Kennebunkport Pumpkin Ale - Federal Jack's Restaurant & Brew Pub

jwinship83

Illinois

3/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A- very lager like. golden colored body with very active visible carbonation and a 1cm quickly falling white colored head that leaves no lacing behind.

S- pumpkin bread, yeast, cinnamon, and some grainy malts.

T- similar to a pumpkin pie. couldnt taste any of the yeast that i thought i could smell

M- light bodied with a high level of carbonation. probably too much.

D- this just isnt for me. if you love pumpkin pie, and hate beer, this one is just about right for you. the bottle was pretty hard for me to finish, and im glad this one was left at my place rather than something i bought.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2008 20:54:54 | More by jwinship83

Tone

Missouri

3.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear golden color with little head that dissipates quickly. No lacing. A spicy pumpkin aroma, along with the cleanliness of a lager. Clearly a pumpkin ale, but it is a weaker version than I am used to and enjoy. Average carbonation with a strong pumpkin flavor. The flavor is definitely not overpowering and instead is rather weak. Overall a smooth beer but weaker than I would normally expect for a good pumpkin.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2008 02:17:06 | More by Tone

Zodijackyl

Connecticut

3.05/5  rDev +7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours light orange with a thin head that doesn't stick at all. Smells like pumpkin pie, fruity and spiced. Spices are prominent in the taste - cloves are notable - and pumpkin is matched to this. As with most KBC beers, there is a sweet flavor that tastes a bit odd, though it is very faint in this one. Regular beer flavors, malt and hops, are barely noticeable. Mouthfeel features moderate carbonation which enhanced the spice flavors, but also has an unpleasant sticky feeling as it warms up. Fairly light all around, decent drinkability, though not something to drink slowly as it has some less pleasant notes that become more apparent closer to room temperature.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2010 22:51:08 | More by Zodijackyl

hunteraw

China

3.08/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

First pumpkin beer of the season this year!

Appearance: Thin head, golden amber in color (rather less orange than I would have expected). Poor retention and no lacing.

Smell: Pumpkin pie spices, especially ginger. Some spicy hops and caramel malt.

Taste: Pumpkin-y, but slightly acid and artificial-tasting. Mineral water finish.

Mouthfeel: Spritzy carbonation, light/med body

Drinkability: Decent pumpkin beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2008 02:45:08 | More by hunteraw

SDtastentune

California

3.08/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Dark yellow with no head or lace.

S - Spices cloves and slight pumpkin.

T - Spices cloves and kinda pumpkin/light beer taste.

M - fizzzy, slightly over fizzy.

D - Drinks ok, too much spice aftertaste but might go well with pumpkin pie or thanksgiving. Weird aftertaste that leaves a spice/clove thing in the back of my throat. Good holiday ale. Kinda could not finish it due to its weirdness, had to pass it on.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2010 02:22:52 | More by SDtastentune

DaveHS

California

3.08/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A-Pours clear dark golden color with a thin, fizzy off white head. No lacing.

S-Kind of weird. Smells like the water after you boil root vegetables, nutmeg, the inside of a dentist's office. Something artificial in here.

T/M-An average kolsch (or some kind of lighter german ale) with a burst of cinnamon and nutmeg mid-palate. There's a hint of earthiness, suggesting there may be some actual pumpkin in this. However, it's not enough to make the beer interesting. Light bodied and crisp, with a cinnamon/nutmeg finish.

O-An average, inoffensive pumpkin ale. I'll take it over Buffalo Bill's.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 00:11:44 | More by DaveHS

BeerSox

Virginia

3.13/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into nonic.

Clear pale amber hue with a mild orange tint. A very thin and fizzy head quickly settles to a flat rim along the glass.

Grainy malts along with some light spices from pumpkin, and a little bit of raw pumpkin aroma.

Again, grains sit in the background, while the light spices and a little bit of pumpkin pie flavor take the rest of the show. Light bodied with good carbonation. The pumpkin flavor lingers for a while.

