Pumking - Southern Tier Brewing Company

tastymug

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is my favorite pumpkin beer several years running. Several other pumpkin beers were talked up this season, but none of them truly lived up to the hype besides the Pumking!

Appearance: Pours a golden orange with a decent foamy head. It has generous lacing that lasts as you consume the beer.

Smell: Pumpkin is definitely a dominant aroma in this beer (it’s like liquid pumpkin pie), along with some spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg.

Taste: Malty, sweet and balanced, you can pick up on several flavors in this brew including pumpkin, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

Mouthfeel: Has medium carbonation and a medium body. Very smooth and tasty.

Overall: My favorite pumpkin beer several years running. No doubt that the pureed pumpkin in the brew contributes to the awesomeness of Pumking!

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 02:46:25 | More by tastymug

Searlas

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

I ran into this delicious pumpkin beer at one of my favorite watering holes, Four Moon, which is around the corner from me. Wouldn't luck have it that after having a couple and promising to be back for more with the next moon rising, there was none to be had. After weeks of searching and kicking the cats I stumbled onto it. My favorite place to go for ribs is Twin Anchors. There may be better ribs but not better establishments. By accident last week I stumbled in and found my self looking at their beer menu. "Hey, bartender, it says here that you have Pumpking here". I'm sure that the menu isn't up to date but "Oh yes it is. We have several cases of it". What? I'll take 4 to go and I"ll be back!

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 04:03:00 | More by Searlas

UnkleFester

Kansas

3.88/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a tulip glass

A: Pours a golden orange color with a thin white head that quickly dissipates. It has a decent lacing on it for 8.6%.

S: Nutmeg and pumpkin aromas with brown sugar and graham cracker.

T: Pumpkin is very noticeable right away followed by spices cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves a long with caramel. The alcohol is masked well for the ABV.

M: Has a medium body with light amount of carbonation.

O: Finely got to try this one and I think it lives up to the hype around it. This is definitely a beer for the pumpkin lover.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 02:10:46 | More by UnkleFester

barczar

Kentucky

3.85/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear golden light copper color with a quarter inch cream head that dissipates into nothing.

Graham cracker, ginger, cinnamon, and pumpkin comprise the aroma, with clove, a touch of orange peel, and diacetyl adding intrigue. Vanilla comes into play late.

Ginger, butter, and graham cracker dominate the flavor, with cinnamon, clove, and a pumpkin finish rounding out the flavor profile. It's pretty sweet, with underlying caramel malt flavor on the cloying side.

Body is thick and syrupy, with moderate carbonation, and significant alcohol warmth.

The diacetyl and graham cracker flavors that are intentionally added are the icing on the cake that really make this beer pumpkin pie in a glass.

Serving type: growler

11-24-2012 03:32:57 | More by barczar

Bookseeb

Washington

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance is a hazy golden orange supporting a thin head leaving nil lace. Smell of pumpkin and light spice. Taste has whats in the aroma with a good punch of the pumpkin and the sweetness of the caramel malt with good balance of the hops. Mouthfeel is medium with good carbonation. A different enjoyable Imperial that would be good with pumpkin pie.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 23:38:05 | More by Bookseeb

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter from the bottle, Pumpking was a copper color with a very slight off-white head. It leaves a generous lacing around the glass to note staying power. The aroma is graham cracker, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pretty much everything else about pumpkin pie except pumpkin. In the initial taste, one get sour pumpkin, cinnamon toward the back of the throat, a heavy dose of clove, and a hint of nutmeg. One gets a little of the sliminess of pumpkin in the mouthfeel and a certain degree of acidity in the slightly thicker than average ale. For my money, I think this is the best pumpkin ale you can buy despite a lack of pumpkin in most phases of the beer. It is a polarizing beer to many because pumpkin is masked to a great degree. Allow the other elements of pumpkin pie appear nicely though.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 22:02:40 | More by JohnnyHopps

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

4.08/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Honey color and clear with white head that dissipates quickly.

Smell is marshmellow, pumpkin, and spices.

Taste is like pumpkin pie or bread. Starts out sweet, but not overpoweringly so. Pumpkin breadiness, banana, spice, and cream. Bitterness comes in late to remind you this is beer. Very nice. Got better and more complex as it warmed.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with light carbonation.

Overall this is a holiday winner. Definitely worth a try even if not your style beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 21:26:25 | More by TrappistJohnMD

CommanderOfAwesome

California

4.85/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from a bomber into a snifter and a tulip glass (shared).

