Terrapin Pumpkinfest - Terrapin Beer Company

farrago

New Jersey

3.1/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

You get a finger’s worth of fizzy foam which dissolves down at a steady clip, mostly smaller bubbles, dark off-white color, the lacing is wispy to close to nonexistent. Very clear and bright brownish amber hued liquid, becomes more zinc orange towards the outer reaches with a final shift into yellow, hardly any visible carbonation. Big clove and nutmeg in the nose, vanilla and cocoa along with, of course, pumpkin, pie crust to scone for breadiness, mild yeastiness, has a liqueur like quality even as at times there’s a short burst of grass and pepper. Medium-bodied, has a hard mouth feel, lacks graceful movement and flow. The carbonation is light, what’s there has a tight prickle. Dry on the whole, the ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon has a spicy cumin edge too. Cocoa powder more than honey, brown sugar or caramel, in keeping with dryness. Whisper of peach, apricot fruit, any sweetness more derived from that pie dough, baked goods component. Loses any hoppy bite here but does have a mineral water feel which aids a fresher finish. Not sure it finds a clear direction and then takes it but pleasant enough, if quaffed uncritically.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 00:11:45 | More by farrago

srhoadsy

Florida

3/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I'm a big fan of Terrapin beers, but this one falls flat.

It pours a burnt orange with 1/2 to 3/4 inch quickly fading beige head.

Smells of pumpkin, minerals with a slight hint of spices.

Tastes follows through. The pumpkin flavor is there, along with some carmel malts, but not much beyond that.

Mouthfeel is medium with decent carbonation.

Not a bad beer, but just does not stand up to the offerings from Southern Tier, Cigar City, Weyebacher and others.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 19:04:27 | More by srhoadsy

kneeland

North Carolina

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

I got really excited when I saw that Terrapin has a pumpkin beer. Taste has really nice nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice with a smokey flavor. A pretty strong beer. Medium body, decent head. A good brownish orange color. I will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 17:32:34 | More by kneeland

jtierney89

New Jersey

2/5  rDev -46.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pumpkin lager, very interesting. Nice orange and amber glow with about a 1.2 finger of well retaining off white head. Smells extremely spicy.; pickled pumpkins, allspice, cinnamon and clove. Some dried out pie crust as well.

Thin bright body, light effervescence. A littler watery and overall pretty light in flavor. For being barren of flavor though the alcohol is pretty well hidden. Semi-sweet with very light pumpkin taste and just a dash of spice on the back end of the tongue. Dry clean finish with something left to be desired. In a reasonably priced 6 pack this beer could do pretty well because of it's light flavor and drinkability but for an expensive 4 pack not so much. It's a session beer, a bland one at that, at high end beer prices.

I see what they were going for, a pumpkin octoberfest combo, but really the octoberfest side of this beer doesnt come out at all.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 02:44:46 | More by jtierney89

siege06nd

Virginia

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A. Pours a burnt orange, like the color of fall leaves at sunset. Half a finger of eggshell white head emerges and persists. Lacing is sticky and lingers nicely.

S. Interesting, pretty much as advertised. Light pie spices (nutmeg, clove, cinnamon) and roasted pumpkin in the initial wave, but then some of the biscuity, grainy, sweet malt notes that are so typical of Oktoberfests begin to kick in. Balanced, enjoyable. Mildly resembles a dunkel bouquet.

T. This actually works pretty well. Oktoberfest side of this is much more dominant, but light pumpkin pie spices and roasted squash flavors kick in on the back end. The finish is dry, spicy, and has a faint malt sweetness.

M. Pretty good with a nice balance between the dueling characteristics of the Pumpkin Ale and the Oktoberfest. Medium bodied and crisp, this is a lager with a little more heft, but not nearly as sickeningly sweet as most pumpkin ales.

O. A good beer and unique combination that actually works pretty well. The big question is: why is this necessary? Answer: I'm not sure it is. I'm also not sure I'd return, as there's just not enough here to keep me coming back. Too light for a pumpkin and too spicy for an oktoberfest, it leaves me wanting one of each just to drink to style. But I like to reward ingenuity and good craftsmanship, and this is certainly that in spades. A nice little beer that I'll return to next fall, but I'm not sure I'd ever want more than one in a season.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 03:08:44 | More by siege06nd

TappaKeggaBrew

Ohio

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

A: Poured deep amber, with a 1-finger head of golden foam; fair retention, not much lacing.

