Pumpkineater - Howe Sound Inn & Brewing Company

prosper

Alberta (Canada)

1.98/5  rDev -48.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Exceptionally brisk carbonation. I poured a glass full of foam. It's a slightly hazy orange colour with an off-white head.

Smells of pumpkin pie spices, as anticipated, but not overpowering. Seems like a good balance with some toasty and some caramelly malts. No hops.

Taste is.... OK. I think it's probably over-spiced for my tastes, it's got a strange non-hoppy bitterness that's sharp and biting, oddly combined with a cloying sweetness and a mouthfeel that's moderately full up front, but seems to finish watery, somehow. There's a biscuitty malt edge that just seems to clash with everything here. It's all wrong, in my opinion. I'm going to have a hard time getting through an entire litre of this stuff; definitely NOT my cuppa tea

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2010 03:25:18 | More by prosper

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

3/5  rDev -22.1%

05-20-2013 05:07:40 | More by Kmat10

timiskin

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.9%

04-23-2013 20:23:00 | More by timiskin

JackieTH

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review written from tasting notes.

Light anise on the nose with cloves and nutmeg. Taste has none of the anise I smelled. Summer squash/mashed pumpkin. Hint of nutmeg, allspice, cloves. The spices here really add nicely to the flavor and are not distractingly over-the-top. Nice clean malt. Medium body hold together well. Good level of carbonation is complementary. Overall was a tasty seasonal brew, would buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 18:49:33 | More by JackieTH

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.9%

02-14-2013 12:38:05 | More by DaPan

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.99/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a deep amber color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and minimal lacing. Aroma consists of cinnamon and cloves are quite dominant with light pumpkin and caramelized notes. Taste is a solid mix between some cinnamon and cloves notes with some good notes of pumpkin and caramelized malt. Body is full with good carbonation with no apparent alcohol. Solid interpretation of the style and somewhat reminiscent of Pumpking with less aggressive spicing.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 03:12:41 | More by Phyl21ca

iKrystin

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

01-12-2013 23:21:45 | More by iKrystin

FondueVoodoo

British Columbia (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Burnt amber and crystal clear, with a few lazy bubbles finding their way to the surface. Two fingers of creamy head on the pour, but nothing more than a minimal ring around the glass after a rest.

S: Roasted pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, nutmeg & ginger and some sweet malts. The pumpkin is right there in the forefront of the scent profile as are the pumpkin pie spices. Noticeable absent is the yeast - that may be intentional, but doesn't detract from the smell.

T: Forward flavour of roasted pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices, with a hint of bitter hops, noticeable heavy on the star anise. Some rum notes on the back end, like a solid winter drink should be.

M: A little thin compared to the big flavour & smell, I hoped for something chewy & coating, however this feels crisp and clean and light. Some nice sparks of carbonation up front on the palate and just a suggestion of booze at the back end.

O: The smell and taste are definitely a strong representation of a pumpkin ale, however I find the mouthfeel a little thin. This wouldn't deter me from trying it again because the flavour and scent are so incredibly pumpkin forward. Maybe it's just me, but I think this might make a fantastic beer float!

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 03:08:27 | More by FondueVoodoo

SandS

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

12-22-2012 17:44:02 | More by SandS

LagerHOGGER

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.9%

12-07-2012 00:57:00 | More by LagerHOGGER

KalanM

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

11-29-2012 02:26:58 | More by KalanM

urbantornado

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.9%

11-28-2012 18:08:51 | More by urbantornado

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +16.9%

11-25-2012 18:39:59 | More by Molson2000

beerhunter13

Ontario (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev -35.1%

11-22-2012 11:36:17 | More by beerhunter13

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Amber colour, 1.5 fingers of off white head, some lace here as well. Nose is of cinnamon and ginger followed by a nice crisp malt, quite a bit of vanilla, pumpkin, clove and more spice all well integrated here and the nose is quite lovely. Taste is spicy with cinnamon, lightly bitter, vanilla, bits of a weird acidity too, pumpkin with a doughnut malty finish. Light-medium carbonation, medium body. Pretty good and the nose is wonderful but another 1L bottle of this is out of the question.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 12:58:28 | More by peensteen

Jasonrm72

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

11-18-2012 03:15:54 | More by Jasonrm72

highway99

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

11-13-2012 04:53:41 | More by highway99

bigox420

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -22.1%

11-10-2012 01:42:29 | More by bigox420

Birdlegs

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

11-04-2012 05:02:50 | More by Birdlegs

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: It has a nice cloudy deep orange color to it. It has a nice off-white head that dies down moderately and leaves little lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitely give out hints of pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and sweet malts.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a some pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg, faint cinnamon, a hint of vanilla and sweet malts.

