Millstream Great Pumpkin Imperial Stout - Millstream Brewing Company

JackieTH

Minnesota

2.28/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

I enjoyed Millstream's back road stout, so when I saw the imperial pumpkin, being a huge fan of pumpkin beers, why not?

Poured a deep dark brown with a mocha head, it looks quite promising, delicious.

Smell..cherry cordials. And I don't like cherry cordials. It certainly doesn't smell terrible, but it doesn't smell like anything remotely pumpkin. I'm not getting any pumpkin, no nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice. Uh oh..

Taste..not good. Cherry bubble gum. Some type of chocolate candy bar. Again, cherry cordials come to mind. Not very good ones either. This isn't good. There's nothing remotely pumpkin about this and it's not even a good imperial stout.

Oh well. What to do with the other three bottles.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 04:05:18 | More by JackieTH

imperialking

Illinois

2.25/5  rDev -20.8%

11-29-2012 23:32:40 | More by imperialking

FosterJM

California

2.98/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

1615th Review on BA
Bottle to Alchemist wine glass
12oz

Thanks to Jodan for the IA state tick!!!

App- This poured out a bit of a mixed brown color with some yellow highlights around the edges and even the sides. The center was a bit dense and had a deep color behind it. The head was a quick receding head with only a couple dots of cling.

Smell- It was just off to me. Overly sweet like it was a pumpkin liquid they poured in the fermenters and just ran with it. The stout aspect was there with a bit of a mild malt flavor and maybe some roast behind it.

Taste- It was okay. A lot of the beers flavors comes from what I would call a false flavoring and has a bit of pumpkin, some nutmeg and a little chocolate. Just a bit too sweet and off flavored.

Mouth- A way to thin body with a light medium carbonation. A bit like vanilla extract on the residual flavoring being a touch sweet.

Drink- It was just okay. A ticker is ticking states and this was IA. So at least its done.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 17:29:39 | More by FosterJM

SaxmanRick

Minnesota

1.5/5  rDev -47.2%

11-06-2012 23:12:00 | More by SaxmanRick

BeerNutz324

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev +31.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 bottle into an oversized wine glass

Ap- looks pretty nice...tan head about 1/2 inch with fair retention. Dark dark brown in color and not see through at all.

Ar- first I smell some pumpkin rind, some grassy notes, earthy, some roasted malt.

T- some dark fruit up front, followed by pumpkin, a bit of spice and some slight chocolate flavors and some roasty malts

M- a tad bit thin for a stout but just a tad. Creamy with good carbonation for a stout.

O- pretty good pumpkin beer, better than a lot I've had. Not the best but a good pumpkin beer nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 00:01:11 | More by BeerNutz324

GringoKid

2.75/5  rDev -3.2%

10-29-2012 00:45:35 | More by GringoKid

injuredreserve

Louisiana

2/5  rDev -29.6%

10-28-2012 02:34:21 | More by injuredreserve

dtmets84

New York

2.93/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Big thanks to graniteskunk for this!

Poured into my pumking snifter. Thanks to gskunk again

Appearance:Jet black with a tan head that leaves a very weak lacing

Smell:Smells like toffee and a hint of vanilla... no pumpkin IMO

Taste: The mouthfeel is thin and subdued. more toffee and malt not getting any pumpkin or spices

Drinkability: It is not something I would seek out again

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 23:12:38 | More by dtmets84

MattyG85

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +40.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Surly Darkness chalice glass.

Appearance: Pours a dark oily black with a moderate amount of bubbles. About two fingers of tan head that fade into a thin patchy layer. Leaves a decent amount of lacing.

Smell: Spices leap out right away with big hints of ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Dark roasted malts with hints of dark chocolate, dark bread, caramel, toffee, and a little coffee. Big scent of brown sugar and some molasses. Some pumpkin is there as well. Quite an interesting aroma. Sweet but not overwhelming.

Taste: Like it smells, a sweet stout with a heavy fall spicing. Dark roasted malts with a taste of chocolate, toasted bread, caramel, toffee, coffee, and biscuit. Some syrupy molasses and brown sugar. Big spice presence with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. A fairly light but noticeable taste of pumpkin. Hop presence is faint. Pretty good overall.

Mouthfeel: Heavy body with a moderate level of carbonation. Creamy and fairly syrupy. Sweet but not cloying. Alcohol is hidden well.

Overall: This surprisingly was pretty good. Its pretty sweet but the sweetness wasn't overbearing. The spices were an interesting mix with the dark stout.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 06:25:51 | More by MattyG85

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

3.38/5  rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The notch on the side corresponds to the second “J” for July — at least I think that is a notch.

Appearance: Poured into a tulip glass. The color is opaque black; zero light passed through when I held it to a lamp. One finger of creamy, tan head dissipated to leave a thick ring around the edge and a spotted skim of lacing.

Smell: It smells like a very chocolaty Reese’s peanut butter cup — or maybe a Dairy Queen Blizzard with pieces of Reese’s. Lots of chocolate, peanut butter, vanilla, molasses, pumpkin (yes, I think it is in there), pumpkin pie, and a hint of booze.

