Pumpkin Lager Beer - Lakefront Brewery, Inc.

Nerudamann

Arizona

3.58/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Look - clear, very light amber color, with almost no foam at all. High carbonation.

Smell - As the name of the beer would suggest, pumpkin aroma, but not many spices, though perhaps a little.

Taste and Mouthfeel - Just as with the smell, sweet and subtle pumpkin smell without too many added spices. Sweet at the beginning, a little bubbly in the middle, and sweet again at the finish. Texture is quite smooth, almost toward the water side.

Drinkability - Decent brew for a relatively standard Fruit/Veggie beer. I would rank this one and Wassatch's Punkin Ale up there with the best of the Pumpkin beers that I've tried.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2010 04:01:43 | More by Nerudamann

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to BeerFMAndy for this bottle. Poured into a Hill Farmstead wine glass.

Color is a moderate copper-orange color that starts with a half finger of white foam and very quickly dies down into just a slight ring of lacing around the edges. No lacing actually sticks to the edge of the glass. The nose brings a really good deal of pumpkin spice. I'm picking our ginger as the most prominent with some allspice and nutmeg there as well.

The taste has some slight pumpkin character in the background, though it's not all that sweet like many pumpkin beers. The taste is light ginger plus some caramel, nutmeg, allspice, and clove. Mildly bready as well. Fairly-light body with a carbonation level toward the low end. Light and not terribly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2010 01:31:11 | More by Thorpe429

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

a bright golden slightly amber color. thin white head. smells like cinnamon and clove, nutmeg.

tastes more like a mellow lager with spices added. nutmeg aftertaste.

moderate carbonation and medium body. alright, if average brew to fill your spiced autumn brew needs.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2010 02:20:25 | More by jmdrpi

DaveHS

California

3.2/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A-Pours an earthy orange/amber color with almost no head and minimal, soapy lacing.

S-Heavy aromas of clove, almost smells like clove cigarette smoke. Some light cinnamon.

T/M-The nose had me excited but like many other pumpkin beers, it falls apart in the execution. No pumpkin flavor whatsoever, weak malt profile, and a thin, unsatisfying body make this beer a failure on almost every level. Tasted like an average marzen lager with some cinnamon in it.

D-Don't ever need to try this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2010 02:15:08 | More by DaveHS

DMXLOX22

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a sixer of this stuff at Civera's deli and just had to try it out since I've been trying to quell my lust for pumpkin-style beers doesn't seem to have an end.

Appearance: Poured a clear, orange and reddish haze that looks murky. Not that impressed.

Smell: A aronma of malts and sweet zesty bite, but with a slight hint of pumpkin fragrance.

Taste: Quite bitter malts and sweet aftertones of what appears to be nutmeg and some odd pumpkin flavorings, but not as nice as I would imagine. Quite zesty too, but also quite bitter, like roasted malts bitter. The Autumn spices are somewhat represented, but for an odd reason, I'm not tasting it.

Mouthfeel: A bit medium bodied, but somewhat heavy carbanation. Not so bad, but not so good either.

Drinkability: Actually not as bad as the other features, but to be quite honest and not to bash the beer completely I'm not exactly the biggest fan of fruity toned beers, but other pumpkin style beers I had encountered so far since fall began has been nothing but good. Maybe next time, but I must say this brew is not for me for the time being. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2010 01:08:51 | More by DMXLOX22

pzrhsau

District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Nice tawny golden color. Slight orange glow with a light colored head.
S: Great malty pie aroma. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin. It has a sweetness to it but its not overly sweet.
T: Spicy cinnamon blended with mellow malt flavor that ends with a strong woody cinnamon flavor and sweet pumpkin. Though these flavors do remain in balance.
D/M: Nice crisp carbonation but the head really doesnt stick very well.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 02:20:38 | More by pzrhsau

Rmason104

Nebraska

3.95/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This was my first foray into Pumpkin Ales. Perhaps I was overly prepared for overwhelming pumpkin pie aroma and spices. I thought this was a very good dark lager. I enjoyed the earthy tones. It starts off pretty sweet before the earthiness takes over. Did not detect an overt taste of pumpkin, which was a good thing for me. Only detected slight spice, not as overwhelming as other reviewers.
Overall a pretty tasty, enjoyable brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2010 02:34:25 | More by Rmason104

wolfinthemirror

Oklahoma

3.88/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pourz a cloudy pumpkin orange color, about a finger of head that quickly retreats into a thin layer of suds.

