New Holland Ichabod Ale - New Holland Brewing Company

rogueleonardi

Ohio

2.68/5  rDev -23%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A - Nothing special here, Dark brown, caramel color with a thin off white head that mostly disappeared. Was some lacing but nothing special.

S - I expected more of a cinnamon, nutmeg, spice smell, but there really wasn't much to it. Hints of cinnamon in the background but besides that very plain.

T - This beer almost ruined pumpkin ales all together for me. If I spend $10 on a six pack of pumpkin ale I expect there to be a ton spice flavor. I want it to taste like a pumpkin pie. This beer had very little flavor. There is a slight taste of cinnamon, and maybe nutmeg but this really tasted almost watered down.

M - Once again nothing special, if you've had a bud light before then you know what this beer feel likes.

*** This is something I would expect from a macro brewery. Little flavor, no smell, and nothing to look at. Very disappointed this came from New Holland, I'm usually a fan of their beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 17:15:13 | More by rogueleonardi

vfgccp

New York

3.28/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Apple cider ice tea. White head sits low with low retention and ok lace.

S - Soft breadiness up front. Nutmeg and light pumpkin.

T - Smooth cinnamon and raisin bread character. Pumpkin enters the center, but leaves fairly quickly as a herbal-rosemary backend takes hold.

M - Medium-light body. Finishes flat.

O - Not a bad pumpkin brew. On the herbal side of the style, but has subpar balance.

P - Nice pairings with stuffing and sandwiches.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 16:33:01 | More by vfgccp

Jammies

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - pours an orangish brown with a thin layer of foam. Retention is good

S - light and pumpkin like. The nutmeg odor stands out the most, but overbearing.

T - smooth and well balanced. Slightly malty on the finish

M - light and watery. a little malty on the tongue, but glides well over the palate.

O - good pumpkin beer. It takes a lot to differentiate between the pumpkin beers because they are all so similar. This one doesnt stand out a whole lot, but its good.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 18:18:55 | More by Jammies

Dope

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Brown pour with just a hint of red. Nice fluffy offwhite head. Good retention and lacing.

S: Pumpkin, cinnamon and a little bit of caramel.

T: Pumpkin, cinnamon, a tiny bit of hop bitterness followed by a nice mellow caramel in the aftertaste.

M: Medium body.

O: A very mild pumpkin ale. Lacking in some of the other pumpkin spices, mainly cinnamon in this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 04:08:46 | More by Dope

brstls4drmrs

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Pours a crisp, translucent, amber color with a white foam head. Lacing occurs leaving a good ring of lacing.

S - Very nice spices including clove and hints of nutmeg. Some faint cinnamon in there too along with pumpkin.

T - Bitter with some alcohol taste as well as a little spice. Not much here.

M - Decent carbonation but just lacking in flavor.

O - I've had better pumpkin brews. I just prefer more pumpkin flavor and more sweetness. The bitterness in here just hides a lot of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 04:32:15 | More by brstls4drmrs

KajII

North Carolina

2.8/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

[Best served in a Lager glass]

The pour was a hazy medium brown with a slight orange hue and a large (2-3 finger) off white rocky head that had decent retention and fair lacing that stuck to the glass throughout.

The aroma was mild of toasted barley malt, a mild herbal hop and a doughy yeast with notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkin.

The taste was very lightly sweet with a hint of nutmeg and cinnamon at first and moderately bitter with a strong taste of pumpkin rind and clove at the finish. The flavor lasted an average time with the bitter flavor lingering well beyond any of the other flavors.

Mouthfeel was light to medium in body, watery and a little dry in texture with a mild carbonation.

Overall this brew has so much bitter spice flavor that it just overwhelms all the other flavors in this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 18:32:04 | More by KajII

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to travisnd for sending this beer. Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a copper color wih a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of pumpkin, some spices. Taste is pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, well balanced. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a good quality beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 14:16:01 | More by tone77

jsdunlop

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark orange in color with a decent white head that forms and recedes to minimal covering. Lots of cinnamon and pumpkin in the nose with a touch of sweet caramel aroma. A bit spicy at first with notes of cinnamon and clove, pumpkin is light and blends in with the spiciness nicely, moderate hop presence with some floral notes that come through midpalate, finish has a touch of bitterness and another hint of cinnamon/clove spiciness. Malt presence is moderate and slightly sweet, with notes of caramel and brown sugar. Nice moderate body to this one, with average carbonation and a smooth feel to it. Overall, this is one of the better pumpkin ales I've had this year. Really enjoyed it!

