Schlafly Pumpkin Ale - Saint Louis Brewery / Schlafly Tap Room

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.81/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Draft at the Pour House in Westmont, NJ.

Pours a hazy and very dark golden orange color that's almost brown with dark burnt orange edges and a one finger beige head that quickly settles into a thin ring.  Steaks of lace left behind.

Sweet pumpkin pie aroma with a decent balance of pumpkin purée and autumnal spices.  Pumpkin seed, pie filling, nutmeg and vanilla along with cinnamon and brown sugar.  Subtle vegetal quality but more dessert like than earthy.

Medium body with a strong zesty autumnal spice presence that dominates up frot lingering over the sweet malts before a sweet pumpkin pie/dessert presence shows up in the finish. Peppery with ginger, clove and cinnamon followed by caramel malt, pumpkin purée, vanilla and nutmeg.  Interesting how the flavor profile changes mid palate.  Still tons of spice but more dessert like in the finish.  Only a subtle vegetal presnce but it makes it a bit more organic tasting than a pure dessert beer.  Nice balance of both approaches to the style.  Decently balanced but could be a touch sweeter.  

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2013 03:11:54 | More by corby112

cousineddy

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap into a 11.5 ounce snifter at the schlafly tap room.

Appeareance: Pours a dark amber with 2 fingers of offwhite head, good lacing

Smell: Cinnamon nutmeg and spices. Sweet smelling without being overpoweringly so.

Taste: Wow, mom's pumpking pie in a glass, sweet but not too sweet. Best pumpkin ale ive had.

Mouthfeel: Nice and thick yet very drinkable

Overall: A must try!!!

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2012 18:48:32 | More by cousineddy

stckhndlr

Virginia

4.48/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- darker orange amber than other pumpkins. Soft foamy head. Slightly hazy.

S- good pumpkin notes with a big hit of cinnamon and sugar. I almost had to do a double take to make sure it wasn't apple cinnamon. Great smell.

T- yes yes yes. This is the flavor that sets the standard. Big pumpkin flavor. Cinnamon and sugar and a finish that has a candy sweetness to it.

M- malty and smooth. Too easy to drink.

O- this is my leader of the pack so far. Awesome beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2012 19:34:07 | More by stckhndlr

wingzing85

Iowa

4.55/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

WOW! What a great pumpkin ale! The overall appearance is a toasted orange color with about an 1/2" head. Smelled of pumpkin spice and nutmeg with maybe a hint of all spice. The flavor was perfect. Not artificial tasting like some other pumpkin beers I have had. It was delicately balanced for a robust and very enjoyable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2012 17:24:51 | More by wingzing85

pvo

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A great pumpkin ale. Knowing that it is a pumpkin ale, one could assume that it is sweet, spiced, appropriate with hearty food, and has a great dark amber color. These are all true.

What separates the Schlafly pumpkin ale is its balance. The spices are there but not overwhelming; the alcohol is high but doesn't make the beer too sweet. Essentially, I would be excited to drink this on many an occasion, and that cannot be said for many pumpkin ales.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2012 23:30:20 | More by pvo

beer2day

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Surprise find at Embassy Suites in Cool Springs.

Deep, dark red with paper white two finger head. Decent retention but no lace.

Nutmeg and cinnamon nose. Caramel malt underneath.

Caramel and nutmeg flavor. Lots of alcohol.

Thin body for style and flavor.

Nice imperial pumpkin.

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2011 00:35:40 | More by beer2day

lokiikol

Maryland

4.93/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Draft.

Color: clear, deep amber in color.

Head: thick, off-white, dissipates fairly quickly with light lacing.

Aroma: heavy spice, with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, perhaps a slight clove undertone, minimal fruit or pumpkin notes. Smells inviting and rich.

Mouthfeel: fairly creamy, with a slight carbonation.

Taste: light malt flavor up front, giving way to a medium spice aftertaste reminiscent of the aroma, and it lingers and entices for another drink. Pumpkin pie is not quite the right way to describe the balance, but it gets you in the ballpark.

