Black Creek Pumpkin Ale - Black Creek Historic Brewery

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev +7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

500 mL bottle from the LCBO; best before Feb. 2013. Thanksgiving weekend seems like the proper time for my first pumpkin beer of the year.

Pours a somewhat muddy brownish-orange colour, with little in the way of head besides a soapy, off-white film on the surface. A thin collar clings to the sides of the glass for a while, but considering I basically dumped this stuff into it, the flimsy head gives off a bit of a flat, weak vibe. Fortunately, the aroma is distracting enough to allow me to forget about first impressions - it's a bit flowery, with lots of allspice and pumpkin-bready malt notes. Appealing and fresh, not to mention enticing.

Fairly tasty, but kind of muddled. Freshly-mashed pumpkin is probably the strongest component, with allspice and nutmeg rounding it out toward the finish, which is a little dry and spicy. Disappointingly thin-bodied, which might be acceptable if the carbonation weren't also extraordinarily low. At least the thin, unreactive mouthfeel makes this very easy to drink quickly... assuming you like the vegetal, gourdy pumpkin that dominates the profile.

Final Grade: 3.35, an acceptable B-. My first sip left me a little confused, and it took me a few more to decide if I liked the taste. It's definitely thinner than all of the other pumpkin beers I've had to this date, but there's no rule saying all pumpkin beers have to be big, malty, spicy, boozy monsters like Pumking. Overall, I think I'd have to give Black Creek Pumpkin Ale a thumbs-up - albeit an unenthusiastic one. There's lots of authentic mashed-pumpkin flavour with just enough spice to complement rather than dominate - but the flat mouthfeel is this brew's Achilles' heel.

Maybe that's what they were going for - maybe this is what the early attempts by our brewing forefathers to fashion a pumpkin beer actually turned out like. If this is the case, then all I can really say is "look how far we've come". If you're looking for an alternative to other lighter, fall-oriented styles (e.g. Oktoberfests and ambers), then this brew might be worth a try. This is a pumpkin beer to pair with Thanksgiving dinner, in contrast to the big spice-bombs, which pair better with dessert.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 18:26:28 | More by thehyperduck

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev +3.8%

02-12-2013 22:15:12 | More by DaPan

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

2.31/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2

Poured a really quick dissappearing head, no lace, looks like cloudy apple cider in a glass, dull brown and cloudy. Some small trace of carbonation. Looks = unappealing.

Smell has a big hit of pumpkin puree upfront. Also seems to have a strong cooked apple presence, with maybe a slight prickle of biterness. A hint of roastiness but not much malt body.

Taste is bad. I may not finish this. Mouthfeel is very watery, no carbonation or bite, tastes like basement-fermented apple juice with pumpkin thrown in. Spice is pretty non-existant, mostly just cold pumpkin-water. No malt presence, some sour pumpkin notes. Really light and watery, finish has some dry pumpkin and apple notes, not very dry really on the wet side.

Pretty unimpressed by this. Hoping maybe this is a bad batch, but I won't rush out to try another. Its only just tolerable, but really unbalanced, flavour swings all over the place and never in the direction of 'satisfying' or 'this is really good beer'. Tastes watery and lacklustre. Avoid it.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 02:08:36 | More by mick303

bigox420

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev +11.8%

01-13-2013 19:12:12 | More by bigox420

TerryW

Ontario (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Clear copper orange under a moderate head that settles to a heavy film and leaves steady spotty lace. Looks decent enough.

Lots of pumpkin and a gentle dose of spice on the nose. A touch of sweetness. Appetizing enough. Not overpowering spiciness like too many pumpkin ales.

Thin bodied with some sweetness up front and a slightly bitter finish. No big flavours, gentle like the aroma. Easy drinking ale, but not really interesting.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 22:37:57 | More by TerryW

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

From notes...

A - Pours a slightly hazy orange colour with a copper hue, thin layer of head with little retention or lacing.

S - Spiced pumpkin pie with sweet cinnamon, cloves, all-spice and earthy gourds.

T - The flavours are slightly mild, with the spices dominating alongside a solid caramel malt backbone. Sweet cinnamon and cloves with vanilla undertones and earthy pumpkin.

