Pumple Drumkin Spiced Ale - Cisco Brewers Inc.

notchucknorris

California

1.61/5  rDev -55%
look: 1.25 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 1.5

A: Pours a murky reddish brown color with a one finger tan head. Looks okay at first, but when I hold it up to the light, I notice huge green floaties swirling everywhere. Eventually, they settle to the bottom, leaving a thick layer at the bottom of the glass. Uggghhhh.

S: So....it's a rum barrel aged pumpkin ale that smells like a bag of hops. Okay... A weird vegetal smell that smells like acorn squash, iron-y malt (seriously, it smells like blood), and some ammonia. Great!

T: Oh my sweet lord. What the hell is this??? Tastes like someone dragged a pill of aspirin through a litter box. Bitter with a truly horrible chalky yeast meets pet dander flavor. Leaves a gross, rotten vegetable flavor on the tongue that I don't forsee going away for at least the remainder of tonight. What a mistake. Stay away my friends, stay far, far away!

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 03:08:06 | More by notchucknorris

Chaney

District of Columbia

1.98/5  rDev -44.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

My wife and I had a blind pumpkin ale tasting and ranked this one #7 out of the 7 that we tried.

Served in a Port City tasting glass.

A: Crystal clear, yet still opaque orange with a pretty substantial head.

S: Elmer's glue. Need I say more?

T: Really no pumpkin taste whatsoever. Seriously, I've taste Octoberfests with more pumpkin flavor than this. Still, I got lots of yeast and water.

M: Thin and watery. This is one of the more "beery" pumpkin ales I've tasted. No lacing.

O: I will not be drinking this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 20:55:13 | More by Chaney

jpro

South Carolina

2.43/5  rDev -32.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

12oz single from Total Wine. Poured into a shaker pint glass...

A: Murky, dusty copper; one finger of off white head on a stiff pour; a few splotches of lace.

S: Pie crust; pumpkin; fall spices.

T: Bleh... Watery. Not much malt or any sort of backbone; some all-spice on the end, but pretty lackluster.

M: Medium-bodied; low carbonation; no finish.

O: Never again - worst pumpkin ale I think I"ve had.

*from notes: 9/19/12

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 02:52:45 | More by jpro

a74gent

Ohio

2.48/5  rDev -30.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

This is very, very mediocre although it is worth noting that you must let it warm up.

The appearance is a somewhat dark yet translucent amber color. Not much foam to speak of hanging around.

The smell has some spice notes, but is not very memorable at all. Fades quickly and is rather weak although as it warms a slight carmel note comes out.

The taste is very empty with slight spiciness and a nasty aftertaste.

This one is drinkable, but becomes less so because of the flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2010 00:51:20 | More by a74gent

seesnow3

Connecticut

2.53/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bruges glass, $2.69/bottle in RI, no listed freshness

Pour-Deep translucent amber with extra orange, large effervescence bubbles that are scarce. A two finger creamy off white head that dissipates to a thick film rather quickly. Thin fizzy lacing with minimal cling.

Nose-From the bottle it smells like musty old laundry. Definitely a malty nose, very musty. Other than that, the spices take over, which I get nutmeg, clove and maybe ginger out of. Pumpkin takes a back seat but is noticeable.

Palate-A little bit sweet at first, light sour, bitter towards the end and is the dominant sensation. A musty pumpkin flavor comes in first followed by a matching spice flavor.

Body-Medium heaviness, very little effervescence, the lack of effervescence makes it close to syrupy even though not incredibly heavy. For some reason, this is the third beer in a row by these guys I haven’t liked. I can’t seem to figure out why but this is definitely the best of the three so far. If you want a beer that balances light hops, malt and the pumpkin and spice flavors without being very sweet, yet quite subtle, this is probably something you should try.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 00:52:05 | More by seesnow3

nickfl

Florida

2.55/5  rDev -28.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A - Poured with one finger of off-white foam on top of a clear, copper-brown body. The head settles rapidly and leaves only light traces of lace.

S - Lightly vegetal notes of squash with some cinnamon and nutmeg.

T - Brown, toasty malt up front. Some dry caramel and herbal notes in the middle with a finish of burnt toast and phenolic, but nondescript, spices.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a bone dry finish.

D - Yikes, the aroma is about what one would expect, but the flavor profile is really bland and the extra dry finish doesn't help things. Very little identifiable spice character, though there is some hotdog water like character in the background. I'm really unimpressed with this...

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 06:46:00 | More by nickfl

UnderPressure

South Carolina

2.6/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Slightly hazy, copper colored. Relatively thin head with great retention. Really nice lacing.

Heavy spice in the aroma. I don't really like the blend of spice. Some roasted malt aroma in the background.

I'm not a big fan of the flavor in this beer. The spices are too harsh, and the bitterness is too high for this style. The sweet malt flavor is good, but unfortunately only lasts for a second as you swallow.

