UFO Pumpkin - Harpoon Brewery

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.48/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Consumed 8/26/11

Appearance: Slightly hazy but mostly clear (interesting considering "unfiltered" is part of the name), orange with some copper in color, decent white head that leaves a better than average ring, not much lacing

Smell: This is the aroma of a can of pumpkin pie filling - all of the usual suspects for spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, etc.) plus some sugar - the quantity of spice is both good and bad - it smells nice, but it may not translate well to taste - some pumpkin flesh in here, too - some pale malts underneath and some grassy hops

Taste: Not bad, but not really remarkable in any way - spices are ok, borderline too spicy - cinnamon seems prominent - there seems to be some sugar as well as brown sugar in here - malts are nicely pale, some odd husky flavors - kind of grassy, some tannins, tart?

Mouthfeel: Mostly smooth, could be a little heavier - with all of the spices and sweetness, it should have a bit more body - decent carbonation though

Overall: Good, not a bad offering

This is mostly unoffensive, although there are some strange malt flavors. The spices are decent, and the use of actual pumpkin is a plus. I probably won't buy this again, but I'd drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 04:19:46 | More by angrybabboon

rowingbrewer

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a hazy yellowish orange color with a decent head. The smell is actually quite appealing with a real pumpkin scent and not just pie spice like some other beers. The flavor is a
Little disappointing it is more of the usual straight up pumpkin pie flavor with a noticeable wheat beer finish. The mout

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 21:33:39 | More by rowingbrewer

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Hazy, copper/orange. Head is white, slightly fluffy, with negligible lacing.

Smell: Real pumpkin? This is unexpected. The usual spice suspects are present as well. Allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and that distinct aroma of pumpkin pie filling. Sweet, but a touch of wheat tang sneaks in the back. Faint malt in the back.

Taste: Sweet like pie filling. In fact, it's a spot on replica of canned pie filling. Nutmeg and cinnamon dominate, but it's a clean level of sweet as well. A little malt flavor sneaks through in the back. Grassy hop notes on the back as well. A solid presentation, but the sweetness is a little distracting. Warms too grassy.

Mouthfeel: Slightly creamy with some rough edges. Carbonation is spot on. A little dry from the wheat. Easily drinkable.

Overall: Don't let this warm up. Cold, it's an easy drinking take on the pumpkin ale, with only a few off flavors, but once it warms, it falls apart and turns in to a discordant mess. Decent,

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 03:33:43 | More by Goblinmunkey7

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a decent fluffy almost 2 finger head that fades semi quickly at first the slower, no real lacing, over hazy golden amber orange colored beer.

Nose has pumpkin and spices, light pumpkin filling, light toasted malt, some pumpkin and holiday like spices that aren't too heavy but there.

Taste brings light tart almost sour pumpkin, pumpkin filling from a can, light bready malts giving just a hint of pumpkin pie, then some light spices typical pumpkin or holiday spices and light wit like spices, very light syrupy malts, a light bitterness comes through with some light spicy hops. Finishes a bit more bitter with spicy hops, some lingering pumpkin and spices, and hints of malts, slightly dry with some light sticky feel.

Mouth is med to lighter bodied, good carbonation.

Overall not bad, I was expecting worse but the malts weren't bad, light hops are nice, the pumpkin or spices weren't overpowering but let you know it was there.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 23:21:10 | More by jlindros

silentjay

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

pours a hazy tarnished copper color with a fluffy eggshell colored head that sticks around a while and laces well.

aroma is of squash at first, yeah they used real pumpkin in this one! spices are evident as well, as it was "brewed with spices and with spices added" so it was double spiced, if you will. but still, the spices don't seem to be overdone.

flavor is very sweet. molasses, brown sugar, caramel, with some pumpkin, lots of nutmeg, more than a touch of cinnamon. sweet and with lots of spice, the real pumpkin flavor falls to the background, unfortunately.

thin medium body with subtle carbonation and a lingering sweetness and spices that don't let go for a while.

started promising, but ended disappointing. Those that like the overly spiced pumpkin beers (shipyard, anyone?) may like this as it adds a touch of real pumpkin to it, but I don't overly enjoy it. I may recommend it to some gateway beer lovers, though.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 01:50:32 | More by silentjay

smitty50385

Massachusetts

4.63/5  rDev +28.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I love the fall because that means pumpkin beer. I really enjoy shipyard pumpkin and have a soft spot for harvest moon. When I tasted Harpoon's UFO Pumpkin it blew my mind. It was the first time it really tasted like liquid pumpkin pie. Although it's still well before fall it gives me that feeling every time I enjoy one. Looking forward to having it with cold weather foods!

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2011 18:20:37 | More by smitty50385

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.28/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle stamped BB12/15/11-08:01-175N. Sample on August 18, 2011. It pours amber-orange with a bit of a haze and a thin head. The aroma has a nice combination of pumpkin, nutmeg, and other spices with a whiff of hops at the end. The body was thinner than I might have hoped. The taste had enough pumpkin flavor so that it lives up to its name but it was nothing that was out of the ordinary. It finished clean and crisp but all told, it was really fairly routine.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 22:44:28 | More by puboflyons

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.93/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I'm generally not a big fan of pumpkin beers, but this one was pretty good.

