Wasatch Pumpkin Ale - Utah Brewers Cooperative

KKB

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A – A lovely orange-maple colored body with a decent amount of sediment, small pale gold head that is at least firm and unyielding, some slight lacing, looks alright.

S – Smells like pumpkin pie. Literally, this smells exactly like pumpkin pie, with no changes. There is nothing else to say. Take a cold slice of pumpkin pie, and add nothing, and that is what this smells like.

T – What in the world? It tastes…like I’m drinking a pumpkin pie. I literally chucked after I took my first sip—is this just liquefied, alcoholic, pumpkin pie?...and yet after a few sips it begins to seem somewhat lacking. In fact the more I sip, the more I’m thinking to myself that I don’t even like this beer very much. I tend to prefer pumpkin beers that are actually an all-around quality brew, utilizing the pumpkin flavor to their advantage but not thrusting it unnecessarily where it might compromise the beer. It’s light and is like a shadow of the flavor of a pumpkin pie, without much complexity or depth. I don’t love it.

M – The mouthfeel is ok. A bit too light, pretty uninteresting, but ok.

O – I don’t recommend this pumpkin beer. Sure I’m not going to admonish anyone who enjoys it, I can see why, but I do not find this to be a very good brew. Plays up the pumpkin pie bit too much and isn’t really a very quality brew even when it comes to that flavor.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 04:31:59 | More by KKB

atomicbeer

New Mexico

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a golden orange with no head to speak of. Aromas of clove, nutmeg, and browned apple and pear. Taste is clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, a hint of pumpkin, with a big malty finish. Fizzy and a little spicy. Quite good and tasty, one of the better pumpkin ales I've tasted.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 20:46:02 | More by atomicbeer

Misanthropy_Sipping

Nebraska

3.15/5  rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a nice deep amber sort of a colour, looks nice... looks like it will be a bit richer in flavor judging the colour. But colour can be deceiving, and so is the smell. The smell is pretty awesome coming off of this little fella. Smells like a nice, spicy pumpkin pie. And when I say pumpkin pie... I fucking mean it! It is pie to the nose.

Upon tasting, yeah, not so much. Look and smell are both quite deceiving as to what this beer will taste like. It isn't that it tastes bad but it just does not match up. It has a nice pumpkiny taste, little bit of pumpkin spices (nutmeg, bit of cinnamon, etc.) Has a very mild sweetness but a fair amount of subtle earthiness all the way through. The earthiness for me seems to be what saves it. A pleasant earthy malt that helps hold up and give the rest of the beer a steady balance.

I will say this as well, Wasatch is quality. I have never had a beer that had just poor taste or was noticeably made with apparent bad ingredients. When you buy a Wasatch beer you are certainly assured a beer of quality. This doesn't mean it will blow your mind, but it is quality.

On that note, this beer is 4% abv, reaching a robust pumpkin ale with this low of alcohol content does seem very difficult. But for what it is it was done pretty well considering. Obviously I do have other favorite pumpkin ales, but if I were to see this next to Buffalo Bill's or Shipyard, it would be no contest... Wasatch all the way.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 04:30:37 | More by Misanthropy_Sipping

Jsteez

New Mexico

2.95/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a dimpled beer mug.

A-I though I'd give this a try because it suits the season. Orange, almost pumpkin colored. 1 finger head with some lacing on the glass.

S-Pumpkin spice, sweet caramel malt, clove, and cinnamon.

T-Sweet pumpkin, squash, cinnamon and spice, with a semi-dry to sweet aftertaste. There were trace amounts of caramel malt too. It was fairly balanced for this style. Quite light.

M-Light bodied, moderately carbonated, cool, and crisp. It was refreshing.

Overall-Great beer to have with your favorite pumpkin pie. It is not the kind of beer you would want to keep drinking, but it is really nice to have during the cool, crisp, autumn months. It is light, yet it has enough flavor to give you the feeling you're having a heavier bodied ale. Give it try, it only comes out once a year.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 19:49:16 | More by Jsteez

frankiepop

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nice looking orange tan beer with decent lacing and some head. The aroma is amazing and just like a punkin pie sweet and spices. HEY WHEN IS SOMEONE GONNA MAKE A SWEET POTATE PIE BEER???

This beer has a nice slice of strong punkin flavor right in the beer, and not just a spicy taste. In fact the flavor lacks some spice and sweetness for me. The texture is wet and low on carbonation.

