Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale - Stevens Point Brewery

Schmidts

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours from the bottle deep amber brown with a nice tan head that leaves lots of lace.
Smells of sweet breads and fresh baked Pumpkin Pie, with cinnamon. Now the best part the taste. Liquid Pumpkin Pie with a kick. A nice semi sweet Pumpkin pie taste hits your mouth with a nice hit of Alcohol and spices. Clean semi sweet and filled with real pumpkin flavor this is the best Pumpkin Ale I have ever had. Mouth feel, It is also very creamy in your mouth. It makes your mouth feel totaly refreshed and ready for another one. This is one Pumpkin Ale everyone should try! It is Exceptional in flavor and refreshment and very balanced and at 7.50 ABV very drinkable anyway.
Give this one a try you will thank yourself. Overall I give it a 4.5 A truely Amazing Pumpkin Ale!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 02:23:23 | More by Schmidts

RedSpecial1

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a clear amber with orange highlights and a decent amount of white head that disappears quickly.

S: A gourd-like sweetness is the main character, with a hint of pumpkin pie following with an almost burnt sugar character.

T: The flavor is a sweet gourd character up front, followed by the same pumpkin pie spice and burnt sugar character on the finish. Very restrained, and refreshing.

M: Light, with moderate carbonation. The flavors are distinct, but work well together.

O: Overall, an excellent example of a pumpkin ale. You get the feeling that there is actually pumpkin used in this recipe from some of the residual flavors, and the spices aren't ridiculously in your face as they are in so many other examples of the style. Definitely a good example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 21:56:39 | More by RedSpecial1

dudemuskie

Illinois

4.47/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Grabbed a single 12oz bottle at The Andersons in Toledo.

Appearance- Clear, deep orange with burnt orange highlights. Very nice color. Quickly fading, loose, very light beige head.

Aroma- Bright fresh baked pumpkin/squash-like aroma with an interesting perfume like essence. Subtle nutmeg and cinnamon spice that is supportive, not overwhelming. Undertones of toasty malt and burnt sugar pull everything together nicely. Great aroma!

Flavor- Starts with a moderately sweet maltiness and a nice subtle blend of spices. Fresh pumpkin fills the mouth in the middle to mute the spices bring the flavors together and push into a nicely balanced, softly spiced slice o' pumpkin pie finish. Notes of herbal hop bitterness throughout. Well balanced spice, pumpkin, malt, and hops!

Mouthfeel- Slightly creamy feel that really helps make this quite drinkable. Medium bodied, moderate CO2, low-moderate residual sugars. Nice balance of all flavors. Slight warming sensation but its pretty subtle.

Overall- A new favorite pumpkin ale! Finally, a pumpkin ale that actually tastes like a slice of pumpkin pie without being overly spiced! Excellent work balancing everything out without losing the spice, pumpkin, hop, and malt flavors. Great job on this beer, and a well hidden 7.4% to boot! Wish I would have grabbed a whole 4 pack!

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2010 13:22:57 | More by dudemuskie

clareo

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the 2011 vintage.

A - Pleasant amber with an orange cast. Thin white head.

S - Squashy pumpkin smell dominates with light pumpkin pie spicing. Some malts. Well-balanced spice to pumpkin aroma.

T - Sweet pumpkin pie; this one is very competent - the spice doesn't overwhelm the pumpkin, the pumpkin is distinct enough while avoiding the squashy, gourd-y flavor of some pumpkin ales.

M - A little effervescent on the tongue, mostly smooth and silky, light-medium bodied.

O - An exceptionally well-balanced, refreshing pumpkin ale that avoids tipping the scales too far in any direction. A great find, and one of the better in the style I've had.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 21:56:17 | More by clareo

areich6

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a beautiful amber/dark orange color with a little bit of white head.

S: Extremely powerful hints of cinammon and pumpkin. Fantastic.

T: Strong pumpkin flavor, very good. I wish there was a little more cinammon quality to the taste, but overall very tasty. The 7.5% ABV is barely noticable.

