Great Lakes Pumpkin Ale - Great Lakes Brewing Company

Bowman06

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

07-15-2012 04:46:30 | More by Bowman06

Skott1123

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +20.9%

04-13-2013 16:48:26 | More by Skott1123

ally24al

Ohio

5/5  rDev +27.2%

04-13-2013 16:42:58 | More by ally24al

Tyrawlings

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

02-22-2013 20:17:57 | More by Tyrawlings

Chrixsus

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.8%

01-14-2013 19:10:55 | More by Chrixsus

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

While most brewers of pumpkin ales strike early for the Halloween season, this is often to the dismay of the lovers of pumpkin ale who prefers the taste much later in the season, ....say Thanksgiving? ...To accompany all of those desserts, dressings, and spicy foods that define the season? Why not, and I'm on board- let's extend the pumpkin ale season!

Great Lakes' version opens with the quintessential appearance of the style- one that captures the color of orange through a range of amber, gold, and red kilned malts used in its brewing practice. A frothy, and semi-meringue textured head talks the "whipped cream" language. It's medium-firm staying power and soft lacing tells me it's still a worthwhile beer and not a after dinner treat.

At first sniff, the ale offers the pleasantries of caramel (maybe soft praline), but fused with lightly kilned barley, and decorated with the sharp yet restrained spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice, and peppercorn. With both a delicate tone to dumb down the sweetness and an elevated sense to drive dryness, the beer evokes the sense of drinkability and succulence with its aroma alone.

As the flavors take hold, it's the driving force of dry caramel taste that leads the pack. Though the taste of caramel exudes, it doesn't carry the sugary sweetness that's expected from caramel or praline, but instead a dry malty taste of barley suffices. It's this "grape nuts" character that weaves in honey-ish tones and and paves the way for spices to come. Then there's the cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice taste that the nose promises, but does so in the rounded way to imply pumpkin pie! With low bitterness, the beer achieves all of its complexity and balance from the barley malts and the contrasting spices- just like dessert, but at 5+ percent.

Medium bodied, it is temping to read lighter textures into the beer because of the fleeting malt presence of sweetness and the elevated spiciness. It's those spices (and their implied heat), coupled with the firm dryness of malt and medium alcohol presence that the beer registers lighter to the trigemental forces that define weight. It's only the spice astringency that work against it's overall mouthfeel, but with slight effect.

Ok, a lot of big descriptors hit this review. And at first glance, the beer does little to separate from the rigor of adequate pumpkin ales. But as the beer opens up, I see a drier taste and textures that never waiver in variety and layered complexity that remind me of the often dismissed Anchor Our Special Ale of the Christmas Ale varity.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2012 08:17:43 | More by BEERchitect

Zormac

4/5  rDev +1.8%

11-18-2012 14:35:16 | More by Zormac

Yusko

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

11-11-2012 14:52:43 | More by Yusko

crawdadwilly74

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

10-31-2012 11:25:38 | More by crawdadwilly74

Twifiter

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

10-17-2012 13:35:36 | More by Twifiter

zi1ch

3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

650ml bottle picked up at liquor mart. Overall great looking bottle with orange foil covering neck and cap giving it a nice presentation.

Appearance - Pours with a nice creamy offwhite head which is relatively short lived. Beer is hazy orange color. A small amount of lacing is left behind.

S - Spicy! Nutmeg, bit of clove, pumpkin. Sweet smelling but not overbearing at all.

T - Heavier on malt, clove, and nutmeg taste, with more pumpkin and cinnamon aftertaste. Moderate hop bitterness on the finish.

M - Moderate carbonation, with medium body.

Overall: I really enjoyed this beer - it's not overpowering in pumpkin and spices which makes it easy drinking. I would have liked a bit less clove taste, but that won't stop me from having this again next year.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 01:55:56 | More by zi1ch

Stinger80OH

Ohio

3/5  rDev -23.7%

07-05-2012 21:16:55 | More by Stinger80OH

cynical1027

Ohio

3/5  rDev -23.7%

02-20-2012 16:35:45 | More by cynical1027

challenja

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served On Tap at Smoke and Barrel Adams Morgan DC

A: A nice Orange rind pumpkin haze with a soulless head, nice ripe pumpkin orange.

