The Great Pumpkin - Elysian Brewing Company

nlmartin

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer was chilled and served in a pint glass.

A- The body of the beer is a coppery orange coloration. A thick biege head with major retention rides the body. Sudsy lacing marks this beers passage from my glass.

S- The aroma of the beer has plenty of roasted and toasted pumpkin pie spicing, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, all spice, caradamon, honey and brown sugar.

T- The flavor of the beer has toasted pumpkinm cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, brief malty sweetness that gets swallowed up in spice.

M- The body of the beer is medium and well carbonated. Very smooth and not a hint of alcohol heat.

O- This is a pretty good pumpkin ale. The spice is a bit heavy handed but isnt a deal breaker.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 06:10:11 | More by nlmartin

flagmantho

Washington

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 22oz bomber into a pint glass.

Appearance: medium orange hue with a moderate haze, a moderate effervescence and quite a few floaties. Head is a thick finger of frothy ivory foam which leave a nice lace as it dissipates. Attractive.

Smell: sweet malt, pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon and ... do I detect cardamom? It's a good mélange of beer, gourd and spice. Classic.

Taste: sweet malt with a big pumpkin flavor and a good dose of the spices from the aroma. It's a bit massive in flavor and a bit overwhelming, but a good example of the style.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good level of carbonation and a nice, rich, smooth creaminess. I like it.

Overall: this is a good beer, but as I said it's a little bit overwhelming for me. I like my pumpkin beers a little bit more on the subtle side. Decent, but hardly a session drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 22:56:59 | More by flagmantho

DNICE555

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Scored a bottle at my NY connect. About to hit Stowe with the pops for the weekend. Burlington got about 36 inches in the last 72 so needless to say I'm pumped.

A - Dark amber brown. Small head. Almost looks like a less thick ST pumking.

S - Smells like a less rich pumking! Brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, and molasses.

T - Vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, brown sugar and a slight ABV burn that reminds me of the pumking. The pumking has a heavier base and the spices are more intense. The spices are more subtle and the base is more of a pale ale.

M - This gets so much better as it warms. A more subtle pumking.

Great beer. I love pumpkins. This bad boy is up there with the champions.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 21:55:25 | More by DNICE555

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

3.73/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

650ml bottle 8,0% Abv.
Served lightly chilled in an over sized wine glass.
2012 Vintage

Thanks to JAXSON for this bottle.

Appearance: The Great Pumpkin appears a beautiful bright golden-orange in the glass and is topped by a good sized off-white head. The head displays reasonable retention and leaves a few small patches of lacing as it recedes.

Smell: Mmmmm, this smells like it is going to be a delicious pumpkin ale. The initial nose is bursting with pumpkin (roasted pumpkin flesh and the raw stringy bits inside a pumpkin) and pumpkin pie spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, ginger and a little vanilla). As the beer warms, there is a hint of pie crust aroma noted, along with some brown sugar and a sweet fruitiness, but the pumpkin and spices still dominate the nose.

Taste: Sadly the flavour is no where near as full as the nose promised. The pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices are still present, but there is also a big grainy quality and a fruity character that make the flavour seem a little bland. I think they could have done with double the amount of pumpkin and spices. As the beer approaches room temperature, it becomes quite boozey for an 8% ale.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, with a light stickiness and a high level (way too high for my tastes) of carbonation.

Overall: The Great Pumpkin is a good pumpkin ale, but it cannot stand up to the likes of Pumpking. That said, I have heard that previous vintages of The Great Pumpkin have been better than the 2012, so I might have to revisit it again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 14:55:47 | More by Thehuntmaster

billab914

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle poured into a tasting glass. Amber in color with a thin head around the edges of the glass.

The aroma has notes of Squash, raw pumpkin and spice. It's got a sweet, almost sugary presence to it along with some slight bready pie crust like flavors.

Pumpkin and squash flavors are very apparent in the taste. Light on the spice, which I like. Tastes a little like raw pumpkin. Pale malts show through in the finish.

