Pumpkin Ale - Rivertown Brewing Co.

stewarbd

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Very nice copper color, nothing unusually amazing or horrible about it.

S: Very subtle hints of nutmeg and cinnamon, not much else at first pour, but after warming up, sweet molasses dominates the nose with a nice backing of cinnamon and nutmeg.

T: Similar to the aroma, the spices came through almost exclusively until it warmed up, when that great molasses flavor revealed itself and the spices once again took a backseat. Never did get much malt or hops, which doesn't disappoint me too much.

M: Isn't a heavy beer, but by no means is it watery. The carbonation was a bit much for me, although it didn't take away much from the experience. I just noticed once the beer warmed a bit and lost some of the carbonation, I enjoyed it slightly more, as nothing then detracted from the flavors.

O: I really wasn't expecting much, but this beer may be the best Pumpkin Ale I've had, save Pumpking. I would definitely serve it cellar temp if it was my call, as the beer seems to reveal more at a slightly warmer temp. That molasses driven, spice supported idea worked for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 22:32:34 | More by stewarbd

Kropotkin

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +24%

04-22-2013 07:08:24 | More by Kropotkin

Nick_Foltz

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

03-09-2013 11:22:54 | More by Nick_Foltz

Billz187

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +30.9%

02-17-2013 02:08:19 | More by Billz187

vanillacokaine

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

02-11-2013 07:26:36 | More by vanillacokaine

Ferd577

Indiana

4/5  rDev +10.2%

02-07-2013 00:54:13 | More by Ferd577

whendeathsleeps

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

01-12-2013 23:56:53 | More by whendeathsleeps

Lukass

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +17.1%

01-05-2013 13:53:39 | More by Lukass

Groomsy

Kentucky

3.68/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Alright, so this is slightly out of season. I admit it. Buuut, it came in the most recent "Variety Crate" from Rivertown that I picked up. It's still a solid pumpkin ale. 12 oz. bottle poured into a mug.

A dark copper/amber body is topped by a thick head of foam which quickly dwindles to a cap and leaves soapy lacing down the glass. Healthy carbonation bubbles jet from the bottom of the glass. A nice-looking beer.

On the nose, I can tell that is definitely more of a "pumpkin pie" beer rather than a straight pumpkin ale. Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg dominate, backed by brown sugar, molasses, and some caramel/bread scents from the malt. No detectable hop presence in the nose. Some fruity esters emerge as the beer warms. A nice smell; about what I would expect for this kind of ale.

The taste of this of this brew is what some would call "safe" - while I'm inclined to agree with it, this is not by any means a BAD pumpkin ale. It feels the style criteria accurately. On the front of the palate is a big burst of dry spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, maybe some clove and allspice if you search hard enough) followed by a flash of genuine, earthy pumpkin flavor and sweetness. There's a small flash of earthy bitterness on the back of the palate to wash down the sweetness of this beer. There is some bread and caramel-flavored flavors in the finish to complement the pumpkin and the spices. While a little too spice-heavy for my tastes, this is an overall balanced example of the style. I enjoy it more than some commercial breweries' examples of this style.

As far as weight goes, this beer is medium-heavy in body but retains a smooth characteristic. The spices provide a dry finish and leave lingering hints of earthy pumpkin. The finish fades quickly and is actually quite refreshing for the style.

Overall, a solid interpretation and representation of the style. Rivertown seems to have played it safe with this one, but in a world in which brewers are pushing extremes for the sake of being extreme, it's good to come back to basics. A solid pumpkin ale with good flavor; I would certainly drink a few of these as an after-dinner treat.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 23:16:27 | More by Groomsy

MudDrinker

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

11-29-2012 20:58:18 | More by MudDrinker

JennieKoeper

4.5/5  rDev +24%

11-28-2012 20:56:22 | More by JennieKoeper

profholt82

Ohio

4/5  rDev +10.2%

10-31-2012 22:21:16 | More by profholt82

meanmutt

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

10-28-2012 19:00:41 | More by meanmutt

BB1313

Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours a hazy burnt orange, nice color. Off-white head fades very quickly and doesn't leave much lacing or retention, but there are a ton of legs. The aromas are nice. It has your typical pumpkin ale aroma with cinnamon leading the way. There's also a vanilla cream aroma floating around which is nice. Finally a nice caramel aroma from the malts. The flavors hit you with a sharp cinnamon spice blast, but quickly fades leaving a juicy bitterness. I'm also picking up some ginger and nutmeg along with a touch of brown sugar. Mouthfeel is fizzy, but smooth. It's pretty light, but has a nice body to it. Alcohol goes unnoticed.

