Heavy Seas - The Great Pumpkin - Heavy Seas Beer

metter98

New York

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is hazy orange in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high off white head that quickly died down, leaving delicate lacing on the surface along with a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: Aromas of pumpkin spices such as allspice and nutmeg stand out in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has a little bit of bitterness from the hops.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The alcohol is well masked from the taste of this beer, which helps its drinkability. It’s not one of the greatest pumpkin beers out there, but is a good offering.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 21:09:52 | More by metter98

SpdKilz

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Split with my brother-in-law. Picked up during my trip to Michigan.

Appearance – Pours a murky orange color into a tulip. Two fingers of head is achieved with a slight pour that dissipates somewhat slowly.

Smell – Spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, and slight clove. A hint of hops, sweet pale malts, and various other candied aromas.

Taste – Spot on to the aroma. Heavy on the spices, a sweet backbone, finishes with pumpkin/squash.

Mouthfeel – Creamy, medium bodied, lower carbonation.

Overall – A solid imperial pumpkin beer. Would choose this over Pumking hands down.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 03:07:33 | More by SpdKilz

BeerBuckeye

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a hazy amber with orange hue, nice 1.5 finger head that leaves a decent amount of lacing.

S - Good amount of pumpkin and spice present here, like smelling a pumpkin candle. Some cinnamon, cloves, bananas, and all spice. Like the smell of this one.

T - Good blend of pumpkin and spice. It's a tad cinnamon heavy, but the bitterness of the pumpkin helps in balancing it out. Cloves seem to hang back here, providing a decent amount of underlay to the spice.

M - The cinnamon gives a bit of a drying-out effect to the beer, but it's smooth and retains its alcohol pretty well.

Overall - A pretty good pumpkin ale. If they just would tone down the cinnamon a hair it would really knock this up a notch. Just a little heavy on the spice.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 22:39:39 | More by BeerBuckeye

travisnd

Virginia

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I really like this offering from Heavy Seas. I purchased a few bottles of this and their Great'er pumpkin not really knowing what to expect. This was a nice orangeish color when poured into a glass and had a very nice smell. The ale went down very smooth with spice and pumpkin taste being relevant. I'm anxious now to try the Great'er version of this as I would imagine it only gets better!

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2011 19:03:39 | More by travisnd

jamescain

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a sniffer

Appearance: Clear orange with small particles floating and a thin white head about a centimeter thick that fades into a thin lacing over the top of the beer.

Aroma: The usual pumpkin spices you would find, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, but this pumpkin ale has more gourd aroma then most.

Taste: Definitely more pumpkin flavor then most of this style. Not spices, but actual gourd flavor. There are still spice flavors similar to the aroma, but the presence of pumpkin is nice.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with light carbonation, easy to drink.

Overall: This might be my new favorite pumpkin beer, balance, and most importantly does not use pumpkin spices to fool you into thinking there is pumpkin flavor.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 20:02:01 | More by jamescain

ElizabethCraig

Indiana

4.15/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Split this with my husband 10/3/2011. I'm not always a fan of specialty fancy-schmancy beers, but I wanted to try this one!

The appearance was pure fall pumpkin - cloudy pumpkin orange with a thin dusting of white/tan head. The scent was similarly mouthwatering - a hearty ale scent with beautiful sweet gourd. Spices come through upon repeated sniffings: cinnamon, ginger, and what I think of as the pure scent of pumpkiny fall.

Ale to a sweet pumpkin to a cinnamon/clove/sweet ginger awaits your tastebuds. Finishes very sweet and fades to a lingering pumpkin pie flavor. The rich body and lower carbonation make this a very rich and pleasant fall beer.

The brew only gets sweeter and spicier as it warms - we had this with some Pig & Fig pate and it went well with sweet pork pate. Pair this one with a favorite dessert.

I admit, I didn't finish all 11oz of my share because it does tend to sit a little bit heavier on the stomach/palate. I would definitely drink this again if I wanted a hearty spiced pumpkin ale for fall! I'm hoisting my glass and giving an affirmative ArRRR to Heavy Seas.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2011 13:23:58 | More by ElizabethCraig

NittanyBeerFan

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a 22-oz bottle at Whole Food in Strafford. Poured into a snifter.

