Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin (Pugsley's Signature Series) - Shipyard Brewing Co.

jsisko01

Michigan

2.9/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance - Pours an orange/copper color with an inch thick head that dissipates instantly. Leaves a thin, spotty lacing.

Smell - Lots of spices. Nutmeg seems to be the most powerful, followed by pumpkin, then cinnamon. Other spices are present as well.

Taste - Wow.. very spicy. Pumpkin spice, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, clove, and allspice. It's VERY sweet and has an alcohol bite in the finish.

Mouthfeel - Light-medium bodied with medium carbonation.

Overall - This would be pretty good if the strong alcohol taste didn't gross me out.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 03:47:42 | More by jsisko01

sweemzander

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -33%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

22oz. bottle poured into a pint glass.

(A)- Pours a lightly hazed orange color. Some white froth and lacing.

(S)- A light; almost airy caramel in front of a really subdued pumpkin spice. Almost has a cornmeal thing to it too.

(T)- A bit high in the hop department; a sharp citrus twang up front that kinda gets the pumpkin and spice lost.

(M)- A good carbonation level. An ok balance, but just way too much hops in the way of what probably would have been nice pumpkin and spice notes.

(O)- A decent beer for the style, but it gets lost with the high (way too high) hop addition.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 19:20:49 | More by sweemzander

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Pours a very slightly hazy copper to reddish brown in color with some light to moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a two finger tall creamy beige head that slowly reduces to a small patch of large bubbles, a thin film covering the entire surface of the beer, and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice) with some light hints of sweetness. Also, there is a very light presence of alcohol in the smell.

T: There are some light notes of sweetness upfront in this beer (almost like a cream soda sweetness). There are moderate flavors of pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices - nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and vanilla.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Light amounts of alcohol warming in the finish.

O: Enjoyable with very good pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices which are in good balance with one another. Easy to drink because the beer is not overly sweet and the alcohol is pretty well hidden in the taste - though at 9% ABV this is very much a sipping beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 02:47:25 | More by dbrauneis

macrosmatic

Florida

3.88/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Poured from bomber into a Peg's snifter glass.

A: A glowing, hazy, orange-yellow pour. One-finger white head and a moderate amount of visible carbonation.

S: Pumpkin fruity, some citrus fruit, along with some spice (nutmeg).

T: Pumpkin pie flavors with some citrus flavors in the background. Sweeter than expected.

M: Lighter body, a sweet-tart mouthfeel. Lower amount of carbonation sensation but enough.

O: Pretty good. Pumpkin beers are not generally my favorite, but this one is acceptable. Wouldn't seek out another.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 19:38:53 | More by macrosmatic

Cavanaghty

Maine

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Hazy copper color with a thin off white head. No lacing.

Smell: Faint spices and pumpkin, not easily detectable by my nose.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Medium bodied smooth and thick. Taste of Pumpkin, light spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. Great well balanced flavor.

Overall: Great pumpkin ale, very well crafted. I will buy this one again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 20:40:09 | More by Cavanaghty

bnes09

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Deep orange, translucent ale with towering head. Excellent retention with smooth, creamy lacing.

Sweet cane sugar aroma with pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Ultra-sweet sugary flavor with a hint of bready malt. Plenty of pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg. Spicy, pine-like hop character attempts to balance the sweetness but fails. Not terrible just too sweet for my taste.

Thick feel, syrupy, dry in the finish, sticky, lowish carbonation.

Slightly above average for pumpkin beer but nothing to write home about.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 05:27:51 | More by bnes09

kangarooAdam59

Maine

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

Into a pint glass:

A: hazy copper/orange colored body with a very thin slightly bubbly head that dies before it was even noticed. The body was too dark for any carbonation to be seen rising.

S: nutmeg, cinnamon along with some light cream and vanilla, pumpkin was very subdued.

T: basically the same with a semi-bittersweet finish, combined nicely between the sweeter flavorings and the bitterness.

M: medium with some slight sharpness here and there on the tongue. This wasn't a very drinkable beer - one bomber and done (if one could do the whole thing).

