Pumpkinator - Saint Arnold Brewing Company

afluentturtle

Texas

4.93/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had this awhile ago but just got around to putting it on here.

2011 vintage poured into a tulip glass. Enjoyed on 4/5/2011.

Appearance: Off black with a touch of red, just a little light can penetrate the edges. Two fingers of thick khaki head, not much lacing.

Smell: fresh pumpkins, cinnamon, nutmeg, christmas spices, vanilla, hint of chocolate.

Taste: A perfect melody of pumpkins, spices, and typical stout roasted malts and chocolate. This is the perfect example of what a pumpkin beer should be like.

Mouthfeel: Just a tad on the thin side. Nice warm feeling from the alcohol.

Overall: Easily Saint Arnolds best beer. Almost perfect if not for the lack of lacing and thin mouthfeel.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2013 17:27:58 | More by afluentturtle

lxCheshireCatxl

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I have had this beer in bottles and also on tap, and went on a 2 week search to find it only to find it on tap the second time.

A - a great dark imperial stout that its style is known for with a dark brown head that fades quickly
S - a sweet smell of pumpkin pie and spices mixed with very heavy hops that pair well with the flavors that are in this beer
T - sweet, heavy, spicy and all flavors meld to remind you of Halloween and pumpkin pie that reminds you of the season
M - slightly sour at first that slowly releases its flavors as it warms to a sweet yet nutty and heavily spiced stout
O - if you are ever in Texas, better yet in Houston, and it is Pumpkinator time and you prefer dark, sweet, spicy, heavy beers, I would say search this beer out at least on tap just to enjoy it. Most pubs and bars will hold onto it for a bit since most usual patrons do not have palette ready for this Frankenstein creation.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2012 08:03:33 | More by lxCheshireCatxl

noggleam

Texas

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

This Texas gem is currently on tap at the Live Oak Music Bar and Lounge in Fort Worth. This is the only pumpkin beer I know of that is made like a stout. This keeps the flavor better and adds hints of chocolate. Similar beers like Dogfish Punkin and Rogue Pumpkin Patch Ale miss because of they are made like an amber beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2012 19:52:54 | More by noggleam

Ford

Texas

5/5  rDev +16%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap.

Man. I love this stuff. I picked up three bottles this year, but haven't cracked one open yet. I was able to try it first on tap at a Flying Saucer BeerFeast.

Fantastic. As a good friend noted, it tastes like pumpkin pie with a delicious touch of chocolate. I wish it was year round. I wish it was easier to get. It's a limited release in bombers and sells out in Houston, Texas very quickly. First day at most locations.

If you get a chance to try it, do it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2012 22:35:38 | More by Ford

kungpao

Texas

3.15/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at Ginger Man Houston

A- Dark stout like looking beer. Served in a half pint with little to no head. No complaints, pours like I expected.

S- Complex. Roasted malts, dark fruits, pumpkin spice. Not as chocolatey as I was expecting but still nice aroma.

T- A bit of a miss for me. Lots of dark fruits, roasted malts up front. Bittering hops help take the edge off the sweetness. The pumpkin like spices were a mess. I tasted some strange amaretto like flavor that turned me off.

M- A bit too carbonated for style, possibly improper serving pressure though.

O- I was hoping for a mellowed out version of DR9. I'll report back and edit this post when I try the bottled version.

Edit: Update after having bottles from both 11' & 12'. I took some points off from the overall and mouthfeel. St Arnold makes a good effort on this one but misses the mark. The spices are not as balanced as some of the top tier pumpkin beers. The mouthfeel on 12' was lacking.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2012 21:20:44 | More by kungpao

nickhiller

Texas

4.68/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark, raisin colored. Pretty flat, little to no head.

S: Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove - But not overwhelming like potpourri or a yankee candle. Subtle, floral, delicious. Some chocolate in there too. Toast and gingerbread.

T: Pumpkin, of course. Strong but not too strong. Good depth of flavors. Toasty, with slight bourbon and vanilla undertones. Christmas pudding. Warming alcohol taste (in a good way).

M: Lighter than expected for how dark and flavorful it is, but still pretty good. Not very carbonated at all, smooth.

O: In general, I'm not a big fan of pumpkin beers or St. Arnold's regular line-up, but I am VERY impressed by this. Perfect beer for this time of year. Liked it so much after tasting it on tap that I called a number of different retailers so I could find bottles!

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2011 01:47:11 | More by nickhiller

videofrog

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottle poured into a dimpled stein. Bottled on 9/24/12.

