Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout - Cape Ann Brewing Company

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

One of the last few pumpkin beers of the year for me tonight. I have been waiting to try this one, and decided to take it out for a little bit of a nightcap last night. Served at cellar temp and poured into a wine glass. This one was consumed on 11/03/2008.

The pour came off to me at least a little bit unusual for the style. A stout? Not really seeing it. A nice dark brown, that was definitely translucent from what I could see. A small, wispy head of off white came up over the top and settled down gracefully into the glass, leaving just a trace of side glass lacing.

The aroma was filled with pumpkin spice, though not as big on the light, autumn sent that I have been accustomed to over the last couple months. Nice notes of chocolate and caramel mixed in left it feeling a bit fuller, though admittedly a little light in the overall punch. The flavor though I really thought was quite interesting. Hints of chocolate and roasted malts, melting seamlessly with cinnamon and nutmeg touches that really accented them well. Rolling flavor that coated the tongue fully. The feel though was lacking for me, barely thicker then an ale, this was a little short for calling itself a stout. Still though very solid and something that was a very easy drinker.

Overall not bad, not my favorite of the year here, but overall not bad. I would not turn my nose up at this one anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2008 14:15:52 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes.

Pours near black with a slight mocha head and a tad bit of lacing. Nose is roast and chocolate with some pumpkin and ligt spicing in the background. The taste is the same and is more lime a stout with just a bit of pumpkin. Good feel with a bit of dryness. Drinks well and is a nice twist on the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2010 22:17:31 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a dark brown body with a medium-sized, light tan head.

Smell: Dark roasted malts with star anise, unsweetened chocolate, pumpkin, and the obligatory pumpkin spice.

Taste: Roasted malt flavor with a fair amount of chocolate and even some licorice. The pumpkin flavor takes a backseat to the stout. However, the pumpkin spice is, well... spicy, and it really helps to lighten things up. Drying, spicy finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Pumpkin Ale and Stout, what a cute combination.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2007 04:32:17 | More by ChainGangGuy

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a small snifter.

Thanks to cbeer88 for this bottle!

Reviewed blind as part of Blind BIF 7. This stuff pours a very dark black brown, an inky cola, topped by a finger of dusty khaki foam. The nose comprises brown sugar, light cinnamon, clove, and light cocoa powder. The taste holds notes of cola, brown sugar, molasses, light hickory smoke and clove. The body is a light medium, with a moderate carbonation and a thinly smooth feel. Overall, a nice little stout. I suppose the smoke character I got was actually some toasted pumpkin seeds or something, but it doesn't really matter all that much. If this stuff were a smidge thicker, this would be some great beer-age.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 04:19:07 | More by TMoney2591

metter98

New York

3.68/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is very dark amber (near black) in color and has a slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter-finger beige head that died down but consistently left wispy patterns of bubbles on the surface and a thick ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light to moderately strong aromas of pumpkin and pumpkin spices in the nose
T: Much like the smell, the taste has balanced flavors of pumpkin and pumpkin spices along with hints of roasted malts from the stout.
M: It feels medium-bodied, quite smooth and somewhat creamy on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is very easy to drink and is a nice hybrid of a stout and a pumpkin ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 04:35:58 | More by metter98

WesWes

New York

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

The beer pours a pitch black color with a thick frothy tan head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a fresh pumpkin scent along with a solid chocolate and black malt aroma. It's light and creamy, almost like a Guiness with pumpkin added. The taste is decent. It has a light, almost watery, black malt and pumpkin flavor. It's easily quaffable with just a mild earthy feel. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a good drinking seasonal. I love how it's light and refreshing, not heavy and alcohol ridden.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2010 21:51:13 | More by WesWes

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.58/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap 12/28/08 at Doherty's East Ave Irish Pub in Pawtucket, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a dark brown color, with a large light brown head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of dark malt, pumpkin and chocolate with a touch of hops.

