Hipp-O-Lantern - River Horse Brewing Co.

womencantsail

California

2.53/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Thanks for sharing this one, Bobby.

A: The beer pours a cloudy, brownish, amber color with a small, soapy, off-white head.

S: There's a light metallic note to it and some water there as well. Very heavy on the spice/herb notes. There's a ot of cinnamon and nutmeg along with a bit of sage. Some light grass and bready malt.

T: The flavor is almost savory/meaty. A light smoke note, some cardboard, and minimal pumpkin. There is also a moderate spice note, mostly the same ones as detected on the aroma.

M: Medium bodied with a medium carbonation.

O: Not a good aroma or flavor. Pretty bad pumpkin beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 17:54:47 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slightly thickened light to medium orange with a nice off white head. A bit of lacing as it goes down. Nose is caramel, brown sugar, hints of cream, and plenty of pumpkin spices. Taste is the same with the more traditional, non-spice flavors taking the front seat. Well balanced. Mouthfeel is medium and a bit creamy. Drinkability gets a higher score as this really goes down well and is one of only a few pumpkins beers that I can actually drink twelve ounces of.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2010 12:12:45 | More by Thorpe429

metter98

New York

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is hazy brownish orange in color. It poured with a half finger off white head that died down leaving a bit of lacing on the surface and a ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light to moderately strong aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin spices in the nose along with some hints of brown sugar.
T: The taste is very similar to the smell and has some hints of malty sweetness. The flavors become a little more complex as the beer warms up.
M: It feels medium-bodied and smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There are some hints of warming from the alcohol in the finish.
O: This beer is very flavorful and hides its alcohol very well considering the strength. I would definitely consider having this one again; it’s very good but a step or two below Weyerbacher’s Imperial Pumpkin.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 10:51:07 | More by metter98

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This pumpkin ale pours out as a deep copper color with a yellowish tan head. The head fizzles away leaving behind just a fee clumps on top of the beer. The smell is spicy and sweet smelling. The flavor of the beer doesn't really scream imperial to me, I found that the flavor was pretty much like any other regular pumpkin ale. The spices kick in right from the get go and the pumpkin is subtle in the background. The mouthfeel is carbonated and has a bite to it. Not a bad brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 01:40:14 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.4/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Got this bottle from Timmush, cheers Tim!

Pours a ruddy-hued caramel with a 1 finger deep tan head. A little viscosity to this, above average head retention & lacing

S: Faint metallic notes, squashy notes a touch of cinnamon at the end,

T: Fairly assertive booze mixes with a touch of woody & metallic hops up front, along with s touch of squash & dryness up front, pumpkin pie spice is very restrained.Nutmeg & cinnamon come through as this warms along with hints of gingerbread & molasses. Finishes bready (ginger) & with woody dryness & a more subtle hint of booze

MF: Fairly thick, a touch of booze heat & low carbonation

Interesting, i always think the bigger versions have way more upside. This one may cellar for a few years. Going down great on a fairly cold October afternoon in Okieland. Good to see a decent offering from these guys. Started slow, but came on. My previous encounter was pretty underwhelming

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011 17:24:16 | More by russpowell

Gavage

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: dark orange in color with a one finger head that slowly falls.

Smell: spices and malt sweetness are easy to pull from the glass.

Taste: big malt profile with nutmeg, cinnamon, a nice balancing bitterness, and warming alcohol create a nice version of the style.

Mouthfeel: medium-heavy in body. Lightly crisp to start, smoother at the finis. Aftertaste is long as the flavors stick to the tongue.

Drinkability: this is a slow drinking beer but provides a sign that fall and football are starting. Definitely a well done beer, but alcohol will limit you to one per session.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2010 12:36:05 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.15/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours hazed deep orange with a thin tan head that lasts and leaves some laci.ng.

The smell is of light pumpkin spicing with a grainy background.

The taste is of light pumpkin spicing with grainy malt. Alcohol peeks through. It has a sweet-ish mildly spicy finish.

It is pretty smooth despite the noticeable alcohol. It doesn't quite have enough body for an imperial.

The note on the label says "Nobody likes a show-off". Well, mission accomplished there. I don't particularly care for over-spiced beers. If this weren't labelled as an "imperial", and the alcohol cut back a bit I would have been more impressed.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 15:35:55 | More by jwc215

Billolick

New York

3.58/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ouncer, w/o freshness info, but with new graphics and 8.1% ABV

Pours hazed darker amber, oatmeal head, stays around for a good while, then turns inot a thicker collar and leaves ample fine lace.

