Night Owl Pumpkin Ale - Elysian Brewing Company

KYFriedChildren

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bought this bottle of liquid deliciousness at my favorite bottleshop, Pinnochio's Beer Garden in luxurious Media, Pennsylvania.

Appearance- Pours into my pint glass a vibrant dark orange color with a summer soft and creamy off-white head. It is absolutely delicious looking.

Smell- You get pretty much all of the spices that you would expect in a spiced pumpkin ale. The nutmeg is there. The cinnamon is there and the cloves are also there. While those are expected to have those tingle the nostrils there is a cream-like smell that adds to the pumpkin pie-ness of the scent. Divine.

Taste- Everything a pumpkin ale should be. Creamy, spicy perfection. The spices aren't overpowering and ... I don't even know how to say it, it's perfect.

Mouthfeel- The mouthfeel is just as creamy and smooth as the taste and smell would lead you to believe. It's thicker than something like Post Road Pumpkin but not too thick. Like I said, creamy.

Drinkability- I personally could drink many. Because of the spice factor it could turn some off but I found it to be the perfect balance. Very smooth and drinkable.

I know that there is some hate on the pumpkin beer, but anyone who is into pumpkin beer (like I myself am) will find this as the quintessential pumpkin beer (take that Pumking!). Those who don't think they're fans should reconsider with this wonderful iteration on the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2010 06:39:39 | More by KYFriedChildren

TheBungyo

Washington

4.8/5  rDev +24%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I was surprised to come across this so early. Surprised and very happy. Body is gorgeous orange and head is thick and creamy. Nose is awash in cinnamon, nutmeg and oh yes, lots of pumpkin. Taste is more of the same with additions of buttery notes, and vanilla. Man, this is THE beer when it comes to pumpkin ales ... I've never had one that did it better. I need to buy lots of this!

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2006 01:37:07 | More by TheBungyo

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.78/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance - hazy, orange/amber, a finger of yellowish white foam with good stick and good resilience.

Aroma - rich, spicy, pumpkiny aroma, just like I like it.

Taste - huge mouthful of pumpkin and spice. Roasty and delicious, wow! A bit of crustiness in there, clove and allspice on the swallow and into the aftetaste. I'm in heaven. Nutmeg and background ginger make this one hard to leave alone, it's disappearing fast.

Mouthfeel - sturdy body, good weight to it. Low carbonation and easy going down.

Drinkability - the best new pumpkin beer of the season so far, better than Pumking which had an off year IMO. At any rate, one of the best I've *ever* had. Huge thanks to Matt for recommending this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2009 04:54:03 | More by brewdlyhooked13

Bookseeb

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Appearance is a hazy orange amber with a thick head that stays put leaving a nice lace. Smell of sweet malt and pumpkin spice. Taste is well rounded with pumpkin and spice leaving a nice light spicy aftertaste. Mouthfeel is a little light for me in this beer with low carbonation, smooth and creamy making for an easy drink. This has to be one of the best pumpkin ales I've tried and one I'll keep ordering.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2008 01:51:04 | More by Bookseeb

bcostner1

Tennessee

4.7/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: pumpkin orange, nice head; great autumnal hues.

S: Awesome...fall spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice) and pumpkin.

T: Top notch pumpkin ale. Follows the nose with very pleasant doses of nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, minimal clove (good thing...don't like a lot of clove in my pumpkin ales), pie crust, and pumpkin flesh finish.

M: Easy drinker for sure...has enough body to be satisfying but is definitely not overdone. At 5.9%, no booze present at all. Highly sessionable pumpkin ale in my opinion.

Really enjoyed this one. I put it up there with Schlafly, CCB, and Uinta Oak Jacked as my favorites for the style. Would definitely have again.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 00:03:21 | More by bcostner1

SeattleBeerBlog

Washington

4.68/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- Pours a nice Brown with orange tones, head dissipates a bit to quickly but does leave nice lacing.

S- Smells of pumpkin spice, bread, brown sugar, perfect.

