Wolaver's (Organic) Pumpkin Ale - Otter Creek Brewing / Wolaver's

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

2.63/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a slightly hazed, orange-amber coloring with a thin, filmy, white ring around the surface. Aromas are very sweet, with a pumpkin and sweet potato backbone supporting a light spice blend of nutmeg and all-spice. Flavors are light, with a caramel syrup foundation that overpowers any of the harvest flavors. The spicing becomes an afterthought, and you might be able to catch a hint of nutmeg if you really swish it around in your mouth. Sharp, spiced aftertaste on a light, wilting body. The finish is limp, but heavily roasted and spiced at the very end. A final pop for a brew that was fading fast on the palate. Not a great brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 01:38:50 | More by GarthDanielson

mountdew1

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into an imperial pint glass. Color was a slighty orange amber, with next to no head. S,all lacing with a little bit accumulated on the sides. Aroma was pretty much exclusively pumpkin. Reminded me of canned pumpkin, with next to no spices. Taste started off a little malty, then picked up some peppery spice, before leaving a pumpkin puree flavor on the tongue. A bit like an over spiced pumpkin pie. Coated pretty well, but definitely had a bit more carbonation than was expected. Overall a flavorful beer. One to savor and enjoy, and not drink terribly often.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 00:08:34 | More by mountdew1

4ster

Quebec (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a half tulip.

A: Pours a cloudy orange, amber colour, hardly any carbonation with light off white frothy head and medium to light amount of retention.

S: Light, sweet malt aroma with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice... your sort of typical pumpkin cooking spices....

T: This beer is very light on everything as noted by others. Upfront very light spiced malt flavours, but hard to distinguish anything that stands out too much. The surprise happens as you finish with quite a hoppy-bitter taste hitting the back of your palate. As it warms you get more of an earthy/squash/pumpkin flavour coming out.

M: Light, small fizz carbonation on your tongue with a light body.

O: Overall an easy drinking beer with mild spicing. Almost pale ale/lager-ish in it's lightness which is a bit disappointing for a cold fall day. I would agree with others that as a pumpkin beer it definitely could pop in the flavour category a bit more, along with being a little heavier/malty. I'm all for pumpkin beers that ACTUALLY use real pumpkin, and organic at that, but was left wanting more with this one. If you're run out of pumpkin beers to try in your store, or are in the Vermont area, it's worth a try, but not to keep going back to unless you like light beers....then hey, maybe it's for you.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 01:14:48 | More by 4ster

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.18/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

amber/orange pour with a slight amount of head which quickly dissipated. this one has a very sweet scent. smells more cinnamon heavy than the other spices.
a bitter taste up front (wasn't expecting that) with lots of earth notes and a subtle offering of pumpkin spices.
light body and high carbonation. very crisp and refreshing.

as far as pumpkin beers go i want one of two things: a beer that's exactly like pumpkin pie, or a beer that tastes like roasted pumpkin seeds. this was just too bland for me, but i do acknowledge that some people just aren't THAT into pumpkin beers, this one is for them.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 00:22:08 | More by facundoCNB

JCB14

4.18/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The head on this beer was weak with little retention. This was perhaps the only negative. The aroma was excellent. It smelled like a warm pumpkin pie. The beer had a great hop flavor that is often missing in this style. This is a beer that I would gladly have a second. In general a good beer for this style it was great.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 14:39:52 | More by JCB14

tigg924

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: 1/2 inch head, orange-brown in color, cloudy, high carbonation

Smell: pumpkin spice and pumpkin

Taste: pumpkin, milk, cream, bitter rind, and pumpkin spice

Mouthfeel: sweet start with a semi-bitter middle that gets sweeter at the end,medium-high carbonation, medium bodied

Overall: A solid pumpkin beer that does a good job of combining sweetness with a touch of bitterness. I could do several of these.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 18:24:02 | More by tigg924

CheezyBlaster

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is drinkable, and seasonally appropriate. Spicing works well. A bit watery. Like a pumpkin wheaty, lagery, malt beverage. Thin body for sure. Not a ton of flavor. Not a lot of subtlety either, so there's nothing to delve into. Hollow.

It's main problem? It's overpriced. This is average as average gets. I'd buy this for 10.99 a 12 pack for parties . . . but when far superior pumpkin ales are available for better prices? Smuttynose Pumpkin, hell yeah, over this? Even the near-mediocre Sam Adams pumpkin is a tiny notch up.