O: I'm honestly not that impressed at least for me, but for the "pumpkin" style this is good, if you're into that sort of thing.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 13:15:57 | More by kangarooAdam59

ROBSTARR

Michigan

4.6/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Not bad for a pumpkin ale. Pours a bright orange coppery color with a small tan head into a snifter. The smell is strong pumpkin pie with lots of spices. Big sugary sweetness going on in this one, with a good nutmeg, cinnamon, pumpkin taste. Over all its was a bit too sweet for my taste. But one of the better pumpkin ales I've tried.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 00:50:49 | More by ROBSTARR

rangerred

Tennessee

4.33/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter out of a 22oz bomber.

Pours a hazy dark copper/orange with a very thin fizzy head that dissipates to a nice ring around the top of the beer.

Aroma has a decent amount of nutmeg and cinnamon along with cream and vanilla. Definitely has a "pumpkin" character but there is also some malt detectable. Nicely balanced.

Flavor has nutmeg and cinnamon upfront along with a touch of vanilla and cream. Some caramel malt is there along with a bit of oily slickness on the lips. Moderate bitterness all the way through and it never gets too sweet unlike a lot of pumpkin beers. The flavors linger for a long time after the finish and it is almost drying making you want to take another sip.

Overall, one of the best pumpkin beers I have had. Not a sugar bomb and it really seems like there is actual pumpkin here, not just tons of spices. Perfectly balanced and drinkable at 9% with just a slight, pleasant warming. A wonderful fall beer that everyone should seek out.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 00:44:52 | More by rangerred

pkalix

California

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

orange. no head. thin film.
smells like a pudding mix.
tastes like a pudding mix - pumpkin/butterscotch with alcohol added. like an experiment where someone tried to add alcohol to a food (think jello shots). but i suppose it'a attempting to be a verifiable classification of beer, so i'll review it that way.
medium to heavy, minimal carbonation.
overall? hmm.... definitely has the alcohol burn, but at 9% i suppose i should be expecting it. i mean, pumpkin is still borderline 'novelty', is it not? very interesting smell, and very interesting taste. the reason i chose this today is because i read in a Yahoo! column that it was either the 'best' or 2nd best pumpkin beer available this year. and i've never had a pumpkin i have really enjoyed. i was very surprised to see the 9% abv.
i wouldnt drink another one, but it isnt all that bad. i think they did a decent job of putting a pumpkin in a beer.... i can feel my head warming up . . . .

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 23:37:10 | More by pkalix

Roose13

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into pint glass

A: Orange. Had a nice two-finger white head

S: Smelled like pumpkin pie. Nutmeg, spices

T: Vanilla, pumpkin pie, cream, nutmeg. It tasted like a slice of pie

M: Medium body, lightly carbonated. Tastes lasts a long time too.

Overall. Damn good pumpkin beer. Top five for sure.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 01:33:32 | More by Roose13

brureview

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A very good fall seasonal.

Aroma: light pumpkin
Color: attractive light tea-cider
MOuth feel: smooth, little carbonation
Taste:cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin. Very balanced.

Overall: lighter body, cider-like consistency. Not only a pumpkin beer- a very good Fall seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 02:48:06 | More by brureview

AgentMunky

Alabama

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a St. Bernardus goblet.

A: Golden copper, clear golden (lagery) in the light. Transparent.

S: Vanilla, nutmeg, and allspice. Eggnog and creme brulee. Yum.

T: Pumpkin pie. Seriously. It's like you put the filling into a blender and bottled it. I enjoy it. Not much else to say.

M: Just fine. :)

O: Great pumpkin beer, if lightly artificial and/or heavy-handed. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 03:38:22 | More by AgentMunky

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance in a very nice amber with a good head at pour. Head remains around the rim of the glass but mostly disappates over time to a thin rings round the edge of the glass. Smells of pumpkin, nutmeg and other spices - strong and almost a hint of sour. Sour disappears in the taste and overwhelmed with pumpkin and heavy malts. This beer is sweet in flavor - maybe a molasses or brown sugar.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 20:39:51 | More by Oakenator

TheBigLebrewski

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Before I get to the criteria, great photo!, and I want to say this beer tastes more like pumpkin pie than any I've had.

An orangish light brown resting beautifully in a goblet. The head pretty quickly dissipates. Not cloudy, though the color holds in the light.

Smell, again, is all pumpkin pie, and the sort that implies you need to eat a slice. Nutmeg is enjoyably present, perking the taste buds for what comes next.

Taste, as I've mentioned, is: on-point-after-Thanksgiving-dinner pumpkin pie. Not too sweet in any respect; more of the allspice that is vital to a good pumpkin pie, the perfect stir of nutmeg, without the cinnamon overtaking it. Not much else to say about it, but don't think I'm not enjoying this one!

