Pumpkin Ale
Allentown Brew Works

Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Allentown Brew Works
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Pumpkin Beer
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.86 | pDev: 12.44%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
22
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 21, 2017
Added:
Oct 19, 2007
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  5
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.42 by SouthCrescent from Pennsylvania

Oct 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by malfunxion from New York

Aug 26, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by hansenm72 from Texas

Jul 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by twenty5 from Pennsylvania

Nov 10, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by calcnerd from Pennsylvania

Oct 31, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by seanchai from Virginia

Oct 04, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by LoveStout from New York

Jul 01, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by thampel09 from New Jersey

May 31, 2013
Photo of 57md
Reviewed by 57md from Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance is a cloudy copper with more than a finger of thick, frothy head. The head dissipates rather quickly, but it does leave some nice lacing behind. A mild pumpkin nose is present here. The pumpkin flavor upfront is distinct and much bolder than previous years. The finish is also smoother than previous years and lacks the sour tart taste of the 2011 version.

After having this offering in bottle and on tap in 2011, I can safely say that the 2012 version is distinctly superior.

I've noticed that many pumpkin beers vary from year to year and I mostly chalk it up to the quality of pumpkins available in any given year. I am definitely going to grab some of ABW's 2012 version in bottles.
Sep 30, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by Rizzy17 from Pennsylvania

Sep 29, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by wattoclone from California

Sep 12, 2012
Photo of claspada
Reviewed by claspada from New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Large format 750 C&C bottle, ABV is listed as 4.7% ABV.

Pours a clear golden orange with a decent white head that slowly recedes to a thin, lasting cap. Some mild lacing sticks to the glass.

Aromas begin like your typical pumpkin ale with toasted breadiness, light starchiness and traditional fall spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of clove. Smells like a lightly spiced pumpkin pie, nothing crazy but nice.

The tastes begin with fresh pumpkin pie with light to moderate traditional festive spices. The pumpkin fleshiness and toasted/bready malt continues to stand out above the spices, which is a great testament to the brewery and often a huge failure for some pumpkin beers. There is a touch of brown sugar sweetness at the start which gives it a likeness to caramelized sugar in a pumpkin pie. I am impressed with how much flavor was packed into this low ABV offering.

The mouthfeel is medium-light bodied with medium carbonation. Usually beers of this low ABV are watery and thin but this does a nice job of avoiding that problem. Finish is mildly sweet and spicy; neither stands out and each work well with one another.

Overall, while not the best I've had of the style, it's a very solid pumpkin ale. Having previously sampled their Devious Imperial Pumpkin version and being overwhelmed with alcohol and spices in that beer, I was skeptical to try this. A friend gave it to me as a gift so I said why not and I was pleasantly surprised and will most likely revisit next year because of the substantial flavor at such a low ABV; one of the best sessionable Pumpkin ales out there for my money.
Apr 09, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by WaydeRafnel from Pennsylvania

Feb 21, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Feb 16, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by cfh64 from Texas

Dec 10, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by Mashedbrotatoes from Pennsylvania

Nov 26, 2011
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

3.82/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Review from notes taken on 11/9/10 at the brewpub. This one was listed as 4.7% abv, so maybe this is a batch variance from previous years.

Served in a pint glass this brew appears a clear light copper color with a thin cap of white head. Some patches of lace cling to the glass.

Quite an earthy aroma smelling of pumpkin flesh, clove and spices somewhat like cinnamon. Fairly balanced and enjoyable smelling but the spices play a pretty significant role.

The taste is spiced with cinnamon upfront that is a little bitey. Some earthy almost mineral like pumpkin flesh flavors are evident with a very green taste. The spices of the cinnamon and a bit of clove linger long after each sip.

This is a medium bodied offering with a moderate, lively level of carbonation. It is decent as far as drinkability goes but I would prefer the spiced aspect to be a little more subtle and let the pumpkin flavors play more of a significant role than just the supporting spices.
Nov 28, 2010
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

3.08/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
This was up there (or down there, for that matter) with the most out-of-whack pumpkin ales around. In other words, flavors quite out of balance.

Pretty straight up pumpkin orange color, stained a bit brown and slightly hazy, with a nice foamy head. Smells like a stale Glade Plug-In air freshener - artificial, harsh, spicy, autumn scent - heavy on cinnamon and maybe nutmeg and, as I'm gleaning now from the description on their website, a healthy glob of ginger. I love all of these ingredients in their own right, but they took them to the nth degree, to where any pumpkin and malt character is severely muted. You don't have to go nuts here, folks. I'm guessing that if they toned down the ginger (the root, herher, of the overspicing maybe), it would allow some of the other ingredients and flavors to be enjoyed. The feel is good - nice medium-full body for the style, but again, the almost burning zing of the spices need some toning down. I'd be willing to try it again if it was mellowed out but, until then, no thanks.
Nov 04, 2010
Photo of acurtis
Reviewed by acurtis from New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Had on tap at Allentown location 3 times and am now drinking from 750ml 2010 corked and caged bottle. Bottle version has less carbonation and tastes a little watery, not sure why. The bottle was in the back of my fridge, maybe it was too cold? Bottle is labeled 4.7% abv but I think maybe the labels were printed early? I'm pretty sure this is the same batch that is on tap which is 5.2% abv. Nice color but no head. Spicy aroma of nutmeg, clove, cinnamon and pumpkin. Nice taste of cinnamon, pumpkin, ginger, all-spice and nutmeg. Just the right amount of pumpkin. Light mouthfeel, very drinkable. Very strong pumpkin offering. The stronger version, Devious is also very good.
Oct 23, 2010
Photo of ShadesOfGray
Reviewed by ShadesOfGray from Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
2010 batch. Currently at 4.7% ABV. Poured from a 750ml cork and caged bottle into my Koningshoeven small snifter. Pours a "pumpkin" color and pretty hazy. A very nice size frothy head rises with little retention. Sitting next to my pumpkin pie...the color is complimenting!

Aroma is pretty weak, but spices are definitely present. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and of course: pumpkin.

Flavor is very interesting. Very odd, but I'm getting a slight sourness. It's actually a really cool contribution to the overall flavor. Of course, theres the pumpkin and and related spices. Carbonation is a little high, but adds to the lack of body, which is very light. Overall, a tasty pumpkin beer...I'd put it slightly above the average.
Sep 23, 2010
Pumpkin Ale from Allentown Brew Works
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 22 ratings