Punk'n Harvest Pumpkin Ale - Uinta Brewing Company

emyers

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes. 12 oz. glass poured into a New Glarus pint glass.

Appearance: Clear orange-amber color with a one-finger creamy white head. The head sticks around for a while and leaves a decent lacing.

Smell: Typical pumpkin pie spices - nutmeg, cinnamon, clove. Not much else comes through in the aroma - maybe some yeast and a little bit of toasted biscuit. Despite the simplicity the pie spices are spot on, and smell delicious without being overwhelming.

Taste: Where did the pumpkin go? The flavor is quite muted, with some caramel, biscuit malt, and a touch of pumpkin pie spices sneaking in. I was expecting more.

Mouthfeel: Pretty thin. Appropriate carbonation level. Goes down fairly smoothly, but I'd like to see a little more body.

Overall: To put it bluntly, there just isn't enough to this beer. I love what Uinta does with their crooked line series, but outside of the aroma this beer just doesn't do a whole lot for me. Not bad, but definitely forgettable.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 03:28:43 | More by emyers

isualum12

Idaho

3.25/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer is alright in pumpkin category. The pumpkin was really high in flavor without the spice taking control.
Pours fall orange in color. Reminds me of the leaves in my backyard.
Smell was not as high as I would have thought but it was nice.
Taste- high in punkn low in spice which was nice (yeah I just did that)
Mouthfeel- I had to rerank this because it grew on me. At first I really didn't like it.
Overall nice beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2012 01:15:31 | More by isualum12

DerekP

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Notes from 10/28/12

Punk'n (Harvest Pumpkin Ale), 12 fl oz "Ale brewed with pumpkin & spices." Oddly enough, the left side of the label says "3% organic ingredients." That said, I don't expect the green movement to recommend this on the merits of organic ingredients.

Pours brown amber with a fluffy, egg-white head. Damn near opaque for the color.

Pumpkin spices are pleasant in the nose and not over the top. Floral; toasted squash; dark bread; cinnamon and brown sugar.

Ghord/pumpkin taste hits the buds subtly (autumn vegetable hint). Not too spicy; pretty reserved, including the bittering hops.

Good choice if looking for a pumpkin beer beyond the mediocre, ubiquitous options.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 23:40:25 | More by DerekP

birchstick

Missouri

2.68/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a lighter orange color without a head on it. Nose consists of sweet graham cracker like malts with lots of gourd and pumpkin in the mix as well. Taste starts off with sweet caramel and cookie malt that moves on to a weird old hoppy bitterness. Starts off nicely but things don't end so well. Mouth is medium and smooth. Overall, this is decent...the bitterness is off-putting; if you are going for a pumpkin beer from this brewery, I would recommend the oak jacked imperial over this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 13:47:53 | More by birchstick

jurgenhadley

3.65/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up to try a pumpkin beer. Smell upon opening and first taste had a hint of pumpkin. Very mellow, smooth beer, but not much different than a regular beer. Seems to have just a hint of pumpkin to it. Did taste the slight tartness noted in other reviews, but it wasn't too much different than the first half of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 00:43:00 | More by jurgenhadley

DocJitsu

California

3.33/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear orange-amber with a rich, tan head that dissipates very quickly. Aromas of roasted malt underlie nutmeg, pumpkin, and cinnamon. Remarkable how much this smells like pumpkin pie. Medium-bodied mouthfeel with some light carbonation. I'm not sure these flavors work. I detect a little creamy pumpkin, but not as overtly as it presents in the nose. It has a little tartness and bitterness at the finish. Perhaps these flavors are meant to mimic raw pumpkin. Not my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 04:21:18 | More by DocJitsu

scootpolute

Washington

3.75/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

P: 12 OZS bottle poured into a cone, pint glass...

A: Slightly hazy tawny color. Lacing surpasses our expectations with a good amount of clinging action.

S: Smells heavy bread/malts and fermented pumpkin, a little starchy and melon-like, with a tartness that meshes very well with the subtle yet savory spicing.

T: Kicks off with a mild tartness of fermented pumpkin. Malt follows right behind with a mellow bread and faint caramel mix. Spicing slowly strolls hand in hand with the balancing hop bitterness. Nutmeg and clove seem to be the more dominant spices in their small world until the ginger comes along and plays king through the aftertaste. A little bready and toasty in the slightly dry finish.

