Imperial Pumpkin Ale - Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

Infamous7100

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: a very nice looking autumnal hazy,deep, amber to orange. No lacing and a thin white head.
S: pumpkin and nutmeg hit me first. There is some cinnamon present well, but its faint. A slight graham cracker aroma as well. I like it.
T: starts sweet with notes of spices and pumpkin. The blends into a beery, cinnamon finish. I dig the fact that you still get beer flavors and its not over the top pumpkin. Graham cracker crust is barely detectable.
M: medium bodied and medium carbonation. Slightly dry on the tongue, but a great pumpkin and spice aftertaste.
O: this was labeled as an imperial pumpkin ale, but it wasn't over the top pumpkin. It was a beer first and foremost. The did well to incorporate all of the flavors associated with this style, but nothing really stood out. A solid brew, but nothing spectacular.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 21:55:06 | More by Infamous7100

stercomm

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a growler at the local Whole Foods which just opened a nice bar in the store with a number of good craft brews on tap.

A - copper orange in color, very slight head that quickly receded away

S - nutmeg, cinnamon with a slate like malty scent

T - Excellent, very well balanced, any sweetness is evened out, not overpowering at all given the alcohol level. Very nice subtle pumpkin taste along with the spices.

M - Medium bodied, mild carbonation.

O - A very tasty seasonal ale, very crisp and refreshing on a cold/rainy autumn evening

Serving type: growler

10-19-2012 21:49:55 | More by stercomm

BeerTwigs

New York

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked up a 4-pack of this beer and poured into a Duvel glass.

A - Carmel to bronze with a red hue. Hazy with a 1 finger head and off white head. Good lacing.

S - Nutmeg, cinnamon, amongst other spices.

T - Sweet and malty with all the spices hitting the palate.

M - Medium body with good carbonation. Good balance between sweantess and spice. The spices hide the fact that this a high ABV beer.

O - Good pumpkin beer, one of the better I have had this season. I would definitely recommend this beer. Its definitely not sessionable but worth the purchase.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 00:03:14 | More by BeerTwigs

kawilliams81

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -24%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Half Acre tulip.

A- pours murky brown with a 1 finger tan head. Some trails of lacing cling to the glass.

S- big cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice.

T- whoa, pumpkin pie spices! Follows nose almost identically except some bitterness.

M- medium body and carbonation. Little thin for the abv.

O- and I thought Pumking was all spices. Too much pumpkin pie spice and not enough pumpkin.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 02:30:45 | More by kawilliams81

CleJB

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

I am a pumpkin beer junkie. Every year I try and sample as many as I possibly can. This beer is outstanding. It is the best pumpkin beer I have had so far besides Great Lakes Pumpkin Ale. It goes down very smooth for a 8% beer and smells and tastes like pumpkin pie with whipped cream. You would expect a lot more spice for a beer that is 8% but this goes down easy and tastes amazing. It is a little pricey at $12 a 4 pack but worth every penny.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 01:51:08 | More by CleJB

mscudder

Georgia

4.23/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint.

A - Rich ruby hue with a light ivory head. Good lacing.

S - Brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin and some spices.

T - Follows the nose with a sweetness deriving not from the puree but from roasted pumpkin! Spices are concentrated and accentuated by the warmth of the alcohol.

M - Medium- body with fair carbonation.

O - Not really the most session-able beer I have ever had, but I did enjoy it. I liked how the sweetness was not the focal point, but rather the warm spices. Most of the top tier pumpkin brews (Pumking in particular) really overload that sweetness. This is a good change of pace.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 22:29:44 | More by mscudder

jmarsh123

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours murky brown with a small off-white head fading into just a wisp. Decent lacing.

Very bold aroma. Tons of nutmeg and cinnamon. A bit of pumpkin, but drowned out by the spice profile.