I would recommend you drink this beer exclusively with the monstrous Neutral Milk Hotel cd 'In the Aeroplane Over the Sea'

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 20:04:55 | More by frankiepop

Vashtar

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Unfortunately, I drank this out of a bottle, so I couldn't properly judge the appearance.

This pumpkin ale smells amazing. There's a clear pumpkin tone with a slight bit of spice, but not so much that it smells like a pumpkin spice malt ball.

The taste is almost as good as the smell. This is likely the most satisfying pumpkin ale that I have had. It has a perfect balance of pure pumpkin taste with a touch of spice that adds a sizzle. The taste becomes slightly strong when you are drinking 12 ounces.

The mouthfeel was stereotypically average, without feeling cheap.

Overall, I would definitely have this one again.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 02:26:31 | More by Vashtar

LXIXME

New Mexico

3.7/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Small light tan head settles into a thinning lacing above a clear well carbonated pumpkin copper colored beer.

Big full aroma of pumpkin and pumpkin spices almost like being handed an over-sized piece of whip cream covered pumpkin pie. A very good October aroma.

Light pumpkin pie taste blends well with light grain malts, light spices, maybe some light hops trying to showcase themselves.

A dryish aftertaste with just a hint of pumpkin and the related spices hanging around on this medium bodied beer.

I was surprised that the taste of this beer was as subdued as it was given the big bold aroma of fresh pumpkin pie and I think it works better this way. About this time of year a person gets over killed with beers with this super huge pumpkin taste, if that was so damn good we would have pumpkin beers year around, so I kinda like this with the understated pumpkin fall taste.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 22:22:34 | More by LXIXME

cracgor

Texas

3.18/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I wanted to enjoy fall this year and didn't feel like a duration gourd or a cornucopia, sod settled for some pumpkin ale.

Pour is fine with a hazy brown color and thin white head. It might be interesting to have a thither white head is simulate whipped cream. It smells pretty good with all the pumpkin spice you would expect. However this disappears when you drink it. Not a bad taste, I would just like more of the pumpkin around. What you are left with doesn't always balance out either and the normal beer flavor seems to detract from the pumpkin flavor. It is drinkable with a normal to full body.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 02:33:59 | More by cracgor

bmwats

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a standard pint.

A: Hazy, dark golden hue. Virtually no head. No lacing, either.

S: Pumpkin and nutmeg are hugely pronounced.

T: Very light grain flavor. Very light flavors of pumpkin seed and fall spice.

M: Shallow feel. The flavors present as very washed-out. Nothing really stands out. Subtle bitter-sweet pumpkin flavor lingers in the finish.

D: Session.

Atmosphere is okay. Not much interesting about the appearance. No head or lacing. Nose, however, is a very well-pronounced combination of pumpkin and fall spices. Flavor is soft and subtle all the way around. Overall, this is a pretty decent quaff.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 01:36:37 | More by bmwats

BryanCarey

Texas

2.98/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Wasatch Pumpkin Ale is a burnt orange colored beer with a cloudy body and a nose of pumpkin and spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. The cookie/dessert like aroma is nice and while the foam on the beer is weak, the initial appearance still grabs your attention mainly due to the enticing spicy scent.

Wasatch Pumpkin tastes the way you expect it to taste, with a flavor that emphasizes spices, but not in an overbearing way. The taste includes pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon, but it also introduces flavors like allspice and clove- two characteristics not as prominent in the scent. There is little or no bitterness in this beer and it is very easy drinking and less alcoholic than most.

This is a decent pumpkin ale overall, but probably its weakest quality is its watery mouthfeel. Take a swig or two and each time, you will distinctly notice the watery sensation in the finish. Where there should be some bitterness, you instead feel the sensation of water. That is part of the reason why this beer is so refreshing- it has little bitterness, no bite at all in the conclusion, and a somewhat watery mouthfeel.

I like a pumpkin beer if it is done right and this pumpkin ale, while not anything special, is still a decent effort from a company known for its lighter brews. A higher malt content and some added hop character would help, but this is still a decent effort and it makes a good choice for everyday drinking during the Halloween season.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 04:01:11 | More by BryanCarey

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.88/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle pours a lightly hazed copper color with an ample cap of beige head. Fades pretty slowly and leaves a nice collar and lace.

Nose is cinnamon-sugar, nutmeg and marshmallows. Nice pie spice aroma, but keeps the sweetness in check.

