Samuel Adams Fat Jack Double Pumpkin Ale - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

wrb357

California

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 22oz into pint glass.

A: Looks great. Honestly, this is what an autumn beer should look like. Nice lace of head, great amber color that looks brown/orange under no direct light. I know we don't talk about this much on here, but the labels for these Samuel Adams artisanal beers are great. This one isn't my favorite (Norse Legend wins that one) but the hand-drawn creepy pumpkin on the front? Awesome.

S: A nose-full of spices, right off the bat. Hits you nice and hard. Definitely intrigues you into drinking this bad boy.

T: Obviously, you gotta let this warm up. At first when it's cooler you're hit with a bunch of spices and they linger on your tongue. Definitely taste the nutmeg, cinnamon...can you taste the pumpkin though? Not really...until it warms up. Then there is definitely a pumpkin taste on the backbone of this beer. Interestingly, though not surprisingly, the spice flavors really pack a punch when it warms up, and my sips got smaller as time went on. And, almost sadly, it nearly overpowered. Like, the way to explain it is that it's most definitely a spiced beer, with hints of pumpkin; but this isn't something I would drink outside of small sips on a cold autumn day. I'm not bringing this to a party or to watch football. It's a solo beer (not Solo beer).

M: It really bubbles on the tip of the tongue, yet after you gulp it sits in your mouth and on the back of the tongue. The flavors linger awhile, but since they are so strongly spicy, I found myself having to take sips of water for fear of getting parched. I was a bit surprised by how much it kicked in the front. Can also taste the alcohol when it warms up a bit.

I haven't had many pumpkin beers outside of cheap macro versions, and this one didn't necessarily sell me on the whole idea of "pumpkin beer", yet I enjoyed its presentation and variety of spices. I don't think I'd get this again unless I was in a cabin and it was raining and I wanted something nice to sip by the fire. However, I'd probably take to a darker brown ale or a stout in that occasion.

Nevertheless, the long and short of it is: if you like spiced ales, or if you've never tried something like this, give it a shot. It's very surprising and interesting, though it won't be added to my list of favorite beers anytime soon. But at 8.5%? I'm a happy pumpkin, for sure.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 03:32:37 | More by wrb357

Zbeetleman

California

3/5  rDev -17.1%

05-16-2013 03:09:10 | More by Zbeetleman

rph97

Texas

4/5  rDev +10.5%

05-09-2013 23:13:16 | More by rph97

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -30.9%

05-09-2013 02:24:12 | More by tommyguz

FliryVorru

Alabama

4.5/5  rDev +24.3%

04-29-2013 17:28:09 | More by FliryVorru

mhaugo

California

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

04-25-2013 05:48:48 | More by mhaugo

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.25/5  rDev -10.2%

04-23-2013 06:13:38 | More by Kelp

irish01980

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

04-18-2013 17:10:58 | More by irish01980

randylangford

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -10.2%

04-14-2013 01:28:46 | More by randylangford

bacasnax

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

04-01-2013 22:31:14 | More by bacasnax

FlemingVSKing

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

03-28-2013 15:59:28 | More by FlemingVSKing

Giggy

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

03-22-2013 21:33:38 | More by Giggy

BGsWo22

New York

1/5  rDev -72.4%

03-20-2013 23:40:17 | More by BGsWo22

Celtics76

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

03-18-2013 17:59:59 | More by Celtics76

JohnQVD

New York

4/5  rDev +10.5%

03-17-2013 19:36:37 | More by JohnQVD

ThatguyJoefromBoston

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +38.1%

03-14-2013 15:20:28 | More by ThatguyJoefromBoston

AJ01923

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

03-13-2013 03:06:58 | More by AJ01923

PStriedl

Maryland

4/5  rDev +10.5%

03-02-2013 22:15:56 | More by PStriedl

GFG

North Dakota

4/5  rDev +10.5%

03-02-2013 16:09:59 | More by GFG

UnderPressure

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Dark copper colored. Nice, thick rocky head that lasts forever. Crystal clear. Terrific lacing.

Spices, toasted malt, and a slight funk in the aroma. It also has that distinct boozy aroma that I associate with double IPAs. But it must be with any high alcohol beer.

Sweet malt and spices dominate the flavor. A sweet, yet alcoholic flavor upfront. With a clean yet sweet finish with a nice spice blend lingering at the very end.

Heavy bodied mouthfeel with a nice appropriate level of carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 13:25:03 | More by UnderPressure

Colosdog

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

02-23-2013 16:10:13 | More by Colosdog

DarkLordPsycho

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -24%

02-20-2013 01:23:54 | More by DarkLordPsycho

Syraquse

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

02-17-2013 19:18:28 | More by Syraquse

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.94/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Aroma has decided pumpkin and cinnamon notes, plus hints of malt and cloves. It pours a clear mahogany with a fairly thick light, slightly pumpkin-orange head that leaves good lacing. Satisfying flavor has a malty core with a noticeable but not overpowering pumpkin tone, as well as notes of cinnamon, horehound and cloves and a touch of caramel. Smooth texture has good body though not a lot of fizz.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 01:30:13 | More by Cyberkedi

BamfBacon

Ohio

3/5  rDev -17.1%

02-11-2013 14:52:29 | More by BamfBacon