Mouthfeel is on lighter side of style with moderate carbonation. Overall a pretty good beer and unique in the style. I liked the low spice and that the real pumpkin and squash flavors seemed to come out more in it.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 17:28:49 | More by billab914

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Scored a discounted bottle of this at the Beermuda Triangle. Best 6 bucks I ever spent!

A - Well given it's over 4 months old I expected some sediment. Head is also minimal with just a finger of sticky white head. Beer itself is a dark amber brown.

S - Man the first whiff blew me away! Brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, and molasses hit me hard, in a good way. As it settles in the glass it smells like a sweet cookie with brown sugar goodness.

T - Not bad it doesn't live up the expectation of the smell but no beer really does. I am getting some sweet vanilla/sugar cookie thing wrapped around your typical nutmeg/cinnamon (tasty and powerfully spiced way I like it) And it hits the end with some brown sugar and a slight ABV burn that reminds me of rum. Tasty stuff.

M - As I type I am almost half way through my glass. A sure fire winter warmer though that drinks creamy with a medium to heavy body but hides the ABV very well.

Overall this is a great Imperial Pumpkin ale that trumps out even the legendary Pumking. Heck I think it's even better than "smashed pumpkin" which some craft lovers raved about. I may have to grab another before they are gone.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 00:08:06 | More by DrDemento456

jmarsh123

Indiana

3.48/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to gueuzehead for the extra!

Pours murky orange color with a small white head that fades instantly. A ring of lacing.

Smells like most pumpkin beers. I get heavier nutmeg than other spices, but also contains cinnamon and brown sugar.

Similar flavors. Some good malty caramel malts and pumpkin flavors, but the spices are ratcheted up a bit past my preference. Pronounced nutmeg and cinnamon. Alcohol shows a bit here, but the extra body outweighs the booze coming through.

Carbonation levels are a tad low and finishes somewhat astringent. Decent body, but the carb level and finish hurt mouthfeel.

All in all a pretty solid pumpkin beer and much better than some atrocities I've had.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 14:33:12 | More by jmarsh123

Murrhey

Montana

3.23/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber into a pint glass. Reviewed live.

A- One finger of quickly eroding white head that leaves a tight white ring around the top. Somewhat murky straw color. Particles floating around make the clarity relatively low. Thin ribbons of white lacing. Appealing. It would look nicer with a more pronounced head.

S- Well balanced pumpkin, brown sugar, cloves, cinnamon. Really just a scoop of pumpkin pie in a glass. Very appealing. Hides any trace of alcohol.

T- Doesn't live up to the high expectations of the smell. Alcohol is much more present here, and drops with a bitter clang, outweighing any potential sweetness or warm maltiness from the pumpkin and caramel malts. The warm pumpkin pie sort of fades into a more aggressive squash and vinegar sort of flavor. Makes me wonder if I waited too long to open this.

M- Acrid carbonation, light body and a relatively messy finish. Not terrible. Not great.

O- The smell was to die for. The taste failed me in what was going to become my favorite pumpkin beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 04:55:49 | More by Murrhey

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I remember back when Elysian made its intro into the Brooklyn market, someone told me about all of Elysian's pumpkin beers; one in particular that was pumped through a huge pumpkin? I could have sworn they told me it was The Great Pumpkin.

Either way, pumpkin beers are nasty to me. 99% of the time at least. But when I saw this, my memory was jarred, and I had to get it. It was also the last bottle on the shelf.

Really nice balance between pumpkin and spices. I find a real interesting vanilla tone to this as well. Not a barrel aged kind of vanilla, but a cleaner one. This would probably go extremely well with food.

I like this one, so you know it must be good, since I typically can't stand pumpkin beers.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 13:42:28 | More by RblWthACoz

Gobzilla

California

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: poured a bright golden orange in color with yellow highlights and a nice half finger of head that left very little lacing sticking to the glass.

S: definitely had the aroma of a pumpkin beer consisting of all spice, nutmeg, some ginger spice, cinnamon abd maybe some actual pumpkin but with a little grainy notes and malty sweetness.

