Good Gourd Imperial Pumpkin Ale - Cigar City Brewing

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.53/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for acquiring and sharing this

Consumed 10/13/12

Appearance: Somewhere between dark amber deep orange - nice, off-white head - keeps a little cap and a nice ring, leaves some spots of lacing

Smell: Absurdly aromatic, it smells like walking into a candle store - tons and tons of spice, exploding with crazy amounts of cinnamon, ginger, and allspice - some pumpkin here, but it's mostly covered in the spice rack - some sugary biscuits and booze underneath

Taste:So much pumpkin pie spice - not just a large helping of premixed pumpkin pie spice, though, the cinnamon and ginger taste oddly fresh and exotic - interesting, but a bit over the top - caramel and some pale malts - a solid base - some pumpkin in the background, but everything is really overpowered by the spices - overly sweet, too

Mouthfeel: Medium body, thin compared to some other Cigar City beers (that require a spoon to eat), smooth, nicely carbonated, spices are a bit cloying

Overall: Great, if you're looking for a spice potion

So spicy. This beer seems to treat pumpkin pie spices like DIPAs treat hops; the more the merrier. I'm not sure if I really enjoy this. It's good, but it has some issues.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 01:08:33 | More by angrybabboon

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

4.2/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Mposha for hooking me up with this. I love the way Cigar City's bottle labels look like cigar bands. Poured from a bottle into a Brooklyn Brewery snifter. The beer pours out a nice reddish-brown, fairly clear with a little bit of haze. Carbonation is about average. The one finger of light tan head quickly dissipates. The nose is fairly sweet and spicy with nice aromas of toast, pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

The beer has a full body and wonderfully creamy, velvety feel. The flavor is really sweet up front and a little bit squashy. At mid-palate, lots of spices come in and balance out the sweetness nearly perfectly. Everything that announces its presence on the nose is present in the flavor. The spices seem to overwhelm the sweetness in the back of the mouth and they linger nicely on the finish. I don't get much in the way of diacetyl or hop character, but I wouldn't expect to with all these flavors.

Overall, this is a phenomenal pumpkin beer. I think it's right up there with my two favorites: Schlafly Pumpkin Ale and Southern Tier Pumking. It's sweet, but not cloyingly so, and the squashy pumpkin flavors are perfectly complemented by holiday spices. A fantastic fall beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 00:00:06 | More by deadonhisfeet

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big Thanks to kswartz for helping me get a hold of this one. The beer poured out as a nice vibrant orange color with a nice looking white head on top. The smell of the beer is sweet, some moderate spice notes and from what I can tell some of the freshest Pumpkin/Gourd aromas I've ever experienced from a beer. The taste of the beer is again sweet like the nose but balances out quite nicely with the subtle amount of spice that has been used. The mouthfeel of the beer is heavy, it's got a solid thickness to it, it's gently carbonated and goes down nice and smooth. Overall I really enjoyed this beer, one of the best Pumpkin beers I've had as of yet. I highly recommend this brew to anyone looking for something a little different to try than just a typical Pumpkin beer like most breweries are putting out. This one sets the bar pretty high in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 21:04:18 | More by Knapp85

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Don’t review as much as I used to and it seems that I only feel motivated when I have time and am really impressed with a beer. Hats off to my buddy Chris for bringing me this beer.

Thick tan head that’s about 2+ fingers thick. As it melts some lace clings to the glass. The beer is a deep amber color with more brown notes than anything else

The aroma is wonderful.. Bright and full of spice. A bit like pumpkin bread.

Ok, this is a very good beer. The first thing I think of is this creamy nature to the flavor. My wife makes awesome pumpkin pancakes which are among my favorite. This taste very much like those including the creamy notes. Lots of spice and almost a nice almond flavor. The abv is not hot, but there is a subtle liqueur note to the finish. Quite nice and warming actually. The more it warms the more the actual pumpkin flavor comes to the forefront.

As mentioned a creamy nature to this and a bot warming. Wonderful and smooth.

A very good beer, bordering on special. This makes my top list of pumpkin beers with Pumking and DFH Punk’n. Definitely top 3.