Nose sadly is dominated by alcohol, with the expected pumpkin pie seasonings relagated to the background. Allspice, cinnimmon, vanilla and the crew.

Medium pumpkin notes, more alcohol tinged jabs to the palate, and more spices that make me think of fall and thanksgiving.

This beer is "hot" with alcohol notes and while not undrinkable, its not really all that pleasant, certaintly not easy drinking and not the greatest pumpkin beer out there this season.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2011 22:46:12 | More by Billolick

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Leaf, Easton, PA

Poured into a tulip glass, a slightly hazy, burnt orange, with a finger or so of frothy white head that left some nice lacing. Aroma of malty sweetness, with light pumpkin and spices. Taste of caramel, sweet malts, toasted grains, with an adequate, non-overblown infusion of pumpkin pie. I prefer my pumpkin ales to have a big pumpkin and spice flavor, but this was still sufficient. Medium mouthfeel, a little bit of alcohol warmth, and generally drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2011 01:12:42 | More by Rifugium

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Dense caramel-ice tea coloring has a solid 1 finger goldish-tan head that showed some resilence.

S: Spicing is evident upon opening and the pour, strong aroma of cinnamon, sweet cola, honey-caramel sweetness with a soft touch of nutmeg. Pumpkin puree is also prominent.

T: Flavor was strongly spiced, cinnamon, honey-caramel with a alcohol warmth. Pumpkin puree was meaty, but the alcohol seemed a bit much and distracted from the pumpkin aspect of the beer. Toasted grahm with a ginger snap and sweet caramelized brown sugar moment.

M: Snappy carbonation, creamy light to medium substance wise, creamy pumpkin and spicy alcohol warmth.

O: Overall i think the alcohol seems to interfere to much with the pumpkin aspect of the drink. A pumpkin beer should be fun, spicy, enjoyable to drink, while most of that is distracted by the heat of going big. Im all for big alcohol beers, i just dont think a pumpkin beer is a good option where the sweet and spicy nature is muted. Not ideal for multiples, i rather a pumpkin beer i can casually enjoy around a campfire out in the woods, where the campfire will keep me warm not so much alcohol and where the flavor a bit more enjoyable and defined.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 01:11:34 | More by beerthulhu

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I am running through a backlog of bottles that local trader, tone77, has dropped off for me during the past school year when I just did not have the time to drink all of them.

From the bottle: "Imperial Pumpkin [-] Ale brewed with pumpkin puree and spices"; "We covered our bases on this one - It appeals to fans of Pumpkin Beer and converts those that didn't know they were fans. A bunch of ingredients but none are showboating. After all, nobody likes a show off Enjoy!"

I went with a gentle pour so as not to disturb the lees and as such, I got only wisps for head. Color was an oh-so-slightly hazy orangish-amber. Nose smelled strongly of cloves and cinnamon, even a candy-like sweetness, like taffy. Unusual. Mouthfeel was slightly viscous and the taste was very much like pumpkin pie. Really spicy in terms of the nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves on the tongue, and coupled with the alcohol heat, this was a beer to be reckoned with! Finish allowed the sweetness of the malt and pumpkin puree to make an appearance. Whew! I liked it, but it is a beer to be reckoned with.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 23:30:35 | More by woodychandler

thagr81us

South Carolina

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

Big thanks goes out to the BA who sent me this one as an extra in a past trade (don't have my spreadsheet at home)! Served from bottle into a Samuel Smith imperial pint. Poured a dark red-orange with a one and a half finger off-white head that subsided to half a finger slowly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of pumpkin, spices, cinnamon, ginger, alcohol, and subtle nutmeg. The flavor was of sweet malt, subtle alcohol, pumpkin, cinnamon, subtle nutmeg, and spices. It had a light feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a pretty decent brew. I have grown to like Pumpkin brews more and more, and this one is a good example of why. The pumpkin definitely dominated the flavor and aroma on this one. While doing so, it brought a nice collection of spices to the game. Very well balanced and tasty. A definite must try for the curious or pumpkin brew fan a-like.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 01:55:48 | More by thagr81us

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I picked this up at Outlet Liquors in Rehoboth Beach DE-poured chilled from the 12oz bottle into a tulip

A - A slightly hazed auburn shade w/ rocky two finger ginger snap head w/ tiny bead. Smatterings of lace creep up like snail trails

S - The smell has a creamy spicy and woody scent w/ a slight cinnamon and brown sugar arom w/ mild meaty scent