S: Pumpkin pie spice is the 1st aroma to hit me. Then a sweet, cake-like aroma. Floral hops are faint but detectable

T: The malt is only minimally sweet, with more of a rich flavor. Fresh pumpkin flesh flavors come through in the middle. The hops in the finish are a little more bitter than I'd like for the style, but by no means overpowering. The allspice, cloves, and other spice flavors are present start to finish, but not to the point of drowning out the pumpkin or beer flavors.

M: Clean and refreshing, although a little weak when it comes to carbonation.

O: Another tasty seasonal pumpkin beer, certainly worth another sampling.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 03:36:37 | More by TappaKeggaBrew

JWU

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle poured into a curved pint glass

A- Color and clarity are very nice. Amber with orange and ruby highlights. The head is disappointing, and dissipates quite quickly. No real lacing.

S- Cinnamon, Nutmeg, a touch of brown sugar sweetness, and some lager yeast. Smelly pretty good actually.

T- The crispness of the lager yeast really kind of kills the complexity of the brew. It really mutes the pumkin flavor (even though pumkin isn't a huge flavor) but especially the spices. It ends up tasting like a mediocre octoberfest with some spices thrown in to make it unique. Aftertaste is kind of sour with the interplay between the lager yeast and spices. Weird.

M- Medium to high cabonation, slightly slick which is attributable to the pumpkin and finishes pleasently dry.

O- If only it tasted as good as it smells. Overall, not bad though.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 01:06:03 | More by JWU

SGDJosh

3.55/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Terrapin Pumpkinfest 2012 Seasonal.  Poured from a bottle on 9/15/2012

Appearance. Amber with golden edges when held against the light. The small bit of head it gets dissipates into nothing.

Smell. Nutmeg, cinnamon, brown sugar, butter, pumpkin (of course)...

Taste. Pumpkin pie and lager yeast. Sweet malt gives way to fall spices.  

Mouthfeel. Light bodied with a serious bit of carbonation. 

Overall. It's light but flavorful. I don't feel that the spices are over done in this one. Light sweetness that is washed down with a tight carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 00:06:11 | More by SGDJosh

bcostner1

Tennessee

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Orangish-brown; transmits light. Not particularly dark. Head is small...less than 1 finger khaki head that quickly dissipates.

S: Light aromas of brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, pumpkin. Very faint clove presence. Aroma doesn't particularly "wow" me like some other pumpkin ales do but this isn't offputting by any stretch. Just a little on the light side.

T: Follows the nose. Elements of: cinnamon, brown sugar, allspice, some nutmeg and very faint clove to me (which is not overpowering or forward at all...a bonus for me b/c I don't like clove-forward brews). All spices are present but not overdone which is nice. Definite pureed pumpkin in the finish. Sweet, bready malts present throughout. Muted hop presence.

M: Easy drinker for sure. Could easily be a session brew. Wish it had just a little more body as it is a bit on the thin side for me but not offensively so.

Overall, a solid brew from Terrapin. I had it 2 years ago and was happy to be able to revisit it this year. Would definitely drink again; nice fall ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 23:12:03 | More by bcostner1

kylehay2004

Florida

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

A: half finger head with poor retention on a clear amber body.

S: spices, pumpkin pie, brown sugar and caramel.

T: a little of fresh pumpkin and pumpkin pie flavor. Light on the spices. caramel malt base. standard really, nothing off-putting

M: medium body and moderate to high carbonation.

Overall: These are usually good or bearable beers. Just dont think many of these that have pumpkin as the feature flavor as oppose to an addition/note can be great. But for the genre, this one is good.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 02:04:38 | More by kylehay2004

DaveBlack

Virginia

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

A: A bright copper colored brew, with maybe a 1/2 finger of head that doesn't last long at all and leaves very little lacing. The color of the beer is, I admit, rather appropriate for the season.

S: Big smell of cinnamon and cloves on top of a nice, light crystal malt backbone. A good smelling beer.

T: A nice beer. The base flavor is that of light malts, then there is a hefty hit of cinnamon with a touch of the clove/allspice flavor. The finish has just a small amount of hops, but a good deal of bitterness coming from the cinnamon. Instead of being off-putting, the undercooked spice bitterness actually fits the beer quite well.

M: Moderately light body, and low on the carbonation make this an easily drinkable beer.

O: Not about to become my favorite beer, but a good fall beer. Really captures some good autumnal flavors, though (like most "pumpkin" beers) the taste of actual pumpkin is nowhere to be found. Thoroughly decent.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 18:50:01 | More by DaveBlack

jtd1969

North Carolina

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

A - Amber and good strong carbonation that fizzles quickly

S - pumpkin, cloves, spices, bready rich malty.

