Pumpkin Ale - Onion Pub & Brewery / Wild Onion Brewing Co.

davey101

Connecticut

2.88/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

12 oz can into a pint glass. Pours a hazy burnt orange color with a thin cap of dirty white foam. Smell is of pumpkin flesh and the typical spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and all spice. Taste is of a bland brown ale with a touch of caramel malt and light nutmeg. Incredibly bland and watery. I understand this beer is not fresh, but its in a can and shouldn't be this faded. Under carbed. This is just so underwhelming and boring.

Serving type: can

05-15-2013 00:14:44 | More by davey101

emyers

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Review from notes. 12 oz. can poured into a New Glarus snifter.

Appearance: Slightly cloudy orange with a one-finger white head which dissipates quickly into a thin lacing.

Smell: Pumpkin. The spices are very restrained, but there, with cinnamon, clove, and allspice coming through. It really captures a nice, clean pumpkin aroma. There's also a bready character, suggestive of a graham cracker crust on a pumpkin pie.

Taste: Finally, a pumpkin beer that tastes like pumpkin without attempting to pour pumpkin pie spice down your throat. Very strong pumpkin flavor in this one. It's not quite as strong as, say, Pumking, but the flavors there are great, balanced, and once again, not in your face with the spices.

Mouthfeel: The weakest area for this beer. Comes off a little too thin. Appropriate carbonation.

Overall: It's far too easy to overlook this beer - Wild Onion, in my humble opinion, typically makes pretty average beer at best, and the can looks like a grade school art project. Don't make that mistake. I think this is one of the better pumkin beers out there (and probably the best for the price range).

Serving type: can

01-09-2013 04:18:34 | More by emyers

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

3.23/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I poured this from the can into a perfect pint glass. it has a murky copper colored body with no head or lace to it. The smell is of all spice,nutmeg and cinnamon. The taste has that nice spice bite up front of the normal spices and then has a hint of pumpkin closer to the finish. The mouth feel is kinda watery, but is a easy drinker. I would say it is a average pumpkin beer but it could be a good session pumpkin beer.

Serving type: can

12-14-2012 19:28:54 | More by chefhatt

Ryan011235

Ohio

2.4/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into an E&J Cask & Cream glass on 11/1/12

Dull amber hue; lazy like honey. A fury of bubbles results in a one finger head that recedes almost immediately. Some drippy lace.

Huh. This thing actually smells like pumpkin pie - lightly buttered crust an all. There is a slight soapy notion on the peripheries. The taste isn't quite as on-point as the aroma. There are certainly pumpkin pie type flavors, but it tastes dull and a bit dirty. The finish is papery and lacking. The feel is a bit thin, at least it seems that way to me. Carbonation is appropriately low.

Overall, this is drinkable but ultimately it's merely a so-so sort of pumpkin ale.

Serving type: can

11-02-2012 02:22:20 | More by Ryan011235

chanokokoro

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. can poured into a cervoise glass

Pours a cloudy light amber with orange hues capped with a white, pillowy three finger head. Abundant, splotchy lacing along the side of the glass. Nutmeg, pumpkin and spice, and light toffee and caramel on the nose. Opens with nutmeg and cinnamon, joined by pumpkin, lightly sweet caramel malt and finishes smooth with more spice and lightly sweet toffee notes. Lighter side of medium bodied, moderate level of gentle carbonation. Smooth, slightly creamy mouthfeel. Very pleasant. One of the better pumpkin beers I've had recently and definitely one of the better offerings I've had from this brewery.

Serving type: can

11-01-2012 01:38:37 | More by chanokokoro

msubulldog25

Oregon

3.1/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Wow, a pumpkin ale in a can - what'll they think of next? Many thanks to woodychandler for this 12 oz'er. A bright orange label depicting an angry pumpkin (although it has a mug full of beer wrapped in its stem - what's to be angry about?) and a spider web backdrop. Poured at cellar (chilly) temperature to a pint glass.

A: Murky, unfiltered caramel-copper tinged with amber. Scant head, a fizzy fraction-of-a-finger - departs in seconds. A freckle or two of lacing, average (or a bit below) in appearance. Next...

S: Decent aroma of spices - allspice and clove. Sweet. Restrained strength.

T: Pretty good 'pumpkin' spicing... the necessary nutmeg and cinnamon thing. Enough caramel to balance that zingy spicing. Not terribly complex but still rather tasty.

M: Underwhelming mouthfeel, quite weak/watery. Some carbonated crispness and a dry and earthy spice, but not enough to salvage this one. No canning or 'best by' date on this one, but it was received only two weeks ago from a trader so I assume it is 'fresh'.

