Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale - Buffalo Bill's Brewery

dcook11

California

3.68/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Orange. Aggresive carbonation. Dental floss thin head from a violent pour. Some lacing, though not much.

S- Pumpkin. All spice, cinnamon. Balanced and sweet.

T- All the same ingredients as the smell, but more muted.

M- Light bodied with a bite from the carbonation.

O- My favorite pumpkin ale.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2011 20:24:30 | More by dcook11

berkey

California

2.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

I was poured one of these in error by the waitress the other week. Figured I'd get a sample and give it a proper review since I haven't reviewed this style yet. From notes a few hours ago. On tap at the brewpub in Hayward.

Clean amber body with a very slight haze. Very small white head with mediocre at best retention. Virtually no lacing.

Aroma is predictably spicy with strong nutmeg and some cinnamon. Some fresh pumpkin is in there as well but it's not a dominant note.

Spiciness continues and is even stronger on the palate than on the nose. There's a bizarre light character here that has me thinking cream ale. Did they add some sort of adjunct to this? I'm wondering. Thought I picked up some herbal hops in the background but I'm not really certain.

Medium high carbonation is a little awkward on this beer and the feel is a little thin overall. Went down pretty easy but I'm not really interested in another pour so I can't really call it that drinkable.

Not horrible but not really good either. I'll stick to the Tazmanian Ale on future visits to Buffallo Bills. That one is at least tasty and pairs with the food well.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2009 05:40:43 | More by berkey

whynot44

Missouri

3.23/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Hazy pinkish amber color with a quick disappearing white head.

Aroma is primarily pumpkin pie spices with a suggestion of pumpkin and mild malt.

Taste is also heavy on the spices - nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, cloves with a definite pumpkin undertone. The light malt taste is pretty much overwhelmed by the spices. Possibly, just a little to heavy on the spice, especially cloves. One or two with thanksgiving foods could be good, but this is not something you would drink all the time.

A little thin, I'd like to try this as a sweet stout. Still, a cool fall night and some cinnamon rolls or apple pie would go well..

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2005 05:24:53 | More by whynot44

hulmanite

Iowa

3.8/5  rDev +30.6%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dissapointingly pale color. Smells of very very strong pumpkin pie spices and I can't pick any other smells out of it even though they may be there. Initial taste hits like a brick of semi-sweet spices and the bitter alcohol. Once the initial taste has subsided, there are more subtle malty flavors.


Great beer if you want to drink 1 or 2, and wait a few days. It has *too much* impact for beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2005 17:50:45 | More by hulmanite

kosmoraios

Washington

3.4/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A new style for me. Received it in a Christmas variety pack of ales. Quite interesting. Pours an amber color with a bit of a head. The smell is of pumpkin pie, maybe a bit of yeast / hops in the background. It tasted pretty good, but more like pumpkin pie than anything else. The hops seemed to be very mellow, the malt stood out more than anything other than the spices, but the spices did not overwhelm the ale. The mouthfeel was decent, with adequate carbonation and an enjoyable smoothness. Interesting. Not something I'd look for, but a refreshing and curious change of pace. Not so drinkable as I could probably only have one or two before I'd want a nice bitter IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2005 23:51:11 | More by kosmoraios

Backer2004

North Carolina

3.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Least favorite pumpkin style I've tried this year. Received three of these in a beer of the month club. Maybe I'm too spoiled with the best Pumpkin, Cottonwood, brewed locally but this one did not do it for me. Tastes like an Octoberfest with an aftertaste of club soda. Will be difficult finishing the other two. A bit disappointed on Thanksgiving with the choice.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2004 01:25:24 | More by Backer2004

SeanChouffe

New Mexico

3.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Amber/orange color, low co2, and a white head with low retention. Aroma is of clove and cinnamon and kinda skunky. A surprisingly light representation of sweetness with a dry, tart finish. Palate is dry and lightly effervescent. A little sweet would bring more to the table. Quite character free for a Pumpkin Ale.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2004 04:37:02 | More by SeanChouffe

Hunter

Arizona

3.55/5  rDev +22%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I tried this a few years back and was unimpressed...perhaps veggies just aren't meant to be in beer? Anyway, a friend had bought a six-pack this year and was looking to give them away, so I thought I'd take the two remaining bottles off her hands and give it another chance.