M: A little light, but very creamy, with a very small amount of carbonation. Goes down very smooth.

O: This is a fantastic pumpkin ale, would recommend it to anybody who is looking for a beer that fits the season.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 02:50:51 | More by areich6

UnderPressure

South Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours clear, copper colored, and with a thin head that melts quickly to a white ring. A thin layer of yeast or sediment at the bottom of the bottle.

Sweet malt and spice in the aroma. Not an overwhelming spice profile like some pumpkin ales I've tried.

Great flavor. Reminiscent of a graham cracker. Cinnamon, ginger, and plenty of sweetness. I was not expecting the flavor to be so delicious!

Smooth, heavy bodied beer with a very wet lingering finish. A nice, sharp carbonation.

The appearance and aroma was a little misleading. But, this is a really great pumpkin ale. Bold, heavy, sweet and flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 16:56:47 | More by UnderPressure

TTAmod

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Doesn't look too bad. Hazy dark orange liquid with a one finger white head that fades quickly. Halfway through the drink, there is no head.

S: Smells heavily of pumpkin pie. Sweet malt, pumpkin, and subtle spices.

T: Yum, yum, yum, yum. This has one of the best, most flavorful pumpkin profiles I've ever had. The sweet pumpkin is there, but it's supported by your usual dose of pumpkin spices: nutmeg, cinnamon, etc. However, the spices don't overpower the pumpkin.

M: It's a bit thin and bubbly. It's not too distracting, but it could weaken the flavor. The 7.5% is no where to be seen. Very drinkable.

O: Pumpkin ales are extremely hit or miss. This one is very, very good. Typically, the brewers overload the beer with spices that one would associate with pumpkin pie, but not add real pumpkin (or just add some type of artificial pumpkin flavor.)

With this one, you get a lot of actual pumpkin taste with the spices supporting it instead of overpowering it.

Aside from the appearance and mouthfeel, this is the perfect pumpkin ale, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 03:45:38 | More by TTAmod

Duff27

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Murky dull copper color, short white head. Nice lacing, cap and collar.

Fall potpourri smelling. Sweet aromas.

Real sweet, cinnamon dominates. Hints of vanilla? Leaves the mouth watering. Would guess 7.5%abv.

Medium to medium-thick mouthfeel for the style. Smooth carbonation fits.

Consider me pleasantly surprised with the Stevens Point Whole Hog Pumpkin. Well integrated spices with the base beer, everything fits well. Highly recommended, trust me.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 22:18:26 | More by Duff27

pschul4

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Pours a gorgeous deep amber with a nice 1" head that leaves good lacing.

S- Pumpkin pie. Plain and simple. Pie spices and nice meaty pumpkin

T- Little bit of a let down after the smell but still great. Spices along with actual pumpkin come through and some booze.

M- Really smooth with some carbonation on the back end

O- Smells amazing and has a ton of nice flavor but not quite perfect

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 03:30:07 | More by pschul4

MaximalC

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a thick, murky caramel color with a minimal khaki head that soon dissipates. The aroma smells EXACTLY of pumpkin pie, and not in the contrived, artificial way that is so often the case. Probably the most authentic smelling pumpkin ale I've tried. Traces of raisin and alcohol manifest as well as the beer warms.

Flavors are subtle and complex, slowly progressing from start to finish. Pumpkin, hops, gingerbread, and some caramel malt present up front. This is followed by a dose of pumpkin spices that tickle the back of the tongue, awash in pumpkin and mild hop bitterness. Alcohol hits at the finish in a way that is slightly more caustic than I would prefer, and the hops overstay their welcome a shade as well, but these are fairly minor grievances. Maybe it's my imagination, but there appear to be traces of golden delicious apple lurking near the finish as well. This is a complex brew indeed.