Flavor is a little more restrained although still tons of cinnamon. A bready caramel flavor in the middle and finishes a bit drier with some clove. Not bad, but a little over spiced for my pumpkin tastes.

Mouthfeel is a bit thin for something this hefty of an ABV, but alcohol isn't noticeable.

Decent pumpkin. I've certainly had worse although I wish the spices were a bit more restrained on this one and more natural pumpkin came through.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 17:20:04 | More by jmarsh123

jcw122

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +27.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I'm rating this beer all 5s because I think it is absolutely excellent. LOTS of flavor, lots of alcohol, and probably one of my favorite pumpkin beers alongside Dog Fish Head's Punkin Ale with the exception that both are different and not totally comparable.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 02:44:21 | More by jcw122

corsico

South Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from bottle in a standard pint glass.

A: Beautiful deep amber color, somewhat dark and very fall-like. Really gets me in the mood to drink this beer!

S: Cloves everywhere! My wife and I used to smoke clove cigarettes, and we both instantly got a huge craving for one when we smelled this beer. Very heavy spice, and a nice backing of pumpkin and some cinnamon.

T: More cloves! Very, very heavy on the spices. Nice smooth taste, however, with a trailing mixture of cinnamon and pumpkin. Aftertaste is very spice-heavy, though not overly so. Very drinkable and feels like drinking autumn.

M: A nice, silky and rich feel, with just the right amount of thickness and body. Not overly carbonated and not too sweet either. The clove really tickles the tongue and gives it a very festive feel.

O: A really, really enjoyable pumpkin seasonal. I would have liked to have tasted more pumpkin, but the spice is quite nice. I think it could stand to be just a little more balanced in flavor, but overall, a very drinkable beer that's great for fall festivals and bonfires.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 14:54:35 | More by corsico

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.63/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from tap into tulip at gingerman SONO. Pours a deep orangey brown with good foamy head. Crazy spice aromas, with your typical sweet malts. Flavor of pumpkin pie, typical cinnamon, nutmeg, some vanilla, etc...just overly spiced for a drink but good for pie...with such an influx of pumpkin brews, there are others id go for before i have this again...

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2012 15:10:32 | More by DrinkSlurm

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Served on tap in a 10 oz chalice glass

Appearance – Served an orange-copper colored beer with a one finger off white head. The head had a low level of retention, eventually fading to give a lighter level of lacing.

Smell - The aroma is pumpkin pie spice heavy with a good showing of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Mixed with these spice smells are a wonderful some brown sugar sweetness and a roasted pumpkin aroma. Like a very heavily spiced pumpkin pie.

Taste – The taste begins with a strong spice and roasted pumpkin flavors. It is very much of a pumpkin puree with spices tastes. The spices are heaviest of nutmeg and cinnamon up front. Soon the flavor then transitions with some sweet brown sugar and a heavier spice taste of nutmeg hitting he taste buds. More toward the end of the taste a light alcohol taste comes into play giving a very light burn on the tongue, but yet complementing the pumpkin spic spices quite nicely.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer was on the average side in terms of creaminess and thickness as well as carbonation. For a pumpkin beer a bit more creaminess would have been desirable for the roasted pumpkin and spicy flavors, giving it a thicker mouthfeel (more pie like I suppose).

Overall – A nice pumpkin beer with a not too overpowering sweetness and nice flavors and a wonderful aroma.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2012 00:38:47 | More by Darkmagus82

DMXLOX22

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a 4-pack of this that a manager at my local beer stop saved for me since this little puppy was in high demand. I'm very grateful to be able to check this one out. Already pretty stoked.

Appearance: Pours a deep amber, but is considered to be pretty transparent to me. Leaves a nice inch of white head that pretty much sets a very positive tone of Autumn and a welcoming feeling.

Smell: Has a strong presence of pumpkin and the spices that go along with them. Also I sense a hint of vanilla in the aroma. Very appealing to me.