Beer's color is somewhere between a pilsner and and amber...darker gold with light carbonation and a white head that depletes quick with little lacing.

The aroma is quite nice for a seasonal ale. The smell of pumpkin and spice does not overpower the malt and hops present. Reminds me of pumpkin pie (yum).

I expected the whole deal to come crashing down in the taste, but they might have tweaked the recipe, because this isn't bad at all. The rotten vegetable taste of previous years has been replaced by a mild, zingy taste of pumpkin and spice. Like a liquid pie with a kick. Thin mouthfeel and a clean aftertate.

I happily surprised. not something to drink every day but a good compliment to stouts and ciders for your Halloween/Thanksgiving parties.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2004 22:45:12 | More by Hunter

walleye

Michigan

2.68/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

poured a light copper with off white head. aroma like thiose red cinnamon candies, along with the nutmeg and cloves. flavor at 1st taste I thoughtthis is nothing like pumpkin but I let it stay in the the month a while and the pumpkin pie taste did come out, with a bit of bitterness. do not know if I would want this for dessert

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2004 03:56:18 | More by walleye

Thrasher

Oregon

2.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

2004 edition, contract brewed at Portland/MacTarnahan's. After the dismal Orange Blossom Cream Ale, I was curious to try this but approached with trepidation. Pumpkin ale is a lot more promising than orange ale, and I have had some damn good pumpkin beer before, particularly the one brewed by Mt Hood at last year's Holiday Ale Festival in Portland, OR. This is a marked improvement over the Orange Blossom, but it still fails to fully satisy. Pours a rich bronze-orange, with rising head that disappears very quickly, much like soda. Sweet, overpowering aroma of pumpkin pie spices. The pumpkin flavor is evident in the beer, but this really should be called Pumpkin Pie Ale since the focus is on nutmeg and cinnamon. The pumpkin is relegated to the background which is a shame since the hearty squash flavors of pumpkin marry well with both malt and hops. Malt is sweet, strong, and toffeeish here; hops are almost invisible. It could pair interestingly with a slice of pumpkin pie, but I suspect it will be sweetness overload, and too similar a flavor. An adequate novelty beer, and quite light and refreshing, although the mouthfeel is disappointingly thin. To be fair, I can see why it is a hit at parties with mainstream beer drinkers. But it's not an especially good beer overall. Hopefully Mt Hood brewed another batch of Ichabod's Head this year.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2004 04:03:48 | More by Thrasher

rajendra82

Georgia

3.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This beer was sent to me as part of the BIF 13 (from hell) package by drewbage. Will this be as bad as he thinks it is, well there is only one way to find out.

The beer poured out into the lager glass was extremely fizzy with a deep orange golden color and a fleeting foamy head. Carbonation was lively and the looks were no too shabby.

The aroma was nutmeg, cinnamon, mace, and some other odd unidentifiable spices, and a bit of spruce like woodsy smell. There also a whiff of cooked pumpkins in here. The smell is definitely a bit too close to a batch of over spiced homebrew for my comfort level.

The taste is light and toasty and is a significant improvement over the off putting smell. Has a liquefied pumpkin pie like taste going for it, especially as it warms up, with a mix of pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg flavors in the forefront. The hops provide a slight bitterness in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel is oily and thin. If this ale had a more chewy body, it would have been significantly enhanced.

All in all no as bad as anticipated.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2004 04:25:06 | More by rajendra82

kindestcut

North Carolina

1.83/5  rDev -37.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I tried this beer with trepidation. Would it be pure pumpkin taste? Would it have a pumpkin pie flavor? Well, I'm still not very sure what they were going for here.

The beer poured a nice light bronze, a pale orange. There was no head to speak of, although there was a slight white foam and I could see the carbonation rising in my glass.

The aroma was very light but I could smell...well, pumpkin. The taste was very thin, almost distant. The pumpkin was there, to be sure, but wow...was it in the background. I detected an attempt to approach pumpkin pie in the flavor, what there was of it. For a flavored beer, this one was terribly watery.

I was really disappointed with this, not because I love pumpkins or the idea of a pumpkin beer, but because they could have gone all-out. If you're going to make a pumpkin beer, make a PUMPKIN beer. Sheesh.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2004 17:03:02 | More by kindestcut

hobbes2112

Texas

3.28/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

12 oz. bottle

I have had varied luck with Pumpkin brews in the past, but this is the first since I started reviewing beers.

