Terrapin Pumpkinfest - Terrapin Beer Company

Dope

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a very nice super cloudy dark orange. Medium sized fizzy tan head despite the aggressive pour. Fades slowly with decent retention. Surprisingly decent thick waves of lacing everywhere.

S: Really nice mild pumpkin and associated pumpkin spices. Nutmeg and cinnamon are prominent. Nice sweet vanilla along with it.

T: Pumpkin with caramel and vanilla up front. Spices kick in as the sweetness fades, leaving the bitter nutmeg primarily, but with hints of cinnamon. Spices linger in the crisp finish, long into the aftertaste.

M: Medium bodied, smooth and crisp.

O: A nice pumpkin lager, but a little simplistic. Lagering seems to have made smoother and easier drinking, however. Nutmeg stands out a little strong but I enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 03:54:10 | More by Dope

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.76/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

"Pumpkin beers have been an American tradition since the Pilgrims hit Plymouth Rock while Oktoberfest lagers have been brewed in Germany since Prince Ludwig got hitched in 1810. Now Terrapin is 'Carving out a fall tradition' by combining these two great styles into a unique PumpkinFest beer." Brewed in the style of a Pumpkin Lager, this beer is in a style of its own.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to my Terrapin pint glass. Served north of 43º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a thin crispy frothed caramel white head that recedes quickly. A little bit of spotty lacing is left behind on the sides. Color is a deep bold orange with mild haziness. Medium carbonation. Not bad but the head and lacing could vastly improve. 3.25

(Smell) Aroma is forward with mild pumpkin, medium nutmeg and allspice. It certainly leans this beer far more to the pumpkin beer category than it does an Oktoberfest, although the lager yeast gives it a clean, crisp smell. There even seems to be a tiny bit of clove and cinnamon to the aroma as it warms. Potency is medium. Aroma is crisp and clean beyond the pumpkin and spice, and there isn't much else to discern beyond a stable malt and pumpkin sweetness with a complimentary spice blend. If you're into pumpkin beers, this will be an enjoyable fragrance to behold. 4

(Taste) There's a mild nutmeg and bolder allspice front, a light malty caramel and pumpkin interior and a toasted caramel and cinnamon sugar finish.The pumpkin is surprisingly well utilized in this beer. Nonetheless, the spices make for a drying finish and could be toned down a touch to make way for the pumpkin and the pumpkin increased a notch. I get slight interpretation of this as an Oktoberfest, but I find that to be due to the clean finish, which is slightly muddied by the pumpkin and spice blend, it's probably difficult to pull off completely. Nicely done and very flavorful, this beer is on the right track of a style that could be done horribly wrong. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) In addition to a mild perky introduction complete with spice, alcohol, this beer has medium carbonation throughout with a dry, mildly tart finish. Alcohol is well hidden. The body is a solid medium amongst pumpkin beers, medium amongst all beers. The carbonation is very good for the beer, just enough to mildly accentuate the pumpkin spices while keeping the malt base in tow. It could increase a notch but it's well fitting for between a pumpkin beer and a märzen. 4.25

(Overall) I've had some over-spiced and under-pumpkined beers in my experience, but this one comes really close to finding a decent balance between the two. It's probably an Oktoberfest in texture and body alone at this stage, but the pumpkin beer component is great. Worth trying. 4

Terrapin Beer Company's
Pumpkinfest
3.76/5.00

Vintage Notes:

2011 (1 year, 6 months aged):
Head quality and consistency is identical to the fresh, although a touch lighter cream tone in complexion. Body color is identical as well, no color loss and similar haze tone. Most of the potency of the spices has been lost to time, some evident tartness from the yeast or pumpkin is the most notable flavor difference, although there's still decent body to it. Due to a repeal in spice presence, the malt flavor has been revealed significantly as the spices have died down and the pumpkin has been revealed as a presence in this beer, and the finish is far more clean than in the fresh batch. In terms of flavor, this is where the Oktoberfest flavor comes in, deep malty caramel with a mild bitterness, it's still very fall-like. Carbonation is still mild like in the fresh batch, although the milder spice in this age makes it seem more lacking. I was glad to have saved a bottle of this, and recommend that you do too!

Recommended Vintage: Try a bottle at 1 year!

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 03:38:07 | More by Jadjunk

GossageBrewery

Missouri

3.34/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Poured this 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. This Pumpkin Ale/Oktoberfest hybird poured a hazy orange color, produced a small off white head, poor retention and it left an average amount of lacing on the glass. The aroma consisted of fresh roasted pumpkin, caramel and pumpkin pie spice. Medium in body, this ale had a malted grain base, pumpkin, caramel and a nice amount of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice- in fact it borders on being over spiced. With that said it is a very worthy Pumpkin ale- Nice session beer = first example of a Oktoberfest/Pumpkin Ale I have sampled.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 17:55:17 | More by GossageBrewery

Lawl3ss

Texas

3.98/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Lightly chilled 12 oz. bottle into a stemless tulip pint. 2012 vintage.

