Flying Dog The Fear Imperial Pumpkin Ale

After several attempts to try the beer, I finally ordered a glass of Flying Dog The Fear Imperial Pumpkin Ale at Mad Mex in Shadyside. The beer pours a orange-tinted golden color with a frothy white colored head that leaves a thin lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of pumpkin, cinnamon, and vanilla. The taste is smooth and sweet with lots of pumpkin. Better yet, very light cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg accents appear and balance the sweetness with a hint of graham cracker. The alcohol content is 9.0% ABV. I’d say this was another solid performer in the pumpkin ale category. While it wasn’t the best I’ve had, I would definitely order this beer again next fall.http://flyingdogbrewery.com/

Fat Head's Spooky Tooth Imperial Pumpkin Ale

I ordered a glass of Fat Head's Spooky Tooth Imperial Pumpkin Ale while at Fat Heads in Pittsburgh. The beer pours a dark amber color with a thin bubbly white colored head. The aroma consists of cinnamon, pumpkin, and nutmeg. The taste is dry with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and pie crust. The finish has slight peppery spice with a brown sugar after taste and a lingering pumpkin flavor that also gives it a creamy mouth feel. The alcohol content is 8.7% ABV. Fat Heads has provided a rather delicious pumpkin beer and while I wouldn't say it's the best one on the market, it's worth getting again if you find yourself in the restaurant.

Long Trail Brewmaster Series Imperial Pumpkin

I picked up a bottle of Long Trail Brewmaster Series Imperial Pumpkin at Discount Wine and Liquor in Boonton, NJ. The beer pours an orange-tinted amber color with a bubbly white colored head that leaves specks of lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and pumpkin. The taste is sweet at first with pumpkin and caramel before the spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice settle in. This beer isn’t overly spiced which is great but provided plenty of balance. The alcohol content is 8.0% ABV. This was a rather nice pumpkin beer with just the right amount of sweetness and perfect balance of spices.

Southern Tier Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale

I grew tired of waiting for McGrath's to add Southern Tier Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale to the draft list, so I picked up two 22-ounce bottles at Wegman's. The beer is orange in color with a ginger aroma. There is a sweet pumpkin flavor with heavy ginger accent. I think that it tastes just like pumpkin pie. The beer is a little dry on the finish with cinnamon and vanilla. The alcohol content is 9.0% ABV. This is by far one of my favorite pumpkin beers. The flavors in the beer are excellent, and none of them are overpowering. Each flavor accents the others nicely and provides a round flavor. If you only select one beer this fall, try this one. I am going to make a trip back to Wegman's just to get more bottles of the Pumking.

Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale

I stopped by Wegman's and picked up a four-pack of Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale. I am currently in my pumpkin beer phase, so Weyerbacher was a must try. The beer is an orange-tinted amber color with a delicate cinnamon and nutmeg aroma. The taste is slightly sweet at first with pumpkin flavor. The beer then hits with allspice and finishes slightly dry with a cinnamon taste. The clovers are slightly detectable as well on the finish. The alcohol content is 8.0% ABV. While the alcohol wasn't too detectable drinking the beer, it is definitely noticeable after drinking the first glass. I enjoyed the Weyerbacher version of pumpkin beer and I suggest you give it a try.