mmmm.... I smell pumpkin pie. lots of pumpkin and spiciness in the nose. lovely.

not quite as much pumpkin as is in the smell, but it's definitely there. At first i just taste like a really smooth lager, nice toasted caramel malts, and then the pumpkin and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg roll across my tongue and linger. This is really good, but i'd love more pumpkin up front.

lower carbonation, light-medium bodied, very smooth and easy drinking.

This is one of the better Pumpkin lagers i've had yet. They did a nice job on this beer, and the ABV is perfect.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 03:58:56 | More by wolfinthemirror

Brideshead

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A translucent brew, orange and bright in the light. The head is very slight but lingering.

I was taken by surprise with this beer. While the nose certainly doesn't pull out any flashy tricks, its cinnamon and creamy notes are quite pleasant. On the palate, the beer starts off a bit crisp. Notes of clove and other spices come in, along with a very prominent taste of cinnamon. The spices are just shy enough to resist the "in your face" pandemic sweeping the world of spiced pumpkin beers.

The finish is quite sweet: malty with a hint of creamy pumpkin. All in all, I'd put this lager up there with the more well-balanced, highly drinkable spiced beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2010 16:48:41 | More by Brideshead

BeerAndBourbon

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A. Pours a clear orange with a whispy off white head that quickly dissipates to a thin foam.

T. Lots of spice on the nose: allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove.

S. Spices come through on the tongue along with some graham cracker and some malty sweetness - I don't really taste any pumpkin in there.

M. Medium bodied with a high level of brisk carbonation.

D. While you don't really get much pumpkin out of the beer, the spices are enough to make you think of fall. All in all I have to say that this is one of the more solid pumpkin beers I've had this year, which is saying something considering this is my 8th or 9th pumpkin beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2010 00:58:26 | More by BeerAndBourbon

Chaney

District of Columbia

3.88/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I got this as an extra from BeerFMAndy as part of an amazing Wisconsin monster box trade.

Poured into a Dogfish Head chalice:

A: Pours a fairly clear, yet mildly peppery orange color with about a 1/2 inch head which keeps a fairly decent retention throughout.

S: All the standard pumpkin spices are present: cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice, cloves, and a healthy presence from the gourd itself.

T: Did I mention cinnamon? Yep....that spice takes center stage here and since that is my favorite spice, I'm kinda digging this. The body is a bit on the medium-thin side, but the brew is not too sweet or syrupy and full of pumpkin goodness!

M: No stickiness hanging on for dear life and carbonation level is spot on.

D: While this one doesn't stand out in the vast sea of pumpkin ales on the market, the Lakefront Pumpkin is underappreciated compared to the previous reviews on BA IMO.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2010 13:33:13 | More by Chaney

BradLikesBrew

Missouri

2.58/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to Jeremiah for the bottle.

Pours a caramel body with a white head.

Cloves and nutmeg take center stage aroma wise.

Pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove flavors. Sweet pumpkin is the focal point, but the spice builds stronger with each sip. Spice lingers on the finish; doesn't want to go away.

Medium carbonation, body is a bit thin.

Not as bad as it has been in years past, but by the end of my glass I can't even taste pumpkin, the spice has totally taken over.

Lakefront Pumpkin Lager Beer (awful name btw) is a good pumpkin beer for people who love pumpkin spices. It is not very balanced and it has virtually no actual "beer" flavor. I will never understand why this is so popular, but who am I to judge. Its not for me and that's why I offer so many alternatives at the shop.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2010 23:52:19 | More by BradLikesBrew

dbtoe

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz poured into a shaker pint
I really haven't had many pumpkin beers and this is my first pumpkin lager. Really am unsure how to score this one. My opinion is it is an ok beer but I'm not going to be buying it again.
Look is an orangish gold with a fair head that reduced down to a thin cap.
Smell is all pumpkin spice.
Taste is pretty much the same mostly spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove. Mild toasty malt and I get no pumpkin flavor.
Feel a lot of carbonation and pretty thin.
Drink this isn't much of a drinker. 1 at a time is really enough for me even though I did have 3 in a sitting last night. Kind of became too much the spices really take over after the first one.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2010 15:00:18 | More by dbtoe

SammyDavisJrJrJr

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served at about 45F after a hard pour into the classic glass Lowenbrau stein. Listening to that Mumford and Sons song...

