Saint Arnold Divine Reserve #9 - Saint Arnold Brewing Company

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.45/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I as always love trying the new Divine Reserves when they come out and this one was no exception. I did not even bother to look up the style before trying it and it definitely took me off guard, but we will save that for later. Served in a six ounce snifter and consumed on 01/06/2010.



The pour was very nice, deep and dark as night with a towering head of tan that came creeping over the top with a thunderous roar. Only barely settling down it had the look of a classic, monster imperial stout so that was the direction I was going to lean with as it was anything like DR5, I was going to be in heaven. Then I smelled it and nearly fainted, what was it? I am confused as waves of nutmeg, cinnamon, clove overcome all else. Is this a winter warmer? Bringing it up to room temperature brings shades of cocoa out but the clove and cinnamon spices are dominant, overwhelming and drowning. Each sip brings more of this out. It just seems a big too much for me. Mellow on the ABV, as it drank solidly and really was impossible to tell how strong it was, but the thick, thick spice notes nearly too much to handle.



Overall while I would not say this was bad, it was a touch overdone to me. Needed to lay a little back on the spice notes and just let it mellow out. Still a decent offering, but not up to what I would have expected.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2010 01:17:27 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Thanks to Bobby for sharing this one yesterday.

A: A very nice looking beer. The pour is dark, dark brown (nearing black) with a large tan head.

S: The aroma has a lot of traditional pumpkin beer qualities to it. The pumpkin lends a nice aroma, however, the nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, etc. are perhaps over done. There is also a quite strong alcohol presence.

T: There was simply too heavy of a hand in terms of the spices. They overwhelm the beer and take away from usually powerful flavors such as the roasted malt and chocolate. Again, the alcohol is just too strong.

M: As you would expect for such a big beer, the body is quite full. The carbonation is also fairly low, providing a smooth mouthfeel.

D: The beer is just way over spiced and too hot. I would like to see how this might age, as the spices and alcohol might die down, but as of now, it's not a beer I'd seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2010 20:56:56 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Shared by someone at the Splinter Black release. Poured into my Savor snifter.

Pours near black with a thin tan head and not too much of any lacing. The nose is pretty heavy on the spicing with a good amount of cinnamon and allspice coming through as well as some star abuse. Light chocolate and roast are there as well.

The flavor is quite heavy on the spicing and a bit overpowering in that manner. Pinch of licorice along with roast and mild chocolate coming through. Mouthfeel is a bit zippy with extra carbonation, perhaps just enhanced via the spices. Drinks decent enough. I like the concept but the spices were overdone and not balanced with one another.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2010 13:57:59 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a pitch black color with ruby highlights and a rocky tan head that fritters away to a ringlet; fairly good lacing, however

Smell: The booziness of the aroma burns my nostrils if I sniff too deeply, but the pumpkin pie spice is clearly discernable, along with molasses, chocolate and grape soda

Taste: Chocolate, molasses and pumpkin pie, up front, with the high abv adding fusel alcohol by mid-palate; after the swallow, the flavors add a phenolic fruity dimension which tastes a bit like grape soda; plenty of char in the aftertaste, as well

Mouthfeel: Thick and viscous, with relatively low carbonation; plenty of heat and warmth in the gullet

Drinkability: The imperial pumpkin stout concept sounds fascinating, but I am not sure that this one pulls it off very well as the flavors really clash

Thanks, ericandersnavy, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2010 00:56:05 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color stout (?) with a nice off-white foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma consists of cinnamon and light pumpkin with a rich malt base. Taste is quite sublime with great notes of cinnamon mix with light pumpkin pie and a rich lactose forward malt base. Body is quite full with great carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Very well brewed though maybe a tad too sweet. Definitely something I would like to have again.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2011 02:23:01 | More by Phyl21ca

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

St. Arnold Divine Reserve #9

Dark brown appearance, rich, roasty tan head atop, lasting, staying.