The mouthfeel is pretty robust for a pumpkin ale and complements the flavor profile nicely. The overall experience only enhances as the beer warms, lending even more vitality and depth of flavor. I think it would be fair to say that Whole Hog is the closest I've come to finding a pumpkin ale that embodies what I've always imagined a pumpkin ale should be: a smooth, rich, flavorful beer infused with the essence of authentic pumpkin pie. A real winner.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 01:52:21 | More by MaximalC

riversider76

New York

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

Pours a clear burnt orange/amber with a fluffy white head. Not much retention and just a hint of laceing. Aroma is of spiced pumpkin and cinnamon.Body is light and crisp with some carbonation. Taste is of creamy pumpkin pie. Spicy,with hints of dark fruit and maybe even some chocolate. Excellent!

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2010 00:42:43 | More by riversider76

rangerred

Tennessee

4.18/5  rDev +4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a tulip.

Pours a hazy brownish-orange with a thin head that quickly fades into a ring around the edge of the glass. Nothing in the way of lacing.

Aroma is one of the best I've experienced in a pumpkin beer. Spices like clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon are there but there is an added sweetness. Almost like whipped cream.

The taste carries the same characteristics as the aroma and again that whipped cream touch the makes it perfect. There is also a little bit of caramel and never does the beer become too sweet and cloying. Mouthfeel is slightly sticky and finishes pretty clean.

Overall, a really amazing pumpkin beer that more people need to try. I wish more could be made like this.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 01:07:54 | More by rangerred

BB1313

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours a murky burnt orange. This is clearly unfiltered with some minor sediment. Small white head fades pretty quickly, leaving little lacing and nice retention. The aromas are full of caramel malts, similar to the candy caramels. There's also a touch of maple syrup. I can pick up some squash and other vegetables. It also has an apple aroma. To sum it up, it smells like a caramel apple, but malty. The spices aren't very present in the aromas at all. The flavors come out of left field. I wouldn't expect these flavors based on the aromas. It starts off with your typical sweet brown sugar and nutmeg, but then you get slapped with some tasty cinnamon and sugar. And not the yucky powdered cinnamon, but fresh vibrant tasty cinnamon from a stick. The finish is a huge blast of flavorful spices. There's a touch of vanilla. It basically tastes like a cinnamon sugar cookie. Mouthfeel is the fuller side of medium-bodied. The carbonation is pretty active and prickly, but it's smooth and slightly oily. The alcohol goes completely unnoticed.

This is a really nice pumpkin ale. It has some qualities I've never come across in the style. It's traditional with a unique, original twist. The best part about it is that it tastes very good.. which is always a good thing. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 23:41:03 | More by BB1313

Pintofbrown

Iowa

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this pumpkin in a shaker pint.

Appearance- The body has a nice dark amber with look turning into orange hues in the light. The head sat at about a finger's width before the tawny cap dwindled to pencil width. Some carbonation is jetting up from the bottom of the glass.

Smell- This basically smells like pumpkin pie. No, not even basically, it smells like pumpkin pie! It smells like pounds of pumpkin pie filling were used to make this. I ain't even mad. Of course, that means the flavors of nutmeg, brown sugar, and sweet pie crust are oozing out of the glass.

Taste- I am almost tickled to bits to say that the taste is an almost exact copy of the nose! The reins have been pulled a bit to slow down the flavor, nevertheless, that great pumpkin pie flavor comes through. There is a slight heat in the finish, but it isn't doing any damage to the overall flavor. I also appreciate a mineral water flavor throughout.

Mouth feel- Very smooth feel and a nice medium body, I wish it stuck a little more to the cheeks. That way the pumpkin pie flavor could be relished long after the drink.

Overall- What a surprise this pumpkin was! Maybe I really am just looking for pumpkin pie in a glass. I suppose that isn't a bad thing. Talk about a beer that goes well with the season, and tastes great to boot!

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 03:39:02 | More by Pintofbrown

jera1350

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Burnt orange color with a minimal head that leaves a little lacing.

Very fragrant nose of pumpkin and spices. Cinnamon and nutmeg are pretty prevalent.