A: Dark black with a thick beige head. Head retention is excellent and sticks around all the way down the glass with sporadic lacing.

S: Pumpkin puree and spices, cinnamon mostly.

T: Pumpkin is up front with cinnamon and clove stronger than I thought they'd be after 7 months. A layer of sweet chocolate mixed with roasted malt is there as well. Earthy hops and alcohol in the finish.

M: Nice, thick, and creamy. A bit thin for what you'd expect from an impy stout, though.

O: My cellar got a little backed up and it took a while to get to this one. It was probably better that way as I typically don't like the strength of cinnamon & spices in pumpkin beers when they're young. Will try and grab 2 this fall when it comes back out.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 02:09:27 | More by videofrog

Hugonaut13

Illinois

4.19/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

22oz bottle served into a Teku. Thanks to Steimie for this bottle

A - Pours a rich black with a thick light brown head. Swirl the glass and it looks a bit thin for a stout

S - Thanksgiving dessert in a glass here. Tantalizing smell of cinnamon, nutmeg, and chocolate. I want to keep this bottle around for awhile just to smell it.

T - Tastes just like it smells. Roasted malts and chocolate upfront and roasted pumpkin, clove, and nutmeg come into the mix to bring it all together. The pumpkin beer and stout aspects mix together pretty well here.

M - A bit thin for a stout. This is more porter-like in feel. The 10% abv is well hidden when it's cold. Comes out as it warms but doesn't overpower.

O - As a person who often doesn't care for pumpkin beers due to their overpowering spice, I thought this was well done! The stout notes and pumpkin pie notes mix very well together. This is definitely something I haven't had before. Kudos Saint Arnold.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 02:38:58 | More by Hugonaut13

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled 9/6/2012. Pours dense pitch black color with a small fairly dense khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin lace that lingers. Light soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big pumpkin, chocolate, roasted malt, cocoa, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, dark bread, brown sugar, molasses, allspice, and light ginger. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of roasted notes with pumpkin and spices. Taste of big dark chocolate, pumpkin, cocoa, roasted malt, cinnamon, nutmeg, toast, dark bread, brown sugar, ginger, light clove, molasses, and light roasted earthiness. Lingering notes of dark chocolate, pumpkin, roasted malt, cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg, dark bread, molasses, allspice, and light ginger on the finish for a while. Fantastic balance and complexity of roasted flavors with pumpkin and spice notes; with a great balance of spices that are not overdone at all; and zero cloying sweetness present after the finish. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a very creamy and slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish; very smooth to sip on. Overall this is a fantastic pumpkin spiced imperial stout! Great balance and complexity of roasted flavors with pumpkin and spices; and extremely smooth to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 04:20:05 | More by superspak

cosmicevan

New York

4.08/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

another pleasant surprise from cfh64. enjoyed from an elysian pumpkin mini snifter.

a - popped the cap and it said "Be a know it ale"...brew poured a watery black with a thin head of creamy tan bubbles that bubbled away leaving a fairly thick ring of head on the surface with small ponds of exposed beer.

s - really nice and zesty. smells like walking into a michael's craft store in august. really spectacular. i don't get much stout but the pot pouri autumn seasoning is really appetizing and not overwhelming. cinnamon and sugar and chocolate happiness.

t - YUM. starts off with chocolate and autumn seasoning pot pouri...then finishes off with some nice roast. whereas the nose has everything in the right place, i wish the pumpkin was dialed back a touch on the taste so i could enjoy the base stout more. that being said, still pretty good beer.

m - a bit fizzy. fairly light...almost has a porter like char to the body.

o - overall, good pumpkin beer. i had heard some rumblings that this was more of a stout with some pumpkin flavorings and i'd say it the other way around...it is a pumpkin beer with some stoutiness to it.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 03:50:17 | More by cosmicevan

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.06/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Been waiting a while to crack this one from my fridge. 2011 vintage reviewed from notes.

A - Poured into my Dogfish Head chalice a clear garnet/brown hue with a thin quarter inch head that fades slowly but leaves no side lacing.

S - Aroma are quite nice. Almost like a Cigar City Good Gourd, just as a stout. Nice chocolate, faint pumpkin pie spices (cloves, nutmeg), roast malts, and roasted gourd.

T - Taste is like the nose with large bursts of chocolate, roasted vegetable/gourd, more pie notes particularly nutmeg. Starts off with the ABV hidden, however, when warm it really pops out unfortunately.