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 02:39:54 | More by jsdunlop

cooncat

Ohio

3/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I've had a few pumpkin ales already this Fall, but this is a new one for me. Picked up as a single in a mixed 6 from Save-On in Mentor, OH.

The pour at cellar temp. into a std. shaker pint glass produces an orange-amber colored brew, with a small but persistent tan head. Some nice lacing develops.

The nose is almost imperceptible. I was expecting some kind of spiciness, but if there is any, it is very light. There is a bit of caramel malt leaking through, but overall, pretty 'light in the loafers' on the aroma.

The taste is a step up from the nose. Definite notes of spice, mostly allspice and cinnamon, but again, very restrained. Whatever amount they used, it could easily be double (at least to my tastes). There is a pretty solid malt backbone, and no noticeable hop presence.

Mouthfeel is just right ... probably a shade over 2 volumes, but just right to me. It's enough to keep the bubbles rising and a thin cap on the head throughout the quaff.

Overall, this pumpkin seasonal isn't on my radar as a top notch example, at least in my experience of about 10 pumpkin ales. It's not going to knock you over with spiciness, but perhaps that will work well for you. I say its worth a try, especially if you can pick up a single as I did, just to experience the brew.

Na Zdravje!

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 20:22:20 | More by cooncat

paperbackfoster

Missouri

3.68/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - A hazy, rusty translucent amber. Pours on the lighter side, the head not coming up very strongly (no more than a finger) and receding to spotty sheeting. Some retention.

S - Pumpkin (obviously) and an accompanying pie spice - nutmeg, cinnamon, a touch of clove. Allspice. Light toffee malt.

T - Sharper than expected, but not overpowering. While it’s not a subtle, mellow pumpkin, it’s not overly spiced like so many cash-in seasonals. This one’s really good. Starts a bit watery, with a sharpness from roasty pumpkin and some light spices. Big flavor in the body, an Oktoberfest style body carrying the spiced flavors. Finishes with more cinnamon. Sweet, but more on par with ginger sweetness than anything sugary.

M - On the watery side, light on body and somewhat on carbonation. For a sweet beer, it finishes dry, almost gritty.

Overall - A good beer that goes beyond the novelty of pumpkin beer, producing a balanced brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 06:07:10 | More by paperbackfoster

AleWatcher

Illinois

1.75/5  rDev -49.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 2

Orangey amber colored body with a small whitish colored head. Poor retention, nice legs.

Smells and tastes a bit odd... Here's what I'm picking up;
Caramel malt, Munich malt, some odd dry biscuit malt, pumpkin flesh, tons of cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and a German lager type yeast on the finish... It gets better as it warms, but doesn't pull through in the end.

Odd chalky dry feel with a really dry bitter pumpkin and spice finish.

Overall-- let's be honest, I don't usually like pumpkin beers... But this one I find outright offensive.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 02:09:30 | More by AleWatcher

Lemke10

Wisconsin

3.55/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I bought a 6-pack of this from Woodman's in Janesville, WI for $9.29 in Fall 2011.

Pours a clear, medium brown color with a very slight head. Scent is quite weak with mostly sweet malts and a slight pumpkin spice hint. Taste is rather weak in pumpkin flavors. I'm mostly getting malts and some spices for the taste. The texture is rather smooth and full however, making for great drinking. I think in a blind taste test I would actually thing this was an Oktoberfest beer and not a pumpkin ale. Kind of disapointing as I was expecting more.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 03:46:34 | More by Lemke10

mactrail

California

3.85/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pleasant malty taste with a distinct touch of pumpkin, especially after it warms up. A light hand with the spice, but a nose of cinammon and candy. Some hops give it a more quaffable edge. Not so over-flavored as others in the pumpkin patch. Quite decent with an interesting spicy tang. Light coppery color.

Had a pint of this on tap at Monarch in Grand Rapids.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2011 04:36:36 | More by mactrail

MattyG85

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a deep and clear amber orange with lots of bubbles. Solid three fingers of white head with decent retention and moderate lacing.