O: Liked the flavor, decent aroma... but soooo very bland look and feel-wise. Average, middle-of-the-road pumpkin ale (a fairly good amber with spicing), but this one doesn't do much for me. Love the style, barely like this version of it.

Serving type: can

10-28-2012 23:11:57 | More by msubulldog25

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

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

Poured into a pint glass.

Appearance
Murky brownish orange with a half finger of head that fades quickly.

Nose
Allspice, ginger and a touch of pumpkin meat.

Taste
Gingerbread cookies, nutmeg and allspice. Some brown sugar and toasted pie crust. Touches of pumpkin meat and caramel. A hint of earthy bitterness in the finish.

Mouthfeel
Medium bodied, crisp and clean.

Overall
This is a very underrated Pumpkin Ale. Balanced, smooth and easy drinking. Subtle pie crust and pumpkin.

Serving type: can

10-13-2012 01:21:03 | More by justintcoons

MaximalC

Illinois

2.8/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a murky amber color with a thin off-white head. The aroma smells mildly of wheat and pumpkin, but quite unassumingly so. Pumpkin and some vague spiciness manifest on the front end before rapidly subsiding, yielding to a thin and watery finish. Some hop bitterness emerges on the back end as well. There's not a great deal of complexity here, and the body is a bit thin for my liking. I've rarely come across a pumpkin ale I really enjoy, and this is no exception. Ultimately, this pumpkin ale is drinkable, but forgetable.

Serving type: can

10-04-2012 02:02:25 | More by MaximalC

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.38/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes.

Slightly coppery amber with good clarity and a flash head with minimal lacing. Lighter side of medium body and carbonation levels.

Slightly metallic-tinged pumpkin and sweet caramel aroma. The sip confirms it : This is a pumpkin ale that only gently leans on the cinnamon and nutmeg spicing a tiny bit to support a medium-light strength pumpkin flavor that blends well with the caramel / breadiness of the malt within. This is an ideal one for those who would prefer a pumpkin beer without having excessive pie spicing forced upon their palate.

Serving type: can

10-03-2012 03:37:18 | More by WastingFreetime

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

First had: can from Pinocchio's, Media, PA

Poured into a Captain Lawrence snifter, a hazy brownish burnt orange color with a finger or so of fluffy white head that receded to a ringlet, leaving just a bit of spotty lacing behind. Aroma of caramel malts, pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice is apparent but not overwhelming. Bready malt taste, light pumpkin flesh, cinnamon and nutmeg in conservative proportions, touch of brown sugar. Nice, like a spiced ale rather than a full-blown pumpkin pie bomb...though unfortunately I do like pumpkin ales to be pumpkin pie bombs. But for a mellower selection, this was still good. Medium mouthfeel, smooth; easy drinkability makes up for some of the lack of full flavor.

Serving type: can

09-17-2012 02:12:37 | More by Rifugium

Treebs

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. can served in a Tighthead chalice.

A: Pours a solid amber color with a thin white head forming on the pour. It recedes to a thin film and ring.

S: Big spice upfront. Cinnamon and allspice. Pie crust in the background.

T: Cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie crust. The finish is is slightly watery and sweet. Very mild green hops are in the background as well.

M: Medium to thin bodied with a medium carbonation level.

O: This was solid all around. Nothing really stood out at all, but all the pumpkin ale flavors were there.

Serving type: can

09-16-2012 18:39:37 | More by Treebs

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

thanks to duff27 for giving me this brew to try! Thanks duff!

can poured into snifter glass.

Reviewed from notes on 9/12/12.

Appearance: dark orange almost copperish bodied beer with almost 2 fingers of white head.

Smell: I get the pumpkin and a little bit of spice. I would say mostly nutmeg and allspice. Maybe some cinnamon too. Very nice!

Taste: Its tasting fairly close to pumpkin pie, but not over the top. I nice pumpkin note that is not artificial tasting and a nice compliment of spices. Cinnamon and nutmeg for sure. Maybe a hint of buttery pie crust or graham cracker like malts.

Mouthfeel: low end of moderate bodied beer with moderate carbonation. This beer is such an easy drinker. Really delicate carbonation and crisp finish.

Overall: I think this is my favorite pumpkin beer that I have tried this year! I was not a fan of pumking, this was much better! Pumpking was way over the top and this beer was just right! I would totally drink a 6er of this beer on a fall hayride; it the perfect beer for that! Its like a fall comfort food, but its beer!