T: plenty of pumpkin style spices going on like the aroma suggest such as ginger spice, cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg alongside some grain character a little malty sweetness and a touch of underlying brown sugar.

M: thebrew was medium to light in body with a fair amount of carbonation which had a sweet, spice, slightly grainy and crisp finish.

O: this was my second favorite from the elysian pumpkin series box and was a soild pumpkin beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 17:50:12 | More by Gobzilla

Phelps

Arizona

4.1/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle into a tulip.

Pumpkin-orange, foggy like a Halloween night. One inch of frothy white head sticks around for a while and leaves behind nice cobwebs of lace.

Very spicy nose, big handfuls of cinnamon and nutmeg. Beneath, sweet roasted pumpkin and a touch of marzipan.

Cinnamony in the flavor too. Pumpkin is fresher here, like it was just cut into. Alcohol flavor is big as well. Honey, apple, cracker finish.

Viscous, almost creamy body. Just a touch of tingly fizz. Some alcohol numbness.

Impressive balance in this big brew. Nice showing from the pumpkin, but there's perhaps a bit too much spice. Their pumpkin stout, Dark of the Moon, is better.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 05:48:32 | More by Phelps

Gavage

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: pours a dark orange color with a 1/2" head that falls to some big bubbles that hug the sides of the glass.

Smell: pumpkin, nutmeg, and allspice are pleasant and easy to detect.

Taste: mild malt profile here. Pumpkin, allspice, nutmeg, some softer ginger flavors, and some cinnamon are the main flavors. Bitterness is mild and alcohol is well hidden.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Lightly crisp throughout. Aftertaste is moderate and is filled with spice flavors.

Overall: a very good but thinner bodied imperial pumpkin ale. Easy to quaff. Definitely worth trying this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 19:51:48 | More by Gavage

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Glowing hazy orange. Slightly burnt. Head is bright white and leaves a wispy, loose cap. The collar is similar, still small, but slightly larger. Some spots of lacing.

Smell: Toasted pumpkin flesh. Spicing is big with the usual compliment of ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, and some vanilla. Loads of pumpkin flesh, canned pumpkin pie filling, and clove. Toasted pumpkin seeds. Squashy and vegetal. Pumpkin flesh and even more pumpkin. Sweet bready malts and some caramel sweetness.

Taste: Sweet pumpkin pie. Sweet canned pumpkin and big spice to start. Tons of clove and cinnamon. Squashy real pumpkin comes through more and more as the beer warms. Vegetal real pumpkin. Toasted pumpkin seeds and toasted malts. Sweet bready backing. Sweet pie filling. Big chewy malts. Allspice and nutmeg and cinnamon. Cooked, caramelized malts.

Mouthfeel: Body is medium pushing full. Nice moderate carbonation. A little dry.

Overall: This is the pumpkin Charlie Brown found.

A big pumpkin beer. Huge spices, but enough malt and real pumpkin to balance it. Hits every flavor a pumpkin beer could have and remains drinkable. Not as solid as Night Owl, but for an imperial take, it's damn good.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 21:05:00 | More by Goblinmunkey7

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

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

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for sharing this beer

Consumed 11/10/12

Appearance: Mostly clear, deep orange - golden orange in the light - pours with a nice, white head - keeps a decent ring, leaves some spotty lacing

Smell: Mmm... pumpkins - fleshy pumpkin, with pumpkin seeds - minimal (compared to some other pumpkin beers) pumpkin pie spices, but they are there - cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove - caramel malts as a base - nice balance

Taste: It's pumpkin-iny - wet pumpkin flesh, dry pumpkin seeds - ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove - caramel malts serve as a solid base, some graham crackers

Mouthfeel: Medium body, adequate carbonation, smooth, very drinkable

Overall: Great Pumpkin, not Awesome Pumpkin

This is a tasty pumpkin ale. It's nicely balanced, and not extreme in any way. This is both a positive and a negative. Some pumpkin ales try way too hard. While this doesn't, it also isn't particularly mind-blowing.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 21:04:33 | More by angrybabboon

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

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

huge thanks to ArchEnemyBrew for sending this beer for me to try! Thanks Hollis!

poured into tulip.