M - Medium bodied, smooth and finishes wet.

O - A tasty brew, but a tad mild. Worth a try but by no means mind blowing.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 04:04:18 | More by andrenaline

mintjellie

Ontario (Canada)

1.93/5  rDev -38.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Murky medium amber body, hazy with lots of small floaties. Two finger head dies fast and doesn't lace. Smells like lemon, pumpkin, and almost imaginary spices. Tart lemon flavour up front with subtle vegetal and spice notes. Thin, watery, and oddly chalky with low carbonation. This is definately off, but it hasn't gained much carbonation from the unintended refermentation in the bottle. Oddly enough, the off aroma and flavour isn't particularly unpleasant - just very inappropriate in a beer of this style. This might be a really bad pumpkin beer, but it's only a mediocre sour. Weird.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 04:20:06 | More by mintjellie

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Unexceptional pumpkin ale. Yes, pumpkin aroma with a nominal amount of spice. A little orange, no retained head. Prickly carbonation, and not much of it. Not offensive but simply not tasty pumpkin nor interesting. Lighter mouthfeel.A little nutmeg and pepper.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 02:08:59 | More by northyorksammy

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Though far from sparkling, Black Creek Pumpkin Ale has much more clarity than I imagine most historic pumpkin ales would have. What they likely share, however, is the orange-amber tone (like the colour of pumpkin flesh itself). While those aspects of the visuals are nice, the complete lack of visible carbonation is concerning. The beer has not a trace of suds.

The aroma makes the beer instantly recognizable as a pumpkin ale, albeit not the most perfumed one. The squash-y scent of pumpkin is almost more prominent than the spice, which overwhelming leans towards fresh-cut ginger. Adding to that 'zing' is a dash of cinnamon heat. Still, it nonetheless smells more like pumpkin soup than pumpkin pie.

It may sound odd, but not every pumpkin beer tastes like pumpkin. In fact, many don't even use actual pumpkin in the recipe. This offering, however, does and it has a distinctly gourd-like flavour that strongly resembles canned pumpkin and/or squash puree. Without much maltiness, it lacks the biscuity or pie crust notes, and the ginger and cinnamon notes don't hold up for too long.

The resulting beer isn't overly exciting. Without the sweet, nutty maltiness and spices, any resemblance to pumpkin pie is purely superficial; the impression of canned squash all the more vivid. If only it were more savory or sweet or spicy - as is there's no real mouthfeel. Carbonation would help too; this is hopelessly flat and more or less watery.

I think most all Black Creek offerings thus far have been solid, so this seasonal was playing with house money so far as I'm concerned. I'm willing to gamble that next year's will be better. But while I like the more balanced approach (soup rather than pie), it will need to be much maltier, carbonated and perhaps a little more spiced if it is to be considered worthwhile buying again.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 23:37:03 | More by biegaman

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev +3.8%

10-16-2012 23:41:35 | More by Molson2000

BigGruntyThirst

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev +3.8%

10-16-2012 15:31:35 | More by BigGruntyThirst

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

2.58/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A: deep orange colour with hints of toffee colours. For some reason it did not pour any head. When I noticed no head was happening I poured harder and still no head.

S: The pumpkin comes through first then followed by spices: cinnamon and vanilla. Very clean and no cloves are being picked up

T: Taste like a pumpkin pie where someone forgot the cloves and sugar. Taste a little oxidized and stale.

M: Carbonation is very low, feel very thin.

O: Not too impressed at this time. I wonder if there is a problem with this particular bottle of beer. I'll have to try it again and change my review if that is the case. In the mean time this is what I was left with to judge.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 00:12:03 | More by Kremlock

FEUO

Ontario (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev -20.1%

10-13-2012 00:32:06 | More by FEUO

beerhunter13

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev +11.8%

10-12-2012 10:20:24 | More by beerhunter13

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a deep amber color ale with a medium size foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of light pumpkin notes with light cinnamon notes. Taste is also dominated by medium pumpkin notes with some cinnamon and ginger also discernable. Malt backbone is present and provides semi-sweet caramel flavours. Body is about average with light creaminess and good carbonation. Nothing extreme in this beer – just good balance mix between pumpkin and light spices.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 16:33:20 | More by Phyl21ca

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured in to tulip.