S: Nice sweet pumpkin, subtle nutmeg, spicy clove and orange rind spice.

T: A really good sweet pumpkin rind, subtle nutmeg, with a clove backbite, orange rind spice. A really good solid pumpkin beer.

M: Racy and lingering, strong refreshing medium body. Medium carbonation with a nice firm body.

O: This beer is dangerously close to breaking into the top 5 best pumpkin beers that I have had. This is definitely a pumpkin beer to be enjoyed by all beer fans.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2012 20:17:30 | More by challenja

CuriousMonk

Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Surprised to see this on a tap takeover at a local bar in DC. Poured into a snifter glass. Pours a cloudy orange amber with a medium off-white head. Aroma is spiced all the way with cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and allspice. Flavor is upfront with a mild pumpkin flavor, nutmeg and clove, then mellows to a spicy dry finish. Glad to have tried this one!

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2012 22:43:38 | More by CuriousMonk

GrindFatherBob

New York

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

12-19-2011 21:56:46 | More by GrindFatherBob

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a snifter at The Firkin.

Gotta love Dave's connections. This stuff pours a clear tawny sunset amber topped by a short finger of cream foam. The nose comprises brown sugar, cinnamon, caramel, allspice, nutmeg, and a touch of light cocoa. The taste continues the burst of spices, but things are thinned out, toned down, and washed out with the caramel and toasted rye bread that pervade the proceedings. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta dry finish. Overall, a pretty solid pumpkin beer, one of the more drinkable ones, but surprisingly a bit light on the spice when the tongue gets involved.

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2011 01:39:06 | More by TMoney2591

ninner00

Ohio

4/5  rDev +1.8%

11-15-2011 18:01:32 | More by ninner00

seand

California

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a light clear yellow/orange amber, with a small amount of fizzy white head. A little retains, especially around the rim of the glass, leaving small sheets of lacing.

S: Light hops and spices, including mild clove notes.

T: Again quite mild; some spices and finishes with some hops. I wasn't a big fan of the combination at first but it's growing on me after a few sips.

M: Light to medium body, medium carbonation.

D: Fairly drinkable if you like the spice mixture.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 18:22:39 | More by seand

jampics2

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Great Lakes. Served in a pint glass.

What do you drink on a cold, rainy Saturday afternoon in early November in Cleveland? I can't think of a better beer than the Great Lakes Pumpkin ale. When discussing the timing of the release of this beer with head brewer Luke Purcell a few years ago, I was impressed by how he sticks to his convictions instead of making a quick buck by jumping on the Halloween bandwagon. Luke really thinks this is a cold weather beer and doesn't want to capitalize on the public's perception that pumpkin beers need to be drank while buying costumes and carving pumpkins. Instead, Great Lakes releases this just days before Halloween so that it will last through mid-November. To me, this nice Pumpkin beer is a bright spot in an otherwise bland and dreary time where the days get shorter, the skies turn grey and the cold weather begins to set in.

The beer itself has a look that could best be described as "murky". It's very hazy and doesn't have the attractive disposition of some other popular pumpkin beers that have more of a caramel colored clear look about them. The color is a mess of orange and yellow, quite drab actually. The head retention is the star of the show, and, in a way, the cloudiness adds to the authenticity but doesn't get my taste buds crying out for a sip. Wonderful lace is left behind, saving this from a more average score.

The smell is full of spice and everything nice. Nutmeg and clove hit the hardest, followed by hints of allspice, ginger and cinnamon. Some pumpkin flesh and modest hops add depth. This is expressive and well balanced without becoming gimmicky.

Each year when I take my first sip of Great Lakes Pumpkin ale, I smile as it's really a comfort-food type beer. Cinnamon dominates the taste much more than the nose. The sweet caramel malt drops out half way through, letting the spices shine in the finish. Brown sugar and some light hops linger in the finish.

