Mug Warrior

I was introduced to Pumpkin Ale’s several years ago and was immediately enamored with them. I was drinking Dogfishhead Punkin Ale (which was brewed in celebration of the annual Punkin Chunkin even in Milmont, Delaware. It tasted like a pumpkin pie in a glass. It was heavenly. Jarrod and I drank it with dinner, desert, and waking up the next morning in possesion of a growler of it, for breakfast too. In recent years the flavor seemed to go down hill, I may have out grown it, it just wasn’t the same though. I desperately wanted to find something as good as that first year.

The other day I picked up a case of their Imperial Pumpkin Ale by Weyerbacher. Weyerbacher is quickly becoming one of my favourite breweries, convenient given they are local to me (located in Easton, PA). After the Blithering Idiot incident, which is a story for another time, my interest in this crafter was peaked and have had made it a point to sample some of their beers at any opportunity I might get. Seeing this Ale on the shelf of a local distributor I couldn’t resist. Untasted, I took the case to the counter.

The label of each bottle bears a menacing Jack O’Lantern holding his scepter high, cape flowing. Behind the king lies sit his court of pumpkins, looking terrified. It’s a fairly dark label. I could tell I was in for a treat suiting the halloween season coming soon. It did not disappoint.

The beer itself has a dark orange, tending almost to red, color to it, with a thin, light orange head. It smells strongly of spice. While drinking it leaves a very thin amount of lacing down the glass. Not heavy at all despite it’s earthy spice and pumpkin flavours, it is definitly drinkable. It warms the stomach and the body, given it’s higher than normal ABV, and makes one thing it would probably be perfect for taking the bite out of the october air. Cold this beer is good, but I prefer to leave the bottle out for about twenty minutes before pouring since I find the warmer temperatures really bring out the flavor of this beer. This beer is definitly a suitable replacement for that Punkin Ale, and I am happy to have made it’s acquaintance.