In a mug, the beer was an amber color with a medium-sized white head that dissipated quickly.

Pumpkin pie aroma. Nutmeg.

Pumpkin pie taste. Nutmeg. A bit of caramel malt

Medium-bodied, a little on the spicy side.

I would drink this one again.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 23:34:48 | More by lordofthewiens

OverToad

Texas

4.97/5  rDev +37.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pumpkin beets are hands down my favorite.

The UFO is unfiltered and looks fantastic. Smell is like pumpkin pie.

Taste is like a liquid pumpkin pie. It's for once not to taste raw pumpkin like other pumpkin ales. This one taste like a dessert.

Well done.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 01:14:18 | More by OverToad

Brad007

Vermont

4.15/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

An unfiltered pumpki ale? Ok. Here goes then.

Pours a nice amber color with a bit of froth in the head. Could easily pass for an octoberfest beer.

Mmm, nutmeg and pumpkin pie come to mind. The aroma is similar to that of Shipyard Pumpkin Ale.

More nutmeg and pumpkin pie in the taste. It's very good for what it is. A bit chewy too.

Lingering pumpkin pie crust dominates the mouthfeel. Mmm. I can't ask for me.

Well, it's a pumpkin ale and it seems well done. This style is usually dominated by wanna-bes but I think Pumpkin UFO captures the essence of it well in a drinkable form.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 01:08:26 | More by Brad007

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.2/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pumpkin beer in summer, eh...

A- Dark orange body into my pint glass. A foamy off-whitehead forms atop the beer and retains decently. Head eventually dies completely leaving not a ring or lace.

S- General nutmeg, cinnamon, pumpkin and spice along with other fruit like apple, almost apple pumpkin pie hybrid. Fades out with time.

T- Once again I get a tart apple note long with the usual suspects of cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin, clove and bread. Also ginger, molasses and some hops, herbal.

MF- Silky light body with a smooth moderate carbonation level. Some residual bitterness in the finish.

Interesting and certainly has the autumn pumpkin feel, along with another tart fruit hint. It is kind of like pumpkin fruit soda. The balance of flavor is lost with time and knocks this one down a level as it didn't start off too badly.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2011 03:01:40 | More by cbutova

bmwfan1987

Connecticut

2.23/5  rDev -38.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

I was excited to get in the fall spirit, and try a newly released pumpkin beer. I should of had my iPhone on me but I Made snap judgement. This beer has an ok aroma. The apearance is the best part about the beer. The Taste is bland pumpkin on the finish. It was hard to detect any spices, if I did they were barely used in this beer. Over all a very, very bland pumpkin beer. My bartender summed it up by saying "it tastes like budweiser mixed with pumpkin." I wouldn't go that far, but it wasn't good. Give it a shot, all I know is this one is not for me. Harpoon is not a bad brewery, they just need to tweak the next batch perhaps.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 17:00:19 | More by bmwfan1987

BigCheese

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Like when seasonals are new to hit shelves because you know they have to be fresh.

A: Pours an Orange/Amber, not as cloudy as most unfiltered beers. Nice White head, leaves significant/suprising ammount of lacing maybe because its fresh.

S: More pumpkin pie than striaght pumkin, seriously doubt this is made with real pumkins. Steriotypical cinnamon and nutmeg as well.

Taste: Nothing crazy complex but a malty sweet pumkin flavor domintates up front. Not a ton of lingering flavor, a touch of bitterness/hops finishes the taste quickly. I've had Brooklyn Post Road this year and I would say this is sweeter/lighter/less flavorful.

Mouthfeel: Thicker/creamer than many cheap pumkins due to the unfiltered aspect. Well carbonated, very light to drink though, I went through this quite quickly.

A pretty decent option from Harpoon, better than their octoberfest. Nothing ground breaking but if your looking for a local pumkin ale check it out. I wouldnt go out of my way or trade for it though.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 00:13:59 | More by BigCheese

DrinkingDrake

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Orange/red, pretty much burnt pumpkin. Small amount of head with a thick ring around the glass afterwards. Only an extremely small amount of haze. F.O Pumpkin. Nose is spicy nutmeg, pumpkin and sourdough. Light body with a crisp tingle on the tongue. Light bready malt body with nutmeg and pumpkin spices. Finish is almost nothing, watery, a bland dryness, and only a carbonation tingle.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 23:06:08 | More by DrinkingDrake

taez555

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a mostly clear, mildy hazy, orange tan body with a white head.

Nose has a very potpouri and pumpkin smell.

Taste is light to medium bodied with a chewy grain flavor. Very defined pumpkin pie spice flavor, but not in your face. Very bitter actually with quite a strong hop profile for the style. Ends with a lingering pumpkin flavor.

