Try?
A few years
back, Anheuser-Busch released a pumpkin beer called Michelob Pumpkin Spice.
Now, I have this fondness for all things pumpkin, so naturally I tried it.
And lo and behold, I liked it quite a bit, too. Sold on draft under a
different name, Jack’s Pumpkin Spice, I thought the brew was a solid
winner, although I felt it needed just a bit more malt.
Well, Jack’s back, and this time around, I think he’s got that little boost
of malt he needed last year. Then too, AB seems to have decided to release
their pumpkin brew under one name rather than two for 2006.
Michelob Pumpkin
Spice , which was really only sold a few bottles a time in eighteen-pack
samplers of Michelob brews anyway, seems to be no more. Instead, you can now
buy Jack’s Pumpkin Spice on draft and in bottles.
Some beer geeks won’t like this beer because Anheuser-Busch, brewers of
Budweiser and hated whipping boy of the craft beer movement, make it. But I
say more power to ‘em. If the complaint against AB is that they make boring
beers, let’s give them due respect when they try to brew a beer out of the
ordinary.
Like this one. Jack’s Pumpkin Spice is made with all kinds of good things,
like carapils, caramel, and two row barley malt, Hallertau and Saaz hops,
Golden Delicious pumpkin, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, and ginger. I find it to
be a really delicious brew and a very pleasant surprise indeed from the
world’s largest brewer.
Jack’s Pumpkin Spice pours to a beautiful reddish orange color
reminiscent of that delightful fall treat with which it is made. A thick
towering head of foam forms atop the liquid, and a fair amount of Brussels
lace clings to the sides of the glass as you sip. The nose is packed with
spice and whets the palate nicely for the many fine flavors to come.
The body seems firmer than it was last year, and I suspect a little more
malt is being used this time around. A hint of chewy caramel is present,
along with fresh meaty pumpkin flavor. You really can taste the pumpkin,
though the spices are the most predominant note here.
The clove is readily apparent, along with a trace of the ginger. I taste
lots of nutmeg and a dash of cinnamon, too. There’s vanilla and spice and
everything nice about this beer. Candied fruit and mince pie come to mind,
too. Don’t look for a lot of hops in the finish, but that’s ok because the
spices serve to dry the beer out nicely all the same. I think I’ll bump this
up to 4 and ½ stars this year, and round up to five as pumpkin beers go.
Though it might seem to some a bit of spice overkill, I enjoyed a glass with
a slice of pumpkin pie topped with a dollop of Edy’s Pumpkin Ice Cream.
Ah, pumpkin heaven.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