Overall: I have had this beer style many times before, and I have not had another pumpkin ale that even approaches this one in terms of quality, balance, and taste. Despite being an imperial ale, it does not have the alcohol taste that usually accompanies such a distinction, and although the spices are pronounced, they are not overpowering nor the only character of this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2011 21:12:55 | More by lokiikol

challenja

Virginia

5/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: A deep amber orange, one hell of a good looking beer! Slight carbonation, nice small white head.

Smell: Wow. This is really sweet and spicy. Aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pumpkin puree and a huge smell of candied caramels and butter toffee.

T: This is what a Pumpkin Beer must taste like. Who ever brews beers must find the recipe and then mass produce this sucker and make millions! This is a slightly tamer but spicer offering than S.T PumKing. This one has more carbonation and has more cloves and Cinnamon running through out. Nutmeg is on par with Weyerbacher and S.T.

M: Medium bodied with a nice fullness that most Pumpkin beers lack, that is why this one is #2 all time in Pumpkin beers. One hell of a smooth creamy pumpkin spiced beer for sure.

O: This is my second favorite pumpkin beer of all time and my second favorite seasonal beer as well. I only wish I could buy at least 12 of them before they sell out in mere minutes at local craft beer stores. People call up to find this one much like KBS and CBS by Founders, and Hop Slam by Bell's. I guess I have to start emailing and bugging the hell out of them too, or maybe I will call my boy Jonathan at Hop n Wine because he is one of the major distributors here on the East Coast. The beer god's do smile on me from time to time. Seriously if you find it, buy it! All of It!!!! and then sell it on EBAY..

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2011 23:39:16 | More by challenja

CrystalShipMS3

Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Lure's Bar and Grill

Look: Lacks head retention. Very light golden brown in color. This beer is much more about flavor than appearance.

Smell: Great pumpkin and spice. Not particularly aromatic but it still smells great. But the awesome flavor makes up for it.

Taste: It's a perfect blend of pumpkin pie and beer flavors. Not so pumpkin-y that you forget you're drinking beer, but the big spiced pumpkin pie flavors are excellent. Some alcohol flavor comes in but is maksked by delicious malts.

Mouthfeel: Crisp. Like a fall day. It's an ideal fall beer.

Overall: It's my go to pumpkin beer. This is a must have.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2011 23:13:24 | More by CrystalShipMS3

Gehrig

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on tap at The Independent in Seminole Heights, Tampa.

Pillowy white head of two fingers atop a cloudy, orange-amber body. Excellent lacing and head duration in the tulip glass; impressive beginning. Very spicy nose, with plenty of nutmeg, cinnamon, pumpkin, and caramel. Just smells like Fall.

The taste verifies the smell and then some. It is sweet and smooth without being cloying, and the finish has just the right turn of bittersweet to counter any hint of cloying. The spice permeates SPA, but allows enough pumpkin, brown sugar, and caramel to blend in to make this like pumpkin pie in a tulip glass--BUT without the extract taste that some of the more pedestrian pumpkin beers provide.

So smooth that the strength of the 8.0% ABV remains hidden, SPA rivals ST Pumpking as the best Pumpkin Ales I have had the privilege to taste. Simply excellent, and is one of the very best that Schlafly, an excellent heartland brewery, has to offer.

Outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2011 17:50:22 | More by Gehrig

Spider889

Ohio

4.55/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Beer Trappe in Lexington on 9/10.

This beer is quite possibly my new favorite pumpkin beer. It's very different from ST Pumking which is my other favorite. The real battle royale to consider though, should be this beer vs Elysian's Great Pumpkin. Someday...

A - A nice copper and burnt umber color with a slightly yellowed head served at roughly a finger or so high in a tulip.

S - Awesome, ohh yes. I immediately am thinking of fresh warm pumpkin bread. Sweet and sticky - with tons of ginger and spice. Doughy, mildly grainy nose, full of true pumpkin gourd aroma as well as cinnamon and loads of nutmeg and molasses.

