory. That means I still have plenty more to go!

As you all know October is a popular month for pumpkin beer. At this point everyone has jumped on board and everyone is looking for a good beer to pick up. Because of this I plan on often publishing more than one review a day as September comes to a close, in an effort to provide as much insight into options as possible for those beginning to hoard their pumpkin beers for November.

Top Scores

With all that said, here are the published options that have scored a "Great" score thus far: 

Two Roads Roadsmary's Baby - 4.50

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale - 4.25

Elysian Night Owl - 4.00

Southern Tier Pumpking - 4.00

However, get excited because there are some pretty highly anticipated options in line! You can look forward to seeing reviews of three more exceptional Elysian options, as well as options from Hoppin' Frog, Samuel Adams, Stevens Point, Cigar City and many more in the coming weeks!

Not only that, but I'm hoping to release a downloadable spread of all the up-to-date scores for every option I've tried. Hopefully it can help you make good selections this October!

Special Thanks

I want to thank Schlafly Tap Room, Stevens Point Brewery and Cigar City Brewing all for taking the time to package and send beer for tasting and review.

I want to thank Schlafly Tap Room, Cigar City Brewing, Uinta Brewing Company, American Craft Beer and Beer Advocate all for showing interest and taking part in QA sessions that will be published throughout the coming weeks.

Lastly I want to thank Oliver's Beverage Center for being a local host to so many great pumpkin beer options. And I'd also like to thank Half Time Beverage for being host to so many hard to find options. Their support team is extremely accommodating and their selection continues to deliver.

Follow all reviews and updates, as well as some appropriate rants, on Twitter at: @BumpinPumpkin 

[bumpinpumpkinbeer]

Two Roads Roadsmary's Baby Pumpkin Ale (2014)

Brewery: Two Roads Brewing Company

ABV: 6.8%

As soon as I eyed this selection in the beverage center I was whispered to by the gentleman next to me..."I hear that's a real good one." How could it not be? Its name kicks ass and it's label is great!

Appearance: This pours a hazy, dark orange that's pretty beautiful under good light. There's a little off-white head but it dissipates fairly quickly. There looks to be moderate carbonation.

Aroma: I appreciate the pumpkin being noticeable up front. Following the pumpkin is cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla. The vanilla is pretty easy to pick out, especially having noticed it mentions the involvement of vanilla beans right on the bottle. There's a hint of sweet alcohol, which is also expected considering it's aged in rum barrels. A sweet malt makes for an attractive smell that isn't as powerful as a Southern Tier option but is strong enough to garner the same attention.

Taste: There's a pretty solid balance of pumpkin and spices from front to back. They're surrounded by a mild alcohol and oak mix. Cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla are all present. There's a really fantastic tension between the malt and hops. They're both appreciable and they don't dominate one another. This finishes with a sweet malt topped with a small vanilla kick. There's no discomfort in the aftertaste either. Instead you're left with a wet, rich flavor that makes you want more. Really great taste all around.

Mouthfeel: Just as impressive is the feel. It's medium bodied with moderate carbonation that plays really well on the palate. The carbonation combined with the notes of rum gives it a warmer feeling. It's frictionless from front to back but it isn't watery. It's decently round and surprisingly drinkable considering its combination.

Overall: The balance of malt and hops is superb. Even more impressive is the character it's given when you take into account its aged barrel process. The overall flavor is extraordinarily harmonious. All of this builds for an experience that you inevitably want to take part in again and again. It's that good. Most importantly, there's almost exactly the amount of pumpkin I'd want in all my beers. If there's anything to complain about, perhaps it's that the oak and rum step just a bit too far forward every once in awhile. But honestly...I'm reaching for something to really complain about. This is a must try pumpkin beer.

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