Bonus point? It's made in good spirit and it's far better than Shipyard's Pumpkinhead, which is horrible as craft goes . . . also better than anything ever made by BMC. So, that's 2 bonus pts.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 00:04:40 | More by CheezyBlaster

siege06nd

Virginia

2.88/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A. Pours a medium-light orange gold color. Very cloudy. A finger of off-white head settles to a quarter finger and lingers with good retention and very good lacing on the sides of the glass. A little paler of a pumpkin ale than I am used to seeing, but good all the same.

S. Light to moderate spices, with clove, nutmeg, cinnamon. Some roasted pumpkin and then some other, less desirable vegetal notes and graininess.

T. Spice forward with a good bit of nutmeg and ginger, then an odd astringency takes over. Not getting much pumpkin, but am getting some apple and grape skin flavors, of all things. Also a roasted grainy finish, slightly dry. This has a saison-like quality to it, but with a noticeably bland malt bill and light hopping. Not sure I would be able to tell you this is a pumpkin beer unless I saw the bottle. Tastes like a very basic Belgian Pale or Saison. Very pedestrian.

M. Crisp and bubbly, but the flavors are not very well-integrated. Hops and grainy malt stand out more than anything else, with a fruit juice-like tang on the end and some light pumpkin pie spices. Everything just kinda clashes.

O. Good appearance and a nice, refined nose bump this up to average, but it's not a good representation of the style. Quite watery and with a bitter, fruity sweetness. Drinks like a Pumpkin Wheat, and not in a good way.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 19:09:45 | More by siege06nd

Dodo2step

Pennsylvania

2.98/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

P- AOH

A- light pumpkin orange color. no head and minimal lacing. somewhat hazy as well.

S- strong clove scent with all spice. Caramel malt rounds out the back end but it was hard to detect at first.

T- dry clove spice and sour pumpkin flavor on this one.

M- more malty then flavor pof pumpkin as i get down towards the bottom. Not as smooth as i would like my pumpkin ales.

O- below average pumpkin ale. It leaves a lingering malty and metal type of effect in the mouth. Not a big fan.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 17:56:08 | More by Dodo2step

alexgash

Connecticut

3.03/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle.

Hazy copper-orange with brassy edges. Small, gauzy, bright, cobweb-white head with minimal lacing. Light caramel malt, toasted grains, and peppery spice on the nose. A tad underwhelming.

Toasted grains, followed by pumpkin pie and caramelly malt. Spices (cinnamon, clove), soap (floral, perfumey), and vegetal bitterness take it to the finish. Lingering cucurb. vegetable-ness and some spiced-up caramel malt. Medium body, with a slightly soapy feel. Not my favorite pumpkin ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 21:57:54 | More by alexgash

jtierney89

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy dull orange hue with no head at all, just some, white foamy bubbles. Smells richly of pumpkin with touches of cinnamon, allspice and vanilla.

Good amount of pumpkin flavor. Medium effervescent body with nice pumpkin like flavor up front with just enough spice to balance. A little slick and syrupy with a bit of an rustic earthy finish but it kind of adds to the character.

This is Not for those looking for a beer that tastes like pumpkin pie, wolavers really makes the pumpkin the star of the show without it just being that bland pumpkin flavor. pumpkin shines through perfectly with the right amount of spices complimenting it without being to overpowering. very nice.

the mystery abv has got me worried though, this beer is going straight to my head yet it doesnt seem like it should be.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 03:28:09 | More by jtierney89

SouljaSaia17

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Dont recall ever having an organic beer before, I might have. But im looking forward to trying this one since its from Otter Creek. I have just been getting into this brewery, and they make some good beers.

A: This organic pumpkin pours a dark, cloudy/hazy orange with has a 1/4 inch bright white head with a little lacing left behind.

S: This beer has got some earthy hops to it for starters, I get some clove, nutmeg, pumpkin (of course) and maybe a hint of banana.

T: The first thing I notice from the taste is some sort of tang, maybe an orange citrus was put in. After that the pumpkin flavor comes through, blended with clove and some spice on the back end. This beer finishes off with a dry, bready aftertaste.

M: No carbonation, the beer is sweet and a little tangy. The pumpkin is a lot more present than my previous review of the Long Trail.

O: For me its tasty, not anything to rave about, but not bad either. I guess I will have to get more familiar with organic beers before I can really understand and appreciate them. Im sure most of you will feel the same. As for this beer, I will happily drink it down to the very last sip. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 22:16:11 | More by SouljaSaia17

hopmonster

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +37.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on draft in a 16oz pint glass.

Rich sparkling amber color.

Hints of nutmeg and fresh pumpkin in the nose.