A - Crystal clear light amber body with two perfect fingers of tight off white head. Quite pretty...

S - Right off the bat the sweet spice aroma is huge, just like my jar of allspice. It settles down after a while to reveal a mild sweet grain and a spice aroma more focused on cinnamon. Nothing here that really makes me think of canned pumpkin however...

T - Nice grainy malt sweetness in the entry with spice presence that seems to focus on cinnamon and clove. Definite mineral flavors in the midpalate that lead to a quaffable, momentarily clean finish. After a few seconds, the cinnamon comes back to remind you that this is a fall seasonal.

D - This beer works for me, its a well made lager, as Lakefront is known to do. Manages to avoid being flabby like most pumpkin beers I've had, while still having the spice to make me think fall. The only complaint would be the apparent lack of actual pumpkin flavor, although I'm not sure if it's possible to naturally add that without taking away that characteristics that I love about this beer. Anways, best pumpkin beer I've had in a sixer so far, although still not quite as good as St. Ambroise The Great Pumpkin Ale and that nice light one.. what was it? Oh yeah, Pumking.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2010 00:47:09 | More by SammyDavisJrJrJr

Rayek

Colorado

3.48/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a perfect pint glass.

A: Slightly hazy amber with mild carbonation. A fizzy eggshell cap comes and goes quickly as it retreats to a ring at the edge of the beer. Leaves no lace.

S: Pumpkin pie spices dominate. Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and allspice all vie for predominance. The pumpkin can be sensed, but only slightly.

T: A raw pumpkin flavor starts things. It's backed up by a mild husky malt flavor. The aforementioned spices come on in the middle and linger through the finish.

M: The medium body is dry and could stand having the carbonation turned down a notch.

D: This is an OK pumpkin beer. A good autumn offering from Lakefront.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2010 00:38:05 | More by Rayek

nghab

Wisconsin

4.22/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Note: this bottle is from the basement beerchives, of un-remembered year. Notch on label indicates only the month of bottling (September)

Appearance: Poured a slightly hazy orange-y colour with a beautiful dense and long-lasting ==1 inch head. The haze doesn't offend me considering the age of the beer.

Aroma: Very malty and spicy, your usual "pumpkin pie" spices. No off aromas.

Flavour: Complex malty sweetness accented by spices. Spice character is reasonably assertive, but not overpowering. Time has been good to this marriage of malt and spice. The pumpkin is present, it's not all spice, but, as expected of any pumpkin beer, it's in the background.

Mouthfeel: It's in the mouthfeel where the presence of pumpkin in the beer really makes the difference compared to so-called "pumpkin" beers that are really just the pie spices. Medium body with a solid and full mouthfeel from the pumpkin and medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Overall, this beer has improved with aging in that the spices and the malt have softened and blended together well. It doesn't surprise me very much because Lakefront's Holiday Spice is also much better with a few years of aging than it is fresh from the brewery. This beer was just a big "wow!" when I opened it earlier today.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2010 03:12:28 | More by nghab

jsh420

Illinois

2.88/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

pours hazy orange with a 1/2 finger head that left no lacing

smells more like xmas (allspice) very little pumpkin

taste - this beer is more anchor xmas ale than most pumpkin brews - the aftertaste is the only time the pumpkin shows up

mouthfeel is light with no carbonation

drinkability is not good since there are plenty of other good/great pumpkin beers

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2010 02:37:30 | More by jsh420

Haybeerman

Colorado

3.25/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Hazy orange/amber color. Pored a 2 finger off-white lumpy head with good retention. Few patches of lace.

S: Big allspice notes. Pumpkin and a little citrus note.

T: Allspice up front and through-and-through. Pumpkin comes through in the middle. Light bitter finish.