M - Mouthfeel is the low point for this beer. It is simply too thin and watery. Such a shame.

O - Overall, a good beer with nice chocolate and pumpkin notes. Just really wish that the alcohol was hidden more come the end of the glass.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 07:11:51 | More by rudzud

hornsup

Virginia

4.51/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle courtesy of a trade from sjs0187...thanks buddy poaured into an Intuition pint glass
Bottling date 9/24/12

A: Pours an opaque dark brown color, there is a bit of transparency in the thinner parts of the glass that are deep orange color in color. I like it considering its a pumpkin stout, but it could be off putting for some.

S: Heavy spices....notably nutmeg and cinnamon. Get some fresh unripe pumpkin on the nose as well

T: Tastes like someone took cocoa powder and sprinkled it on freshly oven roasted pumpkins. Has a hint of alcohol on the back end which compliments the spices quite well I think...I would have guessed 6% alcohol judging by how smooth it is. Get the nutmeg cloves and cinnamon in the middle as well.

M: Mouthfeel is a little thin, but I really enjoy it in this particular rendition. Doesn't coat your mouth but it definitely overloads and coats your palate nicely. The extra body on it replaces the heavy natural sugars seen in most pumpkin beers.

O: I would prefer this over Good Gourd, Punkin, and the likes due to its body and the seeming replacement of body/cocoa for the natural sugars. Its really enjoyable and I actually enjoyed it colder rather than when it warmed up which is completely uncharacteristic for stouts. Spices became more pronounced when warm though...take your pick...either way its fantastic

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 06:44:49 | More by hornsup

nlmartin

Ohio

4.55/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This beer came way as part of the Values Bif. Thanks Azzy! The beer was lightly chilled and was served in an Imperial Pint glass.

A- The body of the beer wa black with no opaqueness to light. The beer had no head and no lacing.

S- The aroma of the beer is roasted pumpkin, pumpkin pie spicing like my grandmother made, nutmeg, cinnamon, all spice, cloves, vanilla, brown sugar, molassis. All the above aromas are riding a sea of darkly roasted malty cocoa.

T- The flavor of the beer gives plenty of dark roasted malt. This is a perfect vehicle for roasted pumpkin pie flavors. The pumpkin pie spice flavors are well done and consist of the usual suspects. Just an excellent delivery of the aroma. Not too sweet and not too spiced.

M- The body of the beer is smooth and very full bodied. The carbonation levels wrok well. Not a trace of alcohol heat. Kind of coats my mouth like I ate some pumpkin pie.

O- This beer is a dam tasty darkly roasted vehicle for delivering a pumpkin pie flavored beer. Only compaint was the appearance but can overlook this. Sorry I have a second complaint my glass is empty.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 11:13:51 | More by nlmartin

TMoney2591

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in an Ohio State shaker pint glass.

Thanks to twiggamortis420 for this bottle!

I imagine a crossover flick, in the style of Freddy Vs Jason, between Pumpkinhead and the Terminator. God, would it probably suck... Anyway, this stuff pours a dark black-brown topped by a finger of sandy tan foam. The nose comprises mild roasted malts, very light cola, brown sugar, very light molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. The taste brings in more of the same, with an avalanche of the aforementioned spices and a hint of ginger tossed in for good measure. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda drying finish. Overall, a delightful pumpkin stout (wow, did I really just say "delightful"...?), one that pleasantly balances the roasted elements with a healthy spicing. Good times.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 14:53:40 | More by TMoney2591

flexabull

California

4.3/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle courtesy of cfh64, thanks again!

Pours a flat black color with a nice big tan head.

Aromas are spicy, notes of nutmeg, cloves, and light cocoa.

Taste starts out with some nice dark chocolate, molasses, and some alcohol warmth. Finish has pumpkin and spice notes, mostly ginger, cloves and nutmeg. Nice balance of stout and pumpkin pie flavors.

Mouthfeel is ok, but a bit thin for the style.

