Night Owl Pumpkin Ale - Elysian Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Very fragrant and pumkin-like, this is see-through yellow body with lots of lace. The carbonation is above average. The taste is primarily nutmeg and peppery, with less clove and ginger and so more enjoyable to me. Was great on winter night.Average mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2008 21:04:40 | More by northyorksammy

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

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

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Consumed at our pumpkin beer tasting. Thanks to Pete for bringing this one.

Pours an orange copper color with a bit of haze. Smell brings loads of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. A bit of roasted pumpkin. The taste layers on the spice even more. A bit of toasted bread as well. Feel is strange, as the my entire palate is overcome with pumpkin spices. Drinks okay, but a bit lopsided in balance.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2010 12:51:21 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear, deep, dark amber body with small, scant white head.

Smell: Nicely aromatic pumpkin and crystal malt scent, with notes of ginger and spices.

Taste: Syrupy, sweet malt flavor with toasted pumpkins and that squasy/vegetal twang you always seem to find in these things. Spicy kick. Mild hop bitterness. Finishes with a toasty spiciness and flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and, much to my dismay, some ginger.

Mouthfeel: Just barely medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Pretty decent, the beer improves quite a bit upon warming.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2008 23:58:43 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a hazy pumpkiny amber color with a thick, foamy head that sticks and laces nicely

Smell: Lots of real pumpkin smell in this one, with the spice elements discreetly in the rear; it's the more subtle pie smells, too, such as brown sugar, mace and allspice; perhaps a touch of nutmeg

Taste: Opens with a solid pumpkin flavor, with the spices arriving by mid-palate, with perhaps just a nuance of chocolate, too; after the swallow, the pumpkin takes on a bit of a gingery flavor

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: A very nice pumpkin, one of the best

Thanks, cannabanaceae, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2008 00:57:00 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4.2/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to holden303 for sending me this one as part of the N00B BIF 6!

Pours a clear copper orange with a 2 inch puffy orange-white head that settles to a thin cap. Thin broken rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, pumpkin puree, roasted pumpkin seeds, and some subdued pumpkin pie spices. Taste is of bread-like malt, pumpkin and pumpkin seeds, and a very nice balance of the typical pumpkin pie spices. This beer is not overpowering with the spices as others I have tried before. This beer has a crisp and prickly mouthfeel and goes down very smooth. Overall, this is a good pumpkin ale that doesn't beat you over the head with spices. This is in my top 3 pumpkin ales I have had thus far in my beer drinking "career".

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 01:59:44 | More by UCLABrewN84

oberon

North Carolina

3.6/5  rDev -7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Mike aka "garagekegger" for sharing his bomber tonight,very nice pumpkin colored deep somewhat hazy pour with a fluffy white head that left a nice sheet of lace behind as it settled.Very spicey aromas cinnamon and clove really stick out in the aromas more in the lines of apple pie but still appetizing.Seemed a bit thin in the mouthfeel department and a little fizzy but the flavors were nice not overly sweet the cinnamon and clove are there there is a decent pumpkin bite in there but the spice outweighs it.Not a bad pumpkin beer to be had flavorful if not a bit thin.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2005 03:31:36 | More by oberon

WesWes

New York

4.15/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours an amber color with a thick frothy offwhite head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a bisquity pumpkin scent along with an array of spices; cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.. The taste is good as well. It has a solid grist of pale, crystal, and bisquit malts along with a large pumpkin and spice flavor. It's a smooth drinking beer with little to no pumpkin bitterness. The mouthfeel is great. It is a full bodied beer with adequate/good carbonation. This is a very well done pumpkin beer. Some of these are too malty. Some are too spicey. Some are really dry and pumpkin filled. This is a well rounded, highly drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2008 21:43:19 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Recently attended a pumpkin beer tasting at Mike's place. The two pumpkin beers from Elysian were the best IMO. This one slightly under the other.

Beer is orange and nearly clear, slightly darker than the Great Pumpkin but is moderately carbonated. Not much of a head on this one and not much lacing as a result.

Aroma is moderately spicy with a definite pumpkin presence. More nutmeg and less cinnamon than the Great Pumpkin.

Beer is light in body and a little sweet. The spices come through but the pumpkin doesn't take center state here. Drinkability is OK, better if you like nutmeg and allspice, but I'm not really feeling this one all that much.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2010 18:11:24 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

3.58/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to 5000 for sending me this bottle. Reviewed from notes.

