Here’s a little treat that tastes even better because my wife bought it for me: Southern Tier Rum Barrel Aged Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Now, I’m a big fan of Southern Tier Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale (and pumpkin beers in general), so this was a natural for me. Southern Tier rarely does anything by half measures, so I knew this would be good.

Truth be told, I was standing right there at Total Wine waffling on this one because of the price; that’s when the wife made the executive decision and bought it. I’m glad she did, as we shall soon see.

From the website:

Back in 2014 we had the good fortune of finding a cache of rum barrels which we quickly filled with Pumking making what was affectionately called “Rumking.” We were lucky to have found more barrels in 2016 and again in 2017. This batch promises to be at least as delicious as versions past.

Imagine our inimitable Imperial Pumking Ale as the captain on the high seas, flying the Jolly Roger. The ‘King sails for ports unknown in this limited release. Rum Barrel Aged Pumking has been kept like secret treasure in the hollows of the brewery, patiently awaiting discovery. Yo ho ho!

Enjoy Rum Barrel Aged Pumking now, or keep it hidden standing upright in a dark and cool place until you can say ‘anchors aweigh!’

OK, I did the latter. My bottle of Southern Tier Rum Barrel Aged Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale is about a year old, being the 2016 edition. It has an alcohol content of 9.5% by volume per the label, and I paid $15.99 for it. As I said, pricey. The label has changed for 2017.

Southern Tier Rum Barrel Aged Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale pours to a bright orange color with a tall fizzy short-lived head and a truly inviting buttered rum and cinnamon nose. Taking a sip, the beer is quite rummy at first, then the pumpkin emerges, and the rum seems to really bring out the fleshy, stringy vegetal meaty pumpkin flavor. It’s lightly buttery, but not so much as straight Pumking is, and spicy in the finish with dry nutmeg and cinnamon. Really delicious and warming with alcohol in the finish.

A rum soaked pumpkin pie? That’s here, too. I really enjoyed this one folks, I would give it 4.5 stars less a half star for the high price, which is about $5 more than I think it should be. Incidentally, I shared my bottle with my daughter Jessica, who herself is an avid Pumking fan. She liked it too.

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