The body of this beer is crisp, clean, and clear. Coppery in color with a distinctly burnt orange hue to it. The head is fleeting and coarse, and there is really no sign of it after the initial pour agitation subsides and lets the liquid settle.

The aroma is not too complex. It is heavy on the clove, with a big helping of nutmeg thrown in for good measure. Some biscuity malt presence as well. The flavor is similar, though the pumpkin itself comes through a bit more to help and balance the clove and nutmeg. Some cinnamon even comes through here. One of the better pumpkin ales I have had. No alcohol comes through at all, which is nice for a fairly young beer of this gravity at nearly room temperature.

Medium in texture with light carbonation, the feel is pretty enjoyable, and unlike some, it isn't too big for the flavor...or for any extended drinking experience. One of Clipper City's finer offerings, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2011 02:58:46 | More by NittanyBeerFan

Gmann

New York

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy orangy brown color with a short dense khaki colored head that settles into a light ring.

The aroma is strong with the pumpkin spices. Cinnamon appears to be the strongest, with nutmeg and allspice following. Perhaps some light pepper. Not a spice bomb which is good.

The taste is of a solid amber malt; bready with some caramel notes. Some tea like flavors from the malt as well. This is followed by the pumpkin spices; cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger. Don't really detect much actual pumpkin. There seems to be a touch of a bitter and peppery hop in the end. For an imperial pumpkin this isn't too bad, flavors are in check and not overly boozy.

The feel is moderate with fizzy carbonation. Sweet on the palate to start but finishes with a slight hoppy bitterness and lemony astringency. Perhaps a touch of booziness.

For an imperial pumpkin this is pretty good; I still rather have a non-imperial version any day though.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 04:46:20 | More by Gmann

rlee1390

Indiana

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-A darker orange and there is lacing present.

S-Cinnamon, pumpkin and then some but not much nutmeg.

T-Lots of pumpkin and cinnamon. Great balance and very sweet.

M-Very smooth and medium bodied.

O-My first experience with Heavy Seas or Clipper City, and it was really good one of the beer beers at the tasting.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2011 16:13:56 | More by rlee1390

Kvltbm

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bomber to snifter.

A: Deep copper orange with 1 finger of off-white head.
S: Pretty average, exactly what you'd expect from a pumpkin beer. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, some sweetness from the pumpkin, and a touch of alcohol. Nothing bad, nothing exceptional.
T: Same spices as in the nose, pumpkin, some breadiness, but followed by a big blast of booze. The booziest 8% beer I've ever had, I think.
M: Medium body, medium carbonation.

Not a bad beer, but the booziness kills it for me. Still very much looking forward to trying The Greater Pumpkin, however.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2011 04:40:54 | More by Kvltbm

hopking311

Florida

4.35/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got this and The Greater pumpkin from a bottle shop in Savannah Ga.. Johnny Ganems.. I believe.
Great place in the historic district.

Pours Deep amber orange, looks like the season fall... lol.. half finger of head quickly dissapates to thin solid ring around the glass..

smells of caramel, rich pumpkin pie with whip cream.. good spice

medium bodied, great carbonation. lacey as hell

taste caramel, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spices are balanced in this one.. wow

Heavy seas is doing there job on this one.. Cant wait to Crack that bottle of Greater pumpkin.. Cheers

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2011 03:17:09 | More by hopking311

vandemonian

Maryland

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Heavy Seas Great Pumpkin is a tasty ale that has a strong pumpkin flavour.

A: Orange colour and a 5 mm head that lasts pretty well. 4

S: Smells very strongly of pumpkin and is a little sweet and spicy. 4

T: Sweet and pumkinny. There is some spice and a little citric acid. 4

M: Thickish liquid without a lot of carbonation. 4

O: 4

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 02:41:50 | More by vandemonian