Medium to heavy bodied with a silky smooth mouthfeel gives way to an overly dry, bitter, everlasting finish that attacks you tongue until the next sip.

I'm not really impressed with this pumpkin ale. The spice blend is all wrong, and it's really not sweet enough.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 16:17:59 | More by UnderPressure

Pahn

New York

2.68/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

12oz bottle into Duvel tulip. 2011 bottle (I think they just started writing "3/4 Pint" on the bottles this year). Supposedly it's around 6% ABV.

Appearance: Free pour yields a 1 inch, frothy, just off-white head that dissipates slowly. Pours a semi-translucent orange and leaves a few spots of lacing.

Smell: Some pumpkin and cinnamon at first. Eventually some herbal hops come out. Pretty weak smell overall, though what I get smells decent enough.

Taste: First sip is very bready up front, moving to a light spice (cinnamon) and a suggestion of pumpkin at the end. Malt-forward for sure. Clean finish.

From the next sip on, the spices are nowhere to be found... Not sure I'd know this is a pumpkin beer were I not told by the label. Two dominant flavor sensations emerge: a lager-like yeast/malt tanginess, and some character-less bitterness. As notes among spice, hops, and malt, they would taste fine, but as the stars (and often only perceptible tastes) they are unpleasant. They're occasionally bolstered by some toast at the end along with indistinguishable spice (could be hops, could be spices). Beginning is kind of soapy.

The 6% ABV is well hidden, though the thin flavor profile leaves you asking what the 6% is doing in the first place. That's a fair amount of alcohol for so little flavor. There's occasional flashes of grassy/floral hops and cologne like notes mixing with a mild sweetness, but again, the average sip is just tang, bitterness, clean finish, done.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied. Clean finish. Perfect carbonation. Unpleasant bitterness/tang.

Overall: A real let down of a beer. Doesn't work as a pumpkin beer, but doesn't seem to want to be anything else either. I like my pumpkin beers subtly spiced, but "subtle" would be a real euphemism for this beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2011 00:08:16 | More by Pahn

avalon07

South Carolina

2.8/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had an orange-ish color and a clear consistency. There was a small amount of foamy head that lasted a fair amount of time. Pretty good lacing.

S: A decent, but not great, aroma of pumpkin, malt, and some spices.

T: Kind of goes off the rails here. There were traces of pumpkin, spices (a little cinnamon), and malt, but they were very low. The amount of pumpkin was negligible. Simply a thin flavor, with a decidedly herbal harshness.

M: A decent amount of carbonation with a harsh finish. Medium-bodied.

O: Certainly, this beer could have been better. It seems to be one of those brews that was half formed.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 12:06:55 | More by avalon07

JWU

Pennsylvania

2.83/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz. bottle poured into a snifter

A- orange amber, tranlucent with decent carbonation coming up from the bottom. a half finger of egg-shell white head dissipates quickly, and leaves minimal lacing.

S- unfortunately, the best part. Nice notes of pumpkin, nuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of allspice.

T- a bit of a sweet start, but quickly transitions into a funky mix of spice, a hint of pumpkin, floral and nutty notes emerge as well. The floral aspect comes off almost metallic and just doesn't jive with the rest of the brew.

M- light to medium carbonation, quite thin, and dry/metallic on the finish.

O- greatly disappointed in this one. It just doesn't work.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 20:32:08 | More by JWU

alpinebryant

Connecticut

2.88/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pour is a healthy off white head with little lacing.

S: light brown ale presence, some lightly roasted malts and pale malt mostly with a light noble hopping, no distinctive yeast presence.

T: Brown malt and very little caramelization. Not much spicing. Most prominent is probably the cinnamon and I didnt really detect any allspice or nutmeg in here. This really is a less spiced pumpkin beer than most others that I have had. Even Shipyard's pumpkin Ale I had thought had a bit more flavor in it.

M: Light body with a medium to high carbonation in it.

O: Not very impressed. Light spicing which some may say is a plus as i have heard some people complain of overspicing, but I didn't think this was a good brown ale even. Not enough hopping, not enough flavor. Pumpkin ales in my opinion should add more flavor complexity to what is already a good brown ale. This one just didn't seem to be on that level. Not a good brown ale, not a good pumpkin ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2011 03:09:53 | More by alpinebryant

Dope

Massachusetts

2.93/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

A: A clear deep orange pour. Mid-sized bubbly slightly off-white head. Retention is okay. Lacing is okay as well.

S: Pumpkin up front with some decent cinnamon. A bit of nutmeg as it warms up. Fairly mild aroma.

T: Very heavy and unpleasant burnt nutmeg/cinnamon up front. Almost a little like burnt spiced plastic (if that were possible). A little pumpkin behind it.

M: Medium body, carbonation is just about dead on.