The beer pours a hazy orange color with a white head. The aroma has a lot of pumpkin and some cinnamon, as well as a light amount of tartness. The flavor is similar, only there is not tartness. I get some pumpkin as well as some nutmeg and allspice. Thin mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 03:33:51 | More by Mora2000

metter98

New York

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is hazy amber in color and has a light amount of carbonation along with some visible particles floating in suspension—these don't look like the yeast you may be accustomed to seeing in other ales but instead resemble small irregular pieces of flesh, possibly from the pumpkins. It poured with a short off white head that quickly died down, leaving thin foam covering the surface and a collar of large bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: Light aromas of pumpkin and pumpkin spices are present in the nose, which also has some hints of sweetness.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has a slight amount of sweetness. The flavors of pumpkins and spices are subtle.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I found this pumpkin beer to be enjoyable because it didn't taste artificial and there was a nice balance between flavors of pumpkins and pumpkin spices.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 02:41:14 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.58/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A solid pour produces a three-finger thick, light tan colored head in my 25cl tulip glass. The beer is a brilliantly clear, deep amber color that has copper highlights to it, when held up to the light the beer shows a rich copper hue. Ah, the aroma brings a smile to my face, fleshy, caramelized squash aromatics are accentuated by notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. I like that the actual pumpkin is noticeable here in the aroma, certainly the spice notes are a bit more piquant, but the spices are not used too overzealously and the vegetable squash notes add a nice spiciness of its own.

Fairly dry tasting, especially given how sweet the spices make this beer smell. The beer finishes with a bite of nutmeg, a flash of pumpkin meat, a lingering ginger piquancy and a touch of pepper like spice. I could use a touch more body here, but there is a touch of heft to this beer; the holiday season just sees me wanting a bit more richness in this beer (though it has a lot more body than some of the poorer examples of the style, Buffalo Bill I am looking at you). The malt contributes a hint of caramelized sweetness as well as a touch of toasty grain towards the finish, for the most part though this beer is about the spices and the pumpkin. There is enough malt to provide just enough texture and sweetness to support the more dominant flavors. The sweetness is accentuated by the cinnamon notes in the middle.

This is a good example of a "standard" pumpkin ale. The usual base beer style, but it has enough body and the touch of real pumpkin to keep me happy.

Purchased: Liquid Solutions

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2009 04:27:24 | More by Gueuzedude

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured out as a nice looking clear copper color with nearly no head on top. There was just some scattered bubbles on top of this and no lacing. The smell of the beer was spicy very much autumn scented. The taste of the beer was pretty good, balanced between the malts and the spices. The mouthfeel was a little on the watery side in my opinion, it finished very dry also. Overall this beer was decent and I might drink it again one day but I wouldn't see myself running out to buy a case or anything next fall.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2012 17:36:10 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours an effervescent amber/caramel with 2 fingers of fluffy cream colored head. Very good head retention & lacing

S: Nutmeg, cinnamon & some pumpkin

T: Nutmeg, cinnamon, & pumpkin up front. Dryness & more of the same as this warms, plus a bit booze on the edges. Finishes with cinnamon, a hint of grain & a bit of caramel

MF: Light/medium body, slightlty over carbonatnated

Drinks okay, was hoping for more flavor & malt depth from these guys. This is still a style with more misses than hits for me

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2008 20:46:56 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

22 oz. bomber from Liquid Solutions,

A: Pours a beautiful pumpkin orange colour, with a solid, slightly fizzy white head. Some lace which is extremely rare in a Pumpkin Ale.

S: A lot more pumpkin flesh, squash character at first, the spice notes are light in the nose, I get nutmeg and clove distinctly, and a bit of spiced cream.

T: The spice and cream notes from the nose continue in the taste where they are met by the distinct pumpkin. Allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg are clearly evident, the beer ends on a full clove bite. Let it roll over the tongue a couple of times ere the swallow as it continues to evolve with each moment.

M: Nice body for a pumpkin beer, I find that many pumpkin brews are overly light and fizzy, but this has a nice heft to it, yet it's light enough for easy drinking.

D: Very easy to drink, I could have finished the bomber in 5 minutes, it's that drinkable, however, I milked it a bit since this is the only bottle I have of this. Excellent pumpkin ale, I hear Elysian are coming into the Southland soon, this beer made a great first impression.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2008 23:05:01 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: dark orange in color with a 1" head the falls apart slowly.

Smell: pumpkin spices are easy to detect by the nose.

Taste: caramel and big pumpkin pie flavors with some cinammon and nutmeg. Nice bitterness brings the sweetness into check. This beer does not impart the fake pumpkin flavors so many other beers exhibit. Nice bold flavors.

Mouthfeel: crisp to start, less so towards the finish. Aftertaste is short-lived as the spices leave the tongue quickly. Medium bodied beer.

