Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale - Lion Brewery, Inc.

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.48/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pumpkin pie in a glass is delivered in the taste, texture, and aroma of Stegmaier's fall seasonal- but you gotta like them spicy!

The beer pours with a slightly hazy copper color that may tilt toward a strong golden hue. An initial mix of partly fizzy, partly fluffy foam seems to dissipate in quick fashion and without meaninful lace.

A surprising boquet of spices and sweetness fill the nose with elements of caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices that associate with pumpkin pie. Very spicy, the additions seem to be the focus instead of malt variety.

Flavors also surprise with a mix of caramel, startch, breads, barley malt, and cereal. Low lying hops are surplanted with quite elevated cinnamon, nutmeg, almond, and allspice. Light butterscotch complement the pie pumpkin taste with a resounding desert-like palate.

Medium fullness from the malty combo with carbonation, but as the beer crosses mid palate, the beer desolves into a mildly grainy, starchy, spice-laden bite where hop bitteness and dryness are usually felt. Mild alcohol warmth weaves in and out of the spicy finish in a somewhat minty-cooling kinda way.

Without having much success with the Stegmaier brands in the past, I'm happily taken back by the quality exhibited in this fall seasonal ale. It may not compete directly with Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale, but it's not far off either. I do however prefer it to O'Fallon's Pumpkin Ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 18:01:02 | More by BEERchitect

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

2.43/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Pours a clean orange-ish color with an off white head. In the the aroma, faint cinnamon and nutmeg. In the taste, spicy notes of cinnamon, somewhat watery, and faint notes of pumpkin. A spice bite and a medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry cinnamon in the aftertaste. Spicy, but quite watery, and faint, nothing that great.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 15:29:48 | More by OWSLEY069

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.43/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle served in a "Geordie Schooner".

L - hazed amber color with a small white head that thinned out after a few minutes.

S - good pumpkin spice aroma - cinnamon and nutmeg stand out.

T - the spices are not overpowering nor too sweet, it's just right.

F - medium bodied with mild carbonation.

O - a fairly decent pumpkin ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2011 23:53:11 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Liking most of the other offerings Stegmaier makes a decent pumpkin lager. Color is a dark amber brown, clear with a half inch of head that turns to a sweet looking lace ring. Smell is strong nutmeg and cinnamon just how I like it. Taste is kind of lacing on the roasted or vegital pumpkin but makes for a great lager. Spices, sweet and balanced with minimal hop kick. Mouthfeel is light so I took off points since it doesn't make for a good winter brew.

Overall not something I would have again but just like the Oktoberfest nothing to avoid. 10x better than pumpkin head so I have no idea why the reviews are so low...

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 05:56:18 | More by DrDemento456

Brenden

Ohio

2.93/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The color is a hazy amber verging on orange. A small orange-tan head forms on a vigorous pour and doesn't stay long. A thin ring remains along the glass and just enough wispy lacing is left in what eventually become some tiny spotting to remind me this is a beer, though the ring of head at the edge of the glass also remains.
At first the aroma offer mainly a light fruity sweetness along with pumpkin flesh, but the spicing is in here and nice pie crust buttery/doughy aroma comes out as well. It's not particularly strong and at first it's completely unimpressive, but it doesn't take long for things to come together.
The pie spices are kept at an even level with the pumpkin flesh, making a good balance. Hops are barely presence but malts add a light caramel edge with a bit of breads as well. It's not perfectly attenuated but it's not too simplistic. Unfortunately it goes light on flavor and is weak and watery. A peppery spice bites in the finish.
Mouthfeel isn't bad, and this is a bit meaty considering. A nice creaminess builds from an initial crispness. It does flatten out, though, and fades off. The finish is also biting.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 15:47:39 | More by Brenden

Darkmagus82

Montana

2.63/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Appearance – Pours a nice amber-orange color. Upon pouring there was a one finger white head. The head faded very fast to leave a thin persistent film and only a tiny amount of lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The smell is big of a nutmeg and cinnamon spice smell. Mixed with the spice, are other spices of some clove and a light amount of allspice (all quite classic pumpkin pie). Along with all the spice is a sweeter pumpkin aroma with some lighter notes of a brown sugar smell.

Taste – The flavor begins with roasted malt and pumpkin. With these is a very light sweetness up front that fades as the taste goes on. Initially only a lighter spice flavor is present, but it soon comes on strong. In the middle a huge cinnamon and nutmeg flavor comes to the tongue. They are quite potent and grow even stronger more toward the end. With the growing strength of the spice, some more pumpkin comes to the tongue. In the end the spice actually becomes a bit too robust with the cinnamon and nutmeg leaving their mark on the tongue producing, when mixed with the roasted pumpkin, a somewhat off taste on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the average side in terms of thickness with a carbonation level that is rather average as well.

Overall – The taste is just a bit too spiced and lacks a balance of sweetness with the spice and roast. Nothing too exciting for me here.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 00:49:11 | More by Darkmagus82

inlimbo77

Delaware

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

12oz bottle poured into a Deschutes snifter glass. No bottle date, but this is a late summer/fall release.

A: Deep orange amber color. Fairly clear. 1/2 finger off white head, dissapates quickly. Not great carbonation.

S: Lots of nutmeg, all spice, and cinnamon. No hop aroma. Breadiness from the malts. More spice than DFH.

T: Lots of pumpkin. Nothing on the tip of tongue. Tons on middle: spices and malt. Taste a good amount of Pumpkin, nutmeg, and all spice.

M: Medium bodied ale, mostly from all the spices. More spice than pumpkin fruitiness.

