Pumpkin Ale
Propeller Brewing Co

Pumpkin AlePumpkin Ale
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From:
Propeller Brewing Co
 
Nova Scotia, Canada
Style:
Pumpkin Beer
ABV:
5%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.49 | pDev: 12.32%
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
26
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 21, 2019
Added:
Oct 16, 2006
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  4
In the fall of 2004 we created a Pumpkin Ale at the request of the Town of Windsor's Pumpkin Festival and a fall classic was born. We brew this ale using Howard Dill's® world famous Atlantic Giant Pumpkins® with a special blend of spices - this of course in addition to the usual ingredients: highest quality malted grains, hops, water and yeast. It’s the next best thing to pumpkin pie. This one goes fast so make sure you mark your calendar for this October.

15 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bcrocker:
Photo of bcrocker
Rated by bcrocker from Canada (NS)

4.25/5  rDev +21.8%

Oct 06, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by GoHabsGo from Canada (ON)

Oct 21, 2019
Photo of ewpass
Rated by ewpass from Canada (PE)

3.6/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Light amber with a small head. Spice malt nose. Light malt body with pumpkin spices and a little sourness. Soft carbonation. Enjoyable.
Nov 23, 2017
Photo of rolltide8425
Reviewed by rolltide8425 from Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Big pumpkin spice notes in the nose, particularly nutmeg, unfortunately that is not replicated on the tongue as strongly. Trace notes of pumpkin and a thin, almost plasticy mouthfeel.
Oct 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.21 by MattCampbell from Canada (ON)

Nov 06, 2015
 
Rated: 2.75 by djcreepshow from Canada (NS)

Oct 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.28 by canadametal from Canada (NS)

Oct 12, 2014
 
Rated: 2 by lgmol from Canada (NS)

Dec 11, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by mmurphy525 from Canada (NS)

Nov 15, 2013
Photo of treeoceaneast
Reviewed by treeoceaneast from Canada (NS)

3.39/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
I find this a pleasant beer and the nutmeg light spice is nice.
I do have one major problem with this beer, and it is the finish taste. It may be some natural constitution of the ingredients but I get what I can only describe as a plastic finish. I have had red wine with a burnt rubber finish (a good thing for a very old red of this type, or so I was told) Am I alone in this observation, or am I missing what is actually making up the finish taste/flavour?
Oct 31, 2013
Photo of doopydoogle
Reviewed by doopydoogle from Canada (NS)

3.76/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A - Very light and somewhat clody in color with a fairly thin head that doesn't really hang around.

S - Wheat and malt aromas come through with the spice notes backing it up. Pumpkin aroma seems subtle.

T - Crisp up front, almost akin to a pilsner, but then the pumpkin and spice flavors kick in with cinnamon and nutmeg jumping out in front. This spice profile is then followed by a pronounced bitter which lingers long on the palate. The finish is malty/bready with some pumpkin remaining. Not sweet ,which I appreciate for the style

M - Crisp but still creamy, it rests well on the tongue.

O - A good, sessionable pumpkin. While spiced, it has a great balance of malt, spice, and hop, so it's really just a good all-around spiced brew. One of the better examples of balance i've seen in the style. If you're not into that and want something sweet or something that's a spice bomb, this might not be your cup o' brew.
Oct 09, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by sdm9465 from Canada (NS)

Feb 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by CurtisD from Canada (NB)

Oct 08, 2012
Photo of NightINgale
Reviewed by NightINgale from Russian Federation

3.85/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
341ml bottle that I was sent in a beer mail from Nova Scotia.

A - Clear orange body, with a nice frothy head and a million of small bubbles. Pretty good head retention.

S - Pumpkin mash on the nose. Some mild spices and caramel.

T - Straight up pumpkin flesh, followed by some nutmeg and cinnamon notes, with a moderate bitterness to it. The after-taste is slightly grainy and a little bready. Unlike some other pumpkin beers that taste like pumpkin pie, this one just tastes like pumpkin, which is definitely not bad.

M - Light-bodied. Crisp at first, then almost creamy after. Definitely easy-drinking and sessionable.

O - Overall this is a refreshing and tasty lighter kind of pumpkin ale.
Jan 13, 2012
Photo of liamt07
Reviewed by liamt07 from Canada (ON)

3.63/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
341ml bottle from cjbmcdon, into a tulip. Brewed in the 4th week of September, as per the label.