T: The taste is malty with flavors of chocolate, coffee, pumpkin and spices up front. There's a hearty malt character and a mild but complimentary hops presence that brings some balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and very smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, good kick, good representation of style and fits its niche within the style well, although it's a decent beer, I'm not a big enough fan of Pumpkin Ales or stouts to what to drink this beer again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2008 05:21:28 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This pumpkin stout pours as a deep brown color with a tan colored head on it. The smell have some pretty good spices on the nose. The flavor of the beer kind of lacked for me, the spicy nose doesn't transfer over to the taste all that much. The mouthfeel is pretty light for a stout . Overall it's a decent brew for the style. It's probably worth checking out in the fall.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 00:50:50 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.38/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got this from RblWthACoz, cheers John!

Pours mahogany with 1+ finger of tan head. Average lacing & head retention

S: Chocolate, a touch of oaky smoke & pumpkin pie spices

T: A touch chocolate, some restrained smokeyness & rich pumpkin up front. A bit of roasted, grain, nutmeg & cocoa are there as this warms. Finishes with plums, cocoa & slight smokeyness

MF: Smooth, medium bodied, low carbonation

Drinks very easy for the style & ABV. This is among the best for this style I've ever had

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2008 02:03:03 | More by russpowell

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.47/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours with an almost, three finger-thick, lightly browned, tan colored head that is a mix of creamy and frothy consistencies. The beer is a dark brown almost black color that is dark enough to be opaque when held up to the light, despite showing a clear, dark chocolate hue as I was pouring. The aroma is clearly pumpkin influenced as that is what is most noticeable as I am pouring this brew; not just spices either, there is a nice, fleshy pumpkin meat character to this brew. Upon deeper inspecting softly roasted, dark malt notes (light espresso, toasted grain, touch of chocolate) accent notes of cinnamon, caramelized pumpkin flesh and a touch of nutmeg. The nose of this brew has a really nice balance that I was not expecting; this is clearly a pumpkin beer, but the spice notes are quite restrained and the underlying Stout aromatics are a really nice touch.

The beer starts out dry and lightly tart, but picks up a malty, chocolate-like sweetness through the middle at which point some cinnamon notes accentuate the sweetness a bit more. The beer finishes with a flash of pumpkin pie and then a long, lingering, roasted grain character that tastes of charcoal, a light burnt acidity, a touch of blackened chalk, and a dry black coffee finish. Initially the pumpkin meat is not as noticeable in the flavor as it was in the aroma, but I think it does accent the middle of this brew and adds just a hint of squash flavors towards the finish. As the beer warms up though, the pumpkin flavors start to play a little bit bigger role here and are actually fairly noticeable. The texture of this beer is quite nice; soft, sort of creamy, with a palate coating quality to it, yet it is not overly heavy and is a the perfect drinking beer for cooler weather.

Definitely one of the best Pumpkin beers I have ever had; I would not have guessed it but the base beer style of a Stout pairs really well with the typical Pumpkin flavors and light spice notes. I definitely love well made Pumpkin brews, but they have been so hard to find commercially that I am really loving this beer. One of those beers that justs really hits the spot at this particular moment in time.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2008 02:03:45 | More by Gueuzedude

Halcyondays

California

3.7/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From a 12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours black with a soft white head, good retention.

S: Nice sweet note of pumpkin flesh mixed in with roasted malt, this is really where the pumpkin come out in the beer.

T: Heavy roasted malt, coffee, it tastes like a regular stout, I really didn't get a pumpkin flavour out of it.

M: On the lighter side for a stout, little bit of a brash carbonation.

D: A solid beer, not wowing by any means, not a pumpkin ale in the classic sense.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2009 20:21:53 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

3.05/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: black in color with a fluffy 1" head that lasts a while.

Smell: roasted malts and some hints of spice are hard to detect.

Taste: roasted malt, mild pumpkin spice flavors of nutmeg and cinnamon, some mellow cocoa tones, some earthiness, and a light bitterness make up a strange flavored beer that did not come across as expected.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Smooth from start to finish. Very short aftertaste with his beer.

Drinkability: the flavor profile did not do it for me. Slow sipping, this one had me looking for another style before I finished it.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2009 13:06:04 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours black with ruby highlights. A thin tan head leaves uneven lines of lacing.

