The 2013 Pumpkin Beer tour continues for me as I try every pumpkin brew I can get my hands on! The fact that it isn’t even October yet is a cause for concern as I am afraid by the time I get to Halloween, I will be sick and tired of these beers. Though most that I have had have been pretty great, I was most excited to taste Dogfish Head’s Punkin Ale, as it is an annual champion of the style from fans and critics alike.
Here is what Dogfish Head has to say about Pukin Ale ” A full-bodied brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar. We brew our Punkin Ale with pumpkin meat, brown sugar and spices. As the season cools, this is the perfect beer to warm up with”
I love Dogfish Head. They may be my favorite brewery in the world. I love this beer in particular as it has existed long before Dogfish Head was created, which adds to the cool factor for me.
With my mouth watering and taste buds anticipating, let’s see what I thought of the 2013 Punkin Ale:
Appearance: Similar to other pumkin ales, Punkin is medium-dark orange with a nice fluffy white head that leaves a thin white lacing on the glass. The beer is enhanced by nice, little CO2 bubbles floating to the top.
Aroma: Ah, yes. Light cinnamon fills the nose with added fall spices such as allspice and nutmeg. Smells very light and refreshing and is not overpowering in any sense.
Taste: Absolutely surprisingly, right off the bat I can say that I taste absolutely no pumpkin at all in the front, middle, or back end of the taste. A floral taste emerges, like a light, refreshing flowery smell. I definitely get a strong cinnamon taste which is absolutely great.
This beer is good. Actually, it’s awesome, it just does not taste like pumpkin.
Conclusion: Overall Punkin Ale is very good. I would give this beer a 93 or an A- .
To be fair, it is in fact great despite the fact there is no real pumpkin taste, which makes the title bit misleading; however, I would definitely pick it up again at a bar or a six-pack. Hell, I’d even buy a case of it. It’s a limited release and Dogfish Head’s first-ever beer, so make sure you buy some if you see it!
Cheers!
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