M: Light body. Moderate carbonation. A little harsh with the allspice and a little dry.

D: Easily drinkable, just not very special. Would benefit from a little better balance.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2010 23:06:06 | More by Haybeerman

donteatpoop

Ohio

3.3/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clear amber/dark orange color with a very shortly lived white head.

The scent is sweetly spiced, the spicer really dominating the nose.

On the tongue the spice again dominates, though it does blend nicely with the (pilsner?) hops and bready malts.

Not bad. Haven't had many spiced/flavored lagers, but this is one of the better ones.

Generally with pumpkin ales/lagers the spice is done improperly and leaves me with a distaste. This is one of the few exceptions. Not something I'd seek out, but I drank the whole thing.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2010 04:28:43 | More by donteatpoop

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.13/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: light tan/orange body, very little head

Smell: nutmeg, allspice, trace of pumpkin.

Taste: mostly spices, hint of pumpkin, slight bitter

Mouthfeel: light body, average carbonation. Wish the beer was heavier for the complex amount of spices.

Drinkable: No more than 1-2, kind of disappointed. Pumpkin and beer are 2 of my FAVORITE things; this beer was ordinary.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2010 19:23:13 | More by BeerLover99

Domingo

Colorado

3.65/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This is one of the few times you'll see a spiced lager. In fact, I think it's the only pumpkin lager I've seen, too.
Pours an amber color headed toward a burn orange, but not completely there. Head is minimal and the head laces for a little bit, but doesn't really stick.
Allspice, cinnamon, and sweet malts are really the main focuses of the nose. A sulfuric whiff here and there, too...but nothing a typical lager doesn't have. If anything it's dialed back compared to most pumpkin beers.
The flavor starts off sweet with caramel malts and spicy with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ans cloves. The cloves offer a hint of numbness, but only for a second. The finish fades to a more sour flavor...which reveals they likely actually used some real pumpkin in addition to spices.
Mouthfeel is slick and makes this beer pretty quaffable if you want.
As with ALL pumpkin beers, you're not going to want more than 1 or 2. I'd say this is one of the more easy drinking variations, though.
One of the better pumpkin beers out there just because while the spices run the show, they aren't overwhelming. The sourness in the finish also helps to keep things moving, too.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2010 19:49:27 | More by Domingo

drpimento

Wisconsin

2.9/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Having a bottle that's a couple years old so I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt. Very slight pop when opened and small tan head that quickly disappeared and no lace. Color is a hazy orange amber with a little sediment. Aroma is pumpkin pie spice with some natural pumpkin and malt. Flavor is like aroma but with some sour. Beer is turning/turned. Body is ok but carbonation is going flat. Finish is like flavor. I've had these fresh many times before and they're much better.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2010 00:45:06 | More by drpimento

ksbeernuts

Wisconsin

3.43/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance is average, orange with a nice creamy tan head.

Smell was of nutmeg and pumpkin. Almost like a pumpkin muffin.

Taste is malty sweet with the pumpkin. Some spices are also noted. Not much bitterness at all.

Mouthfeel was average with nice carbination.

Drinkable with no more than 2 or 3.

The problem with the beer is the consistency between bottles. I have some that were awesome and some that were meh.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2010 14:12:24 | More by ksbeernuts

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.43/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a two finger white head that fades quickly to a ring, leaving traces of lace. Almost clear amber color. Pumpkin malt nose. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Flavor is a malty pumpkin, some sweetness. Bottled Sep 2009. $1.90 for a 12oz bottle from Tully's Beer & Wine Wells, Me.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2010 23:35:42 | More by jdhilt

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.61/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A nice little suprise from a Pumpkin Ale. Looks like nothing special, kinda dark brown, but the aroma, is genuine pumpkin and nutmeg? Taste, more of the same, but there is something that livens the ale, makes it a little less heavy than a big slice of pumpkin pie.

That levity brings a great finish/aftertaste to the beer, pumpkin spice maintains, you may even detect a sprinkling of vanilla? I dunno, but whatever it is, I like it. Remains drinkable, but I can't see having more than 2 in a sitting, due to the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2010 19:03:01 | More by Beerandraiderfan