T- Not as heavy as the nose on the beer, which at first was a bit of a disappointment but as I drank more it actually made it very very nice. Bread (pie crust!), Pumpkin, Cinnamon, Burnt Carmel, Roses.
Man this is a great beer.

M- nice carbonation, not astringent overall goodness.

D- Hands down the best Pumpkin Beer I have had. I could drink this year round. A session Pumpkin Beer. Props to Elysian.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2010 04:12:48 | More by SeattleBeerBlog

mudhoney

Texas

4.65/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This wonderful autumn ale has all the spices of a harvest ale, and the homebaked flavor of pumpkin pie that add character to a serious fall treat.
This is definitely a beer worth waiting for.
I love autumn, and looking forward to winter beers, but in the early fall to late November my best recommendation will almost always be my favorite pumpkin ales.
The spirit of the season is captured in this beer right up to the hops and flavor constant in the Elysian brews.
Deep copper in color, and laced with a thick white foam, this beer is intimidating.
Hints of nutmeg and pumpkin and it laces the glass.
A beautiful finish as the beer warms.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2004 03:24:06 | More by mudhoney

vacax

California

4.65/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Glad to have a new pumpkin ale in SoCal, even if it is a little bit late to the pumpkin season. I have really enjoyed this one in the past, and hope to see more soon from Elysian. Brewed at New Belgium Brewing. Dated best buy 19Feb10.

Pours a dark orange to amber with around an inch of head the color of butternut squash. Decent retention and lacing displayed. Smells of baked spiced pumpkin, candied ginger, and nutmeg for among the absolute best pumpkin beer scents on the market. Tastes of rich pumpkin goodness with a backing of gingerbread and a harmonious mixture of pumpkin pie spices. I'd have to say this is in the running for top pumpkin beer I have had. In the realm of similar beers, the only one definitely better for me is Barrel Aged Autumn Maple. Medium bodied with a smooth medium level of carbonation. Highly recommended, best pumpkin beer out west.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2009 04:03:49 | More by vacax

BeerImmediately

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Combined reviews from Nov 2010, and Oct 2011.

Pours with 1F head, no real lacing. 2010 bottle had a ton of suspended sediment in a burnt orange body. Not many floaties in 2011 version.

Wow, aroma is the big winner here. Pumpkin pie with crust as it warms; some clove came thru as well, and even somewhat herbal.

Pretty authentic pumpkin flavor - vegetable/squash quality, and good amount of spices, incl cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove - but not overpowering. Decent volume of malty sweetness / richness...touch of campfire as it warms.

Good level of carbonation keeps it clean, and pretty much exactly what you should expect in a 6% ABV Pumpkin Ale.

Outstanding drinkability - this is the most aromatic and flavorful Pumpkin Ale you can buy at this level of ABV.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2011 20:04:01 | More by BeerImmediately

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Transcribed from undated notes.

I simply got very little head from my pour before it dissipated into wisps. Color was an orangish-amber with NE-quality clarity. It had a great cinnamon-spice nose. Mouthfeel was medium with a sweet spiciness on the tongue, very pumpkin pie-like. Between those of us drinking this one, we guessed nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice. The nutmeg was prevalent throughout. The finish was very dry, no doubt from the presence of all of the spices. I would put this as # 3 for me in terms of pumpkin ales, behind Southern Tier's Pumking and Weyerbacher's Imperial Pumpkin. Heady company, indeed!

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2010 17:52:30 | More by woodychandler

danotronik

Washington

4.55/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Brilliant beer, probably one of the best pumpkin ales I have ever had. Has a very pumpkiny taste to it that is not overpowered by the alcohol like so many other pumpkin ales. It's really standout beer. The looks is beautiful and dark and the smell is just absolutely amazing (although I would say most pumpkin ales smell brilliant)

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 23:19:29 | More by danotronik

