Try?
Well, friends,
August is almost over, and although I have oft stated that August is my most
hated month of the year, I’ll be the first to admit that this year it really
hasn’t been so bad. The temperatures here in Atlanta have been a lot cooler
that those I normally associate with the month not only here in the Deep
South, but also back in good old New England.
Still, as the end of the month approaches, I am yet rejoicing after a fashion. That’s because I’m starting to see beery fall treats begin to arrive on store shelves. Octoberfest beers, to be sure, but also pumpkin ales, of which I am very much enamored. And the newest of these in Atlanta is Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale.
Pumpkin ales are certainly not new to the craft beer world, and not even to the beer world in general. Records exist of pumpkins being used to make beer all the way back to the Mayflower days in America, when malt was extremely scarce and those rather resourceful but somewhat desperate pilgrims were ready to ferment anything they could get their hands on.
These days, however, American brewers seem to want to do everything bigger and better. And so they’ve started to brew stronger pumpkin ales with more body and, naturally, more alcohol. Dogfish head raised the bar years ago with their Punkin Ale, which weighed in at 7% alcohol by volume, a few percentage points stronger than the norm of 5%. Pennsylvania’s Weyerbacher brewery felt the need to top that, hence their Imperial Pumpkin at 8% by volume.
They also felt the need to top the price, too. At $9.99 for a 4-pack this is one rather expensive beer, especially considering I can get the aforementioned Punkin Ale (to which Weyerbacher’s brew is quite similar) for $3 to $4 less per four-pack.
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale pours to a beautiful bright mahogany color with a light and spritzy head formation and a bold and potent spicy pumpkin pie nose. As I take a sip, I’m immediately struck by the big malt body of this beer, and I think that really serves to reinforce the pumpkin pie motif. That’s an advantage that bigger pumpkin beers have on the lighter bodied ones.
The meaty, stringy pumpkin flavor is readily apparent underneath all that chewy, slightly caramelly malt. There are notes of candied fruit and mincemeat pie (the fruit kind obviously), citrusy lemon rind, and spicy cinnamon and nutmeg. The latter, along with the warming alcohol, serve to dry the beer out in the finish.
OK, I love it. Yes, I’m a pumpkinhead, but even if you aren’t this is one to try. It’s worth trying and really delicious, even if somewhat overpriced. Still, one demerit for the latter, and I’ll give this four stars overall.
Still, as the end of the month approaches, I am yet rejoicing after a fashion. That’s because I’m starting to see beery fall treats begin to arrive on store shelves. Octoberfest beers, to be sure, but also pumpkin ales, of which I am very much enamored. And the newest of these in Atlanta is Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale.
Pumpkin ales are certainly not new to the craft beer world, and not even to the beer world in general. Records exist of pumpkins being used to make beer all the way back to the Mayflower days in America, when malt was extremely scarce and those rather resourceful but somewhat desperate pilgrims were ready to ferment anything they could get their hands on.
These days, however, American brewers seem to want to do everything bigger and better. And so they’ve started to brew stronger pumpkin ales with more body and, naturally, more alcohol. Dogfish head raised the bar years ago with their Punkin Ale, which weighed in at 7% alcohol by volume, a few percentage points stronger than the norm of 5%. Pennsylvania’s Weyerbacher brewery felt the need to top that, hence their Imperial Pumpkin at 8% by volume.
They also felt the need to top the price, too. At $9.99 for a 4-pack this is one rather expensive beer, especially considering I can get the aforementioned Punkin Ale (to which Weyerbacher’s brew is quite similar) for $3 to $4 less per four-pack.
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale pours to a beautiful bright mahogany color with a light and spritzy head formation and a bold and potent spicy pumpkin pie nose. As I take a sip, I’m immediately struck by the big malt body of this beer, and I think that really serves to reinforce the pumpkin pie motif. That’s an advantage that bigger pumpkin beers have on the lighter bodied ones.
The meaty, stringy pumpkin flavor is readily apparent underneath all that chewy, slightly caramelly malt. There are notes of candied fruit and mincemeat pie (the fruit kind obviously), citrusy lemon rind, and spicy cinnamon and nutmeg. The latter, along with the warming alcohol, serve to dry the beer out in the finish.
OK, I love it. Yes, I’m a pumpkinhead, but even if you aren’t this is one to try. It’s worth trying and really delicious, even if somewhat overpriced. Still, one demerit for the latter, and I’ll give this four stars overall.
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
(G)=Growler