Mouthfeel is great. Thick enough to meet the expectations of the type, but equally easy drinking. The allspice lingers in the back of the mouth, though not detrimentally - kind of just reminding you what you're drinking. A damn good time if your looking for the pied version of a pumpkin ale. Thank you Pugsley!

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 03:07:58 | More by TheBigLebrewski

Lare453

Florida

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

large format bottle poured into a dfh glass

a copper colored with a small dissipating white head that leaves a very small white foam film over the top. no lacing.

s cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin flesh, vanilla, grain, clove

t starts out with a smooth vanilla and clove which moves into a pumpkin flash and heavy cinnamon. the ending is also heavy on the cinnamon but gives way to a fresh grain. the aftertaste has a lot of spice in it as well...

m smooth with a heavy carbonation. fairly thick

o this is a great easy to find pumpkin beer, i definitely drikn it a lot when i want a pumpkin beer. i recommend it if you like pumpkin beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 00:18:16 | More by Lare453

RuckusDu

Colorado

3.1/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Had this a couple weeks ago and really liked it. Now it's time for a proper review. 22oz from 2012 into CS Cellar Reserve wine glass. A twist-off 22oz? Don't think I have ever seen that before. Less than a finger of head on the pour. Light brown colored head (almost white) and it holds up fairly well. Body is slightly cloudy but a gorgeous orange color. Some brown in it, but really nice. Laces well. Aroma is pretty typical amber ale. Slight alcohol burn, and only minimal pumpkin. The flavor is good pumpkin and clove, but something is off. A little bit of soap; floral notes. Mouthfeel is good with nice carbonation and solid body.

Overall the off flavor and lackluster aroma keep this beer down. Nice pumpkin flavor and very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 19:41:02 | More by RuckusDu

Celtics76

Rhode Island

3.65/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Well, I hope this beer tastes as impressive as the bottle looks. I love the gold foil wrapper and writeup on the back featuring a photo of much maligned Shipyard brewmaster Alan Pugsley.

Pours a dark, semi-clear orange with minimal head. Nice aroma of pumpkin spice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Has a nice crisp taste. Cinnamon flavors at the forefront, which I expected considering how profoundly cinnamon Pumpkinhead is. Some spicy pumpkin flavors power through the wall of cinnamon as it warms. There is some bitterness at the finish as well.

This is one of Shipyard's best. However I would recommend a handful of Imperial pumpkin ales over this one - Wachusett's Imperial Pumpkin and Southern Tier's Pumking are 2 examples. But give it a shot - I always root hard for New England breweries.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 00:09:04 | More by Celtics76

DavoleBomb

Ohio

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

Poured into a perfect pint.

3.5 A: Clear light orange color. Two fingers of frothy off-white head. Retention is about average and a short ring of lacing is left.

3.5 S: Pithy pumpkin with nutmeg and hints of cinnamon and allspice. Moderate malty sweetness with a touch of caramel and a mild biscuitiness. The pumpkin and spices aren't as bold as some, but are sufficient. Booze is well hidden. Not bad.

3.5 T: Pumpkin and spices are the leading flavors with nutmeg being the most prominent. Biscuity maltiness with a just more than moderate sweetness. Light caramel. Booze is realized int he taste.

3.5 M: Medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Could be a bit creamier, but not bad here.

3.5 D: Tasty pumpkin brew. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 01:27:30 | More by DavoleBomb

fitrock2112

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured the Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin into a pint glass.

A- Pours a copper, burnt orange with a finger and a half of white fluffy head.

S- The aroma is of nutmeg, allspice, and touch of clove. Maybe slight pumpkin on the background. Smells awesome

T- Wow , the taste is way more nutmeg than the aroma. Much more clove and allspice as well, with just a touch of pumpkin again on the background.

M- Medium to light carbonation, feels a little chewy, which I like , it definitely has some body to it.

O- I enjoyed this beer , I would recommend this beer if you like Pumpkin Beers

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 00:04:26 | More by fitrock2112

teromous

Virginia

2.95/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: It's hazy and orange in appearance. There's a very thin ring of white bubbles. Spotty lacing.

S: Wham! Hit with a brick of malt. There's scents of caramel, some light alcohol, and no real pumpkin scent or spice.