Hazy orange brown fluid, with some fluffy white head. Soapy lace and retention. Nose has a solid pumpkin pie feel to it, lots of pumpkin flesh, cinnamon and a fair bit of allspice. Taste has less but still moderate pumpkin flavour, while the cinnamon and allspice prevail. Touch of hop bitterness in the finish. Medium mouthfeel and carbonation is a touch higher. A pleasant and straightforward pumpkin ale, above average.
Oct 27, 2011
Photo of bobsy
Reviewed by bobsy from Canada (ON)

3.16/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
I've been after this beer for a while, so huge thanks to BBrianBoogie for sending this as part of CanCon BIF!

Pours a slightly clouded yellow with orange highlights and a stuff egg white head that showed good lasting power and left large chunks of lace. The one thing that concerned me was the difficulty of the pour, which indicated either an overly aggressive carbonation or an infection. After tasting, it looks like it's the former. The aroma is pretty decent too, with rich pumpkin and spice notes overlaying light biscuit and grain.

Meaty pumpkin flavour is hidden behind a clean malt body, and it takes a lot of warming for it to come to the fore. The spicing is well handled, allowing notes of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg to hit the roof of the mouth and linger in the finish. A surprisingly intense bitterness springs up when the beer hits the side of the tongue. I love IPAs,but the bitterness in this beer seems out of place, and acts as an occasional distraction, when I think a lighter and sweeter touch may have been preferable. The carbonation is far too high, and only becomes pleasurable after some sitting and swirling. From looking at past reviews it sounds like they've not achieved any consistency with this year's batch.

A bit of a disappointment. The balance is askew, and the carbonation heaightens the unpleasant bitterness in the flavour, and makes this very harsh for a pumpkin brew. I'd expect more from Propeller... this is the only one of their lineup to let me down.
Dec 08, 2009
Photo of jbonapar
Reviewed by jbonapar from Canada (ON)

3.28/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured a nice bottle with a super cool label.

Smell - flowers, pumpkin and spice
taste - A bit more bitter than expected, light pumpkin and light spice. Not as flavorfull as the St Amboise version. However, different.

Overall, average beer. I think Propeller will improve on this as their beers continue to improve everytime I drink them. Still the best brewery in the Maritimes.
Dec 08, 2009
Photo of Viggo
Reviewed by Viggo from Canada (ON)

3.16/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Big thanks to pubstyle for the hookup.

Pours a clear light amber, some orange highlights, big thick white head forms, settles down to a thick ring and layer, lots of lace chunks stick to the glass, looks good.

Smell is nice, lots of pumpkin character, caramel, wheat, honey, clean and lagery, some light spicing, cinnamon and cloves, some nutmeg, a lot of spice character but not much to support it.

Taste is not so good, much too clean, wheat and some pumpkin, caramel, light toast, not enough malt character to support the spices, a lot of nutmeg and cinnamon, a lot of malt sweetness, but not enough there.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low to medium carbonation. A pretty drinkable pumpkin ale but a little light. Thanks Troy!
Dec 05, 2009
Photo of wordemupg
Reviewed by wordemupg from Canada (AB)

3.56/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
341ml bottle poured into pint glass nov30 2009

A golden yellow with lots of carbonation and suspended particles, with a off white two finger head that has great retention and a few rings of lace followed by a couple patches

S heavy on floral perfume with the roasted pumpkin

T again it's very floral and the usual pie spices are a little faint

M light bodied and it almost turns to air in my mouth

D I had a hard time getting over the perfume aspect of this beer but that's my only major complaint

once again I thank Long813 for this one, now I can say I've tried pumpkin ale from every Canadian region this year (except the north, any Ideas for arctic pumpkin?)
Dec 01, 2009
Photo of mikejc
Reviewed by mikejc from Canada (NS)

3.71/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
A: Light orange in color with low head diminishing quickly.

S: Pumpkin exactly as it would smell in fresh baking. A nice blend of cinnamon and spice present.

T: Starts with pumpkin and finishes with a nice balance of spices.

M: Light with low carbonation, feels a bit lackluster compared to rest of beer.

D: Despite the mouthfeel this beer is highly drinkable. Will be picking up more of this great seasonal beer.
Oct 21, 2009
Pumpkin Ale from Propeller Brewing Co
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 26 ratings