Post Road Pumpkin Ale

Brewed by Brooklyn Brewery
5.0% ABV

Picking up a pumpkin brew from my local liquor store the other day, I impulsively grabbed one off the shelf and since I needed one to match it up against, I decided to grab another. The nearest one being the Post Road Pumpkin Ale.

While the other beer went on about “all-malt” and four different spices, this beer in its modest label just uttered (in small letters)

Ale brewed with pumpkin and spices

Not very inspiring, but perhaps the brew masters of this beer wanted the beer to speak for itself. I had to see if it worked out this way.

The Review:

Pouring the beer into a tall glass, the medium amber hue is immediately apparent. For something that claims to be “pumpkin”, this beer certainly looks like it. The head retention (although not shown in the picture) was quite good and the first taste indicated that it was rather creamy. Quite a treat.

Moving through the head, a pleasant bouquet of  pumpkin and nutmeg spice hits the nose enticing one to take a sip. The first taste is clean and light with a light carbonation on the tongue.  This quickly breaks into a lightly sweet body of pumpkin and other hints of spices. Continuing to drink, this brew goes down smooth and sweet as well, with a slightly sweet, yet spicy finish with only a little hop bitterness to round it out.

Conclusion:

• A tasty and refreshing beer.
• Flavors present seem to be pumpkin, nutmeg, and allspice.
• Spices and sweetness seem to linger nicely on the palate, inviting the drinker to take another sip.

Score = 3.5 out of 5 stars

eHawk adds: I have to give this one another try this year. Post Road used to be my affordable go-to pumpkin ale for the fall because it was local, inexpensive, and overall flavorful and great. Since they’ve been taken over by Brooklyn Brewing company the recipe has changed, and I wasn’t entirely thrilled with that change, but you’ve definitely inspired me to come back to what was once an old favorite.

Dorothy says: I’ve loved pumpkin/seasonal ales for years, especially this one by Post Road. To find the best one, I attended an autumn beer fest in Killington VT. My favorite beer in the festival turned out to be Longtrail’s Harvest, by a long shot. I haven’t tasted it since last fall, but I remember it being sweet, with a very smooth finish. It is an English brown ale with 4.4% ABV, and you definitely have to try it, it you haven’t already.