Aroma: what a trip! candied apples, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, gingerbread, spiced apples is the main thing. Pumpkin pie spices. Wonderful. Is this a pumpkin ale. (I have no idea what bottle I opened, apparently.)

Taste: boom! More spices, this time darker, richer, warm and fuzzy. Licorice, brown sugar, some whiskey, as well.
No more pumpkin flavor, so it's not that, but is it bourbon barrel-aged? I'll look it up later, but for now I just enjoy.
Heck of a winter warmer, this one. Sweet and tasty spice, holding court over a dark, delicious ale.
Mmm, christmas cookie.
Ever so nice.
Drenched in dark rum, and set on fire.
Yum.

(11%? I had no idea!)

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2010 23:03:12 | More by feloniousmonk

Mora2000

Texas

4.78/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Wow, where to start.

the beer pours dark brown/black with a tan head. There are brown highlights when held up to a light source.

Aroma is spicy nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice. The spices you would expect from a pumpkin pie. Also get a little gingerbread.

Taste is very complex. I started the beer at about 50 degrees and the first two flavors were chocolate and alcohol. In addition to the chocolate flavor, you also get some bitter chocolate flavor. Very nice. As the beer warms, you start to get more spices. The flavor is not like any of the individual pumpkin pie spices (nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and allspice) but tastes like a combination of those spices. As the beer approaches room temperature, it starts to taste like gingerbread. There is also some roasted malt and you do get some alcohol warming.

The beer has a medium-full mouthfeel and little carbonation which goes awesome with this beer. This is a sipper, but it is extremely easy to drink. Even with some alcohol flavor, you cannot tell it is 11 percent. I have never had a beer quite like this. Great effort from Brock and the guys and gals at Saint Arnolds.

This is an outstanding beer. I have only had Divine Reserves 6-9, but this has been my favorite so far.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2009 04:05:04 | More by Mora2000

MasterSki

Illinois

2.48/5  rDev -37.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Thanks to BgThang for this extra. Served in a Bruery tulip.

A - Quick-dissolving half-finger of tan foam that settles to a thin ring and some wispy haze. Black body that is brown at the fringes.

S - Pumpkin spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, pie crust, and some peripheral pumpkin flavor. Not much obvious stout underneath all those adjuncts. Still, as a pumpkin beer it's solid.

T - Taste is not as good, and the finish is amongst the worst I've ever encountered. There's a strange vanilla extra note that mingles with starchy squash.

M - Fizzy carbonation, medium-full body. The 11% is shockingly well hidden - I would have guessed 8%. I'll split the difference between the bad texture and amazingly disguised alcohol.

D - I suppose this is a step up from most malt liquors. You could get really drunk on this, if you can get past the awful aftertaste. I'd rather have a Pumking though.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2011 06:03:09 | More by MasterSki

jwc215

New Jersey

3.55/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Thanks to Mora2000!

Pours black with the smallest amount of light penetrating through the edges when held up. A thin tan head becomes a wisp.

The smell is of heavy spicing - pumpkin spicing with gingerbread. Licoric, molasses and something akin to grape soda mix in. Pretty robust - interesting.

The taste is of heavy spicing - too heavy, really. It does have a licorice and molasses dark malt character that does not clash with pumpkin spicing and gingerbread. There is something in the back, that was noticeable in the nose, that reminds me of something close to a thick grape soda - that's not quite it, but as close as I can think of. Sweet, balanced by spicing.

The alcohol does show strength, though not too "boozy" for the high abv. There is a spritz to it. It does hit "full-bodied", though.

More "interesting" than enjoyable, to me. A dark pumpkin pie with an alcohol punch. Something like that grape-soda-ish character in the back, the heavy spicing that doesn't clash with dark malt, but seems to turn it licorice-ish-like... something a bit odd. Something "rough" about it -other than high abv that I've noticed in at least some of the other beers from this brewery -(though, admittedly, I haven't had too many - I believe this is my third of this series, and have had a few out of this series). Still-in-all it is unique. Imperial Stout pumpkin pie - booze and all... Interesting.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2010 01:08:57 | More by jwc215

Wasatch

Utah

4.33/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks goes out to JJFoodie for this brew.

