#pumpkinales

Dogfish Head: Punkin' Ale

The Pour: Pours a light honey-brown. Two finger head (it died down a bit before I got the lighting right for the picture), with nice lacing occuring.

The Bouquet: Smells sweet with caramel, brown sugar, and allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg, with a touch of vanilla. Smells like what you would expect from a pumpkin pie custard. There is a certain sharpness to the nose as well. From the nose you can tell this beer has a little oomph to it.

The Sip: There is a burst of brown sugar that fades into the pumpkin pie spice and returns in the finish. There is a bit of alcohol bite that gives it a bit of bitterness, which is necessary to balance out the sweetness of the brown sugar. The roasted malt gives Punkin' a woody vanilla quality that adds a certain warmth to round out the beer.

Mouth-Feel: Medium to fulll-bodied brown ale that doesn't overwhelm but still stakes it's claim to the taste buds.

Overall: This is a solid choice for a pumpkin seasonal. I would recommend this for watching the game on Turkey Day, or during the afternoon with relatives. It retains the beer characteristic very nicely, which some beers lose during their pumpkin seasonal. A very well balanced brew. I would drink this year-round if I could.

Cheers,

~William Millman

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