Appearance: glowing orange bodied beer with a finger of white head. Drops down to no head.

Smell: vegital pumpkin. a touch of spice and medicinal notes.

Taste: vegital and earthy pumpkin. A hint of spicy cinnamin. It also reminds me of gingerbread.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation.

Overall: Another really good pumpkin beer from Elysian.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 07:32:30 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

Duff27

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice cap and collar left. White lacing, hazy orange body.

Smells like a garden!

More pumpkin than pumpkin pie like a lot of these beers. Has a little medicinal quality that could be considered a negative. "earthy"

Medium carbonation, medium mouthfeel.

Overall, it's good. Pumpkin beers are hit and miss with me but somehow this one tows the line. Thanks for bringin this guy 4DAloveofSTOUT.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 03:19:44 | More by Duff27

DMXLOX22

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a single of this brew from my local establishment and it turns out, according to the manager, this is the last case they are going to receive for the rest of the season! So stoked to be drinking/enjoying this now.

Appearance: Pours a light, amber colored, with a slight hint of orange. Reminds you of the season: Pumpkins! The pour is thin and leaves a slight head.

Smell: Strong scent of pumpkin, backed with cinnamon, possibly brown sugar, and a nice undertone of malts. Very inviting.

Taste: At first sip, instant sweet taste of pumpkin. A nice flavor of cinnamon and nutmeg comes into play. Very delicious. Pumpkin flavor hits instantly and is very well balanced with the spices.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with medium carbonation.

Overall: Really enjoyed this beer and was so excited to grab one of the last bottles of the season from my local spot. Upon first sip, this beer kept the pumpkin flavor true and went down pretty smooth, with the alcohol hint on the aftertaste. Only bad thing is I can't enjoy this again unless I run back right now...which I may do. Totally recommended. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 02:42:36 | More by DMXLOX22

JohnnyP3

Alaska

4.3/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz brown bomber pours a light orange/gold color with a thin white cap that leaves a modest amount of lacing on the glass. Looks nicely carbonated. Aroma is spiced pumpkin pie -- nutmeg, vanilla, and some cinnamon. Taste closely mirrors the nose. Flavors are all very complimentary of each other and in good balance. Nice fresh pumpkin taste that is at just the right intensity. Augmented by the aforementioned nutmeg, vanilla, and cinnamon flavors. Think pumpkin pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The 8% abv is hardly noticeable in the taste. Mouthfeel is smooth and silky with just the right amount of carbonation to keep things from tasting too syrupy. Overall one of the much more successful pumpkin brews out there. Good festive flavor for this time of year.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 04:47:37 | More by JohnnyP3

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

4.23/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Elysian's "The Great Pumpkin" Imperial Pumpkin Ale @ 8.0% , from a 650 ml bottle ,
A-pours a slight haze of orange/gold with a small off white head that leaves some fine lace along the stein
S-great pumpkin pie smell , hint's of booze also
T-solid imperial pumpkin ale , crisp & clean , not that fake manufactured taste , the real thing
MF-lower carbonation , medium/full bodied , strong aftertaste similar to HS-Pumpkineater
Ov-a beer worthy of it's stature as good/great pumpkin ale , worth the hunt if your into pumpkin beers , not worth the $10.99 price here in BC , glad I got one finally to try

cheers LampertLand

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 02:58:41 | More by LampertLand

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I've been eager to try this one for a while and was happy to get a bottle this year...

A - A finger's worth of slightly lush egg shell colored head with a bunch of big chunky bubbles sitting a top... Minimal retention gives way to a very thin lacing with a moderate collar... The color is a slightly pale orangish amber... Still with no discernible carbonation... Some lacing clings to the glass after each sip...

S - Pure pumpkin pie aroma... Sweet pumpkin filling... Spices with nutmeg and cinnamon at the forefront... A light brown sugar component... Graham cracker crust... A bit subdued, but very nice none the less...