Taste is lighter than almost all other pumpkin beers I have had, call it the Anti-Pumking if you will. I think it works really nicely though, the spice is not bitter or sweet, it is just right and the beer has a smoothness to it that makes it one of those pumpkin beers you can actually drink more than one or two in a sitting. I really like the cinnamon-marshmallow thing it has going on. The mouthfeel is light, but expected when I saw it was only 4%. There are many Pumpkin beers I would choose this over, and it might just be my favorite one under 6% or so.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 23:06:48 | More by twiggamortis420

acevenom

Louisiana

3.68/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass. Pours hazy orange with a fizzy off-white head that dissipates quickly. I can see a few tiny bubbles in this beer. The beer smells a bit like sweet candy with some spices. I can pick up the pumpkin pie spice along with some of the pumpkin, but the aromas are subtle. I can taste the bready malt here with some of those pumpkin pie spices and some pumpkin. But like the aroma, it is subtle. The pumpkin becomes more apparent as the beer warms. The body is light with light carbonation. The beer is smooth and finishes pretty clean. The drinkability is high. This is a very good beer if you are looking for a lighter pumpkin beer. I feel at 4% ABV, this beer does accomplish what it sets out to do.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 01:49:39 | More by acevenom

Jason

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz brown bottle with a freshness date.

LOOK: Hazed dark amber, healthy looking lace on the glass.

SMELL: Allspice, pumpin meat, toasted grain, yeast.

TASTE: Wet, crisp, custard, pie spice, pumpkin, faint grain, muted hops, dry finish.

It has a good flavor as the spicing is kept to a minimum but the flavor ends too quick for my liking. Still a good holiday seasonal and perhaps good enough to have more than one.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2011 04:01:32 | More by Jason

txbrewer

Texas

2.35/5  rDev -34.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A - A slightly cloudy version of your standard ale

S - Overly spiced and overly sweet

T - My wife and I often argue on what pumpkin pie spices should be. I make mine with cinnamon, clove and nutmeg as the major spices, she insists on adding allspice. This would be her type of pie if it were not for the abuse of the nutmeg and allspice - just too much,

M - The carbonation almost hurts and makes the rest seem so thin.

D - Only quickly if nothing else is around.

I am biased on pumpkin ale because I brew this stuff twice every holiday season. I feel that the ale should be seasoned and enjoyable. You should notice the spice and pumpkin but not be knocked over by it. For those who look for the extras in the beer, this is probably a good one. If you are seeking something that might give a faint reminder of a good pumpkin pie, this will be a bit much.

I don't know where all the sweetness is coming from (could be the over spiced part) but it is also a bit to overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 22:41:49 | More by txbrewer

brewskifan55

Mississippi

3.53/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter

Appearance: cloudy, light orange; one fourth finger head that quickly leaves for the pumpkin patch; some lacing.

Smell: heavy cinnamon and nutmeg; pumpkin hovers lightly

Taste: pumpkin pie, all the way to the crust. Dry finish.

Mouthfeel: light to medium; a bit watery. Low carbonation.

Overall: not my favorite pumpkin beer, but decent, nonetheless. Great after a plate of turkey and dressing.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 15:29:04 | More by brewskifan55

Bighuge

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Orange amber body. Slight haze. Aroma is full of spice and a little malt and a little ghostly pumpkin. Flavor is more spice than pumpkin or malt too. The heaviest spice is clove, followed by nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon in no particular order. Malt is not very forward nor is the pumpkin. Definitely a festive ale, but I prefer more malt/pumpkin and less spice.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 04:39:58 | More by Bighuge

JordonHoltzman

New York

3.95/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

poured an orange amber with a white head that barely lasted.
smells very strong of pumpkin and spices, delicious
another awesome pumpkin pie of a beer during the fall season. not quite as much spice as i'd like but its still so good. got better as i continued to drink it.
smoother beer with great carbonation.
overall this was a very good pumpkin ale. i wish it had a higher alcohol level while keeping its good taste but hey sometimes you gotta compromise.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 16:50:19 | More by JordonHoltzman

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

2.93/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Thanks to optimator13 for this! Bottle says born 8.22.11; poured into nonic pint...

A- Rusty orange color. Pours a large fluffy head. Settles quickly but it was huge so it took a bit to get down. No lacing...

S- Quite a bit of spice. This one is more of a blend of spices and a good pumpkin aroma rather than being all spice or all pumpkin. Definitely beckons a drink.

T/M- Interesting. Taste is watered down a bit. The initial flavor is a slightly warming spice, instantly followed by a light natural pumpkin flavor- almost like that bland taste you get from a real pumpkin if you take a taste while carving. The final component is watered down pale bready malt. The body it lightish- almost medium, but carbonation is lackluster.