It sounds boring, but this is a fabulous beer. A perfect session pumpkin. Not over the top, not that mild, just right to drink a case or two.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 21:15:23 | More by taez555

ShogoKawada

Rhode Island

2.45/5  rDev -32.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

New pumpkin beer, eh? I'll give it a shot.

A- Orangey amber in the pour, 2-finger off-white eggshell/sandy tan in the glass, moderate lacing, more than expected for sure. Lacing is rather thick.

S- Light, faint grain, a smidge of pumpkin spice. Mild, not that great.

T- Lots of spicy molasses, like a ginger snap. Herbal and bitter. Just a bit of sweet pumpkin in the finish, with more brown sugar.

M- Weird. Pumpkin is dominated by the earthy bitter burned sugar. Feels thin in the mouth.

O- I'll burn through this 6er, but it's not gonna be a re-buy. Better pumpkin beers for the price ($9/6er). This one's heavy on the spices and it's hard to find the real pumpkin flavors.

Make a 100-barrel pumpkin beer, guys. This one's not up to snuff. Kind of a harsh grade, but there's no way this is above average in the spectrum of pumpkin beers.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2011 21:19:20 | More by ShogoKawada

uustal

Rhode Island

3.6/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy deep orange amber with a slight off white head. Doesn't stick around long and almost no lacing. Aroma of cinnamon and pumpkin. Flavor begins with a nice touch of pumpkin pie spices. Cinnamon leading the way. Also some nutmeg. Nice job not overpowering the pumpkin finish. Pumpkin pie filling finish which lingers into the aftertaste. Touch of hops in the beer. Solid drinkable pumpkin offering from harpoon which still maintains the characteristics of a beer. A lighter pumpkin offering for those of you who aren't looking to be overpowered by spice and heartiness.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 21:43:56 | More by uustal

Skeeter206

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Got a 6 pack because this was the first pumpkin beer I've seen this year, and the first Harpoon pumpkin beer I've had the opportunity to try.

A~ Very solid appearance, dark brown body with a fluffy white head, and pretty good lacing throughout.

S~ Pumpkin pie spices, a little bit of nutmeg, a little bit of hops in there as well.

T~ Similar to Pumpkinhead, except a little better. Tastes more like a beer and less like canned pumpkin pie. Taste definitely has a strong pumpkin pie flavor, but also some hops in there and some creamy malts in there as well.

M~ A little weak on the mouthfeel, kind of light and not too full bodied, has a slight watered down feeling to it.

Overall I enjoyed this a lot, better than shipyards offering, and pretty easy to find in my area. But when I go to a good micro brew selection this isn't going to be at the top of my list of fall beers to grab.

If you like the style check it out, nothing eye popping but definitely a solid addition to the UFO/Harpoon lineup.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 23:24:39 | More by Skeeter206

Leftfield00

Connecticut

3.63/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Harpoon's UFO Pumpkin is the first of the pumpkin beers to arrive this fall. I was really excited for it, because I'm a huge fan of the pumpkin beers like Pumking and Punkin'.

Pours a nice medium-amber color, with a slightly off-white foam. The foam is fairly thick at first, but fades pretty quickly, and leaves behind only a very small amount of lacing. For being part of their "UFO" series, it's pretty clear and not hazy at all really.

It smells exactly like pumpkin pie, if someone were sitting at the other end of the table eating pumpkin pie that is. You can definitely pickup hints of pumpkin and spice, but it's not overwhelming, definitely on the milder side.

It tastes, well, like someone on the other end of the table was eating pumpkin pie. There's definitely a touch of pumpkin, just a hint of cinnamon and spice, but that's about it. It reminds me very much of the Pumpkinhead from Shipyard, but just slightly better.

I don't find anything wrong with this beer, except that it's not impressive really. Great pumpkin beer, if you're not really a big fan of pumpkin beers. Or, if you are a big fan of pumpkin beers, and your favorite pumpkin beer is the Shipyard Pumpkinhead. Because let's face it, the Pumpkinhead smells like pumpkin, but doesn't really taste like much of a pumpkin beer.

If you're really interested in trying some real pumpkin beers, I'd recommend Southern Tier's Pumking, Dogfish Punkin' Ale, Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale, and Shipyard's Smashed Pumpkin. Let me know how it goes...

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 23:49:57 | More by Leftfield00

mostpoetsdo

Rhode Island

3.15/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

New product purchased from the Harpoon Brewery in Vermont. It's July and there is already pumpkin beer.

A: Cloudy brownish gold, puffy white head, dissipates quickly. Minimal streaks of lacing.

S: Clove, nutmeg, usual pumpkin pie notes, but a nice Belgian spice aroma. Smells a bit yeasty.

T: Reminds me of UFO (assuming they use the same yeast), but with some definite pumpkin pie characteristics. It's not overly sweet, has some bitter hop notes at time. Tastes a touch sour.

M: Pretty smooth, but rather lacking in body. Carbonation on the lower end.

O/D: It's a solid harpoon addition, good for summer right now, I can see it being very enjoyable in the fall. It's an easy drinker, but with all the other pumpkin beers out there, I don't see myself picking much of this up.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 20:51:35 | More by mostpoetsdo