Look- Clear medium amber with an interesting orange tint. Pour leaves three fingers of dense off-white foam that settles to a finger and a half of craggy head. Nice lacing.

Smell- Standard but pleasant pumpkin and spice aromas, sweeter than expected with a distinct biscuity graininess. Swirling brings out a more floral, savory pumpkin spice aroma. This one quite reminds me of pumpkin pie.

Taste- Lighter and a bit plainer than anticipated after the aroma, strong toast and dry spice (nutmeg, allspice, ginger.) Overall impression of brown sugar, but not what I would consider particularly sweet. Herbal, tealike hops compliment nicely, leaving a savory gingerbread flavor that lingers.

Mouthfeel- Medium body, very light but present soft carbonation. Silky, rich texture. Comfortable autumnal heft. Not too heavy, I could have a couple of these with dinner.

Overall- A distinctly better-than-average spiced pumpkin ale. Not too flashy, not quite a dessert beer, packs plenty of distinctive flavor without being overbearing and feels like something you'd want to drink on Thanksgiving with mashed potatoes and stuffing. Recommended, I'd buy it again in season if I had the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 10:25:07 | More by Lawl3ss

merc7186

New York

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

Thanks to sommersB for the extra.

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Brownish/Amber Hue, Passes Some Light, Mild White Head Ring, No Lacing

S: Pumpkin, Nutmeg, Mild Cinnamon

T: Mild Nutmeg, Mild Cinnamon, Mild Pumpkin

M: Mediocre Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Spicy, Mildly Watery

Overall, for a pumpkin lager, its okay but under carbonated in this case.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 21:48:03 | More by merc7186

sommersb

Tennessee

3.93/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 12-17-2012
Freshness: 2012 Vintage
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Perfect pint
Purchased: Single from Midtown, Nashville

A: Color is copper and clear, with a modest off-white head. Retention is low but lacing is good.

S: Aromas feature nice pumpkin pie notes such as nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and, of course, pumpkin.

T: Malty and somewhat sweet in the taste, with pumpkin fruit and pumpkin pie spices rounded out by earthy hop bitterness.

M: Light to medium body and moderately carbed for a crisp mouthfeel, the finish is of pumpkin fruits and spices, balanced by the hops.

O: I thought they did a good job marrying the styles of an Oktoberfest and a pumpkin ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 05:36:37 | More by sommersb

rangerred

Tennessee

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

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a hazy dark copper with a thin off-white head that quickly fades to some splotchy foam on top of the beer.

Spices dominate the aroma with cinnamon and nutmeg being quite prominent. I can detect clove and apple along with some graham cracker. It is pleasant but a little bit overwhelming.

The same spice is up front in the taste to a nearly overwhelming degree as well. It really drowns out any malt that is present. The spice eases up a bit midway through but never really enough to taste the malt. A moderate bitterness helps balance out a somewhat sweet mouthfeel leading to a fairly dry finish.

Overall, a nice unique attempt at a pumpkin beer and it just barely misses the mark. If the spice was dialed back a little bit this would be an outstanding drinkable pumpkin beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 00:59:55 | More by rangerred

IrishHockey

Indiana

3.4/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle (that I recieved from awesome trader Immortale25) into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass

Look: nice copper color with very little white head. The head was only half a finger and disappeared quickly.

Smell: nice pumpkin pie smell. Not over done. Subtle.

Taste: disappointment hit here. I get malt and yeast. Not a lot of pumpkin or spices. Even as it warms it still is not great. More pumpkin and cinnemmon would really help this out

Mouthfeel: very watery. I know it's supposed to be a lager, maybe a touch more creaminess would be great.

Overall: what can I say. I'll give this one a whirl again, but I was kinda bummed out by this. I'm hoping its because I've been on a porter and stout kick that this one came off as watery and bland.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 02:05:59 | More by IrishHockey

thedoubler55

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A nice bright copper color, there was only a hint of head at the top but barely anything, left almost no lacing at all.

S: Strong notes of cinnamon and pumpkin, nice warming malt note on the tail end.

T: Well Balanced, nice cinnamon notes and different spices throughout, nice flavor, perfect for the season.

M: Medium bodied, well balanced, moderate carbonation.