T - Starts off like a marzen then the pumpkin and pumpkin spice takes over. Not overbearing though, well balanced between octoberfest/pumpkin.

M - Medium bodied, nice carbonation. smooth and easy to drink.

O - Good beer. Definitely a combo of a Octoberfest and Pumpkin. It's great for those Fall football days.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 01:40:49 | More by jtd1969

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark but clear amber, moderate head. Scent brings ample pie spices and pumpkin to the front with a nice cinnamon and vanilla whiff. Taste follows suit, slightly brown sugar sweet, ample spices, creamy pumpkin pie with some nice vanilla notes. A touch lighter than prefered, needs a bit more creaminess. Solid seasonal beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2012 15:41:38 | More by rfgetz

julian89

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: A nice translucent amber body with a short-lived half inch off white head.

Smell: Ginger, vanilla, cinnamon, and of course pumpkin pie.

Taste: Sweet maltiness followed by a dominance of cinnamon and pumpkin. Has a more developed taste of pumpkin puree, but not as much as Southern Tier's pumking.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium-plus carbonation.

Drinkability: Pretty good, nice new pumpkin beer to add to my list.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 15:19:02 | More by julian89

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

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

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass at fridge-cellar temperature.

L – Deep amber color with a 1-finger tan bubbly head. Decent retention and lacing. Clear with lots of carbonation bubbles.

S – Bready and caramel malt, pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Definitely a pumpkin pie beer with hints of an Oktoberfest.

T – Starts off with the sweet taste of the caramel malts and the pumpkin pie flavors (pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon). The taste eventually shifts to bready and nutty malt flavors at the finish. Definitely equal parts Oktoberfest and pumpkin beer.

F – Medium-bodied with good carbonation, a sticky sweet mouthfeel, and a bready, nutty, and slightly dry finish. Malt flavors linger for a little bit.

O – This is an interesting beer. It is definitely tasty and drinkable, and I think it’s a cool undertaking to combine two great fall styles – Oktoberfest and pumpkin beers. However, this beer is only an average example of each style. It doesn’t have the abundance of hearty malt aromas and flavors that I’d like in an Oktoberfest and it only has a mild and subtle pumpkin pie aroma and flavor. I’ve kind of run into this a lot with Terrapin when they try to combine styles, but they definitely get bonus points for trying and for creating a beer that is both tasty and unique.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 04:22:24 | More by BlackBelt5112203

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I have been quite eager to try this one this season...

A - Less than a fingers worthy of audibly fizzy perfectly level khaki colored head that quickly settles into an even lacing... The color is exceptional and is a slightly burn amber teetering on medium brown... There is the slightest of chill hazes... A limited bit of slightly sluggish to moderate paced carbonation...

S - Delectable pumpkin pie spices are first to greet the nose - nutmeg and cinnamon are the predominate players... Pureed pumpkin... Perhaps some light sweet potato notes... Ginger snaps... A light touch of brown sugar as well... Some light bready malts...

T - The pumpkin pie sweetness is at the start... Then then spices kick in... Bready malts and bread crust are next... Ginger snaps... A very mild passively aggressive hop presence... A slightly charred finish...

M - Light to medium bodied... Light yet brisk carbonation... Even and consistent... The finish has just a hint of dryness...

D - A solid seasonal offering from Terrapin... While this is supposed to be a hybrid of a Marzen and a Pumpkin Ale this one definitely drifts towards Pumpkin Ale status (except for the fact that it is actually a lager)... Deserves to be mentioned in the large second tier of pumpkin beers falling a bit short of world class status, but is still better than many of the other offerings out there...

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 01:26:46 | More by philbe311

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

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

A - Head is not very impressive quickly reducing to a mild sticky lace ring. Color is a touch darker than other pumpkin beers with a deep brown hue that is clear.

S - Coriander and cinnamon highlight with a very enjoyable level of biscuit malts and a touch vegital pumpkin bitterness.

T - Eh it's ok really it taste like a mildly spiced Oktoberfest. Allspice and spicy coriander lead the palate and it finish's with a squash like vegital bitterness but balanced. Good but not great.

M - It has a nice chewy body but with a lower ABV it does make for better drink ability with a medium body.

Overall I give points for originality since I can't think of any other pumpkin Oktoberfest's. Not really worth a six pack or case but a good beer regardless.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 02:54:50 | More by DrDemento456

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

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

Vintage 2012 Pumpkinfest.