Smell: A spicy mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove with a solid base of pumpkin. Hints of caramel malts and toffee. Literally smells like a piece of pumpkin pie.

Taste: Like the smell, a spicy mix of nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove. A taste of pumpkin veggies fill out the base with some caramel and toffee malts. Also a light hint of Noble hops. Moderately sweet.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate carbonation. Chewy, smooth, and finishes dry.

Overall: A pretty good pumpkin beer. Nicely balanced. Spices don't overwhelm the pumpkin.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 04:15:56 | More by MattyG85

thebrood1987

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Very nice pumpkin, fall look to it with smells of cinnamon, brown suger, nutmeg, cloves and a surprising citrus hop smell. The spices from the hops and nutmeg combine in the beginning then a cinnamon semi sweet in the middle and then ending with the spices,hops and vegetable bitter tasting pumpkin.

It's actually almost like a hopped up beer almost like a pumpkin IPA in some ways. Its definitely a spicy beer between the hops spices and cinnamon used. The citrus from hops come out a lot as well and leave a bitter taste which I can't tell is contributing from the pumpkin as well. Either way it tastes good.

The only thing I would have changed about this beer is a thicker mouthfeel but it is only 5.2 percent and have it a bit sweeter to balance the hops out more. Other than that its an interesting take on a pumpkin beer and definitely a tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 04:05:42 | More by thebrood1987

OneDropSoup

Pennsylvania

2.83/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a tulip pint: Nice orangey amber color under a finger of soft, buoyant head that drops to a thick coating & leaves lichen-like lacing. Plenty of nucleation visible through the transparent, glowing body.

Mostly nutmeg in the nose, a bit of cooked gourd, not overwhelming & pretty standard. Maybe a little molasses kind of sweetness, but subtle, even a little buttery.

Taste starts off comparable to the smell, with baking spices, but with a sharp bitter dryness like seltzer that's a little alarming & sticks around, growing & making things a little less than pleasant. The longer into the aftertaste, the more it develops a kind of detergent flavor.

Sharply carbonated up front, & that dryness lingers.

Started off unremarkable but decent, gets a little gross. Don't know if I got a crappy bottle or what, but this was not doing it for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 00:47:41 | More by OneDropSoup

budgood1

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

pours out a hazy and bright muddled auburn colour with a thin fine off white head which leaves wisps of lace. nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon dominate the nose...riding a wave a sweet maltiness that makes for a nice smelling pumpkin beer. the taste is a bit of vegetal inspired maltiness, no doubt from the pumpkin used...then the pumpkin pie spice provides a high level of nutmeg and cinnamon on the tastebuds. it finishes on the dry side with what i think is some spicy hopping in the back end, too. a straight up, no messing around autumn and halloween inspired pumpkin ale. plenty of flavour to satisfy. medium bodied with a roughed up mouthfeel due to the spicing used. drinkability is good...definitely has all the goods when it comes to this style of spiced ale.

overall i guess i'm impressed, having a limited amount of pumpkin ales to compare it to. i would also guess it would pair well with indian cuisine or some asain fare. recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 00:46:08 | More by budgood1

phichifiji00

California

4/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours amber, with thick off-white head that quickly fades. Moderate lacing.

Smell: Nutmeg and cinnamon dominate.

Taste: Nutmeg, cinnamon, some subtle malt notes towards the finish.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied, good carbonation. Smooth.

Overall: A tasty, well balanced pumpkin beer. Very drinkable. Good spice level.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 16:24:04 | More by phichifiji00

n2185

North Carolina

2.35/5  rDev -32.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

A: Pours a slightly hazy orange with two fingers of white head that recedes into a thin cap with good lacing. Definitely one of the better looking pumpkin ales I've had.

S: Typical spices up front--cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, etc.--followed by some faint vanilla aromas. Not much else.

T: Again, the typical array of spices at first followed by an odd combination of dry, piny hops and bread flavor. Finishes bland and bitter. There is an astringent chemical flavor in the finish as well.

M: Medium body and carbonation, this beer is pretty smooth and would be creamy if not for the clashing and unpleasant flavors.