Serving type: can

09-15-2012 12:17:22 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

57md

Pennsylvania

2.78/5  rDev -17%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a cloudy copper with over a finger of head. Most of the head dissipated quickly, but there was a good amount of lacing left on the glass. The nose was oddly perfume-like. The taste was fairly bland with a subtle artificial quality that was not terribly pleasant. The drinking experience got a bit better on the finish which was a touch dry.

Sadly, the cool can design is the only interesting thing about this offering.

Serving type: can

09-13-2012 02:42:42 | More by 57md

NuclearDolphin

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Pint Glass.

Until I get my hands on Painted Pumpkin Ladies, my quest for a truly unbelievably good Pumpkin Ale continues

Appearance - Dark Orange and Hazy. Pours a filmy half finger head that disappears quickly. With the exception of a few bubbles clinging to the side, theres no carbonation to speak of

Smell - Rich Pumpkin Pie, Cinnamon, Spices, and Malts. The aroma is rich and sweet, just the way it should be. This looks very promising...

Taste - Pumpkin Pie, Cinnamon, and Malts. Flavor starts out sweet and rich and leaves a surprisingly dry aftertaste, which is kind of disappointing because this is very tasty pumpkin ale

Mouthfeel - It's light and has almost no carbonation, so it feels a bit creamy but not quite refreshing. Still, it is pretty easy to drink

Overall - It tasted rich, but the dry aftertaste at the end was something I could've done without. Aside from that, it's a great tasting Pumpkin Ale, but my heart still lies with Painted Pumpkin Ladies

Serving type: can

09-13-2012 02:12:23 | More by NuclearDolphin

mdaschaf

Washington

2.45/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Review from notes.

A: Pours a hazy orange color with a small off-white head on top, moderate retention and minimal lacing. Kind of looked like an orange soda.

S: Pumpkin spice, cinnamon, a decent pumpkin aroma, seems a little fake.

T: Very faint pumpkin pie spices. It sort of tasted like spiced apple juice actually. A very watered down beer.

M: Light to medium bodied with medium to high carbonation.

O: On the bottom end of the pumpkin beer spectrum for me. Very watered down and thin with very little pumpkin flavor.

Serving type: can

09-11-2012 19:26:42 | More by mdaschaf

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Snagged up a single of this for 2.50 at the House of 1,000 beers.

A - Pours a clear bright yellow with a mild orange tint. Head is minimal that fizzes to a lace ring rather quickly.

S - Smells like a pumpkin lager to me with lager yeasts, bread, pumpkin, and mild spices.

T - Not bad the first thing that jumps at me is the lager yeast which gives it a metallic like vegital taste. Spices seem balanced enough focusing mostly on ginger and allspice and the finish is rather crisp.

M - Light to medium yet not as malty as other takes on the style.

Overall this reminds me of Michigan brewing pumpkin ale which I hear has been take from rotation so this is a pretty equal substitute. Unfortunately this is far from a great pumpkin ale and with "Devious" and "Night Owl" readily available I have no reason to buy this again.

Serving type: can

09-07-2012 02:48:01 | More by DrDemento456

mdfb79

New York

3.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Received as an extra from someone last week. Pumpkin ale in May? Why not. Poured from a 12 oz. can into my DFH tulip.

a - Pours a hazy dark orange-brown color with one finger of fluffy off white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of pumpkins, cinnamon, bready malts, spices, gingerbread, fruity malts, and nutmeg. Really nice nose, I liked it a lot.

t - Tastes of spices, cinnamon, bready malts, lightly metalic notes, pumpkin, fruit, nutmeg. Heavy on the spice and some light metal in the taste, a big step down from the nose, though not too bad.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Pretty smooth body.

o - Overall a decent pumpkin ale. I actually really liked the nose a lot as there was a ton of cinnamon and pumpkin, though the taste was pretty average. Worth checking out but there are others I prefer.

Serving type: can

05-05-2012 22:52:00 | More by mdfb79

vfgccp

New York

2.03/5  rDev -39.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A – Bright, medium honey color. Low retention and no lace on a white head.

S – Sweet malt, light molasses, but with mildew and green-pepper off-flavors.

T – Light malt, touch of herbal bitterness, and allspice. Unfortunately the mildew note from the nose comes through in the taste. Pour balance and a touch sour.

M – Thin, light, and semi-watery.

O – Poor quality and almost no pumpkin flavor.

Serving type: can

12-24-2011 00:30:28 | More by vfgccp

ahq514

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12 oz can into NB Globe glass.

Pours a hazy golden orange with almost no head. What little head there is dissipates to a light film. Seems to have light-medium carbonation.

Smells like almost all other average pumpkin beers. Cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg dominate the nose. Some lightly sweet malt and almost no hops.