M: Incredibly smooth, sturdy medium body.

O: This was a very decent Pumpkin Ale. Is it as good as 'Night Owl' (from Elysian?)...No, but still pretty good. Chasin' Cheers :~)

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 00:19:19 | More by scootpolute

tony223366

California

4.1/5  rDev +24.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The color is absolutely beautiful. Deep amber, red, perfect clarity. It's really a sight to behold. Head is less exciting, 1 finger of lightly lasting head. Tan color, nice lacing.

S: It smells exactly like pumpkin pie! Squashy pumpkin, sweet... nutmeg, cinnamon. Brown sugar. Some malt, that's about it.

T: Now this is a pumpkin beer that doesn't taste just like mulling spices. Squashy, vegetal pumpkin, sweet caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg. The finish is more caramel and a light graininess. Some bitterness too.

M: Slick medium bodied with just a little fluffiness. Perfect amount of carbonation. Just enough to scrub it off.

O: One of the better pumpkin beers I've had. Not hugely balanced, but neither is an IPA right? Tasty throughout but only if you like pumpkin. I love it!

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 04:47:52 | More by tony223366

JCB14

1.63/5  rDev -50.6%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Generally with a pumpkin ale I expect a good smell, but this was the worst smelling pumpkin ale I have ever had. The taste was slightly better that the smell, but not by much. The quality of the beer is sub-standard for this style.

It had a good head and even better head retention.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 14:57:19 | More by JCB14

codogg81

3.68/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: very nice orange copper color. Thin head that disappears quickly.

S: Smells earthy fresh pumpkin. Reminds me of carving pumpkins. Not too much spice in the smell.

Taste: The taste is what I want from a pumpkin beer. Malty backbone with slight spice. Only 10 IBU which is good for me as i don't like a hoppy pumpkin brew. Definitely fresh roasted pumpkins...No canned purree here.

M: Would have liked a thicker fuller brew.

O: Overall a very solid drinkable brew. the taste in on point. My only negative would be the ABV. I would like 5% at the least. This is the downfall of this beer. 4% ABV ??? Come on now were not drinking Keystone.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 00:56:56 | More by codogg81

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: 1/4 inch head, orange-brown in color, clear, high carbonation

Smell: light pumpkin spice and sweet bready malt

Taste: breadiness, big clove, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice

Mouthfeel: sweet, high carbonation, medium-light bodied

Overall: An enjoyable bready pumpkin beer, nothing mind blowing but above average. I would get this again and could probably do four in a sitting

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 13:25:46 | More by tigg924

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a nonic.
4% ABV, Best Before 01/19/13 stamped into label, "For best flavor enjoy in a glass."

A - I begin my fall hayride journey of Punk'n with a full, vigorous pour that's very autumnal; dirty pumpkin orange-to-amber hazed from the sediment and topped with a moderately lasting off-white head. Thin, wispy fingers of lace stick to the pint but I wouldn't call it an overly attractive beer by any means; inviting nonetheless.

S - Punk'n has a rather closed-off aroma from the get-go with mild but fresh pumpkin aromas; like you're in there gutting Jack with you're bare hands - earthy and gourd-like. Pie spices add those sought-after nuances of nutmeg and cinnamon but surrender to the beer's general earthiness; hops, toasted malts, minor Sugar In The Raw sweetness - a good malt backing. Save for the added earthiness, hops are all but absent in Punk'n. Interestingly enough, a hearty swirl brings out much more of the pumpkin which becomes quite pungent and also somewhat off-putting, almost vegetal and acidic at the same time.

T - A very impressive malt base gives pause to draw parallels to the other rather enjoyable beers off the season, brown ales. Light toasted malt continues the earthy trend with a grainy bite and mildly sweet finish like a touch of caramel drizzled over the top. Spice lingers gently while the pumpkin pulls through nicely. Earthy hops remain in play adding much more to the flavor than the aroma suggested.

M - Smooth and medium bodied from start to finish, a trail of moderate carbonation lingers on the tongue aiding the finishing dryness in alleviating the possible strain of malt sweetness. The spice levels, like in the beer's flavor, remain low key offering simple nudges of influence rather than force their way in.

