Punkuccino Coffee Pumpkin Ale
Review Date 1/14/2017 Last Updated 12/04/2021 By John Staradumsky
Elysian beers have arrived in Georgia! You may recall that Seattle’s Elysian brewery was purchased by conglomerate AB Inbevback in January of 2015, much to the consternation of beer geeks everywhere. I’ve opined on craft brewers being bought by megabrewers in the past, and here I will just say that if the beer remains the same, I will keep buying it. There’s a benefit to be had when the big brewer increases distribution of the craft beer as has happened here.
I’ve enjoyed Elysian on trips to Seattle and in beer trades with friends who can get it in their area. I was elated to see Elysian beers start showing up here in the fall of 2016, and when my local Taco Mac in Canton tapped Elysian Punkuccino Coffee Pumpkin Ale on tap in November, I raced down to get a mug.
Elysian says this about the beer:
A pumpkin ale with the attitude of a world-weary barista, Punkuccino packs a short shot of Stumptown coffee toddy in your pint with just a shake of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Ingredients from the website:
MALTS: Pale, Brown, Biscuit, C-77, Crystal, Chocolate and Kiln-coffee
HOPS: Bittered with German Northern Brewer
SPECIAL: Stumptown coffee toddy with pumpkin added to the mash, kettle and fermenter
Elysian Punkuccino Coffee Pumpkin Ale has an alcohol content of 6% by volume. I paid $6.50 for a 20-ounce mug at Taco Mac, and it runs a very reasonable $4.99 in bomber bottles.
My mug of Elysian Punkuccino Coffee Pumpkin Ale arrived a very dark brown color with a thick creamy tan head of foam and an invigorating nose packed with espresso, nutmeg and cinnamon. Taking a sip, I got more (and more) and still more of the same in the palate, with explosive cinnamon, bold espresso, creamy roast, and a dry pungent nutmeg finish.
Just a tad more body would make this perfect but it’s very good as it stands!
Update 12/04/2021: How have I not had an Elysian Punkuccino since that delightful draft mug full at Taco Mac years ago? I know I have a bomber bottle of it around here somewhere, but more recently I picked up an Elysian Pumpkin Pack at Publix. In it, you get three bottles each of:
The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale
Dark O’ the Moon Pumpkin Stout
I paid $19.99 for my 12-pack at Publix but later saw it at Target for $17.09. Who knew? The beer is as delightfully chcolatey, coffeeish, and pumpkiny as ever, and I'm glad I picked up the sampler.
Glad I tried it?
T
Would I rebuy it??
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled, Canned
(D)=Draft