O: Odd pumpkin ale. I can't tell if the bad burnt flavor is an "off" flavor or just a bad implementation. Could just be a bad bottle but doesn't taste like any infection I've ever experienced. Maybe will have to retry someday.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 05:06:30 | More by Dope

RussBecker1

2.93/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Neat looking beer. Pours a hazy orange with nice layering of shades from top to bottom. Pretty distinctively pumpkin as the color gives of that ideal. A crisp off white head sits atop again making it very aesthetically pleasing.

S-Very very faint on the nose, but in given the proper amount of patience the scents reveal themselves to be a nice blend of ingredients. The nose presents more muted pumpkin than other pumpkin brews I have had, not sugary sweet however which was personally appreciated. The pumpkin is paired with hints of cinnamon and what may be allspice.

M-A decent body, nothing too exceptional. It is carbonated enough to make it a drinkable ale, but it does not enhance the flavor.

M-As with the nose, the flavors presented here are incredibly faint. Pumpkin is there, but hardly noticeable as are the spices and nearly non existent malts. The beer is very drinkable, but in the way that seltzer water can be. I appreciated the subtitles, but any overtones would have made this much more enjoyable.

O-Not for the untrained palate, as the notes are practically unnoticeable, but a decent ale for the time of the year.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 13:18:52 | More by RussBecker1

falloutsnow

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

From: Binny's, Des Plaines
Date: "2332 08:30" stamped on bottle
Glass: Tulip

Cisco's pumpkin ale is an interesting version of the style, relying more on hop and herbal flavors to complement the malt and pumpkin bill. While intriguing, I found the flavors somewhat off-putting, while the weak mouthfeel does little to make me want to sip more of this. In general, a pumpkin beer I'll avoid in the future.

Pours a nice, 2cm head of off-white foam composed of small bubbles. Recedes to a thick ring around the glass with some whispy foam lingering atop the body of the beer. Lacing is moderate, with a few choice swatches along the glass' edges. Body is a transparent copper color with medium-intensity carbonation, streaming up from the bottom center of the glass.

Aroma is moderately hoppy with an herbal tinge, vegetal, a bit compost-like, along with a biscuity, bready aroma that's heavier in the background. An interesting aroma, definitely different from the sweeter, pie-spiced, but perhaps too vegetable and herbal like, and not bready or pie spice enough.

Taste is overall kind of like a pumpkin-y, herbal-hoppy, slightly watered-down caramel malt soup. There's a distinct lack of pie spices here, instead herbal hops are the dominant spicing candidate. Tasting opens with toffee-like malt sweetness with a bit of bitterness and a slight Mid-palate is herbal, modestly bitter, and slightly sweet. Back of palate is more bitter with continued herbal undertones. Aftertaste is somewhat bitter, a bit grainy and sweet, with small hints of herbal flavors.

Beer is medium to medium-light bodied with medium to medium-low level carbonation. The resulting mouthfeel is a fairly smooth, somewhat creamy and foamy beer, but it is also disappointingly watery as the glass wears on. Finish is semi-dry.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 05:03:19 | More by falloutsnow

mfnmbvp

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle. No bottled on date present, just a code. Poured into a Boulevard tulip.

A - Pours a nice copper color with a strong one a half finger head that goes down semi-quick. Steady stream of bubbles rushing to the top.

S - Cinnamon / nutmeg smell is dominant in the beginning, followed by a more wheaty malt backbone. Very fresh baked cinnamon smell is interesting.

T - Extremely malty with the traditional Halloween spices: allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg. Not the best taste, that's for sure. Not enough actual pumpkin flavor, and too heavy on the spices. Slight carbonation tickles the tongue.

M - Tingly, carbonated mouth feel. Some spices lingering.

Overall, not too impressed, but not a bad beer at all. However, there are better balanced and more intense pumpkin brews to be had.

Cisco Pumple Drumkin ---3/5.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 03:30:10 | More by mfnmbvp

Brez07

Maine

3/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had this a few weekends ago, so reviewing from notes. 22oz bottle poured into a Maine Beer Company logo class

A: Orange amber pour with a modest white head. This recedes quickly. No lacing present

S: A rather weak pumpkin scent. Some spice, nutmeg and brown sugar

T: Like in the nose, I can barely make out any pumpkin. There is a potent spiced sweetness that detracts from the normal pumpkin ale aspects

M: Light bodied. Bit of hop bitterness in the finish

D: A little thin, not enough pumpkin. A decent beer but not one I'd buy again

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2010 12:12:03 | More by Brez07

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I poured this one into a pint glass, it has a clear copper color body with a small fizzy head that lays down quiet quickly. The smell has a spicey hoppy smell to it. The taste has a spicy hop flavor to it with some pumpkin spices coming through on the middle of the tongue. I get a slight pumpkin flavor but more malt on the back of the tonuge. The mouth feel is good smooth, a little more heavier than other pumpkins but good. Overall this is good but needs less spice and hops and more pumpkin.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 03:35:58 | More by chefhatt

LeRose

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Meh...not much going on IMHO. Kind of an orange/amber color - pleasant enough. Aroma didn't seem like anything much - not getting the pumpkin pie or much in the way of the gourd aroma. Flavor overall seemed quite lackluster. Lacking pumpkin flavor an maybe they waved some spices over the brew kettle. Just tasted like a plain old ale. Would not buy again, would not recommend as an example of a pumpkin fall seasonal.