T - Full-on pumpkin pie here. Right on. Some beers TRY to showcase such a flavor, and mostly hit near the mark with the appropriate spices, just in off quantity or usage. Schlafly hits the nail on the head here. Vanilla began to filter through the flavor explosion of pumpkin and spice eventually, too.

M - Smooth, rich, and velvety.

O - Like a slice of pumpkin pie. My favorite kind of pie. Damn you Schlafly for not distributing in Ohio.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2011 07:24:28 | More by Spider889

CraftBeerDrinker

Missouri

4.9/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

enjoying these beers one by one in bottle and then on-tap, starting with the local brewers. since this one is my favorite, i'm going to be doing two reviews to start out my beeradvocate reviews.

poured awesome off the tap with good head on the beer and has a dark body. tons of spice in the smell but then its seems lighter than pumpkin pie. the pumpkin pie is huge in the taste and is nice and strong. sweet but pumpkin pie all the way through! about to buy another 6 pack to save in my fridge for the family.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2011 03:55:32 | More by CraftBeerDrinker

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

4.38/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is definitely one of the best pumpkin beers I've had. Not too sweet or spicy, it just hits the spot and drinks easy.

Had on tap at galaxy hut Arlington, VA.

Pours a clearer dark orange with a little small thin head and just a little lacing. Smell is a nice, sweetbread or pumpkin bread way. Sweet notes but savory and spicy with nutmeg and ginger notes, like pumpkin pie.

Taste also just like a heartier not super sweet pumpkin pie. Gingerbread, orange peel, cinnamon snap, some hop esters, and a soapy pub feel over the palate. A very nice balanced brew. Too many pumpkin beers are too sweet or super clove-y, this is not. Nice and a winner.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2011 22:32:24 | More by Dreadnaught33

paperbackfoster

Missouri

3.03/5  rDev -28.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Head came up to three fingers before the bartender topped it off. Light, playful body carbonation. A deep orange amber.. pumpkin pie colored, I guess.

S - Pumpkin, obviously, with a surprisingly yeasty smell. The pie spice comes through, and the malt has a toffee sort of character.

T - Pumpkin rind is prevalent over light, toasty malts. My problem with this beer is still the spicing. Allspice, clove, and nutmeg seem overpowering - very much like a pumpkin pie when you dump way too much into the mix. I agree, this 2011 brew is better than it has been - my 2010 experience with it was horrible. But still, I wish the pumpkin stood out more than the spice. To this beer’s credit, I can tell that the malt and pumpkin are well balanced - it’s the overtones that get me.

M - Dry, almost gritty on the tongue. It does a lot to thicken the beer, but it also has that spoonful-o’-cinnamon kind of feel to it.

Overall - Still not my favorite pumpkin beer, but it is decent. I feel that I have to grade it as a specialty/novelty brew, and as such, it does do fairly well. But, to repeat myself, the spice is the issue here. This could be a great pumpkin brew, with a hefty portion of pumpkin rind and that toasted pumpkin seed quality balanced with the malt. The pumpkin pie angle just gives it too much winter spice for me to thoroughly enjoy, for what it is.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2011 18:23:08 | More by paperbackfoster

Sean9689

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had many times, bottles, draft, etc.

A - Pours a copper/rusty brown color, cream head, spotty lacing.

S - Pumpkin pie. Spices, creamy sweetness, burnt sugars, candy.

T - Pumpkin pie. Cinnamon, spices, well-hidden alcohol.

M - Medium, good carbonation, rich and smooth.

