The Great Pumpkin - Elysian Brewing Company

jletts

Washington

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

Purchased a 22 at the brewery on Capitol Hill and served it in a pint glass at home. Appears orangish amber and a little cloudy with particulates. The beer poured with a thick ivory head and smelled of green apple and sugary pear directly after the pour, melding quickly into a strong, fresh pumpkin pie and spice cake. WOW! Smells like fall. Mouthfeel is substantial, a little syrupy, and good for the style. The taste was dominated by the spices of pumpkin pie: brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves. As it warms, the alcohol comes through. There is some hop bitterness in this beer toward the end, though mostly hidden up front by all the spice and caramelly malt. A strong beer, but it is still drinkable because it just tastes so good! Definately an excellent fall beer but one that will overwhelm your tastebuds after a few. Another great seasonal from the Elysian!

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2006 02:38:09 | More by jletts

warriorsoul

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Gotta give mad props to skyhand for getting me this one...
Pours a cloudy rust color...less than half a finger of white head with an agressive pour and most of it fades instantly.
Can't say I've had a pumpkin brew that is pushing out this much in aroma alone...I'll spare you the details (think pumpkin pie).
Taste is simply fantastic. Fresh pumpkin, nutmeg, cinammon...actually has a gentle bitterness and finishes quite dry.
Not sure of the abv and I am definitely not tasting alcohol at any point...chilled or room temperature, the flavor onslaught cannot be denied.
Mouthfeel is very thick for the style and the carbonation is excellent...it is the freshness that makes this brew very drinkable.
Definitely, my favorite pumpkin brew to date...I have never been overwhelmed by the style, but this one is the real deal.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2006 00:44:13 | More by warriorsoul

TheBungyo

Washington

4.83/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is the Elysian Brewery's Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Yes the moniker fits because this is a brew fit for royalty. I seem to remember the ABV being something like 7.7 but I'm not certain. Anyway the body is is like autumn hued crystal ... perfectly transparent yet a crisp orange color. Head is a dense carpet of creamy foam. Oddly, you can't see any of the carbonation but you can feel it once you take a sip. Nose is big on nutmeg and cinnamon and yes of course, pumpkin. Flavors are much the same but this is certainly the beer that has done the best job of blending them. Pumpkin is thankfully big on the finish. I'd honestly say that this is the best Pumpkin Ale I've had ... previously it was Elysian's other Pumpkin Ale, Night Owl. Also, despite the ABV the alcohol is completely hidden. Probably would work like a charm as a dessert beer. This should become a very sought after beer ... I'm already hoping they brew it again next year.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2006 07:01:01 | More by TheBungyo