M - The feel is semi-dry w/ spiced texture and mild bitterness w/ subtle tangy and mild vinous acidity w/ dry finish

T - The taste has a slight woody cinnamon note w/ light peppery allspice and mild vegetal quality w/ sweet flavors kept at low range w/ more herbal hop accents. The mix of subtle acidity and mild alcohol essence which has a slight warming on the palate is pleasant and the flavor of the malt backing up the spice is good too

D - I found this above average overall, I would be pleased to try this again. It was a fresh tasting bottle and spicing doesn't overwhelm the taste. The only thing prohibiting multiple tastes is the abv a good Imperial, but there are a few that rank higher IMO

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2010 16:12:35 | More by Slatetank

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.4/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada imperial pint. Batch 006, no info.

Thanks to Thorpe429 for another pumpkin beer! I've never even seen this, awesome!

A - A hippo could easily hide in this murky amber-orange beer. It's next-to impossible to see the steady stream of carbonation feeding the fluffy off-white head. Good retention and some sticky lace left behind.

S - Hmm, I wonder what type of yeast is used in this one as it has a fairly prominent aroma of bubblegum in the nose. It's not bad, just a little disruptive and odd when mixed with the pumpkin and spice. Caramel malt in the background adds a solid base. Later on the spiciness fades out just a bit too much. This needs less hefe aroma, more pumpkin.

T - THERE is the imperial! Tons of alcohol in this one is noticeable right off the bat. It's not overly solvent-like but it's certainly still potent. So potent, in fact, it covers up the pumpkin and spice flavors that are already mild. Lots of sweet caramel and crystal malt though. Yeast is a big part of this brew too, but it doesn't give off that bubblegum flavor found in the nose.

M - Full-bodied and rich but smooth and nicely carbonated, this has some heat to the finish, especially experienced retro-nasally. It's also got a hot mouthfeel like a clear liquor would. Slight spice lingering on the finish. Too hot.

D - It's not exactly a chore to drink but it's certainly much boozier than it needs to be. This one has too much alcohol and not enough of what really counts in a pumpkin beer; pumpkin and spice. There is some room to make this an awesome beer though.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2010 12:18:53 | More by BeerFMAndy

alexgash

Connecticut

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

12 oz. bottle.

Cloudy, copper-amber body. Half inch of sturdy, dense, light khaki head. Nice lacing. Lots of pumpkin pie spices on the nose. Clove, vanilla, nutmeg, and allspice. Toasted graham cracker crust malt and bubblegum also in there.

Herbal, spicy (hop?) flavors up front. Spices make their presence known and stay for a bit. Cookie and graham cracker malt sweetness fills up the palate. Clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon feature prominently in the finish. Slight spicy bitterness lingers, along with a hearty dose of pulpy, pie-y malt. Medium-full body, with a creamy feel. Not bad, but there are better imperial pumpkin ales.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 01:59:25 | More by alexgash

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle served in a glass goblet.

L - murky orange/amber color with a thin beige head that left very little lacing.

S - pumpkin pie spices, a very good aroma.

T - very pumpkin pie-like in flavor, all the spices you'd expect with the alcohol being fairly well hidden until it starts warming up.

F - medium bodied, smooth and creamy.

D - it's a decent tasting beer but the higher abv makes it a "one and done" beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2010 00:28:44 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Yet another pumpkin beer I never had. Whoot!

A - Pours a dirty brown that is very hazy, Head is a 1/4 inch that fades to a mild lace ring. Mild sticky lacing,

S - Brown sugar and toasted pumpkin flesh are the first things I smell. Mild toasted malts, sweet allspice and hops are secondary smells.

T - Not bad the taste is mostly spiced but not to the point of cloying, hops and brown sugars are great, and it finishes with a mild hop/vegital bite which I assume is pumpkin. All clash very well to make a tasty brew.

M - Have to give credit on this it has a high octane ABV but drinks with a medium chewy body.

Overall one of the best River horse beers I ever drank and even one of the better pumpkin ales I drank this season. Worth seeking out if a fan of the style!