Pours a nice black color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger fizzy tan head, with some sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, with some nutmeg/cinnamon notes, chocolate/toffee. The taste is sweet, malty, a good dose of nutmeg/cinnamon, with a nice touch of chocolate/toffee. Medium body, the ABV is hidden pretty well. Very drinkable, a cool touch to a Impy, with the spice notes.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2010 01:53:11 | More by Wasatch

mdfb79

New York

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

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

a - A dark brown, letting no light in. It poured about an inch of a lighter brown head with little retention and carbonation.

s - Smells strongly of spices, the major ones that stick out being cinnamon and pumpkin. Also smells of gingerbread, and maybe some mint/pine?

t - Taste is similiar to smell; lots of spices. Lots of pumpkin, gingerbread, and cinnamon. Also get tastes of alcohol.

m - Full bodied, little carbonation, a little bitterness due to the heavy spice.

d - I thought this was an ok stout, but nothing amazing. Personally I felt that you could tell it was 11% ABV, and I did not care for the spices taste as much as I have in other beers. A largely pumpking taste, yet I would rather have something like ST's Pumking or DFH's pumpkin. Not bad, but not something I would seek out again. Since I have one 12 oz. bottle left, I think I may sit on it for a year and see if the spices mellow out.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2010 23:59:47 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.21/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to TexasStout for this one. I have a big vertical lined up to have someday, but for now I have extras of this one so might as well crack one, now that it's a few years old.

Ug screw cap, minus points! Although it did give me a little message, "hops and kisses" so I can't stay mad at it. And they did date it, 11/12/09, drinking as it warms a little from cellar temp so should be above 50deg as Saint Arnold requested.

Pours a smaller but dark colored fizzy almost 1/2 finger head that fades fairly quickly, typical for this high abv and interesting for a 3+ year old beer, no lacing of course, a thick looking syrupy beer with nice legs on the glass, and all but pitch black color, and light yeast floaties.

Nose is... strange actually... it has fruity aromas, straight up banana, and some starchy tropical fruits specifically a few I've had in Brazil but I don't know the name, light herbs and spices but the root beer like style herbs or sassafras, and tons of sweet style baking spices, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. Finally in there is some dark malts, a faint black malt darkness, more Belgian style carafa and other Belgo like stout aromas, nutty earthy root like, with a little tingly booze, and a light velvety chocolate aroma with cacao nibs.

Taste is just as unique, there are some dark malts, molasses, faint black malts and Belgian like malts again, etc. Then tons of chocolate, cocoa nibs right out, creamy velvety expensive Belgian chocolate flavors. Then into the spices again, plenty of them but not holiday spices. Again the sassafras like and sweet baking spices are a-plenty, nutmeg, faint cinnamon that even gets a little spicy, cardamom, maybe faint allspice, etc. With them is the brown sugar, molasses, very faint figs and nuts, etc, and a very light fruity flavor with those figs, but luckily no banana. The spices and herbs really take over the main flavor, but the velvety smooth chocolate and cocoa flavors are nice too. Booze cuts in slightly, but is muted for the most part as it gets overtaken by the malts, but does get slightly tingly and eventually gets hot. Finish is drier but a little sticky syrupy, long lingering velvety chocolate, little caramel and cocoa, as well as the baking spices, and surprisingly the booze fades out fairly quick.

Mouth is med to fuller bodied, smooth and velvety chocolate feel, lighter but decent carb, a bit of warming tingly booze.

Overall pretty good, not sure if the 3 years helped if it was too much on the spices before, or the booze, or the dark malts etc, but this is quite nice. A good velvety chocolate, baking spices galore, etc, quite a nice beer, glad I have a couple more.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 03:24:25 | More by jlindros

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle obtained via Local BIF from twiggamortis420. Thanks for the opportunity.

