Cambridge The Great Pumpkin Ale

Review Date 10/10/2022  By John Staradumsky

  Style: Pumpkin Ale   Brewery: Cambridge   Country: USA   State: Massachusetts   $ Per OZ: $.22 (B)   ABV: 5.5%

It’s been a while since I’ve had Cambridge beers. In fact, the second to last time I had one, I was sitting in the brewery in Cambridge, and that was over twenty years ago. Recently, though, I have been picking up a few of their beers at Half Time Beverage. A few months ago, I popped a can of Flowerchild IPA, and tonight, I am here to talk about The Great Pumpkin Ale, as I said only the second Cambridge beer I have been able to lay hands on in over two decades.

That, of course, is not because I do not love Cambridge beers. Far from it. It is just that since I moved to Georgia in 2001, I lost access. When I visited the brewery in 1999, I do not think they were bottling. Now, though, their beers are sold in cans, and I am heartily glad for it.

I do love a good pumpkin ale, so I was happy to see that Cambridge brews one. Theirs is not the only Great Pumpkin Ale, either. This should not surprise; indeed it is more surprising that there are not more pumpkin ales named for the 1966 Peanuts TV special. Amongst those I have enjoyed, I count Elysian’s The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale, Heavy Seas The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale (they also make a The Greater Pumpkin Imperial Ale), and St. Ambroise Great Pumpkin (Citrouille). Cambridge claims there is the original, however.

Cambridge The Great Pumpkin Ale has an alcohol content of 5.5% by volume and I paid $5.99 for my can from Half Time Beverage. The brewery sells a 4-pack of pint cans for $16; Total Wine sells the same for $13.99. My can is stamped on the bottom as PKG on 09/03/22.

From the label:

New England’s First pumpkin ale is still brewed with Massachusetts-grown, fresh whole sugar pumpkins! This year’s crop came from Lazy Acre Farms in Hadley and The Farm School in Athol, MA. Added to the brewhouse and augmented by just a touch of cinnamon and Allspice, this well-balanced beer welcomes the season with its ruddy amber hue and autumnal aroma. All hail the original Great Pumpkin!

Cambridge The Great Pumpkin Ale pours to a bright orange color with a thick creamy head and a nose of pumpkin flesh, nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon. Taking a sip the beer is medium in body with vegetal stringy pumpkin notes, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a drying allspice finish. It is easy to drink and flavorful with pumpkin and spice flavor.

I very much enjoyed this tasty pumpkin ale, and I will absolutely buy it again.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??