T: I'm glad it doesn't taste like it smells. There's a lot of pumpkin flavor coming through, but nicely. It plays on the palate some with the spices. No distinct hop characteristics, which is a good thing. The alcohol doesn't really come through either, which is nice. It tastes pretty average for a pumpkin beer though.

M: The mouthfeel is very nice. It is extremely well balanced at a medium mouthfeel.

O: Overall I thought the beer was nice, but I wouldn't spend this much for the beer again. It was nice to try, but there are cheaper pumpkin beers out there that taste either similar or better. It's has a very nice mouthfeel which is above the standard fare, but I think the appearance and scent speak for themselves.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 01:46:54 | More by teromous

wahnee86

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A clean poor with a nice head revealed a solid pumpkin beer. Avoiding the usual problem of being too sweet and too pumpkin-y, Shipyard's beer enjoyed a nice fall aroma with crip pumpkin and spice smells. Mouthfeel was uneven; at times the beer seemed a little thin while others it seemed to have more body too it. At the right price, this could be a nice beer to pair with certain fall flavored pasta dishes.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2012 15:08:51 | More by wahnee86

RickS95

Indiana

3.83/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a mostly clear orange. No haze, just a stock clearish orange. The head is a finger thick, but has little retention.

You can smell the malty backbone of the beer, that holds up the Autumn warming spices of cloves, cinnamon and ginger. A little bit of alcohol shines through.

The taste is almost all spice and little pumpkin. That's ok though. The pale ale malts mixes well with the pumpkin spices (mostly cinnamon) and balances the alcohol that also comes through in the taste, but only leaves enough of a message to show its presence, it never dominates. As it warms, the alcohol really grows and comes close to killing the balance.

Medium bodied. It's sweet for a split second before the spiciness takes over. That spiciness builds as the beer works its way back. The malt and wheat provide a good platform for the spices so that even though the spices are front and center, they don't offend. The heat starts gaining momentum and both it and the numbing alcohol feel continue well into the swallow.

It's a pretty good beer and with the high ABV, both a sipper and something you'll enjoy in the cooler months. As it warms, the beer actually gets a bit worse. That said, it's still better than a lot of other pumpkin beers I've had and is something I'd enjoy having more of.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 02:58:52 | More by RickS95

DaveBlack

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Crystal clear, orange-colored beer. only a 1/2 finger of slightly off-white head, a very tiny amount of lacing.

S: Sweet malts, pumpkin pie spices, alcoholic phenols and some vegetal pumpkin as well. The spices are light enough to let the rest of the aromas shine through, and the alcohol adds a nice touch.

T: Lots of malts which bring a ton of sweetness to the table, a hit of pumpkin pie spices, as well as some legitimate pumpkin. Alcohol is present throughout, bringing a nice warmth along with it, as well as helping to mellow out the alcohol. A kiss of hops on the finish also help, but the lasting impression is one of incredible sweetness.

M: Syrupy, heavy body, not much carbonation.

O: A very decent pumpkin beer. It is a little sweet for my liking, but the flavors are good and well balanced and they didn't go overboard with the spices.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 21:12:31 | More by DaveBlack

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

625mL bottle from the Uptown Waterloo LCBO, as part of the Pugsley Signature Shipyard release. I'm on a streak of pumpkin ales this week - keep em comin!

Poured into my trusty Duvel goblet. Light amber caramel in colour, with about a half inch head that recedes into a thin ring. Some whirlpools of foam, not much lacing to speak of. Nice colour though.

Nose is unmistakably pumpkin puree, along with a strong whiff of nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, barley and wheat.

Certainly an above average pumpkin ale, at least in terms of body, flavour and ABV. Tastes much like a spice-heavy pumpkin pie, although without the biscuit-crust component I associate with the other heavy hitters of the style. Heavy, and with the alcohol creeping in the back - it is certainly detectable with the weight of this brew. The finish gives you the most potent blast of pumpkin pie, which is a real treat.

I have to agree that the wheat malt didn't add much of anything except to make this thinner and I suppose more drinkable; but at 9% and at just a hair under 8 bucks at the LCBO, I'm looking for something to savour, not to drown myself in. Still, I maintain my "above-average" rating, and if Pumking or the other biggun's aren't coming Ontario way this year, this will certainly suffice for Hallowe'en drinking.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 01:45:04 | More by JohnnyBarman