A - Medium amber; translucent. Thin layer of off-white head.

S - Big pumpkin pie aroma up front - pumpkin puree, all spice, clove and lighter cinnamon and nutmeg flavours. A nice overall nose.

T - Pumpkin and spice up front. Clove, all spice and nutmeg with a hint of cinnamon in the finish. Overall flavour profile is nice but this is a touch light at times. Could have used a little more kick.

M - Light boy, a touch watery at times. Light carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 13:22:41 | More by TheSevenDuffs

RedAleMan

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev +3.8%

10-06-2012 08:10:05 | More by RedAleMan

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

2.93/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Bottle from the LCBO, 500ml into a tulip. Best before January 2014.

Reddish orange, with a finger or two of white head with an ultra-aggressive pour. Light retention and lace. Nose of pumpkin, clove and mild allspice and even a bit of citrus zest. A bit muddled all around, but still identifiable as a pumpkin ale. Taste has some pumpkin flesh, slight spicing, grainy breads/cereals. Light bitterness and some citrus cleaner. Some metallic on the back end. Watery feel, low carbonation. Not a good beer at all really.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 01:43:55 | More by liamt07

WeedKing4

Ontario (Canada)

3.43/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This pumkin ale pours a dark, clear amber with decent head. Smells slightly like pumkin pie upfront. The taste has pumkin initially, but its quite faint and disappears quickly. Some spices in there and light caramal malty finish. However this is a little too watery. Seems to lack some character for a pumkin beer. A decent offering overall, but I was expecting a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 00:40:53 | More by WeedKing4

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Amber orange colour, wispy white head, not much in the way of lace. Smell is spicy, nutmeg, cinnamon, pumpkin tart filling and a bit of bready malt are present. Taste is spicy, warm spices, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, a little vanilla and some cracker like biscuit malt as well, only a light bitterness at points as well. Little carbonation and very thin in body, almost like water and I'm not even stretching the truth, caught me off guard a little. Not a favourite I have to be honest, the mouthfeel on this throws off whatever promise this may have shown.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 18:09:07 | More by peensteen

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

3.08/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: It has a nice orange/amber color to it. It has a thin white head that dies down very fast and leaves no lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of light pumpkin, sweet caramelly malts, spices and cinnamon.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has some light pumpkin, some spices and sweet caramelly malts. Lot a whole lot going on in this one.

Mouthfeel: It has a low carbonation with a somewhat thin overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with decent flavors and aromas. Expected more from Black Creek.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 23:47:02 | More by SebD

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a bright, burnt orange colour with a slight haziness and a minimal white head that dissipates quickly. Although this bottle may be unusual, I’d welcome greater carbonation in a future release.
Wonderfully autumnal aroma of pumpkin fruit and spices; smells genuine rather than grossly pre-fabricated. The flavour is well balanced, starting with the sweetness of caramelized malts and pumpkin flesh and finishing with bittering hops and allspice. Enough cloves and cinnamon to be flavourful, but not spiced over the top.

Really enjoyed this pumpkin ale and will definitely buy more.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 22:30:36 | More by hopsolutely

KrisDLSmith

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev +11.8%

09-23-2012 03:29:49 | More by KrisDLSmith

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.05/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

500ml Bottle from the Ottawa LCBO for 4$

Appearance - Brownish copper colour with a below average size fizzy/frothy off-white coloured head. There is a below average amount of carbonation and there isn't much lacing. The head lasted for around 2 minutes.

Smell - Malts, pumpkin, all spice

Taste & Mouth - There is a below average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, caramel, and a bit of pumpkin. There is also some clove/allspice and some peppery notes.

Overall - It's a little too thin and it needs some more carbonation. It also doesn't have a whole lot of pumpkin flavour. There are better options for pumpkin beers out there.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 14:08:37 | More by spinrsx

RBee

3/5  rDev -4.2%

09-19-2012 04:28:57 | More by RBee