The smell is of pumpkin spicing with chocolate and slight roast.

The taste is of medium pumpkin spicing with chocolatey and roasty stout character, especially in the finish.

The feel is a bit thin, but smooth with enough creaminess to that holds within the lighter side of the style well enough.

An interesting brew that is pumpkin-y with a stout character that blends well. The alcohol is very well-hidden, though the spiciness is enough for me to be happy having one (or two at most) at a time.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2008 03:38:16 | More by jwc215

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to krisandajt for this 12 oz bottle.

A: The stout has a cola brown color with red highlights around the edges. A finger and a half of off-white head leave sporadic lacing behind.

S: The stout is amply spiced, with nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice along a mild roasted stout body. The spices stand out much more than the stout.

T: The stout's roasted grains stand out much more in the body, adding chocolate and burnt toast to the sweet spices. As in the nose, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice throw walls of dry sweetness at you. The interaction of the spice and stout is better than I expected, although flavors do fall off rather quickly.

M: The mouthfeel doesn't skimp on the spice profile, at least until each sip is gone. After that, the flavors don't linger as long as I'd like.

D: Decent, although the depth of spices, as in most pumpkins, is just too much to really enjoy. An interesting bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2009 03:08:58 | More by akorsak

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours black with a tan head. Nose is all spices, but not really overpowering. Flavor is a mild mix of spices, pumpkin, and stout character. Honestly, I was expecting a thicker profile and just more pumpkin than what was delivered. I think the Dark Horse Blueberry Stout has spoiled me. Feel is okay, buts but thin on liquid. Lower carbonation. This is a nice attempt at an unusual combination. I think if it were thicker, it could go a lot farther.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2008 23:33:31 | More by RblWthACoz

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Modest head that leaves spotty lace. Pours a dark brown where the slightest of light will penetrate the edge of the glass.

Strong sweet chocolate with spicy pumpkin pie aromas.

Given the smell, this is a surprising taste--dry and bitter. A generous amount of hops gives this beer a bitter finish. The black patent malt gives this a coffee-like flavor. The sweetness is gone. Full bodied with a correspondingly above average carbonation.

This beer has character. It is complex without being gimicky. While this may be a Pumpkin Stout, I see it more as a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2007 00:31:17 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

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

Thanks goes out to JoeCeez for this brew.

Pours a very nice thick dark brown color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger fizzy tan head, which leaves some sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, very nice scent of pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon. The taste is very nice, malty, pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a tasty pumpkin ale, alot darker too, thanks Joe.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2008 01:53:06 | More by Wasatch

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I can't believe I somehow never put up a review for this beer. I love it, and I was on a pumpkin kick for a while. Found another 6-pack the other day, so I had to get more.

A: Pours creamy huge 2.5 finger head of darker milky rich thick creamy head. Almost pitch black color with no real light getting through. The head fades very slowly and leaves a lacing on the glass.

N: Some dark malts, some roast, hints of chocolate, and some pumpkin. A nice pumpkin aroma, with hints of little spice, Cinnamon, pumpkin pie, toasty pumpkin seeds, and lots of nice deliciousness.

T: Starts like a stout. A little bitter earthy stoutness, with some dark malt flavors, some roasted and chocolate but little, a nice dark rich stout flavor. Creamy chocolate and a little baker's chocolate. Rich dark fruit flavors even. Then comes a little hint of a nice pumpkin flavor, it's not over the top at all, its very subtle and nice. A hint of spices comes with it, adding a little cinnamon, and making it taste also a little like pumpkin pie.

M: Semi thick and very rich and creamy, a decent carbonation.

