Its fall again
as I type and though the thermometer may not yet reflect it here in Georgia,
it’s a sure bet that cooler temperatures on the way. And that means it’s a
very exciting time for beer enthusiasts, especially those like me who enjoy
Pumpkin Ales. There’s just something about a beer flavored with pumpkin or,
at the very least, pumpkin pie spices.
I for one love these beers. They’re truly like fall in a glass, and they go
great with football, turkey, pumpkin pie and all the other autumn pleasures
that make the season so enjoyable. Thus, this time of year, my DBR
(Dedicated Beer Refrigerator) will often resemble a veritable pumpkin patch
of the beer world.
You’ll usually find some of Brooklyn Brewing’s
Post Road Pumpkin Ale
there. If you look a little more, some
Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale
and Buffalo
Bill’s Pumpkin Ale will be there too.
This year, there’s a new addition to the patch: Kennebunkport Pumpkin Ale.
Actually, this isn’t a new beer: it’s been available on draft since 2002 as
Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale and bottled for at least a year or two. I picked up
my samples at the local Trader Joe's market for a paltry $5.99.
Some pumpkin ales actually are brewed with pumpkin as an ingredient.
Kennebunkport Pumpkin Ale is not one of them. Instead, it’s a wheat
beer flavored with pumpkin pie spices. But the pumpkin suggestion is there,
if only psychologically.
Portland, Maine based Shipyard has long been a favorite of mine from my days
living in New England. The brewery has been around since 1994 and has a
strong presence in the eastern United States. They have purchased several
other New England brewers over the years and specialize in beers made with
the unique and idiosyncratic Ringwood yeast strain.
Kennebunkport Pumpkin Ale is interesting in that respect: it’s a pumpkin ale
made with Ringwood yeast. Malts used are Light Munich, two row British pale
and of course wheat. The beer is hopped with Hallertaus and Willamettes and
has an alcohol content of 4.8% by volume.
Kennebunkport Pumpkin Ale pours to a light golden orange color with a
spritzy head of lightly packed bubbles and a spicy cinnamon laced nose. The
palate is light, not surprising since this is a wheat ale. Immediately,
notes of nutmeg and cinnamon jump to the front of the palate and pretty much
dominate. There's not so much pumpkin flavor, but most of the flavor in a
pumpkin pie really comes from the spices, too.
The spice here is milder than in some other Pumpkin Ales (Buffalo Bill’s
most notably). But the Ringwood adds a bit of buttery diacetyl that works
nicely with the spices. You can easily drink a lot of this and not get tired
of it. It finishes with nice balance, not really bitter or sweet, though the
wheat will lend a refreshing crispness anyway, and the spices dry the beer
nicely, too.
A very nice effort in the category, I think. Well worth your time if you
come across it. And if you like it, don’t forget
Harpoon Winter Warmer
a little later in the season.
And oh yes, this review is mostly the same as what I wrote about Pumpkinhead
Ale, but hey, it's like, totally the same beer dude.
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