Tastes like most other pumpkin beers as well, but a little more watered down. Clove seems to be the dominant spice taste. Lightly toasted malt on the end. Almost no hop flavors coming through.

A little bit more carbonated than I thought but nothing more than medium carbonation. Lighter medium body. Easy to drink.

A very average pumpkin offering. Only thing that would make me choose this beer over other pumpkin beers is the fact that it is one of the only local pumpkin beers. Nothing really wrong with the beer, just nothing really special about it.

Serving type: can

11-10-2011 05:10:27 | More by ahq514

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz can into a pint glass.

Pours a mostly clear copper (with some unappetizing looking floaties that hang amongst the body) with a bit of an overly foamy slightly off-white. This does settle down fairly quickly, maintaining a thin frothiness that dots the sides of the glass with patchy lace. The aroma smells of light pumpkin and some slightly stronger spices, while some green hop character adds a touch of airiness to the nose. Sweetness sits along the back and seems to mostly work the spice. This is decent but seems to lack some punch.

The taste is green hops up front, with a bit of raw veggie bitterness that spreads out. There is some pumpkin flavor here but it’s mostly on the sweeter side and mixes with the doughy sugars of the malts across the back. The pumpkin spices here are light but seem to add just enough flavors to this. This is does achieve a bit more balance as this warms, with that raw feel drying down a bit. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and crisp on the tongue, with a bit more of a firm creaminess on the edges. This feels decent enough.

This was OK. I mean the overall profiles were a little bland but this drank pretty decently for what it was. Probably the most offensive part of this was the suspended solids but this eventually cleared out as they sank to the bottom. Maybe pick this one up if the novelty of a pumpkin beer in a can strikes your fancy but otherwise, there are better ones out there this fall.

Serving type: can

11-01-2011 14:24:53 | More by Kegatron

Bighuge

Minnesota

3.28/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Light orange body. Slightly hazed. Thin cap of off white head. Lacing is decent. Sweet malty aroma with a little cinnamon sprinkled throughout. Malty flavor with quite a bit of cinnamon. I like cinnamon, but it's pretty heavy handed in this beer. Not much true pumpkin flavor to note, but not too many pumpkin ales really do have it. Pretty easy drinking. Not bad, but it doesn't stand out for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 02:04:05 | More by Bighuge

tchaos

Florida

2.73/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I'll start by saying that I like the can...even if it starts to bleed over into the generic "pumpkin soda" cans you see popping up at big-box stores this time of year. Got this from leeds376 in n00b BIF #6 -- thanks, Wade!

Poured this into a generic tulip.

A -- amber/orange in color; 2-finger off-white head that dissipates fairly quickly and dramatically.

S -- overwhelmingly pie-spiced, which may be good for some, but hints at lack of actual pumpkin

T - Thankfully, the spices don't come across as heavy as on the nose. The problem is, neither does pumpkin, or even bready malts. It tastes almost watered down.

M -- Thin with medium/medium-high carbonation. Not all pumpkin ales have to have that starchy, thick mouthfeel, but if you hang a lot on the "pie" factor, I expect mouthfeel that is consistent.

O -- The can told me what i needed to know; it's a generic pumpkin ale. Not off-putting, but not something I'd seek out amongst the superior options available.

Serving type: can

10-30-2011 13:01:24 | More by tchaos

oline73

Maryland

2.78/5  rDev -17%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a can into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy orangish amber with a small layer of off white head. The head fades to a ring.

Smell: This beer has a very mild smell with some cinnamon and a hint of malt sweetness.

Taste: Very unremarkable. Just a hint of pumpkin and pie spice. This is a really boring tasting pumpkin beer.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with tingly carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: Super boring for a pumpkin ale. Not enough flavor. I won't search this one out again.

Serving type: can

10-25-2011 00:36:34 | More by oline73

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

At an Oktoberfest party and someone brought an Onion Pumpkin Beer. The beer poured hazy orange with off-white head that did not lace. The smell included subtle notes of nutmeg/pumpkin. The taste was not surprising much like the smell...nutmeg/cinnamon flavors. The mouthfeel was ok....a little to sweet for me. Overall it wasnt a bad beer for pumpkin flavor. Certainly worth a shot. ale has grown on me the few times I have had it.

Serving type: can

10-23-2011 20:31:55 | More by WoodBrew

tempest

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Open up a can from Abe's Cold Beer. Overall the body is on the thin side and there's an acidic finish. The pumpkin spicing is on par with the style, though the malts are a bit too light. There's also an odd, no pleasant earthy note, but I guess it might just be thrown off by the mountfeel. There are better pumpkin ales out there.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 05:01:17 | More by tempest