Southern Tier Oak Aged Pumking

A beer I have been looking for was Southern Tier Oak Aged Pumking, and I have to thank Fat Head’s in Pittsburgh for arranging to tap it when I was in town. The beer pours an orange-amber color with a thin filmy white head. The aroma, as with the non-aged version, consists of pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, pie, and has some hints of oak. The taste is also right down the alley of Pumking, but the oak dulls some of sweetness. It is still easy to pick up the pumpkin pie sweetness, but some of the nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon flavor pull a little more forward. Finally, the oak dries out the finish, eliminating the sweet film that is left on the side of the mouth. The alcohol content is 8.6% ABV. The Oak Aged Pumking is mellower version of a great beer, in my opinion. For those that know me and/or read this blog know that I love Pumking, but I liked this version even better, as the oak gives it a more mature flavor and mouth feel.

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.