Drinkability: this is probably one of the better tasting pumpkin ales I have had. It goes down easy and several pints could be quaffed in a session.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2008 13:31:36 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. bottle:

Pours orange amber with a thin off-white head that disappears after a bit. Some dots of lacing stick.

The smell is of pumpkin pie spices with an amber maltiness background.

The taste is of cinnamon, ginger and all the other usual spicings that make up a pumpkin beer - spicy, but not overly done - with a firm backdrop of amber maltiness. Sweet and spicy with a hop bitterness in the back that keeps it well-balanced, though not interfering with the taste.

The body hits medium-bodied (barely), but is smooth. The lightness of the body adds to the drinkability, but could use some heft/chewiness.

A very drinkable pumpkin ale, as the spices are there, but not overwhelming, with a nice balance to it.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2008 01:56:07 | More by jwc215

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

Wasatch

Utah

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz. Bomber

Pours a nice golden amber color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy off-white head, some sticky lacing follows. The nose is malty, very nice tones of cinimmon, pumpkin, nutmeg, with lots of caramel. The taste is slightly sweet, malty, very nice touch of the spicy's, and caramel. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a nice one, recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2008 19:34:10 | More by Wasatch

Billolick

New York

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 ouncer, pours clear orangy amber, fine white lace all over the glass afte the head slowly cleared out. Nose is purely of a nice pumpkin pie, mostly about the pumpkin and less about the associated spices. More quality brew from the folks at Elysian. Understated in the approach, this pumpkin infused offering does not over do it spice/pumpkin flavor wise. Nice fall seasonal. Moderate sweetness, moderate hops, more pumpkin essence in the finish. Worth a try if you enjoy the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2008 01:59:59 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

3.58/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From 08/16/11 notes. On tap at Meridian Pint. Served in a pint glass.

a - Pours a dark reddish amber brown color with one inch of off white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of pumpkin, bready malts, and very light nutmeg. Not too sweet and not a ton going on other than pumpkin.

t - Tastes of pumpkin, light gingerbread, bready malts, nutmeg.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. Pretty smooth.

o - Overall a decent pumpkin ale, but not my favorite. Think some others I was with really enjoyed it but I like them a bit sweeter and with more nutmeg/gingerbread to them. Would give it another shot.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2011 15:39:34 | More by mdfb79

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a clear coppery looking amber with 2 fingers of foamy eggshell white colored head. A pretty solid looking 1/2 finger of retention leaves a nice and sticky latticework of lace behind. The aroma is a lively smelling waft of pumpkin spices, pumpkin meat, floral hops, and a splash of citrus, with some other residual notes of sweetness behind it.

The taste is a tasty and well balanced blend of spicy and sweet tanginess, with spices, citrus, and pumpkin pie tasting sweetness delivering a tangy feel with a tingle of floral hop bitterness in the back to help even things out. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a creamier carbonation that possesses a bit of a sharp edge to the outside of it.

With was just a solid all-around Pumpkin Ale with well rounded flavors that really in popped in the mouth at times. This was definitely one of the better Pumpkin Ales that I've had in the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2008 23:33:28 | More by Kegatron

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle purchased at Premier Gourmet in Buffalo.

Pours a clear amber, a little rough looking, some orange hues, thick off white head forms, drops some decent lacing, good retention, and settles to a thin collar. Smell is neat, lots of spicing, cloves and cinnamon, nutmeg, rich pumpkin aroma, caramel and honey, some toasty pumpkin seeds, biscuit, corn syrup, smells pretty nice. Taste is very malty, pumpkin, caramel, honey sweetness, very biscuity, light toast, slight lemony sourness, and the spices come through in the finish, light spicy bitterness and big biscuit flavour, nice. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with medium carbonation, pretty drinkable. Spices are there but not too much, maybe because its an older bottle. A pretty nice pumpkin ale, I like.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2009 01:23:42 | More by Viggo

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark golden amber/copper color with some hazy golden orange hues when held to a light source and a one finger off-white frothy head that slowly fades into a lasting ring.

Nice spicy pumpkin pie aroma with hints of clove, brown sugar, cinnamon, pureed pumpkin, nutmeg and a nice caramel malt. Kind of smells like liquid pumpkin pie with very subtle hops.

Very spicy up front with a lot of cloves, cinnamon and brown sugar with a medium creamy malt backbone and some nice pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, subtle hops and ginger in the dry finish. Alcohol is well-hidden and pretty much undetectable. This beer is slightly watered down with a lot of the pumpkin pie notes coming through in the aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2009 05:45:38 | More by corby112