Pours very light orange with about 1 finger of pure white head. Minimal retention and little to no lace.

Smell is exactly as advertised, Pumpkin and Spice. No classical beer elements in the nose.

Taste is sweet and a little tart up front, then switches over to straight up pumpkin pie. The pumpkin and spice (nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, allspice) are blended in with what seems like a slightly burnt crust. It is an aquired taste, but I enjoy this beer a little at a time.

The carbonation was a little weird (too sharp) and the layers are a somewhat loose in this beer leading to a watery feel.

This works as a novelty fall beer, but it would be really hard to have frequently and drinkability takes a hit because of it.

Not the best I have ever had, but way better than most.

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2004 03:39:26 | More by hobbes2112

trumick

Michigan

3.55/5  rDev +22%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice copper color with no head or lacing.
Scent is of nice pumpkin pie spices and pumpkin.
Taste doesn't actually match the scent as I would expect. It is a bit watered down, and the spices are thin at best. A nice sweet nutmeg finish though.
Mouthfeel is very light and a bit too much carbination.
These beers have easy drinkability but the taste might get a bit old after more than a couple.

Ok beer, I wouldn't turn it down if it was offered to me.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2004 02:36:09 | More by trumick

Rio

Kansas

2.5/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 1 | overall: 2.5

Cloudy copper in color, thin head that's been reduced to a thin ring of foam around the outside of the glass already. Smell's heavy of a spice that I can't quite put my finger on, but I want to say nutmeg. Strong enough that I can't smell anything else in it. A little too overpowering, IMHO.

Taste hints at the nutmeg and some other pumpkin pie associated spices. Mouthfeel is like carbonated water, though, or a pop that's set out long enough that all the ice has melted. Way too thin, and a bit too bubbly.

It tastes alright, but the overpowering smell, and far underpowered feel make this one a no-go for me. Pretty drinkable, but not something I plan to drink much of.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2004 02:41:51 | More by Rio

Furball

California

4.63/5  rDev +59.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This Pumpkin Ale is one of the best I've had. The first impression was that it smelled and even tasted like dirt, which isn't a bad thing for me. The color is medium orange with a light head... light yet airy and foamy.
The smell is of nutmeg, cinnamon, and of course, some pumpkin. It has a fresh, earthy smell that can only be described as dirt. It's not at all like eating pie... think more of a roated pumpkin with browned butter. The taste is just like the smell... fresh yet earthy... dirty. I wouldn't describe it as chewy at all because this is still a lighter beer. There's a slight sharpness yet an underlying sweetness/spice. Definetly a very drinkable beer. I would say it's great with a rubbed, grilled pork loin for a fall grill....

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2004 20:07:15 | More by Furball

GuinnessSmurf

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The look is a clean yellow/orange/gold...all the colors of the fall (minus brown and red...ok, so not all). Has a nice bubbly head.

Smell is probably the best part. It has some natural pumpkin odors in there and many of the spices of a pumpkin pie (cloves, ginger, cinnamon).

The taste is a very mild presentation of all the flavors mentioned in the smell. It really is delicious, but a little watered down. I think if the body taste were more full this beer would be a must have. As it stands now, its still a must try.

Goes great with sweat potato salad.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2004 18:55:59 | More by GuinnessSmurf

GeoffTBreashears

4.05/5  rDev +39.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The first time I tried this beer I was very pleasantly surprised. All of the flavors were balanced so well. Definitely has become one of my favorite Pumpkin Beers.

The appearance was a very nice reddish orange color with a nice head that dissipated rather quickly.

The smell had a bitter-sweet characteristic to it. Not offputting thought.

The taste was unique in that it definitely carried its pumpkin flavor throughout. I have found that most pumpkin beers carry the pumpkin spice flavor and feel to them. However this one had a different taste in that it was as if you were tasting a fresh pumpkin out of the oven, with subtle notes of nutmeg and the like. This was well received by my palate.

The mouthfeel was average. Though the carbonation was good upon starting to drink it, that dissipated quickly as I drank the beer. Dont let that deter you from trying this though.

Overall I give this beer a hearty recommendation. If you are a pumpkin beer fan, this one definitely shouldn't disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 18:56:28 | More by GeoffTBreashears

secondtooth

Indiana

3.48/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cloudy amber/orange with limited carbonation and very little retention. No lace.