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 ounce bottle. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a hazy orange/amber color with a half inch off-white head. Both head retention and lacing are decent. Aroma is spicy, it smells like pumpkin pie spices and some pumpkin. The taste is mostly like the aroma, the pumpkin pie spice flavors are dominant, but there is some pumpkin and a bit of booze noticeable. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a little slick and has moderate/high carbonation. I think it's a decent enough pumpkin beer, but it's not one of my favorites. With that being said, I wouldn't turn one down. At just $5.99 a bomber, it's worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 22:52:18 | More by bluejacket74

beergod1

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours from a 22oz. bomber bottle a medium amber/orange color with a small head that quickly dissolved into a light lacing. The aroma is malty and slightly sweet, with hints of pumpkin pie spices and maybe just a hint of Alcohol. 1st sip brings a taste of pumpkin, malt, and spices. There is a strong bitterness on the finish from a combination of hops, alcohol & spice. The mouth feel is smooth and Medium Body. I notice some Pumpkin Ales choose to have the Pumpkin Taste as the Main Flavor, While others have it as the "Spice". I prefer the spice, and this one is somewhere in the middle. A Decent one, but not in the top 5.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 12:59:07 | More by beergod1

bballmj2k

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served from bomber into snifter.

A - orange-amber hazy, minimal head that dissipates into a thin lacing quickly.

S - standard pumpkin ale aroma. Cinnamon, allspice, clove, and pumpkin.

T - huge pumpkin notes, lots of cinnamon, bready. Definite pumpkin pie taste with a hint of vanilla. Boozy character at the end.

M - nice medium carbonation. Fits for the style. Honestly I want it to be a bit creamier and fuller-bodied. Bit of alcohol burn at the end takes away from drinkability.

It's better than most of the pumpkin fare out there. Definitely more pumpkin forward than most of the others. Doesn't compare to weyerbacher or southern tier though...

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 02:44:03 | More by bballmj2k

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

3.53/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a nice clear amber orange color, very much fitting the style and produces a bubbly one finger high head. It dissipates fast and leaves some lacing.
The smell is spice, cinnamon, pumpkin and maybe even some ginger?
Tasting the beer, the spice, cinnamon and pumpkin are up front. In the middle there is a decent malt backbone, which gives more balance to the taste. At the end the beer bitters out a little bit and lets you know that there is alcohol present.
Overall I would judge this beer as medium bodied and a good representative of this beer category, but I am just not a lover of this style. so maybe not the best judge.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 02:31:12 | More by Hopfenpeter

jayhawk73

Maryland

3.53/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice amber/orange color w/ a nice one finger cocoa head. Average carbonation and lacing for this brew. Nice orange highlights when held up to the light. Nose is mainly cinnamon w/ some nutmeg and pumpkin. Not as complex as Weyerbacher, and this beer is definitely in the same vein. Taste is fortunately better than the nose. Big malt background on this beer, and that saves it for me. Not over the top, just about right. Feel isn't complex enough for me, and a little thin. Overall, this beer wants to be Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin, but isn't quite there. Still, a decent brew if you like Pumpkin Ales. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2011 22:37:17 | More by jayhawk73

Gobigvt7

Oregon

3.13/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22oz bottle into a pint glass

A - orangey-copper colored with a thinnish white baby's breath head. moderate lacing.

S - Actually getting pumpkin on the nose, with subtle downplayed cinnamon. Not an overpowering aroma, but somewhat promising.

T - Alcohol is rather pervasive, spices end up as downplayed in taste as they are in the smell. Could use more. Pumpkin is also very light, lacking richness. A slightly off-putting twang. Not squash sour or alcohol bite, something else I can't put my finger on, maybe a strange combo of the two. Lightly bready with gingersnap.

M - medium-heavy bodied.

O - Gotta say I'm disappointed, considering the style. At times, it feels heavy-handed, but moreso it just feels unartfully made. I've had much worse, but in this day of a million pumpkin beers, this is worth a one-time try and nothing more.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 21:03:07 | More by Gobigvt7

ONUMello

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A: Burnt orange; one finger head that lingers.
S: Pumpkin and spice. Simple and straightforward, but pleasant.
T: Pumpkin, cream, nondescript spice. Tastes pleasant, but nothing is standing out.
M: Smooth, medium-bodied.
O: A solid pumpkin beer, but needs a bit more hops or spice or something to give it a little oomph.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2011 23:55:19 | More by ONUMello

tdm168

North Carolina

3.05/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours an orangish amber with 1/4" of head that fades to a thin lacing. Pumpkin and spice are noticeable in the nose but notes of oak and alcohol esters are more prevalent. Taste is pumpkin, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and oak. Alcohol warmth is very noticeable. The oak dominates and clashes with the spices and pumpkin. Viscous, oily, but medium bodied.