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

4.55/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Elysian"Night Owl"Pumpkin Ale @ 5.9% from a 650 ml bottle served chilled
A-pour is a lovely light orange/amber with a nice size off white head , that leaves some fine lace along the stein
S-such a great smell of pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon , ginger , nutmeg , allspice)
T-smell is better than the taste , still it is a good rich tasting pumpkin ale because of certain twang that Elysian brings out in almost all their Fall/Pumpkin beers (DOTM,TGP)
MF-light/medium carbonation , moderate body
Ov-it use to be my favourite til I tried DOTM , but Night Owl is still a great pumpkin ale , pity its still just a seasonal , one of the US best

cheers LampertLand

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 07:26:26 | More by LampertLand

cvfish

Louisiana

4.53/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - This beer poured a pumpkin orange color that produced a white fluffy head that had good retention and laced the side of the glass nicely

S - The aromas produced by this beer were, in short, Grams's pumpkin pie, pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, this was a great smelling beer

T - I could say a whole lot about this beer, but the nose says it all, I will say the taste is only second to Pumking

M - The mouthfeel of this beer had a medium body with a light to moderate amount of carbonation

D - This was a very good pumpkin beer, although not enough to dethrone the Pumking from that status

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2009 21:49:42 | More by cvfish

superspak

Michigan

4.53/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

22 ounce bottle into pint glass; no bottle dating, but was purchased recently. Pours hazy orange amber color with a 1 finger fairly dense off white head with nice retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass. Aromas of big authentic pumpkin, clove, allspice, caramel, gingerbread, toast, cinnamon, nutmeg, and light herbal. Fantastic aromas with great strength and balance; this smells like I opened a can of pumpkin puree, very authentic. Taste of big pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, gingerbread, caramel, toast, allspice, clove, and herbal. Minimal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, gingerbread, caramel, toast, allspice, nutmeg, clove, and herbal on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic balance of flavors with a ton of authentic pumpkin; awesome malt/spice balance; zero cloying flavors on the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly slick and lightly syrupy mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with nearly zero warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an absolutely incredible Pumpkin ale. Great authentic pumpkin flavor with well balanced spices; extremely smooth to drink. Easily the best I have had in the pumpkin ale style.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 03:57:33 | More by superspak

ccrida

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Had a pint at Elysian Fields on draught, where it's listed as 6.1% ABV.

Appearance is burnt brown with the slightest haze, a thin khaki collar and light lace.

The smell is sweet, and when colder, is exactly like Pez candies. As it warms, it goes from cotton candy to more sticky, caramel malt and spicy aroma. Weird, but awesome!

The taste is more restrained then the nose, making for an incredibly tasty balance of malt, pumpkin and spice, coming across like a smooth american style ESB or brown. This is the best pumpkin ale I've had (of granted, only maybe 5 or 6 ), and the fact that the emphasis is more on the actual pumpkin rather then the spices is probably the main reason why.

Mouthfeel is very creamy, with a medium body. There is a lager like crispness, although the fruity esters suggest otherwise.

The most drinkable pumpkin beer I've ever had, two pints in this sitting was no problem at all. Very apropos for fall, a great seasonal for sure!

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2007 02:15:42 | More by ccrida

kytashie

Washington

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

Had this last night. Pours an orange/ruby somewhat hazy color. Looks very tasty! Finger width head that disappears quickly with minimal lacing. Smells AMAZING. Not overpowered by the spices, they are just detectable, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin..(.i think my stomach growled). Wow this is delicious! Awesome balance of flavors...you can definitely tell you are drinking a pumpkin ale...but so not overpowering. It's tasty! Great carbonation, refreshing, crisp and clean. I could drink this all night. 4.5 across the board on this one and added to my list of fav's.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2011 18:49:15 | More by kytashie

heybrewtiful

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

Spiced with flavors more typical of apple pie than pumpkin--caramel and mild apple notes emerge from the typical spice profile of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg--this beer is smooth, balanced, and a must try for anyone who has a penchant for 'pumpkin' brews. Definitely among my top five for beers with autumnal drinking in mind.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 20:41:58 | More by heybrewtiful

IronLover

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deep copper orange in color with a thick, unfiltered, viscous look. Poured with a short off-white foam that reduced to a wispy cap. Sweet earthy pumpkin aroma with cinnamon, nutmeg and the perfect touch of spice at the back end for balance. Soft, delicate lager-like feel with slightly creamy carbonation. A wonderful balance of spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sweet pumpkin from top to bottom. A light tangy bitter hoppiness in the middle finishes off the spice leaving a clean sweetness at the finish. This is a fabulous pumpkin ale. Very impressive.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 00:31:59 | More by IronLover

