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A couple weeks back, I reviewed Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale. In short, I found it to be pretty bad. Probably a bad choice for my first pumpkin ale, I figure. Over at /r/beer, I was told that Schlafly was the way to go. Of course, I was also informed that I’m an idiot. So, there’s that.
Skipping the minutia, I picked up a sixer of Schlafly Pumpkin Ale. Given my limited experience with this type of beer, I can only say one thing: Schlafly Pumpkin compares quite favorably to Buffalo Bill’s offering. Both beers mask whatever ale flavor there might actually be with the pumpkin/spice flavors, but Schlafly doesn’t have the harsh chemical overtones in its flavor.
SPA’s nose is distinctly that of spices, with distinct overtones of, you guessed it, pumpkin. It’s a nice, bold, and strangely accurate nose, too, with none of the chemical harshness that I feared there might be.
With each drink, I found it difficult to remember that I was drinking a beer–take from this what you will. I’m not so sure that I enjoyed it as a beer, but I’d be crazy to say I didn’t enjoy it in general. Because, seriously, Schlafly Pumpkin Ale tastes like a piece of pumpkin pie. Again, not really what you’re going for or expecting out of a beer.
As you might be able to already tell, I’m on the fence with this beer and, admittedly, the category altogether. I like it as a dessert, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see people this Thanksgiving going for a pumpkin ale over actual pie. In fact, the possibility is pretty good that I’ll be among them. Overall, I hoped that Schlafly would be a more subtle beer when it came to the pumpkin flavor and, while it’s light years better than the other variety I’ve tried, it ends up a bit too sweet for me. Which means that ladies would probably love it. On the “Crap to Superb” scale: “Okay, if you’re in to it. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
Related posts:
- The Not-So-Great Pumpkin: A Review of Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale
- 100 Years of Shiner: This is Anniversary Beer Week at TCM
- Whiskey + Ale = Awesome: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale
- Chimay and Rochefort: My First Experience with Trappist Ales
- Breakfast in a Bottle: Anderson Valley Brewing Company Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout
Maybe I just hate pumpkin beer.
Every year there are about 15 new pumpkin ales. Do you see them next year? Usually not! Gotta tell you something. Kind of like the microbrew movement in the late-90s when everyone was making a beer, and onely one in five was any good. IMHO
@JasonB: Expectation goes a long way. You wanted something more subtle, I assume, and, well, just didn’t get that. Beer can be surprising that way.