Terrapin Pumpkinfest - Terrapin Beer Company

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Huge, enormous fan of the style so I naturally could not wait to try and get a hold of it. When I saw it pouring that's where I was.

The pour was nice, light brown in color with a nice head of off white on top trying to balance it out. Faded evenly leaving only a touch of nice lacing down the side of the glass. Nice and rich looking though. Aroma was all at once pumpkin and all spice. Really nicely done here. Lots of things going on in here for sure. Cinnamon, Nutmeg, hints of a light hop note are all coming together quite nicely. Smooth and even flavor, just what it should be. Lots of sweet notes playing around with brown sugar and pumpkin, but at the same time it is nice and balanced without anything really jumping out at you. Nice and easy to drink, not too heavy,

Overall I was really pleased with this one. I am a big fan and to do this style right takes a bit of finesses. Quite impressed with the way they pulled this one off and I would have no issue in trying it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2009 01:03:01 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.9/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a fairly clear copper color with a cream colored head. Definitely a strong pie spice aroma to this. Lots of nutmeg and all spice with perhaps a hint of vanilla. A nice malty sweetness, too. The flavor is quite nice. Plenty of malt sweetness to it with a solid, but not overdone, pie spice flavor. Good nutmeg, all spice, and a hint of cinnamon, too. Light in body with medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 08:30:56 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours orange copper with a nice off white head. Good deal of lacing on the way down. The nose is nice and definitely quite interesting. Can definitely understand the concept. Undertones of pumpkin and squash with a bit of bread and some slight sweetness. The taste is pumpkin, bread, squash, and a bit of caramel. Nice carbonation and a medium body. Drinks fairly well and definitely a unique concept.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2010 01:13:56 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.2/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce bottle - $7.99 at Hop City in Atlanta, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours out a deep amber-hued body showing good clarity with a short-lived, finger-high, off-white head.

Smell: Sweet-scented, toasty, bready nose with a good backing of spices, particularly notable is the ginger and cinnamon, and, of course, the wholesome, Autumunesque pumpkins.

Taste: German malts display tastes of sweet, toasted bread crusts lightly brushed with sugary caramel and served up with a full side of nice, vibrant cubed pumpkin. From the very beginning, the spice character is fairly bold and upfront, with the cinnamon and ever spicy ginger hitting first and the cloves and allspice following close behind. Mildly spicy, earthy hops with a light bitterness blend in well with the surrounding spice character. Bounces back and forth like an airborne pumpkin between the sweet maltiness and the spice blend until you arrive at the dry, somewhat spicy finish, with that ginger lingering into the aftertaste as it is often wont to do.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium-plus carbonation, with some carbonic crackling on the tongue.

Drinkability: I enjoyed it. Pumpkinfest, for me, was a nice amalgam of a pumpkin beer and a wholesomely bready Oktoberfest. Minus a few ounces portioned out to Roommate Chuck, I had no qualms in clearing through the entire bomber.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2009 02:23:06 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

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

Appearance: Pours a clear dark amber color with a nice head that leaves many strands of lace

Smell: Munich malt dominated aroma, with pronounced brown sugar and nutmeg characteristics

Taste: Caramel Oktoberfest character with a developing brown sugar and nutmeg aspect; after the swallow, the sweetness becomes a bit cloying and lingers into the aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: I generally like pumpkin beers, but as I am not a big fan of the Oktoberfest style, this one does not do much for me

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2010 21:53:14 | More by brentk56

oberon

North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A mix of a Fest lager and pumpkin ale now thats a mix.Poured ino a imperial nonic a clear burnt orange with a tinge of bronze,a thinner slight off white head atop.Light pumpkin pie spice in the nose,clove,cardamom,and cinnamon mainly,it is pretty light though.A nice mix of pumpkin spice and a crisp toasty finish,one of the better pumpkin ales I have had in awhile flavor wise.This pumpkin ale is not overly sweet and spiced up and is very drinkable,very nice.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2009 18:33:10 | More by oberon

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

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is the Side Project No. 8 version, not the re-released falls seasonal version. Drank in December 2010 so the beer is aged one year.

The beer pours a dark orange color with a white head. The aroma is pumpkin, caramel, cinnamon, cloves and allspice.

The flavor is more of the same. I get some pumpkin, cinnamon and cloves as well as some caramel and toffee malts.

Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Very enjoyable, but it tastes like a regular pumpkin beer to me. I don't really get any of the Oktoberfest characteristics from the beer, other than the caramel and toffee which are typically present in other pumpkin beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 01:38:02 | More by Mora2000

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This brew pours out as a nice looking amber color. The head is a little fizzy and tan in color. The lacing is minimal for sure. The spices on the nose scream autumn loud and clear. The taste of the beer is balanced nicely between the spicy pumpkin flavor to the beer hidden inside of it. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and has a good charge of carbonation to it. Overall I enjoyed this pumpkin ale and wouldn't mind trying it again one day.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2011 00:25:46 | More by Knapp85

Gavage

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearamce: pours a clear dark orange color with a 1" head that breaks apart quickly.

Smell: cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and some caramel sweetness creates a nice aroma.

Taste: follows the nose as the the spices are pretty dominant, and the malt sweetness is a bit in the background. Bitterness is mild here.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Lightly crisp to start, smooth at the finish.

Drinkability: decent pumpkin beer that hits the mark for the style. Easy drinking. Worthy of a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2010 19:02:07 | More by Gavage

tempest

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a bottle from Abe's Cold Beer. I like this one. There was a lot more natural pumpkin flavor and less spice dominance that a lot of pumpkin beers have. It tasted like I was eating pumpkin or some other squash, not just drinking pumpkin pie spice beer. It was backed up with a toasty chocolate barley character, making a cocoa pumpkin taste. It's great to find a fresh take on the pumpkin beer that also happens to be delicious. Check this one out.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2010 14:21:23 | More by tempest

Wasatch

Utah

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to cashew70 for this brew.

Pours a very nice clean/clear dark golden orange color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy off-white head, with some sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, with some nice pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, and caramel. The taste is sweet, malty, nice pumpkin note, nutmeg/cinnamon, and a good dose of caramel. Medium body. Drinkable, another very tasty brew from Terrapin.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 23:39:19 | More by Wasatch

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

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appears a semi transparent orange toned amber with a small white cap that slowly fades into a gentle cap and collar. Scattered bits of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of freshly baked bread, pumpkin spices, brown sugar, coked zucchini, pepper, and floral notes.
Taste is of the aromas with vanilla cream, spice, sweet brown sugar, candied yams, and Peppercorn.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, sweet, sourdough lingering with effervescent carbonation tickling the palate.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2010 00:34:24 | More by weeare138

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz into a bottle.

Pours a crystal clear coppery amber, with just about 2 fingers of tight looking light tan head. Retains with a thin creamy layer, that stays pretty strong, leaving some decent spotty foam back. The aroma is an even mix of pumpkin spices and sweet bready malts. There's a bit of a green smell in the back, but I'm having a tough time discerning if it's pumpkin meat or hop character.

Sweet bread and caramel shore up the front and back of the taste, while green pumpkin meat and firm hop bitterness fill out the middle of the profile. Spice mingles in with the overall sweetness but also really comes out in the finish of this, along with a dry earthy bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a big mellow creaminess to it that really fills out the back of the swallow. There is a decent little amount of beef to this but no real alcohol flavors to speak of. Just a bit of heaviness on the breath after each sip.

I like the effort here by Terrapin to try for a mix of two different fall favorites, as I think that they are really on to something here. The taste comes off a bit better than the aroma does but I just wish that the flavors were just a little more memorable overall. Still, this is definitely worth a look and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see this as a new seasonal in 12 oz bottles next fall.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2009 20:33:35 | More by Kegatron

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark golden ruby/amber color with dark golden orange hues when held to a light source and a 1.5 finger light yellowish beige head with good retention, only slowly fading into a lasting ring.

Toasted malt aroma with hints of rye and caramel as well as a very prominent autumnal spice presence. Lots of pumpkin puree, cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, ginger and nutmeg with a bit of clove as well. The roasted malts are very strong in the front of the nose but are evenly balanced by the pumpkin beer aromas.

Flavor is very similar to the aroma. Fuller end of medium with a very nice balance of Octoberfest/Marzen and Pumpkin beer flavors. Toasty caramel and rye malts are prominent up front with a subtle hint of biscuit followed by a slight sweet pumpkin presence and a very prominent spice profile. Hints of cinnamon and brown sugar as well as some strong clove notes, subtle vanilla and ginger. Pretty well balanced with a nice hybrid of flavors from the two styles. No alcohol warmth to speak up making it pretty drinkable. Slightly medicinal in the finish. Complex and interesting. Recommended for fans of both styles.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2009 06:11:53 | More by corby112

DoubleJ

California

3.88/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Around here, I don't get many pumpkin ales. That's why I'm sitting here with one at my hand, courtesy of gford217. On to the beer:

Pours rich auburn into my weizen glass. It looks like autumn took over my glass. The head is slightly creamy, and has average head retention. There's plenty of spice in the aroma. Nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon are the most dominating aromas. I'd like some pumpkin aroma, but the spices are good enough.