A. Pours an orange color with medium lacing/head. Lacing lines sustained.

S: The smell. Oh man this is where this beer sets it self apart. I can smell the pumpkin from across the room and upon closer inspection you really get the crust smell as well. Frankly its incredible and I want an air freshener of it.

T: Pumpkin explosion, along with malty goodness. Amber style backbone. Tastes like a great pumpkin pie beer would. Truly unique.

M: Medium bodied. Feels great on the tongue, but doesn't hold up to extended time on the palate.

O: Best pumpkin beer hands down IMO.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 07:09:47 | More by CommanderOfAwesome

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a clean orange pour with a finger of head.
smells like pie crust more than it does spices. very bready, nice!
hoppy bitterness up front (mild), sweet malty cinnamon blend, pie spices, bready finish.
medium body, nicely carbonated.. very much like drinking a desert.

a really good pumpkin ale, period. i could probably do a few glasses of this in one sitting - not getting the fake pumpkin pie taste from this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 01:23:50 | More by facundoCNB

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

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

$7.59 bomber from Liquor Outlet, Boonton.

Orange with yellow highlights, excellent clarity, streaming carbonation. Four fingers of snow white micro bubbles. Sticky lace.

Nose full of spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, maybe some clove and ginger. Bits of pumpkin and gingerbread.

Big malt muscles it's way onto the tongue, before being pinned by a spice rack of nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. The malt base stands up much better in the taste than the nose indicated. Bit of hop bite at the swallow. Second, smaller burst of spice in the finish.

Solid medium mouthfeel.

Not something for regular sessions, but a nice treat on Halloween or Thanksgiving.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 05:37:41 | More by RonfromJersey

Theheroguy

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Hearty translucent orange with an off yellow pie crust colored head. Exactly what a pumpkin ale should look like.

Smells of spices primarily with pumpkin bringing up the rear.

Taste wise it is just the opposite big pumpkin flavor but balanced out with the spices very enjoyable.

One quality of the beer that isn't on the scale but has to be mentioned is how nice and warm the spices make you feel. This beer is a real pick me up a real treat.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 01:49:51 | More by Theheroguy

Laurenessa

Florida

4.9/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Southern Tier’s Pumking is probably my favorite pumpkin ale!
Its appearance is sort of a burnt orange/caramel color with a thick white head when poured.
The smell and taste are reminiscent of pumpkin pie: sweet, delicate pumpkin flavor with a hint of nutmeg and other spices.
Great mouthfeel. Velvety without being too heavy. Lots of carbonation at the onset, but it smooths out.
Overall, it’s a great seasonal beer. Try to stock up whenever it’s out.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 21:19:33 | More by Laurenessa

Razr86

New York

5/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is amazing. Smells delicious, pretty much like sweet pumpkin. Taste follows the nose, absolutely delicious and smooth. For 8.6% alcohol, you cant taste it at all which makes this my new favorite beer. I HIGHLY recommend trying it to anyone.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 02:17:34 | More by Razr86

Impfan

Washington

4.8/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Hazy, but refractive amber with a thick white head that eventually recedes to form a lasting ring. Aroma of fresh pumpkin pie and pumpkin pie spice. Flavor matches the aroma, and I think (unlike many other reviewers) that the body is creamy and ideal to support the flavor, and I don’t think it’s on the thin side for an imperial. Finish is long and on the dryish side, and it leaves you craving another swallow. My favorite example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 20:43:37 | More by Impfan

GossageBrewery

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured this Pumpkin Ale from a bottle, into a pint glass. This ale poured a dark orange color, produced a thick white head and produced an above average amount of lacing on the glass. The aroma consisted of canned pumpkin, spices, namely cinnamon and nutmeg. Full bodied, this pumpkin ale had a sweet malted grain base, brown sugar, vanilla bean cinnamon and nutmeg. I am a big fan of Pumpkin Ales, and while I dont dislike this brew, i do think that the amount of spices used was out of balance. To much cinnamon, in conjunction with the brown sugar- Average.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 19:32:26 | More by GossageBrewery

TGZ32

Michigan

4.95/5  rDev +21%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is by far the best Pumpkin seasonal I've ever had, and Im glad this was picked up this year.

A: Poured into sam adams 25th anniversary pint... a light hazy orange with one finger head that bubbles then dissipates quickly. Leaves no lace.