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.47/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Warmly glowing rustic orange-bronze with edges of ripe pumpkin. Night Owl is richer and classier looking than the usual garish, bright orange. The head looks good as well, with its contrasting shade of pastel orange and its firm refusal to deflate. The edges of the cap are beginning to resemble a pie crust with what looks like a series of thumb depressions around the entire circumference of the glass. Minimal lace is the only negative.

I was immediately impressed with the nose as soon as beer splashed into glass. That was nothing compared to my first, concentrated, up close and personal sniff. Without question, this ale has the most perfect freshly baked pumpkin pie-like aroma ever. It simply isn't possible for beer to smell more like the classic dessert than this one does. Actually, it's probably more brown sugary than pumpkin pie, but that only makes me love it all the more. Outstanding!

If only the flavor and the mouthfeel could have matched the one-of-a-kind nose, Night Owl would have been something truly special. That isn't to say, however, that it isn't one of the best pumpkin ales that I've ever had. Not surprisingly, it tastes like pumpkin pie, albeit one drizzled with caramel and brown sugar syrup. It's sweeter than most, but that's more than fine with me.

Spices take a back seat to actual pumpkin flavor. Most brewers try to get by with dumping a truckload of spices into the kettle to cover whatever flavor faults might be present. If done right (as this one is), keeping the cinnamon, nutmeg, et al in the background is the way to go. For the record, all of the usual suspects are present... the two mentioned above, as well as allspice, clove and ginger. It's hard to know what was gained by adding green and roasted pumpkin seeds.

Hop flavor is entirely absent, although the Horizon hops provide enough bitterness to keep the sweetness from becoming too candy-like and cloying. The biggest disappointment for me is the mouthfeel. It's far from light, but a more full, chewy mouthfeel would have put this beer into orbit and may have allowed it to be recognized as The King Of All Pumpkin Ales. The flavor demands, and deserves, more.

Even though the aroma is beyond amazing, I still have to give the slight nod to Smuttynose's version as the absolute best. I'm amazed at the quality of this beer and I'm becoming more so with every mouthful. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised since I love Elysian's IPA and ESB. If you like pumpkin ales and you have the chance to obtain Night Owl, you won't be sorry. Trust me.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2005 23:00:10 | More by BuckeyeNation

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.47/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured beuatifully with lots of carbonation and a small white head. Nose is big pumpkin and spices right away. Taste carried a strong hint of cinnnamon, nutmeg and allspice but the pumpkin is king and lots of it. Mouthfeel is sweet and warming. Damn good brew.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2007 05:18:27 | More by barleywinefiend

bminor7

New York

4.47/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 from Half Time. Reviewed on 11/17/09. Bottle expiry was 29JAN10.

A - deep mahogany brown. no head remains. cloudlike lacing across the top.

S - best smelling pumpkin ale for me. tons of spice, and fresh malt.

T - fluffy malt, sweet clove spice. pumpkin. a good balance of the three. sweeter and more accessible than pumking but not as bready.

M - light on the carbonation, thickness is good

D - good, could drink 2 more. alcohol virtually undetectable

a highly rated pumpkin ale that is worth trying if you can find it

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2010 23:05:42 | More by bminor7

philbe311

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Three fingers of worth of tan head comprised of big chunky bubbles... Excellent retention... Head slight recedes to one finger of rich creamy frothy foam... Dark copperish bronze color... Some small carbonation bubbles rise in the middle of the glass... A minor haze permeates throughout... Leaves a jagged pattern of foam clinging to the sides of the glass...

S - A wonderful aroma the encompasses all things autumn... Loads of spices in the form nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, clove, and all spice... Pumpkin... Crisp autumnal air... Absolutely fantastic...

T - The taste mirrors the nose close... The spices and pumpkin alternate on the palette... A hint of caramel... Perhaps a slight hint of burnt crust...