Spicy. Actually, I'm thinking more of well-spiced cider than pumpkin pie. I can taste some cinnamon, but as I serve myself a slice of pumpkin pie, the cinnamon really starts to stand out. There is a base of malts holding the spices together. The carbonation is on the high side of things, which helps enhance the spice level in this beer.

It works. Pumpkifest has the equation down for a style I'm sensative to. Things get even more interesting when you drink this with a slice of pumpkin pie.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2009 04:48:08 | More by DoubleJ

glid02

Georgia

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Twain's in Atlanta.

Pours a copper-orange color with a 1.5-finger off-white head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of spices - nutmeg and cinnamon with hints of allspice - and underlying amounts of lightly bready malts.

Tastes similar to how it smells, although the spices are toned down a bit. Sweet and slightly bready malt flavors up front are joined by mild amounts of spices midway through the sip. The spices fade a bit before a crisp ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It has a solid thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall I thought the bottle version was a bit smoother but other than that there weren't many differences between the two versions. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2009 02:09:46 | More by glid02

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.22/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A very nice pumpkin ale with a nutty, pumpkin flavor and not too sweet or over spiced like many examples. Tastes like a pumpkin beer rather than a pumpkin pie beer. Smells nutty, and like baked pumpkin with a hint of spice. Even nuttier in the taste- you can really tell that the pumpkin is in the squash family here- almost reminiscent of baked butternut squash, but even a bit earthier. This blends nicely with the relatively mild earthy hops, a nice creaminess and just a touch of nutmeg and cinnamon. Just a touch of sweetness. The nutty lightly carmelized roasty flavors keep bringing me back for another sip. Delicious. Smooth, creamy, and medium bodied in the mouth. One of the better side projects. Nice!

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2009 00:16:10 | More by Georgiabeer

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.78/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Sick and entering in some old paper reviews...

22 received in an awesome trade from GeezLynn ... Awesome trade Geoff!! Sharing this one with my wife.. My share is poured into my Delerium goblet..

1" foamy white head.. the brew is lightly hazed orange/amber.. good lace at the top of the glass.. but there is no cap and no lacing for the rest of it.

Nose is full of pie spices.. cinnamon.. clove.. maybe ginger? too much spice for my liking.. yet more restrained than many of the pumpkin pie bombs that are out there.

spices pretty much dominate the palate, but there is a nice base beer in the background.. descent maltiness throughout and it carries the spices well... pretty clean .. medium body with a smooth carbonation.

Ehhh... I normally don't care at all for spiced pumpkin beers, but this is okay in my mind.. I'm glad I shared it... a 22 would have been too much for me.

Thanks again Geoff for all the legwork in the base trade.. I appreciate it.

3.5/3.5/4/4/3.5

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2010 04:56:55 | More by JohnGalt1

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from bottle into a Euro pint. Pours a nice copper color with a one-finger white head that quickly subsides to a minimal height. There was slight lacing evident throughout. The aroma was comprised of pumpkin and cloves. The flavor was of pumpkin, sugar, and spicy. It was light on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was not that bad for a pumpkin-style ale. Actually I typically do not like them, but this one was quite enjoyable and is by far my favorite pumpkin ale tried thus far.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2010 19:01:20 | More by thagr81us

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

avalon07

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a deep orange color and a clear consistency. There was an inch of foamy, somewhat long-lasting head. Good lacing.

S: A spicy aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin.

T: Tasted of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices up front, with a solid malty backbone in the finish. A nicely done flavor.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a dry finish. Medium-bodied.

D: This is a solidly made, drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 12:11:53 | More by avalon07

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clean deep amber to orange-ish color with a light tan head. In the aroma, sweet pumpkin and spice, almost creamy. In the taste, spicy, hints of cinnamon, and pumpkin, more flavor at the end than in the beginning. A spice bite and medium to light bodied mouthfeel, and a small dry cinnamon and spice in the aftertaste. By far one of the top pumpkin beers that I have had.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2010 17:23:13 | More by OWSLEY069

gford217

Georgia

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep, clear reddish amber with a thick off-white head that recedes to a small cap and leaves some spotty lacing. The aroma is massively spicy with lots of nutmeg and cinnamon and enough pumpkin to think I am sniffing a pumpkin pie. The taste is more of the same but seems to have a more prevalent pumpkin sweetness as well as some sugary sweet malts. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and extremely creamy, leaving a slightly dry and very spicy finish. I'm actually pretty impressed with this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2009 01:57:55 | More by gford217