Poured into a pint glass, formed a 1 3/4" dark brown head above the almost opaque dark brown brew. Head recedes gradually, with plenty of chunky lacing. Aroma is chocolate and alcohol. Taste is semisweet chocolate to start and through the middle, a touch of root beer, with a chalky close. Not feeling the 11%. Mouthfeel is pretty smooth, and drinkability is alright. Flavors are a bit harsh, and don't come together as much as I would like. Bet this with some age would be interesting.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2010 01:51:49 | More by ppoitras

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Once again big props to my boy GregMcQ who always hooks me up with the good Texas brews.

Pours a very dark reddish brown, almost black, medium tan head forms and settles down to a medium ring around the glass, some lace spots stick.

Smell is really neat, very spicy, lots of pumpking, a bit milky, biscuit, roast, wafers, some chocolate, ginger, brown sugar, pretty rich and intense aroma.

Taste is similar, tastes a lot like gingerbread, some roast and chocolate, sherry, pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg spicing, nice malty middle, lots of caramel and biscuit, touch of vanilla, nice finish.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low to medium carbonation. Insanely drinkable, had no idea this was 11%. Another great Divine Reserve. Thanks Greg!!

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 16:48:22 | More by Viggo

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.28/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Not sure why this is listed as an imperial stout. It neither looks, smells or tastes like any RIS I've ever tried. The website describes it as an imperial pumpkin stout, which seems a bit more like it. No matter.

Sampled a bottle a couple weeks back during the epic snow we were having here on the East Coast. Many thanks to the JosephLondon for the opportunity to try this one.

The beer pours a dark as molasses brown color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is hugely spice laden, with a boatload of brown sugar, clove, cinnamon, cherry and baked apple. The flavor profile is every bit as intense and in your face, and replicates the nose pretty closely. The beer is fairly sweet, but the boatload of spice keeps it from coming across as overly so. The amount of spice in this beer is almost over the top, but it also tends to give the beer almost a dry finish, which I liked. Mouthfeel is very full and rich, and the spicey flavors go on nearly forever. Drinkability is OK, though the noticeable alcohol, coupled with the sweet, spice filled flavor profile, make drinking this impressive beer very slow going. Regardless, I thought this a very interesting and impressive effort from Saint Arnold Brewing. This well made, full flavored beer reminds me very much of what I might expect of a mythical imperial Anchor X-mas ale. It's got that kind of richness, intensity, alcohol and spice. Very nicely done. Will wait till next winter I think to drink my last bottle to see what a year's aging does.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2010 19:25:20 | More by johnmichaelsen

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

2.15/5  rDev -45.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Poured into duck rabbit snifter

Pours a vibrant copper color. Small layer of fizzy tan head. Beer settles near black.

Aroma: Bright pumpkin flavor. Cinnamon and other spices. Nutmeg. Some chocolate and roasted malts. Not very stout like.

Taste: Well, it is pretty big. Lots of pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon spices. Much more roasted here with chocolate and caramel malts. Alcohol shows as well.

Mouthfeel: Spiced, dry, and hot. Full bodied with a lot of carbonation. Fizzy. Ends with booze showing and roasted malts.

Overall, this is crazy hard to drink. I dread taking sips of it. Why would anybody want to make a beer like this? Way to much pumpkin and spice. It is one of the hardest beers to drink that I have encountered.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2010 01:17:34 | More by mothman

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.48/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Buckeyeboy provided this one over the weekend... Thanks Jeremy.

Pours black with a thick dark tan head... good retention and pretty lacing.

Nose is a blast of pumpkin pie spices... nutmeg.. cinnamon.. ginger.. cardamom maybe.. roasty elements only show with alot of warmth...

Flavor mirrors the nose and that is a detriment for me.. again, the expected stout qualities are but are an afterthought... hints of dry cocoa on the finish.

Pretty big boned on the body... lighter carbonation accentuates the mouthfeel.