Nose is spiced, with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. The pumpkin is there, just a bit subtle. Not a bad thing.

Taste is pleasantly spicy, yet light in body and feel. And despite the poor reviews, I find this to be an easy-drinking, subtle pumpkin ale. Certainly, it's not as complex and layered as some pumpkin ales out there, but I've had worse. No problems here.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 01:50:24 | More by secondtooth

mooseisloose

Florida

3.05/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Saw this at ABC looks like a good holiday brew so let's give it a whirl. Popping the top a get a whiff of pumpkins and spice and everything nice. Starts foaming out of the bottle top like a rabid dog so I quickly pour it into my trusty SAPP and the result is a very foamy light bronze with a structurally sound, head of off-white foam. On the taste this brew has hints of pumpkin (brilliant!) but otherwise has the characteristics of a tasty golden ale. The pumkin flavor is evident up front and carries through the middle, but is then smashed out Gallagher-like in the end by a funky semi-sweet zestiness that then finishes flatly bitter. Mouthfeel is a little bit too carbonated to carry the pumpkin to the finish line. All said this would be a good tailgate brew at your favorite football game, I think it would suit brats and burgers well. Not all that great as a sole drinker.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 00:23:39 | More by mooseisloose

mfnmbvp

Illinois

2.93/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle. Bottle says to "enjoy by 12/13/12" so I am a little late on this one, but not by much.

A - Pours a light murky orange color, lots of bubbles rushing to the top, but no head, just a slight fizzy foam that disappears quickly into nothing.

S - Lots of wheat, mostly. Some vague pumpkin and cinnamon & nutmeg spice, but it all seems very faint.

T - Bland, watery taste. Definitely not the best pumpkin beer out there. It is a nicely balanced beer, a nice easy-sitting body, with a moderate 5.20% abv, but I just wish this beer tasted more like pumpkin.

M - Nice, sticky mouthfeel; probably this beer's best attribute.

Overall, not terrible, but there are definitely better pumpkin beers out there.

Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale ---3/5.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 22:54:20 | More by mfnmbvp

Murrhey

Montana

1.95/5  rDev -33%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Reviewed from notes.

A- Poured out a quarter inch white head that dissolved almost immediately. Soapy bubble on top. Cloudy orange-brown color. Kinda yucky looking.

S- Pumpkin pie smells, sickly sweet pumpkin and molasses, brown sugar. Smells like a fall candle.

T- Begins sweet, almost cidery. Then ends with a musky taste like I'm drinking cobwebs. Certainly not good, but not gagging me either.

M- Water with a smidge of malt body.

O- Avoid this brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 03:50:41 | More by Murrhey

Ohhoshow

2.38/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

My first review...so please bear with me!

Appearance - Slightly cloudy, with a dark honey color. Head dissipated quickly. Leave for a minute and it will look like beer was left out overnight.

Smell - Smells is nice, definitely a pumpkin/spice aroma

Taste - You get some spice, but it smells a lot more like pumpkin than it tastes. Gives a watered down feeling.

Mouthfeel - Easy to drink but way over-carbonated imo.

Overall - Nothing about it really stands out. A below average pumpkin beer, but not the worst. Wouldn't buy again.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 05:01:54 | More by Ohhoshow

sarajayne

2.63/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

appearance: brown beer/oak colored

smell: this beer lacked any fragrance- so we poured the pumpkin ale into a pint glass to try and see if we could get any kind of character from it! No luck, all we got was a very vague pumpkin aroma.

Taste: The taste was about the same as the smell, very carbonated but not much of a taste- a very light beer.

Overall: probably my least favorite pumpkin beer... let's hope our next attempt at a Buffalo Bill's brewery is much better than my experience with their Pumpkin Ale!

collage girls drink GOOD beer:
www.brewreviewboston.blogspot.com

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 22:16:03 | More by sarajayne

PumpkinMan

4.05/5  rDev +39.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed the folksy bottle art, but liked the tasty pumpkin ale even better. One of the best pumpkin ales that I've had all season. Not over spiced so the pumpkin flavor can be enjoyed. I find most pumpkin ales are ruined by well intentioned "spicers" who mask what true pumpkin aficionados are looking for.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 15:30:48 | More by PumpkinMan