Much like the nose. Picking up the pumpkin for sure. Spices? Oh yeah. Lots of spices, maybe a bit too much. Spicy cinnamon, along with nutmeg and a sweet pie crust presence. The overall flavor is like a heavily spiced pumpkin pie.

About medium bodied. The feel is smooth, maybe even a bit slick.

One or two of these would be the most I would have. If the spices were a bit more subdued, this one would be even more drinkable. For the style, it fits in nicely. If you're a pumpkin pie fan, this one is a must try.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2010 02:19:23 | More by jera1350

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked this up in Totowa hoping that a 4-pack like this would be worth the value. Sure enough, it was and for anyone who is a fan of this style, this dark and filling beer could easily hit the spot. While it wasn't as spicy as some of the others that I've had, there's enough here to enjoy, even if the alcohol is just a notch too high.

Nice, dark pour to this with lighter edges and a rich, tan head that held its own before quickly fading. As to be expected, this smelled like pumpkin pie and tasted like it too. A bit less on the spicy side - vanilla, cream, and some brown sugar could be found here and the mouthfeel was full and nicely balanced. This packed quite a taste and punch for a beer of this style and it was refreshing to have a Pumpkin Ale like this that begged for an Autumnal dessert to be paired with it.

To be fair, this was not a quick sipper like so many other beers that are out during this season. It added a bit of a warming effect as I finished this up but it didn't detract from the taste or mouthfeel. This would never dare be labelled as an Imperial Pumpkin Ale but this was right up there with the Southern Tier Pumpking on the must-haves for the season. I can't wait to finish the rest of the 4-pack!

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 20:37:55 | More by JerzDevl2000

Winter

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

C- Attractive clear copper with a thin khaki head.

A- Pumpkin spices, cinnamon & nutmeg.

MF- Medium in body.

T- Nice malty body that delivers on a solid pumpkin flavor, in addition to your typical pumpkin pie spicing. There's flavors of cinnamon, cardamon and nutmeg.

D- Spot on for a perfect Fall pumpkin beer to be enjoyed right up until to Thanksgiving dinner.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2009 19:00:50 | More by Winter

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass at fridge-cellar temperature.

L – Deep amber color with a 1-finger foamy cream-colored head. Decent retention but no lacing. Clear with a decent amount of bubbles.

S – Caramel malt, gingerbread, pumpkin, cinnamon, and a little bit of nutmeg. The aroma really develops nicely as the beer warms.

T – Sweet all the way through with caramel, toasted malt, molasses, and pumpkin. Spice picks up mid-taste with nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger flavors that last through the finish.

F – Medium-bodied with good carbonation, a sticky and mouth-coating feel, and a sweet and slightly spicy mouthfeel. Gingerbread sweetness and spice lingers nicely. There may be a very subtle throat-warming sensation from the alcohol here.

O – This is a really tasty and different pumpkin beer. It’s definitely darker and maltier than most pumpkin ales that I’ve had, giving the beer a nice caramel-sweet aroma and flavor. There’s also a solid amount of gingerbread in the aroma and flavor, something that I haven’t experienced in a pumpkin beer yet. The 7.5% is hidden very well, too. This is the first I’ve ever heard of Stevens Point, but I’ll be looking for more from them in the future.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 01:03:29 | More by BlackBelt5112203

wiscokid920

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into pint glass

A- Amber with orange hues. One finger head which fades fast to a ring around the glass.

S- Pumpkin pie! Nutmeg, brown sugar, pumpkin pie filling.

T- Fantastic pumpkin flavors. Featuring caramelized sweetness, nutmeg and spice. Ends with a bit of a heat which helps exemplify the spicy notes.

M- Smooth medium bodied brew complemented with a spicy bite and heat.