Eh.... Definitely not for me though I "appreciate" it I guess. My main peeve is that I don't believe that pumpkin pie spices belong (for the most part) in pumpkin beers... or at least in the levels that most breweries do. The perceived sweetness and frequently "hot" nature of the spices distract and don't allow the base beers to show. I loved DR #5, but could not even remotely pick out that world class beer in this mess. These spices belong in pies... cakes ... soups.. and chai.... not in beer... end of rant.

Thanks again Jeremy... I know that you guys were making fun, but oh well... I just don't get it.

4/3.5/3.5/4/3

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2010 08:38:37 | More by JohnGalt1

gford217

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks to Wasatch for this one.

Pours almost completely opaque black with only a bit of mahogany coming through the edges. There's a big creamy tan head that leaves a solid cap but little lacing.

The aroma is dominated by the pumpkin spices, especially the caraway. There is also nutmeg, chocolate malts and pumpkin, but that takes a bit of a back seat to the spices.

The taste ramps the spices up to a different level, as the initial sip is a flood of caraway and nutmeg. The underlying chocolate malts are present but they are definitely in the background, along with the pumpkin. The finish is dry and very spicy with an alcohol burn that lingers after each sip.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied for an impy stout and very creamy, though the most prevalent characteristics are the spices and alcohol.

This is a good impy stout (or a very good spiced beer) that is unabashedly spicy. I've tasted by few beers that had such a dominant spiciness, with the caraway bringing the heat on the palate. Interesting and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2010 02:54:45 | More by gford217

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

mhewes sent me a bottle of this as an extra. Thanks, Michael!

Pouring blackish brown with reddish brown highlights, this beer is capped with a dense, brown head with below average retention and a little lacing. That the head recedes to a ring rather quickly isn't much of a surprise given the ABV, though.
The nose is quite excellent. Spiced pumpkin and chocolate, there's nutmeg, allspice, vanilla and a rich, fudge-like chocolate. A mellow pumpkin character is present underneath it all, but the pairing between the spices and the chocolate is thoroughly enjoyable. Moderate roast character is present, along with a touch of licorice.
The palate opens with a rather big spice character, rather unbalanced. That's a tragedy, because the nose is just excellent. With mostly mace and allspice, there's almost a mild astringency. Bitter dark chocolate is present, along with some molasses, brown sugar and caramel. The pumpkin flavor is rather hidden, this is mostly just spiced chocolate. Drying on the finish with a definite heat, this beer is quite the beast. The flavors on the finish are wonderful, with an excellent blend of chocolate and spice, with a little vanilla. Medium in body, this beer is rather over-carbonated. As for drinkability? Something this big requires respect, but I feel needs more than I can afford right now. If only the opening flavors were better, this would be a top notch beer. As it loses carbonation, it improves quite dramatically, and I have to up the MF score from 3.5 to 4

As it warms up, the spice character grows, but by allowing it to breathe, the astringency strangely reduces. Either that, or I just got krunked on 4oz of beer. I hope it's not the latter, 'cos I've got 8oz to go.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2010 03:04:53 | More by DefenCorps

FosterJM

California

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

1575th Review on BA
Bottle to Snifter
12oz

Thanks to Lowgear for the IP trade to finally review this one.

App- A nice looking stout. Was more of a brown color with speckles of black. A good rich and deep center. A small 1/2 finger of off tan bubbles that faded quickly and left a little bit of a pond layer. A couple bubbles on edges with a couple dots of cling.

Smell- Really after 3 years this still smells like a fall day of baking in the kitchen. Has a rich pumpkin and spice note on the nose. Bakers chocolate with a little bit of a earthy bitter note to it as well.

Taste- The taste is just a bit flat due to age I think. Its still a very flavorful stout with a good bit of layers behind it but turning a bit grainular vs. silky smooth. The malts in this create the smoothness but the spice and pumpkin are a little off. Still balanced and doesnt overpower but nutmeg does come into play heavily.

Mouth- A fairly silky and smooth stout like I mentioned in the taste. A lighter medium and a fairly medium carbonation. The residual nutmeg is a bit heavy but the pumpkin and chocolate flavors balance nicely. A bit grainy but still good.