O - My favorite Pumpkin Ale...not just because I'm a StL homer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2011 15:36:34 | More by Sean9689

GossageBrewery

Missouri

3.6/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at the brewery in a goblet. This Pumpkin Ale poured a burt orange color, almost brown....one of the darker pumpkin ales that I have had. There was a very thin head...almost none...it was a light tan...retention was poor and almost zero lacing. The aroma was nice a strong smell of spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves are present. The taste of this ale is full bodied, has a base of caramel malt, pumpkin, sweet honey, squash and spicy cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. This is a big beer, a sipper. Decent session beer, but its not something that I could drink a six pack of in a sitting. Not my favorite Pumpkin Ale- I prefer something a bit lighter- but It was not bad. Overall slightly above average

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2011 01:34:51 | More by GossageBrewery

thekanna

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on-tap at Kramerbooks and Afterwords Cafe in Dupont Circle, DC.

A: Gorgeous radiant pumpkin orange with almost no head, just a hazy sheen that hangs in patches above the body.

S: Strong pumpkin spice; I definitely detect cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Sweet malts and pumpkin bread.

T: Sweet pumpkin-flavored malts, strong pumpkin spice again, followed by cinnamon, a bit of vanilla extract, slight herbal hop bitterness, and some buttery diacetyls. Ahhh.... THIS is what a pumpkin beer should taste like.

M: A bit thin and under-carbonated.

D: Wonderful pumpkin brew, and definitely one that i'd be willing to use as a (slightly lower-quality) replacement for Southern Tier's Pumking, since that seems to sell out all too quickly where I live.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2010 03:34:22 | More by thekanna

tedsox31

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a deep, clear orange, almost brown color into my snifter. An off-white head of foam exists that dissipates down to a very thin head.

The smell is very spicy-the usual suspects: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and a very sweet something, possibly caramel.

The taste is sweet up-front, and the spices follow after. A slight bitterness, interestingly enough, lingers in my mouth after swallowing. Also a touch of fruitiness.

Mouthfeel is soft and creamy. Some carbonation.

A very drinkable beer. Does not taste like 8%, and each sip invites me to have another. Very impressive, and it's too bad I cannot get it when I'm in Chicago.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2010 21:58:41 | More by tedsox31

blackie

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a: shaker pint, deep amber in color, dark maple syrup appearance with some orange hues, low head and retention

s: loads of brown sugars, caramel malts, pie spice - cinnamon and clove, sweet, rich pumpkin pie - smells great

m: heavy, slick body with a low level of carbonation

t: heavy caramel malts, brown sugar, trio of pie spice - nutmeg at the front with clove and cinnamon after, creamy squash, sweet and thick with pumpkin pie flavor

d: one of the top pumpkins out there, certainly a sipper, but by nature - more suitable for dessert application than a regular drinker

pint at the Galaxy Hut, Arlington, VA

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2010 02:28:30 | More by blackie

BigJim5021

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Having tried Schlafly's Pumpkin Ale in the bottle a couple years ago, I was interested to see how it would fare on draft. As it turns out, the difference was night and day. Perhaps it had a little to do with the beer only being six days old.

Right off the bat, the beer looks a bit better when it's coming out of a tap. A bigger head with better lacing makes for a more attractive beer.

Not only does it look better, but it smells way better too. It smells just like pumpkin pie. I know people say that about pumpkin ales all the time, but if you ask me they're usually full of utter shit. Most pumpkin ales smell like pumpkin pie spices. There's a huge difference between a finished pie and the spices alone. This smells like a delicious, freshly baked pumpkin pie. Every one of the spices is in perfect balance with the pumpkin aroma, of which all other P-ales I've had have lacked.

Flavor is a big jump in the right direction as well. While it doesn't quite taste as much like a pie as it smells, it's got a lot more flavor than it did out of the bottle. And the biggest difference between draft and bottled is that there is positively no alcohol present with the draft. Tasty stuff.

Mouthfeel is much more lush and full than what I had in the bottle.

Drinkability is definitely higher, but I could see this beer still being a one-and-done for me.

If you have a chance to try this puppy on draft, do so. I'm gonna get ahold of a bottle and see if maybe they just hit all the right notes this year. If it's close to what I had on draft last week, then I'll grab a sixer. This is the first time I've ever been able to say that I liked a pumpkin ale. Hopefully it won't be the last.