Taste: Upon first sip, I feel the heavy presence of pumpkin and cinnamon. The other sips brings a welcoming palate of nutmeg and more heavy spices that really bring this to become a delicious brew.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with medium carbonation.

Overall: Very delicious pumpkin style beer. Thoroughly enjoyed this beer and will definitely recommend this beer to a friend and will have again. I really enjoyed the overall presence of the spices and balance of flavors and it also presented a nice mash of pumpkin.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 02:00:22 | More by DMXLOX22

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Ba Review #228
Served On: 09/29/2012
Glassware: Duvel Glass
Labeled ABV: 8.0%
Date/ Code: 11/08/12

This was a case picked up at Brewskies of New Oxford, PA. Around $62.00 after PA 6% tax.

Look: The brew poured a very nice orangeish-copper color. Carbonation bubbles were plentiful. The head was a nice thick beige layer of foam - about 1 finger.

Smell: Nice aroma of nutmeg and cinnamon. Some slight notes of biscuit.

Taste: The palate basically defined pumpkin pie in a glass. I’ve honestly never had the pleasure of Southern Tier ‘Pumking’ but from what I’ve heard, this one is a close second. The palate is a perfect balance of pumpkin pie spices and bready piecrust qualities.

This is honestly the best pumpkin ale I’ve had to date; even better then the Dogfish Head Punkin by far.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 04:55:49 | More by CraftBeerTastic

NODAK

Tennessee

4.4/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The aroma here is as spicy as you'll find. VERY heavy nutmeg and cinnamon. There is NO doubt to me what this beer is going to taste like from that smell. Really very, very nice. Loving it so far. There's also a whiff of alcohol I'm getting and sweetness.

Pours an orangish color in my glass but the head was pretty lacking on this one. Not really too special in this department.

The taste isn't a surprise, as the nutmeg and cinnamon really come out well. There's certainly a definite pumpkin taste to this one. However, it does it without being overly sweet, which I think some pumpkin beers end up overdoing. Don't get me wrong, it is mildly sweet after all, but far from syrupy or boozy. It just all works very well and fans of pumpkin beers should enjoy this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 00:37:56 | More by NODAK

JustinAniello

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark reddish-orange with a one finger head. Dissipates quickly to a light but sticky lacing, almost no cap.

S - Lots of spice with just the right amount of pumpkin. Cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg take up the foreground, with the lightly sweet pumpkin taking up the back. No sour smell in this one. The malt that gets through almost gives it a crust scent as well.

T - Taste is much like it smells, lightly spice at first with a bit of sour pumpkin. Turns to the sweeter pumpkin with a heavy allspice flavor. Continues into the aftertaste, but not too heavily, also has a mild alcohol burn as well.

M - Medium body and carbonation. Good for the style.

O - A very good pumpkin beer, especially if you are more inclined toward the spicier ones as I am. Very good mix of flavors without drowning out the pumpkin, very pie like in smell and flavor. Definitely one of my top three pumpkin beers that I have tried to date.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 01:32:27 | More by JustinAniello

AleWatcher

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

So I don't really enjoy pumpkin beers, but I couldn't resist picking up a 1/4 growler of this beer to try it...
Served in a nonic.

Kinda reddish orange body with some auburn hues and a small off-white (perhaps tan?) head that quickly settled into a few strands of stringy mist and a firm ring of foamy bubbles around the inside of the glass.

Smells... Well, like a pumpkin beer. Lots of pumpkin flesh and spices. Some light bready malt underneath. The spices are prominent-- which can mak or break a pumpkin beer: done well, the spices make it a superb attempt, but done poorly, the spices make the beer an undrinkable mess-- this beer falls between the peaks, but closer to the "done well" side. Cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg, and a deep musty ground leafy note that reminds me of cloves lead the way. some sweet potato/yam notes on the finish.

Body is pretty hefty. A bit undercarbonated for me. A light syrupy feel. A light warming booziness is a clear and present danger on the finish.

