ITS PUMPKIN BEER TIME
I always get real excited in September, because I know that in a couple of weeks, or even know, many of the pumpkin beers are hitting the market. I’ve tried so many different brands, but the following set are the ones that I have enjoyed the most over the years.
I’ve noticed that I am more critical in my rating of Pumpkin beers than I am with many other beers. I think its because I am looking for that almost perfect blend of Pumpkin, Spice, Malt and Alcohol
Pumpkin Beers/Ales
Pugsley Smashed Pumpkin
Shipyard Pumpkin
Dogfishhead Punkin
Southern Tier Pumpkin Imperial Ale
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale
Rogue Pumpkin Patch
Pugsley Smashed Pumpkin 
(BA: 4.47) I always get excited this time of year when the Pumpkin beers arrive. Two years ago, I loved Shipyard Pumpkins, however last year I thought it was a bit too light and not enough pumpkin and spice flavor. Now THIS YEAR! The pour was fine, nothing to get excited about. But the moment I put the glass up to my nose, the excitement began! The pumpkin and spices almost jumped out of the glass right into my nose.
That first taste. If I had closed my eyes, I would think someone had just cut a fresh piece of pumpkin pie and put it in my mouth. This year, this Smashed Pumpkin had it all. Bouquet and Aroma
Pumpkin and Spices Right amount of Malt and gentle but present hops
This beer was totally balanced. The first sip was a total joy, with all the right flavors exploding all over my tongue and mouth. Then the end was just as good as the start. And to me, that means balance and it means GOOD to me
Every year I have the first couple of these, I always have it with Pumpkin Pie and Whipped Cream!!
Shipyard Pumpkin
(BA: 4.0) Wow, two years ago, I loved the Shipyard Pumpkin 
, then last year, it was down on my list of any pumpkin ale. This year, its back up on top.
I was a bit shocked when I looked at some of the reviews regarding this beer. Well, everyone has their own tastes and likes. When I poured this one, the first thing I detected was a good amount of pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg along with some other fall spices. Nothing hit you right in the face, but all of it was there just waiting for you to taste it and enjoy it. There was a good amount of carbonation, which I do like in a pumpkin ale. So far, this year, with all the pumpkin ales I’ve tasted this one ranks at the top (Though their SMASHED PUMPKIN is above everything). I think the best thing to notice is that each year, the various brewery that put out Pumpkin ales, change the style that they make. What was at the top of my favorites this year, dropped down and what was at the bottom came up. You know what! Who really cares! Its all about the enjoyment of a beverage that someone has taken the time to make it their best
Dogfishhead Punkin
Still one of my favorites.
(BA: 4.25) Another nice one fro Dogfish Head!
I always love the beginning of the fall when the Pumpkin beers start to come out. Each you I never know what to expect from each brewery.
One year they may have lots of pumpkin and spices and the next year hardly anything.
This one was just perfect. The nose and aroma after opening the bottle gave you a pleasant pumpkin feel. You could almost taste the spices that were in the air. The pour was not exceptional, but once you had the glass to your nose, you knew it was going to be good. The taste was big, smooth, full, just a perfect blend of pumpkin, spices, malt, and hops. Nothing overpowered . The finish was just as nice as the start. Loved it.
Southern Tier Pumpkin Imperial Ale
The first time I tried this one, I found it to be a little thin on the pumpkin, but higher on the alcohol flavor. But it did grow on me after a while
(BA: 3.5)
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale
(BA: 3.18) Always looking forward to the Pumpkin Beers. 
Did not pour this one , just drank from the bottle. So the nose was somewhat diminished. But still, there was no question about the amount of pumpkin spices in here. The taste followed the nose completely… Lots of fall spices, perhaps more than I like. This is what I have seen so far with most of the other pumpkin beers. This one did have the body to go along with the spices. It was not that carbonated and I was able to enjoy some real pumpkin.
Rogue Pumpkin Patch
(BA: 3.2) This has not be the year of the pumpkin, at least for me. This Rogue
Pumpkin did have more of the real pumpkin flavor that I enjoyed so much in different pumpkins last year. There wasn’t much of any nose on this one, sure, the typical pumpkin spices, but nothing alarming. Now, onto my tasting:
Initial Sip, I was hit with the cinnamon, clove, allspice and all the other pumpkin spices. Perhaps a bit too much. Then slowly the pumpkin started to come out. It was richer than some of the other pumpkins I’ve tried this year.
Now on the back end, I felt there was too much carbonation in this ale.
I would have enjoyed this one much better, if the spices were tamed a bit and take a notch or two out of the carbonation