Overall, a very nice pumpkin beer, one of the best I have had in a while. Well done St. Arnold.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 19:25:17 | More by flexabull

beerdrifter

Germany

3.93/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Becca for the hookup on this one! Dark brown, almost black pour with a half finger beige head that fades really quickly with almost no lacing. The nose is huge and complex with hints of clove, licorice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and chocolate. The taste is big and bold and complex as well. Tons of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg up front along with hints of licorice, anise, chocolate, cardamon, molasses, pumpkin, vanilla, and ginger. The mouthfeel is slightly thick and syrupy and definitely a sipper. The alcohol is well hidden for a 10% beer. Definitely a great winter beer perfect for a cold evening in front of the fire. Very impressive offering.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 00:44:53 | More by beerdrifter

genitempo

Texas

4.95/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

*Let me preface this by my utter appreciation for this beer. I missed out last year. However, this year was a bit of a treasure hunt for me. I tried the Pumpkinator 2012 (in bottle and draft) the Pumpkinator 2011 (bottle) and the DR9 (Pumpkinator Originator on Draft). All the experiences were fantastic and bit different each time. The beer I'm currently sipping is a bottle of 2012.

A - Pours a rich, dark midnight. A lighter tawny look to its head with a balky lace, remaining fairly contiguous while circumnavigating the snifter.

S - A solid blend of spices and pumpkins, keeping the roasted malt and booze in the undertones. Blended scent gives a suggestion that this beer may be a Banana Bread Stout.

T - Unbelievably gratifying throughout the sip. Well-balanced spices that covers the heat of the ethanol perfectly. A very well-orchestrated taste.

MF - A heavier medium, husky, if you will. A bit of carbonation hinders this beer from being perfect...maybe I need to try it on cask?

O - This recipe, along with the DR12 and BB1, have made St. Arnold my favorite brewery of the year. An astounding work of art that should be enjoyed by all.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 08:34:46 | More by genitempo

Scotchboy

Idaho

4.08/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle, the centerpiece of a recent trade with BeerHunter76 (thanks man) split 3 ways into pint glasses.

A: Very dark brown body with red highlights...half finger of lighter tan head, light lacing.

S: Holiday spices dominate but there is a fair amount of chocolate here as well...moderate suggestion of pumpkin as well. Cinnamon is pretty dominant, hints of nutmeg, ginger and clove as well.

T: Cinnamon upfront again, with moderate creamy chocolate/roast notes and lighter suggestions of pumpkin pie. Not vegetable-like, which is a huge plus. Clove and ginger spices as well...cinnamon is pulling but the creamy chocolate delivers.

MF: Creamier feel, higher carbonation but no complaint here with the assortment of flavors. Body is about medium, with a pulling spiciness that isn't distracting.

O: Complimentary spices and holiday flavors with a surprising chocolate presence makes this a nice pumpkin stout. Definitely one to seek out if you like pumpkin beers.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 23:25:53 | More by Scotchboy

Duff27

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brown body with light brown edges. Slim collar, with splotchy cap and lacing.

Cinnamon potpouri. One of those beers that you just want to keep smelling. Awesome!

Cinnamon all the way, leaves mouth watering. Some booze detected booze on the tail end.

Medium mouthfeel. Medium carbonation that combined with the cinnamon is very biting.

Really good but I'm not so sure this isn't a spice beer, not a "pumpkin" beer. Something similar to Big Red bubblegum. Thanks egrace84!

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 02:44:40 | More by Duff27

azdback

Arizona

4.28/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Bruery snifter. Almost all light sucking black. Two finger, creamy latte colored head. Lace is minimal but hanging in there.

Smell is quite pumpkin spicy, nutmeg, cinnamon. Sweet, brown sugar.

Taste is a lot like cinnamon sugar toast. Some alcohol and as this sits on the palate I do get some raw pumpkin/squash flavors. As this exits my nose I get a cherry coke flavor. Interesting but nice.

Mouth is a bit thin for an Imperial Stout but carbonation is on the high side. Body is medium and the finish is long and on the wet side.

Overall I am really enjoying this. Probably the tastiest pumpkin beer I have tried to date. Not all pumpkin or all pumpkin pie spice but a nice combination of the two. Thanks to injuredreserve for the chance.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 06:28:07 | More by azdback

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.53/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Saint Arnold Pumpkinator has a thick, creamy, beige head, some decent lacing, and a dark brown, cane syrup-looking appearance. The aroma is sweet, roasted, and somewhat spicy, and the flavor is even more-so spice oriented. Sadly, there is just too much allspice taste to it, which overrides everything else, from what I could tell. Mouthfeel is medium to heavy, and Pumpkinator finishes sweet, syrupy, and heavy. It’s a sipper, for the most part. Overall, I think it’s good enough, but overly spiced. It's worth checking out.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 11:44:22 | More by RonaldTheriot

BigBarley

Texas

5/5  rDev +16%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The year this beer appeared (not as Divine Reserve 9 but the first year as Pumpkinator) I was unable to go grab a bottle the week it came out. By the next week they were GONE. So for a year I pined.