Thanks Chris.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 19:00:17 | More by Reagan1984

Zraly

Virginia

4.3/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Originally had this on tap during my last trip to Tampa. Bought a 750 home and am currently enjoying the last few swigs.

Pours a hazy, dark amber with a rich two-finger head. Out-of-this-world nose: heavy allspice and cologne notes. Smells so rich and tasty, and definitely conjures all of the elements of pumpkin pie.

Taste follows the smell. Malty, spicy goodness up front with rich, creamy gourd backbone. Clear pumpkin pie spices predominate (cinnamon, allspice, clove, and nutmeg). Medium to full-bodied. The finish is a heavy on the spice with a mild, analgesic burn that is pleasant; this finishing piece reminds me a bit of pickled ginger. Two things I appreciate the most about Good Gourd: the booze is hidden and the finish is not cloying. These latter points are sometimes missed by heavier pumpkin ales.

A really wonderful pumpkin ale that would pair nice by the fireside. Probably also good with traditional fall desserts (i.e., pumpkin and apple pie) as well as homemade french vanilla ice cream. You might take a chance, too, and try pairing it with grilled pork loin.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 23:12:40 | More by Zraly

Shaw

Florida

4.05/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

My first pumpkin ale of the season.

The first time I've had this beer in the bottle. Last was a growler in 2010.

A lovely orange/amber in color with lots of carbonation and a short tan head.

Big aroma of spices like cinnamon.

It's sweet, but not cloying, with lots of spice and pumpkin flavors.

Big body is great.

Overall this is one of the better pumpkin ales out there. Seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 04:27:46 | More by Shaw

bcostner1

Tennessee

4.78/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage; drank as freshly as possible.

A: Deep, rich pumpkin-orange/burnt orange; looks like Fall. 1 finger tan head that dissipates at a moderate rate.

S: Great aroma on this. Lots of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and some brown sugar.

T: Outstanding. Following the nose, there is a lot of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg. The clove is pretty muted in this brew for me (which is a plus as far as I'm concerned...I don't care for the pumpkin ales that are very clove-forward). On the finish, I'm getting some slightly buttery pie crust and some creamy whipped cream. Delicious.

M: A little bit of a sipper. At 8.5%, the ABV is well hidden but it does hit me a little bit. I drank about 1/2 a bomber in 1 sitting and sealed the rest for the following night.

I personally love Pumpkin Ales. I know it's a polarizing style, but they are among my favorites. Overall, this was well worth the online buy from Luekens'. I have been wanting to try this for a while and couldn't wait until Sept 1 (the "official" start of fall and football season in my book this year) to try it. For me, it kind of melded together a lot of elements of Schlafly Pumpkin (with the spice profile) and Pumking (with the buttery, whipped cream finish....without overdoing it as I feel Pumking sort of does). I will definitely be ordering more of this in the future. Seek it out!

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 13:49:12 | More by bcostner1

gatorguy

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Nice light ruby color, with a big creamy white head. Leaves good lacing.

S - Wow. Pumpkin smell hits hard here, with the spices adding a light, complimentary touch. This smells fantastic.

T - The nose was mostly right. Spices come up front first, maily cinnamon and cloves. Next comes the pumpkin, and a healthy amount of it. The taste of it is natural and mellow. The balance between the pumpkin and the spices is about perfect. Next comes a buttery, graham crust hint, not overly strong but you can pick it up. All spices comes in, along with some earthy hops to finish and balance it out. Slight pine bitterness in the very finish, and leaves an awesome alcohol warmth on the throat. Winner!

M - Pretty light for an imperial pumpkin ale, carbonation is slightly low but about right for the most part.

O - Excellent imperial pumpkin. Nails a nice balance, isn't too heavy, and comes off as natural. This is what an imperial pumpkin should taste like!

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 17:45:55 | More by gatorguy

kswartz

Florida

4.4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked this up on a brewery tour the day after it was bottled (8/16). One of the spiciest pumpkin beers I've tasted, tasted like a delicious, mildly boozy, pumpkin pie. Had it with dinner, but it was definitely more of a dessert or sipping beer as it is intensely pumpkin-pie like. Definitely wish I had picked up multiple bottles, highly recommend if you can get your hands on one.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2012 02:28:53 | More by kswartz

macrosmatic

Florida

3.6/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes. Had on-tap at CCB tasting room. Poured into a snifter glass.

