Shipyard Brewing Co. Smashed Pumpkin Ale - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 10-8-2010
This week's Beer O'Clock Selection comes from Shipyard Brewing Co. in Maine. I had planned on featuring something other than another Pumpkin Ale, but then I found this sitting wide-eyed on the shelf begging to take it home with me. How could I refuse? Besides, I've heard good things about this one. And the selection is ...... Shipyard's Smashed Pumpkin Ale (Pugsley's Signature Series)
From the bottle:
Smashed Pumpkin is a big-bodied beer with a light coppery orange color and pleasing aroma of pumpkin and nutmeg. The OG and final Alc./Vol. provide the structure and body. Pale Ale, Wheat and Light Munich Malts combine with the natural tannin in pumpkin and the delicate spiciness of Willamette and Hallertau Hops to balance the sweetness of the fruit. To fully enjoy all the flavors, this ale is best drunk at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Smashed Pumpkin pairs well with sharp cheeses, nuts, lamb, hearty stews and desserts like flan or pumpkin pie. Chefs find this an excellent beer to cook with in dishes such as braised short ribs.
ABV: 9%
Pour:
The brew poured with a clear light copper color with golden/orange hues and formed a loose 2 finger head that dissipated after about a minute or less. Carbonated bubbles are pretty active otherwise.
Aroma:
There is the obvious pumpkin but it does not come across as strong as some of the other pumpkin ales featured here. Nutmeg comes out as the dominant aroma here but there is also a good amount of wheat. I also pick up a bit of caramel, maple mixed in here with hops. Organic and earthy.
Taste:
Not much of a surprise here. Tastes is pretty much the equivalent of the aroma. Good organic flavors. Nutmeg, pulpy pimpkin, and maple. Flavors are smooth and consistent blending nicely across the tongue. A bit sweeter on the front and transitioning to a very slight bitterness at the back. Alcohol comes out a bit right away, but more in the middle. Finish is also mixture of sweet malts and slightly bitter hops that lingers a bit. Spices start to come out more as the beer warms. Really good balance overall.
Feel:
Medium body has some weight with an overall smooth, almost syrupy feel. The alcohol sting combined with mild carbonation keep it from feeling flat.
Drinkability:
Another high ABV coming in at 9% keeps this from being pounder, so as usual, pace yourself. I don't feel that it has the "refreshing" quality to consider more that one or two in a sitting but it make for a tasty treat.
Overall:
I can't say I did not like it. What I like most about this one was the simplicity. Compared to other pumpkin ales, this one is a bit less complex. The flavors are not competing as much as they are working together to create a nice blend of flavors.