Overall-- this isn't a style I usually buy, but every fall I tend to try 1 or 2 new ones... I think this one is a bit too hearty, a bit too boozy, and a bit too heavy-handed on a few of the spices. This is worth a try, but I won't be buying anymore.

Serving type: growler

09-25-2012 01:11:24 | More by AleWatcher

julian89

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into pint glass

Appearance: A rich ruby hue with a light ivory head and good lacing.

Smell: Brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin and some other vivid fall spices. A light alcohol smell.

Taste: Follows the nose with sweetness. The spices are enhanced by the warmth from the alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with fair carbonation.

Drinkability: A fantastic imperial pumpkin beer. The flavor of pumpkin is not over exaggerated like in other pumpkin beers.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 16:41:35 | More by julian89

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pint glass for the pour. Love the new label.

Looks kind of syrupy upon pouring. Very hazy orange-brown. Nice dark color for a pumpkin ale. The head is fading fast, and there wasn't much formed to begin with.

Rich spice aromas of nutmeg and cinnamon. Wafts of fresh pumpkin meat and hints of clove and allspice. Slightly caramelly and decently boozy. Smells that invoke the idea of brown sugar.

Rugged and malty with dusty spices chiming in the profile. Pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Strong clove note in the middle-end. Hops don't necessarily come at a premium. Provided is an earthy note with some umami qualities. The bitterness in the finish isn't half-hearted, either. Tasty and almost balanced. Not overpowering in any way (spice, grains, pumpkin). Even keel and hearty.

Feels full and a little slurpy. Great bite from an active carbonation that sets this off.

Weyerbacher makes one of my favorite pumpkin ales. I try this one yearly and always want to come back for more.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 03:44:31 | More by thecheapies

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz.

Pours a cloudy orange brown, red tint when held to light, with an eggshell head that dissipates slowly to a film.

Smells of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, brown sugar, sweet pumpkin, and gingerbread.

Tastes of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, pumpkin, buttered bread, and slight bitter pumpkin rind.

Medium to full body with prickly carbonation in the bath of the mouth.

I've had a couple pumpkin ales better than this, but I've had more that aren't nearly as good. It contains its strength well and I would definitely have this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 23:32:25 | More by Cylinsier

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass at fridge-cellar temperature.

L – Deep amber color with a 1-finger bubbly cream-colored head that dissipates rapidly. A ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass stays at the surface throughout, but there’s no lacing. Clear with a good amount of carbonation.

S – Bready and caramel malt, pumpkin, cinnamon, and a little bit of nutmeg and cloves. There’s some alcohol apparent here as well.

T – Starts off sweet with the bready and caramel malt and the pumpkin. Spice starts to pick up soon after with more of the spices listed on the bottle becoming evident – cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. There’s a nice grainy and spicy graham cracker taste that shines through at the finish, as well.

F – Medium-bodied with great carbonation, a sticky and creamy mouthfeel, and a spicy and dry finish. Pumpkin pie spice, particularly cinnamon, lingers for a nice amount of time and pairs well with the very, very subtle throat-warming sensation from the alcohol – much less of a sensation than expected with an 8% ABV beer.

O – This is a really nice pumpkin beer. It’s full of all the usual pumpkin and spice aromas and flavors plus a nice amount of malt. It’s also extraordinarily drinkable for 8% ABV – there was barely any throat-warming. There’s nothing earth-shattering here; it’s just a solid fall beer. Nicely done, Weyerbacher.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 03:22:42 | More by BlackBelt5112203

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into my crystal mug the beer has a clear amber red color and builds a oe finger high bubbly white head which dissipates fast, leaving some lacing.
The smell is the expected coriander, nutmeg, pumpkin, cinnamon and cloves.
Tasting the beer, the pumpkin flavors are up front, supported by the mix of the above spices. The malty backbone is noticeable throughout the testing. The finish is a smooth tingle on the tongue.
Very nice pumpkin ale, true to the taste.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 02:41:01 | More by Hopfenpeter

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle fittingly poured into a Weyerbacher cuvée. Bottled on 6/13/12; best before 2/13/13.

