For example, tonight I'm starting my weekend with a little help from my (other Maine brewery) friends. Those friends work at Shipyard Brewing Company in Portland, Maine, and my selection is Smashed Pumpkin Ale. This beer is a member of Pugsley's Signature Series, and in fact Alan Pugsley is pictured on the back of the bottle (and blurrily below).
I recently had the XXXX IPA from this Pugsley series and was amazed. Terrific! I even used that beer as exhibit A in a First Grade math lesson. The 22 ounce bottle has a beautiful presentation with dark grays and whites standing out on top of a rich Flyers Orange background. Cute little pumpkin in the middle too. The cap and neck is (was) covered with gold foil as well. Drink at 55 degrees F.
Now this guy has a nice pumpkin aroma and a strong nutmeg and ginger spicy complement to that. The flavors start out quite rich and malty, distinctly pumpkin all around. The initial profile is sweet, yet a whopping wave of 9% alcohol rolls in to kick that down a notch or five. Balance returns. A sweet orange flavor also persists throughout the entire experience. Brown sugar and plenty of spices abound, but not just the nutmeggy pie types. There is also a definite hoppy black pepper bite. Not a smooth beer; rather, prickly in the mouth with the alcohol and spices and carbonation. Overall, a little rough around the edges, a little boozy by the end. However, I really liked this one. Nice job, Shipyard!
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3 comments:
I have to say that I far prefer the Pumpkinhead over this one. It seemed a little thin for a high-gravity beer to me and just too much going on spice-wise for my taste. As you said, it was rough around the edges...
Yeah, I guess I'll have to break down and buy their Pumpkinhead too. Jeez, I told myself not too many pumpkins this year, but it's tough.
yes you are right but what about custom kilt
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