Taste is very pumpkin, and just like in the nose the nutmeg is very present. Smells like a simple unbaked homemade pumpkin pie, or even like you just opened a can of pumpkin pie filling. Other spices are present, but not very strong. Hints of cinnamon and coriander, but quite subtle compared to the great fresh pumpkin flavor.

Very crisp and thin in the mouth. Goes down easily and is quite refreshing on the tongue.

Overall this is a very simple pumpkin beer, which I can appreciate. They didn't go spice crazy, and they kept a really nice upfront pumpkin flavor that is full and cannot be ignored. Well done Wolaver's!

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2012 03:42:12 | More by hopmonster

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Earthy orange amber color with a humble half-inch of head atop. Nice color. 4.0

Cinnamon, clove, pumpkin flesh, and light nutmeg. Touch of vanilla and lightly tangy citrus hops. Wafery malts are nice. 4.0

Caramel malts and big spice flavors of cinnamon and clove. Hops are quietly present, which I appreciate. A bit kicked with the spices, but the light pumpkin flavor is nice. Not too sweet. Very dusty. Balanced between body and carbonation; if not too thin. 3.5, 3.5

Decent pumpkin. Wolaver's does a good job here. 4.0

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2012 03:25:11 | More by thecheapies

SaCkErZ9

Florida

4.2/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The last of the mixed twelver I purchased. So far, one hit and two misses. Lets see how this one turns out.

The pumpking beer pours hazy, orange amber in color, and is topped with a half finger sized head, white in color. Semi permanent lacing.

Love the aroma. I can never get enough of the pupkin pie/fall/pecan pie aromas. Although the season has passed and it is now spring (a very very warm spring), the aromas are quite intoxicating. Even from two feet, the aromas of cinnamon, cloves, and most prominently nutmeg, jump out of the glass and wind their way into the old sniffer. Perhaps the nutmeg may be too much for most, but I love it.

I wish the beer had a little more maltiness to it. The flavors are not overwhelming, but a little malt balance would go a long way with this one. Full of seasonal spices, this one is certainly an October favorite.

As far as pumpkin beers go, this one is top notch. Individual tastes will vary, but I liked this one. Maybe the age mellowed this one to perfection, but I would most certainly revisit this one again next year.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 00:39:41 | More by SaCkErZ9

thain709

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I thought I was all done with my pumpkin reviews from last season, but I found this one lingering behind. Consumed in 2011.

A - Clear amber body with a small, white head...the head stood one finger tall and receded pretty quickly...not much lacing left behind

S - Rather sweet with a touch of earthiness...caramel malts, a touch of roast, earthy hops, slight pumpkin pie spices

T - Initially there is a sweetness that kicks things off but it never becomes cloying or sticks around for long...the spices come in to take the edge off...they, too, never become overpowering...cinnamon and nutmeg lead the way there...sweet caramel comes back right before an earthy finish that provides a slight hop bite

M - Medium bodied...clean and crisp...actually a little refreshing

O - Wolaver's does a nice job with their organic beers...this one showcased a sweet side, spicy side, and a hoppy side...with not one standing above the other

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 13:11:20 | More by thain709

Treyliff

West Virginia

2.83/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I bought a sixer of these because I had never seen organic pumpkin ale so I figured I would give it a try.

Poured a copper like color with a small white head. Smelled or just about every spice you would associate with fall; nutmeg, cinnamon, all spice, etc. The problem was that all of these spices overtook any flavor of beer on the taste. It felt like I was drinking potpourri.

Overall decent but not in my top 5 of pumpkin ales that I've had so far.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 07:38:36 | More by Treyliff

garuda

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz brown bottle, date coded on neck

A - Murky orange/copper with an off white head that retains well with some lacing. The murkiness really doesn't look too appealing.

S/T - Very pumpkin-spicy. Some malt sweetness comes through mid palate, with a touch of hops, and finishes on the spicy side.

M - Medium body, ample carbonation, finishes mostly clean with a lingering spiciness.

O - Not expecting much from this one, I was pleasantly surprised by the bold spiciness, with a nice, underlying caramel malt sweetness providing balance. I'd consider getting it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 16:38:53 | More by garuda

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.78/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

a pretty good pumpkin ale. pours a hazy orange color with a thick creamy white head. smells less spiced than many pumpkin beers, and the smell of pumpkin is very noticable. tastes like fall, squashy and a touch sweet. could session this beer all night because it isnt overpowering. its all quite understated, but very well balanced. bravo!

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2011 23:37:18 | More by StonedTrippin

KajII

North Carolina

2.9/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

[Best served in a Lager glass]

The pour was a medium hazy copper with a large (2-3 Finger) white rocky head that had great retention and some really good lacing that was left hanging on the glass throughout.