S: Sugar and spice and everything nice haha. Pumpkin pie in a glass. The smell is breathtaking..

T: Perfect. whipped cream,nutmeg, slight pumpkin, sugar and spices. Not too pumkin-y, which is great in my opinion.. some pumpkin beers are too much of that in fact, this one has balance and is very unique. The flavor really grows on you as it warms a bit to 40-45 degrees seems perfect.

M: Spicy and creamy. Hint of the alcohol on the finish which really rounds this one out.

Overall....
Southern Tier really nailed this one on the head. Perfection in a bottle. Dont think I can ever get enough.
Wish they had this stuff on draft at bars nationwide. Its excellent!! By far one of my seasonal favorites.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 03:05:08 | More by TGZ32

jucifer1818

Florida

4.93/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I cant recommend this beer enough, and its one of the best brews I had at Brewfest Tallahassee.

It smells like pumpkins, tastes like pumpkin beer should taste

the mouth feel is excellent, and for the alchol it has, you can't feel ANY of it.
A excellent beer, I cant reccomend it any more than I already have
Try it when you get the chance

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 18:01:46 | More by jucifer1818

neophilus

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours golden amber with some tawny tones. Decent white head and lacing. Sweet scent of candied nuts dominates the aroma - maybe some nutmeg? The cracker like malt underneath evokes images of fresh baked pie crust.

Medium hop bitterness up front brings some grassy flavors that are immediately drowned in sweet spiced ale. Good balance of spices, the Allspice leads the pack with hints of ginger and nutmeg underneath.

Medium, slick body with enough carbonation to cut a heavy malt flavor after the spices die down.

Easily one of my favorite pumpkins although this one might be polarizing. The sweet scent and flavors almost overpower and the spices definitely dominate. Much different than many pumpkins that lean too heavily on ginger or cinammon, I enjoy an allspice-like taste to the beer. The combination of smell and flavor are about as close to a real pumpkin pie as I've ever tasted a beer. If you like pumpkin pie you might like drinking one too.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 23:12:47 | More by neophilus

TheDinger

South Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into a DRH snifter. Nice looking amber brew with a small off white head. Carbonation active on the pour. Smell is like a fresh pumpkin pie! Fantastic aroma that just keeps your nose coming to take a whif. Obviously notes of pumpkin, nutmeg and seasonal spices. The taste follows the nose closely, but adds a tart finish that can be a little distracting. Like most Souther Tier beers, it's pretty over the top with flavor, which can make it unsessionable. Otherwise, it's a true pumpkin beer. Feel is what you would expect. Lots of carbonation and has a dry feel. A bit thin, but decent to medium. Overall- A very interesting, true pumpkin beer. The smell is out of this world and the taste is pretty solid. I wish it were a bit less tart on the finish and more sessionable. True to the ST roots of flavor. A must try-

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 16:19:48 | More by TheDinger

Triglycerides

Rhode Island

3.65/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz poured into a pint glass:

A: This one pours a nice amber/orange color which really reminds me of fall. with a head that quickly dissipates to a thin white crown without any lacing. Pretty nice appearance here, although a bigger head would be even nicer.

S: Smells just like pumpkin pie, or perhaps some sort of mix between banana bread and pumpkin pie. Smell is pretty strong and inviting, decidedly fall-like.

T: As with the smell, flavors of nutmeg, pumpkin, cinnamon, and allspice dominate. There's also a pretty strong malty backbone lingering in the background, which i'd like to see more of. Faint bitterness on the finish although the brew is generally very mild and rather sweet. Overall, this brew tastes a lot like pumpkin pie in a glass, and there's nothing wrong with that for this style. I do wish that the spices were toned down just a bit so that the other flavours could come through.

M: Very smooth and creamy throughout the sip. However, there's still that faint note of alcohol which is present on the finish. All in all, superbly drinkable.

O: Overall, I think this is a great example of a pumpkin ale. This seasonal classic is certainly something I'll be coming back to next fall, if I fancy some pumpkin ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 01:57:48 | More by Triglycerides

brewskifan55

Mississippi

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip glass on Halloween. Thanks for the trade, Gus.

A: Light orange, perhaps an out of season pumpkin orange with shades of hazy yellow. Not much head or lacing.

S: I can smell the pumpkin pie at least five feet away. what a strong smell. So inviting, waiting for me to start the pour.

T: This one delivers. Well worth waiting for. Pumpkin pie with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and attitude. A lightly bitter finish, but that's all right. Sweet, robust and hauntingly tasty.