Drink- It was hard to track one of these down, but glad I did. Its october now, so drinking pumpkin beers is fine by me. This was good and flavorful. A very good night cap.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 15:58:24 | More by FosterJM

AgentZero

Illinois

2.42/5  rDev -38.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Provided by MasterSki, who finds it funny to unload bad beers on me.

A - Pours a black with reddish orange on the edges. Not much head to speak of, left the sides of the glass clean.

S - First thing I thought of was Midnight Sun TREAT when smelling this. Big pumpkin and nutmeg notes, very pumpkin pie-ish with a little bit of alcohol. Not exactly my thing, but fits the style.

T - Wow, this is pretty hideous. There is pumpkin and spice there, with some glove and a horribly starchy finish. Alcohol is actually pretty well hidden, unfortunately it is hidden by horrible taste. Has one of the worst finishes I've had in a while. Gross.

M - Overly fizzy, it is the first thing you notice. Otherwise pretty standard, full bodied, but too much carbonation.

D - Can't get by the horrible taste, particularly the finish on this. Pass.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2011 04:04:28 | More by AgentZero

champ103

Texas

4.4/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a dark brown, nearly black color. A two finger light tan head forms, and recedes to a ring that sticks throughout. Some lace is left behind.
S: Wow, pumpkin pie and spice hits you right up front. Cinnamon and peppermint. As this warms up, lots of subtle aromas come out. Vanilla, chocolate, roasted malt. A light dark fruity flavor lingers. Really good.
T: Pumpkin pie and spice again. Roasted malt, chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon. Some hot alcohol as well. This is good.
M/D: A full body that is low on carbonation. Velvety smooth, decadent, and creamy. This is devilishly easy to drink. A bit of hot alcohol, but a great beer to sip on.

One of the better Divine Reserve's that I can remember. Some age should make this really interesting. Saint Arnold has made one hell of an ambitious and extreme beer. They said they wanted to make the best pumpkin beer ever. They might have done just that. Something I highly recommend

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2009 02:27:21 | More by champ103

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.55/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Thirstybird for popping this one. Served in a tulip. Pours the color of cola with no head, just an oily slick and a thin broken band around the shoulders. Nose is somewhat overpowering - cinnamon, all-spice and a trace of ethanol towards the back. Taste follows nose; however, rich chocolatey flavors are also expressed, as well as pumpkin-pie and a suggestion of oxidation. Mouthfeel is medium-light in consistency with a slightly oily texture and a lively carbonation that is a little too assertive for the style. Overall, an interesting beer, but a bit too much spice happening here.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 00:01:43 | More by Jwale73

billab914

Virginia

3.45/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Pumking chalice. It poured black with a fizzy tan head covering the top of the beer. The head retreated fairly quickly to the edges of the glass where it remained.

The aroma shows a lot of pumpkin spice to it. Some nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon all come through. I get a little bit of a canned pumpkin like flavor to it as well.

The taste shows a lot of the same pumpkin pie spices that were present in the aroma. The cinnamon is a bit stronger in the taste though. Some chocolate and roasted malts start to come through towards the finish, and the chocolate lingers for a bit with the spices. Some alcohol warmth comes through in the finish too.

The mouthfeel is about average for the style and carbonation feels pretty high. Drinkability is pretty decent, it had some nice pumpkin pie spice mixed with some stout flavors. Overall I found it just a bit too spiced. Would have really liked a bit less spice and a bit more of a real pumpkin flavors in it. Overall a pretty good pumpkin beer though.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2010 00:30:25 | More by billab914

emmasdad

Colorado

3.83/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep, rich black color, topped off with about a finger of creamy tan foam. Aromas of Thanksgiving pumpkin pie (or at least that canned pumpkin filling), brown spices and maybe just a hint of the anticipated roasted malt. On the palate, more of the same, although the pumpkin pie flavors work really well with the dark chocolate, dark fruit and espresso. A very nice and unique imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2010 02:22:12 | More by emmasdad