A: Brownish, orangish amber, hazy, with a one-finger off-white head that fairly quickly dissipates into a ring. Decent lacing. Nice looking beer.

S: Pumpkin, cinnamon, allspice, caramel malts. Unfortunately, I'm also getting a a little dry cardboard aroma here too.

T: Flavor follows the nose, which is pleasant at first - pumpkin, spiciness, nice round flavors. But, the flat cardboard flavor is there again in the finish.

M: Medium mouthfeel, nice carbonation, no alcohol presence to speak of. This is a sweeter brew but with a relatively dry hang.

O: This one is overall OK, but I deducted significant points for the off flavor. The only think I know to cause this would be oxidization, but I know that it's fresh, and one wouldn't think there would be high-temperature exposure between the brewery & the tasting room, as they're literally connected. Either way, this had promise but didn't deliver. I did buy a bottle, so if it is significantly different I will update this review.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2012 21:32:49 | More by macrosmatic

nick76

Florida

3.63/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The aroma is very spicy with pumpkin, cardboard, and caramel malt. The appearance is amber with an average head. The taste is a little like the aroma but has an astringent bitterness but it is definitely a pumpkin. The mouth feel is average. Overall I like this beer but I want more pumpkin and less bitter.

Serving type: nitro-can

07-23-2012 00:10:49 | More by nick76

BrownNut

Florida

3.98/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served cool in a tulip.
Bottled August 2011, drunk June 2012.
Bottled August 2012, drunk September 2012.
Bottled August 2012, drunk March 2013.
Bottled August 2012, drunk April 2013.

A - 3.5 - Cloudy amber like unfiltered apple cider. Fizzy head gone very quickly.

S - 4.0 - So fragrant immediately upon popping the cap. All the spices come through, especially the allspice and cloves, with the pumpkin playing second fiddle. It reminds me of the smell of turning up a mug of hot spiced apple cider around the holidays, and not just because of the spices.

T - 4.0 - The same spices are there on the palate, as well as something else, like dark gingerbread Christmas cookies. I'm not sure I get too much actual pumpkin but that's fine with me. Just a hint of bitterness in the aftertaste. I'm not even sure it's a hop bitterness, more like an apple peel astringent bitterness. Zero booze detected.

M - 4.0 - Originally lighter bodied than what I was expecting. Finishes clean just on the edge of dry. But as it has aged it has gotten a somewhat thicker slicker mouthfeel. Still ends substantially tannic though.

O - 4.0 - I first drank this fall seasonal the June after its release. It wasn't even fresh but still tasted fine. Then I had it fresh the following release and it wasn't much different. Then that one again the following March. I swear a bit of age actually makes it better, counterintuitively. It isn't one I'd want to session all night given the specialty flavors involved, but as a special seasonal, a 375ml is nice. Usually I'm a few sips in to a pumpkin beer before it starts to feel like a chore to get through it, but this one is nice. April 2013 bottle confirms that this keeps getting better with age.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 03:01:11 | More by BrownNut

merc7186

New York

3.93/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this beer poured from a bomber into a pint glass.

A: Deep Orange/Amber Hue, Passes Little Light, Thick Off White Head, Good Lacing

S: Yams, Cinnamon, Nutmeg

T: Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Allspice, Cinnamon, Clove

M: Heavily Carbonated, Light to Medium Bodied, Clean, Crisp, Mildly Sweet

Overall, a really good pumpkin ale with more of a focus on the pumpkin flavor than being over spiced. A great beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 01:25:36 | More by merc7186

ales4baldo

California

3.95/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to Hdelavega for this one in a nice trade. 

P-Big pumpkin on there and somewhat of a thanksgiving theme. 

A-a hazy brownish orange. Didnt get much head from this one and the little bit that I did didn't last very long. Poured out real light. Cloudy look to it. 

S-I get pumpkin and sugar. Sweet pie as well and lots of malts. Somewhat of a pilsner scent to it. Pumpkin crust and toppings as well. 

