Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale

Brewed by Michelob
12oz @ 5.5% ABV

In my quest to brew an excellent Pumpkin Ale, I figured I would sample the landscape first. Strolling through one of my local liquor stores, I spied a pumpkin ale sitting on a shelf near me. A pretty orange and brown label proclaimed “Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale” with the picture of a pumpkin-headed scarecrow-like fellow. The label further proclaimed that it was an “all-malt” brew with pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and clove.

Sounded good to me, so I grabbed a six-pack off the shelf and another pumpkin ale sitting nearby and strolled up to the cash register. As the man at the register rang me up, he said, “Huh. I didn’t know Michelob brewed a pumpkin beer!” As I looked again at the label, sure enough, Jack’s was a creation of those folks at Michelob. Knowing that many of these large breweries actually have talent, I wondered if they could compete with the microbreweries known for their specialty brews.

The Review:

I had always thought that Michelob brews were twist-offs, but this one came in a brown bottle and required a church-key. A good sign, if ever there was one. Pouring into a tall glass, the beer came up to the top with decent head retention and a light amber color. Once the head subsided, I took a sniff. Then I took a deeper sniff. Then I asked my girlfriend to smell it and asked her, “What does this smell like to you?”

Her answer: “It smells like beer.”

That was my conclusion as well.  Somewhat disappointing considering that one would expect at least a nutmeg and/or clove like aroma.

First taste indicated a light-to-moderate carbonation and a watery start; probably typical of Michelob. With a second, larger taste I discerned a lightly bitter flavor with hints of nutmeg and clove. This progresses into a sweeter, malt flavor going down with a very light hop finish. The flavor does not linger long on the palate.

Conclusion:

• Overall, a beer that seems to be targeted at a wide variety of palates. (Michelob)
• Nothing offensive, but nothing particularly remarkable either.
• Nothing really “pumpkin” about it, but there is a sweet/spicy quality that comes close.
• Despite this middling characteristic, it is quite drinkable.

Score = 2 out of 5 stars

eHawk adds: Michelob’s pumpkin is not the most exciting anything, I will grant you that. I have to say that I did notice a far more impressive variety of offerings from them at last American Beerfest in june, with 18 different beers with a variety of spicings and styles, so I have to say that they’re going after that “craft brew” market, but not in the pumpkin realm.