O: This was one of the pumpkin brews that I thoroughly enjoyed, well balanced and great tasting, great fall beer!

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 21:21:29 | More by thedoubler55

UnderPressure

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Beautiful brown orange color. Off white head. Very clear. Retention could be better.
4

Funky vegetal aroma with spices. Malt in background.
3.5

You can taste the pumpkin upfront. Spices and malt in the finish.
4

Medium bodied with a relatively dry finish.
4.5

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 21:20:13 | More by UnderPressure

tectactoe

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a copper-amber color, completely opaque in a strange kind of way - not exactly "hazy" looking like many witbiers, but you definitely can't see through it. Small, gray head that barely lasts seconds and leaves no lacing. The smell contains a hefty dose of spices, the most prominent to me being nutmeg, followed up by a little bit of cinnamon and maybe even allspice. The concoction of flavors may cause your mind to think "pumpkin" but this beer, to me, was more reminiscent of holiday spices in general. Slight peppery aftertaste, with a thick, malty base throughout, finished with a touch of yeast and bread on the palate. A bit watery overall, but still holds a nice amount of spice and malt flavor. Low bitterness and hops might be present, but at that point, you're just reaching. Medium body, medium carbonation.

This was a pumpkin beer that was closer to "holiday spice" than "pumpkin". Why exactly? I'm not too sure. Maybe it was the balance of spices? Though I would definitely say nutmeg was the most prominent and may even argue it was slightly overpowering compared to the rest. All in all, a decent brew, definitely a nice holiday warmer.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 12:42:33 | More by tectactoe

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I poured this one into a pint glass, it has a copper color body with no head or lace to it. The smell has a very nice aray of pumpkin spices and pumpkin flesh. The taste is upfront of spices and then a mellow flavor of pumpkin come throug. The mouth feel is good, almost the constincey of a lager. well balanced and carbonated. Overall this is a good pumpkin beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 04:16:04 | More by chefhatt

Immortale25

Florida

3.8/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Ninkasi Brewing pint glass. Label says Seasonal 2012.

A- Pours a medium amber color with an 1/8 inch off-white head that doesn't retain before becoming a thin ring around the edge of the glass and light, small wisps of surface foam. Small clots of surface foam.

S- Powerful aroma of cinnamon, ginger and pumpkin pie. It's actually the first pumpkin beer I've ever encountered that truly replicates pumpkin pie in the smell.

T- Heavy clove and nutmeg in the flavor, especially nutmeg. Light toasted malt. The nutmeg does not cease and almost becomes too much. Not as much actual pumpkin as in the aroma.

M- Some spice sting with medium-low carbonation and a light-ish body.

O- You'd better like nutmeg if you wanna get into this brew. A good stab at the style but could use some toning down in the spice department.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 04:37:06 | More by Immortale25

MichaelPhiladelphiaBeer

3.13/5  rDev -17%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Tap

A-
Medium amber, small yellow tinged head

S- little sweet pumpkin smell with subtle vanilla, not really spicy but something I can't put my finger on

T- sweet pumpkin, not too bitter - lacks a spice I was expecting. Very light, but not watery.

Mf - standard little more smooth and less bubbles than what I'd consider average

Overall - good, like the lack of bitter and the sweetness isn't too much. Very drinkable for 6.1% with no real presence of alcohol flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2012 10:36:17 | More by MichaelPhiladelphiaBeer

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Terrapin Pumpkinfest

Look: Orangeish hue with a bit of sediment. Soapy yellowish head forms and leaves lace.

Smell: Bready , biscuity smell with vanilla and pumpkin scents. A very pleasing and sweet smelling pumpkin lager.

Taste: Caramel, pumpkin and very light spices , mild hop bitterness, and leaves a vegetable aftertaste; definitely like fresh pumpkin. A little cinnamon and allspice. Pretty tasty brew but a bit tame.

Feel: Medium bodied, moderately low carbonation.

Overall: A decent pumpkin brew, interesting its a lager. Solid and from a beer geek standpoint, a pretty cool idea. Lacks the fullness of the its ale brethren.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 22:41:47 | More by Stinkypuss

Chaney

District of Columbia

3.15/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I've been wanting to try this one for quite a while and I'm now taking the plunge. Observation: It seems that most of Terrapin's stuff sold in 4-packs is money!

A: Poured out clear as a bell, dark orange in color, and with a solid white foamy head with teeny tiny bubbles.

S: True to its title, I got pumpkin spices imbedded in a German mothball-like concoction. A Marzen, if you will.

T: I had problems with this one. I didn't like how this has all the makings of a pumpkin pie brew, but instead of getting the cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, etc., this was spoiled by the German malt additive.