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 05:02:01 | More by DrDemento456

Gmann

New York

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a mud puddle brown color with some amber highlights. Fairly small tight head that settles into a light ring. The aroma is primarily of pumpkin pie spices; nutmeg and allspice come to mind with a hint of brown sugar. A rather subdued aroma. The flavor has some noticable pumpkin flavor to it, with the nutmeg and allspice spices. Some solvent notes come through from the ABV, which hinders the nice pumpkin and spice flavors. Kind of a shame. The feel is moderate with fizzy carbonation which gives the beer a nice crisp feel. The ABV is noticable and leaves a little belly burn. A bit sticky in the end. I wanted to like this pumpkin ale but the high abv prevented that from happening. It is not bad, has some nice flavor, but there is just not a need to imperialize this style. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2010 02:41:10 | More by Gmann

tone77

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a cloudy orange/brown color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is like fresh pumpkin pie. Taste is good, pumpkin, nutmeg, very flavorfull and the alcohol is well hidden. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall this is a beer worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 16:01:17 | More by tone77

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Beer Authority in New York, NY

A: Pours a slightly hazy medium brown in color with orange highlights and light to moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall light beige head that slowly reduces to a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of pumpkin with moderate aromas of brown sugar, molasses, and pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice).

T: The beer starts out with quite a bit of caramel malt sweetness in addition to the brown sugar and molasses from the smell. There are also light pumpkin flavors and stronger pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon and nutmeg). The beers flavors intensify as it warms and the complexity increases.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Light hints of alcohol heat in the finish.

O: This beer has very good flavors and hides the fairly high ABV well. Easy to drink and enjoyable, definitely one to pick up again next fall.

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2012 21:04:09 | More by dbrauneis

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

River Horse- Imperial Pumpkin Ale (Hipp-O-Lantern)

A- Dark hazy/ cloudy caramel brown with a thick white head. Good head retention and nice ringed lacing down the glass.
S- Spicy nutmeg, cinnamon, and Pumpkin with hints of caramel and vanilla.
T- Sweet brown sugar and caramel malt with plenty of spices. Nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon really come through with pumpkin and roasted butternut squash.
M- Thick sweet malt with a dry spicy twang. Thick sugary feel throughout the mouth, slightly cloying. A touch of warm boozy Alc. pokes through in the end.

Overall- The 1st Pumpkin of the season and I think it sets the bar pretty high. 1 of my friends said, "tastes like Autumn", and that's a good thing!

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2010 22:47:32 | More by NJpadreFan

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.83/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Restoring from lost review...

Pours a amber tinted orange, fluffy and soapy white head. Light scent, moderately spicy with some underlying sweetness, not much pumpkin. Taste begins with spice and bitterness, some pumpkin comes through and a mesh of vanilla and sugar hinted at on the back end. Medium bodied. Falls in the category of pumpkin ales that are more about the spice than the pumpkin or pie.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 13:59:11 | More by rfgetz

mdaschaf

Washington

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

Poured into a DFH snifter glass

A: Had a dark copper color with a small head that dissipated quickly. A ring of small bubbles remained around the rim.

S: Very nice aroma, not overpowering at all. The nutmeg and cinnamon come through nicely. This beer smelled great, but I think it was just a tad on the weak side. However, in this style I would prefer it to be subtle than completely in my face.

T: A nice pumpkin flavor, the spices from the aroma come through when drinking it. There is a nice balance between the spices/pumpkin and the malt backbone.

M/D: This beer is smooth with just a bit of heat form the alcohol. It is my first pumpkin of the season, and I think does a pretty good job overall. It would make for a nice sipper this fall, I probably wouldn't drink more than two in an evening.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2010 17:24:39 | More by mdaschaf

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.2/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass

Appearance: 1 inch head, orange-brown in color, hazy, high carbonation

Smell: rich pumpkin pie spices, cinnamon, nutmeg

Taste: rich pumpkin pie spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, dry toasted malt, and a bit of sugary cream at the end

Mouthfeel: sweet with slight bitterness in the background, high carbonation, medium bodied, dry--especially for the style

Overall: An above average to average pumpkin beer and certainly slightly below other imperial pumpkin ales. A good deal of dry malt and cinnamon here. Not bad, but I will look for other pumpkin ales first.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 01:08:58 | More by tigg924

claspada

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly light to medium orange with a smallish off white head leaving a bit of lacing as it goes down.

Aromas begin with caramel, brown sugar, hints of cream and plenty of pumpkin spices. Some light grass and bready malt, but quite heavy on the spice/herb notes.

The taste follow the nose but with more traditional, non-spice flavors taking the front seat. Nutmeg and cinnamon come through as this warms along with hints of gingerbread and metallic, biting molasses.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium to low carbonation. Finish is a bit creamy, but mainly dry due to the spices and higher ABV booziness.

Overall as someone that has had almost every solid example of a pumpkin ale that's ever been brewed. This one is slightly unbalanced, a bit boozy and forgetable overall. Would have better with less ABV and less spice additions probably.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 17:26:44 | More by claspada