A - Pours a dark ruby brown with a half finger cream colored head. Transparency is clouded by the dark body. Residual lacing is tiered with above average fullness.

S - Smells of the usual suspects: pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. Additionally, roasted malt gives this aroma a hearty backbone that cuts down on the sweetness. Smells more like fresh baked pumpkin bread than the artificial smelling dime-a-dozen pumpkin beers out there.

T - The first thing I notice is that the spices are not overdone. Good fleshy pumpkin flavor initially, transitions to bready and roasty malts. Finish is pretty clean with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon left on the tongue. I get some banana on the aftertaste, akin to a Belgian Dubbel.

M - A little bit thin for a big pumpkin beer, but that somewhat suits the malty but not sweet flavors. Carbonation is pretty good, although I would probably like either a bit more body or a bit more bubbly.

O - This is one of my favorite pumpkin beers. It is ridiculous how many pumpkin beers pop up on the shelves this time of year and I think this is one of the few that is worthwhile. The pumpkin flavor works well without tasting artificial and the spices are mellow. I would like a bit more body, but overall not too much wrong with this one. I recommend it in lieu of many others in the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 01:10:12 | More by NoLeafClover44

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark red-amber with no haze and a dense, foamy tan head. Unfortunately the head does fall flat quickly once drinking ensues and doesn't provide much lacing past the first minute. The nose is well spiced with semi-bold nutmeg/clove and there is a bite from the alcohol. It's not a particularly sweet smelling beer, but some notes of caramelized sugars do present themselves. The taste is malty, spicy and damn well balanced. This is a very drinkable, well-attenuated, adequately spiced beer and it would probably pair well with just about every seasonal meal I could think of. Definitely a beer I'll keep in mind during the fall season and I will likely visit it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 04:11:31 | More by ThePorterSorter

RodneyFarva

Spain

3.6/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a chalice. i am saddened that my bottle looks like it was made with Paint from Windows 2000 rather than the pictured bottle, which looks like Windows 95.

a: pours a medium copper with a one half inch white head that reduces to a film

s: certainly cinnamon and nutmeg, the spiciness of cloves and allspice, vanilla, brown sugar, and I think I would even venture to say actual pumpkin meat aroma. quite sweet and inviting.

t: spices, but a bit flat. cinnamon and nutmeg, but none of the richer spices that were apparent in the nose, and none of that true pumpkin flavor either. a bit less sweet than I expected, more bitterness, although alcohol is quite well hidden. a bit of a let down.

o: perhaps the most aromatic of the pumpkin beers I have tried, but it does fall down on the flavor. good enough mouthfeel and carbonation, but the depth of flavor simply isn't there, and we are after all ultimately, drinking, not smelling, beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 00:12:10 | More by RodneyFarva

smakawhat

Maryland

3.4/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Dude what are you doing drinking PUMPKIN beer?!? oh well she fell into my lap so off we go as usual. Poured into a nonic pint glass.

A very faint off tan head, makes about three fingers and falls and settles at a normal speed. Slightly sudsy, with a real nice dark amber orange and brown color, quite clear too. It does look like autumn.

Smells suggested, are big and huge and just like the bottle says. Huge dark brown spices of nutmeg, cinnamon and clove, controlled sweetness and nothing sticky or sugary smelling. Burnt embers and toasty character. Smells like Christmas practically very impressive.

Taste hits, and the flavors really seem like a let down. Palate hits with some slight wet character and depth, but the richness of the nose just doesn't come out on the taste. Mild sort of palate, and a somewhat chalky feel too.

Even for a pumpkin brew I am not feeling this doesn't really do it, and is actually quite disappointing for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 23:01:25 | More by smakawhat