Edit: Got ahold of a six-pack, and while the aroma isn't quite as great out of the bottle, this stuff is still really tasty. I picked up a second sixer just in case we can't get anymore around here.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2010 19:13:15 | More by BigJim5021

pzrhsau

District of Columbia

4.4/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Churchkey in DC. Another great find by this restaurant.
A: Nice Ruby Brown Amber color with a creamy head at the top.
S: Notes of pumpkin, nutmeg and cinnamon. Spicy and malty.
T: Great sweet pumpkin flavor right away, has that great mix of flavors that reminds you of a great pie. It finishes with a really deep, but not overpowering, array of spices from cinnamon to the nutmeg (which was most apparent).
D/M: The carbonation is great and it creates a nice thick head that really coats the palate. Very thick autumn brew but very drinkable for how strong it is.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2010 22:18:05 | More by pzrhsau

Wheelinb

Missouri

3.63/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

WHOA! This beer certainly caught me by surprise. I was expecting a fruity but earthy subtle tasting beer. What you get is a big flavored spicy beer that is a bit like mom's pumpkin pie (but not as sweet). I could smell the spices right away and the taste was was very spicy with lots of cinnamon, nutmeg and more going on. Interesting to try for sure but not a beer I could drink several of. I will have it again though.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2009 23:23:23 | More by Wheelinb

pmcadamis

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Tried this at the taproom in STL.

A - Dark ruby with some suggestions of orange. Very deep and alluring hue with a two finger head of white lace that leaves an astonishing amount of lace on the glass.

S - This smells EXACTLY like this: Pumpkin pie with a graham cracker crust and whipped cream on top sprinkled with a light powdering of cinnamon. Nice! All of those components are vivid and real to my nose. It's actually amazing how much this smells like a real pumpkin pie....maybe even slightly chilled with ice cream on top.

T - The flavor echoes the nose. Authentic pumpkin pie in all of it's autumnal glory. Pumpkin pie filling is there more than homemade pumpkin pie, but i actually prefer the store bought stuff (no offense to any of the women in my life, but Cub Foods sells a mean pumpkin pie). I'm just really impressed with this one.

M - Medium bodied with a slightly oily feel that contributes to the pie like feel. The finish is sweet, although I can feel some dry hops trying to get through. Thankfully, the hops are downplayed in favor of malty sweetness.

D - Outstanding. This is an amazing beer, and I'm glad that I was able to try it at the source! Fall is my favorite season, and this is just about the perfect beer for that special time of year. I'll be picking some up next fall fo' sho.'

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2008 05:58:50 | More by pmcadamis

atrus138

Kentucky

4.18/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Finally, a decent pumpkin ale! Appears the color of pumpkin (on the inside, not the out) with a tiny head that disappeared fairly quickly. Smelled a lot like a pumpkin pie - cinnamon, pumpkin, brown sugar, nutmeg. Taste delivered what was promised and then some. Very flavorful. Mostly cinnamon up front followed by tastes of actual pumpkin (a first for me as far as "pumpkin" ales go). Very tasty. Pretty thin mouthfeel, which seems to be a trend in this genre. All in all, I was very pleased with this. I'd become jaded as far as finding a solid pumpkin ales go, but then this gives me hope.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2007 19:28:59 | More by atrus138

karst

Missouri

3.73/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured by one of my St. Louis Brews buddies at 8th annual Hop in the City fest. I was given a generous portion. Very nice appearance. The second sample of the fest that followed a Randalized APA rolled out by brewmaster Stephen Hale. Following the five pound blast of cascades that the APA filtered through - the pumpkin spice flavors seen quite tame but the underlying malt flavors, carbonation and finish were satisfying. After a little rinse to clear the palate the flavor of pumkin came through better. I found the spicing a little over done. For me the test of this style is how well it holds up over the entire bottle. I had the O'Fallon last week and found it a beats Schlafly this year but both are well above average.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2006 01:13:06 | More by karst