O- Its not horrible or anything, but rating per style has me putting this below average. With other options out there I would get many others before this again...

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2011 13:44:31 | More by TheGordianKnot

Phelps

Arizona

3.9/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed in a shaker pint at Tops.

Nutty auburn and brilliantly clear, Pumpkin Ale is the color of fall. A finger of light khaki bubbles textured like oceanic foam fizzles away quickly, leaving little between you and the rather intense nose. Sweet heavy cream. Hints of cinnamon, almond and nutmeg blend with buttery baked bread and pumpkin so sweetly caramelized it tastes like it's been thrown on an outdoor grill. I want to make a candle out of it.

The flavor is sadly not as intense as the aroma, but that might not be a bad thing. With massively sweet and spicy pumpkin brews, a little is usually enough, and a full bottle can be wearying. Wasatch's pumpkin ale exhibits a cleaner flavor that avoids this cloying quality and increases drinkability. Inside, pumpkin rind mixes with apple juice at first, and very subtle cinnamon and allspice rise to replace them after the swallow. A bit of tanginess remains on the tongue after the dry finish, but it's not enough to upset the balance that's going on here.

At four percent ABV, Wasatch Pumpkin is one of the few truly sessionable pumpkin ales. With a medium body that's fairly light on the tongue, high carbonation and a clean finish, if there's any pumpkin ale to spend a chilly night drinking, this is it.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2011 23:12:35 | More by Phelps

phichifiji00

California

4/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into pint glass.

Appearance: Caramel/Amber in color, pours minimal head that quickly fades, minimal lacing.

Smell: Lots of nutmeg, cinnamon, all spice, and cloves.

Taste: Nutmeg, cinnamon, all spice, cloves, a bit bitter, pumpkin taste as it warms.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, good carbonation, very refreshing.

Overall: A big surprise. One of the best pumpkin beers I've had this year. The spices are dead on. Much lower ABV than I typically drink, but very refreshing. I highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 04:02:25 | More by phichifiji00

allengarvin

Texas

3.45/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a straight pint glass. It's a medium amber color with a very small head. The nose offers some caramel malt and a small amount of nutmeg. Very sweet initial flavor, giving way to light spiciness, nutmeg, a touch of cinnamon... can't really pick out any other spices. Body is thin and watery.

Blandest pumpkin beer this year, so far.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2011 16:34:12 | More by allengarvin

GDBEERMAN

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into pint glass.

A:A hazy orange body, sits below a thin white head that holds a nice layer. Carbonation is a steady levels. Lacing is low.

S: Aroma holds a nice pie spice element. Medium intensity for style. All the required flavors, with good balance.

TM: The body is full in flavor and medium in mouthfeel. The pumpkin pie spices are in full action, while the finish has a nice blend of classic pale ale malt character.

O: Overall this is a very good pumpkin for its niche in the style, a light ABV, with big and robust taste. Very well done.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2011 01:15:27 | More by GDBEERMAN

3rdRowTailgater

Louisiana

3.78/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into pint glass, it pours a clear orange color. Looks like fall. Moderate white head that lasts throughout the beer.

The smell is very inviting, just like a pumpkin pie with nice spice. I want a Thanksgiving beer with this.

The taste is mild with nice sugar and spice notes. Really nice as it is not too sweet.

Good carbonation and nice mouthfeel. Probably one of the better pumpkin ales I've had.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2011 00:27:10 | More by 3rdRowTailgater

Mora2000

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a hazy orange color with a white head. The aroma is about what I expected. I get some sweet pumpkin notes, as well as some brown sugar and allspice. The flavor is full of pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice and a lot of cloves. A wonderful mix of spices that gives me exactly what I look for in a pumpkin ale. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. One of the best pumpkin ales I have drank.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 20:10:01 | More by Mora2000

theboozecruise

Louisiana

4.08/5  rDev +14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass, it's a slightly hazy orange-amber color with a finger + of white head. It dissipated quick with no lacing.

The smell is where this beer impresses me the most so far. It has a rich pumpkin flavor with delicious spices reminiscent of a holiday pie. Awesome.

The flavor is very much like the aroma, a thick pumpkin pie flavor ripe with spice. It's not terribly complex but it's tasty.

It's medium bodied which fits the session nature of this one.

Very well done, one of my favorite pumpkin beers.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 22:20:06 | More by theboozecruise