M: Light to medium with light carbonation.

O: Stands toe to toe with Pumpkinator. If you like pumpkin ales, this one should be on your list. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 20:49:06 | More by brewskifan55

B33R501

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

what's this? an actual southern tier beer i may purchase again? yes creme brulee smells incredible, but a one and done. along with their mediocre choklat, mokah, their terrible harvest ale and the absolute worst barrel aged beer ive had, whatever it was called, backwoods?, wait, let me look it up ... oh, backburner. wow that beer was awful. but i digress.

pretty beer, this was the last beer yesterday after a bourbon county and a fresh pint of high tide, along with capones hot wings my taste buds have been hammered. but this was delicious, drinkable and i gotta try it again on a fresh palate.

big smooth malty blast of i would swear more chocolate and nuts than pumpkin, not sweet at all like their other beers. lots of peanut butter pumpkin flavor (is that a flavor?). wow this was very good.

fantastic on tap, maybe i will try a bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2012 14:39:38 | More by B33R501

rdilauro

Connecticut

4.65/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Ok, I love Pumpkin Beers! Every since my first one about 4 years ago, I have a strong attraction to them. Each fall season , I look forward to the new ones coming in. Each year, we find new ones to bring in and we also find some of them that we do not order.

I find myself looking for the 'desert' rich types. Almost to the point, where its not a beer/beverage that I want, but its about drinking desert.

I remember from my early days reading MAD magazine. There was a section about Pizza and which was the best. I don't want to identify brand names here, so, I may just put in a phrase or so. If this is a violation of forum rules, I will understand if this is edited by the moderators.

Here it goes, think of all of the Pumpkin beers selling on one city block:

Punkin Fish is the best tasting in the City
Puggy is the best Pumpkin Beer in the Country
BPR is the best Pumpkin Beer in the Continent
Southern Tier Pumpking on the BLOCK!

Get my point here!

I was a bit surprised that the pour and color was somewhat light. Most of the other pumpkin beers I've had were much darker. The aroma was what I expected from any
of these types. Closing my eyes , I could smell and feel all the various spices that should go into a pumpkin pie. The aroma even gave me a warming feeling.

My first sip and I was totally taken back. I tasted the cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg , sugar and all, nothing artificial, everything so real I was drinking desert!

The mouthful was warm , big and round. The finish was just like having a warm pumpkin pie with whipped cream on it!

The second, third and all sips were better and better. This was a beer that when it was all gone, I felt sad and was just looking for more.

An outstanding job

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 05:17:39 | More by rdilauro

StoneTSR

Colorado

4.88/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

APPEARANCE: This doesn't exactly look like the beer that I know it is. The Pumking pours somewhere between straw-yellow and orange, but leaning orange. There is not much head and what is there evaporates quickly. No lacing.

SMELL: This is what pumpkin beer should smell like, pumpkin pie. Pumpkin, banana bread, cinnamon, clove, allspice and a hint of vanilla all pitch in to make this a wonderful smelling beer. I don't want to finish this because I want to keep my nose in it all night.

TASTE: All of the aromas come through in the flavor as well. The vanilla is a little stronger, there is some nutmeg and a touch of wood noticeable as well. The spices are strong, but the pumpkin most certainly comes through.

MOUTHFEEL: Light carbonation and medium body along with a medium sweetness make this beer very, very easy to drink. There is also no hint of the 8.6% here at all. Smooth and easy.

OVERALL: This is what other beers in the category should strive for. This is an exceptional beer, let alone an exceptional pumpkin ale. The best in class.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 05:49:01 | More by StoneTSR

SouljaSaia17

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Got this 22oz bottle a few weeks ago and saved it specifically for Halloween. Going to pour and review from my stout glass.

A: This beer pours a deep copper color with an orange tint and a thin creamy, white head that leaves some fine bubbles on top.

S: The initial smell is of nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkin pie. This beer has a very creamy aroma with some vanilla notes.

T: The taste is of pumpkin pie, more than any other pumpkin beer. Flavors include nutmeg, cinnamon, a bit of clove and pumpkin peel, the real shit!

M: Rich and creamy, has some carbonation but not enough to bring out flavors that are already there.

O: This is a special beer for the Halloween occasion. Perfect aroma and flavor with a good story behind it. If you only have one like me, it deserves to be saved for about this time. Best Pumpkin beer I have had this year!

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 00:31:52 | More by SouljaSaia17