This is a pretty average/middle of the road pumpkin ale. It's pretty nice, but very safe.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 01:05:22 | More by BB1313

Gabbyaboutipa

Ohio

1.5/5  rDev -58.7%

10-25-2012 03:02:53 | More by Gabbyaboutipa

Golgamor

2.75/5  rDev -24.2%

10-17-2012 22:02:43 | More by Golgamor

jminch

Ohio

4/5  rDev +10.2%

10-13-2012 20:41:38 | More by jminch

jaidenjb

Ohio

2.5/5  rDev -31.1%

10-13-2012 17:01:58 | More by jaidenjb

ColdPoncho

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

10-10-2012 22:29:03 | More by ColdPoncho

wingman14

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice orangish amber with a frothy tan head that fades after awhile. Smell has some spice with the cinnamon being the most prominent, some malty goodness, and some sweetness probably due to the molasses. The taste follows suit, the molasses and cinnamon come through with a healthy dose of pumpkin, the aftertaste finishes with the molasses and pumpkin. The flavors are over the top or annoying, but still packed in there. The flavor definitely improve as the beer warms, the cinnamon, molasses, and spices come through and the beer sweetens up a bit. This one has a medium mouthfeel with a nice balance of flavor and somewhat smooth. Overall a good pumpkin ale, and a great fall beer. One of my favorite pumpkins I have had.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 21:45:41 | More by wingman14

Cosho

Ohio

2.5/5  rDev -31.1%

10-06-2012 23:53:27 | More by Cosho

vrbulldog22

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

10-02-2012 03:46:41 | More by vrbulldog22

BeerBuckeye

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a darker amber color with small, 1 finger, off-white head.

S - Bready with caramel malt, there's a hint of allspice and cinnamon, but it's very faint.

T - Actually a pretty tasty pumpkin pie blend of spices. Cinnamon and nutmeg are prominent. Touch of clove. Taste is a little metallic at the end. And the spices fade quickly.

M - Pretty big carbonation, but overall, fairly crisp.

Overall - A decent pumpkin ale here. Not blow-me-away good, but it does the trick.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 00:13:22 | More by BeerBuckeye

stewart124

Ohio

3.18/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Amber to light brown with a very nice head. Almost nitrous-like in appearance.

Nose has just a slight character of "home brew" dare I say. Spices abound and a nice caramel character.

Lighter body and more carbonation than I anticipated with less mouthfeel. Muted spices come through the mellow malt character. More nutmeg and allspice hit the palate at the end. More spices and malt character come through as this warms a bit. Some tobacco and slight roasted notes make their way through this pumpkin ale.

Nothing really wrong with this pumpkin ale but it doesn't shine. The best part was honestly the appearance.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 02:18:39 | More by stewart124

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.08/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Where pumpkin ales are all the rage during the fall season, there seem to be no shortage of supply as every brewery that gains access to the gourd feels compelled to partake in this highly competitive market. Rivertown takes a stab at it with a lighter body and spice-heavy attitude.

The Pumpkin Ale pours with a copper-auburn color that makes me want to read actual pumpkin hues in its aesthetics. Sternly carbonated, the beer seems to sparkle as the bubbles rise through the coppery liquid. Fueling a head partly of creamy foam and partly fizzy, the carbonation isn't enough to keep the foam character or lacing throughout, leaving the beer lacking a bit of beauty later in the session.

Spicy aromas, lead by cinnamon, also rein in complementary notes of nutmeg, allspice, and brown sugar. Layered on a pillow of caramel and molasses, the beer begins to resemble pumpkin pie. Even the starchy twinge of tartness that actual pie pumpkin displays is alive and well in the nose.

The flavors tell a taste of two beers. There's a caramel-laden base flavor with molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, but without the underlying associated sweetness of caramel. Lighter in taste from a malt standpoint, the spices abound and seem to have little grounding. This is a cause for sharp spiciness that supplants hop bitterness in balance. The persistent tartness keeps the beer tasting alkaline and somewhat battery-like.

Light in body, the beer's spicy additions have timid support from mid palate onward. But the early taste is subdued from the creaminess of carbonation and fresh malt texture. But after the beer falls thin, its the astringencies of boiled spice that finishes the beer with an unsettled mouthfeel.

Rivertown Pumpkin Ale captures a very true essence of pumpkin and spice in authentic and common taste. But recent pumpkin ales are doing a better job of capturing the taste of pumpkin pie in the glass rather than trying actual pumpkins. Let's face it, we don't even eat pumpkin pie for the pumpkin taste; it's all the other sugars, spices, and praline flavors that keep us going back to the Thanksgiving dessert table.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2012 17:45:05 | More by BEERchitect