A toasted red-orange color. A great deal of light gets through this brew. A weak head only formed by default of a rigorous pour. Still managed a mere quarter of an inch that clings as a thin layer. Blotchy foam along the sides of the glass.

Not much gourd poking through. Coriander and cinnamon and some allspice. Very toasty dark malts. Noticeably a lager in the nose. The malts are trying to show off, but they don't truly captivate. Hops are inconsequential. Hint of ginger root. Lots of spice.

Spiced pumpkin, butternut squash, hot cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and coriander. Vegetable quality that is very appropriate. Toasted grains are rather smooth and burnished. Enough hops to provide some relieving bitterness, but not much flavor. Too much grated spiciness pillows the finish. Touch of booze picks up midway through and clutches.

Medium in body with some implied fill-out. Probably an implication brought about by the low carbonation levels. A tad warming at just over 6%, but works all the same.

A few frills aside, this is a plainy-decent and well-spiced pumpkin lager. Can't say that I've had a pumpkin lager before. I get the mashup of styles between pumpkin beer and Oktoberfest, but it's a spiced lager with a lot of seasonal flair and some pumpkin meat. Awarding a higher rating as a promising pumpkin beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 04:22:54 | More by thecheapies

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.08/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: orange/gold body, no head, mild lacing

S: allspice and malt

T: allspice, malt, and mild bitter/dry finish

M: med/light body, semi-dry mouth

O: Like this brewery + love the style, but not
this beer. would not get again nor recommend.

OK, NOT MUST HAVE!

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 17:28:57 | More by BeerLover99

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

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

Pours medium amber color with little head abd no lacing.

Smells like liquid 'Big Red' chewing gum. Lots of cinnamon and pumpkin spice.

Taste is mild pumpkin spice. Moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel is o.k. with mild carbonation.

Overall this was pretty nice. Would be good after a heaping plate of turkey and dressing.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 01:29:46 | More by TrappistJohnMD

FattyJLE

Oregon

4.28/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

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

S - Pumpkin pie spice but not quite as sweet. Almost potpourri like. A hint of raisins at room temp.

A - Clear, deep orange/brown sunburst with minimal head.

T - Spicy, pumpkin pie spices. Low hop bitterness. Malt flavor is a combination of biscuit malts and light caramel sweetness. With warmth, a cinnamon, brown sugar, raisin-like flavor emerges. Finishes semi-sweet.

M - Medium carbonation. Moderate body.

O - A delicious seasonal beer. An interesting blend of pumpkin ale and Oktoberfest styles. Terrapin absolutely nailed the level of spice for my taste. I don't know exactly what this beer is, but I don't care. I'll definitely have again.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 05:00:18 | More by FattyJLE

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

vfgccp

New York

3.18/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A – Nice ruby copper color. Off-white head with a loose bubble structure. Ok retention and low lace.

S – Round pumpkin and apple with bright, fresh cinnamon and a touch of sweet apple vinegar.

T – That trace of apple cider vinegar in the nose unfortunately finds its way into the opening of the profile, and then gives way to fresh red apples, light allspice, nutmeg, and a kick of cinnamon. Nice pumpkin pie flavor on the backend.

M – Nice carbonation. Medium body.

O – Nice cinnamon character, but the vinegar note really throws things off and the profile is relatively light on the pumpkin.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 00:46:05 | More by vfgccp

syrupjoe

Minnesota

4.2/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into pint glass.

Pours a light amber with fresh cream colored head.

Nose is very pumpkiny - cloves, cinnamon, pumpkin, ginger. All there. Smells very natural, as opposed to many other artiificial smelling pumpkin beers.

Taste confirms presence of spices picked up in nose. Very crisp and perfectly bitter. Almost no sweetness.

This is one of the best pumpkin beers I've head, mostly because this is one of the few that I would have more than one of in a single sitting. All of the positives of a pumpkin beer and none of the negatives of an overly sweet beer. This smells like pumpkin pie in a bottle but tastes like a well-balanced and perfectly spiced pumpkin beer. Would definitely drink again!

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 02:40:56 | More by syrupjoe

MacQ32

South Carolina

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a fairly clear amber brown with a nice finger of light caramel head, ok retention, ok lacing. Appears to have abundant carbonation

S - Sweet pumpkin and spice (nutmeg/cinnamon, clove). Basic but good.

T - Just like the smell plus a bready quality, slight bitter dryness at the end

M - Light bodied, pretty carbonated, drinkable, decent.

O - At least as good as other pumpkins I've had, lighter than desired as most but overall a good spice filled beer

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2011 01:43:23 | More by MacQ32