O: While this beer looks great, it is very much a let-down in the flavor department. Not enjoyable at all and went down the drain before I was halfway through the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2011 02:12:01 | More by n2185

ONUMello

Ohio

3.28/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A: Amber/copper color; one-finger head
S: A bit of pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice, mostly nutmeg/allspice, with just a hint of caramel.
T: Similar to the nose, more spice with less pumpkin/caramel. A bit one dimensional/not complex.
M: Medium-bodied, not much depth.
O: Nothing bad, but I've been drinking lots of pumpkin ales this month and this one doesn't really stand out.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 23:41:18 | More by ONUMello

mattyb

Michigan

2.68/5  rDev -23%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A - Nice orange color and contrasting white head, looks like a pumpkin ale.

S - This is the highlight of the beer, nice pumpkin spice aroma, cinnamon and nutmeg.

T - The taste pales in comparison to the smell. It is crisp and dry, not warm. Slight taste of the cinnamon and nutmeg, slightly malty. The pumpkin taste is bitter, like the pumpkin rind.

M - Slightly thin, but decent carbonation.

O - Not impressed with this pumpkin ale, not terrible, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 23:05:55 | More by mattyb

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Got on my trip down to visit dfclav in NJ/PA.

Pours a nice creamy 1 finger head that fades semi quickly at first then slows, with a bit of lacing, over mostly clear amber slight reddish orange colored beer.

Nose has bright reddish malts, malty mostly, a light tart fruity like aroma and almost funky yeast like aroma, tart cherry, very light pumpkin, infected? Some pumpkin and hint of spice, light pumpkin pie.

Taste starts with malts and fruit again, some light reddish malts, bright amber malts with some tart fruit again, light cherry and sour berry like flavor, hint of pumpkin, and some earthy bitterness. A light bready malt comes through on the finish, with a bit more acidic flavor, some light pumpkin and more tart spicy fruit flavors, with a hint of bitterness, and a bit drier but sticky.

Mouth is med bodied, sticky and syrupy, good carb.

Overall weird, not quite my style despite that I love sours, this just doesn't fit like it should. Not sure if it's supposed to be like that or it's infected, but doesn't bide too well.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 23:05:09 | More by jlindros

TheStig

Virginia

2.7/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

My personal definition for what qualifies as a "gimmick" beer is something that's brewed with specific, typically non-traditional ingredients to take advantage of a particular event or other non-beer related theme. You know, like if someone put liquid smoke into beer and called it "bacon beer" to capitalize on the bacon fad. Holiday themed beers are no different, and pumpkin-themed beers are pretty solidly in the "gimmick" camp.

With that said, this isn't a bad tasting brew regardless of the season it is made to commemorate. Pumpkin is obviously very prominent, but other fruity flavors pop up now and then-- banana and apple to be specific. Nutmeg is very prominent, but not obtrusive. I'm dinging the "smell" not because I didn't like it or I thought it was offensive, but because I couldn't detect anything out of the ordinary or "special" that a gimmicky beer like this should have. If you're going to make a pumpkin beer for Halloween and name it after Sleepy Hollow, it should damn well smell like pumpkin, autumn, wet leaves or hell, even a beheaded corpse.

It's a fine, inoffensive tasting beer that suggests the taste and pumpkin somewhat. It's not earth shaking or spiritual in any regard, but I'd much rather be drinking this than a macro-brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 20:44:18 | More by TheStig

nandemo1

Virginia

2.93/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a copper orange with a small off white head that dissipated quickly. Lacing is minimal.

Smell is a bit malty with spice and a bit of pumpkin in the background. Taste is somewhat bland, sweeter than most "single" pumpkin ales, but the spices don't come through as much as in the smell, definitely some pumpkin in there. A touch bitter.

Feel is pretty light and crisp.

Drinkable, but not one I'd turn to regularly.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 19:50:35 | More by nandemo1

sixerofelixir

Ohio

3.28/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle. No freshness info to be found on bottle. Like the label art.

Pours a nice, deep, pecan-brown. Clearish with a white ring that washes the glass. Smell is of spices, cinnamon and nutmeg. Some decent pumpkin flavor comes through, but is muted by a hot and acrid taste on the back end. Finishes a little sour. Feel is a bit thin. OK, but the aftertaste keeps this from being exciting.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 18:54:16 | More by sixerofelixir