Mouthfeel: It has a medium/high carbonation with a very nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 20:14:05 | More by SebD

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 1L monster of a bottle with a swing top, part of the LCBO's fall release. Shared with my wife on Halloween after all the trick or treaters had finished their evening.

Poured into a nonic. Dark amber-copper in colour, hazy, nice cap of foam that receded into a fine ring. Certainly shows its gravity.

Nose is quite nice - big cooked pumpkin smell here, with some clove, cinnamon and caramel malt as well.

A tasty pumpkin ale indeed, again with the fresh cooked pumpkin allowed full opportunity to show off. The spices provide potent accompaniment: again, clove, all-spice, cinnamon and nutmeg. Not as malty or thick as I had expected, but certainly highly enjoyable.

While not my favorite pumpkin ale around (that distinction remains in the hands of Pumking), this was still a solid pumpkin ale, well worth the pickup - though at this volume and price tag I doubt more than one is in the cards for this year.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 02:06:38 | More by JohnnyBarman

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

4.6/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Howe Sound's"Pumpkineater"Imperial Pumpkin Ale @ 8.0% , served from 1L pot-stopper bottle , great for home brewing , even at the $8 to $10 range per bottle
A-pour is a burnt orange with nice size off white head , that leaves some spotty lacing along the stein
S-interesting combination of pumpkin pie spices (cloves , cinnamon , nutmeg and star anise)
T-wow , a boozy pumpkin sweetness seems to dominate this beer which goes down oh so easy
MF-good carbonation , great body , ya can feel that 8.0%
Ov-great imperial pumpkin ale , good thing it's only available seasonally , as I'd be a very happy but poor man , this beer topped my Pumpkin Ales/Beers list for 2010 and 11 , but has been replaced by Elysian-Dark O'The Moon this year

Cheers , LampertLand

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 07:55:37 | More by LampertLand

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy burnt copper pour with a two finger, sort lived light tan head. Lacing is sticky.

Pumpkin right up front, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and brown sugar. There is a slight fig aroma.

Pumpkin and cinnamon. Not over the top spices like some, this focuses on the pumpkin than the pie tastes. Nutmeg, brown sugar, vanilla and some digestive cookie notes resembling pie crust.

Light to medium body, good carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 02:07:10 | More by korguy123

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer is dark amber in colour, reddish, with a small-moderately sized off-white head. Head dissipates relatively quickly.

Lots of pumpkin in the nose. Expected pumpkin-pie like spices are prominent as well, cloves, nutmeg. On the sweet side. Certainly has a pumpkin pie aroma.

Taste has pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves. Spices are prominent, but there is a good pumpkin base. Malty. Nice flavour, quite yummy.

Medium bodied, quite malty. Carbonation is a bit high, but pretty good.

Overall, a very well done pumpkin ale. Definitely a good one if you are into the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 00:37:34 | More by jrenihan

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

(3.5) A: Rich dark amber coloured with a healthy foam head that swiftly recedes to a ring. Satisfactory lacing down the glass.

(4.0) S: Caramel, butterscotch, gingerbread, pumpkin, nutmeg, dark fruits including ripe plum, and orange peel. Mmm. Enticing. Smells like every type of fall/winter season baked good together in aroma form.

(3.5) T: Similar to aroma with lots of spices and butterscotch-like malt coming through. I’m also a little surprised at the level of hoppyness in this with quite a fruity flavour. Good but I feel something isn’t quite balanced (maybe too hop forward or an off spice mixture) or perhaps the cross-country trip might’ve done it or maybe I'm just going crazy.

(3.0) M: Lighter bodied with a lower carbonation. Thinner and less oily/chewy than expected. Good bittering components from the spice come through.

(3.5) D: Aroma was full of varying flavours with some complexity but the taste didn’t quite match that level in my opinion. Would love to try more from this brewer and will be scanning the shelves for their other offerings.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 22:50:08 | More by Digimaika2