T-nice. You can easily taste the spices as well as the pumpkin. Black pepper and slight spicy notes. Little bit of butterscotch as well. Interesting. 

M-thin, easy to drink. Not to overwhelming. Light body to it and finishes well with the pumpkin lingering around. Would be a little better with a little less spice. Carbonation is good as well. 

O-different. Not what I usually drink but something that's good with food and desert. Spices are a bit overbearing but blend in well. Nice beer. 

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 06:12:36 | More by ales4baldo

CuriousMonk

Virginia

4/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 750ml bomber into a tulip glass. Pours burnt orange along with a frothy off-white head that laces decent throughout. Aromas are crisp toast and caramel, vanilla and toffee, biscuits, and pumpkin puree, a bit sweeter with decent pie spice. Flavors of allspice, nutmeg, mild vanilla, and some caramel. Some crispness. Fairly balanced for a sweeter beer, spice and vanilla, sweet malts. Finish is nice, gentle spice and sweetness linger. It’s not complex, but it’s tasty, sweet slanted without being anywhere near cloying. Fairly balanced and quite a smooth pumpkin ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 18:50:48 | More by CuriousMonk

Brenden

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I reviewed this a while back and am just getting back to some tasting notes.

This beer is a hazed medium-orange color and forms a fluffy white head just over a finger tall. There's some substance to this one, as the sturdy head can attest to as well as the good, patchy lacing left behind by a thick foam about half the size of the original head that does fade further, but slowly.
This pumpkin beer is spiced but balance, something that can be difficult to achieve. Spices are not as though someone dumped some bottles from the cupboard, they're much more thoughtful. They balance with nice light sweetness and fleshy aromas. Cigar City could do bigger, but this is a great smell.
The same could be said for the flavor though, interestingly (especially for C.C.), it comes off as being a bit more muted than it could be. That doesn't mean it's not very good, that just keeps it from fantastic.
The body is medium, and this brew is smooth and creamy coming off a crisp bite. It really flows and fills the mouth without being too heavy.
This is another of the better pumpkin beers out there.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 21:46:50 | More by Brenden

jmarsh123

Indiana

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

Pours a red tinged orange with a thin wispy head.

Pumpkin spices dominate. Lots of cinnamon and nutmeg. Don't get too much real pumpkin out of this.

More pumpkin in the flavor. The spices are more subdued than the nose. A bit of nutmeg still comes in, but pumpkin is the featured flavor. Finishes with a little nutty aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is pushing toward medium as is carbonation level.

I like when my pumpkin beers aren't overwhelmed by spices and this one fits the bill. It's nothing mind blowing, but a good large format pumpkin ale to share.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 19:07:10 | More by jmarsh123

hdelavega

Florida

4.03/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice burnt orange with a thick off white head.
Great aroma, roasted pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clove.
Flavor keeps up with the nose. A great balance between the pumpkin and spice. I get more clove in the taste balanced by brown sugar.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 04:05:28 | More by hdelavega

beergod1

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a hazy orange. A decent dense foamy white head. Aroma is a nice blend of fall spices - nutmeg, cinnamon, etc. The flavor is more of the same but just bolder and with the added hint of pumpkin. Very creamy and tasty. This is EASILY one of my favorite pumpkin beers. Carbonation is spot on and it has a nice balanced mouthfeel. The 9% is hidden amazingly well making this very drinkable. Would LOVE to try this again sometime. Yes that is a trade offer.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 21:58:24 | More by beergod1

BigMike

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I saved this one for Thanksgiving. Totally worth it!

A: Dark orange slightly burnt color. 1 finger of an off white colored head. Lot's of carbonation bubbles streaming. Nice looking pumpkin ale for sure.

S: First wiff reveals a ton of nutmeg. Lot's of allspice and cinnamon but none are over done. Smells well rounded. Also i get the pumpkin on the nose. It comes across like a butternut squash aroma.

T: Lot's of pumpkin. The spices shine too. Cinnamon, allspice, huge amounts of nutmeg. Definitely the best tasting and most well rounded pumpkin beer.