O - Uinta's Punk'n Harvest Pumpkin Ale does a great job of incorporating pumpkin and spice flavors into this nice malty base beer without getting too carried away. It remains earthy and tied to the season with it's characteristics but mild enough to entice someone unsure of a "pumpkin beer" while also maintaining enough pumpkin and spice to keep pumpkin beer veterans coming back for another without the complaint it's too thin or watered down. Nice across the board, this is a good entry into the pumpkin ale season!

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 22:25:18 | More by BeerFMAndy

gkatsoris

Pennsylvania

1.68/5  rDev -49.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

A: very very lagery. Caramely. No head at all and no lace.

S: pumpkin pie....duh. cinnamon. Apples. Bready. Malts. A littlte bit vegetabley.

T: boring!!!! Bland, bland, bland. Malts! Very slight pumpkin pie spices...very slight.

M: thin. Thin. No coat on the tongue and no body at all.

O: what an effing crappy beer.

Dumped it!!!

Thanks jfan??

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 18:31:24 | More by gkatsoris

ArrogantB

Colorado

2.6/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Got a small glass of this at a tasting, probably would have never bought it. Amber color, decent head. Aroma is thick pumpkin purée like you just opened a can of it. Flavor was pumpkin and spice but also dominated by this stale maltiness that reminds me of dog food, specifically the purina factory, yuck.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 17:13:22 | More by ArrogantB

Beaver13

Colorado

2.95/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle, best by 2/9/13. Pours clear ruby-amber with a medium creamy off white head that goes to a thin film that leaves some lacing.

The aroma is mellow pumpkin and spices.

The flavor is vegetal malts with nice spicing - cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice. There's a bit of a metallic finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with slightly sharp carbonation.

Overall, a decent pumpkin beer. It's a bit mellow, but the spicing is well done.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 22:02:10 | More by Beaver13

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a clear dark amber in color with some hints of garnet red highlights and light amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a half finger tall tan head that reduces to a thin film covering the entire surface of the beer with a few small slightly thicker patches and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of pumpkin, pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon and nutmeg), and hints of sweetness.

T: Light amounts of malts upfront without a lot of sweetness with some earthy spice flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg and a light woodiness. There is a light to moderate flavor of roasted pumpkin.

M: Light to medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly thin/watery.

O: Enjoyable but a very different take on a pumpkin ale - the smell is very similar to other pumpkin beers but the taste is unique with the earthiness. Definitely an interesting take on the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 01:12:08 | More by dbrauneis

plup1nska

2.63/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

S: pumpkin, faint cinnamon and nutmeg.
T: faint spices and pumpkin.
M: pretty light, goes down nicely.

Overall, not too bad, but its definitely not the right choice for someone looking for a more full bodied beer. There was a slight bitterness which was nice, but left more to be desired.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 01:24:04 | More by plup1nska

312HopBomb

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear dark pumpkin color. Small head and slight lacing.

Light cinnamon and nutmeg aroma and faint apple.

Spices are light cinnamon and nutmeg liike the nose. Light malt and bitter initially and then on the finish. Some alcohol is detected which is odd.

Dry, low effervecense. Slighty watery and light body.

Overall an OK pumpkin ale but not a standout.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 22:57:55 | More by 312HopBomb

kojevergas

California

2.65/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Best before 02/20/13. Acquired at the Cap 'N' Cork in Los Angeles, California. I don't recall the price, but it came in a six pack. I bought it a few hours ago. Reviewed live. Expectations are above average given the brewery - though I've yet to have a great pumpkin beer. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a Uinta brewing pilsner glass in me gaff in Los Angeles, California.

Served straight from the refrigerator. Paired with Hershey's chocolate.

A: Pours a two finger creamy khaki head of good thickness and pretty good retention - though the low ABV makes this far from impressive. Colour is a transparent copper. Not horribly vibrant, but I wouldn't call it dull. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Pumpkin and spice. Toasted malts. Brown sugar. An average strength aroma.

T: Pumpkin, spice, and cream over a clean malt foundation. Some caramelization and even metallic notes on the finish. Pretty simple, even a bit bland. Lacks subtlety or layering. The pumpkin taste is very restrained. It's less a pumpkin beer and more a bland malt bomb that happens to have some pumpkin.