The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with creamy carbonation. The finish is just a touch watery. Overall, I really like how this honest beer stays true to the style without being flashy or overwhelming. Much like Luke's decision to release this when the timing is right, the beer has integrity and that's a rare thing in the crowded market of pumpkin beers with flashy names and overwhelming spice tastes.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2010 21:07:13 | More by jampics2

nrbw23

Ohio

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours a hazy orange color with a pretty nice creamy colored head. Head leaves some nice lacing down the sides of the glass.

S- Smells of pumpkin spice, nutmeg, brown sugar and cinnamon. Nothing really shocking here.

T- The taste is nothing over the top and pretty solid. Follows the nose very well.

M- Medium body and in carbonation nothing out of the ordinary.

D- I've been wanting to try this one for a while now and it did not disappoint. Easy to drink, well balanced and one of the best out there.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2010 08:59:25 | More by nrbw23

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-Slightly hazy copper with a medium light tan head that reduced to a thin cap and left spotty lace.

S-Bold nutmeg, and clove aroma with a bit of malt sweetness..

T-Spicy upfront with a significant pop from the combination of nutmeg and clove. Underlying sweet caramel malt contributes to good balance.

M-Medium-light to medium body with a crisp, dry finish. Good lasting spicy notes.

D-Nice. Bold without being annoyingly spicy. Does not taste fake at all and the flavours taste very true. This is a very well done pumpkin brew.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2010 12:18:19 | More by Deuane

adamette

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from tap into clean, clear glass by Steve, day bartender in the front of GLBC.

A Opaque light orange body under a minimal head that leaves little lacing. 3.5

S Nice pumpkin and spice smell profile, probably some nutmeg, cinnamon spices included. I really do like the smell that conjures up smells of pumpkin pie. 4.0

T Strong pumpkin taste with minimal spice profile. Not the sweetness that I have enjoyed in other pumpking ales, this one is probably more accurate as far as a true pumpkin taste. Lingering aftertaste of pumpkin came back to me after several minutes. This is an expertly brewed beer from Great Lakes. 4.5

M Medium feel with some malt but mostly the feel of pumpkin. Really nice. 4.0

D Very, very good. 4.5

Notes: I was pleasantly surprised by this beer that I did not expect too much from. I had come to the brewery today to taste the sublime Rackhouse Ale but this was a pleasant surprise.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2009 21:34:11 | More by adamette

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Great Lakes on 12/1/08. Served in a 12-oz. glass.

A - Poured a hazy pumpkin orange-tinted color with almost a finger of creamy froth on top. Lacing slide down the sides of the glass. Nice head that retained well and flared up with each swish of the glass.

S - Lots of pumpkin spice up front with a heaping amount of nutmeg and brown sugar. There is also hints of cinnamon and pumpkin meat with a touch of sweet cream.

T - Mix of pumpkin meat, nutmeg and sweet cream in the initial flavor, followed by brown sugar and cinnamon sweetness and a crackery/crusty maltiness in the finish.

M - Medium body with a pretty smooth, creamy texture. Spicy finish with minimal bitterness on the palate.

D - Definitely one of the better pumpkin ales I've had on tap. This one blends the spices and the authentic pumpkin flavor quite well, and throws in ample maltiness and sweetness for good measure.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2008 01:46:57 | More by ffejherb

neenerzig

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap recently at the brewery as this is another one of their on-tap only "pub exclusives." This beer is a nice orange.golden color. Mine didn't have much of a head when it was drawn from the tap, just a fairly thin surface layer and not to much lace either. Aroma wise this beer is chock full of pumpkin, spice and is rounded out by hints of hops. Tastewise it is malty sweet and spicy with flavors of nutmeg and obviously pumpkin. Perhaps a hint of cinnamon as well. The taste is rounded out by a hint of hop bitterness. Not very complex flavorwise, but quite enjoyable. Has a crisp, medium bodied mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Very easy to drink. Another tasty treat from Great Lakes.

Eric

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2007 18:36:59 | More by neenerzig