M: Medium bodied. Soft and chewy. Easy to drink. Alcohol is well hidden.

Overall: Hands down, the best tasting pumpkin beer i've had. Doesn't taste artificial. It's not too over the top. And it's balanced as hell as far as the pumpkin flavor and the spice. A very enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2011 21:46:28 | More by BigMike

n2185

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: pours orange with a finger of beige head that recedes into a thin ring with no lacing.

S: pumpkin spices up front with creamy vanilla aromas followed by yam and pumpkin notes with a sweet bready aroma.

T: again, pumpkin spices at first with some vanilla flavors. Slightly bitter pumpkin and bread flavors follow. Very slight alcohol presence.

M: medium body with lowish carbonation, this beer is a little watery.

O: a good pumpkin ale that could use a creamier body and more depth of flavor. Still, it smells great and is tasty.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 02:04:01 | More by n2185

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.78/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Shared with jlindros after purchasing this gem up in Vermont. Poured into a Palm tulip.

A - Pours a crystal clear copper hue with a nice offwhite head that leaves a nice thick blanket and great side lacing.

S - Wow, this is quite the pumpkin beer. Lots of nice cinnamon and nutmeg along with roasted pumpkin and some clove too. This really, really smells like pumpkin pie.

T - Oh my god is this tasty. Super pumpkin pie flavours. Creamy pumpkin puree, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This is exceptional in all aspects of the taste. There is no over the top flavours with this, its pure home made pumpkin pie mix liquified into my glass.

M - Lower carbonation resulting in a smooth creamy mouthfeel though there is a slight crisp finish. Flows very nicely along the tongue.

O - Overall holy cow is this spectacular. Hands down my favorite tasting pumpkin beer. Excellent flavours with a very nice appearance and nose. Its worth saying again that the flavours are spectactular. Really wish I could get my hands on another bottle of this stuff.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 00:11:44 | More by rudzud

dcloeren

Texas

4.05/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured pumpkin orange with a finger of off white head. Decent legs and spotty wet lacing.

Smell was very faint. Some gourd, cinnamon, all spice and maybe some nutmeg.

Taste is very gourd forward with just the right amount of spice. Very tasty and worth bringing back from Florida.

Light to medium body with just enough carbonation.

Overall, this is a fantastic pumpkin ale. Just the right amount o spice and pumpkin. Not too much of either which I feel is the case with most. Very well balanced and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 02:53:29 | More by dcloeren

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Consumed Nov. 19, 2011 at Inaugural Bottle Share. From notes. Thanks tbadiuk!

A: A hazy orange coper with a light head and lacing.
S: Cloves and cinnamon with a light but notable pumpkin / squash. Intriguing.
T: Delicious. Like a sweet pumpkin pie, with obvious pumpkin and cinnamon notes. Some lingering sweetness.
M: The cinnamon and sweetness linger with a nice carbonation level.
O: A really good pumpkin beer. If more pumpkin beers were made like this one, I would actually seek them out and buy them...

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 00:37:26 | More by kjyost

Rhettroactive

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

From 750mL bottle to tasting glass at a NoVA Beer Tasting on 10/23/11
*From notes

-- Thanks to my CCB pipeline (aka UMCaner74) for the hook-up --

A: Cloudy orangey resin. A generous pour yields a .75 finger head. Minimal retention and lacing, though I'll be damned if this isn't a gorgeous beer.

S: Creamy pumpkin, well balanced spice, graham cracker and just a touch of yeast.

T: Creamy and pumpkiny and spicy. This is easily one of the more flavorful pumpkin beers I've encountered. Everything here meshes well, and it's really approachable for anyone, including non-pumpkin fans.

M: I contend that CCB is the one of the top two or three mouthfeel kings in the business. Having said that, this feels nice, but it's not quite up to the monumental standards set by the higher ends of their portfolio. Regardless, it's well carbonated and properly layered.

O: CCB's Good Gourd is one of the best pumpkin beers around. If readily available in my market, this would be a constant in my fridge during the crisp, cool autumn days. Easily recommended, and absolutely worth seeking out for the pumpkin beer aficionado and general beer advocate alike.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 23:42:45 | More by Rhettroactive