Mf: Smooth, wet, thin, uninspired. Not tailored to the flavour. Could use more cream.

Dr: Hides its modest alcohol - but that's to be expected. Drinkable but boring. I wouldn't get it again. A disappointment from Uinta. You can pass on this one. There's nothing unique or special here. Overpriced for the lackluster quality.

C-

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 03:42:28 | More by kojevergas

tdm168

North Carolina

4.23/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - clear amber with a soft, bubbly, white head that has good retention

S - pumkin, caramel, faint cinnamon

T - pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, faint bready malt

M - medium bodied, well carbonated

This is probably the most balanced pumpkin ale I've had to date. The pumpkin is forward and foremost in the flavor with the spices taking a balanced, supporting role. This is delicious and incredibly drinkable. It's definitely worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 16:45:56 | More by tdm168

corby112

Pennsylvania

2.08/5  rDev -37%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Pours a slightly hazy, dark golden orange color with a one finger, frothy off-white head that quickly settles unto a lasting ring. Sporadic streaks of lacing left behind.

The aroma of this beer has a very strong vegetal presence that clashes a bit with the autumnal spices. I'm not picking up pumpkin pie sweetness, but rather an earthy, pungent character that smells kind of like rot. This is really unpleasant and doesn't compliment the cinnamon, brown sugar and ginger notes. Smells pretty awful.

This beer tastes a bit better than it smells, but not much. Medium bodied with a very earthy, vegetal pumpkin flavor that's countered by earthy hops and zesty spice. Subtle sweetness but reminds me more of squash/harvest flavors without any of the pumpkin puree/pie sweetness that I prefer in the style. There's some earthy hop bitterness along with some nutmeg, cinnamon, brown sugar and clove but something is just off with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 07:31:08 | More by corby112

metter98

New York

3.1/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: The beer is relatively clear amber in color and has a light to moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high dense off white head that died down but consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and lots of lacing running down the sides of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of spices in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of earthy and woody spices along with some notes of roasted pumpkin. No sweetness or bitterness is detectable.
M: It feels a bit more than light-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer was quite unlike any other pumpkin beers that I’ve had before as it was neither dominated by the typical pumpkin pike spices (such as cinnamon and nutmeg) or sweet pumpkin flavors. It’s more like the smell you get from the dirt in a pumpkin patch mixed in with some pumpkin flavors.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 01:08:17 | More by metter98

jbertsch

Massachusetts

3.15/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Bronze amber in color with one finger of white head.

Smells of fall spices like cinnamon nutmeg. its actually decent on the nose.

Taste provides A little raw pumpkin flesh and faint caramel and spice. But it otherwise tastes a little empty and what flavor there is dissapears quickly. It's as is I'm only tasting details or fringes and not much body.

A little thin and watery.

Overall this is fine and I have no problem drinking one, but this is a little lackluster. There are better pumpkin ales.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 01:01:20 | More by jbertsch

vkv822

Oregon

3.83/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz : tulip

Pours clear, dark orange with red hues and a quarter inch foamy off white head.

Cinnamon, nutmeg, some pumpkin notes.

Assorted spices upfront, cinnamon and nutmeg primarily. Pumpkin comes through in the finish.

Medium body, with fairly average carbonation.

A tasty pumpkin beer. The spices are the main focus, but the pumpkin does come through and compliments these notes.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 08:43:35 | More by vkv822

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Tawny red-orange color with a hazy translucency. Heavy pour reduced head formation. 3.0

Pumpkin flesh, toffee, cinnamon, and some grainy malts in the nose. A festive aroma. 3.5

Oh noo! Totally bland! The aroma had me anticipating spicy pumpkin flavor and caramelly malts. Instead, I get watery flavors of roast grain, nutmeg, coriander, and light squash. Late bitterness punctuates some strange dried fruit notes (papaya, pineapple). 3.0

Drinks a little watery, too. Too thin in the body, offset by some rocky carb. Don't like the feel here. 2.5

Barely average for a pumpkin. At least it's not a spice bomb. Unfortunately, it's not a bomb of anything... other than it bombed as a promising pumpkin ale. 3.0

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2012 01:19:13 | More by thecheapies