O- Hands down, the best pumpkin ale I have had. This one ACTUALLY tastes like pumpkin. I will definitely be having this beer with my thanksgiving meal this season. For those you who are down on pumpkin ales, give this take a try and it might change your opinion.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 04:37:12 | More by wiscokid920

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #33 (Oct 2009):

Deep and inviting brownish amber. Creamy spicy aroma of fall pies, yeah ... it smells like pumpkin pie. Smooth and bity mouthfeel. The body, the maltiness and the spicing are all amazing with this thickness that slowly rolls across the palate and down the throat. Packs a small kick at 7.5-percent ABV, so this would be considered an Imperial Pumpkin. Some esters show off a ripe fruit flavor middle to end. Caramelized sugars from the malt bounce off the pie spice. With 10 IBUs, the hops are pretty much nonexistent, which is fine as it lets the pie spice do all of the work. Spicing is most definitely here, but does not become tiresome. Yes! We can taste a smidgen of pumpkin, which makes all of the difference.

This Imperial Pumpkin Ale has some meat. The complexities make you think about the style all over again, while it begs to be paired with your typical turkey dinner.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 21:53:32 | More by BeerAdvocate

9InchNails

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this on-tap at Andy's Corner Bar in Bogota, New Jersey.

Copper color body, off white head.

Mostly cinnamon and pumpkin with the aroma.

Cinnamon, brown sugar, pumpkin, and even a detection of mint comes through with the taste. Quite tasty.

Light carbonation, very easy to drink but I can see how it can get a little heavy in the tummy after another one.

This is a tasty pumpkin ale; I have had others where it was too unbalanced but this is quite tasty. All the flavors work well together and nothing is too overpowering. Alcohol is hidden well.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2011 07:35:44 | More by 9InchNails

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a bottle at my Local D's for around 3 bucks.

A - Pours a nice shade of amber with slight orange hue. Head is a half an inch and surprisingly creamy.

S - First whiff was musty pumpkin and sweet malts. In the glass I can easily pick up other layers of cinnamon, all spice, and solid nutmeg.

T - Far from perfect since as always it could use more spice but it was tasty. First wave was a solid sweet malt base surrounded in earthy pumpkin yet its balanced. Next layer is spice mostly cinnamon and all spice which includes mild nutmeg and it finishes sweet with no hops (since its a mere 10 IBU's)

M - I found this beer between medium and heavy bodied. Very on par for an imperial pumpkin.

Overall I liked it. It was a big surprise to find it and even better to try it. The sweetness wasn't overbearing and the pumpkin/spices were balanced. One of the better pumpkin ales I have tried, I would recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 02:11:06 | More by DrDemento456

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Capone's, Norristown, PA

Poured a burnt amber color with a slight chill haze, and a small bubbly cap of whitish head. Nice aroma of pumpkin pie and ginger snaps. The taste was a bit more subtle, but still adequately pronounced: right up front, caramel, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, a touch of cinnamon; entering mid-palate is a bit more bitterness from the pumpkin pulp, and just a tiny hint of leafy hoppiness. Light-medium body, crisp, and drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2011 12:09:17 | More by Rifugium

MsRif

Pennsylvania

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

Had on-tap at Capone's in Norristown, PA. Poured an orangey amber color with some haziness to it. Had an aroma of spices, vanilla, caramel...pumpkin pie-esque. Taste was similar to the aroma but a little bit buttery...tasted pretty much like pumpkin pie. Very, very light hop taste...but still present. Complex and well-balanced!

Light to medium bodied, good carbonation and very drinkable. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2011 18:27:41 | More by MsRif

zeff80

Missouri

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

A - Poured out a clear, orange/burgundy color with a small, off-white, bubbly head of foam. It left little to no lace.

S - It smelled of nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkin. Pretty standard for the style but pretty good.

T - This has a good pumpkin flavor. You can tell they use real pumpkins. The spices were just right. Nice nutmeg and cinnamon flavors.

M - It was crisp and smooth. A light to medium-bodied ale

D - This is a pretty good pumpkin ale. I found it much better than the Whole Hog IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2009 16:15:05 | More by zeff80