M: The carbonation was fine, but this was far too hoppy to be a great pumpkin ale to my mind. Quite bitter indeed. The lacing left on the glass was ridiculous.

O: This was an interesting experiment, but it proved one thing to my mind: Don't mix pumpkin and Marzens... the ingredients just don't mesh well together.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 20:24:03 | More by Chaney

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A nice amber pour with 2 fingers of head. Best looking pumpkin ale I've had so far this year.
Smells of ginger, cinnamon, pumpkin pie.
holy crap this tastes like patchouli.. Lots of spices, floral.. Very nice very sweet.
medium body (on the lighter side), nice carbonation, slightly creamy on the lips - chalky on the roof.
as far as pumpkin beers go, this is the most unique do far this year. Very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 00:48:01 | More by facundoCNB

Jason

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle with a freshness date.

LOOK: Rudy amber hue, clear, decent stickage

SMELL: Pie spice, light pumpkin meat, malty, faint caramel, sweet

TASTE: Very spicy, lots of pie spice, medium bodied, malty, hint of pumpkin, clean, slightly sweet, malty finish

Love the concept of taking an O-fest and a Pumpkin Ale and smashing them together. A good brew all around I just have a problem with the spicing upfront, needs to be dialed down a bit. A fun brew to quaff back.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 02:47:02 | More by Jason

tastybeer

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Color is auburn with a warm glow. Head is rather small and turns quickly to a bubbly ring. The beer itself is crispy clear. Aroma is pretty delightful. Full of delicious chewy spiced malts. Pumpkin aromas are fairly subtle. Taste is sweet and spicy. There's some lingering spiciness through the finish reminiscent of cayenne pepper. This is a perfect combo of Oktoberfest style meets pumpkin. This doesn't have the pumpkin pie filling thing going on (which is fantastic when done right), it is more of a spiced Oktoberfest with pumpkin nuances. Pumpkin pie like spicing comes through strongly though. Mouthfeel is entertaining. Dry and gritty with a smooth base. Medium body.

III like it!

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 00:46:05 | More by tastybeer

JCB14

4.43/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The head on this beer was about average with okay retention. The aroma was excellent with strong (but good) overtones of pumpkin pie spice. The beer had a great hop flavor that is often missing in this style. This is a beer that I would gladly have a second. In general a good beer for this style it was great.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 15:31:56 | More by JCB14

Roose13

New Jersey

4.53/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into pint glass.

A: Dark caramel color. Finger-width head. Bubbles after the pour that linger and rise throughout.

S: Probably the best-smelling pumpkin beer I have ever had. Brown sugar, cinnamon, spices. Just a wonderful aroma that's strong and just radiates out of the bottle and glass and lingers on your lips.

T: Smooth and easy to drink. Slightly bitter. Hints of brown sugar and spices. Gourdy.

M: Feels great in the mouth. Carbonated.

Overall this beer rocks. One of the best fall beers out there and right up there in the argument for a top-notch pumpkin beer. Would drink this again and again.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 03:16:33 | More by Roose13

BethyBo0op

4.53/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a lovely beer. Smells fresh and spicy, and can taste cloves and cinnamon immediately with almost a fresh apple cider finish. Light and lovely. I don't taste tons of pumpkin, but this is not a sweet beer at all, very spicy. Really great fall beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 01:09:14 | More by BethyBo0op

wedge

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very lightly hazed auburn color with a slim head that shrinks to a bubbly collar. The aroma is brimming with pumpkin pie spices. Some bread, brown sugar, and not much pumpkin, but very pleasant all around. More of the Oktoberfest side shows up first in the flavor...spices, caramel, mild sweet bread, toast. Smooth, slick, fairly light on the carbonation. I can dig it.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 01:21:30 | More by wedge

MuddyFeet

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

More nutty than pumpkin. Nice clove and spice taste. Dirty brown and slightly opaque. Slightly under carbonated. Paired nicely with pumpkin pie gelato. Nice was more clove. Light feel of a lager. Thought the low carbonation was that first bottle but it was the same for the next two.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 13:22:41 | More by MuddyFeet

drabmuh

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Terrapin shaker pint, they need better glassware. Beer is dark amber and clear with moderate to low carbonation and soft white head of small bubbles, looks nice at least.

Aroma is sweet, mildly lagery and has a lot of pumpkin / squash in the nose.

This beer really should be moved to Oktoberfest since that is what it is...says so on the label at least, but I digress, beer is medium in body, sweet and gourdy on the front with a decent but slightly heavy on the finish. A little too sweeet for an Oktoberfest but overall it is fine. I'd consider having it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 16:16:10 | More by drabmuh