Taste: The mouthfeel is thick and creamy but the flavors are subdued compared to the aroma. Chocolate, roasted malts, molasses, and pumpkin pie. There is a hint of booze and each sip leaves a slightly spicy aftertaste.

Drinkability: It is an experience. It is not something I would drink a lot of but it is something that should be experienced.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 01:43:23 | More by TheQuietMan22

msubulldog25

Oregon

2.63/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Picked up a 12 oz. bottle on a Labor Day weekend trip through Iowa and Illinois - late August Pumpkin beer? Curious about this... Poured to a pint glass on a cool, overcast early October day, back home in Portland, OR.

Label: "Stout Brewed With Artificial Flavor" :-

A: Very dark - a rich chocolate brown with a 1/2 finger of mocha head. Gold hold, very dense and clingy.

S: Vanilla (candle) scent hits upfront then a sweet cocoa, that I can only liken to Hershey's syrup. Cocoa butter, too... a bit like tanning lotion... very odd, nothing at all 'pumpkin' as far as I'm concerned. 'Artificial'? Indeed, it is.

T: A head-scratching lack of what I consider to be the staples of 'pumpkin' beers (at least the fake, tasting/smelling ones). Lots of fudgy cocoa, more of that syrupy/sugary molasses-based sweetness. There are hints of vanilla and some cinnamon... spice is able to cover a roasted dark malt and caramel only so much.

M: Mellow and creamy feel, more candy and chocolate and a bit waxy. Bitterness grows in the finish and provides a fairer balance.

O: NOT a 'pumpkin' beer like I'd expected; it's a decidedly sweeter/'dessert' beer - one that has a place... maybe. If you like a cocoa-forward stout then this may be your thing. It's frustrating to see an orange label and a prominently displayed pumpkin, but to feel cheated out of any real pumpkin flavors or spices, even if they're of the 'pie' variety...which I generally like. I didn't pour it out, but wouldn't buy again either.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 23:06:23 | More by msubulldog25

cofeeguru

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +40.8%

10-11-2012 23:00:27 | More by cofeeguru

SalukiAlum

Colorado

2.25/5  rDev -20.8%

10-09-2012 04:21:18 | More by SalukiAlum

Hopstout

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +40.8%

10-09-2012 01:35:51 | More by Hopstout

ZAP

Minnesota

3.18/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

First impression....very "vegetal"...both on the aroma and the taste....some mild cocoa...body is creamy but never threatens "imperial" territory....maybe this is how a true pumpkin beer tastes? I do not know...most are heavily spiced and this one is not.

Nothing real "off" or anything....just different...there is no writeup on their website which is very disappointing...if you are going to bottle it at least give us the low down on what it is...no description on the bottle either...not horrible but I won't buy again....sounded like it had promise but overall only slightly average at best...

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 00:43:48 | More by ZAP

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

2.15/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Gift from Rob T. -- thanks bro.

A: poured a near opaque, jet black, full dark tan head that dissipated
S: weird, cherry, chocolate, where's the pumpkin?
T: just as weird, chalky, overly sweet, cherry, chocolate,
M: cloying
O: very disappointing, not even close to what's advertised, chocolate covered cherries in a beer

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 00:49:30 | More by wisrarebeer

bsp77

Minnesota

2.83/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Snifter.

Appearance: Black with moderate tan head that mostly dissipates. Standard Imperial Stout look.

Smell: Chocolate, molasses, vanilla, gingerbread and rum. Sounds good, but something slightly odd about the overall mix.

Taste: The taste is even odder. There are definite Stout qualities, especially chocolate and molasses. There are also definite Pumkin Pie qualities with ginger, cinnamon, whipped cream and nutty pumpkin. However, it really doesn't jell, and the mix is almost medicinal and sickly.

Feel: Creamy and smooth full bodied beer with low carbonation. The finish, like everything else, is just a little off. But the mouthfeel is still a strength.

Overall: Odd. Sounds like it should've great and the list of flavors sounds interesting, but just doesn't quite work.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 03:27:18 | More by bsp77

yamar68

Minnesota

2.28/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Pours a deep coffee brown - near black, topped with a short-lived light mocha head that fades out to a collar within a minute. Very precise lacing.

The nose is stuffed with nutmeg, pumpkin flesh, mud, brown sugar, fresh wood, something else that I can't quite put my finger on. Something ain't quite right.

Ironically, the first thing I notice is the aftertaste - dirty vegetables, like taking a bite out of a gourd before it's even harvested. The traditional pumpkin beer traits are muddy and sporadic without any support from the mouthfeel. They must have used something goofy to achieve the pumpkin qualities they were looking for because, again, something is off... especially noticeable in the finish.

I really, really wanted to like this. It sounds like such a tasty concept - an imperial pumpkin stout. I think they missed the mark here though unfortunately.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2012 01:14:12 | More by yamar68