O: Smaller local brewery with an OK product. I actually liked this more on a pumpkin basis than my more local DFH Punkin' but I haven't had this years version yet.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 18:06:32 | More by inlimbo77

THECPJ

Delaware

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

Appearance: medium brown with a tint of orange

Smell: very spicy smelling, lots of cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.

Taste: tastes like liquid pumpkin pie filling, flavors are very profound

Mouthfeel: very mild carbonation, lacks the crispness expected

Overall: by far not my favorite pumpkin beer, but drinkable nonetheless.

Cheers!
The CPJ

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 02:36:04 | More by THECPJ

ZeroSignal

Pennsylvania

2/5  rDev -41%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

12 oz bottle with batch code, poured into a SA Perfect Pint

A - Hazy, light burnt-orange color with a cream colored 1/2 inch head. Retention is fleeting with minimal lacing.

S - Nose immediately out of the pour is of the pie spice variety, namely cinnamon, a bit of nutmeg and a hint of a creamy smell. Oddly, as the beer sits it's pumpkin pie aroma fades substantially, and as it warms it takes on the aroma of bottom shelf, plastic bottle whiskey...sort of grainy with a hint of rubbing alcohol.

T&M - This is shaping up to be the tale of two beers; much like many lesser quality beers many off the off flavors show up as the beer warms. Initially this is quite pleasant; it's on the sweeter end of pumpkin ales, and more to the pie end than the pumpkin/squash end of things. Pie spice flavors with a creamy feel...simple, but not at all unpleasant.

Then, as it warms, the creaminess fades to a watery feel, and the pie character almost disappears altogether. It starts to leave a slick, almost oily feel on the tongue, and the flavors are just washed out and weak. The only equivalent I can think of is taking a thin slice of store bought pumpkin pie, and putting it in a blender with a liter of water. Towards the end the low end whiskey characteristics return...it's a struggle to finish.

O - So many better pumpkin ales out there...this one is sub standard at best, and a flawed beer at worst. If you are going to chance it, drink it cold and drink it fast.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 00:58:25 | More by ZeroSignal

Buggies

Pennsylvania

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

This is a typical flagship seasonal pumpkin ale. There isn't nothing really amazing about it. What it is is a highly drinkable pumpkin ale. It's not over the top spice nor is it high ABV.

Very pleasant spice aromas with a little malt, namely caramel. Taste is pretty average. Slightly sweet with all the pumpkin pie spice pleasant, slightly muted though.

Like I said, nothing really earth shattering here. Typical flagship seasonal that's not big on flavor, but it is a solid beer that is drinkable. It's local and it's one of my favorite seasonals, so I'll buy these by the case if I can find it.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2011 18:18:39 | More by Buggies

DMXLOX22

Pennsylvania

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

Picked up a single of this at my local spot recently. Liking the recent selection of pumpkin beers lately. Let's see how this one matches up.

Appearance: Pours a light brown, dark orange haze. Then it quickly clears up and leaves behind a nice head. Honestly, this is just another average brew, but I do enjoy the color.

Smell: Lightly roasted malts that reveals a slight hint of cinnamon and pumpkin. Pretty light in the overwhelming aroma department, but it's not exactly too bad.

Taste: At first it has some hops, minor malts added and maybe cereal grains? Honestly reminds me something that shocktop threw together and added cinnamon and pumpkin. Pretty disappointed. This seemed to have a lot of expectation from me. I mean there is hope for those that want a beer that seems to have a fair balance and someone who doesn't have a care for what really brings a pumpkin beer its unique brand and quality. Better luck next time I guess

Mouthfeel: Medium to light carbonation. Finishes pretty clean and almost dry. Not to bad to put a few of these down without much complaint.

Overall: Actually besides the overall taste department, its not a bad pumpkin beer. Pretty damn average if you ask me. Hopefully the recipe can improve for next year. Looking forward to see if theres any changes made next year. overall, I would maybe recommend it for a first-timer trying pumpkin beers. I wouldn't try again unless they tweaked the overall taste. Cheers

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 04:21:51 | More by DMXLOX22

turnstile

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Deep orange in color with a wispy white head. Great lacing and decent retention. Aroma is spicy and caramel-sweet; nutmeg stands out. Adjunct and alcohol notes faint, but present. Good pumpkin pie flavor; spice and bready malt characters dominate. Full-bodied, slightly syrupy, slick and lightly carbonated. Mouthfeel fits the style, but it's a little strange. An okay stab at a pumpkin beer, but it's safe to pass on this one and check out this year's other offerings.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 04:36:01 | More by turnstile

thlayli87

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - Nice medium copper orange with 1 finger of head and very minimal lacing

S - Strong spicy aroma dominated by cinnamon and nutmeg; some sweet notes in there also

T - Pumpkin flavor takes a back seat to the spices; lots of cinnamon and nutmeg; faint caramel notes; slight bitter finish, but not from hops--hop flavor almost entirely absent

M - A bit thin and fizzy but not bad

O - This is a surprisingly good pumpkin ale. Strong spice flavors. Tastes like pumpkin pie, which is how I like them. If you like your pumpkin beers spicy definitely try this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 21:47:26 | More by thlayli87

NewBeerMember

5/5  rDev +47.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Surprisingly, very good. Beautiful orange color, full bodied, creamy, with a mild pumpkin aftertaste. The pumpkin flavor was not much pronounced while in the mouth and more noticeable after swallowing. Will learn more about beer lingo and nuances as I continue to rate beers on this site.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 11:13:28 | More by NewBeerMember

gnuworldorder

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Found this at the distributor for 21$ and picked it up. It has a slight cinnamon smell and taste. Also has allspice and a semi thick mouthfeel for non craft beer. For its style it is fairly decent but doesn't compare to weyerbachers. Im pleased with it overall and will be picking up another case if it in a week or two.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 03:58:09 | More by gnuworldorder