After double bocks, pumpkin ales are my favorite style of beer. Smuttynose Brewing Company, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is one of my favorite breweries. Why then, I ask you, did it take so long for me to get my hands on a six-pack of Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale? I can't tell you, to be honest. The beer was first brewed after I moved from Rhode Island to Georgia, and it wasn't to be found any time I headed north for a visit.

At any rate, I did manage to lay my hands on some this holiday season. Smuttynose has widened the distribution area of their beers of late, and just this year they started making their way to the Atlanta area. And while they tend to be a bit pricey (the Pumpkin Ale ran me $9.99 for six bottles at Total Wine), it's worth a few extra bucks to get a taste of my old home. Of course, Smuttynose beers are worth the price even if you've never set foot in New England either.

Smuttynose says:

Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale is our homage to the craft and heritage of America’s brewers. Recipes calling for the use of pumpkins in beer date back to early colonial times, when brewers sought to extend their supply of costly imported malt with locally grown ingredients, such as squash and “pompions.”

In that spirit, we brew our ale with the addition of pumpkin to the mash, along with traditional spices to create a delicious American original.

Available in sixpacks and on draft from mid-August through October.

I say:

Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale pours to a bright orange color with a light, quickly fading head formation and a deliciously inviting nose of tangy pumpkin spice. Upon sipping, you'll immediately notice the solid malt character underneath, but it quickly steps aside for the delightfully vegetal, stringy real pumpkin flavor. The spices are quite potent, too, with strong hints of ginger and even more powerful notes of cinnamon and, especially, nutmeg. And in the finish? There's a good dose of hops, depositing a long, lingering dry bitterness that sets this one apart from other pumpkin ales, at least in the hops department.

I like this one a lot. Definitely more-ish, this is a beer I could easily drink all night. It's packed with real hearty pumpkin flavor and bursting with spice, too. A little stronger than most at 6.3% alcohol by volume, this is a natural for fall imbibing. Try it with a slice of pumpkin pie after Thanksgiving dinner, or for a really special holiday treat combine the two with a viewing of Trains, Planes, and Automobiles for a special Thanksgiving night. And don't be afraid to buy a few extra sixers to get you through Christmas, as well.



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