Not a pumpkin I'd like to try again.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2011 23:18:32 | More by tdm168

fank2788

Connecticut

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle served in 2 pint glasses
Standard red copper in the glass with a thin head and a bit of lace, quite clear. The smell is dominated by spice with the typical cinnamon, all spice and nutmeg with a bit of hop and a touch of malt in there as well. Overall the smell is nice it is clear that this is a pumpkin ale. To me the spicing seems a bit overdone in the taste. Maybe it's just due to the fact that this is my first pumpkin beer of the season and I'm not used to these flavors yet but this one seems a bit over the top especially on the first sip. So the spicing dominates yet beyond that is a good balance of crystal malt and enough bitterness to almost rein in the spice. As it warms the spice fades a bit. I do have to give credit where it's due in that this beer doesn't come off as overly sweet and may appeal to those who like an assertively spiced beer. The mouthfeel is good but to me again a bit too much spice makes it feel overly busy and the finish is like a spoonful of pumpkin pie spices. Overall it's good and will definitely find favor with people who like a strong example of the style but falls short of my favorites in the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2011 01:58:41 | More by fank2788

atr2605

New York

3.98/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-pours an orange copper with a fingerwidth head that has average retention
S-pumpkin, spice, sweet malt, alcohol
T-more of the same from the aroma, has a pumpkin pie flavor along with hop bitterness that gives the beer alot of body
M-medium bodied
O-great pumpkin beer that isn't just packed full of sweet pumpkin, but instead has great body and flavor.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 23:19:37 | More by atr2605

kawilliams81

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served in a pint glass.

A- Dark copper, orange color. Almost no head or lacing.

S- Can you say nutmeg? Also pick up some cinnamon and other pumpkin pie related spices.

T- Definitely has a pumpkin pie-like taste. Pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg. Get a little squash like taste (maybe they use actual pumpkins in the beer?).

M- Fairly thin for a 8% beer. Very drinkable although the spices do make it a little hard drink rapidly.

O- Very enjoyable pumpkin beer. I have not had a lot of pumpkin beers but this is a pretty good one. Might grab a couple bottles for October.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 00:54:36 | More by kawilliams81

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.08/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Review adapted from notes taken 10/7/10

Appearance: An unexpected and very interesting dark orange color - looks more like a cooked pumpkin than the typical pumpkin ale - I like it - nice and frothy white head

Smell: Malts are very prominent, more so than the pumpkin flesh and the spices - bready and sweet smelling - some squashy pumpkin, and spices seem balanced

Taste: Very tasty, but some flaws accumulate over time - the malts, as the smell would suggest, are fantastic - the biscuity nature goes well with the rest of the brew - the pumpkin aspect is interesting - it tastes more like squash than pumpkin, which is an obvious indicator that they actually used real pumpkin while making this - the spice profile is good, but personally I think allspice is over-represented - I reached this conclusion by going to my spice rack and tasting my spices (honestly) - otherwise, the cinnamon, nutmeg, and hint of clove are great

Mouthfeel: Nice full body, merits the label of an imperial pumpkin ale - very smooth

Overall: One of the best imperial pumpkin ales I have encountered

This is a borderline excellent beer. With some tweaking of the spice ratios, and perhaps some modification of the pumpkin (to better create the illusion that cooked pumpkin does not taste just like squash), this would be fantastic. I will probably try it again in 2011.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 04:52:35 | More by angrybabboon

albertjr21

New York

4.22/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz 2010 bottle consumed on 3.27.11. Into a tulip glass this reveals a semi clear orange/amber color under a thin head. Aroma carries a medium to heavy nose blend of cinnamon, brown sugar, nutmeg and possibly, pumpkin. The general mouthfeel here is a BIG Spicy one with an emphasis on the cinnamon, burnt sugar, and pumpkin spice. At first sips, the taste walks the line of being just a bit too "Fall spiced," but then it soon makes friends with my palate as the drink goes on. A Mutiny truly does take place and there's a good malt balance for smooth sailing on a big pumpkin sea. You could call this "Pumpkin Ale on steroids" or you could call it "Imperial", which it truly is...Pumpkin Ale lovers who just can't get enough flavor should try this... Perhaps Ill crack open a bottle of this at next year's Thanksgiving dessert table...

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2011 02:40:46 | More by albertjr21