The aroma was of a light toasted malt and a mildly sweet doughy yeast with notes of nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon and of course pumpkin.

The taste was some what sweet and malty with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg from the beginning and had a mild bitterness with a hint of pumpkin and a little bite from the allspice at the end. The flavor lingered for a nice long while allowing for the taste of the spices to settle nicely on the taste buds.

Mouthfeel was light on body and watery in texture and had a kind of medicine feel to it with a medium carbonation.

Overall a mild tasting Pumpkin Ale with a slight bitter bite of spices that was left lingering well after the swallow. It was a decent brew which fits with the style rather nicely.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 15:46:08 | More by KajII

SickGnar

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Peachy / orangey light copper, slightly cloudy with tine floaties. Okay size ecru head that retains very well & leaves quite nice lacing.

S: Pie spice – cinnamon first and then the rest. Faint pumpkin and faint dry, grainy, and perhaps toasty malts. As it warms the spices retreat a hair and the gourd grows a bit as the aroma rounds out a tad more malty.

T: A bit astringent. A combination of spices, hops, and some roasted malt notes – all without enough sweetness, base malt backbone, and subsequent body to back up the other aspects. Actually the first malt note that is noticed is a dry roast character from something highly kilned. Probably used for color, but it comes through due to the base malts being so shy. There is some steely caramel, toasted grain, and super faint sweetness – just not enough of those characteristics. Spice is more nutmeg and less cinnamon than the nose. There is some starchy pumpkin there, but you have to look for it. And about the time you find it, it is overwhelmed by a pretty firm dose of grassy, earthy, herbal hops.

M: Medium-light body with average carbonation. Starts almost smooth and then takes on a fair bit of pucker from the astringency. Rather well attenuated to start with and then the spice and hops take it quite drying. Overall effect is that it comes across as a bit too stretched.

D: They went a good bit too light on this one. It just doesn’t have enough base to carry spicing and hops, and to hold everything else together. A bit more base malt backbone, body, and perhaps sweetness – and this would be right in the hunt. Still, as is, it is far better than some of the thin, spritzy, soda-like, spice bombs that are out there.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 01:31:01 | More by SickGnar

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

2.7/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a hazy orange-ish to yellow color with a light tan head. In the aroma, mellow spices of cinnamon and nutmeg. In the taste, a faint spice of cinnamon and a mellow pumpkin flavor. A spice bite and medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a dry cinnamon like spice in the aftertaste. Very mellow and faint spices, eh.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 14:27:02 | More by OWSLEY069

mralphabet

Virginia

2.9/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into pint glass

A: Pours light copper, about a fingers worth of head that settles to little to nothing with no real lacing.

S: I like the smell here... all the normal Pumpkin smells... Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice and pumpkin. I'm also getting a little grassy, earthy hops.

T: A big hit of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg right up front before giving way to a bitter grassy hops, The pumpkin kind of pops in mid palate but that grassy hops kind of kills any goodness going on.

M: Light to mid bodied... Little thinner than I was hoping and dry in the finish... Carbonation is pretty light as well.

O: I love the smell of this beer but the grassy hops is killing it for me. The ABV seems pretty low but 1 will do it for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 03:53:02 | More by mralphabet

kingcrowing

Vermont

3.63/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a Duvel tulip.

Pours a dark ruby amber color with a pretty one finger white head that quickly fades to a thin white acing. Nose is nutmeg and cinnamon with a light creamy mellow pumpkin note.

Taste is very well balanced. I generally don't like pumpkin beers because of the spices but they are fairly understated and work well with the pumpkin. The Mouthfeel is ful and creamy with a sharp finish. Overall its quite good!

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 22:40:22 | More by kingcrowing

JizackFH

New York

3.03/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - This beer pours a slightly hazy orange copper color. It has a finger of off-white head resting on top. The head has pretty good retention, and it leaves behind some whisky lace on the glass.

S - The nose has some light pumpkin and spice aromas. There is also some light maltiness and a mild hop presence.

T - The taste starts off with some light malts and wheat flavor. There are some light pumpkin and spice notes here as well. There is a mild hop presence also. The finish leaves some lingering spice and wheat flavor behind.

M - This has a medium body and average carbonation. It has a pretty good feel and there is somewhat of a tingly feel. There is a little bit of hop bitterness, and it has a bit of a refreshing quality to it.

O - This has decent drinkability. I would have no problem drinking a few of these in an evening. Overall, I thought this was a pretty decent pumpkin ale. It is a little bit bland, but it's still pretty nice. Give it a shot.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 17:46:55 | More by JizackFH