M - Just the slight tingle of carbonation on the tongue... On the lighter side of medium bodied... Lush and creamy... Turns dry as the spiciness kicks in... Subtle, but very well crafted... A slight warmth of alcohol as part of the aftertaste...

D - A stellar pumpkin ale, that in my opinion should be the one that all others are measured by... Terrific in all facets... It truly leaves you wanting more sip after sip...

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2009 01:46:58 | More by philbe311

msubulldog25

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've enjoyed this ale both on-tap and from the bottle. This is a 22 oz. bottle pour, early October 2007. "Ale brewed with Pumpkin and Pumpkin Seeds & Fermented with Spices". Listed currently on the website at 6.1% ABV.

A: Pours a fairly murky-looking amber, a thin veil of cloudiness. Head pours full and fizzy , at one point over two fingers, but fades quickly to a thin ring of tightly-knit bubbles. A few streams of carbonation, but fairly dull otherwise.

S: Nothing artificial or overtly spiced about this one: it's all about the pumpkin. Fleshy, earthy, hinted with nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon, but respectfully subtle. Faint aroma of gingerbread.

T: Quite earthy, even a little sour/tart. This is a pumpkin ale that focuses on the dirty & musty "gourd" taste of pumpkin, rather than on the sweet and spicy taste of pie and spice. Malty in the form of lightly toasted nuts, but with an interesting citrus bite (orange?), tart fruit follow-up. Is that sourness in the finish? Yes, certainly a fruit/tart sourness...

M: A medium-bodied pumpkin ale, subtly carbonated but with a fuller, more-clingy, medium-full mouthfeel. Not quite velvety, but certainly one that sticks on all parts of the mouth...

D: Not too heavily spiced, well-balanced between malty and earthy/hoppy traits, and with some heavier bitter backing notes. All in all, an ale I'll look forward to, year after year. Certainly recommended - although, with a caveat: this is NOT for everyone - will be way too tart and earthy for the spicy-sweet pumpkin ale lover.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2007 22:17:47 | More by msubulldog25

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Part of the Elysian Halloween spectacular. Split all three of these with multiple members of my family over the house on Halloween. Served cold and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 10/31/2009.
 
The last of the trifecta for the evening, it was really fun going through all of these during the course of the day. Really just fun stuff. Poured out the lightest of the three with a hazy orange tinted amber color and a nice soft off white head that reached a height of around an inch or so before it settled down with some nice lacing on the side that really just surprised me with how well it hung in there to be honest. Really quite the solid look. Nice aroma of pumpkin spice, hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, all the usual characters here with a touch of a west coast hop flair to it, especially as it warms. Crisp and super clean flavor here. Starts with a touch of a light malt note and then swoops in with a big hit of cinnamon and nutmeg which dries out the palate very nicely. Very even consistency I have to admit as it comes together very nice. Light drying of palate leaves a touch of light spice and the lightest hint of hops on the back of the tongue. Super drinkable, in fact out of the whole night I enjoyed this one the most out of all of them.
 
Overall a very solid light beer for the evening. Fit in very well with the rest of the lineup and I would have no problem at all with going after all three of these again. Great job from the boys up north.
 

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2009 22:11:18 | More by mikesgroove

kirkmichel

Georgia

4.4/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml Bottle purchased at Oak Tree Discount Wine & Spirits in S. Plainfield, NJ. Label was not the same as in the photo on BA, but still had Owl and correct title. Date stmp said bbd 29 Jan 2010.

A-reddish amber, suspended sediment, not much head (off white)
S-stupendous spicy pumpkin; just like fresh pumpkin pie filling (not the garbagy canned kind); also sweet and fruity, almost raspberry with a browned sugar
T-wonderful & spicy - lots of cinnamon and clove, and though it is prominent, it is not overpowering. It is also balanced nicely with a lemony citrus tone. I love it.
M-Very Good - evaporates quickly and not overly carbonated.
D-Very well-balanced. I could drink a lot of these, but it is definitely a fall beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2010 23:13:28 | More by kirkmichel