Then a day after it was rereleased I secured a couple bottles and made sure I was prepared for the ultimate letdown. After months and months of wondering, reading reviews, and anxiously awaiting the release of this beer, I had built it in my mind to be the perfect beer. And reality set in. There's no WAY this beer could be as good as I was hoping in my mind. Anticipating some sort of elixir of beery perfection was sure to bring only heartache and disappointment.

This beer is jet black in body. A Perfectly dark, impenetrable stout frame, with a unique orange-brown, milky head that was around a finger at the end of the pour, and receded within a few minutes. Looked not only like a truly dark beer, but it had a unique head that added to the beauty. Perfect appearance!

The nose has only a faint note of roasted malt, as it's dominated by the undeniable presence of pumpkin, wrapped in graham cracker, immediately followed by cinnamon and chocolate. The smell alone kept me enamored for several minutes. I can't believe it, the perfect smelling beer as well!

I took a sip of the little foam ring atop the glass. Sweet, bitter chocolate with a roasty back. Very interesting head. Now for a real gulp... Immediate explosion of flavor. Like a chocolatey, sweet, nutmeg-laced pumpkin pie with a very mild alcohol backbone. Delicious, sweet, and still somehow stout. A wonderful balance of desert and a brew. The perfect taste! (and that doesn't happen everyday)

And the mouthfeel... so thick, so creamy, so smooth and filling. It was almost like some sort of sinful milkshake of yeasty perfection. I would marry this beer!

Pumpkinator was everything I imagined and more. I've yet to taste such a flavorful, filling, and satisfying beer and I dunno if any experience will ever compare to FINALLY tasting my first Pumpkinator... next year I'm getting a couple cases at least.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 17:10:12 | More by BigBarley

Treebs

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz. bottle served in a CBS snifter. 2012 vintage. Big thanks to cfh64(Brad) for hitting this long time want.

A: Pours a dark black color with some dark brown edges where the light hits. A light tan head forms on the pour and it recedes to a thin collar.

S: Big pumpkin pie spice. Nutmeg and cinnamon with a sweet pie crust scent as well. Light pumpkin flesh with a smooth chocolate presence. Very good.

T: The stout and pumpkin ale flavors blend really nicely. Very spice forward with cinnamon and nutmeg up front with a big burst of roasted malts, chocolate and pie crust in the middle. The finish is slightly sweet pie crust with a hint of rich chocolate and roasted malts.

M: Medium bodied with a roasty and spiced finish. Slightly sweet as well with a medium carbonation.

O: I would have liked a little more body to the beer, but it was still really good and the underlying stout flavors really blended nicely with the pumpkin ale. The booze is well hidden as well.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 02:24:24 | More by Treebs

acevenom

Louisiana

4.7/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours black with a quickly dissipating tan head. There are plenty of visible tiny bubbles that can be seen from the side of the glass. All that is left of the head is a ring of lace around the edge of the glass and there are visible alcohol legs. Some lacing is left on the side of the glass during consumption. The aroma of pumpkin and spices hits the nose. There's cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. I get some of that roasted malt, but the nose is pretty dominated by those pumpkin pie spices. I can't detect the alcohol in the nose. This beer still tastes like a stout. The dark roasted malt hits the mouth up front with the pumpkin and those spices really coming in after that. I also get that molasses and those dark chocolate and coffee flavors. The alcohol isn't very strong in the flavor despite being 10%, but it does have a nice warming feel on the way down. It does become more apparent, however, as the beer warms. The hops are also there to provide some back end bitterness and balance to this beer. This beer is full bodied without being too thick and moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is smooth. It's a great sipping imperial stout. This is an excellent beer that is worth the hype. There's a reason this sells out quickly.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 23:59:51 | More by acevenom

CuriousMonk

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomber poured into dimpled mug. Poured a near black with a nice khaki head. Aromas of toasted vanilla, clove, cinnamon and cardamon. Warming yet lively palate. Spicy on the palate with a nice clean malt roast background- chocolaty, coffee, toasted cinnamon, clove, cardamon, and mild ginger cookie. Quite a complex beer with some alcohol warmth throughout. There’s a touch of smoke underneath to give more depth. Has a late lingering rich black malt roast. Nice subtleties. Sure wish I had more of this beer - this quickly hit my top 5 all-time pumpkin beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 00:17:45 | More by CuriousMonk