T - A slight booziness at the forefront... Next comes all the expected characters in perfect harmony... Pumpkin, spices, pie crust, and brown sugar in equal portions... There's something rather unique and quite unlike any other pumpkin ale - I can't quite place my finger (or palate) on it, but I like it...

M - Medium bodied, but rather dense... Slightly syrupy... Light carbonation with a good bite about it... Straight forward and effective... Goes down easily sip after sip... The 8+% ABV sneaks up on you bit with how smoothly it goes down...

D - A very nice Pumpkin Ale... Upper echelon without a doubt, but not as epic as I was hoping for - still falls slightly short of my favorites int he category... However, I will gladly indulge each and every fall and recommend you do the same...

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 01:27:42 | More by philbe311

Brandywine

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Clear light orange with a fingers worth of off white head that dissipated almost immediately.
Smell: Roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin skin, spice, cloves and nutmeg, ginger, faint wintergreen, malt,
Taste: Gingerbread cookie, pumpkin pie, clove, light and refreshing hop bitterness, cinnamon,
Mouthfeel: Medium. Not much carbonation.
Overall: Just a really refreshing pumpkin beer. The spices are not overwhelming or unbalanced, which can be the downfall of many pumpkin beers. Tastes like a desert somehow without being cloying sweet in the least.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 06:13:46 | More by Brandywine

larryi86

Delaware

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle poured into a snifter

A- A clear orange/copper color with a small white head.

S- Pumpkin, lot of spices, cinnamon, some cloves, and some alcohol.

T- Earthy spices, pumpkin, cloves, cinnamon, some caramel malts, touch of alcohol, great balance between the earthy flavors and the sweeter pumpkin flavors.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- A very tasty pumpkin beer. Flavors come together very well. Will pick this up again.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 18:20:44 | More by larryi86

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.23/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thank you Harrymel for sending me this sought-after fall treat!

Split with the wife tonight. Served in an Elysian snifter.

A: Very cloudy, moderate orange, with an very small white head that almost wasn't one in the first place.

S: This didn't read as a dessert, pumpkin pie beer at all. This was much more "vegetable-like" than any I've smelled. It actually smelled a bit salty. Awesome!

T: Gourd city! I definitely got the pumpkin seeds in the mix. Truly remarkable the way they did that. Pure pumpkin puree and just a mere silhouette of the spices.

M: Not bitter or sweet in any way. Actually, I got a hint of salt in there. The lacing was non-existent.

O: If you're truly looking for pumpkin pie, head toward the Schlafly corner. However, if you want to try a truly uniquie vegetable beer, seek this one out!

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 19:07:51 | More by Chaney

Gmann

New York

3.68/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a golden straw color with an orange hue. The head is quite short and quickly settled into a light ring. Meh.

The aroma is of cinnamon and brown sugar. Perhaps some nutmeg and ginger but the cinnamon stands out. Overall the aroma is not all that strong; expected more from an imperial pumpkin.

The flavor is much better. Good mix of the pumpkin spices; cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice. I seem to pick up some subtle vanilla as well. There is a bit of a vegetal presence from the pumpkin. The malt base is pretty light as it lets the pumpkin flavors shine.

The feel is light but sturdy. The carbonation is prickly bordering on sharp; gives it a crisp edge. The beer is mainly sweet on the palate but its kept in check for the most part. ABV is well hidden. Slightly dry in the finish.

A tasty pumpkin beer. Its sweet but not overly like the other imperial pumpkins that are out there. Good spice profile but the malt lacks some depth.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 04:35:13 | More by Gmann

Mounty4Life

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz bottle to 16oz chalice. Appears a hazy Orange with little head. It has a really awesome nose that makes me think this what a pumpkin beer is supposed to smell like. Almost as good as a fresh pumpkin pie! Is really good but missing something that seperates great pumpkin beers. Alcohol presence lingers that 1 is enough! Mouthfeel is easy going besides alcohol detection, medium carb. If was looking for imo. Pumpkin and was only option would suffice. Other out there are better but has a good example of style.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 05:00:39 | More by Mounty4Life