An okay pumpkin ale. While this one doesn't have any bad flavors, it's pretty thin, and focuses on the spices more than the pumpkin flavor. Enjoyable, but not the best.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2008 20:31:59 | More by BeerSox

nsmartell

Wisconsin

3.18/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I enjoyed this beer from the comfort of my own living room. From the 12oz bottle to a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a golden yellowish/orange color with a thin white head that disappears quickly. Not a very inviting look.

Smell: Pumpkin spice, nutmeg and cinnamon. A huge improvement over the appearance.

Taste: Spicy pumpkin nutmeg. Not much aftertaste. This is surprising, considering the amount of spice that hits up front.

Mouthfeel: Highly carbonated and thin-bodied.

Drinkability: Not nearly as bad as the previous reviews led me to believe. At the same time, this isn't my favorite pumpkin ale and could definitely improve in the look and taste department. Wouldn't seek out again, but wouldn't kick it out of bed either.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2008 02:28:11 | More by nsmartell

daliandragon

North Carolina

3.2/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I should have known better than to get my hopes up when I saw this sitting on the shelves at Trader Joe's in Cary. Most of their contract brewed stuff is ordinary at best. This pumpkin pours dark golden and all semblence of head dies within seconds. Smell is uninspiring; minute pumpkin and spice and some artificial smelling adjuncts.

Overwhelming carbonation at first, followed by sweet but genuine pumpkin flavor. Not much for body and the aftertaste is dull and flat but I have had worse pumpkins, although not many. Certainly not worth seeking out although I get a feeling you'd only find it at TJ's anyway.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2007 02:31:43 | More by daliandragon

BoitSansSoif

France

3.25/5  rDev +14%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

A-Pours an orange-ish yellow w/thin white head. Slightly hazy.
S-Cinnamon, nutmeg, gourd, slight walnut.
T-Reminds me of a wheat beer accompanying my old neighbor's pumpkin-nut loaf, and also of a cinnamon-yam dish my wife made a couple Thanksgivings ago. Taste is a bit lighter than what I was expecting, and slightly sweet w/hints of tangelo. I originally marked this pretty low but it gets better after a couple sips, and the balance isn't too bad. Aftertaste gets a little sloppy and confused.
M-Too light for the flavors. It mixes heavy flavors w/very light texture, and although the carbonation gives it a little backbone, it falls short.
D-Actually quite refreshing, plus I got it on markdown.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2008 06:01:47 | More by BoitSansSoif

spointon

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I poured this one from a 12oz brown bottle into a tulip pint glass.

A= This ale poured a clear, pale orange color with a 1/2" fizzy white head. The head dropped fast and left zero lacing behind.

S= This beer smelled like the usual arrangement of pumpkin pie spices, but with an extra dose of something...possibly nutmeg. Not much beer scent got past the spices.

T= Similar to the aroma, with the beer definitely taking a backseat to the spices. The spices weren't cloying, but they were a bit overdone in what was ultimately a tame base beer. All present and accounted for were nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove. No detectable pumpkin but that was fine by me. Finished a bit dry.

MF= Lighter side of medium bodied with a super fizzy carbonation level.

D= Not a terrible pumpkin ale and at $5.99 a six pack at Trader Joe's its a good value. There are a lot better examples of the style, but its still worthy at that price.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2009 06:17:42 | More by spointon

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes. Thanks to Angela for bringing this to last year's Halloween party.

Poured into a tulip. Color is a slightly-murky orange-brown color with a moderate light tan head. The nose is pretty sweet with a good deal of pumpkin-pie spicing. The taste is straight-up Apple Jacks; brings me back to childhood when my brother would eat those incessantly. Spice and cinnamon with sweet pumpkin and hints of apple. Body is a bit cloying, and this affects the drinkability, but a pretty interesting beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2010 11:48:37 | More by Thorpe429

droomyster

Virginia

3.4/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a fizzy [pumpkin] orange with a small white head. Big aromas of cinnamon and molasses, with pumpkin pie coming through loud and clear. For me the nose is the high point. The taste is pleasantly spicy up front but the finish leaves something to be desired. It seems like the brewers took the "pumpkin challenge" very literally and the result is a beer that smells terrific and tastes alright but lacks any sort of malt/hop balance.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2009 17:37:47 | More by droomyster

Jayli

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Consumed 9/26/09
This beer pours a light clear pale amber color with a two finger of sudsy white head that disappears quickly. Not much lacing to speak of. Nose is all about the spices - clove, nutmeg, cinnamon. Taste falls in line with the nose - all about the spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of clove mix in with pumpkin flavoring. Nicer balance to the taste than in the nose and has a touch of bite at the end. Lighter body, high carbonation, goes down easily and where I like pumpkin beer could sit with this for a while.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2009 20:19:45 | More by Jayli

Khazadum

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

What an impulse buy this was at TJs.