Understand this will be low on the curve here. My wife likes the pumpkin seasonals, so we've tried a bunch of them (at least a couple of bottles) and this one was not a fave for sure and our independent notes are in 100% agreement, strange but true :-)

Reviewed from notes

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 20:01:44 | More by LeRose

n2185

North Carolina

3.05/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours a clear orange with two fingers of off-white head that fades into a thin ring with little lacing.

S: Pumpkin spices up front with creamy vanilla and some squashy pumpkin aromas as well. Nice.

T: Pumpkin spices here as well followed by an odd, slightly sour flavor with a bready finish.

M: Medium body and carbonation, this beer is carbonated enough to avoid being watery, though I'd like it a bit creamier.

O: A fairly mediocre pumpkin ale overall. It smells nice, but the taste is rather bland and odd.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 19:40:35 | More by n2185

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Rusty amber color with a dense, dimpled head. According to the label the original recipe was brewed by a Pumple named Drumkin. Good Pumple-y rention.

Leafy, wet earth aroma. Very mild pie spice.

Subtle pumpkin spice with more wet earthiness. I like the earthiness of this beer. I feel that a beer brewed with vegetables from the ground should taste a little dirty.

Pumpkin ales walk a fine line between too spicy and not spicy enough. This is the latter.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 00:40:37 | More by donkeyrunner

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.05/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Not my favorite pumpkin by a long shot, but this is growing on me a bit as I drink through the sixer. Pours a dark amber with a head that sticks around as a thin cap. The smell and taste is quite gingery- and lacks a lot of the other pumpkin pie spices, and is also quite a bit thinner than I'd like. There is a chalkiness to the brew as well, as though raw spices were just dumped in. Completely lacks the silkiness of the pumpkin- either it wasn't used or not enough was, or perhaps the raw spices just overwhelm it. The spices leave a bit of a bitter taste in the mouth, but the ginger note is pretty tasty nevertheless. Needs more balance, or at least more integration.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 21:15:44 | More by Georgiabeer

gdkersey

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle, 2011 bottling

A - cloudy amber-light brown beer, visibly unfiltered, with a thin head that leaves nice lacing

S - fresh hops, toasted maltiness, not much in the way of spices or pumpkin, maybe some light cinnamon

T - pumpkin and...lavender? for a pumpkin beer, this seems pretty subdued. not picking up a whole lot of pumpkin or spices you'd expect from a pumpkin ale. the pumpkin is there, but I get this overwhelming lavender, floral taste. it finishes almost soapy, kind of strange.

M - excellent carbonation and body, makes for an extremely drinkable beer

I've been trying as many pumpkin ales as I can this year, this one falls a bit short for me. Doesn't come across as a fresh pumpkin beer, and is maybe just a bit too subdued in flavor. By no means a bad beer, but falls in the middle of the pack for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 23:09:51 | More by gdkersey

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.13/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a light burnt orange color, active and bubbly white head. Scent leads with some notes of seasonal spice, lighter on the cinnamon and nutmeg, some floral and lemony hoppyness, biscuity sweetness and light green apple - where is my pumpkin? Not in the flavor either. Odd combination of light spicing, floral notes and lemon and green apple. Lighter side of medium, spritzy. Was wondering if this was another Shipyard with no actual pumpkin used.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2012 19:28:18 | More by rfgetz

tpd975

Florida

3.18/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to markwise for this one.

A: Pours a nice dark shade of orange with a small cream colored head. No real retention or lace.

S: Aromas of mostly spice. Hints of pumpkin, and a dash of roast.

T: Fairly heavily spiced, pumpkin, light bready malt, and a bit of a chemical taste.

M: Medium in body, fairly smooth.

D: Just okay, not one of my favorite pumpkin beers.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2010 01:40:32 | More by tpd975

kylehay2004

Florida

3.18/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thin head on a bright clear copper body. Aromas of caramel malts, hint of brown sugar and little in the way of pumpkin really.flavor is boring even for the style opening with caramel and toasted malts with brown sugar moving to a more fresh pumpkin over a spiced or pumpkin pie sweetness. Medium body and moderate carbonation. Overall even for the style, this one is boring and under flavored.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 03:25:47 | More by kylehay2004