F: Finishes semi bitter, probably both the stouty roastedness and some hints of hops. Finishes a little drier which is nice. Lingering roasted and dark malt flavors, and hints of lingering pumpkin. Not really any late spices, just nice rich stout, almost as if the spices disappeared and this just became a nice creamy dry stout. Again I remember how much I like this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2010 03:49:29 | More by jlindros

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.55/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a two-fingered light cream head that fades quickly to a ring leaving some lace. Black color, no highlights. Medium carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Light chocolate/pumpkin nose and flavor is almost sweet pumpkin and chocolate. $2.25 for a 12oz bottle from Julio's Liquors Westborough, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 23:20:34 | More by jdhilt

mdfb79

New York

3.58/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into my Duvel tulip.

a - Pours a dark brown color, almost black, with less than an inch of white head and low carbonation evident.

s - Smells of roasted malts, coffee, light pumpkin, light spices, and a hint of chocolate.

t - Tastes of roasted malts, light bitter coffee, chocolate, and light pumpkin. No real spices in the taste.

m - Full body stout with low carbonation. Pretty smooth.

d - A decent stout that was small hints of pumpkin. If you like coffee stouts it's worth checking out, but it is not really a pumpkin beer if that's what you're looking for.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2010 21:40:17 | More by mdfb79

Billolick

New York

3.8/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle, no freshness info offered. Pours darkest of browns, moderate dark mocha head and more then just bits of lace left behind. Malty, roasty malt nose. Tasty stout, with ample roasted malts, light dark chocolate and equally light pumpkin notes mostly tasted towards the finish. Not being a big pumpkin beer fan, this one seemed to hit the right note on the amount of pumpkin flavor for me. Noticable but nowhere near overpowering. Nice fall beer

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2009 00:06:30 | More by Billolick

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle purchased as part of a mixed 6 from Yankee Spirits, Sturbridge, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/2" light brown head over the barely translucent dark brown brew. Head falls at an average pace, with slow-falling lace. Aroma is dominated by spices, but shows dark sweetness underneath. Taste begins with the dark malts, quickly gives way to the pumpkin spicing, and then the two balance out through the close. Mouthfeel is reasonably soft over the tongue, and drinkability is alright. The spicing is a bit strong for me, but better than most pumpkin brews in my book.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2008 00:05:14 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to warriorsoul for sharing this at Kennett Brew Fest...
Appears black with a fluffy, off white head that slowly fades into a mild head. Sticky chunks of lacing are left.
Smell is of obvious pumpkin, chocolate, coffee, roasted grains, and some sweet caramel. The spices were remarkably toned down in this...quite tame compared to some of the overkilled versions I've had.
Taste is that of the mentioned aromas with the obvious nod to pumpkins and chocolate being in the forefront of the flavors.
Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied with the sweetness and cocoa-like bitterness swirling about to an enjoyable brew. One of the better, more tolerable pumpkin beers I've had.

Serving type: growler

10-29-2007 15:33:15 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

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

Sampled through the efforts of Imstillthegman and 1000 Miles (or East/West again) BIF.

A near lightproof beer with a good brown head that lasts.

The smell is sweet and spicy with a fairly strong coffee aroma. Notable pumpkin pie spices but the char of the patent malt covers it up somewhat.

The taste begins mildly sweet with coffee and pumpkin pie spice in the after taste. A bit of unsweetened chocolate flavor appears after a while and the spice remains as an after taste.

Mouthfeel is OK.

Don't know if I really like this or not. It wins points for originality but I think I would really rather have a Guinness instead.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2007 00:49:49 | More by Zorro

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours black, with some ruby highlights along the bottom, and a finger of fizzy mocha colored head. Thin retention that skims the surface, leaving some moderate spotty lacing behind. The aroma is straight up pumpkin spices that dominate the nose with a tingling mix of cinnamon, ginger, and clove with underlying notes of chocolate sweetness and roast.

The taste is chocolate sweetness and dry roasted malt character with pumpkin pie spices that come out in the finish and linger. The mouthfeel is lighter-medium bodied with a moderate carbonation that has a bit of a thinner feel at times. It's hard to believe that this is nearly 7% though, as I don't sense it at all.

I liked this. The body seemed a bit light for a stout but the roasted chocolate malts and spices really worked well together. I'm going to have to drink a couple more of these on Thanksgiving with some pumpkin pie.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2008 17:25:59 | More by Kegatron