A- Nice finger of head formation, miniature distinguishable bubbles of wedding lace white, medium to low retention, creamy at first glance but instantly cracked like an amateur emulsion. Low lacing, but when its there its there to stick. Respectable in that area.

S- BLAM! Smack! Fantastic cinnamon. You'd not expect a decent aroma from this beer, but it actually presents well. Very distinguished pumpkin squash aroma, pumpkin pie moreso than anything else. Not the earthen gourd aroma you get from most, but nice to have an aroma all of its own. This is definitely going to be the high point from this beer. Everlasting cinnamon, like entire sticks of big red unwrapped a seat away from you soaked in pumpkin pie extract.

T- And... we start the slow decent into regret. Opens up pumpkin, earthy, grainy, squash flavors. Not much in terms of sweetness but definitely has its namesake identifiable in the first few seconds. Immediately following and overwhelming it is a rough and gritty cinnamon. Not the iconic flavors of cinnamon, but a muddied and dull spice flavor that tried to be baked into bread but never made it out. Your left thinking that this bready, adjunct-like malt fest started so great and quickly finished out blah. Oh, speaking of the finish, we have the pumpkin coming forth again, a cardboard layer around it, but mostly its a loaf of dollar store bread.

M- Crisp, very crisp right off the bat. Not burning out completely and lingering around even into most of the finish. The carbonation seems to cling to your mouth possibly ruining the flavors of the spices that could be there. Mild body, at times off-creamed but mostly thin. Long lasting and sticky for malt characteristics.

For what you paid for this, not bad at all. Bit over five bucks to have six of these beers that are drinkable but not amazing? I can dig it. It really had some great high points making me think I got more than my money's worth, but the lows... the lows definitely make you wish you hadn't I think I'll have good memories rather than bad, though.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 23:09:17 | More by Khazadum

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Decent head in the beginning, but this dies out completely to absolutely no bubbles and no head. Very pale color (light gold) and crystal clear.

Strong nutmeg aroma, slightly sweet.

Sweet flavor, think fermented pumpkin pie. Strong aftertaste. Thick mouthfeel and low carbonation. Slightly sour.

A traditional pumpkin ale with lots of pie spice--without flaws and frankly without excitement.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2007 00:19:17 | More by smcolw

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - a watery orange-colored pour, meager show of head that barely covers the top. Not enough to create any lace.

Aroma - spicy cinnamon. Faint pumpkin. Almost a hot cinnamon, not bad.

Taste - pure cinnamon. Indistinct grain, just enough to call it a beer. A steady theme...swallow - cinnamon; aftertaste - cinnamon. Hey I like cinnamon but I could use some other flavor in there, like maybe *pumpkin*.

Mouthfeel - slightly thin; peppy carbonation. To its credit, it helps to control the sweetness factor.

Drinkability - tasty for a one-dimensional beer. Worth a few if you're into the spice.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2008 05:15:52 | More by brewdlyhooked13

augustgarage

California

3.53/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.

Clear, metallic gold body with a light snow white smattering of foam up top. Decent retention and pasty delicate lacing.

Gentle citrus and pie spice in the nose - delicate and inviting.

Cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg converge on the palate supported by a soft, clean maltiness. Some tartness and a low vegetal note emerge, blooming into the crisp biting finish. Low but present bitterness and a faint sweetness throughout. Well balanced.

Zesty, lively, light bodied, well carbonated mouthfeel.

Not a bad pumpkin ale - a touch over-filtered for me, so you end up with more spice than pumpkin, but this is one of the better seasonals really. An easy drinking leaf-raking (as oppossed to lawn-mowing) beer I suppose...

