Pumpkin Smasher - Big Muddy Brewing

Tone

Missouri

3.53/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy, copper color. 1/4 inch head of an off-white color. Slight retention and poor lacing. Smells of pumpkin, sweet malt, slight pale malt, spices (all spice and cinnamon), and a hint of grass. Fits the style of a Pumpkin Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with a low carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, slight pale malt, pumpkin, spices (cinnamon and all spice), hint of hops, and strong sweetness. Overall, weak appearance, decent aroma, feel, and body.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 16:35:52 | More by Tone

matjack85

Illinois

3.76/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I found this at the Binny's store in Bloomingdale, IL for $7.99 a six pack. First time I ever tried anything from this brewery. 12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

The beer poured a cloudy pale orange color and made a 1½-finger creamy white head that lasted a little over a munute. There wasn't much lacing - just a few slippery spots that slid quickly back into the glass, Nothing that stuck.

The beer certainly smelled like what a pumpkin ale should smell like. Nice pumpkin aroma along with all the pumpkiun pie spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

The taste followed the smell only not as strong as I had hoped for. Mild pumplin flavor with light cinnamon and nutmeg. Only the clove came through at full strength.

Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

Not a bad pumpkin ale, but nowhere near as good as Souther Tier's version.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 07:00:36 | More by matjack85

tjsdomer2

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Decent layer of thin foam, but not much lacing to speak of. Like golden brown in color. It's not amazing, but I can't complain a whole lot.

Smell: Hef-like banana smell with nutmeg and just a hint of cinnamon. I really like the fruitiness, which gives this a unique touch as far as pumpkin ales go.

Taste/Mouthfeel: This is a bit bitter. It seems as if the bittneress comes from orange peel or something along those lines. Not a whole lot of pumpkin itself, but I detect peppery notes and pumpkin spice. A bit too bitter/sour for me. Good yeasty body initially that fizzles in the end a bit.

Overall Drinkability: Definitely a unique beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 20:36:42 | More by tjsdomer2

peabody

Kentucky

3.35/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This one is pretty cloudy with sediment in the pour. 1 finger of white suds adorn the top of this brew.
Smell is very spicey with sugary malts and allspice being the prevalent aromas.
Taste is very pumpkin pie but not overwhelming like you would think.
The alcohol is hiden well here and the mouthfeel isn't as sticky as it smells.
Overall I like this beer from Big Muddy and think it is one of their better attempts at seasonal brews.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 03:08:52 | More by peabody

TheSarge

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured this one into a standard pint glass, and the brew makes a finger and a half head of white, and the body is orangish copper, and is moderately hazy.

The aroma is caramel, pumpkin, vanilla, nutmeg, and slight veggie.

The taste is nutmeg dominant, some fleshy pumpkin in the middle. a quarter of the way there is an earthy bitterness, and finishes vanilla sweet with a creamy feeling.

Overall medium in body, and soft on the palate in the way of mouth feel.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 23:31:03 | More by TheSarge

emerge077

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A new Big Muddy seasonal in sixers? Going to give it a whirl.

Poured straight down the middle into a tumbler glass. Initial pour generates a sizable head of foam, rising in a convex dome above the surface. It fades quickly to a feeble broken skim across the surface and ring around the edges. Hazed orange. Zero lace.

Roasted pumpkin aroma, authentic and natural, right on the money. Some minor layers of spice, vanilla and nutmeg.

Flavors are similar, the pumpkin is natural and holds interest. Subtle vanilla and nutmeg, light papery malt in the middle. Dry nutmeg in the aftertaste. Light bodied and slightly watery. Easily drinkable, on my second already. Above average Pumpkin Ale, though Schlafly still holds the crown.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 01:30:56 | More by emerge077

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a tumbler.

Got a random sample bottle from my distributor today...I'll never argue with that! It pours a mostly clear sunrise golden-amber topped by a finger or so of off-white foam. The nose comprises mild cinnamon, brown sugar, light pumpkin seed, white bread, light vanilla, and a kiss of maple syrup. The taste brings in more of the same, though, for once, the spices really don't necessarily rule the roost as in other pumpkin beers. Instead, things are balanced with the spices on one end and the decidedly gourd-y pumpkin on the other, with a base of vague sweetness and light breadiness. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fairly creamy feel. Overall, a highly enjoyable pumpkin beers, one that doesn't come close to overdoing things in any direction, which is definitely refreshing for the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 04:59:13 | More by TMoney2591