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 04:50:20 | More by augustgarage

chinchill

South Carolina

3.53/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle from TJs.

A: pours a yellow-golden-amber color with a light haze and a fragile off-white head. Medium size carbonation bubbles rise continually.

S: A nice malty, pumpkin pie aroma with plenty of actual pumpkin squash aroma.

T: The flavor doesn't follow through as well as one might hope. There are notes of pumpkin squash along with some appropriate spices, but the illusion of a malty pumpkin pie is not present. Good mix and quantity of spicing; this is not one of the all-too-common over-spiced pumpkin ales. A little on the sweet side, but at a good level for the flavor profile. Relatively good finish and aftertaste.

M- Crisp; medium-high carbonation. Medium body.

O: an above average pumpkin at a below average price.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 00:15:04 | More by chinchill

Halcyondays

California

3.58/5  rDev +25.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours gold with a fizzy white head, fair retention no lace.

S: Dominated by fall spices, a lot of cinnamon.

T: Lightly sweet pumpkin taste, but really a spice oriented brew. Allspice and cinnamon, pumpkin soda like in a way, but nowhere near as sweet.

M: Extremely light-bodied, fizzy, feels like a light lager, soda like carbonation.

O: Aside from the mouthfeel, this isn't bad. I tend to like my pumpkin beers a little more substantial, but this is a nice little beer. At $5.99/6er, how can you complain.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011 01:54:22 | More by Halcyondays

shroompod

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev +26.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours with a thin head , no lacing. Clear copper color.

Nutmeg, pumpkin in the nose.

Hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie.No hops , somewhat sweet caramel finish.

Mouthfeel is medium, decent carbonation.

Drinkability is fairly decent for this style.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2007 00:10:11 | More by shroompod

TappaKeggaBrew

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev +26.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: I was able to get a little over a finger of cream-colored head with an aggressive pour, and it had decent retention. The color was between amber and straw, with just a hint of haze.

S: Very subtle, not strong pumpkin or spice. If the label didn't say otherwise, I'd swear I was smelling a wheat beer rather than an ale.

T: OK, now I sense the pumpkin (1st) and spice (2nd), with a bready malt and hops making an appearance as it finishes going down. It's not at all bad, but it isn't very intense. It actually gets better with subsequent swigs, as the pumpkin and spice flavors work their way deeper into the taste-buds.

M: Not much carbonation, and just enough dryness to make you want to keep drinking.

O: Not a very intense pumpkin ale, but a pleasant, lighter, fruity ale for a mid-afternoon quaff to quench your thirst.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 20:03:02 | More by TappaKeggaBrew

madtowndmb1

Wisconsin

3.63/5  rDev +27.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

What a different beer. I've had Pumpkin ales before, but this one's a little different. It pours a very yellow/straw color. It reminded me of a pop at first the way the head appears not to leave a lace and quickly dissapears. The smell really turned me off right off the bat, just smelled wrong. BUt then I took a taste and Oh my, it was pretty good! The spices really come through, way more than the smell would indicate. Mouthfeel and drinkability are so,so. I like the taste, but with every taste you do have to bring it past your nose. It has a very similar smell to New Glarus' Belgian Red.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2008 23:59:10 | More by madtowndmb1

edchicma

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev +28.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a medium yellow gold with a quickly dissipating head. Smell is mainly spices with a vague malt note. Taste likewise is mainly spice with a slightly redeeming light creamy malt undertone. Mouthfeel is creamy yet with a slightly tart pleasant finish. Because of the above qualities the drinkability is good.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2008 22:33:01 | More by edchicma

dtmets84

New York

3.7/5  rDev +29.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into my pumking snifter huge thanks to graniteskunk..I have a feeling that line will get old fast.

Bought by the lady a TJs for a cold dollar bill.

On to the review:
A-Pours a dark orange with white head that leaves a pseudo lacing.

S-Watered down nutmeg and cinnamon

T- Same watered down nutmeg and cinnamon

O-very middle of the road

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 03:34:25 | More by dtmets84